Rotary cutter with wrap prevention
AssigneeGeneral Mills, Inc.
InventorsAaron Baumgartner, Roberta Marie Langenfeld, Dalton Sherrill, Michael Snyder, Andrew Friend Souder, Kiara Cristina Camareno Vargas
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for detecting and compensating for deformities or other irregularities in sheeted dough being delivered to a rotary cutter in order to preemptively avoid cutter wrap-up is provided. The detection system includes one or more sensors capable of identifying and monitoring irregularities in the dough upstream of the rotary cutter. Signals from the sensor(s) are sent to a controller which, upon detecting a dough irregularity which could cause cutter wrap-up, automatically raises the rotary cutter until the irregularity passes the cutter.
Claims18
A dough product production line comprising:
- a rotary cutter;
- a conveyor for directing a sheet of dough to the rotary cutter;
- a repositioning system for shifting the rotary cutter relative to the conveyor;
- a sensor for detecting an irregularity in the sheet of dough upstream of the rotary cutter;
- and
- a controller configured to activate the repositioning system to cause the rotary cutter to shift from a cutting position in engagement with the sheet of dough to a non-cutting position spaced from the sheet of dough based on signals received from the sensor until the irregularity passes the rotary cutter.
A method of producing dough pieces from a sheet of dough comprising:
- directing the sheet of dough along a conveyor toward a rotary cutter which, when in a cutting position, cuts dough pieces from the sheet of dough;
- sensing an irregularity in the sheet of dough at a position upstream of the rotary cutter;
- and
- automatically shifting the rotary cutter to a non-cutting position spaced from the sheet of dough upon sensing the irregularity in the sheet of dough and then repositioning the rotary cutter back into contact with the sheet of dough for further cutting of dough pieces from the sheet of dough after the irregularity passes the rotary cutter on the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.