Other

Food Machinery Engineering, Lmtd

Food Machinery Engineering, Ltd

Schmidt, Norman G.

Norman G Schmidt

Orlando Janzen

Adam Baran

Norman G Schimdt

The invention is directed to an improved pan cleaning machine that has a cleaning section that comprises a plurality of frames for mounting a sequence of interchangeable modular cleaning mechanisms. It can include quick-release mounting arrangements so that cleaning mechanisms can be quickly changed for cleaning different types of pans or to replace brushes or other wearing parts of cleaning mechanisms when they require replacement. In some embodiments, the frames for mounting the cleaning mechanisms can comprise swing arms so that the cleaning mechanisms can be swung away from the cleaning position so that the cleaning mechanism can be removed and replaced without interrupting the operation of the machine. If the machine is stopped, the swing arm can still be used to facilitate access to the cleaning mechanism to reduce the time needed to complete the maintenance or replacement. This also allows the position of the cleaning mechanism in relation to the baking pans to be adjustable during the cleaning process which can permit increased application of brushing forces or prevent overloading and also permits easy jam removal. In addition, the swing arm makes the pan cleaning machine more adaptable for cleaning pans with different depths and customizable. A method of operation and control, including pre-programmed cleaning cycles and various control paradigms is also provided.

Pan cleaning machine and a method of operating the machine to clean pans

The invention relates to an improved system, device and method for optimized, high volume cleaning of pans, related brush modules, and methods of operating and processing same A pan cleaning system having one or more modular swing arms for cleaning a flow of pans is provided. The system having a frame with a mounting point for each of the modular swing arms and the swing arm pivots about a pivoting element freely motivated by a swing arm actuator and controlled with a swing arm limiter coupled to one or more controllers. The modular swing arm is positioned by the one or more controllers by activating the swing arm actuator to position and to engage a dirty pan from the flow of pans at a pressure range exerted by the actuator and limited by the swing arm limiter such that the pan is cleaned. On one of the modular swing arms, a cleaning module mounting a staggered set of two or more brush heads is provided in offset rows provides overlap during cleaning to overcome compression issues in the brush heads during movement of the pan. Each of the brush heads also having bristles specifically spaced and angled so that they provide consistent contact without laying over one another when compression does occur. Each of the brush heads also rotating so that the rotational moments of each of the brush heads in the two or more brush heads is offset by the equal or paired rotating brush heads. Finally, the controller is provided so that it can sense numerous conditions in the cleaning process, including things like pan height, pan type, the amount of contaminants on the pan, the size of the pan, how much agitation or pressure to apply to the pan, when the pan is passing the cleaning module, whether a jam may be occurring under the module, and similar variables during the cleaning process.

Pan cleaning brush module, controller and methods of same

The invention is directed to a foodstuff extrusion portioning device and more specifically a cutter head assembly on such an extruder having a servo motor, a cutter shuttle coupled to a cutting element, a controller and being programmed via a product variable to provide a velocity profile. The cutter in the velocity profile has a first velocity and it reduces speed to a second velocity and goes more slowly through the last portion of the foodstuff. The at least two velocities being fully programmable and the controller can provide for instantaneous and additional programmed velocities throughout the cutting profile. The cutter further providing tilt control so it can drop the portion at the moment the portion detaches from the extruded foodstuff stream. It cuts and/or breaks off portions in a far more uniform and controllable manner to more accurately portion and better place the cut portions. This also provides the portion with minimal residual energy pushing it forward as it drops through the effect of gravity and the cutter can be used so as to further direct and push the portion downward so as to optimally place it.

Variable speed profile extrusion portion cutting head and control system

A pan cleaning system is provided having a support carriage with one or more track supports and one or more track guides. An indexing conveyor provides a stream of baking pans and indexes the pans onto the support carriage as single pans. One or more twists in the track supports are provided such that the pans admitted by the indexing conveyor are turned at least substantially perpendicular relative to the horizontal plane of the machine. One or more frame assemblies having one or more sets of swing arms mounted on it is provided. With one or more secondary conveyors coupled to the frame assemblies. One or more cleaning subsystems are releasably coupled to the swing arms. A controller is provided where the single baking pan is admitted via the indexing conveyor based on signals from the controller into the one or more track guides as supported by the one or more supports and conveyed by the support carriage along the track guides and into the one or more frame assemblies after the twist turns the pan at least substantially perpendicular and the pan engages the one or more secondary conveyors and the pans is conveyed by the support carriage and the secondary conveyor to one or more cleaning subsystems.

Pan cleaning system and improved cleaning stations

The device relates to a method and an arrangement for visualization or to gauge conditions of the surface of coated materials on baking pans and formulations and applications of materials to enhance this visualization. Specifically, surfaces on baking pans used in the baking of common foodstuffs where coatings are applied to the pan with visual enhancement additives so as to improve the release of baked products such as but not limited to bread and rolls and like baked goods and visualization of the pans for damage, wear, imperfections, contaminants and other surface defects or abnormalities. The device includes a light and/or energy emitter which reflects light off of the pan surface, an image capture element receiving the reflected light and/or energy to form an image of the pan, a controller analyzing the image of the pan for the aforesaid abnormalities and reporting same.

