WO2005027645A1 - Dough sheeting apparatus - Google Patents

Dough sheeting apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005027645A1
WO2005027645A1 PCT/GB2004/003964 GB2004003964W WO2005027645A1 WO 2005027645 A1 WO2005027645 A1 WO 2005027645A1 GB 2004003964 W GB2004003964 W GB 2004003964W WO 2005027645 A1 WO2005027645 A1 WO 2005027645A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
rollers
roller
pair
sheeting
dough
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2004/003964
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David Robert Hiles
Robert Francis
Graham John Andrews
Original Assignee
Apv Systems Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Apv Systems Limited filed Critical Apv Systems Limited
Publication of WO2005027645A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005027645A1/en

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Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A21BAKING; EDIBLE DOUGHS
    • A21CMACHINES OR EQUIPMENT FOR MAKING OR PROCESSING DOUGHS; HANDLING BAKED ARTICLES MADE FROM DOUGH
    • A21C3/00Machines or apparatus for shaping batches of dough before subdivision
    • A21C3/02Dough-sheeters; Rolling-machines; Rolling-pins

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to dough sheeting apparatus, and in particular, but not exclusively, to dough sheeting apparatus suitable for sheeting individual dough pieces. Individual dough pieces are typically used to produce loaves of bread and pizza bases, for example.
  • apparatus suitable for sheeting individual dough pieces comprising four pairs of driven rollers, each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
  • the inventive apparatus may be viewed as comprising four pairs of closely-coupled rollers, each pair comprising an upper and lower roller and the pairs forming upper and lower sets of rollers, which sets are inclined relative to a horizontal plane. It will be appreciated that more than four pairs of rollers could be used.
  • rollers of the same pair are driven at substantially the same speed. It will be appreciated, however, that in some circumstances it may be desirable to drive the rollers of a pair at slightly different speeds, for example up to a 10% differential.
  • first, second, third and fourth roller pairs are provided in the direction from an inlet to the rollers to an outlet from the rollers respectively, at least one of the ratio of the first roller pair speed to the second roller pair speed and the ratio of the third roller pair speed to the fourth roller pair speed is controllable. Both ratios may be controllable, however. It will be appreciated that in order to adjust either one of said ratios only one respective pair of roller speeds need be controllable, it is preferred however that the speeds of at least one of the second roller pair and the third roller pair are controllable. It may be that the speeds of all four pairs of rollers are controllable.
  • each roller of each pair is spaced up to substantially 4 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair. In a highly preferred embodiment each roller of each pair is spaced up to substantially 1 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair. In a preferred embodiment the gap between adjacent pairs is adjustable.
  • controllable ratios are adjustable within the range 20% to 100% of the speed and an adjacent roller pair.
  • the at least one speed ratio is desirably controlled in response to a feedback signal, the feedback signal being indicative of the width of a dough sheet formed by the apparatus.
  • the speed of the first roller pair is preferably between 55 rpm and 250 rpm
  • the speed of the second roller pair is preferably between 110 rpm and 300 rpm
  • the speed of the third roller pair is preferably between 220 rpm and 360 rpm
  • the speed of the fourth roller pair is preferably between 280 rpm and 440 rpm.
  • an external diameter of substantially 100 mm is preferred the rollers of the roller pairs may have an external diameter of up to 200 mm, the speed ranges above being altered accordingly.
  • each roller pair increases progressively from the first roller pair to the fourth roller pair.
  • the gap between the rollers of the first roller pair is between 10 mm to 20 mm.
  • the gap between the rollers of the second roller pair is between 5 mm to 15 mm.
  • the gap between the rollers of the third roller pair is up to substantially 10 mm.
  • the gap between the rollers of the fourth roller pair is up to substantially 10 mm.
  • the gap between all roller pairs is desirably adjustable in an initial set-up procedure within the above mentioned ranges.
  • the gaps between roller pairs are controllable during operation of the apparatus, desirably in response to a feedback signal which is indicative of a measured width of a sheet formed by the apparatus .
  • the gap between roller pairs decreases progressively from the first roller pair to the fourth roller pair.
  • the rotational axes of the lowermost rollers of each pair are substantially aligned whereby the rotational axes form a substantially common angle with a horizontal plane.
  • the angle is desirably in the range 50° to 70°, but is most preferably substantially 60° .
  • the dough sheeting apparatus may be pivotably mounted so that the angle of inclination can be set as required.
  • a central plane passing through the space between a roller pair, through which space dough is conveyed, is desirably offset or is adapted to be capable of being offset relative to the central plane of an adjacent roller pair, the central plane of a roller pair being defined by a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a lateral plane which passes through and is parallel to the axes of rotation of the rollers of that pair.
