Bun separation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11140906-B2
Application number	US-201916240048-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2019
Priority date	Jan 5, 2018
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A bun separator separates pre-sliced buns into portions. A bun feeder receives a pre-sliced bun having a plurality of portions and moves the pre-sliced bun along a first feed path. An obstruction is arranged relative to the first feed path and engages at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun. An actuator operates to selectively engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun against the obstruction to separate the least one portion of the pre-sliced bun and transfer the at least one portion to a second feed path.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A bun separator for separating pre-sliced buns into a plurality of portions, the bun separator comprising:
a bun feeder configured to receive a pre-sliced bun having a plurality of portions and move the pre-sliced bun along a first feed path;
an obstruction arranged relative to the first feed path, the obstruction configured to engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun, wherein the obstruction is a restrictor arranged to laterally constrain a portion of the first feed path; and
an actuator that operates to selectively engage a least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun against the obstruction to separate the least one portion of the pre-sliced bun and transfer the at least one portion to a second feed path;
wherein the actuator comprises a plurality of rollers with a belt extending therebetween.

2. The bun separator of claim 1 , wherein the bun feeder is a ramp that moves the pre-sliced bun along the first feed path by gravity.

3. The bun separator of claim 1 , wherein the bun feeder is a conveyor operable in an advancing direction to move the pre-sliced bun along the first feed path.

4. The bun separator of claim 1 , wherein the obstruction is a partition configured to engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions while permitting another at least one portion of the plurality of portions to pass beyond the partition.

5. The bun separator of claim 4 , wherein the partition is arranged adjacent the first feed path.

6. The bun separator of claim 4 , wherein the partition is elevated from the first feed path.

7. The bun separator of claim 6 , wherein the partition is arranged across the feed path.

8. The bun separator of claim 6 , wherein the partition is parallel to the feed path.

9. The bun separator of claim 8 , wherein the actuator comprises a pusher that selectively engages a portion of the bun to separate the portions.

10. The bun separator of claim 9 , wherein the pusher moves by lateral translation across the first feed path.

11. The bun separator of claim 1 , further comprising a holding cabinet connected to the bun feeder, the holding cabinet configured to maintain the pre-sliced buns in a controlled environment and selectively position the pre-sliced buns on the bun feeder.

12. The bun separator of claim 1 , further comprising a toaster arranged relative to the first feed path and the second feed path, and the toaster include different toasting arrangements in alignment with the first feed path and the second feed path.

13. The bun separator of claim 12 , wherein the toaster comprises a separation plate configured to engage separated crown and heel portions and direct separated crown and heel portions into associated toasting paths within the toaster.

14. The bun separator of claim 1 , wherein the pre-sliced bun is a club bun and the plurality of portions comprises a heel, a crown, and a club portion.

15. A bun separator for separating pre-sliced buns into a plurality of portions, wherein the bun is a club bun having a heel, a club, and a crown portion, the bun separator comprising:
a bun feeder configured to receive a pre-sliced bun having a plurality of portions and move the pre-sliced bun along a first feed path;
an obstruction arranged relative to the first feed path, the obstruction configured to engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun, wherein the obstruction is a partition elevated from the first feed path and parallel to the feed path, the partition configured to engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions while permitting another at least one portion of the plurality of portions to pass beyond the partition; and
an actuator that operates to selectively engage a least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun against the obstruction to separate the least one portion of the pre-sliced bun and transfer the at least one portion to a second feed path;
wherein the actuator comprises a pusher that moves by lateral translation across the first feed path is configured to selectively engage a portion of the bun to separate the portions, wherein the pusher comprises:
a lateral arm that selectively extends across the first feed path; and
a transverse extension that extends in the direction of the first feed path and comprises an exterior face and an interior face;
wherein the pusher is configured to extend across the first feed path, engage the heel with the exterior face and push the heel to the second feed path while the club portion drops into contact with the first feed path, and the pusher is configured to then withdraw across the first feed path, engage the club portion with the interior face and pull the club portion to a third feed path while the crown portion drops to the first feed path.

16. A bun separator for separating pre-sliced buns into a plurality of portions, the bun separator comprising:
a bun feeder configured to receive a pre-sliced bun having a plurality of portions and move the pre-sliced bun along a first feed path;
an obstruction arranged relative to the first feed path, the obstruction configured to engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun; and
an actuator that operates to selectively engage a least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun against the obstruction to separate the least one portion of the pre-sliced bun and transfer the at least one portion to a second feed path;
wherein the actuator comprises a pusher with a plurality of fingers that each engage a portion of the pre-sliced bun, and wherein the plurality of fingers are secured to pivot relative to each other across the pre-sliced bun.

17. A bun separator for separating pre-sliced buns into a plurality of portions, the bun separator comprising:
a bun feeder configured to receive a pre-sliced bun having a plurality of portions and move the pre-sliced bun along a first feed path;
an obstruction arranged relative to the first feed path, the obstruction configured to engage at least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun;
an actuator that operates to selectively engage a least one portion of the plurality of portions of the pre-sliced bun against the obstruction to separate the least one portion of the pre-sliced bun and transfer the at least one portion to a second feed path; and
a wedge having a front tip and a wedge surface, the wedge secured to an arm in a position that extends across a portion of the first feed path, and the obstruction comprises the front tip of the wedge and the actuator comprises the rotation arm and wedge surface, wherein the wedge is pivotable about an axis of the arm by rotation of the arm to position at least one portion of the pre-sliced bun on the second feed path.

Assignees

• Prince Castle LLC
• Marmon Foodservice Technologies Inc

Inventors

• Bauer Richard
• Wicker Nathan
• Wylen David
• Muller Peter
• Schackmuth Glenn
• Tyrawa Thomas
• Frio Marcus
• Shei Steve
• Rote Scott
• Ford Quinton
• Greek Tyler

Classifications

• A47J37/044 Primary

  with conveyors moving in a horizontal or an inclined plane (A47J37/045, A47J37/046 take precedence) · CPC title

• B26D3/30

  Halving devices, e.g. for halving buns · CPC title

• A47J37/0857

  with bread supports or heating means movable during the toasting operation · CPC title

• A21C15/04 Primary

  Cutting or slicing machines or devices specially adapted for baked articles other than bread · CPC title

• A47F1/125

  with an article-pushing device · CPC title