GB2211461A

GB2211461A - Dough shaping

Info

Publication number: GB2211461A
Application number: GB8829564A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Werner Zimmermann
Original assignee: Barthels & Lueders Werk B GmbH
Current assignee: Barthels & Lueders Werk B GmbH
Priority date: 1987-12-21
Filing date: 1988-12-19
Publication date: 1989-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2008-12-19
Also published as: GB8829564D0; NL8803127A; IT1227701B; GB2211461B; IT8823023A0; FR2624785B1; DE3743319A1; BE1002166A5; FR2624785A1

Description

1 22141461 1 11 d Method and apiaratus for the deformation of a straight

coil produced from a mass of dough into a closed ring shape The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the deformation of a straight coil produced for a mass of dough into a closed ring shape. A bending apparatus required for this should serve as a module for attachment to existing plants of all kinds which make pieces of dough available as straight coils.

The invention is based on the object of deforming these coils of dough automatically in several improved working steps into a closed ring as a finished product.

In so doing the retention of shape should on the one hand be improved by measures which counteract the spring - back constant of the raw dough material, for example in that the horns (cornicles) are stretched in so the bending apparatus in the region of the external periphery - if necessary by means of an elastic transport band - and, on the other hand, the K closing process and the firm pressing process are to be simplified.

The solution of this object is described in the claims, it consists of the working steps named in the main claim. The advantage of the invention is to be seen in the fact that with croissants ring-shaped dough pieces can be automatically produced ready for baking so that the previous hand operations are avoided.

In order to explain the invention in detail an embodiment illustrated in the drawings will now be explained more closely. In the drawings there are shown:.

Figs. 1 and 2 respective cross-sections through the bending apparatus in accordance with the in ention as seen in the band direction, Fig. 3 a view of the bending apparatus in accordance with the invention as seen from above, Fig. 4 a closing body or ran (14) for carrying out the Fig. 5 a view of the bending apparatus in accordance with the invention as seen from the side.

Figs. 1 to 5 show, in accordance with the working step 1,the apparatus of the invention starting from the left with a transport band (10) which picks up a straight coiled piece of dough a for a horn or cornicle and so transports it to the right in the drawing, with the transport band running within a stationary shell. The stationary shell (not shown)"can be elastically deformed in controllable manner by a machine in order to give a piece of dough which has just been coiled a curvature similar to a horn.

In order to facilitate the deformation of the straight coil into a tlosed ring it receives a prebending in that it runs beneath the roller A and thus receives a notch at the centre of curvature. Only then are the so prebent pieces of dough (coils) preformed circularly and indeed to such a degree that the two ends overlap laterally (working step 2).

In the working step 3 the overlapping dough ends are placed alongside one another by contact pressure rollers 12 arranged in the upper region and are pressed into the desired form.

In the working step 4 the firm pressing is now effected within the transport band 10. This is necessary since the unbaked dough has a certain spring back constant which can cause opening of the so closed ring. In order to avoid this the bent pieces of dough which are still standing upright in the previously named preworking stations are pressed firmly together with the aid of the pivotal members 14 driven by the eccentric device 13.

The eccentric movement takes place in phase with the advance of the band so that one ensures that for each movement of the pivotal members 14 the dough ends are in each case hit.

Despite the firm pressing of the two overlapping dough so ends of the piece of dough which has been curved into a ring the spring back constant of the unbaked dough is in many cases still so strong that opening of the rings occurs on subsequently depositing the pieces of dough on the further processing band or baking tray.

In order to prevent this the transport band is first guided at the start of the bending process'so that a downwardly directed, loop-like, outwardly bowed portion of the transport band is formed beneath the coil lying on it, this bowed portion being termed the stretching reservoir b in the preceding description. This stretching reservoir b makes it possible to overextend the outer circumference of the coil of dough during the bending process into a ring shape. During this the stretching reservoir b is drawn tight against the coil of dough and the upper periphery of the coil of dough adhering to the remaining transport band can so to say be overextended by this length so that the spring back constant is largely cancelled (Fig. 2).

so 1

Claims

1. A method of forming a straight coil of dough or pastry into a closed ring shape, characterised in that the forming takes place in four sequential steps, namely:

1. prebending 2. preclosing 3. final closing 4. firm pressing.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the prebending step comprises the step of crushing the straight coil of dough in the middle.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, characterised in that the step of crushing the straight coil of dough in the middle is carried out to generate a notch at this position.

4. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the step of preclosing comprises moving the prebent coil of dough on a conveyor band either through a fixed forming shell or through another forming device to change the shape of the conveyor band progressively from a generally flat shape to a curved shape enclosing at least a substantial portion of the circumference of a ring corresponding to the outer peripheral shape of the closed ring of dough, by curling or folding the edges of the conveyor belt so upwardly and inwardly.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, characterised in that said substantial portion of the circumference of a ring comprises at least a 180 0 segment thereof and preferably a segment having an included angle at the centre of the ring of about 0 270 6. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the step of final closing comprises pressing the free ends of the coil of dough downwardly and inwardly towards each other e.g. by means of two rollers, so that the ends extend up to each other and preferably overlap.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6, characterised in that the rollers are driven at different speeds, or in opposite directions or are braked by different amounts so that one end of the coil of dough moves ahead of the other end of the coil of dough as viewed in the direction of movement of the conveyor whereby to permit overlapping of the dough ends.

8. A method in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the step of firm pressing comprises the step of exerting a force on each of the two adjacent ends of the coil of dough to bring then into firm contact with each other.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the step of firm pressing is executed by simultaneously pressing on the overlapping dough ends from the front and the rear as seen in the direction of so movement of the conveyor band.

10. Apparatus for forming a straight coil of dough or pastry into a closed ring shape, in particular in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, the apparatus comprising means for transporting the straight coils of dough through first, second, third and fourth working stations, there being a 7 first means for prebending the coil of dough in said first working station, second means for preclosing the prebent coil of dough into an approximately ring shaped form in said second working station, third means for finally closing said approximately ring-shaped form into a complete split-ring shaped form in said third working station and fourth means for firmly pressing the adjacent ends of split-ring shaped coils of dough together in said fourth working station.

11. Apparatus in accordance with claim 10, characterised in that transporting means comprising a conveyor band and said first means comprises a roller mounted above said conveyor band for indenting the coils of dough approximately at the middle thereof as they pass on the conveyor band beneath said roller.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11, characterised in that said second means comprises means for progressively changing the shape of said transport band from a generally flat shape at said first station to a generally curved shape enclosing at least a substantial portion of the circumference of a notional ring corresponding to the desired outer peripheral shape of the dough, in particular a portion of the circumference having an angular extent in the range from 180 0 to 3600 and particularly an angular extent of about 2700, by curving or folding the edges of the conveyor belt upwardly and inwardly.

13. Apparatus in accordance with claim 12, characterised in that said second means comprises a fixed forming shell through which said conveyor band runs, with said forming shell progressively changing in shape in the manner required of said transport band, or comprises forming devices engageable with the underside of said band as it passes from the first station through the second station to effect the desired change in shape.

14. Apparatus in accordance with one of the preceding claims 10 to 13, characterised in that said third means comprises a pair of rollers disposed above said conveyor band with their surfaces pressing the free ends of the preclosed coils of dough downwardly and inwardly towards each other.

is. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14, characterised in that said rollers are disposed with their axes of rotation substantially perpendicular to the direction of said conveyor band, and subtending an angle to each other in the range from 180 0 (aligned position) to 90 0 preferably in the range from 150 0 to 1200 and in 0 particular an angle of about 135 16. Apparatus in accordance with claim 14 or claim 15, characterised in that means is provided for driving said rollers at different speeds or in different directions or for differently braking the rollers to advance one end of said coil of dough relative to the other in the direction of advance of the conveyor band.

17. Apparatus in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said fourth means comprises a pair of cooperating pressing members movable towards one another in the direction of advance of the conveyor band to press the overlapping ends of the coils of dough firmly together.

18. Apparatus in accordance with claim 17, characterised in that said pressing members are provided at the ends of pivotable arms movable towards each other by actuating means, e.g. by respective piston in cylinder units.

19. Apparatus in accordance with claim 18, characterised in that said pivotable arms, the pivot parts therefor and said actuating means are carried by a frame movable in an up and down direction towards said conveyor band in synchronism with the movement of coils of dough past said frame.

20. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19, characterised in that means is provided for synchronising the movement of said pivotal arms with the movement of coils of dough past said frame.

21. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19 or claim 20, characterised in that said means for producing up and down movement of said frame comprises a pair of synchronised eccentric drives.

22. Apparatus in accordance with claim 19, 20 or 21, characterised in that means is provided on said frame downstream of said press members for pivoting the ring shaped coils of dough downwardly to lie flat on the conveyor band or on a subsequent conveyor band.

23. Apparatus in accordance with claim 22, characterised in that said means comprises a pivotally mounted arm and an actuator therefor.

24. A method substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

25. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Published 1989 atThePatentMee,StateRouse,66171 InghI-lolbu-n,Londer,Pr, 1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtalnedfrom The Patent Office. Sales Branch, St Mary Gray, Orpington, Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent, Con, 1187