  • the offset central plane intercepts the surface of an upper roller of an adjacent downstream roller pair.
  • the central plane of the space between each roller pair is offset or is adapted to be capable of being offset from the central plane of the dough conveying space of each adjacent roller pair. It is preferred however that at least the first and second pairs of rollers are offset or are capable of being offset, so that the central planes of the dough conveying spaces of the first, second and third roller pairs are offset or are capable of being offset.
  • the position of at least one of the rollers is adjustable so as to offset the central planes of adjacent roller pairs. Most preferably at least some of the rollers are so adjustable.
  • the lower rollers are preferably fixed in position and at least some of the upper rollers are adapted to be moved towards and away from the respective lower rollers.
  • At least some of the upper rollers of the roller pairs, and most preferably the upper rollers of at least the first, second and third pairs, are adapted to be laterally adjustable in respective lateral planes which pass through and are parallel to the rotational axes of the respective roller pairs. Such adjustment preferably allows the offsetting between pairs to be set as required.
  • the positions of at least some of the pairs of rollers, and preferably at least the first three pairs are adapted to be laterally adjustable as a whole in respective planes which pass through and are parallel to the rotational axes of each roller pair. It may be however for those pairs of rollers which are adjustable for the purpose of adjusting gap offset each such pair may be adjustable in a different manner. For example a first pair may be laterally adjustable as a whole whereas only the upper roller of another pair may be adjustable.
  • a method of sheeting an individual dough piece comprising feeding an individual dough piece into sheeting apparatus, the sheeting apparatus comprising four pairs of driven rollers, each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
  • a method of continuous sheeting of dough comprising using the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.
  • a dough sheeting apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of sheeting rollers and a pair of centralising rollers, the centralising rollers being arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the rotational axes of the sheeting rollers and substantially perpendicular to the central plane of the space through which dough is conveyed by the sheeting rollers.
  • the external diameter of the centralising rollers is smaller than the external diameter of the sheeting rollers.
  • the external diameter of the centralising rollers is substantially 75 mm. It may however be possible for the centralising rollers to have an external diameter of approximately 50 mm.
  • each centralising roller is spaced from the external surfaces of adjacent sheeting rollers by up to substantially 5 mm.
  • a spacing may be up to 4 mm or may be up to 1 mm.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic side view of dough sheeting apparatus wherein a dough piece is shown at various stages passing therethrough, and
  • Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a modified dough sheeting apparatus wherein adjacent roller pairs are offset from each other.
  • a dough sheeting apparatus 1 comprises four pairs of sheeting rollers, comprising a first pair of rollers 2, a second pair of rollers 3, a third pair of rollers 4 and a fourth pair of rollers 5.
  • Each pair of rollers is of substantially the same external diameter, and comprises an upper roller and a lower roller.
  • a stripping roll 12 is provided adjacent to the upper roller of the fourth pair of rollers 5.
  • the pairs of rollers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are close-coupled, that is the external surfaces of one pair is spaced from the external surfaces of an adjacent pair by approximately 1 mm. In figure 1 the spacing between first and second roller pairs is shown as x.
  • the spacing between rollers of each roller pair (shown as d) progressively decreases from the first roller pair 2, to the fourth roller pair 5.
  • the spacing between the rollers of each pair is adjustable during an initial set-up operation.
  • the sheeting roller pairs are driven by respective drive means (not shown) .
  • the drive means for the second and third roller pairs are automatically controlled in response to a feedback signal which is emitted by width measurement means (not shown) which measures the width of a sheeted dough piece which issues from the sheeting roller pairs.
  • width measurement means comprises a photo-electric sensor which measures the width of a sheeted dough piece after issuing from the fourth roller pair, but before being coiled. Width measurement means may however be provided to monitor thickness of a dough piece passing through the fourth roller pair before being output onto a conveyor.
  • the apparatus 1 further comprises a pair of centralising rollers 6, of smaller external diameter than that of the sheeting rollers.
  • the centralising rollers are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the sheeting rollers and perpendicular to the central plane A-A of the (aligned) spaces between the roller pairs through which dough is conveyed.
  • the centralising rollers are spaced from the first pair of sheeting rollers 2 by a distance of x' , which is approximately 1 mm, and so the first pair of sheeting rollers may be considered as being close- coupled with the centralising rollers.
  • the centralising rollers are driven at substantially the same speed as that of the first pair of rollers.
  • the apparatus 1 operates as follows.
  • Dough depositor means (not shown) releases a dough piece 7 towards the centralising rollers 6.
