US3433182A

US3433182A - Automatic feeding cutoff and bagel forming machine

Info

Publication number: US3433182A
Application number: US541795A
Authority: US
Inventors: Meyer Thompson
Original assignee: Thompson Bagel Machine Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Thompson Bagel Machine Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1966-04-11
Filing date: 1966-04-11
Publication date: 1969-03-18
Anticipated expiration: 1986-03-18

Description

March 18, 1969 M. THOMPSON AUTOMATIC FEEDING CUTOFF AND BAGEL FORMING iIAcHInE Sheet ofe Filed April 11, 1966 .L

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AUTOMATIC FEEDING CUTOEF AND BAGEL FORMING MACHINE Filed April 11, 1966 Sheet 3 IvvEA/TaQ ME v52 7ZIOMPSON fliraeueys.

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United States Patent 3,433,182 AUTOMATIC FEEDING CUTOFF AND BAGEL FORMING MACHINE Meyer Thompson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Thompson Bagel Machine Mfg. Corp., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 11, 1966, Ser. No. 541,795 US. Cl. 107-69 12 Claims Int. Cl. A21c 3/10, /02; A23g 7/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Machine for forming a succession of toroids from ribbon of plastic material such as dough by severing strips therefrom and forming them about a mandrel into toroids. Separation of the severed strips from the cutoff means and the ribbon is effected by separator means.

This invention relates in general to a machine for converting a batch of pliant, deformable, plastic composition or material, such as dough, into a plurality of toroids in rapid succession. More particularly, this invention relates to such an apparatus adapted to receive a generally nonuniform batch of relatively tough, elastic dough, required in making bagels, form the batch of dough into a generally uniform ribbon of dough in a first forming zone, cutoff strips of the relatively tough, elastic dough from the formed ribbon and quickly and successively form the cutoff strips into toroids of dough ready for proofing and baking into finished bagels.

In the art of forming and making bagels, the first step is to make up a batch of dough using a recipe or formula preferred by the particular baker making the bagels. It is well known that the dough used in making bagels is generally relatively heavy dough and elastic so that it cannot be formed in the same manner as other dough products, such as that known as doughnuts. The simplest and most common manner of forming bagel dough in the past has been for the baker to manually separate a relatively small amount of dough from the larger batch thereof and manually roll the separated dough into a generally cylindrical strip. This strip has then been manually folded into an annulus or toroid with overlapping ends, the ends being then hand-rolled into a generally integral relation to form a fairly uniform toroid. However, the manual forming of bagel toroids is slow, uneconomical and does not produce bagels of uniform thickness and size.

Prior apparatus or machines for mechanically forming bagel dough into toroids or an annular configuration have been employed, as disclosed in prior Patents Nos. 2,584,- 514 and 3,031,979. In the machine of Patent 2,584,514, the batch of bagel dough must be preformed and cut into strips to be received by the machine for forming into toroids. In the machine of Patent 3,031,979, the dough batch is separated into ball-like elements of dough which are then formed into toroids between a mandrel and relatively moving forming sleeves concentric with the mandrel. However, in forming a ball-shaped element of dough into a toroid, a considerable working of the dough occurs and it is necessary to adjust the recipe or ingredients of the dough as well as the proofing time, during which the dough is allowed to rise, prior to baking to compensate for this working of the dough. Heretofore, no machine suitable for making bagels has been adapted to receive a generally non-formed batch of tough, elastic bagel dough and convert the batch into a plurality of toroids with a minimum of working of the dough.

It is, therefore, the principal object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus for receiving and converting a batch of pliant, deformable, plastic composition or material such as relatively heavy, tough, and elastic bagel dough, into a plurality of individually formed toroids rapidly and continuously with a minimum of working of the dough formed into such toroids.

It is a primary object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus as in the foregoing object wherein a generally elongate batch of dough may be received by a machine and formed into a generally uniform ribbon of dough in a first forming zone, be cut successively into transverse strips of dough in a cutofi zone and thereafter be formed into a plurality of toroids in a second forming zone of the machine.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus as in the foregoing objects wherein means are provided for automatically and successively carrying or transporting cutoff strips of dough from the cutoff zone to a toroid forming means in the second forming zone.

It is a further object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus as in the foregoing objects wherein means are provided for effecting a separation of the cutoff strips of dough from the cutoff means and the ribbon of dough to facilitate the movement of cutoff strips from the cutoff zone to the second forming zone.

It is a still further object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids rapidly and continuously wherein a generally elongate batch of dough is formed in a first forming zone into a ribbon of dough, strips of dough are successively cut off from the ribbon of dough in a cutoff zone and the cutoff strips of dough are transported directly into the forming sleeves of a toroid forming means including relatively movable mandrel and forming sleeve assemblies in which the dough strips are formed into toroids with a minimum of working thereof.

It is also an object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus as in the foregoing object wherein the individual forming sleeve assemblies are opened to receive a strip of dough to be formed into a toroid and means are provided for seating and holding individual strips of dough in the associated open forming sleeve assemblies so that the dough strips are preformed into a semi-circular configuration upon closing of the associated forming sleeves preparatory to the forming thereof into a toroid upon relative movement between the forming sleeves and associated mandrel.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids as in the foregoing objects wherein automatically operating control means are provided for synchronizing the operation of dough batch feed means, first forming means in the forming zone to form the batch into a ribbon of dough, cutoff means in a cutoff zone and toroid forming means in a second forming zone.

It is a still further object of the present invention to disclose and provide an apparatus as in the foregoing object including control means for operating carrier means for carrying cutoff strips of dough from a cutoff zone to a toroid forming zone and separator means to facilitate the separation of cutoff strips from the cutoff means and ribbon in the cutoff zone in synchronized relation with the operation of the means recited in the foregoing object.

