WO1991012723A1

WO1991012723A1 - Equipment for measuring out lumps of dough usually called dough divider

Info

Publication number: WO1991012723A1
Application number: PCT/NL1991/000011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lodewijk Cornelis Rijkaart
Original assignee: Lodewijk Cornelis Rijkaart
Priority date: 1990-02-23
Filing date: 1991-01-28
Publication date: 1991-09-05
Also published as: AU7151391A; EP0495929A1

Abstract

Volumetric pieces of dough (2) must be measured out from the open bottom end of a funnel-shaped container (3) filled with dough (4). The equipment (1) consists of the container (3) with dough (4) almost horizontal sliding over a stroke (S) over a block shaped unit (5) with a very special cylindrical measuring space (6) at the top of the unit (5). In the cylindrical space (6) a piston-shaped body (7) with a vertical stroke is fitted. In the top part of the piston-shaped body (7) means have been applied for creating a vacuum or for creating a pressure in the cylindrical space (6). The means include a plate-shaped filter (10) and/or a bore (29) to a cavity-shaped space (9) in the top of the piston-shaped body (7). Because of the specific characteristics of the equipment according to the invention the weight of the pieces of dough (2) can be very carefully measured out and is therefore of a great importance for the bakery industry.

Description

EQUIPMENT FOR MEASURING OUT LUMPS OF DOUGH USUALLY CALLED DOUGH DIVIDER

The invention concerns measuring equipment for lumps or pieces of dough in a volumetric sense from a funnel-shaped container sufficiently filled with dough, this equipment is applied in manufacturing of bread and especially on, what are usually called dough dividers, which have been designed for the accu¬ rate dividing of amounts of dough of which separate loaves have to be baked.

Similar equipment, namely a dough distributor is known from the Dutch TIL no. 8 320 291. This is a dough divider operating by means of positive pressure, provided with a supply of dough and a pair of rotating rollers with blades for the generation of a positive pressure in the dough while leading it from the above mentioned supply to a transmission passage, leading to one or more volumetric measuring sections, while the above mentioned rollers should be sufficient in diameter and they should rotate in opposite directions with such a speed that the dough of a good gas-maintaining quality either is obtained or is maintained while producing a positive pressure increa¬ sing along the direction of flow in the passage through the rolls, which is sufficient to fill the measuring section or sections with dough while under pressure.

The shortcomings attached to the above mentioned equipment are that, mechanically speaking, the equipment is rather complica¬ ted and, as a result, expensive. Moreover, the dough is put under pressure, which has an adverse effect on the gluten (a kind of protein compound) in the dough, causing a decrease of quality. From the Dutch TIL no. 8 403 868 similar equipment, namely a dough distributing machine, is known, the concerning dough distributing machine, mainly consists of a transport section applied to the bottom of a dough funnel and moving forward and backward axially. This has an opening at the front and across this opening an up and down movable, and at least one, measu¬ ring section with a slide with an axially slidable measuring piston, which in its lowest position closes the opening at the front of the transport section and in its highest position, where the measuring section and the transport .section are in contact, characterrized in that the top of the transport section, between its opening at the front and the slide, a sleeve or slit has been applied, which in its maximum position should connect the inside of the transport section with the atmosphere.

So two pistons have been applied, which also press the dough into the measuring sections. The lumps of dough have to be transported horizontally and under pressure. In this case similar shortcomings arise as in the above mentioned Dutch TIL.

The purpose of the invention is to supply an equipment or apparatus for measuring dough lumps or dough pieces (dough distributor) without the above mentioned shortcomings, such installation is characterized in that the funnel-shaped con- tainer, which is supplied with an appropriate opening at the bottom, is usually applied almost horizontally sliding over a stroke and mechanically movable over the top of a block-shaped unit, wherein at least one cylindrical measuring section in the top is saved, with a mechanically moveable piston-shaped body inside, while the above mentioned opening of the funnel- shaped container can be vertically applied on top of the cylindrical measuring section, while the moveable piston- "shaped body can fill the entire useful space of the cylindri¬ cal measuring section and in the top part of the movable piston-shaped body there is a cavity-shaped space, which is sealed with a plate-shaped filter while also in the top part of the piston-shaped body means have been applied for creating a vacuum and for creating a pressure respectively in the cavity-shaped space under the plate-shaped filter, while a bore has been applied towards the upper annular-shaped recess.

A further development of the equipment in accordance with the invention is that the lower part of the wall of the funnel- shaped container is conically-shaped towards the opening, and the opening covers the entire bottom surface and the lower part of the walls of the funnel-shaped container is designed as dough cutter on the inside of the container and as dough scraping and pushing means on the outside of the container.

The advantages are there is a better dough supply to the measuring section and that when the funnel-shaped container is moved the dough is cut at the right level and that, later on, the lump of dough that has been pushed out and is moved along over the block-shaped unit.

