Pasta stuffing machine and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A machine for handling a flexible food product, comprising:
- a conveyor;
a mold cup attached to the conveyor, the mold cup including first and second mold cup portions that are openable to receive a filling, the first and second mold cup portions each being positioned in a plane out of parallel with the conveyor when in an open state and when receiving the filling, and wherein the first and second mold cup portions each pivot about an axis substantially parallel to a conveying direction of the conveyor; and
a folding station that causes the first and second mold cup portions to fold leaves of the flexible food product over the filling to form a folded, filled food product, the first and second cup portions opening following folding of the leaves to release the folded, filled food product.
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Abstract
A pasta stuffing machine includes a conveyor having mold cups affixed thereto. The mold cups are openable and closeable. A pasta shell is inserted into each mold cup. The conveyor moves the mold cups and pasta shells to a filling station at which a pasta shell filling is inserted within the pasta shell while the mold cup is open. A folding station causes the mold cup to close to fold leaves of the pasta shell on top of one another and around the pasta shell filling. The mold cups are opened downstream of the folding station to allow the pasta shell to exit the mold cup. A rolling station rolls the pasta shell and the pasta shell filling into a final shape.
31 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A machine for handling a flexible food product, comprising:
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a conveyor;
a mold cup attached to the conveyor, the mold cup including first and second mold cup portions that are openable to receive a filling, the first and second mold cup portions each being positioned in a plane out of parallel with the conveyor when in an open state and when receiving the filling, and wherein the first and second mold cup portions each pivot about an axis substantially parallel to a conveying direction of the conveyor; and
a folding station that causes the first and second mold cup portions to fold leaves of the flexible food product over the filling to form a folded, filled food product, the first and second cup portions opening following folding of the leaves to release the folded, filled food product. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
providing a machine according to claim 8;
conveying a pasta shell within the mold cup to the filling station;
filling the pasta shell with a pasta shell filling; and
closing the mold cup to fold leaves of the pasta shell around the pasta shell filling.
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10. The method according to claim 9, wherein ends of the pasta shell are substantially closed upon closing of the mold cup.
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11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the mold cup opens after closing of the mold cup.
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12. The machine according to claim 8 wherein the filling station includes at least one hopper that dispenses a predetermined amount of filling.
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13. The machine according to claim 12 wherein the at least one hopper comprises a plurality of hoppers.
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14. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a rolling station that rolls the folded, filled food product, after being removed from the mold cup, into a final shape.
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15. The machine according to claim 1 wherein the first and second mold cup portions are substantially identical halves of the mold cup.
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16. The machine according to claim 1 wherein the mold cup is not rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the conveyor.
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17. The machine according to claim 1 further comprising at least one rolling station that rolls the food product into a final shape after being released from the mold cup, the at least one rolling station comprising a rolling conveyor oriented in a direction transverse to a direction of the conveyor.
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18. A machine for handling a flexible food product, comprising:
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a conveyor;
a mold cup attached to the conveyor, the mold cup consisting essentially of a first cup portion and a second cup portion pivotable relative to the first cup portion, wherein the first and second cup portions each pivot about an axis substantially parallel to a conveying direction of the conveyor; and
a folding station that causes the first and second mold cup portions to each separately fold a respective leaf of the flexible food product over a filling to form a folded, filled food product, the first and second cup portions opening, following folding of the leaves, to release the folded, filled food product. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A machine for handling a flexible food product, comprising:
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a conveyor;
a mold cup attached to the conveyor, the mold cup consisting essentially of a first cup portion and a second cup portion that each pivot about an axis; and
a folding station that causes the first and second mold cup portions to simultaneously close. - View Dependent Claims (27)
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28. A machine for handling a flexible food product, comprising:
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a conveyor;
a mold cup attached to the conveyor, the mold cup consisting essentially of a first cup portion and a second cup portion pivotable relative to the first cup portion; and
a folding station that causes the first and second mold cup portions to assume a closed position to fold leaves of the flexible food product over a filling to form a folded, filled food product, the first and second cup portions opening, following folding of the leaves, to release the folded, filled food product, the first and second mold cup portions each being positioned in a plane out of parallel with the conveyor when in the closed position, and the food product being held between the first and second cup portions when the first and second cup portions are in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A machine for handling a flexible food product, comprising:
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a conveyor;
a mold cup attached to the conveyor, the mold cup including first and second cup portions that are openable to receive a filling; and
a folding station comprising forming rolls that cause the first and second mold cup portions to each separately fold a respective leaf of the flexible food product over the filling to form a folded, filled food product. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32)
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Specification