These and various other objects and advantages of the present apparatus for automatically feeding, cutting off and forming pliant material, such as bagel dough, into toroids will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the following detailed explanation of an exemplary embodiment thereof. Reference will be made to the appended sheets of drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of an exemplary embodiment of apparatus for automatically feeding, cutting-off and forming a batch of material such as dough into a plurality of individual toroids, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken therein along the plane II-II;

FIG. 3 is a rear detail view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken therein along the plane IIIIII;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken therein along the plane IVIV showing the forming of a batch of dough into a ribbon of dough directed into a cutoff zone;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken therein along the plane VV showing an exemplary cutoff means preparatory to cutting off a strip of dough from the ribbon of dough advanced into the cutoff zone;

FIG. 6 is a detail view of the apparatus of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 6 with the exemplary cutoff means engaging and cutting off a strip of dough from the ribbon of dough advanced into the cutoff zone;

FIG. 8 is a view of the apparatus of FIGS. 6 and 7 showing an exemplary separator means having separated a cutoff strip of dough from the cutoff means and ribbon of dough, the cutoff strip having been received by an exemplary carrier means preparatory to being carried into a toroid forming zone;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 taken therein along the plane IX-IX showing a cutoff strip of dough received on an exemplary carrier means preparatory to being carried into a toroid forming zone;

FIG. 10 is a detail view of the apparatus of FIG. 9 showing a cutoff strip of dough carried into ta toroid forming zone by the exemplary carrier means;

FIG. 11 is a view of the apparatus of FIG. 10 showing the operation of exemplary strip seating means operable in the toroid forming zone to seat a mid-portion of a cutoff strip received in an opened forming sleeve assembly;

FIG. 12 is a detail view of the exemplary toroid forming means provided in the toroid forming zone of the apparatus of FIG. 1 showing the successive stages from left to right of receiving a cutoff strip of dough in an opened forming assembly to the forming of the strip into a toroid at the extreme right side of the view;

FIG. 13 is a detail view of the apparatus of FIG. 12 taken therein along the plane XIII-XIII showing an opened forming sleeve assembly receiving a cutoff strip of dough carried thereto by the exemplary carrying means;

FIG. 14 is a detail view of the apparatus of FIG. 12 taken therein along the plane XIV-XIV showing the closing of a forming sleeve assembly about a cutoff strip of dough received therein with the exemplary strip seating means holding a mid-portion of the dough strip against the bottom of the forming sleeve assembly;

FIG. 15 is a detail view of the apparatus of FIG.- 12 taken therein along the plane XVXV showing the initial forming of a cutoff strip of dough disposed between the generally closed forming sleeve assemblies and the concentric mandrel;

FIG. 16 is a detail View of the apparatus of 12 showing first the forming of a cutoff dough strip between the exemplary forming sleeve assembly and concentric mandrel at plane XVIXVI in FIG. 12 and in a lower portion of the figure 'the subsequent opening of the exemplary forming sleeve assembly after moving past the mandrel to discharge the formed toroid onto a discharge conveyor;

FIG. 17 is a representation of the general configuration of a cutoff strip of dough as it is received in the toroid forming zone and moved therethrough between the forming sleeve assemblies and associated mandrel; and

FIG. 18 is a detail view of a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 2 showing the exemplary strip cutoff and strip separator means.

In general, the exemplary apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids includes a main frame indicated generally at 1 mounting a sub frame indicated generally at 10. A plurality of control cams, indicated generally at 20, are mounted on the sub frame and driven by motor or drive means, indicated generally at 30 for synchronously operating the various moving mechanisms of the apparatus.

The resilient, pliant material, indicated generally at 40, to be formed into toroids by the apparatus is received on a conveyor of the exemplary dough batch feeding means, indicated generally at 50. The elongate batch of dough 41, as seen in FIG. 5, is fed into a first forming zone, indicated generally at 80, in which exemplary dough batch roller means are provided for rolling the dough batch into a ribbon 42. The ribbon of dough 42 is then directed into a strip cutoff zone, indicated generally at wherein the exemplary strip cutoff means cut off a transverse strip 43 of dough.

Dough strip separator means, indicated generally at in FIGS. 6 through 8, are then operated to facilitate the separation of the cutoff strip 43 from the cutoff means and the ribbon of dough 42. As seen in FIG. 8, a cutoff strip of dough 43 is then received on the exemplary dough strip receiving and carrier means, indicated generally at 130. Such carrier means then is operated to carry the cutoff strip 43 into a second forming zone, indicated generally at in FIGS. 1 and 12.

The strip 43 is laid into an open forming sleeve assembly of toroid forming means operated in the second forming zone, as seen in FIGS. 12 and 13. Strip seating means,

indicated generally at 180 in FIGS. 12 and 14, are then operated to seat a mid-portion of the strip 43 down into the forming sleeve assembly, indicated generally at 160, and the sleeve cups and 171 are closed about the strip forming it into a semi-circular dough element 44, as seen in FIGS. 14 and 17.

The forming sleeve assembly is then moved relative to an inner concentric mandrel, indicated generally at 200 and as seen in FIGS. 12 and 15, to form the dough strip into a finished toroid. The finished toroid is then discharged, as seen in FIG. 16, from the forming assemblies onto a discharge conveyor 221 in a discharge zone, indicated generally at 220 in FIG. 1.

