FR2672774A1 - Method for producing batters and machine for dispensing such batter products - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for preparing unit quantities of batter, which can be stored, preserved, and dispensed in automatic machines for making and dispensing products, such as waffles, blinis (thick buckwheat pancakes) and products of the pancake type, characterised by the following steps: - preparing unit quantities of batter containing, thoroughly mixed together, the ingredients of the batter; - packaging each unit quantity after weighing, in preformed containers in freezer trays; - freezing the preformed containers thus obtained; and - wrapping the said preformed containers and packaging in stacks. The invention also relates to an automatic machine which comprises an isothermal storage enclosure (10) for the stacks of unit quantities of batter (14), means for extracting each quantity from this enclosure and for distributing them to a timed heating system (20) in the form of a mould, and a system for ejecting the products once they have been cooked.

Description

 The present invention relates to a process for preparing baking doughs, such as in particular waffle dough, blinis and products of the thick pancake type designated by the Anglo-Saxons by "pancakes", which are long-lasting for use. in an automatic vending machine. The present invention also relates to an automatic machine for manufacturing and distributing products such as waffles, blinis and "pancakes", from the doughs thus produced.

 It is known that in the composition of pasta of the type mentioned above, there are constituents which cannot be preserved as a mixture by pasteurization or sterilization. Indeed, at a temperature of about 600 C, the components of the flour used in the composition of such products constitute an irreversible network which makes the dough solid due to the beginning of the baking process. We also know that the addition of antiseptic or antibiotic agents is formally prohibited in food products.

 Given these difficulties, waffles, "pancakes" and blinis must be made from freshly prepared mixtures, which makes it impossible to use automatic dispensing devices for such products.

 The present invention proposes to provide means making possible the use of devices for manufacturing and automatic distribution of such products by ensuring beforehand the preparation of unitary doses which can be stored and kept and then dispensed on automatic heating units provided in such distribution apparatus.

Consequently, the subject of this invention is firstly a process for preparing unitary doses of dough which can be stored, stored and dispensed on automatic machines for the manufacture and distribution of products such as waffles, blinis and "pancakes", characterized by the following steps
- preparation of unit doses containing intimate mixtures of the dough ingredients;
- packaging of each unit dose after weighing, in preforms in freezer plates of shapes and dimensions corresponding to the final product
- freezing of the preforms thus obtained and
- packaging of said preforms and packaging in stacks.

 According to 1 invention, the dough preforms obtained by the process described above are stacked with the interposition of an interlayer which can be constituted for example by parchment paper folded in an accordion around each preform, or by a layer of fresh flour or cristalized sugar.

 According to another characteristic of the process which is the subject of the invention, the stacks of frozen preforms are provided with an outer packaging consisting of a sealed, waterproof film, then they are stored in boxes, in particular made of cardboard and stored at freezing temperature, to twist from - 150 C.

The present invention also relates to an automatic machine for manufacturing and dispensing products such as waffles, "pancakes", blinis from unit doses of dough obtained by the implementation of the process defined above, characterized in that it comprises
- an isothermal, refrigerating storage enclosure in which are placed the stacks of unit doses of dough which are maintained in this enclosure at the freezing temperature
means for extracting one by one each unit dose from the storage enclosure
means for delivering each dose extracted from the storage enclosure to a system of heating jaws constituting a mold whose configuration is that of the product to be obtained
- time delay means for controlling the duration of the heating of said heating jaws and
- Means for ejecting from the machine after cooking the product finally obtained.

 Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the description given below with reference to the appended drawing which shows schematically and in perspective an automatic machine according to the present invention.

 As specified above, the method according to 1 invention allowing the preparation of storable and conservable unit doses of dough breaks down into several preparation, freezing and packaging steps. The methods of implementing each of these steps of the process which is the subject of the invention will be examined below.

1. PREPARATION
The ingredients which should constitute the dough, which have been individually sanitized beforehand or which have been prepared under extremely rigorous hygienic conditions, are thoroughly mixed so as to eliminate lumps. By way of examples, the ingredients used in the preparation of products such as waffles, "pancakes" and blinis are given below.

 a) Waffles: milk, soy protein, sugar, salt, egg, corn oil, wheat flour, lecithin, buttermilk and yeast.

 b) "Pancakes": the same ingredients are used as for the waffles with the exception of salt and in different proportions.

 c) Blinis: the same ingredients are used as for the waffles with the exception of sugar and in different proportions.

2. FREEZING
From the dough obtained under the conditions indicated above, perfectly weighed unit doses are produced which are then distributed in hollow freezing plates, the dimensions of which are chosen so as to be strictly identical to the desired finished product. The dough preforms thus obtained are then frozen.