  • the centralising rollers 6 urge the dough piece 7 between the first pair of sheeting rollers 2.
  • the speed of the second pair of rollers 3 is greater than that of the first pair of rollers 2
  • the speed of the third pair of sheeting rollers 4 is greater than that of the second pair of sheeting rollers 3
  • the speed of the fourth pair of sheeting rollers 5 is greater than the speed of third pair of sheeting rollers 4.
  • the speed of the rollers of the second and/or third pair of rollers would be increased for a given set of roller gap settings. Conversely if the dough width were too wide the speed of the rollers of the second and/or third pairs would be decreased for a given set of roller gap settings.
  • roller gaps between the second, third and fourth pair of rollers respectively can be adjusted, the gaps being reduced to increase dough sheet width and the gap increased to reduce dough sheet width.
  • both the roll speed ratios and the roll gaps may be altered.
  • this could be part of a recipe controlled set-up where the width of the dough sheets is set by the dough type, the dough weight and the tin size that the moulded dough piece has to fit in to.
  • a discharge roll 8 is provided which is a small diameter roll mounted under the final adjustable roll driven at a slightly faster (approximately 10%) surface speed than the final roll. It would be driven from the same drive as the final roll to ensure the speed ratio is maintained.
  • the purpose of the discharge roll 8 is to ensure the sheeted dough piece is stripped off the roll surface consistently
  • a sheeted dough piece is deposited onto a conveyor 9.
  • the conveyor 9 causes the sheeting dough piece to engage with a coiling chain 10 in the form of a woven mesh which extends across the width of the conveyor which rolls the dough piece into a coil (as shown) ready for baking.
  • the third and fourth sheeting roller pairs are advantageously spring- loaded to allow double size dough balls (known as 'doubles') to pass through without 'sticking-up' .
  • the inventive sheeting apparatus 1 advantageously improves the quality of baked bread by increasing the number of coils in the moulded dough piece. This improves the gas retention of the cell structure as well as improving the volume of the loaf.
  • variable speed roller drives control of the dough sheet length and width which allows one to vary the number of coils in the final moulded piece.
  • Effectively having more rollers to carry out the work on the dough means that a smaller final roll gap can be used.
  • inventive apparatus it is possible to work at significantly (138 m/min compared with 90/95 m/min) higher roll speeds than before, thus increasing throughput, and it is possible to safely double speed ratios between adjacent pairs of rolls (66% compared with 31%) or more depending on the size of the gap between the fourth pair of rollers
  • the small diameter centralising rolls mounted above the first pair of sheeting rolls gives more effective control of the dough piece lateral position which has not been achieved before, the centralising rollers advantageously provide consistent dough piece presentation.
  • apparatus 1 could be used for continuous sheeting of dough as opposed to use only with individual dough pieces.
  • FIG 2 shows a modified embodiment to that shown in Figure 1 in which sheeting apparatus 1 ' comprises four pairs of rollers 2 ' , 3 ' , 4' and 5' and a pair of centralising rollers 6' .
  • the apparatus 1 ' is very similar to that shown in Figure 1, importantly however the central plane of the space between each roller pair through which dough passes is offset from the central plane of each adjacent roller pair.
  • the central planes of the gaps between each roller pair are substantially aligned.
  • the central planes of the roller pairs 2 ' , 3' and 4' are denoted by B, C and D respectively.
  • each of the roller pairs 2' , 3' and 4' has been translated laterally along a respective lateral plane (Z denoting the lateral plane of the roller pair 2') passing through and parallel to the rotational axes of each pair such that the lower rollers of the pairs 2' , 3' and 4' are aligned at an angle slightly greater 60° (being the angle of alignment of the lower rollers in Figure 1) .
  • the displacement of the lower roller to the roller pair 2' is shown by Y.
  • the central plane B of the pair 2' incepts the upper roller of the pair 3'
  • the central plane C of the pair 3 ' intercepts the upper roller of the pair 4 '
  • the central plane D of the pair 4' intercepts the upper roller of the pair 5 ' .
  • each dough conveying gap can be set as appropriate.
  • the path that the leading edge of the dough follows also depends on roller diameter, speed of rollers, angle alignment of lower rollers and dough consistency. Hence as an alternative any /all of those variables could be altered as appropriate.
  • the apparatus of Figure 2 advantageously assists the passage of the dough to give greater control, with less stress impacted to the dough, and less inclination to adhere to the rollers.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Manufacturing And Processing Devices For Dough (AREA)
  • Bakery Products And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)

Abstract

Dough sheeting apparatus (1) and method, the apparatus comprising four pairs of variable speed driven rollers (2, 3, 4, 5), each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced (x) up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair. The apparatus is particularly suitable for sheeting individual dough pieces but may be used for continuous sheeting. The apparatus allows control of dough sheet length and width which allows one to vary the number of coils in a coiled dough piece.

