Other

Svejkovsky Engineering

Svejkovsky, Paul

Paul A Svejkovsky

Thomas G Knodell, Jr

Kenneth C Petri

P Blake Svejkovsky

David L Burke

Jonny Fitzgerald

Paul B Svejkovsky

John Silvester

Blake Svejkovsky

Thomas G Knodell

An apparatus to apply seasoning to a foodstuff comprising a plurality of individual food portions comprises a rotatable drum supportable in a generally horizontal position and having an inlet at a first end, an outlet at a second end and a bore extending through the drum from the inlet to the outlet, with a substantial portion of the bore having a generally frustoconical interior with a larger diameter end of the frustoconical interior disposed proximal to the inlet and a smaller diameter end of the frustoconical interior portion disposed proximal to the outlet. In one embodiment, the frustoconical interior portion extends substantially from the inlet to the outlet and converges in that direction. In another embodiment, the generally frustoconical portion extends from a generally cylindrical interior portion, that is intermediate the inlet and the frustoconical interior portion, to the outlet and converges in that direction.

Tumble drum for flavoring food portions

A conveyor run for moving goods to two or more destinations can be used to move a first fraction of the goods to a first destination and a second fraction of the goods to another destination. A drive motor coupled to a conveyor portion is reversible to enable the conveyor run to move goods in either direction along the conveyor run. An adjustable gate includes a rotatable sleeve with an opening that is positionable relative to conveyor portions between which the adjustable gate is connected. The rotatable sleeve rotates relative to the adjacent conveyor portions to position the opening to set the fraction of the goods that pass from an upstream conveyor portion to the downstream conveyor portion and to set the fraction of the goods that drop from the conveyor run through the opening.

In-line adjustable gate

A differential impulse conveyor () is provided for moving goods, including a tray () having a tray floor () supporting goods, with the tray movable in a forward direction and a backward direction. A drive motor () is provided for moving the tray floor in the forward direction and the backward direction. The tray floor includes plurality of dimples () each projecting upward from an adjacent product supporting surface () of the tray floor. Each dimple () includes an upwardly projecting pusher portion () for pushing goods forward during the forward movement of the tray, and a tapered ramp portion () extending upward from the product supporting surface and engaging the pusher portion for moving goods in front of the pusher portion.

Differential impulse conveyor with improved tray

A differential impulse conveyor () includes a tray () laterally moveable in a forward direction at a first speed and in a backward direction at a second speed greater than the first speed, thereby moving goods along the tray. A plurality of legs () support the tray during lateral movement, and a motor () powers a drive pulley (). A driven pulley () is powered by the drive pulley, and a flexible member () interconnects the driven pulley and the drive pulley. At least the driven pulley has an eccentric pulley axis, thereby imparting lateral movement to the tray. A tension mechanism () is provided to take up slack in the flexible member.

Differential impulse conveyor with improved drive

An improved seasoning systemuniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensorsand. The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drumor a deflectorand a second seasoning unitbetween linear conveyors. Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drumwhich both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray. An improved seasoning trayhas a planar floorwith an angled discharge edgefor uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

Seasoning system and method

An improved tumble drum is provided for mixing one food product with another food product, and includes a rotating tumble drum for rotating the products about a drum axis of rotation, with the drum having a product input in one end and a product output in an axial opposing end. A tumble drive motor rotates the tumble drum. Another drive mechanism reciprocates the tumble drum linearly in a direction aligned with the axis of rotation. The product is discharged from the axial opposing end of the tumble drum. A product tray is providing for inputting food product to the tumble drum, and the rotating tumble drum may be fixed to the product tray such that the drive mechanism linearly rotates both the tumble drum and the product tray in a slow forward/backward manner.

Tumble drum for mixing food product

An improved seasoning system uniformly coats a food product with the desired amount of seasoning, with the seasoning rate preferably being controlled as a function of the product volume signals from the sensors and . The seasoning system preferably utilizes linear motion conveyors and either a rotating drum or a deflector and a second seasoning unit between linear conveyors . Oil may be sprayed onto food products and tumbled in a drum which both rotates and moves in a reciprocating manner with the conveyor tray . An improved seasoning tray has a planar floor with an angled discharge edge for uniformly distributing seasoning on the product. The seasoning system minimizes damage to the food product and uniformly coats the product with a desired amount of seasoning.

