GB491820A - Improvements in or relating to dough-lapping machines - Google Patents

Abstract

491,820. Sheeting and folding dough. LOOSE, K. D., WATKINS, C. W., and GREEN, J. W. May 21, 1937, No. 14231. Convention date, March 1. [Class 87 (ii)] A dough-lapping machine comprises an oscillating or swinging depositing member 158 adapted to receive a dough sheet 24 and deposit it in overlapping layers upon a conveyer 142, and means for oscillating the member 158 with a compensated, varying speed during different portions of each stroke whereby stretching or wrinkling of the dough is avoided. The dough may be a laminated sheet comprising layers of dough alternating with layers of material such as fats, cheese or nuts. Dough is fed from hoppers 10, Fig. 1, between adjustable rollers 11 and the layer material is fed from open hoppers 14 by conveyers 15. The layers are fed on a conveyer 18 to consolidating rollers 23 and thence by a conveyer 25 to the feed rolls 149, 151 of the first dough lapper 158. The dough is deposited upon the conveyer 142 which is moving transversely of the dough and conveys it to a transfer conveyer 125, Fig. 3, which feeds it to the rolls of a second dough lapper 256. A second pair of conveyers transfer the overlapped dough to final gauging rolls and the sheet is delivered to cutting, baking or other machines. Each dough lapper comprises endless belts 165, 166, Fig. 14, passing round rollers 167, 168, 169, 173, 174, 175, 163, 164, the latter two being drive rollers. The rollers 163, 164 are connected by gearing with the feed rollers 149, 151. The lapper frame oscillates about a pivot 157, Figs. 1, 3. The rollers 163, 164, 167, 173 are fixed in the lapper frame 185, the latter two being adjustable. The rollers 168, 169, 174, 175 are mounted on bearings on reciprocating rods 181 and a sliding member 182. The free end of the member 182 carries a shaft 186 provided with rollers 192, Fig. 5, engaging within guideways 193 whereby the delivery end of the lapper is maintained at a constant distance from the conveyer 142. The shaft 186 also engages brackets 188, carried by rack bars 190 whereby the lapper frame is oscillated. The rack bars 190 are operated by gearing 205, 204, 207 from a rack bar 209 secured to a connecting rod 244 operated by a cam 227. The cam groove 240 is heart-shaped in form and so arranged that, at the beginning of each stroke, as in Fig. 14, the lapper is moved at a greater speed and toward the end of each half-stroke, at a lesser speed, than would occur with simple harmonic motion. The second half of each stroke is effected with an initial accelerated speed and a retardation near the end of the complete stroke. The cam 227 is rotated about a stub shaft 224 by worm gearing 230 from a drive shaft. In a modification, the shaft 186 of the lapper is connected to and reciprocated by an endless chain which is moved by sprocket gearing operated by ellipsoidal gears whereby the required variations in speed are obtained. In a further modification, the lapper is reciprocated by the shaft 186 being extended to engage in reversely -spiralled grooves in rotating drums connected by sprocket gearing. The inclinations of the spirals are directed to effect the speed variations. The feed rolls 149, 151 of each lapper can be adjusted to each other by means of hand wheels 249. The conveyers, lappers and rollers are' driven through variable speed transmission and other gearing from a main motor 30. Specification 467,027 is referred to.