Description

DOUGH SHEETING APPARATUS
The present invention relates to dough sheeting apparatus, and in particular, but not exclusively, to dough sheeting apparatus suitable for sheeting individual dough pieces. Individual dough pieces are typically used to produce loaves of bread and pizza bases, for example.
According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus suitable for sheeting individual dough pieces comprising four pairs of driven rollers, each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
The inventive apparatus may be viewed as comprising four pairs of closely-coupled rollers, each pair comprising an upper and lower roller and the pairs forming upper and lower sets of rollers, which sets are inclined relative to a horizontal plane. It will be appreciated that more than four pairs of rollers could be used.
Preferably rollers of the same pair are driven at substantially the same speed. It will be appreciated, however, that in some circumstances it may be desirable to drive the rollers of a pair at slightly different speeds, for example up to a 10% differential.
Preferably where first, second, third and fourth roller pairs are provided in the direction from an inlet to the rollers to an outlet from the rollers respectively, at least one of the ratio of the first roller pair speed to the second roller pair speed and the ratio of the third roller pair speed to the fourth roller pair speed is controllable. Both ratios may be controllable, however. It will be appreciated that in order to adjust either one of said ratios only one respective pair of roller speeds need be controllable, it is preferred however that the speeds of at least one of the second roller pair and the third roller pair are controllable. It may be that the speeds of all four pairs of rollers are controllable.
In a preferred embodiment each roller of each pair is spaced up to substantially 4 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair. In a highly preferred embodiment each roller of each pair is spaced up to substantially 1 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair. In a preferred embodiment the gap between adjacent pairs is adjustable.
Preferably said controllable ratios are adjustable within the range 20% to 100% of the speed and an adjacent roller pair.
It will be appreciated that if the speed of the third roller pair is adjusted, and all the speeds of the other roller pairs remain constant, the ratio between the third and fourth pairs will be adjusted as well as the ratio between the second and third pairs.
The at least one speed ratio is desirably controlled in response to a feedback signal, the feedback signal being indicative of the width of a dough sheet formed by the apparatus.
Based on the roller pairs having an external diameter of substantially 100 mm, the speed of the first roller pair is preferably between 55 rpm and 250 rpm, the speed of the second roller pair is preferably between 110 rpm and 300 rpm, the speed of the third roller pair is preferably between 220 rpm and 360 rpm, and the speed of the fourth roller pair is preferably between 280 rpm and 440 rpm. Although an external diameter of substantially 100 mm is preferred the rollers of the roller pairs may have an external diameter of up to 200 mm, the speed ranges above being altered accordingly.
Preferably the speed of each roller pair increases progressively from the first roller pair to the fourth roller pair.
Preferably the gap between the rollers of the first roller pair is between 10 mm to 20 mm.
Preferably the gap between the rollers of the second roller pair is between 5 mm to 15 mm.
The gap between the rollers of the third roller pair is up to substantially 10 mm.
The gap between the rollers of the fourth roller pair is up to substantially 10 mm.
The gap between all roller pairs is desirably adjustable in an initial set-up procedure within the above mentioned ranges.
It may be however, that the gaps between roller pairs are controllable during operation of the apparatus, desirably in response to a feedback signal which is indicative of a measured width of a sheet formed by the apparatus .
It is highly preferred that the gap between roller pairs decreases progressively from the first roller pair to the fourth roller pair.
Preferably the rotational axes of the lowermost rollers of each pair are substantially aligned whereby the rotational axes form a substantially common angle with a horizontal plane. The angle is desirably in the range 50° to 70°, but is most preferably substantially 60° . The dough sheeting apparatus may be pivotably mounted so that the angle of inclination can be set as required.
A central plane passing through the space between a roller pair, through which space dough is conveyed, is desirably offset or is adapted to be capable of being offset relative to the central plane of an adjacent roller pair, the central plane of a roller pair being defined by a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a lateral plane which passes through and is parallel to the axes of rotation of the rollers of that pair.
Preferably the offset central plane intercepts the surface of an upper roller of an adjacent downstream roller pair.
Preferably the central plane of the space between each roller pair is offset or is adapted to be capable of being offset from the central plane of the dough conveying space of each adjacent roller pair. It is preferred however that at least the first and second pairs of rollers are offset or are capable of being offset, so that the central planes of the dough conveying spaces of the first, second and third roller pairs are offset or are capable of being offset.