Baking pan image capture system

The invention is directed to a rounder or rounding machine having one or more conveyor(s) having a horizontal conveyor surface with a support frame. One or more rounder bars are coupled to the support frame by one or more rounder bar height adjustment systems above the conveyor at a set height and at a camber angle set by one or more camber adjustment systems. A rounder bar seal on the rounder bar is provided having a rounder bar seal channel and a rounder bar seal channel contour. The rounder bar seal having a first body member having one or more semi-spherical contours and a second body member extending down at an angle from the first body member, and third body member extending from the first body member and extending in an opposed direction from the second body member. The rounder bar seal channel contour mates with, at least in part, the first body member through the one or more semi-spherical contours, the first body member being coupled and retained within the channel, rotating freely therein. The second and third body members extending and contacting the horizontal conveyor surface of the conveyor belt and self aligning the seal bar with the horizontal conveyor surface such that the rounder bar seal effectively forms a seal.

Self-adjusting, rotatable stabilized semi-viscous material rounder bar seal with automatic height adjustment

A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce two or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion through rapidly changing release sections along the working length of the rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By substantially changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar as it passes through a rapid transition area one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

Variable contoured rounding bar, device and method of using same

A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce one or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion along the working length of the one or more contoured rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

A device acts to take mixed dough or semi viscous material and feed this material uniformly and progressively to portioning machines that may not have capacity to hold a full batch from the mixer or require to be fed at a required rate so as to maintain a reasonably uniform or stable height or reserve amount of dough in there infeed hopper of dough portioning machine. The device providing two or more selectable output feeds in operation, providing for easy cleaning through detachable components, and compensating in the output feed variable for variations in the volume of dough in the tote.

Dough feeder

A multi stage auger system having a hopper with a first diameter opening tapering to a second smaller diameter opening, coupled to an auger tube at the second smaller diameter opening. An auger entry spiral with generally helical shape and a sweep arm coupled thereto, the spiral and the sweep arm skimming inside the product hopper to entrain the semi-solid materials from the hopper wall and, through the shape of the spiral, moving materials through the hopper from the first opening towards the second smaller opening. During this entrainment and movement by the spiral and sweep arm a space is left between the spiral and the sweep arm to remove air and voids from the semi-solid material through the movement. The auger has a first coarse pitch providing further removal of air/void spaces and a second finer pitch providing further movement under higher pressures near an exit of the auger.

Variable diameter, variable pitch auger with material scraper and breaker bar

An open frame design of conveyors that will allow inspection access as well as sanitation access to all surfaces of conveyors that carry products that could contain Food Allergens, materials that could cause reactions as well as provide proper sanitation access. For proper and safe operation these allergens and offending materials must be removed and therefore proper access to all surfaces must be provided so as to be able clean and remove allergens and offending materials from all surfaces as well as to provide access to visually confirm proper removal has been carried.

Quick access allergen cleaning open frame conveyors

The invention is directed to semi-solid food product metering devices that typically have two counter rotating feed rollers with ends to entrain the semi-solid food product and has an at least one actuating device. The two feed rollers have two roller end plates at each end of the feed rollers, one being at a distal end of the rollers and the other at a proximal end of the rollers relative to the at least one actuating device with an at least one support bar. The feed rollers make a positive seal with the end plates. The semi-solid food product metering device of the invention has an open position and an operating position where the at least one support bar supports the two roller end plates in position while in the operating position and operating the semi-solid food product metering device, and allowing for lateral movement of the end plates away from the ends of the feed rollers to allow access to the gap between the feed roller ends and the roller end plates in the open position.

Device to allow for cleaning access in semi-solid metering machines

The invention is directed to a semi-solid food product metering device and method of operating a semi-solid food product metering device with at least two counter rotating feed rollers each with two ends, a distal end and a proximal end. An at least two feed rollers end plates contain the rollers with a first of the at least two roller end plates being a distal feed roller end plate at the distal end of the at least two counter rotating feed rollers and a second of the at least two roller end plates being a removable end plate at the proximal end of the counter rotating feed rollers with an at least one fastening device to fasten the at least two feed roller end plates in the operational position. An at least one frame support couples the at least two end plates, where the semi-solid food product metering device has a non-operational position and an operational position and is transitioned therebetween by a user, such that when in the operational position the semi-solid food product metering device is in operation and the at least one support bar supports the at least two feed roller end plates in the operating position with the at least one affixing device securing the end plates. When in the non-operational position, the device is not in operation, the affixing device is not securing the end plate and allows for movement, removal, or movement and removal of the second of the at least two end plates away from the end of the two counter rotating feed roller to provide access to a gap between the at least two counter rotating feed roller ends and the two end plates in the non-operational position.

Semi-solid metering machines with opening access for cleaning

A device that provides better movement of semi solid materials such as but not limited to food products for metered dispensing. The device is able to take bulk semi solid material, entrain or draw the material into the device and add pressure to the semi solid material so that the semi solid material may be passed thru a nozzle or controlled discharge metering device or orifice. The rollers have circumferential grooved profiles and scrapers that are able to actively remove the semi-solid materials from the grooved profiles. The emitted semi solid material can then be more accurately applied or portioned in a metered fashion. Typical applications include but are certainly not limited to the production of cookies from bulk dough, the application of icing to a cake base/body/top or perimeter, metering of dough for bread or rolls so as to allow for a cutting device to cut off into uniform pieces.

Growing community of inventors

Burnaby, Canada

Norman G Schmidt