Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPA~TUS FOR TINING MUFFINS AND OT~ER FOODSTUFFS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to improved apparatus for
tining muffins, especially English muffins, and other related
foodstuffs.
The prior art has provided apparatus for the tining
of English muffins and the objective of this machine is to
produce muffins which can be easily hand-opened at the time of
consumption and which muffin has the flat rough surface charac-
teristic that is best for grilling and toasting. A muffin
which has been properly tined allows the ultimate user to
easily open it thus exposing two rough surfaces on halves of
equal thickness. Muffins split in this manner, for various
reasons, look and taste far better after being toasted than
muffins which have been cut with a knife.
In one form of prior art machine for tining muffins,
a travelling conveyor is provided for delivering a series of
muffins to a tining section to be tined and split. This tining
section has first and second groups of tines operating from
opposite sides of the conveyor belt with the tines being arranged
to traverse the belt so that the tines are brought into inter-
digitating relationship with one another. As the tines move
into interdigitating relation with one another they penPtrate
the muffins and at the moment of full penetration one set of
tines is lifted out of the plane of interdigitation thereby to
fractionally tear the muffin interiors. In this machine the
length of the tine holders is equal to a predetermined number of
muffin diameters. If, for example, the tine holders are ten
muffin diameters in length, the conveyor will deliver ten muffins
into the tining section. The tines penetrate the muffins, one
set of tines is lifted relative to the other to effect the tear-
ing action, following which the tines are withdra~n. The next
ten muffins are then delivered to the appropriate spot and the
same action is then repeated.
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A disadvantage of the above machine is that it
provides single stroke penetration of the muffins only and
moreover the means for effecting lifting of one set of tines
relative to the other to effect internal muffin tearing requires
a fairly complex mechanical means as well as fairly complicated
control systems all of which greatly increase the initial cost
of the machine as well as increasing maintenance costs.
Other forms of muffin tining machines provide for
continuous flow of the muffins on a conveyor in a straight line
through the machine. The tine assemblies are disposed on oppos-
ite sides of the conveyors and the perforating tines are made
to move with the muffins at the same speed as the conveyor. In
order to accomplish this, the perforating tines are mounted on
an endless chain-type arrangement with cam and lever arrangements
being provided to impart the necessary lateral motion to the
perforating tines. As might be expected, owing to the endless
chain type arrangements on which the perforating tines are
arranged, the structure is very complex mechanically and thus
relatively costly to manufacture with the usual maintenance
problems associated with complicated mechanical devices.
A further form of tining machine, which is a somewhat
more refined version of the machine referred to i~mediately
above, and which, preferably, receives muffins which have been
tined once as by the aforementioned machine, is adapted to provide
two-stroke penetration of Pach muffin from opposite sides. The
tining mechanisms are so arranged that a small degree of auto-
rotation of the muffin takes place between tining operations.
This auto-rotation is more or less random with the rotation
taking place in one direction, or the other, or possibly not at
all in certain cases when the forces on the muffin are essentially
balanced. ~s with the preceding form of machine, the perforating
tines are disposed on endless chain type arrangements to provide
forward as well as lateral motion. This results in a very
complicated mechanism having the cost and maintenance disadvan-
tages referred to above.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the invention to alleviate
the difficulties inherent in the various prior art devices and
to provide an apparatus which is capable of tining muffins and
other related forms of foodstuffs rapidly and in a fully auto-
matic manner and which apparatus is relatively simple in construc-
tion as compared to the prior art devices referred to above and
which can be maintained at a reasonable cost.
It is a further object of the invention to provide
a tining machine capable of tining English muffins and related
foodstuffs and producing a product that stays toyether around
its entire diameter thus retaining freshness and which at the
same time may be readily pulled apart by the consumer in the
general manner of a tine-split English muffin.