The operation of the dough batch feed means, indicated generally at 50; the dough batch roller means in the first forming zone, indicated generally at 80; the strip cutoff means in the cutoff zone, indicated generally at 100; the dough strip separator means, indicated generally at 120; the dough strip receiving and carrier means, indicated generally at 130; and the strip seating means, indicated generally at are all operated synchronously and in cooperation with each other by the control drive means, including the plurality of drive discs or control cams, indicated generally at 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2. The control cams or drive discs, indicated generally at 20, in the exemplary embodiment are all mounted on a common control drive shaft 21, driven by the motor means indicated generally at 30, to cause a continuous cycling and synchronous operation of all apparatus mechanisms or means to rapidly and continuously convert the generally non-formed batch of dough, indicated generally at 40, into a plurality of toroids 47 being discharged onto the discharge conveyor in the discharge zone indicated generally at 220.

The exemplary embodiment will now be described in detail. Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3, the apparatus is provided with a main frame, indicated generally at 1 including a plurality of corner posts, 2, 3, 4 and 5 joined by bottom rails at their lower ends, as bottom rail 6. Intermediate their vertical extent, the corner posts are provided with front and back intermediate cross braces 7 and 8. In addition, a top rail 9 is provided between the right side corner posts 3 and 5.

A sub frame, indicated generally at 10, is mounted to the above-described main frame. Such sub frame includes front and rear lower rails or bars 11 and 12 mounted to the

front corner posts

2 and 3 and the rear corner posts 4 and 5, respectively. Transverse braces 15, 16 and 17 extending between and on the sub frame lower rails or bars 11 and 12 are provided upon which the sub frame top front and rear rails or bars 13 and 14 are mounted. As seen in FIG. 1, the sub frame, indicated generally at 10, extends outwardly of the main frame, indicated generally at 1, to the left in FIG. 1 to mount the drive control means, indicated generally at 20.

Drive control means, including a plurality of drive discs or control cams are provided for operating the various moving elements or mechanisms of the apparatus in synchronous and cooperating relation to each other. In

the exemplary embodiment, such drive control means includes the provision of a plurality of control cams upon a control drive shaft 21. Control drive shaft 21 is rotatably journaled in journal blocks 22 and 23 mounted upon the sub frame top rails or bars 13 and 14, respectively.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the control cams or drive discs are mounted upon shaft 21 to be rotated thereby and include a dough batch feed and roller means control cam or drive disc 24, a strip cutoff means and strip separator means control cam or drive disc 25, a strip seating means control cam or drive disc 26 and a strip receiving and carrier means control cam or drive disc 27. The operation and cooperation of each control cams or drive

discs

24, 25, 26 and 27, with its various associated means, will be described in detail together with the description of such associated means hereinafter.

Motor means are provided for driving the drive control means including the various control cams or drive discs. In the exemplary embodiment, such motor or drive means includes a motor 31 and associated mechanisms for driving the control drive shaft 21 by the operation of motor 31. As seen in FIG. 1, motor 31 is provided with a motor shaft 32 upon which is fixed a drive sprocket 33. A drive chain 34 is provided about the drive sprocket 33 and an upper driven sprocket 35 mounted upon an intermediate drive shaft 36 rotatably journaled in the journal blocks 37 and 38, mounted respectively upon the frame intermediate cross braces 7 and 8. The rear view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 including the journal block 38 and intermediate drive shaft 36 is best seen in FIG. 3. Operation of motor 31 thus drives the intermediate drive shaft 36. The intermediate drive shaft 36 is employed for operating the exemplary toroid forming means in the second forming zone, indicated generally at 150, as hereinafter described in detail.

Control drive shaft 21 upon which the control cams or drive discs, indicated generally at 20 are mounted, is driven by a second drive chain 29 operably connected to the intermediate drive shaft 36, as best seen in FIG. 3. An intermediate drive sprocket 39, fixedly mounted u on shaft 36, is employed to drive chain 29 and the upper driven control sprocket 28 fixed upon the control drive shaft 21.

Therefore, upon operation of motor 31, the toroid forming means in the second forming zone, indicated generally at 150, and including the plurality of forming assemblies 160, is operated by the intermediate drive shaft 36 and the plurality of control cams or drive cams, indicated generally at 20, are rotated by their associated control drive shaft 21, which in turn is rotated by intermediate drive shaft 36, in synchronism and cooperative relation to the movement of the toroid forming sleeve assemblies 160.

Dough batch feed means are provided in the apparatus to receive a generally non-formed batch of material such as dough, indicated generally at 40, and deliver it into a first forming zone indicated generally at 80. In the exemplary embodiment, such dough batch feed means includes the provision of a conveyor belt 51 run in conventional manner about a sheave 52 rotatably mounted by shaft 53. Conveyor frame side rails or bars 54 and 55 are mounted upon the frame top right side rail 9 and support, at their left ends in FIGS. 1 and 2, the

guide plates

56 and 57. Conveyor shaft 53 may be rotatably journaled in the

guide plates

56 and 57 and, as best seen in FIG. 2, extend outwardly thereof to mount a drive sprocket 58 to be employed in driving the conveyor belt 51. Belt 51 is shown broken off in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, but, as is apparent to those skilled in the art, belt 51 would continue on about an additional sheave or sheaves so as to be mounted for endless rotation in conventional manner.

Drive means for driving the dough batch feed means, indicated generally at 50, by the operation of the associated control cam or drive disc 24 are indicated generally at 60 in FIGS. 1 through 3. Conveyor shaft sprocket 58 is driven by a chain 61 mounted about sprocket 58 and a chain drive sprocket 62 fixed upon a drive shaft 63. Shaft 63, as best seen in FIG. 2, is rotatably journaled in a journal block 64, mounted on the sub frame rail 14, and a pair of spaced

support plates

65 and 66, mounted to the inner side of the sub frame top rails 13 and 14, respectively. As seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, a ratchet wheel 67 is non-rotatably fixed upon shaft 63 at the end thereof opposite the drive sprocket 62. Ratchet wheel 67 is driven by rotation of the feed means control cam or drive disc 24.