Preferably the position of at least one of the rollers is adjustable so as to offset the central planes of adjacent roller pairs. Most preferably at least some of the rollers are so adjustable.
In a highly preferred embodiment the lower rollers are preferably fixed in position and at least some of the upper rollers are adapted to be moved towards and away from the respective lower rollers. At least some of the upper rollers of the roller pairs, and most preferably the upper rollers of at least the first, second and third pairs, are adapted to be laterally adjustable in respective lateral planes which pass through and are parallel to the rotational axes of the respective roller pairs. Such adjustment preferably allows the offsetting between pairs to be set as required.
In an alternative embodiment the positions of at least some of the pairs of rollers, and preferably at least the first three pairs, are adapted to be laterally adjustable as a whole in respective planes which pass through and are parallel to the rotational axes of each roller pair. It may be however for those pairs of rollers which are adjustable for the purpose of adjusting gap offset each such pair may be adjustable in a different manner. For example a first pair may be laterally adjustable as a whole whereas only the upper roller of another pair may be adjustable.
According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of sheeting an individual dough piece comprising feeding an individual dough piece into sheeting apparatus, the sheeting apparatus comprising four pairs of driven rollers, each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method of continuous sheeting of dough comprising using the apparatus of the first aspect of the invention.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a dough sheeting apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of sheeting rollers and a pair of centralising rollers, the centralising rollers being arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the rotational axes of the sheeting rollers and substantially perpendicular to the central plane of the space through which dough is conveyed by the sheeting rollers.
Preferably the external diameter of the centralising rollers is smaller than the external diameter of the sheeting rollers. In a preferred embodiment, where the external diameter of the sheeting rollers is substantially 100 mm, the external diameter of the centralising rollers is substantially 75 mm. It may however be possible for the centralising rollers to have an external diameter of approximately 50 mm.
Preferably the external surface of each centralising roller is spaced from the external surfaces of adjacent sheeting rollers by up to substantially 5 mm. However such a spacing may be up to 4 mm or may be up to 1 mm.
Various embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of dough sheeting apparatus wherein a dough piece is shown at various stages passing therethrough, and
Figure 2 is a schematic side view of a modified dough sheeting apparatus wherein adjacent roller pairs are offset from each other.
With reference to Figure 1 a dough sheeting apparatus 1 comprises four pairs of sheeting rollers, comprising a first pair of rollers 2, a second pair of rollers 3, a third pair of rollers 4 and a fourth pair of rollers 5. Each pair of rollers is of substantially the same external diameter, and comprises an upper roller and a lower roller. A stripping roll 12 is provided adjacent to the upper roller of the fourth pair of rollers 5.
The pairs of rollers 2, 3, 4, and 5 are close-coupled, that is the external surfaces of one pair is spaced from the external surfaces of an adjacent pair by approximately 1 mm. In figure 1 the spacing between first and second roller pairs is shown as x.
The spacing between rollers of each roller pair (shown as d) progressively decreases from the first roller pair 2, to the fourth roller pair 5. The spacing between the rollers of each pair is adjustable during an initial set-up operation.
The sheeting roller pairs are driven by respective drive means (not shown) . The drive means for the second and third roller pairs are automatically controlled in response to a feedback signal which is emitted by width measurement means (not shown) which measures the width of a sheeted dough piece which issues from the sheeting roller pairs. Such width measurement means comprises a photo-electric sensor which measures the width of a sheeted dough piece after issuing from the fourth roller pair, but before being coiled. Width measurement means may however be provided to monitor thickness of a dough piece passing through the fourth roller pair before being output onto a conveyor.
The apparatus 1 further comprises a pair of centralising rollers 6, of smaller external diameter than that of the sheeting rollers. The centralising rollers are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the sheeting rollers and perpendicular to the central plane A-A of the (aligned) spaces between the roller pairs through which dough is conveyed. The centralising rollers are spaced from the first pair of sheeting rollers 2 by a distance of x' , which is approximately 1 mm, and so the first pair of sheeting rollers may be considered as being close- coupled with the centralising rollers. The centralising rollers are driven at substantially the same speed as that of the first pair of rollers.
In use the apparatus 1 operates as follows.
Dough depositor means (not shown) releases a dough piece 7 towards the centralising rollers 6.
The centralising rollers 6 urge the dough piece 7 between the first pair of sheeting rollers 2. The speed of the second pair of rollers 3 is greater than that of the first pair of rollers 2, the speed of the third pair of sheeting rollers 4 is greater than that of the second pair of sheeting rollers 3, and the speed of the fourth pair of sheeting rollers 5 is greater than the speed of third pair of sheeting rollers 4.
