Fluent material applicator

US6526908B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• J.E. Grote Co., Inc. · US

Inventors

• James J. Gardner · Hamilton, US
• Mark A. Brick · Pickerington, US
• Allan Hopkins · Coventry, GB
• Tony L. Thomas · Hartsville, US
• Ty Tomlinson · Reynoldsburg, US
• Dave Petty · Pickerington, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 13, 2001
• Grant date: Mar 4, 2003
• Expiry date: May 6, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A21C9/04
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A machine for applying sauce to a pizza crust rapidly and accurately. The crust is placed on a turntable, is centered by stationary platforms having terraced surfaces, and the turntable raises the crust to beneath a plurality of nozzles. The nozzles are mounted to cylinder blocks in which cylindrical cavities are formed. Pistons are slidably mounted in the cavities, and are drivingly linked to a linear prime mover to be displaced upwardly and downwardly to pump sauce into and out of the cavities. Check valves control the flow of sauce from the source of sauce to the crust through the nozzles. The pistons are selectively linked to the linear prime mover for reducing the area onto which the sauce is dispensed, for accommodating smaller and larger pizza crusts.