As seen in FIG. 3, rotation of the dough batch feed means control cam or drive disc 24 in a counter-clockwise direction brings the cam projections or

arms

70, 71 and 72 into successive abutting engagement with stud 69 upon the lever arm 68. Arm 68 is rotatably mounted upon shaft 63 and is provided with a weighted portion 73 at an end thereof opposite the end mounting stud 69. Arm 68 is thus biased by weight portion 73 in a counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 3 while it is successively and intermittently rotated in a clockwise direction by the abutment of

cam portions

70, 71 and 72 with stud 69.

Intermittent and successive operation of lever 68 by the cam 24 is transmitted to the ratchet wheel 67 fixed upon drive shaft 63 through a pawl 74 pivotally mounted Within a pawl housing 75 formed in housing arm 76. Arm 76 is mounted in non-rotational relation to the lever arm 68 so that clockwise rotation of arm 68 in FIG. 3 by cam 24 causes clockwise rotation of shaft 63, through the abutment of pawl 74 with the ratchet wheel 67. After a cam portion, such as portion 70, has moved past stud 69, the arm 68 is allowed to move in a counter-clockwise direction, in FIG. 3, until the pawl housing abuts the stop or stud 77 protruding from the frame plate 66, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The batch of dough, indicated generally at 40, is prefably provided in a somewhat elongate mass 41, so that it fits upon the conveyor and is advanced successively and intermittently by the operation of the feed means control cam or drive disc 24 upon the exemplary dough batch feed means, indicated generally at 50, and its associated interconnecting drive means, indicated generally at 60. As seen in FIG. 5, the elongate mass or batch of dough 41 is advanced by the conveyor into a first forming zone where it is rolled into a ribbon of dough 41 having a relatively uniform thickness preparatory to being successively and intermittently cut off into dough strips 43.

Dough batch roller means are provided in a first forming zone, indicated generally at 80, for forming the generally non-uniform mass or batch of dough 41 into a uniform ribbon of dough. In the exemplary embodiment, such roller means are driven in synchronized cooperating relation with the dough batch feed means, indicated generally at 50, through the operation of the control cam or drive disc 24 and the associated drive means, indicated generally at 60. As best seen in FIGS. 1 through 5, such dough roller means, in the exemplary embodiment, includes the provision of a first overhead roller 81 between the

conveyor guide plates

56 and 57 above the conveyor belt 51. Overhead roller 81 is rotatably mounted by the shaft 82 journaled in the

guide plates

56 and 57. A gear 83 fixed upon shaft 82 is driven by a drive gear 84 fixed upon conveyor shaft 53, as best seen in FIG. 3. Overhead roller 81 and drive belt 51 are thus driven at the same rate to cause an initial compacting or thinning of the dough, spreading it out into a more uniform thickness and width between the

guide plates

56 and 57.

The exemplary dough batch roller means also includes the provision of a pair of

opposed rollers

85 and 86. The bottom roller 86 is mounted upon shaft 63 to rotate therewith under the intermittent rotating action imparted thereto by the lever arm 68 and the associated control cam or drive disc 24. A drive gear 87 is provided on the end of shaft 63 opposite the end ratchet wheel 67 is mounted on, as best seen in FIG. 2. The top roller '85 is mounted upon a shaft 89, journaled in

plates

65 and 66. Shaft 89 and associated roller 85 are driven by the gear 88, fixed on shaft 89, which meshes with the drive gear 87 fixed to shaft 63. The

opposed rollers

85 and 86 are thus rotated in opposite directions at the same rate and intermittently in unison due to the action of the control cam or drive disc 24 acting on shaft 63 through the associated drive mechanism including the lever 68, arm 76, pawl 74 and ratchet wheel 67.

A guide or transfer plate 90 is provided, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, for conveying the dough ribbon from between the first roller 81 and conveyor 51 to the opposed

rollers

85 and 86. Such guide plate may be mounted to and suspended by the opposed

conveyor guide plates

56 and 57.

Means are provided for guiding the ribbon of dough from between the

opposed rollers

85 and 86 into a cutoff zone, indicated generally at 100 in FIGS. 1, 2 and 5. Such guide means in the exemplary embodiment includes the provision of a relatively small guide roller or direction roller 91 mounted by a shaft 92 adjacent the lower roller 86. As seen in FIG. 2, direction roller shaft 92 may be journaled in the

frame support plates

65 and 66 to Iotatably mount the direction roller 91 fixed upon shaft 92. A gear 93, fixed upon shaft 92 outwardly of the support plate 65, meshes with the drive gear 87 fixed upon drive shaft 63, as best seen in FIG. 1. Direction roller 91 is thus rotated by shaft 63 in unison with the opposed

rollers

85 and 86 and the top roller 81. As seen in FIG.

5, the direction roller 91 forces the ribbon 41 of dough to continue rolling about the lower roller 86 into a generally downward direction into the strip cut-off zone indicated generally at 100.

Strip cut-off means are provided in the zone, indicated generally at 100, for cutting off successive transverse strips 43 of dough to be carried to the toroid forming zone, indicated generally at 150. Referring to FIGS. 6 through 8, the cutoff means in the exemplary embodiment includes a cutoff blade assembly including a generally L-shaped blade element including a lower blade portion 101 and rear vertical flange 106. A detail plan view of the assembly, indicated generally at 100 in FIG. 2, is shown in FIG. 18. The generally L-shaped

blade

101, 106 is assembled to a pair of

side arms

102 and 103 which are pivotally mounted by the pivot pins 104 and 105, respectively, to the

frame support plates

65 and 66.

