Reading Bakery Systems, Inc.

Jeffrey L Hardick

Joseph S Zaleski, Jr

Steven Shepler

Jimmy Garfield Warren

A rotating nozzle assembly for a die machine connectable to a dough extruder has a stationary sleeve with a first end having internal and external annular recesses and an annular stepped seating surface and a second end mountable in the die machine mounting plate. A nozzle has a first end rotatably disposed in the stationary-sleeve first-end internal annular recess, a second end and a radially outwardly-protruding annular ring between the first and second nozzle ends. A ring seal is disposed between the stationary-sleeve first-end annular stepped seating surface and the radially outwardly-protruding annular nozzle ring. A nozzle cap is fixedly attached to the stationary-sleeve first end. The nozzle is rotatably disposed in the nozzle cap. The nozzle second end extends beyond the nozzle cap. An annular stepped axial thrust bearing surface in the nozzle cap prevents relative axial movement of the nozzle while allowing rotation of the nozzle.

Rotating braid-head nozzle assembly

A hydrator includes a dry module with a vertically oriented tube having a central axis, an interior, an upper inlet aperture, a lower outlet, and an inlet section including a dry inlet. A mixing segment includes a vertically oriented tube having an interior wall, a mixing-segment inlet at an upper end, and a mixing-segment outlet at a lower end. The mixing segment is vertically aligned with and sealingly connected to the outlet of the dry module. A rotating hydrator shaft has a liquid channel and a longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of the dry module. Dry blades are disposed on and rotate with the hydrator shaft in the mixing segment. A hydrator nozzle is disposed on and rotates with the hydrator shaft and has a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the liquid channel and open to the mixing segment for discharging liquid from the liquid channel.

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Bernville, PA, United States of America

Jeffrey L Hardick