Tining apparatus in accordance with one aspect of
the invention includes a support frame having a conveyor thereon
defining an elongated path of travel along which items of food-
stuff are conveyed in a serially arranged relationship. This
conveyor is moved at a selected rate of speed by a conveyor
drive. Eirst and second tine sets are mounted at opposite sides
of the conveyor in opposing relationship to one another. Each
tine set includes a plurality of tines disposed in spaced
parallel relation to one another. Tine guide means are also
provided for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding
the tines in spaced parallel paths lying above the conveyor and
fixed reiative to the support frame. Each of the above-noted
tine sets also has a length measured along the path of travel
which is at least equal to a selected plurality of diameters or
lengths of the foodstuff item. Tine drive means are provided
for advancing and withdrawing the tines of the first and second
sets so that the tines move toward and away from one another
along their respective paths in timed relationship to the conveyor
movement. This timed relationship is such that, as each item of
foodstuff is carried along the path of travel by the conveyor
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said tines of said sets enter into and withdraw from each food-
stuff item a plurality of times to effect multiple piercing
thereof.
In a further feature the spaced parallel paths of
tine movement are generally transverse to the path of travel,
such parallel paths lying in a common plane above the conveyor.
The tine drive means are also preferably adapted to advance and
withdraw the tines of the first and second sets in unison.
By virtue of the ahove described arrangement, multiple
piercing of each foodstuff item is effected without the complex
mechanisms required by the prior art for lifting the tines out
of the plane of interdigitation with one another and without the
complex endless chain type arrangements for moving the perforat-
ing tines along with and at the same speed as the conveyor.
As a still further feature means are provided for
contacting selected surfaces of the foodstuff items to stabilize
same and prevent random uncontrolled movement while being carried
along the path of travel by the conveyor. This helps to ensure
that the plane of weakening provided by the tining operation in
each foodstuff item is consistently located or positioned from
one item of foodstuff to the next.
In the preferred form of the invention the means for
contacting the foodstuff to stabilize same includes a belt
extending lengthwise of and above the conveyor. A drive is
provided for moving the belt at essentially the same speed as
the conveyor. The tine drive means preferably include a cam
driven linkage mechanism for driving the rigid tine bars in
which the individual tines are mounted.
In a preferred form of the~inv~ntion the above-noted
conveyor includes a generally flat belt on which the foodstuff
items are supported and carried along the path of travel.
In the case where English muffins are being tined,
the individual tines preferably comprise pointed rod like
elements, the latter being known per se in the art.
Further features and advantages of the invention
will become apparent from the ollowing description of a preferred
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embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF DRAWINGS
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment
of the invention:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of tining apparatus
according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial section view taken along line
2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the tines in the advanced position;
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 showing
the tines in the retracted position;
Fig. 4 is a graph illustrating tine position as a
function of drive cam angle.
Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary perspective views
showing the muffin tining or piercing operation; and
Fig. 7 is a partial cross-section view through
the conveyor line showing the relative positions of the tines,
muffin, conveyor belts, etc., during the piercing operation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, the tining apparatus 10
includes a support frame 12 (only partly shown) of any suitably
rigid construction having an elongated conveyor 14 thereon
defining an elongated path of travel along which items of food-
stuff F, shown here as English muffins, are carried in serially
arranged relationship. The conveyor is moved at a selected
rate of speed by a drive 16. First and second tine sets 18 and
20 are mounted at opposing sides of the conveyor 14 in opposed
relation to one another. Each tine set includes a plurality
of tines 22 disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another.
