Methods and apparatus for joining dough blocks
US6171629A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 9, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 6, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA21C3/02
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for joining dough blocks to form a continuous dough sheet. The dough blocks are cut from a dough mass and drop into a space between first and second groups of rollers. The first and second groups of rollers include horizontally-paired rollers arranged in tiers and forming a substantially V-shaped space for receiving the dough blocks, with the uppermost pair of rollers being separated by a first horizontal gap which is wider than a second horizontal gap separating the lowermost pair of rollers. The first group of rollers are rotated in a direction (e.g., clockwise) which is opposite to that of the second group of rollers. In addition, the first group of rollers is alternately moved toward and away from the second group of rollers, thereby applying vibrations to the dough blocks. The combined rotation and vibrations of the rollers impels the dough blocks downward toward the second gap between the lowermost pair of rollers and increases gluten growth and a joining of the gel structures to produce a continuous dough sheet.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.