3. PACKAGING
The frozen dough preforms are stacked on top of each other with the interposition of an interlayer material which may consist, for example, of a sheet of parchment paper which is folded in an accordion around each preform. It is also possible to use as interlayer a layer of fresh flour or of crystallized sugar which is deposited between each preform of frozen dough.

 The stacks of preforms are then provided with a film, freezable and waterproof packaging and then placed in boxes to be stored at the freezing temperature, of the order of - 150 C.

 The automatic manufacturing and distribution machine according to 1 invention uses the dough preforms thus obtained to manufacture products such as waffles, blinis and "pancakes1".

 Referring to the single figure of the accompanying drawing which schematically represents a machine according to 1 invention, it can be seen that the latter comprises at its upper part a storage enclosure 10 in which a refrigeration unit, placed in the compartment 12 of the machine, maintains at freezing temperature, for example - 15 C one or more stacks of dough preforms 14 produced according to the method of the invention.

 The machine comprises means making it possible to extract one by one each of the dough preforms from the stack 14, under the effect of an external command, for example the introduction into the machine of a coin representing the price of product the consumer wants. These extraction means can be produced either in the form of a hatch, or in the form of a system exerting traction on the intermediate material interposed between each dough preform.

 In the embodiment shown in the drawing and which has no limiting character, the extraction of each dough preform is obtained by pulling on the intermediate sheet 26 positioned between the preforms of the stack. This sheet passes over cylinders such as 22 and 24, the traction of the sheet bringing the preform located at the lower part of the stack along the guide surface 16 described below. It is of course possible to envisage other devices making it possible to carry out the extraction of a preform from the stack 14.

 The frozen dough preform thus extracted from the isothermal storage enclosure 10 is brought along an inclined guide platform 16 which positions it between the jaws 18, 18 ′ of a heating device designated as a whole by the reference 20.

In this exemplary embodiment, the lower jaw 18 'is fixed and the upper jaw 18 is movable so as to fall back on the frozen dough preform which is deposited on the lower jaw 18'. The shapes of the jaws are chosen so as to present the design or the configuration of the products to be obtained, such as in particular waffles, "pancakes", blinis.

 The jaws 18, 18 'of the heating device are then brought to the baking temperature of the dough. The heating time is controlled by a time delay system of the conventional type.

After the time necessary for the product to cook, the jaw 18 opens and an ejection system (not shown in the drawing but which can be of any conventional mechanical type) distributes the product finally obtained to the consumer. The machine may include a container on which the product produced is deposited after it has been ejected.

 It remains to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the examples of embodiment or implementation described and / or mentioned above but that it encompasses all variants thereof.

Claims (5)

 1. Process for preparing unit doses of baking dough which can be stored, kept and dispensed on automatic machines for the manufacture and distribution of products such as waffles, blinis and products of the thick pancake type designated by the Anglo-Saxons as "pancakes", characterized by the following stages  - preparation of unit doses of paste containing intimate mixtures of the ingredients of the paste;  - conditioning of each unit dose after weighing, in preforms in freezer plates of shape and dimensions corresponding to the final product  - freezing of the preforms thus obtained and  - packaging of said preforms and packaging in stacks.  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after freezing, the preforms are stacked with interposition, between each preform of an intermediate material which can be constituted by parchment paper folded in accordion around each preform, by a layer of fresh flour or granulated sugar.  3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the stacks of preforms are packaged in a freezable film, sealed and then stored in boxes before being stored at freezing temperature.  4. Automatic machine for making and dispensing products such as waffles, "pancakes", blinis from unit doses of dough obtained by the implementation of the process defined according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that 'she understands  - an isothermal storage enclosure (10), refrigerant in which are placed the stacks of unit doses (14) which are maintained in this enclosure at the freezing temperature  means for extracting one by one each unit dose from the storage enclosure  - Means (16) for delivering each dose extracted from the storage enclosure to a system (20) of heating jaws (18, 18 ') constituting a mold whose configuration is that of the product to be obtained  - time delay means for controlling the duration of the heating of said heating jaws and  - Means for ejecting from the machine after cooking the product finally obtained.  5. Automatic machine according to claim 4, characterized in that the extraction of each dough preform is obtained by traction on the intermediate sheet (26) positioned between the preforms of the stack (14), this sheet passing over cylinders ( 22 and 24), the traction of the sheet bringing the preform located at the lower part of the stack along a guide surface (16) delivering the preform to the heating jaws.