Tine guide assemblies 24 fixed to support frame 12 are also
provided for each of the first and second tine sets for guiding
the tines 22 in spaced parallel paths in a common plane lying
above the conveyor 14 and fixed relative to the support frame
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12. Each of the above-noted tine sets 18 and 20 has a length,
measured along the path of conveyor travel, at least equal to
a selected plurality of the muffin diameters. A tine drive
mechanism 26 is provided for advancing and withdrawing in
unison the tines 22 of the first and second sets 18 and 20 so
that the tines 22 of the two sets move along their respective
paths toward and into interdigitating relation with one another
and thence away and into spaced apart relation from one another
in timed relationship to the conveyor movement. This timed
relationship is such that as each :item of foodstuff is carried
along the path of travel defined by the conveyor 14, the tines
22 of both sets 18, 20 enter into and withdraw from each food-
stuff item several times, preferably at least three times, to
effect multiple piercing of same.
The conveyor 14 includes a flat endless belt 30,
the upper reach of which is horizontally disposed and supported
on an elongated flat support plate 31 (Fig. 7), belt 30 being
trained around a spaced pair of rolls 32 mounted at opposing
ends of conveyor frame 34. One of the rolls 32 is driven in
rotation via sprocket 36 which, in turn, is driven from the
conveyor drive 16 via sprocket 38 and roller drive chain 40.
In order to prevent random uncontrolled motion of
the muffins as they are carried along the conveyor 14 (apart
from some random incremental rotation of same between piercing
operations), and to assist in ensuring that the plane of
weakening provided by the tining or piercing operation is
consistently located from one muffin to the next, a hold-down
system 42 is provided which is located above the conveyor 14.
This takes the form of an endless belt 44 disposed above the
conveyor belt 30, the lower reach of hold-down belt 44 being
in spaced parallel relation to the upper reach of the conveyor
belt 30 so as to lightly contact the upper surfaces of muffins
supported on conveyor belt 30. selt 44 is trained around a
pair of rollers 46 mounted on brackets fixed to opposing ends
of conveyor frame 34, one of such rollers 46 being driven from
sprocket 48 via drive chain 50, which, in turn, is driven from
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a sprocket co-axial with sprocket 36. Hence, hold-down belt
44 is driven in synchronism with conveyor belt 30.
The above-noted tine sets 18 and 20 each include
a rigid tine bar 52 in which the outer ends of the individual
tines 22 are fixed, as by set screws (not shown), or any other
suitable means. The individual tines 22 are slender rod-like
elements of steel, much like knitting needles but preferably
equipped with spear-like heads 23 (Fig. 5) with sharp leading
edges to enhance the tining action. Each tine bar 52 has a
length, as noted above, which is several times longer than
the muffin diameter, as, for example, at least ten times longer
for reasons to be described hereafter. Each tine bar 52 is
mounted to a tine bar carrier 54, each carrier 54 comprising
a rectangular frame having spaced parallel members 56, the
ends of which beinq connected by further members (not shown)
~hich are slidably mounted in opposed spaced guide channels
58 mounted to the machine support frame 12. Members 56 are
secured to spaced carrier elements 60 which, in turn, serve to
mount pivot blocks 62. Shock absorbers 63 mounted on the
machine frame absorb impact forces when the carriers 54 reach
the outer limits of their travel.
The above-noted tine guide assemblies 24 each include
an elongated rigid guide member 64, which may be of"TEFLON"( ~ )
having a series of apertures 66(Fig.5) extending therethrough to
slidably receive and guide the respective tines 22. Thus, as
the tine bars 52 and their respective carriers 54 are moved
back and forth along the guide channels 58, the tines 22 of
each set are moved in unison from retracted positions wherein
their tips are flush with or slightly retracted into apertures
66 in guide members 64 (see Fig. 6) to advanced interdigitating
relation as shown in Figs. 2, 5 ahd 7 wherein the tips of the
tines 22 come into close proximity with the guide members 64
on the opposing side of the conveyor belt 30.
When in a fully advanced position, the tines 22 fully
penetrate the muffins and lie in a plane about midway between
the upper and lower reaches, respectively, of the conveyor
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belt 30 and the hold-down belt 44 (Fig. 7). When the muffin
has thus been penetrated several times, preferably three or
four times, a distinct plane of weakness is provided in the
muffin which enables it to be separated into halves quite
readily by the ultimate user.