If it is determined by the width measurement means that the dough width is too narrow, the speed of the rollers of the second and/or third pair of rollers would be increased for a given set of roller gap settings. Conversely if the dough width were too wide the speed of the rollers of the second and/or third pairs would be decreased for a given set of roller gap settings.
Equally the roller gaps between the second, third and fourth pair of rollers respectively can be adjusted, the gaps being reduced to increase dough sheet width and the gap increased to reduce dough sheet width.
To obtain certain sheet widths both the roll speed ratios and the roll gaps may be altered. To optimise the dough sheets width for a variety for products this could be part of a recipe controlled set-up where the width of the dough sheets is set by the dough type, the dough weight and the tin size that the moulded dough piece has to fit in to.
A discharge roll 8 is provided which is a small diameter roll mounted under the final adjustable roll driven at a slightly faster (approximately 10%) surface speed than the final roll. It would be driven from the same drive as the final roll to ensure the speed ratio is maintained. The purpose of the discharge roll 8 is to ensure the sheeted dough piece is stripped off the roll surface consistently
On issuing from the fourth sheeting roller pair 5 a sheeted dough piece is deposited onto a conveyor 9. The conveyor 9 causes the sheeting dough piece to engage with a coiling chain 10 in the form of a woven mesh which extends across the width of the conveyor which rolls the dough piece into a coil (as shown) ready for baking.
The third and fourth sheeting roller pairs are advantageously spring- loaded to allow double size dough balls (known as 'doubles') to pass through without 'sticking-up' .
The inventive sheeting apparatus 1 advantageously improves the quality of baked bread by increasing the number of coils in the moulded dough piece. This improves the gas retention of the cell structure as well as improving the volume of the loaf.
By using a close coupled, multi-roller sheeting unit with variable speed roller drives control of the dough sheet length and width can be achieved which allows one to vary the number of coils in the final moulded piece. Effectively having more rollers to carry out the work on the dough means that a smaller final roll gap can be used. With the inventive apparatus it is possible to work at significantly (138 m/min compared with 90/95 m/min) higher roll speeds than before, thus increasing throughput, and it is possible to safely double speed ratios between adjacent pairs of rolls (66% compared with 31%) or more depending on the size of the gap between the fourth pair of rollers
The small diameter centralising rolls mounted above the first pair of sheeting rolls gives more effective control of the dough piece lateral position which has not been achieved before, the centralising rollers advantageously provide consistent dough piece presentation.
Due to the feature of variable speed ratios between roll pairs, control of dough piece length and width is achieved whereas width control has conventionally been achieved with roll flanges which can cause chipping of small pieces of dough causing wastage.
Due to close coupling of the rolls the need for transfer plates between rolls is obviated.
The possibility of individual roll gap adjustment or linked adjustment that controls the gap ratio within limits advantageously avoids dough damage.
It will be appreciated that the apparatus 1 could be used for continuous sheeting of dough as opposed to use only with individual dough pieces.
Figure 2 shows a modified embodiment to that shown in Figure 1 in which sheeting apparatus 1 ' comprises four pairs of rollers 2 ' , 3 ' , 4' and 5' and a pair of centralising rollers 6' . The apparatus 1 ' is very similar to that shown in Figure 1, importantly however the central plane of the space between each roller pair through which dough passes is offset from the central plane of each adjacent roller pair. In Figure 2 the central planes of the gaps between each roller pair are substantially aligned. The central planes of the roller pairs 2 ' , 3' and 4' are denoted by B, C and D respectively. Compared to the arrangement of Figure 1 each of the roller pairs 2' , 3' and 4' has been translated laterally along a respective lateral plane (Z denoting the lateral plane of the roller pair 2') passing through and parallel to the rotational axes of each pair such that the lower rollers of the pairs 2' , 3' and 4' are aligned at an angle slightly greater 60° (being the angle of alignment of the lower rollers in Figure 1) . The displacement of the lower roller to the roller pair 2' is shown by Y. As can be seen in Figure 2 the central plane B of the pair 2' incepts the upper roller of the pair 3' , the central plane C of the pair 3 ' intercepts the upper roller of the pair 4 ' , and the central plane D of the pair 4' intercepts the upper roller of the pair 5 ' .
It is envisaged however that the upper rollers will typically be laterally adjustable towards and away from (aligned) respective lower rollers along respective lateral planes. Accordingly the position central plane of each dough conveying gap can be set as appropriate.
When sheeting dough gravity encourages the dough to impact on the lower roller of the next pair, rather than into the gap between rollers. By offsetting the pairs of rollers the dough is better targeted at the gaps.
