System for rolling food products
AssigneePacproinc, LLC
InventorsAndrew Ward, Charles Faust
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for rolling planar food products that rest upon interleaving paper is provided. The system includes first and second conveyors, a rotating mechanism and a movement system. The rotating mechanism is normally disposed at a first position proximate to the end of the first conveyor such that a leading edge of planar dough that extends over the first conveyor falls with respect to the rotating mechanism. The controller urges rotation of the rotation mechanism as the leading edge extends with respect to the rotating mechanism and rotates until the planar food product is fully rolled about the rotation mechanism. The movement mechanism then translates the rotation mechanism to a position where it is aligned with the second conveyor.
Claims20
A system for rolling planar food product for packaging, comprising:
- a first conveyor that extends to an end portion such that objects disposed upon the first conveyor during operation of the first conveyor are translated toward the end portion, wherein the first conveyor continuously moves at a constant speed;
- a second conveyor, wherein the second conveyor is configured periodically to move a predetermined distance;
- a rotation member disposed in a first position proximate to the end portion of the first conveyor and spaced away from the first conveyor, and a motor to cause rotation of the rotation member;
- a movement system that is capable of moving the rotation member between the first position and a second position that is above the second conveyor;
- a first sensor disposed with respect to the first conveyor to identify when a leading edge of an object disposed upon the first conveyor reaches a third position that is proximate to the end portion of the first conveyor and to also identify when a trailing edge of the object disposed upon the first conveyor reaches the third position;
- and
- a controller that is configured to normally direct the rotation member to be aligned in the first position, and to direct rotation of the rotation member after a predetermined time delay after the leading edge of the object reaches the first position proximate to the end portion of the first conveyor.
A method of rolling planar food product for packaging, comprising:
- providing a first conveyor that extends to an end portion such that objects disposed upon the first conveyor during operation of the first conveyor are translated toward the end portion, wherein the first conveyor continuously moves at a constant speed;
- providing a second conveyor, wherein the second conveyor is configured to periodically move a predetermined distance, wherein the second conveyor is disposed at an elevation above a top surface of the first conveyor;
- providing a rotation member supported by a movement system, wherein the movement system is capable of moving the rotation member between a first position and a second position that is above the second conveyor, wherein the first position is proximate to the end portion of the first conveyor and spaced away from the first conveyor,
- providing a motor selectively to cause rotation of the rotation member;
- providing a first sensor disposed with respect to the first conveyor to identify when a leading edge of an planar food product disposed upon the first conveyor reaches a third position that is proximate to the end portion of the first conveyor and to also identify when a trailing edge of the planar food product disposed upon the first conveyor reaches the third position;
- and
- controlling the position of the rotation member to be normally aligned in the first position, and rotating the rotation member after a predetermined time delay after the leading edge of the object reaches the first position proximate to the end portion of the first conveyor, whereby the planar food product interacts with the rotation member and is rolled about itself and the rotation member to align in a rolled configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.