The above-noted tine drive mechanism 26 for reciprocat-
ing the tine sets 18 and 20 incl-udes opposed drive arms 66
secured at pivot points 68 to the frame 12. The upper ends of
arms 66 are slotted at 67 to receive pins 69 which extend
through pivot blocks 62, the latter being fixed to the tine bar
carriers 54. Arms 66 are interconnected together via link 70
which ensures that they pivot toward and away from one another
in unison. A further drive link 72 is connected between one
of the arms 66 and a cam follower arm 74, the latter being
pivotted to frame 12 via pivot pin 76. Follower arm 74 includes
a follower roller 78 which engages in a groove 80 defined in
drive cam 82.
The shape of the drive cam 82 is not particularly
critical. However, it should provide reasonably rapid advance
and withdrawal of the tines. The graph of ~ig. 4 which plots
the ~ advance of the tines as a function of cam angle will
provide those skilled in the art with sufficient information
as to enable a satisfactory cam and drive linkage mechanism to
be produced.
Drive cam 82 is driven in rotation by sprocket 86, the
latter being driven from main sprocket 88 via drive chain 90.
Sprocket 88 is also driven from drive 16 so there is a predeter-
mined s~eed relationship between the conveyor speed and the
tine drive speed. As noted above, this relationship should be
such that the tines 22 are advanced and retracted at a rate
related to the rate of movement of the conveyor belt 30 so that
the muffins are pierced at least three times and preferably
four times as they move along the conveyor.
The manner of operation of the tining apparatus will be
readily apparent from a review of the drawings and the above
description. As the muffins are fed into the inlet end of the
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conveyor 14 they move in the direction of arrows A until such
time as they are penetrated by the tines, as seen in Figs. 2,
5 and 7 at which point there is a momentary stoppage in flow,
it being realized that the conveyor belt movès continually
thus sliding beneath the muffins when they are stopped.
As soon as the tines 22 are retracted the flow of
muffins again starts, only to be stopped soon after when the
muffins are again pierced by the tines. The length of the
tining sets 18 and 20 in conjunction with the speed relation-
ship between the conveyor 14 and the tine drive mechanism 26
assures that th~ muffins are each pierced at least three times
before leaving the exit end oE the apparatus. The more times
the muffins are pierced, the greater the degree of weakness
between the muffin halves. (It is unlikely as a matter of
chance that the tines will enter the same holes in the muffin
twice but should this appear to be happening too frequently
some adjustment in the ratio between the spped of conveyor 14
and the speed of the tine drive mechanism 26 should be made.)
The apparatus described above is capable of operating
at a relatively high speed (approximately 220 muffins per
minute). At the same time very few rejects are produced.
The apparatus described above, by virtue of its unique
simplicity, as compared with the commercially available prior
art devices, can be produced at a fraction of the cost of the
machines currently on the market. At the same time it is at
least as effective, if not more so, in terms of its timing
ability and the quality of the foodstuff so processed. The
machine does not depend on timed intermittent input to
accurately place the muffins for penetration. In fact, accurate
placement is not necessary. Also, the machine does not depend
on "capturing" a single or set number of muffins per operation
as do many prior art machines nor does the machine rely on a
vertical tearing motion to achieve the desired end. The alter-
native provided by the prior art to the vertical tearing action
has been mainly the endless belt-type tine holders whlch move
with the conveyor motion. Both of these alternatives are
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complex and costly and the simple yet effective system provided
by the present invention represents a distinc-t advantage over
them.
A preferred embodiment of the invention has been
described by way of example. One modification which will be
apparent to those skilled in the art is the substitution of a
pneumatic tine drive system for the mechanical lever, cam and
linkage system illustrated. Numerous other modifications and
variations falling within the spirit and scope of the invention
will be apparent to those skilled in this art in the light of
the present disclosure and hence reference is to be had to the
appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.
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