Abstract: A moving belt conveyor dough press is provided with a pair of vertically opposing platens, at least one of which is movable toward and away from the other. A continuous belt is arranged to pass between the pair of platens, and to carry on an upper surface thereof, a supply of dough masses to be pressed by the platens. At least one of the platens is formed of a cast metal material, and an electrical resistance heating element is cast in place within the at least one platen.

Abstract: A loading system for loading dough balls onto a moving upper surface of a conveyor belt includes a transport mechanism arranged to receive dough balls in a sequential stream and to deliver the dough balls to the moving conveyor belt at a speed equal to a speed of the upper surface of the conveyor belt.

Abstract: A press for flattening dough pieces is provided having a floor supported frame, an endless conveyor belt movably carried on the frame and presenting an upper horizontal surface, and at least one movable platen carried on the frame for pressing the dough pieces against the belt. In an embodiment, a sub frame is adjustably supported by the frame to permit leveling and adjustment of said sub frame relative to the frame. Attachment mechanisms are provided for securing the sub frame to the main frame following adjustment between the two. In an embodiment, at least two movable platens are carried on at least one of said frames, both of the platens being movable in a longitudinal horizontal direction and at least one of the platens is movable in a vertical direction. A linear actuator is drivingly connected to the two movable platens. In an embodiment, a loading system for loading dough balls onto the belt is provided.

Abstract: A die ring for a dough pressing machine is provided which is to surround a die carried on a movable platen. The die ring, which must be vertically movable relative to the die and platen, is held onto the platen by a plurality of fasteners extending through a flange at an outer periphery of the ring. The flange is elevated above a lower face of the die ring so that the fasteners will be spaced above any dough positioned under the die ring on a dough supporting surface.