Ultrasonic rotary molding

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285041-B2
Application number	US-201715692867-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2017
Priority date	Mar 26, 2012
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an ultrasonic rotary molding system that is used to form edible compositions or food products as they move along a conveyor belt. The food products are formed by an ultrasonic rotary wheel that includes one or more cutting tools that cut, and perhaps three dimensionally mold, food product strips. The system may include a movable backing plate that is located below the point where the ultrasonic rotary wheel cuts the food product strips. The movable backing plate may be spring loaded and it may exert force upwards against the conveyor belt and in turn against the food product.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for forming an edible food product comprising:
an ultrasonically activated rotary wheel that includes one or more cutting tools disposed on the outer surface of the rotary wheel;
a conveying element that moves a food product on a surface in relation to the rotary wheel; and
a vertically movable backing plate disposed beneath the surface of the conveying element and beneath the approximate center of mass of the rotary wheel, the vertically movable backing plate being configured to move its position when the cutting tool exerts pressure downward upon the conveyer;
whereby, as the rotary wheel rotates, the one or more cutting tools of the rotary wheel contact the food product and the conveying element at the approximate location of the movable backing plate
further comprising a flexible fin, wherein the flexible fin is configured to exert a force upward against the vertically movable backing plate.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more cutting tools of the rotary wheel each include (i) a contoured surface for three dimensional molding of the food product and/or (ii) edges that are beveled.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the conveying element includes one or more side-rail guides to prevent the food product from straying or falling off the conveying element.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein rotary wheel is coupled to an ultrasonic generator.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ultrasonic generator causes only a subset of the parts that compose the rotary wheel to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the ultrasonic generator causes all of the parts that compose the rotary wheel to vibrate at an ultrasonic frequency.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotary wheel includes one or more ventilation channels comprising at least one area of discontinuity in a cutting edge of the one or more cutting tools.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conveying element includes more than one conveyor belt, where each conveyor belt is independently powered.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the conveying element includes one or more conveyor belts with (i) an outer surface that is smooth so that the food product adheres to the surface and/or (ii) widths that are narrower than the widest point of the one or more cutting tools.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more cutting tools is defined by a side wall and at least one beveled edge, wherein the bevel edge that is not perpendicular to the side walls of the cutting tool.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one bevel edge is about 15 to about 45 degrees relative to the side wall of the cutting tool.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rotary wheel includes one or more ventilation channels that are routed and adapted to allow a pressurized gas to flow between a gas source and the cutting tools to aid in ejection of the food product from the cutting tools, the gas source being in communication with one or more sensors adapted to detect whether the food product has been properly ejected from the cutting tool.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the movable backing plate is configured to compensate for the effect of ultrasonic vibrations on the conveying element.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vertically movable backing plate is configured to reduce the amount of damage caused by the cutting tools on the belt by absorbing pressure exerted down on the conveying element from the cutting tools.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vertically movable backing plate is configured to exert force upwards against the conveying element over a range of forces.

16. A system for forming an edible food product comprising:
a rotary wheel comprising a plurality of cutting tools disposed on an outer surface of the rotary wheel, each cutting tool has a side wall and at least one beveled edge, wherein the at least one bevel edge is a cutting edge that is not perpendicular to the side wall of the cutting tool;
a conveyer comprising a surface, the conveyer configured to move a food product on its surface; and
a vertically movable backing plate under the surface of the conveying element;
wherein each cutting tool has at least one edge having a first bevel and a second bevel, wherein the first and second bevels have different angles relative to the side wall of the cutting tool;
wherein the movable backing plate is configured to move its position when the cutting tool comes into contact with the conveyor belt and cutting edges of the tools exert pressure downward upon the conveyer;
wherein the system is configured to rotate the rotary wheel such that each of the plurality of cutting tools contacts the food product when the food product is positioned above the movable backing plate further comprising a flexible fin, wherein the flexible fin is configured to exert a force upward against the vertically movable backing plate.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the system is configured to rotate the rotary wheel such that each cutting tool comes in contact with the conveyer.

Assignees

• Mars Inc

Inventors

• Nagle Robert
• Camporini Alfred
• Pontzer David
• Capar Paul
• Fyock David
• Stough John
• Knepper Curt
• Massie Joseph Edward
• Frantz Jeffrey
• Aponte Carlos
• Mcquilkin Gary Lee

Classifications

• A23P10/20

  Agglomerating; Granulating; Tabletting · CPC title

• B29L2031/752

  Measuring equipment · CPC title

• B29C69/001

  a shaping technique combined with cutting, e.g. in parts or slices combined with rearranging and joining the cut parts (for reinforced material B29C70/545; B29C49/4278, B29C51/268 take precedence) · CPC title

• B26F1/384

  using rotating drums · CPC title

• B26D7/1854

  by air under pressure · CPC title