IE41437B1 - Machine and method for dividing dough or like plastic material - Google Patents

Abstract

1447140 Dough-dividing BAKER PERKINS HOLDINGS Ltd 15 July 1975 [29 July 1974] 33439/74 Heading B5A Dough is divided by charging an amount from a dough mass through an outlet and into a measuring cylinder (in position I) in register with a first portion 4 of said outlet, moving the measuring cylinder relative to the outlet (to position II) and discharging some dough from the measuring cylinder back into the dough mass while the measuring cylinder is in register with a second portion 5 of said outlet, of smaller cross-section than the first, so leaving a metered quantity of dough in the measuring cylinder, which is discharged at position III.

Description

The present invention relates to a method, and machine for dividing metered quantities of dough or like plastic material from a material mass, and more particularly to a dividing machine for dividing bakers dough, from a dough mass.

It is particularly important in the baking industry that dividing machines should be capable of metering an accurate amount of dough from a dough mass. Such metered portions of dough must be of a particular weight which is largely dependent upon the pressure applied to the dough during the dividing process. However care should be taken that, during the dividing process, the dough is not overworked thus destroying cell structure and hence dough quality.

In certain known dividing machines, the dough cell structure can be affected by overworking during the dough dividing process.

Another common occurrence with some known dividing machines is that a residual or excess portion of dough remains in a top box or other part of the machine after each metered portion is divided from the dough mass. This residual portion becomes stale and thus affects the quality of dough in the machine.

Furthermore, known dividing machines of the ram and knife type have a complex construction with a large number of moving parts which require frequent maintenance and also tend to produce upward deflection or bowing of the knife resulting in inaccurate dividing.

The dividing machine of the present invention attempts to provide an accurate metering of dough. The dividing machine - 2 41437 has mechanical simplicity and hence high-speed operation whilst allowing wear of mating surfaces to he easily taken up. The particular arrangement of the present dividing machine permits each metered portion by weight of dough to he relatively easily controlled and also allows a gentle dividing action.

According to the present invention, there is provided plastic a method of dividing dough or like/material wherein said material is charged from a material mass through an outlet and into a measuring cylinder in register with a first portion of said outlet, relative movement is performed between the measuring cylinder and the material mass, material from said measuring cylinder is discharged into said material mass whilst the measuring cylinder is registered with a second portion of said outlet of smaller cross-section than the first portion for obtaining a metered charge of material in the measuring cylinder, and then said metered charge is discharged from the measuring cylinder.

In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dividing machine comprising a hopper for dough or like plastic material, the hopper having an outlet, and a measuring cylinder movable to a first, a second and a third position respectively, wherein the measuring cylinder in said first position registers with a first portion of said outlet for charging the measuring cylinder with material from the hopper, at least a part of the measuring cylinder in said second position registers with a second portion of said outlet of smaller cross-section than the first portion for partially discharging material from the cylinder into the - 3 41437 hopper to obtain a metered charge of material in the measuring cylinder, and the measuring cylinder in said third position is adapted to discharge said metered charge.

Preferably, the first portion of the hopper outlet is generally circular and of the same diameter as the measuring cylinder, and the second portion extends from part of the circumference of the first portion.

Conveniently, said first, second and third positions may he disposed on the circumference of a circle whose axis is parallel with the axis of the measuring cylinder.

A particular embodiment of the dividing machine according to the present invention will now he described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying draftings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view showing three positions and the direction of movement of a dough measuring cylinder with respect to a hopper mouth or outlet of a dividing machine.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional side view of part of a dough hopper with the measuring cylinder in position I of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2, and illustrates the measuring cylinder in position II of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 2 and illustrates the measuring cylinder in position III of Figure 1.

According to the particular emboaiment illustrated, each measuring Cylinder, of which there may he for example two, three or four, moves in the direction indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1 in a circular path around a horizontal axis B. between positions I, II and III shown in dotted lines. The measuring cylinders are substantially horizontal during - 4 41437 movement and. operation.

Figure 1 illustrates a dough hopper outlet 1 having a presently preferred, profile. However, other profiles are envisaged, which will permit the method, of the present invention to he performed.. The hopper 2 has a vertical inlet (not illustrated.) and a non-stick surface finish. Dough may he fed into the hopper 2 either mechanically or manually.

In position I (Figure 2), a measuring cylinder 3 is in register with a major portion 4 of the outlet 1 to facilitate filling with dough from the hopper. In position II.(Figure 3), the measuring cylinder 3 is in register with a minor portion 5 of the outlet 1 whilst dough may he partially ejected for weight control purposes. The measuring cylinder 3 is out of register with the outlet and away from the hopper wall when in position III (Figure 4), so that the metered quantity of dough may be discharged to a conveyor or the like.

