Kebab machine
AssigneeAutomated Food Systems, Inc.
InventorGlenn E. Walser
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A kebab machine (10) is disclosed for inserting sticks (12) into various food components (14a-f), such as meat, vegetables and the like, automatically. The food components are held within carriers (16) while the individual sticks are conveyed by a stick conveyor (22). A jet of air from air jets (24) drive a pair of sticks into an insertion device (400) where smooth belts (402) drive by rotating rollers (452) drive the sticks through the carriers (16) and food components therein to form the kebab.
Claims18
An insertion device for inserting a stick in a food item, the stick having an end, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first smooth belt having a planar surface mounted on the frame;
- a first drive mechanism to drive the first smooth belt so that a portion of the planar surface of the first smooth belt moves along a stick drive direction;
- a second smooth belt having a planar surface mounted on the frame;
- a second drive mechanism to drive the second smooth belt so that a portion of the surface of the second smooth belt moves along a stick drive direction;
- the portions of the first and second smooth belt compressed against each other along a continuously linear path;
- the stick captured between said planar surface portions of the first and second smooth belts to drive the stick in the stick drive direction and insert the stick in the food item, the stick not being driven solely at its end.
An insertion device for inserting a stick in a food item, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first smooth belt having a planar surface mounted on the frame;
- a first drive mechanism to drive the first smooth belt so that a portion of the planar surface of the first smooth belt moves along a stick drive direction;
- a second smooth belt having a planar surface mounted on the frame;
- a second drive mechanism to drive the second smooth belt so that a portion of the surface of the second smooth belt moves along a stick drive direction;
- the portions of the first and second smooth belt compressed against each other continuously regardless of the presence of a stick;
- the stick captured between said planar surface portions of the first and second smooth belts to drive the stick in the stick drive direction to insert the stick in the food item wherein a nip is formed between said portions of the first and second smooth belt compressed against each other, no portion of the insertion device being inserted in the food item.
An insertion device for inserting a stick in a food item, the stick having sides and an end, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first smooth belt having a planar surface mounted on the frame;
- a first drive mechanism to drive the first smooth belt so that a portion of the planar surface of the first smooth belt moves along a stick drive direction, the portion of the planar surface extending between first and second rotating wheels in the first drive mechanism, said first and second wheels each rotating about an axis of rotation;
- a second smooth belt having a planar surface mounted on the frame;
- a second drive mechanism to drive the second smooth belt so that a portion of the surface of the second smooth belt moves along a stick drive direction, the portion of the planar surface extending between first and second rotating wheels in the second drive mechanism, said first and second wheels each rotating about an axis of rotation, the axes of rotation of the first and second wheels in the first and second drive mechanisms remaining fixed relative each other;
- the portions of the first and second smooth belt compressed against each other continuously regardless of the presence of a stick;
- the stick captured between said planar surface portions of the first and second smooth belts to drive the stick in the stick drive direction to insert the stick in the food item, the insertion device further comprising a kebab stick, the kebab stick captured between said portions of said smooth belts, no portion of the insertion device other than the kebab stick being inserted in the food item, the kebab stick being captured at its sides to drive the stick in the stick drive direction and not driven solely at its end.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.