General Mills, Inc.

Loren J Gordon

Barrie R Froseth

Douglas J Brash

S Ganesh Ganesan

Peter M Smith

Craig E Zimmermann

Stanley C Rustad

Michael L Johnston

Dietrich E Weinauer

A slitting assembly ( ) in the preferred form of a rotary cutter includes a shaft ( ) upon which relatively thin, large diameter annular blades ( ) are slid and held in place on the shaft by relatively large diameter hubs ( ). An axial bore ( ) is provided through the shaft ( ) for circulating a coolant in fluid communication therewith by rotary joints ( ). Thus, the blades ( ) are cooled below ambient temperature by conduction through hubs ( ) and shaft ( ) for imparting continuous longitudinal cuts in a band ( ) of fat-free brownie products having an internal temperature higher than ambient. The outer periphery of the blades ( ) rotate against a back-up roll ( ) rotatable about a parallel axis below the band ( ). Scrapers ( ) are provided to remove any product sticking to the back-up roll ( ) and the axial faces of the blades ( ).

Assembly and methods for slitting fat-free products

A slitting assembly (10) is disclosed in the preferred form of a rotary cutter including a shaft (50) upon which relatively thin, large diameter annular blades (56) are slid. Relatively large diameter hubs (60) are provided having inner surfaces for receipt on the shaft (50) and having axial ends which flushly abut with the axial faces of the blades (56) for holding the blades (56) in axially spaced relations on the shaft (50). An axial bore (54) is provided through the shaft (50) for circulating a coolant in fluid communication therewith by rotary unions (74, 78). Thus, the blades (56) are cooled below ambient temperature by conduction through hubs (60) and shaft (50) for imparting continuous longitudinal cuts in a band (12) of fat-free brownie products having an internal temperature higher than ambient. The outer periphery of the blades (56) rotate against a back-up roll (22) rotatable about a parallel axis below the band (12). Scrapers (30, 70) are provided to remove any product sticking to the back-up roll (22) and the axial faces of the blades (56).

Disclosed are apparatus for recovering beverages from cases of defective aseptic packages such as caused by mismarking. The apparatus comprises a plurality of hollow needle pairs which both puncture the packages. One needle of the needle pair supplies air to the package forcing the beverage to exit through the other needle. The apparatus further includes means for advancing and retracting the needle pairs. The apparatus is pneumatically controlled and powered.

Assembly for liquid recovery from aseptically packaged beverage

An apparatus for shaping semolina dough ribbons into pasta products useful for lasagna. The apparatus shapes and dough ribbons to give opposite marginal edges which are undulated to provide ruffles. The apparatus comprises a frame supporting a pair of vertically spaced, transverse shafts upon which are mounted matched crimp rolls. Motor and gear means are provided to counter rotate the shafts. The crimp rolls are formed with opposite marginal, fluted edges for shaping the dough.

Growing community of inventors

Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Loren J Gordon