It will be seen from Figures 2, 3 and 4 that a pneumatic cylinder 6 is associated with the measuring cylindeh 3, compressed air being suppliable through inlets 7 and 8 to the pneumatic cylinder 6 to actuate a pneumatic piston 9 connected by a piston rod 10 to a measuring piston 11 so that dough is sucked into or ejected from the measuring cylinder 3 through the hopper outlet 1.

In operation, the measuring cylinder 3 commences its cycle at position I (Figure 2) where a quantity of dough more than the metered quantity eventually required, is sucked through the major portion 4 of the hopper outlet 1 into the measuring cylinder 3 from the hopper 2, the pistons 9 and. 11 moving in the direction of the arrow C from their position shown.' in solid - 5 41437 lines to that shown in dotted, lines.

During tho next stages of tho cyclo (Figure 3) the measuring cylinder 3 io in position 11 and dough therein is partially ejected hack into the hopper 2 through the minor portion 5 °f the specially shaped hopper outlet 1. This operation ensures that all air is driven from the measuring cylinder 3· The piston 9 of the pneumatic cylinder 6 moves forward to eject surplus dough by means of the measuring piston 11 from the measuring cylinder 3 through the hopper outlet 1. The specially shaped outlet 1 creates a high pressure discharge and gives more accurate weight apportioning of the divided dough in the measuring cylinder 3· The pneumatic piston travel during this stage is limited by a fixed stop 12 and a weight control screw 13 on an extension of the piston rod 10 so that a metered portion of dough may he obtained in the measuring'-.cylinder.

The measuring cylinder assembly then moves to the final stage in the cycle when the measuring cylinder assembly is in position III and the metered portion of dough is discharged from the measuring cylinder 3 (Figure 4).

It will be appreciated that other modes of measuring cylinder movement are possible within the scope of the present invention. The measuring cylinder may, for example, move with respect to the hopper in an intermittent instead of a continuous manner. Also, the cylinder may perform an oscillatory cycle or a closed-path cycle about the hopper. Furthermore, the hopper may be of any convenient shape in order to accommodate the chosen mode of measuring cylinder movement.

Alternatively, the hopper may be moved whilst the measuring cylinder or· cylinders are stationary.

Claims (8)

1. What we claim is:plastic Ί. A method of dividing dough or like/material wherein said material is charged from a material mass through an outlet and into a measuring cylinder in register with a first £ · portion of said outlet, relative movement is performed between the measuring cylinder and the material mass, material from said measuring cylinder is discharged into said material mass whilst the measuring cylinder is registered with a second portion of said outlet of smaller cross-section thdn the jq first portion for obtaining a metered charge of material I in the measuring cylinder, and then said metered charge is discharged from the measuring cylinder.

2. A dividing machine comprising a hopper for dough or like plastic material, the hopper having an outlet, and IS' a measuring cylinder movable to a first, a second and a third position respectively, wherein the measuring cylinder in said first position registers with a first portion of said outlet for charging the measuring cylinder with material from the hopper, at least a part of the measuring cylinder in said 10 second position registers with a second portion of said outlet of smaller cross-section than the first portion for partially discharging material from the cylinder into the hopper to obtain a metered charge of material in the measuring cylinder, and. the measuring cylinder in said third position is adapted to 25 discharge said metered charge.

3. A dividing machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein the first portion of the hopper outlet is generally circular and of the same diameter as the measuring cylinder, and the second portion extends from part of the circumference of the first portion. - 7 41437

4. A dividing machine as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein said first, second and third positions are disposed on the circumference of a circle whose axis is parallel with the axis o£ the measuring cylinder.

5. A dividing machine as claimed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein a pneumatic cylinder is mounted on the end of the measuring cylinder remote from the hopper outlet, the two cylinders being axially aligned and carrying respective pistons rigidly interconnected by a piston rod, whereby the |O piston of the measuring cylinder is actuated by the piston of the pneumatic cylinder.

6. A dividing machine as claimed in claim, 5 wherein the piston rod extends from the end of pneumatic cylinder remote from the measuring cylinder, the end of said rod IS carrying an adjustable screw engageable with a fixed stop when the measuring cylinder is in said second position, whereby the charge of material in the measuring cylinder is metered by adjustable control of the travel of the pistons when material is discharged from the measuring cylinder 20 through said second portion of the hopper outlet.

7. A method of dividing dough or like plastic material substan tially as herein described and claimed in claim 1.

8. A dividing machine substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.