8 As best seen in FIG. 18, a side flange 107 is mounted to the arm 102 and an intermediate flange 111 is mounted to the rear flange 106 of the L-shaped blade. A cam roller 108 is mounted upon shaft 109 between the flange 111 and a third flange mounted to the blade flange 106 in spaced relation to the intermediate flange 111.

Strip cutoff means control cam or drive disc 25, as seen in FIGS. 5 through 8, is adapted to cam or abut the cam roller 108 on the blade assembly and thereby pivot the blade assembly upon its pivot points 104 and 105 into a strip cutoff movement, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Cutoff control cam or drive disc 25 is provided with a plurality of

cam portions

112, 113 and 114, as seen in FIG. 5, for successively and intermittently moving the blade assembly against the ribbon of dough 41. As seen in FIG. 6, cam portion 112 is about to abut or cam against the roller 108, shown in dotted line, on the blade assembly. Upon such camming or abutting engagement between the cam portion 112 and roller 108, the assembly blade 101 is swung against the dough ribbon to cut through it until blade 101 engages or is in close proximity to the roller 86. Control cam or drive disc 25 is oriented on shaft 21 physically out of phase with the feed means control cam 24, as seen in FIG. 3, so that it operates the cutoff means to cutoff a strip 43 of dough during a dwell or stopped position of the dough ribbon allowed by the intermittent driving action of the cam roller or disc 24, as hereinabove described.

Dough strip separator means are provided for facilitating the separation of a cutoff strip 43 of dough from the cutoff means as well as the ribbon 42 of dough. In order to avoid sticking of a cutoff strip of dough to the cutoff blade 101 and to insure the separation thereof from the ribbon of dough 42, it is preferred that a separator means be employed, as in the exemplary embodiment, to separate and urge the cutoff dough strip 43 downwardly toward a dough strip receiving and carrier means indicated generally at 130. In the exemplary embodiment, such dough strip separator means includes the provision of a separator blade 121 mounted to operate with and below the blade 101, as best seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 18. Separator blade or member 121 is pivotally mounted by a shaft 122 journaled in the cutoff assembly side flanges 107 and 111, as best seen in FIG. 18. A weighted rear end 123 is provided in association with the separator blade 121 to bias it normally upwardly against the underside of the cutoff means blade 101. A cam or abutment roller 124 is mounted upon a standard or journal 125 to be abutted by a cam roller 126 on the control cam 25, as best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. Cam roller 126 is mounted upon a stud or pin 127 extending laterally outwardly from the side of the cutoff means control cam or drive disc 25. Such a cam roller 126 is provided adjacent each of the

cam portions

112, 113 and 114 of the cam or disc 25, although only one such roller is seen in FIGS. 6 through 8. The cam roller mounted upon the control cam or drive disc 25 is positioned adjacent its associated

cam portions

112, 113 or 114 to abut the separator means roller 124 after the initial cutoff movement of the cam blade 101 but prior to the release of the cutoff blade 101 from the dough ribbon 41 and bottom roller 86 as seen in FIG. 8. When the cam roller, as roller 126 abuts the separator roller 124, as seen in FIG. 8, the separator blade is rotated about its pivot axis, shaft 122, to separate a cutoff strip 43 from the cutoff blade 101 and ribbon 41, and propel it downwardly toward the receiving and carrier means, indicated generally at 130.

In order to transfer a cutoff strip 43 of dough from the cutoff zone, indicated generally at 100 to the toroid forming means in the second forming zone, indicated generally at 150, dough strip receiving and carrier means are provided. Such receiving and carrier means, in the exemplary embodiment, are indicated generally at 130. the exemplary receiving and carrier means includes a the exemplary receiving and carried means includes a carrier assembly comprising a carrier head 131, having a plurality of projecting fingers 132, mounted upon a pair of arms 133 and 134 extending outwardly from a shaft 135. Shaft 135, as best seen in FIG. 2, is journaled in a pair of

flanges

136 and 137 extending inwardly of the apparatus from the frame left end cross bar 15. A pair of collars r

retainers

138 and 139 may be provided upon shaft 135 to position and retain shaft 135 relative to the

flanges

136 and 137.

The dough strip receiving and carrier means includes drive means interconnecting the carrier assembly with the receiving and carrier means control cam or drive disc 27. In the exemplary embodiment, such drive means includes the provision of a lever arm 140 mounted at the end of shaft 135 generally adjacent the control cam or drive disc 27. A counterweight 141 is provided on the lower end of lever arm 140 to counterweight the weight of the carrier head 131 positioned at the outer ends of arms 133 and 134. However, it is preferred that the counterweight 141 be insuflicient to prevent the dropping of carrier head 131 down into the second forming zone so that the carrier head is raised upwardly under the urging of the associated control cam or drive disc 27.

A stud 142 is provided at the upper end of the lever arm 140 to be abutted by the control cam or drive disc 27. Cam or disc 27 is provided with a plurality of

cam portions

143, 144 and 145 to successively and intermittently cam the lever arm 140 through stud 142 to successively cause raised and allow lowering of the carrier head 131 between the cutofi zone indicated generally at 100 and the second forming zone, indicated generally at 150. As seen in FIG. 9, the cam portion 143 of cam or disc 27 is abutting the stud 142 and holding the carrier 131, through the associated shaft 135 and arms 133 and 134, upwardly adjacent the strip cutoff zone, indicated generally at 100. Upon continued operation of the control drive shaft 21, the carrier means control cam or drive disc 27 is rotated clockwise into the position of FIG. in which the carrier head 131 is allowed to lower under its own weight into the second forming zone indicated generally at 150. A shield 146 may be provided to prevent the inadvertent dropping of cutoff strips off of the carrier fingers 132. Shield 146 may be mounted from a mounting cross bar 147 attached by conventional means, as welding, to the sub frame top bars 13 and 14.

