System and method for molding a snack chip
US6592923B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA23P30/10
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The system and method for molding a shaped snack chip use various components to form chips having depth such as a bowl-shaped tortilla chip. Essentially flat chip preforms are fed to a series of molds disposed about a mold conveyor. The preforms are then passed along for shaping by a mold and plunger conveyor. A continuous conveyor with plungers extending outward is synchronized to operate in conjunction with the mold conveyor. At desired and determined intervals, a multiple of plungers extend downward and into the molds thereby molding the chip preforms into shaped chips. The shaped chips are evacuated from the molds and subjected to additional processing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.