It will be appreciated however that the path that the leading edge of the dough follows also depends on roller diameter, speed of rollers, angle alignment of lower rollers and dough consistency. Hence as an alternative any /all of those variables could be altered as appropriate. The apparatus of Figure 2 advantageously assists the passage of the dough to give greater control, with less stress impacted to the dough, and less inclination to adhere to the rollers.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1, 1 ') suitable for sheeting individual dough pieces comprising four pairs of driven rollers (2, 3, 4, 5), each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
2. Apparatus (1 , 1 ') as claimed in claim 1 in which rollers of the same pair (2, 3, 4, 5) are driven at substantially the same speed.
3. Apparatus (1 , 1 ') as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which where first, second, third and fourth roller pairs (2, 3, 4, 5) are provided in the direction from an inlet to the rollers to an outlet from the rollers respectively, at least one of the ratio of the first roller pair (2) speed to the second roller pair (3) speed and the ratio of the third roller pair (4) speed to the fourth roller pair (5) speed is controllable.
4. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in claim 3 in which both ratios are controllable.
5. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in claim 3 in which the speeds of at least one of the second roller pair (3) and the third roller pair (4) are controllable.
6. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in claim 5 in which the speeds of all four pairs of rollers are controllable.
7. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in any preceding claim in which each roller of each pair is spaced up to substantially 4 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
8. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which each roller of each pair (2, 3, 4, 5) is spaced up to substantially 1 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
9. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6 in which the at least one speed ratio is controlled in response to a feedback signal, the feedback signal being indicative of the width of a dough sheet (7) formed by the apparatus.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 9 which is capable of being configured such that in use the speed of each roller pair increases progressively from the first roller pair to the fourth roller pair.
11. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 10 in which the gap between the rollers of the first roller pair (2) is between 10 mm to 20 mm.
12. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 11 in which the gap between the rollers of the second roller pair (3) is between 5 mm to 15 mm.
13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 12 in which the gap between the rollers of the third roller pair (4) is up to substantially 10 mm.
14. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 13 in which the gap between the rollers of the fourth roller pair (5) is up to substantially 10 mm.
15. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 3 to 14 in which the gap between all roller pairs (2, 3, 4, 5) is adjustable in an initial set-up procedure within the ranges claimed in claims 11 to 14.
16. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 14 in which the gaps between roller pairs (2, 3, 4, 5) are controllable during operation of the apparatus (1, 1 ') in response to a feedback signal which is indicative of a measured width of a sheet formed by the apparatus.
17. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 16 in which the gap between roller pairs decreases progressively from the first roller pair to the fourth roller pair.
18. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claims in which the rotational axes of the lowermost rollers of each pair are substantially aligned whereby the rotational axes form a substantially common angle with a horizontal plane.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which the angle is in the range 50° to 70°.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 in which the angle is substantially 60°.
21. Apparatus (1 , 1 ') as claimed in any preceding claim in which a central plane (B, C, D) passing through the space between a roller pair
(2, 3, 4, 5) through which spare dough is conveyed, is offset or is adapted to be capable of being offset relative to the central plane of an adjacent roller pair, the central plane of a roller pair being defined by a plane which is substantially perpendicular to a lateral plane which passes through and is parallel to the axes of rotation of the rollers.
22. Apparatus (l 1) as claimed in claim 21 in which the position of at least one roller (2, 3, 4, 5) is adjustable so as to offset the central planes of adjacent roller pairs.
23. Apparatus (1, 1 ') as claimed in claim 21 in which the central plane (B, C, D) intercepts the surface of an upper roller of an adjacent downstream roller pair (2, 3, 4, 5) .
24. Apparatus as claimed in claim 23 in which the central plane (B, C, D) is offset from the central plane of the dough conveying space of each adjacent roller pair.
25. Apparatus as claimed in any of preceding claim in which the lower rollers (2, 3, 4, 5) are fixed in position and the upper rollers are adapted to be moved towards and away from the respective lower rollers.
26. Apparatus as claimed in claim 25 in which at least the upper rollers (2, 3, 4, 5) are adapted to be laterally adjustable in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the angle of alignment of the lower rollers.
27. A method of sheeting an individual dough piece (7) comprising feeding an individual dough piece into sheeting apparatus (1, 1 ') , the sheeting apparatus comprising four pairs (2,3, 4, 5) of driven rollers, each pair comprising two opposed rollers, each roller of each pair being spaced up to substantially 5 mm from an adjacent roller of an adjacent pair.
28. A method of continuous sheeting of dough comprising using the apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 25.