A further development of the equipment in accordance with the invention is that in the upper part of the block-shaped unit at the end of the above mentioned stroke of the funnel-shaped container there is also a cavity-shaped space, which space is supplied with a plate-shaped filter and the cavity-shaped space is also supplied with means to create a vacuum or to lower the pressure to normal.

The advantage of this is that the dough in the funnel-shaped container is drawn down and is also partially degassed.

Moreover, a further development of the equipment in accordance with the invention is that on the upper- and inner walls of the cylindric measuring section an annular-shaped cavity with an annular-shaped filter is applied, connected with means to create a vacuum or to lower the pressure to normal. The advantage of this is that in the top part of the measuring section the dough is not compressed when it is cut, so that the original volume remains very correct/just.

A further development of the equipment in accordance with the invention is that in the lower part of the conically-shaped walls towards the opening of the funnel-shaped container a supply system for the application of a lubricant is designed on the inside of these conically-shaped walls and that the lubricant is oil.

The advantage of this is that the dough slides down into the funnel-shaped container very smoothly.

A further development of the equipment in accordance with the invention is that in the funnel-shaped container a grid of nearly horizontal bars is designed with connected vertical pins and that in the funnel-shaped container nearly horizon¬ tally arranged bar-shaped knives have been applied.

The advantage is that the dough is much better degassed, because the gas has a much shorter way through the dough before it reaches an exhaust channel.

A further development of the equipment in accordance with the invention is that the piston-shaped body is equipped with an annular-shaped edge at the front, in which the plate-shaped filter is retained.

The advantage is that there is no dough drawn between the piston wall and the wall of the cylindric measuring section. Due to this the wearing will remain within limits and the piston will be prevented from getting jammed.

Subsequently, the equipment or apparatus in accordance with the invention will be described below by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings where : Fig. l. shows a vertical sectional view of the equipment for measuring lumps of pieces of dough in a volumetric sense in accordance with the invention, namely in the dough drawing stage;

Fig. 2. shows a vertical sectional view in accordance with figure 1, as the funnel-shaped container is at the end of the stroke above a drawing section and the measured lump or piece of dough has been ejected from the measuring section;

Fig. 3. shows a longitudinal sectional view of the piston- shaped body in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 4. shows a vertical sectional view of the funnel-shaped container with facilities to supply the lower part of the cylindrical-shaped walls on the inside of the funnel-shaped container with lubricant;

Fig. 5. shows a vertical sectional view of the funnel-shaped container with at the bottom a nearly horizontal bar with knives to cut through the dough indicated.

In figure l a vertical sectional view of the equipment 1 for measuring lumps or pieces of dough 2 in a volumetric sense in accordance with the invention is shown.

The equipment or apparatus 1 includes a funnel-shaped contai¬ ner 3 (also called dough container) , which is sufficiently filled with dough 4, a block-shaped unit 5 with at least one measuring section 6, in which a piston-shaped body 7 is ap- plied which is mechanically movable over a stroke. In figure 2 the equipment 1 is shown in the dough drawing stage. In order to make this process run more smoothly, when the measuring section 6 is filled in a surprising way, a cavity-shaped space 9 is applied to the top part of the piston-shaped body 7 (see figure 3) , which is sealed on the outside with a plate-shaped filter 10. Further the annular-shaped edge 13 at the front of the piston-shaped body 7 is applied with the usual clearance in the measuring section 6. Then from the uppper annular- shaped recess 28 at least one bore 29 to the cavity-shaped space 9 has been applied, while the clearance between the wall of the cylinder and the piston also can be seen as a filter. With means 20 a vacuum or pressure can be created in the cavity-shaped space. To lock the plate-shaped filter 10 at the sides and tho prevent the dough 4 from jamming the space between the outside piston wall 11 and the cylinder wall 12, an annular-shaped edge 13 has been applied on the top part 8 of the piston-shaped body 7.

The creation of under- or overpressure in the cavity-shaped space 9 has the consequence that airsuction can take place through the plate-shaped filter 10 and/or along the annular- shaped edge 13.

The lower part of the cylindrical-shaped walls 14 has a sharp knife-shaped ending 15. The funnel-shaped container 3 can be moved nearly horizontally over a stroke S in the direction of arrows 16 and 17. In figure 2 the funnel-shaped container 3 is in the most right-hand position and the dough is being drawn down and degassed by means of another cavity-shaped space, which is supplied with a plate-shaped filter 18 and which is also supplied with means 19 to create a vacuum or to lower the pressure to normal. In this right-hand position the lump of dough 2 is ejected by the piston-shaped body. Then the funnel- shaped container moves to the left (direction of arrow 17) and pushes the lump of dough 7 forward with the pushing means 21 over the outside of the funnel-shaped container 3 and subse¬ quently the lump of dough 2 falls on a not specified means of conveyance for further handling, as is shown in figure 1.