Toroid forming means are provided in the second forming zone, indicated generally at 150, to receive the cutoff strips of dough 43 from the carrier means, indicated generally at 130 and for forming such strips into toroids to be discharged and carried away at the discharge zone, indicated generally at 220. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 12 and 13, the exemplary toroid forming means includes the provision of a plurality of movable forming sleeve assemblies 160, a stationary mandrel means, indicated generally at 200, and means for moving the forming sleeve assemblies 160 generally concentrically about and past the mandrel. As best seen in FIG. 12, the plurality of forming sleeve assemblies 160 are mounted upon a chain 151 driven about

sprockets

152 and 153. Sprocket 152 acts as the drive sprocket for chain 151, being mounted upon the intermediate drive shaft 36, shaft 36 being driven by the motor means, indicated generally at 30, as described previously. The driven sprocket 153 is mounted upon shaft 154 which is journaled in a pair of opposed journal blocks mounted to the frame cross braces 7 and 8, as block 155 is mounted on brace 7 in FIG. 1. Chain 151 includes a plurality of chain links 156 connected in conventional manner to form a link chain as seen in FIG. 12 and is run over a support runner 157 mounted from the frame cross braces 7 and 8 by curved support bars, as

bars

158 and 159 best seen in FIG. -1.

Each toroid forming sleeve assembly 160, as seen in FIGS. 12 and 13, includes a channel body 161 having a body base 162 and side walls or

flanges

163 and 164 integral therewith. Each sleeve assembly body base is mounted by depending

flanges

165 and 166 to links 156 of chain 151. A stationary center forming sleeve cup section 167 is mounted by the

side walls

163 and 164 of each forming sleeve assembly and a pair of pivot pins 168 and 169 are provided between the side walls at either end of each assembly.

The forming sleeve assemblies 160 include

sleeve cup sections

170 and 171 which are pivotally mounted upon the

pins

168 and 169, respectively, to allow opening and closing of the cup sections. The sections are opened to receive a cutoff strip 43, as seen in FIG. 13 and are adapted to be closed during subsequent forming of the strip into a toroid as seen in FIGS. 14 through 16.

Sleeve cup sections

170 and 171 are each mounted to their respective pivot pins 168 and 169 by a pair of arms.

Arms

172 and 174 mount cup 170 (compare the views in FIG. 16 and the side view of FIG. 12) while

arms

173 and 175 pivotally mount each cup section 171 to its pivot pin 169.

Means are provided for selectively opening and closing the toroid forming means sleeve assemblies 160 in order to receive a cutoff strip 43, as seen in FIG. 13, and to form the strip therein during movement of the assembly past the mandrel, indicated generally at 200. The means for closing the

sleeve sections

170 and 171 from the position of FIG. 13 to that of FIG. 16, top view, in the exemplary embodiment include the provision of

guide projections

176 and 177 on the free end of each of the

cup sections

170 and 171. Initially widely spaced and progressively

convergent guide rails

178 and 179 are mounted on the apparatus frame, as from the transverse braces 16 and 17. As each forming assembly 116 is rotated on chain 151 through the position shown in FIG. 13, the

guide projections

176 and 177 on the respective assembly sections contact the

guide rails

178 and 179 to cause a closing thereof, as seen in FIG. 14. The guide rails 178 and 179 become progressively closer spaced as the assemblies pass from left to right in FIG. 12 to cause the complete closing of the forming sleeve sections after passage past the support arm 204 mounting the mandrel as seen in FIG. 15. The means for opening each forming sleeve will be described subsequently in association with the means for effecting the discharge of a toroid from the assembly as seen in FIG. 16.

Strip seating means are preferably provided for seating the central or mid-portion of a cutoff strip 43 down into the forming assembly central cup section 167. As seen in FIG. 13, the carrier fingers deposit a cutoff strip 43 upon the forming assembly positioned by chain 51 therebelow. The plurality of fingers 131 of the exemplary carrier head, as seen in FIG. 13, may :move downwardly below the highest level of edge portions of the central cup section 167 to lay strip 143 thereon. The forming sleeve assemblies 160 are continuously moving and therefore immediately carry strip 43 away from the carrier head and fingers. It is preferred that a mid-portion of the strip be seated or moved downwardly against the central sleeve or cup section 167 and held there while the pivoted

side sections

170 and 171 are partially closed about the cutoff strip of dough. This is preferred in order to preform the received dough strip into a generally semicircular configuration, as dough element 44 in FIGS. 14 and 17. In the exemplary embodiment, such strip seating means includes the provision of a pivotally mounted seating head or hold-down member 181 adapted to come down upon and seat a mid-portion of a received strip down against the cup section 167. Head or member 181 is mounted generally at right angles and offset from a lever arm 182, as best seen in FIG. 14. Arm 182 is fixed upon a shaft 183 which, as best seen in FIG. 2, is journaled in journal blocks 184 and 185 mounted upon

frame members

13 and 14. A weight 186 is provided to bias the arm 182 and head 181 into a head raised 1 1 position as seen in FIG. 9. Weight 186 is connected to shaft 183 by the bent arm 187.