29. Dough sheeting apparatus comprising a plurality of pairs of sheeting rollers (2, 3,4, 5) and a pair of centralising rollers (6), the centralising rollers being arranged to be substantially perpendicular to the rotational axes of the sheeting rollers and substantially perpendicular to the central plane of the space through which dough is conveyed by the sheeting rollers.
30. Apparatus as claimed in claim 29 in which the external diameter of the centralising rollers (6) is smaller than the external diameter of the sheeting rollers.
31. Apparatus as claimed in claim 30 in which the external surface of each centralising roller (6) is spaced from the external surfaces of adjacent sheeting rollers (2, 3, 4, 5) by up to substantially 5 mm.
PCT/GB2004/003964 2003-09-23 2004-09-17 Dough sheeting apparatus WO2005027645A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

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GB0322201A GB0322201D0 (en) 2003-09-23 2003-09-23 Dough sheeting apparatus
GB0322201.5 2003-09-23

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WO2009007867A3 (en) * 2007-06-18 2009-03-05 Italiana Teknologie S R L Machine for laminating soft doughs for pasta
WO2007109094A3 (en) * 2006-03-16 2009-04-02 Rich Products Corp Formula and process for producing frozen sheeted dough
WO2009046175A3 (en) * 2007-10-04 2009-08-06 Illinois Tool Works Improved sheeting head

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GB220056A (en) * 1923-05-07 1924-08-07 Hamlet Parker Embrey Improvements in dough working and dividing machines
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DE1432989A1 (en) * 1965-06-04 1969-08-07 Otto Willrich Device for rolling out dough
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EP0433038A1 (en) * 1989-12-12 1991-06-19 Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. Ltd. A method of controlling the quality of dough during its processing
EP0442695A1 (en) * 1990-02-16 1991-08-21 Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. Ltd. Dough stretching roller apparatus
WO1995028087A1 (en) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-26 Apv Plc Moulding of food products
WO1997026792A1 (en) * 1996-01-25 1997-07-31 Mark Williamson Handling materials
WO2001008497A1 (en) * 1999-08-03 2001-02-08 König Maschinen Gesellschaft M.B.H. Device for forming a strip of dough

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE33326C (en) * J. MEINSCHIEN in Neuenfelde, Amt Jork Cake rolling machine
GB179822A (en) * 1921-05-10 1922-05-18 James Shearer Jamieson Improvements in or relating to bread-making machines
GB220056A (en) * 1923-05-07 1924-08-07 Hamlet Parker Embrey Improvements in dough working and dividing machines
US1792443A (en) * 1928-08-30 1931-02-10 Peters Johannes Philippus Method and apparatus for working, molding, or shaping dough or the like plastic substances
GB860154A (en) * 1958-02-19 1961-02-01 Ver Backereimaschinenwerke Veb Rolling device for dough
GB952527A (en) * 1961-11-30 1964-03-18 Sorensen Bakery Equipment Ltd Improvements in methods for dough moulding and in machines therefor
DE1432989A1 (en) * 1965-06-04 1969-08-07 Otto Willrich Device for rolling out dough
DE2250569A1 (en) * 1972-10-14 1974-04-18 Erich Backmann Dough rolling-out machine - with large number of pressure roller pairs in tandem all driven
EP0433038A1 (en) * 1989-12-12 1991-06-19 Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. Ltd. A method of controlling the quality of dough during its processing
EP0442695A1 (en) * 1990-02-16 1991-08-21 Rheon Automatic Machinery Co. Ltd. Dough stretching roller apparatus
WO1995028087A1 (en) * 1994-04-14 1995-10-26 Apv Plc Moulding of food products
WO1997026792A1 (en) * 1996-01-25 1997-07-31 Mark Williamson Handling materials
WO2001008497A1 (en) * 1999-08-03 2001-02-08 König Maschinen Gesellschaft M.B.H. Device for forming a strip of dough

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007109094A3 (en) * 2006-03-16 2009-04-02 Rich Products Corp Formula and process for producing frozen sheeted dough
US10512273B2 (en) 2006-03-16 2019-12-24 Rich Products Corporation Formula and process for producing frozen sheeted dough
US11013239B2 (en) 2006-03-16 2021-05-25 Rich Products Corporation Formula and process for producing frozen sheeted dough
US12161123B2 (en) 2006-03-16 2024-12-10 Rich Products Corporation Formula and process for producing frozen sheeted dough
WO2009007867A3 (en) * 2007-06-18 2009-03-05 Italiana Teknologie S R L Machine for laminating soft doughs for pasta
WO2009046175A3 (en) * 2007-10-04 2009-08-06 Illinois Tool Works Improved sheeting head
US7905718B2 (en) 2007-10-04 2011-03-15 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Sheeting head

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