CA1057125A

CA1057125A - Dough rounding machine

Info

Publication number: CA1057125A
Application number: CA271,583A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Johan Benier
Original assignee: Benier BV
Current assignee: Benier BV
Priority date: 1976-02-19
Filing date: 1977-02-11
Publication date: 1979-06-26
Also published as: IE44346B1; GB1542218A; ES455955A1; FR2342779B1; NL7601680A; IE44346L; BE851215A; IT1078081B; FR2342779A1; DE2706495A1

Abstract

TITLE: Dough Rounding Machine.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:

A dough rounding machine comprising a substantially horizontal trough.
The trough has a carrying surface at the bottom and dough kneading surfaces are presented by the sidewalls thereof, which diverge upwardly from said carrying surface. The sidewalls are preferably rigid plates carried by rotatable members imparting to the sidewalls such a movement as to result in components of opposite relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the trough and in movements of opposite relative movement transverse to the trough.

Description

1057~ZS
This invention relates to a dough rounding machine of the kind comprising kneading surfaces defining a substantially hori~ontal trough having sidewalls diverging upwardly from a carrying surface, at least one kneading surface being movable with a component of movement in the longitudinal direction of said trough.
In a prior machine of this kind, the kneading surfaces are formed by the facing runs of a pair of oppositely movable endless belts. As the kneading surfaces diverge upwardly, they are able to process pieces of dough of different sizes. The belts running in opposite directions, the pieces of dough are rotated about an axis which9 owing to a small difference in velocity of the belts~ is gradually moved in a direction of advance to the delivery end of the belts. By appropriately selecting the difference in velocity of the belts, the number of revolutions of the pieces of dough during their residence period between the belts can be so adjusted that the pieces can be subjected to a large number o~ kneading operations in a machine of short length, and a plurality of pieces can be simultaneously treated in narrowly spaced relationship. The kneading sur~aces primarily deforrn the bottom part of the pieces of dough, whereby a taut skin is formed at the top, which causes the rounded dough pieces to maintain a spherical form during the subsequent rising process.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dough rounding machine, which gives superior results, has improved adjustability, and is easier to clean and maintain.
rhe invention provides a dough rou}ldillg machine comprising kneading surfaces which define with a separate generally horizontal carrying surface a substarltially horizontal trough of which the kneading surfaces providc sidewalls diverging upwardly from the bottom of the trough provided by the carrying ;ur~ace~ and iTI which at least one kneading surface i9 mova~,le with a eomponent of movement in the longitudinal direetion of the trough, wherein each kneading surface is mounted such that it ean be moved transversely of the trough, and means are provided to move the kneading surfaces alternately towards and away from eaeh other. In operation, the contaeting surfaee of eaeh of the ~neading surfaees with the dough pieces will be eontinuously varied in the vertieal direction, which in conjunction with the continuous peripheral variation of the places of engagement on the dough pieces results in a more intensive kneading effect, so that the rounding process ean be eondueted at a higher rate without undue heating effeets.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention i9 eharaeterized by kneading surfaces formed by rigid plates earried by rotating members which give the plates such a movement as to result in eomponents of opposite relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the trough and in eomponents of opposite relative movement in a direction transverse to the trough. This eonstruction employing plates moving over a stationary carrying surface is easier to clean than a machine with moving belts, and results in lower eost of manufaeture and maintenanee A movement in a direetion of advanee ean be imparted to the dough pieees by providing a differenee in the eomponents of movernent of the ~neading surfaces along the trough. It is also possible to give a slow movement of transport to the earrying surface, for moving the pieces of dough along the slot when they come to rest on the carrying surface for a moment every now and then during operation of the machine.

n i ~ --2-~ OS7125 One embodiment of the present invention will now be descri.bed, by way of e~ample, with reference to the accompan~ing diagrammatic drawings. In said drawings, I~`igure 1 i.s a plan view of this embod~nent;
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the movable members in a different relative position;
Figure 3 is a side-elevational view, showing a detail of this embodiment on a larger scale with a single element in cross-section; and Figure 4 is in essence a plan view of the element last mentioned.
Referring to the drawings, there is shown a carrying plate 1 carrying in bearings 2 four vertical shafts 3, on each of which is mounted a sprocket 4, which are all in engagement with a single chain 6 driven by a motor 5. Secured to the upper end of each shaft 3 is an arm 7 carrying ~. 3i-~

on one end a stud 9 fixed therein with a threaded end 8. The perpendicular distance of each stud 9 to the associated shaft 3 is adjustable, as a result of the fact that shaft 3 extends through a slot 10, iIl which it can be fixed at a selected place by means of a nut 11.
Studs 9 carry pairwise, via arms 12, two kneading plates 13, the position of the pair of studs carrying one of plates 13 being off-set by 180 in the sense of rotation of shafts 9 relative to the position of the pair of studs carrying the other plate 13. As a consequence, when shafts 3 are driven for rotation in the same sense by chain 6, the plates move in opposite directions longitudinally of plates 13, as indicated by arrows 14 and 15 when chain 6 is moved according to arrow 16. Plates 13 also perform opposite movements towards and away from each other, as a comparison of Figures 1 and 2 will show.
Owing to these opposite movements plates 13 are capable of rounding pieces of dough laid between them in the manner described.
In order to produce a transporting effect, the perpendicular distance of the studs 9 carrying one plate 13 from the associated shaft 3 is adjusted to be slightly different from that of studs 9 carrying the other plate 13.
The angle of inclination of plates 13 is adjustable owing to arms 12 being pivoted, at 17, to a respective plate 13, and the composite link 18 being adjustable in length by means of sleeve 19 with threading of opposite sense on opposite ends thereof.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A dough rounding machine comprising kneading surfaces which define with a separate generally horizontal carrying surface a substantially horizontal trough of which the kneading surfaces provide sidewalls diverging upwardly from the bottom of the trough provided by the carrying surface, and in which at least one kneading surface is movable with a component of movement in the longitudinal direction of the trough, wherein each kneading surface is mounted such that it can be moved transversely of the trough, and means are provided to move the kneading surfaces alternately towards and away from each other.

2. A dough rounding machine according to claim 1, wherein said kneading surfaces are formed by rigid plates carried by rotatable members which give the plates such a movement as to result in components of opposite relative movement in the longitudinal direction of the trough and in components of opposite relative movement in a direction transverse to the trough.

3. A dough rounding machine according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein means are provided to move carrying surface periodically in the longitudinal direction of the trough so as to transport dough pieces along the trough during the periods they come to rest on the carrying surface.