US 12,268,214 B2
Sheeter with laterally moveable discharge conveyor
Scott D. Ruhe, Yorba Linda, CA (US); Steven King, Taylorsville, UT (US); Jason Pealo, Yorba Linda, CA (US); and Paul Winocur, Lake Forest, CA (US)
Assigned to J.C. Ford Company, Columbia, TN (US)
Filed by J.C. Ford Company, La Habra, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/520,512.
Prior Publication US 2023/0145450 A1, May 11, 2023
Int. Cl. A21C 9/08 (2006.01); A21C 3/02 (2006.01)
CPC A21C 9/08 (2013.01) [A21C 3/02 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dough sheeting device comprising:
a support frame;
a rear roller having a first outer surface and supported by the support frame to rotate about a first axis;
a front roller having a second outer surface and supported by the support frame to rotate about a second axis spaced from the first axis such that juxtaposed portions of the first outer surface and the second outer surface define a pinch point gap;
a cutter roller having an outer cutting surface and supported by the support frame to rotate about a third axis spaced from the second axis such that the outer cutting surface and the second outer surface are sufficiently close to cut dough;
a discharge conveyor assembly comprising a conveyor frame, a plurality of rollers supported by the conveyor frame, a drive roller, a drive motor connected to the drive roller and configured to rotate the drive roller, a conveyor belt wrapped around the plurality of rollers and the drive roller, the discharge conveyor assembly having an intake end, a discharge end, and a central portion between the intake end and the discharge end; and
a guide assembly supporting the discharge conveyor assembly for movement between a deployed position and a retracted position, the guide assembly comprising:
a base pedestal fixed to the support frame;
a primary linear guide assembly comprising a plurality of primary carriage assemblies fixed to the base pedestal, first and second primary guide rails slidingly engaged with the plurality of primary carriage assemblies, and a primary guide frame supported by the first and second primary guide rails; and
a secondary linear guide assembly comprising a plurality of secondary carriage assemblies fixed to the primary guide frame, first and second secondary guide rails slidingly engaged with the plurality of secondary carriage assemblies, the first and second secondary guide rails supporting the discharge conveyor assembly,
wherein the primary linear guide assembly and the secondary linear guide assembly are configured to nest with each other when in the retracted position so as to support the discharge conveyor assembly in a position fully offset from the front roller and to extend in a telescoping manner when in the deployed position so as to support the discharge conveyor assembly in a position aligned with the front roller.