In order to improve the cutting of the dough by means of the knife-shaped ending 15 of the cylindrical walls 14 and in order to see to it that the dough does not 'bounce¹ or is compressed, the measured lump of dough is drawn into an annu¬ lar-shaped cavity at the upper/inner wall side of the σylin- drical measuring section 6 by an annular-shaped filter 22 and is drawn against this annular-shaped filter by means of crea¬ ting underpressure. This underpressure is created by means of 23.

When the lump of dough 2 is ejected the underpressure is released to normal, as a result of which the lump of dough 2 can easily be pushed from the measuring section 6 through the piston-shaped body 7. Under the filter 10 an over-pressure is created, so that the ejection takes place very quickly and effectively. Figure 3 shows a large-scale drawing of the piston-shaped body 7, showing the details more clearly. Figure 3 also shows the annular-shaped recesses 28 for the double ring sealing. Figure 4 shows the supply system 24 for the lubricant on the cylindric inner wall 14 of the funnel-shaped container 3 via the distributing system. The lubricant can be oil.

Figure 5 shows a system of nearly horizontal bars 26, to which, for instance, pin-shaped knives 27 for cutting the dough have been applied, so that the dough can be easily degassed by the plate shaped filter 10.

There should be a final mention, that the text stated above gives a preferential contruction and it goes without saying that modifications are possible without abandoning the protec¬ tion limits of this patent specification.

Claims

C L A I M S

1. Equipment or apparatus for the measuring of lumps or pieces of dough in a volumentric sense from a funnel- shaped container sufficiently filled with dough for applying in the manufacturing of bread and especially on, what are usually called dough distributors, which have been designed for the accurate distribution of amounts of dough of which separate loaves are baked, characterised in that the funnel-shaped container (3) , which is sup- plied with an appropriate opening at the bottom, is usually applied almost horizontally sliding over a stroke and is mechanically moveable over the top of a block- shaped unit (5) , wherein at least a cylindrical measuring section (6) in the top is saved, with a mechanically moveable piston-shaped body (7) inside, while the above mentioned opening of the funnel-shaped container (3) can be vertically applied over the top of the cylindrical measuring section (6) , while the movable piston-shaped body (7) can fill the entire usefull space of the cylin- drical measuring section (6) and in the top part of the moveable piston-shaped body there is a cavity-shaped space (9) , which is sealed outwardly with a plate-shaped filter, while also in the top part of the piston-shaped body (7) means have been applied for creating a vacuum and for creating a pressure respectively in the cavity- shaped space under the plate-shaped filter, while a bore (29) has been applied towards the upper annular-shaped recess (28) .

2. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower part of the walls of the funnel-shaped container (3) is coni¬ cally-shaped towards the opening, and the afore-mentioned opening covers the entire bottom surface.

3. ^'Equipment as claimed in the claims 1 and 2, wherein the afore-mentioned lower part of the walls of the funnel- shaped container (3) is designed as dough cutter (15)on the inside of the container and as dough scraping and pushing means (21) on the outside of the container.

4. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper part of the block-shaped unit (5) at the end of the afore-men¬ tioned stroke of the funnel-shaped container (3) there is also a cavity-shaped space, which space is supplied with a plate-shaped filter and the cavity-shaped space is also supplied with means to create a vacuum or to lower the pressure to normal.

5. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the upper/in¬ ner walls of the cylindric measuring section (6) also an annular-shaped cavity is supplied with an annular-shaped filter (22) , connected with means to create a vacuum to lower the pressure to normal.

6. Equipment as claimed with claims 1 and 2, wherein the lower part of the conically-shaped walls towards the opening of the funnel-shaped container (3) a supply system (24) for the application of a lubricant is desig¬ ned on the inside of these conically-shaped walls.

7. Equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the afore-menti- oned lubricant is oil.

8. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the funnel- shaped container a grid (26) of nearly horizontal bars with connected therewith vertical pins have been desig¬ ned.

9. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the funnel- shaped container (3) nearly horizontally arranged bar- shaped knives (27) have been applied.

10. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the afore-menti¬ oned piston-shaped body (7) is supplied with a double sealing.

11. Equipment as claimed in claim 10, wherein the afore- mentioned sealing is effected by means of an annular in a groove.

12. Equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the afore-menti¬ oned piston-shaped body is provided with an annular-sha¬ ped edge at the front, in which the plate-shaped filter is retained.

13. Equipment as claimed with claim 1, wherein the average pore size of the plate-shaped filter varies from 20 to 200 micron.

14. Equipment as claimed with claim 1, wherein the equipment or apparatus is manufactured in metal.

15. Equipment as claimed with claim 14, wherein the afore¬ mentioned metal is stainless steel.