GB2130875A

GB2130875A - Dough proving enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2130875A
Application number: GB08330934A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Martin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-11-19
Filing date: 1983-11-19
Publication date: 1984-06-13
Also published as: GB8330934D0

Abstract

An enclosure, for example a cabinet (1), for use in proving dough has a water evaporator (4, 5, 6 and 7) and heating elements (8) in the lowermost part thereof. Shelves (2) are located in the cabinet in such a manner as to be spaced from the walls. A fan (9) is associated with each heating element (8) and is arranged to blow heated air upwardly over opposed walls of the enclosure. A module containing the evaporator, heating elements and fans, together with appropriate instruments and controls, is removable to permit rapid replacement without risk to the dough. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dough proving enclosure This invention relates to an enclosure, typically a cabinet, for use in proving dough.

Dough-proving cabinets are extensively used in the making of bread and similar dough products to assist the dough in rising, or proving, under the action of the yeast before baking takes place. To ensure uniformity of the eventual bread, proving cabinets are arranged to provide controlled conditions of humidity and temperature. The humidity is usually raised by providing a water evaporator at the lowermost part of the cabinet, and the temperature is raised to the desired level by heating elements arranged next to the evaporator. A fan may be provided to assist circulation of heat.

A problem which arises with cabinets of this type is that of condensation. This gives rise to water collecting in the lower part of the cabinet and eventually escaping to the floor around the cabinet. A further difficulty is that of control of proving. It is important to remove the dough from the proving cabinet and place it in the oven at exactly the right stage of proving, to ensure satisfactory texture and crust of the bread. The arrival of this stage is difficult to predict and requires the exercise of judgment based on observation of the dough, requiring the door of the cabinet to be opened. The sudden temperature change on opening the door can adversely affect the dough if it is not fully proved.

Condensation greatly diminishes the usefulness of any window provided in the cabinet to permit observation of the dough.

According to one aspect of the present invention, an enclosure for use in proving dough comprises sheif-locating means for locating within the enclosure a plurality of shelves for receiving the dough such that the shelves are spaced from the walls of the enclosure, and a water evaporator and a blower means associated with the enclosure, the blower means being arranged to blow heated air upwardly over opposed walls of the enclosure.

The blower means may comprise at least one fan, and an electrical heating element associated therewith. Preferably, individual fans or blowers are provided for each of the walls over which air is to be blown. The water evaporator may be of conventional form, having a tank for receiving water and an electrical heating element within the tanks. A baffle may be fitted over or in the tank to deflect water vapour issuing from the tank in the streams of air blown upwardly over the walls.

Another aspect of the invention provides an enclosure for use in proving dough, comprising a water evaporator and a heater in the lowermost part thereof, wherein the evaporator and heater are mounted in a module which is readily removable from the cabinet.

The temperature controls and any other controls or instruments may also be included in the module. In the event of failure of any of the components, the complete module can be readily replaced, thus reducing the risk of spoiling the batch of dough by transferring it to another cabinet or enclosure, or by the delay occasioned by repairs. The module may be arranged to slide into or out of an aperture in one wall of the cabinet, or into a suitable mounting adjacent to an opening through the wall of an enclosure formed, for example, as part of a building.

Reference is made to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a partial vertical section through a proving cabinet in accordance with the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view from the front showing the cabinet of Figure 1 with the heaterevaporator module partially removed.

The cabinet 1 is of thermally insulated sheet metal construction having a plurality of tray mounting slides (not shown) mounted on the side walls but spaced therefrom by a distance of approximately 25 mm. A plurality of trays 2 each bearing portions of dough for proving, may be supported by the slides, which permit the trays to be readily removed, when the dough is proved, and placed in the oven for baking. In the base of the cabinet the heater/evaporator module 3 is located. The module is arranged readily to slide into and out of the cabinet 1.

The module comprises an evaporator tank 4 containing an electrical heating element 5 and located approximately centrally of the module. A V-shaped baffle 6 extends into the tank 14 so as to leave only a narrow opening 7 along each side of the tank 4 for escape of water vapour. Alongside each opening 7 is located an air-heating electrical element 8 over the outlet of electrically-powered rotary blower 9. Each blower is arranged to direct air upwardly over the element 8 and then on to the adjacent side wall of the cabinet so as to move upwardly around the trays 2 through the gaps left around them. The velocity of the air is high, thus generating turbulence within the cabinet and ensuring thorough mixing. A baffle at the top of the cabinet (not shown) deflects air downwardly at the front and rear walls of the cabinet.

The module 3 is provided with a front panel 10 which is visible at the front of the cabinet beneath the door thereto. The panel 10 carries instruments and controls. The door of the cabinet includes a transparent panel enabling progress of the proving to be viewed in all the trays in the cabinet, while a fluorescent light extends vertically in the rear wall of the cabinet to illuminate all the trays from behind. The flow of air deflected downwardly over the door ensures that condensation does not obscure vision through the transparent panel. The heat generated by the fluorescent light will be sufficient to avoid condensation on the rear wall.

In an alternate embodiment (not shown), the cabinet or enclosure is constructed as a permanent structure within a building so as to permit one or more wheeled stands carrying the trays of dough portions to be pushed into the enclosure. In this embodiment the side walls of the enclosure each have a separate compartment constructed outside the enclosure to receive a module containing the evaporator, heater and fan, with appropriate controls and instruments, and with an opening through which a part of the module can extend into the enclosure to direct a flow of moist heated air upwardly over the surface of the respective side wall. The door to the enclosure may include at least one transparent panel through which the progress of the proving may be viewed. The modules are again readily replaceable, if faulty.

Claims

1. An enclosure for use in proving dough, comprising shelf-locating means for locating within the enclosure a plurality of shelves for receiving the dough such that the shelves are spaced from the walls of the enclosure, and a water evaporator and a blower means associated with the enclosure, the blower means being arranged to blow heated air upwardly over opposed walls of the enclosure.

2. An enclosure according to Claim 1, wherein the blower means comprises at least one fan and an electrical heating element associated therewith.

3. An enclosure according to Claim 2, wherein the blower means comprises a pair of fans, each having an associated electrical heating element, each fan being arranged to blow air over a respective one of the walls of the enclosure.

4. An enclosure according to any preceding claim, wherein the water evaporator is provided with a baffle directing water vapour into the air blown by the or each fan.

5. An enclosure for use in proving dough, comprising a water evaporator and heater in the lowermost part thereof, wherein the evaporator and a heater are mounted in a module which is readily removable from the enclosure.

6. An enclosure according to Claim 5, wherein the module also includes temperature controls and/or measuring instruments.

7. An enclosure according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein two or more removable modules are provided, each associated with a respective one of the walls of the enclosure, and each including a water evaporator and heater.

8. An enclosure according to Claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the or each module includes a fan arranged to blow air upwardly over at least one of the walls of the enclosure, the air blown being heated by the heater.

9. An enclosure for use in proving dough, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.