Thomas F Lyons

US Patent:

7134543, Nov 14, 2006

Filed:

Sep 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/946835

Inventors:

David Lawrence Barry - Highland Village TX, US
David Brian Emerson - Coppell TX, US
William C. Flannigan - San Antonio TX, US
John D. Kiel - Allen TX, US
Geoffrey T. Ley - Dallas TX, US
Thomas E. Lyons - Rio Medina TX, US
Devang Jitendra Sutaria - Dallas TX, US

Assignee:

Frito-Lay North America, Inc. - Plano TX

International Classification:

B65G 43/00

US Classification:

19881003, 198539, 198560, 193 2 R, 99386

Abstract:

A containment apparatus for a multi-pass oven consisting of guide rails and tapered guide chutes having side rails. A tapered guide chute directs product pieces from one conveyor to the center of a receiving region of an underlying conveyor. Guide rails are placed along the sides of the receiving region of an underlying conveyor and maintain baking product pieces on the conveyor. Diverters on the distal end of each guide rail further move product pieces toward the center of the conveyor. Such diverters help ensure that pieces reach a subsequent guide chute or subsequent conveyor without falling off of the conveyor. Such guide rails, diverters, and guide chutes help prevent damage to, and loss of, product pieces while pieces pass through the oven. Guide rails, diverters, and guide chutes are particularly effective at maintaining round or cylindrical pieces within a multi-pass oven.

US Patent:

7156642, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Sep 22, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/946831

Inventors:

Marlin L. Anderson - Irving TX, US
David Lawrence Barry - Highland Village TX, US
David Brian Emerson - Coppell TX, US
William C. Flannigan - San Antonio TX, US
John D. Kiel - Allen TX, US
Geoffrey T. Ley - Dallas TX, US
Thomas E. Lyons - Rio Medina TX, US
Richard James Ruegg - Coppell TX, US

Assignee:

Frito-Lay North America, Inc. - Plano TX

International Classification:

A21C 3/06

US Classification:

425297, 4253051, 425320, 425335, 425364 R

Abstract:

An improved dough-rolling apparatus and method for rolling sheeted dough. The proposed invention comprises a dough-rolling apparatus having a dough sheeter, a sheeting conveyor having a ramped section, a roll-initiating curtain positioned above the ramped section, and a roll-completing curtain positioned above the conveyor and downstream from the roll-initiating conveyor. Sheeted and cut dough pieces are deposited onto a steel mesh, partially-ramped sheeter belt, where two wire-mesh rolling curtains are draped onto the sheeter belt to induce rolling of the dough pieces.