Seating head 181 is operated by the seating means control cam or drive disc 26 through interconnecting linkages or drive means. As seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 9 through 11, a lever arm 188 is fixed to and depends from shaft 183. The interconnecting linkage, indicated generally at 190, includes a link 191 pivoted by

pins

192 and 193 to a pivoted arm 194 and the lever arm 188, respectively. Pivoted arm 194 is pivotally mounted by a pivot pin or stub shaft 195 extending laterally outwardly from a support block 196 mounted to the frame plate 65 as best seen in FIGS. 11 and 2. A roller 197 is mounted upon arm 194 at a mid-portion thereof to be abutted by the strip seating means control cam or drive disc 26, as best seen in FIG. 11. Control cam or drive disc 26 is provided with a plurality of cam portions, such as portion 198 which is one of three similar portions in the exemplary embodiment. Cam or disc 26 and its associated portions are mounted upon the control drive shaft 21 in relation with the other control cams or drive discs to actuate the strip seating means seating head 181 downwardly against a cutoff strip 43 after it has been placed in an open forming sleeve assembly and moved to a position directly below the head 181. The forming sleeve sections are progressively closing around the strip received therein at the time the seating head or hammer 181 tamps, seats or strikes the strip mid-portion, as seen in FIG. 14. At this stage in the forming operation, the cutoff dough strip is formed into a generally semi-circular configuration ready to be passed between the forming assemblies and central concentric mandrel as will now be hereinafter described.

Mandrel means, indicated generally at 200, are provided in the toroid forming means for cooperation with the relatively moving forming sleeve assemblies to form the semi-circular strips 44 of dough into uniform toroids. In the exemplary embodiment, such mandrel means includes the provision of a mandrel having a tapered nose portion 201, a generally uniform cylindrical body section 202 and a tapered rear end portion 203. The mandrel is supported from its forward nose portion by support arm 204, as best seen in FIG. 15 Arm 204 may be formed integrally with a flange 205 mounted, as by welding, to a support plate 206 supported from the apparatus frame, as the transverse braces 16 and 17. As each forming assembly with its received dough strip 44 passes the mandrel, the free ends of the dough strip are urged into overlapping relationship. A curved barrier 207 is provided on the stationary mandrel to impede the path of travel and delay movement of one of the strip free ends, as end 48 seen in FIG. 17. By such delaying of one of the strip ends, it tends to overlap the preceding end during continued relative motion between the assemblies and mandrel and the ends are eventually formed into an integral mass and the strip into a toroid, as toroid 46 in FIG. 17. A slight seam or indication of a seam 49 may be present in the toroid due to such overlapping of the strip ends.

Toroid discharge means are provided for discharging the formed toroids from each of the toroid forming assemblies as the assemblies approach the discharge zone indicated generally at 220 in FIG. 1. Such means in the exemplary embodiment includes the provision of

guide rods

210 and 211, as seen in FIG. 16, on the apparatus frame. Laterally projecting

lever arms

212, 213, 214 and 215 may be provided on each assembly

side section arms

172, 173, 174 and 175, respectively, to abut such guide rods and cause opening of the sleeve sections. The guide rods may be continued about the lower lay of chain 151 to maintain the assemblies in open relationship preparatory to being positioned beneath the strip receiving and carrier means, indicated generally at 130, delivering successively cutoff strips of dough 43 into the assemblies.

The discharge means in the exemplary embodiment further includes the provision of a discharge conveyor 221 rolling about a conventional sheave mounted upon a conveyor shaft 222. Shaft 222 is mounted between two journal blocks mounted to the apparatus frame, as journal block 223 is mounted to frame post 3. The discharge conveyor is powered by a belt drive off of the exemplary motor means indicated generally at 30. A pulley or sheave 224 is fixed to the conveyor shaft 222 and is driven by a belt 225 run about the drive sheave 226 fixed to motor drive shaft 32. The operation of the exemplary motor means, therefore not only drives the toroid forming means continuously, but drives the discharge conveyor means in continuous manner to remove completed toroids of dough discharged from the forming sleeve assemblies.

From the foregoing detailed explanation of an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids, according to the present invention, it can be seen that the various foregoing objects have been achieved. The apparatus of the present invention is adapted to receive a batch of pliant deformable plastic composition or material such as a relatively heavy tough and elastic bagel dough. The dough is received in a generally non-formed elongate mass and is passed into a first forming zone wherein it is given a more uniform ribbon-like configuration. In the first forming zone the mass is provided with a generally uniform thickness and width and then directed into a strip cutoff zone. The batch of dough or ribbon is moved intermittently into the cutoff zone and successive transverse strips of dough are cut off from the ribbon and delivered into a second forming zone.

The cutting-off of successive transverse strips of dough from the ribbon of dough formed in the apparatus is done in rapid succession synchronized to the receiving and forming of strips by toroid forming means in the forming zone. Further, according to the present invention, the cutoff strips of dough are received by the carrier means in the cutoff zone and are carried to the forming assemblies in the forming zone in synchronized movement with relation to the other intermittently and continuously moving mechanisms and means in the apparatus. In the preferred embodiment, cutoff strip separator means are provided for facilitating the separation of a cut-off strip of dough from the cut-off blade and ribbon of dough, the cut-off strips being propelled downwardly in addition to the force of gravity toward the receiving and carrier means by said separator.

The individual dough strips successively received in the continuously moving forming assemblies are received in an opened forming assembly and seated therein during the closing of the sleeve sections about the strip. The received dough strip is thus preformed in the second forming zone into a semi-circular configuration or dough element preparatory to being formed between the forming assemblies and mandrel in to a toroid. A minimum of working and rolling of the dough is thereby afforded.

The formed toroids are continuously discharged into a discharge zone where, in the exemplary embodiment, a continuously moving discharge conveyor is provided for carrying the formed toroids away from the apparatus. It is, therefore, possible to continuously and successively form a plurality of toroids from a batch of material, such as bagel dough, wherein all operations of the apparatus are automatically controlled by a plurality of pre-arranged control cams or drive discs. The control cams or drive discs are all operated in unison and thus synchronize the operation of the various dough feeding means, cutoff means, separator means, carrier means, and seating means with the continuous operation of the toroid forming means and discharge means.

