Patent · US Expired

Automated pretzel forming machine

US6276919A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
16References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 8, 1999
Grant dateAug 21, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 8, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA21C3/08
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An automated pretzel forming machine that produces fresh unbaked pretzels with hand formed characteristics by extruding premixed dough onto a folding table. This table is moved by a bi-directional positioning stage, forming the unfolded and untwisted pretzel shape. The folding table twists the ends of the extruded dough rope then folds the twisted portion on top of the main body of extruded dough resulting in the classic hand twisted pretzel shape. The twisted and folded pretzel is transferred from the folding table through the use of a lift and rotate unit and is subjected to a patterned soda spray and salted before being unloaded from the lift and rotate unit to an existing conveyor oven.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.