A differential impulse conveyor includes a conveyor base and a tray movable in a forward direction to move goods with the tray and in a backward direction to slide goods along the tray. A pair of tray support members interconnect the conveyor base in the tray. Each tray support member may be pivotally connected at a lower end of the conveyor base and pivotally connected at an upper end of the tray. An electrically powered linear motor moves the tray forward and rearward. A connector support for interconnecting the base and the tray, or for interconnecting any stationary member and a movable member, may include a linear bearing having an end surface with a radius for rolling engagement with a contact surface having a radius twice of that of the end surface to achieve the desired linear motion of the tray or movable member.

Differential impulse conveyor with linear motor drive

A differential impulse conveyor includes a tray which is driven in a forward direction at a slow speed and a backward direction at a higher speed to slide goods with respect to the tray and thereby move goods along the tray. The drive motor powers the tray in the forward and backward directions through a drive shaft and a tray crank interconnecting the drive shaft and the tray. Controller is provided for varying the rotational speed of the motor shaft, thereby avoiding mechanical knock in the drive system. In another embodiment, a pair of counterweights are provided on opposing sides of the drive shaft , with respective counterweight cranks initiating forward movement of each counterweight at a preselected offset angular position with respect to forward movement of the tray. The differential impulse conveyor and method of the present invention substantially eliminates mechanical knocking in the drive system, thereby extending the useful life of the conveyor and minimizing the size of the conveyor components.

Differential impulse conveyor and method

A gated conveyor,includes a conveyor tray,having a substantially planar tray floor,and tray sides,. A powered drive mechanism,cyclically moves goods along the tray. A gate mechanism,includes a flexible gate sheet,transversely movable from an opened position to a closed position. A floor opening is provided in the tray floor and a side opening is provided in at least one of the tray sides,. The gate sheet moves transversely with respect to the tray floor and vertically with respect to the opening in the tray side. According to the method of the invention, the opening in the tray side extends upward from the tray floor a distance greater than the anticipated depth of the goods moving along the tray, such that goods are not pinched when the flexible gate sheet is moved to the closed position.

Linear motion conveyor with gate mechanism and method

A conveyor system,for transporting goods from upstream equipment to downstream equipment and for temporarily storing goods when the operation of the downstream equipment is temporarily interrupted includes a conveyor tray,and a drive mechanism,cyclically acting on the conveyor tray to move goods along the tray floor,An accumulator ramp,includes an inclined ramp floor,having a lower end mating with the tray floor and secured thereto to cyclically move with the conveyor tray in response to the drive mechanism. According to the method of the invention, goods are moved along the conveyor tray and are pushed up the accumulator ramp when the operation of the downstream equipment is interrupted.

In-line conveyor accumulator system and method

A differential impulse conveyor includes a conveyor base,and a tray,movable in a forward direction to move goods with the tray and in a backward direction to slide goods along the tray. A pair of tray support members,interconnect the conveyor base in the tray. Each tray support member may be pivotally connected at a lower end of the conveyor base and pivotally connected at an upper end of the tray. An electrically powered linear motor,moves the tray forward and rearward. A connector support,for interconnecting the base and the tray, or for interconnecting any stationary member and a movable member, may include a linear bearing having an end surface with a radius for rolling engagement with a contact surface having a radius twice of that of the end surface to achieve the desired linear motion of the tray or movable member.

A gated conveyor 10 includes a conveyor tray 12 having a substantially planar tray floor 14 and tray sides 16, 18. A powered drive mechanism 30 cyclically moves goods along the tray. A gate mechanism 40, 70 includes a flexible gate sheet 42, 82 transversely movable from an opened position to a closed position. A floor opening is provided in the tray floor and a side opening is provided in at least one of the tray sides 16, 18. The gate sheet moves transversely with respect to the tray floor and vertically with respect to the opening in the tray side. According to the method of the invention, the opening in the tray side extends upward from the tray floor a distance greater than the anticipated depth of the goods moving along the tray, such that goods are not pinched when the flexible gate sheet is moved to the closed position.

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Rockwall, TX, United States of America

Paul A Svejkovsky