Having thus described an exemplary embodiment of the automatic feeding cutoff and bagel forming apparatus or machine, according to the present invention, it should be understoood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternative embodiments thereof can be made of the present apparatus which come within the scope of the present invention which is defined by and limited only by the following claims.

13 I claim: '1. An apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids rapidly and continuously, said apparatus comprising:

dough batch feed means for receiving an elongate batch of dough and for delivering it into a first forming zone;

dough batch roller means in said first forming zone for rolling said batch of dough into a generally uniform ribbon of dough;

dough guide means for guiding said ribbon of dough into a cutoff zone;

cutoff means in said cutoff zone for cutting transverse strips of dough off of said ribbon of dough;

toroid forming means in a second forming zone below said cutoff zone for receiving and successively forming strips of dough into toroids; and

carrier means for carrying each cutoff strip of dough from said cutoff zone to said second forming zone, said carrier means including a 'head portionto receive each cutoff strip and means for moving said head portion between said cutoff and second forming zones.

2. An apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids rapidly and continuously, said apparatus comprising:

dough guide means for guiding said ribbon of dough into a cutoff zone;

toroid forming means in a second forming zone below said cutoff zone for receiving and successively forming strips of dough into toroids;

carrier means for carrying each cutoff strip of dough from said cutoff zone to said toroid forming means; and

strip separator means for separating each cutoff strip from said cutoff means and urging it toward said second forming zone.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said toroid forming means comprises:

a mandrel;

a plurality of forming sleeve assemblies and means for providing relative toroid forming movement between said assemblies and mandrel, each sleeve assembly including sleeve sections and section mounting means for allowing opening and closing of the sleeve sections; and

sleeve section guide means for guiding said sections of said assemblies into an opened position to receive a dough strip from said carrier means and for guiding said opened sections into a closed position about a received strip preparatory to said relative toroid forming movement between said asemblies and mandrel.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 including:

strip seating means operable in said second forming zone to seat a mid-portion of each strip received in an opened sleeve assembly into abutting relation with said assembly and for holding said strip mid-portion in abutting relation with said assembly while said assembly sections are closed by said section guide means about said strip, said strip being preformed thereby into a semi-circular shape prior to said forming between said assembly and mandrel.

'5. The apparatus of claim 1 including the provision of:

control drive means for driving said dough batch feed means, roller means, cutoff means, and strip receiving and carrier means in synchronous relation.

6. An apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids rapidly and continuously, said apparatus comprising:

dough guide means for guiding said ribbon of dough into a cutoff zone;

toroid forming means in a second forming zone below said cutoff zone for receiving and successively forming strips of dough into toroids; carrier means for carrying each cutoff strip of dough from said cutoff zone to said toroid forming means;

control drive means for driving said dough batch feed means, roller means, cutoff means, and strip receiving and carrier means in synchronous relation, said control drive means including a plurality of control drive cams mounted on a common drive shaft; and

motor means for continuously driving said toroid forming means and control drive shaft in synchronous relation.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein:

said plurality of control drive cams dri-ve said feed,

roller, cutoff, and carrier means in intermittent motion.

8. An apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids comprising:

dough batch feed means for delivering dough in batch form to a first forming zone;

dough batch roller means in said first forming zone for rolling said batch of dough into a generally uniform continuous ribbon of dough;

guide means for guiding said ribbon of dough into a strip cutoff zone;

cutoff means in said cutoff zone for cutting off successive strips of dough from said ribbon;

strip separator means for separating each cutoff strip from said ribbon and cutoff means to drop said cutoff strip toward a second forming zone; strip receiving and carrier means operable between said cutoff zone and said second forming zone for receiving a cutoff strip of dough dropped by said separator from said cutoff zone and for carrying such strip into a said second forming zone; and

toroid forming means in said second forming zone for receiving successive dough strips from said carrier means and for forming said strips into toroids.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 including:

control drive means including a plurality of drive discs;

motor means for driving said discs in unison and for driving said toroid forming means; and

means for operating each of said feed, roller, cutoff,

separator and carrier means in pre-determined cooperative relation by said uniformly driven drive discs.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 including:

strip seating means for seating a cutoff strip in a forming assembly provided in said toroid forming means; and

linkage means for operating said seating means by one of said plurality of drive discs in a pre-determined manner relative to the operation of said carrier and toroid forming means.

11. In an apparatus for converting a batch of dough into a plurality of individual toroids rapidly and continuously wherein said apparatus includes means for delivering a ribbon of dough into a cutoff zone in which cutoff means are provided for cutting transverse strips off of said ribbon of dough and toroid forming means are provided in a second forming zone for receiving and successively forming strips of dough into toroids, the improvement comprising:

carrier means for carrying each cutoff strip of dough from said cutoff zone to said toroid forming means in said second forming zone, said carrier means including a head portion to receive each cutoff strip and means for moving said head portion between said cutoff and second forming zones.

12. -In an apparatus for converting a ribbon of dough into a plurality of individual strips for subsequent forming into toroids wherein said apparatus includes dough feed means for feeding a generally uniform ribbon of dough into a cutoff zone and cutoff means in said cutoff zone for cutting transverse strips of dough off of said ribbon of dough, the improvement comprising:

strip separator means including a separator member operatively associated with said cutoff means in said zone for separating each cutoff strip of dough from said cutoff means and urging it away from said cutofi means and ribbon of dough.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH SHEA, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.