Abstract: The invention relates to a method for machine production of pretzels, comprising the following features: providing a pretzel shaping and looping device (1), which receives strands of dough by means of a feed mechanism; gripping the central area of the strands of dough with a shaping unit of the device (1), wherein the central area of the strand of dough (8) is wrapped around a plurality of bolt-type shaping elements (2) of the shaping unit that are adjustable in height; gripping the ends (5) of the dough by means of at least one gripping unit (3) which is equipped with grippers (4) and stretching the strand of dough (8) by pulling on the ends (5) of the strand of dough, while at the same time securing the central area of the strand of dough (8) by the shaping unit, and shaping a pretzel knot by means of a mutual rotation of the grippers (4), wherein the shaping of the pretzel knot is initiated by rotation of the grippers (4) already during the stretching of the strand of dough (8).

Abstract: A dough processing system for processing a U-shaped strand of dough comprising a processing head, which has two gripping means for looping the dough strand, and a shaping table, which is provided with positioning means for positioning the dough strand, wherein the shaping table is embodied as a processing table, in which various positioning means of the processing table have multiple different processing functions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for creating blanks from pieces of dough, in particular triangular pieces of dough, from at least one web of dough, comprising a plurality of cutting tools which cut an edge of the pieces of dough as a result of a movement oriented against the at least one web of dough and comprising a conveyor belt device on which the at least one web of dough is conveyed. The cutting tools are arranged on a drum, which is driven in a rotating manner, via tool holders, said drum being superimposed with a vertical movement such that one or more cutting tools 1 which can be found circulating about the drum are moved parallel to the conveyor belt device as a result of the superimposed sequence of movements of the drum rotation and the vertical movement of the drum.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for creating blanks from pieces of dough, in particular triangular pieces of dough, from at least one web of dough, comprising a plurality of cutting tools which cut an edge of the pieces of dough as a result of a movement oriented against the at least one web of dough and comprising a conveyor belt device on which the at least one web of dough is conveyed. The cutting tools are arranged on a drum, which is driven in a rotating manner, via tool holders, said drum being superimposed with a vertical movement such that one or more cutting tools 1 which can be found circulating about the drum are moved parallel to the conveyor belt device as a result of the superimposed sequence of movements of the drum rotation and the vertical movement of the drum.

Abstract: A method and device for forming dough in a U or annular shape includes a gripper carrier, at least one retaining jaw attached to the gripper carrier and first and second pivot carriers. The pivot carriers are each supported about a respective pivot axis in the gripper carrier and perform an opposite pivot motion. The second pivot carrier is supported by a shaft that extends into and engages the gripper carrier, such that a pivotal motion of the second pivot carrier engages the shaft with the gripper carrier to simultaneously pivot and lift the second pivot carrier so to lift one end of the dough piece in relation to another end of the dough piece. Shaping jaws are attached to the first and second pivot carriers and can be brought into contact with the respective dough piece on an opposite second side.

Abstract: A device for forming dough in a U or annular shape includes a gripper carrier, at least one retaining jaw attached to the gripper carrier and first and second pivot carriers. The pivot carriers are each pivotably supported about a respective pivot axis in the gripper carrier and perform an opposite pivot motion. The second pivot carrier is pivotally supported by a shaft that extends into and engages the gripper carrier, such that a pivotal motion of the second pivot carrier engages the shaft with the gripper carrier to simultaneously pivot and lift the second pivot carrier in a direction of the respective pivot axis so to lift one end of the dough piece in relation to another end of the dough piece. Shaping jaws are attached to the first and second pivot carriers and can be brought into contact with the respective dough piece on an opposite second side.

Abstract: An apparatus for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

Abstract: A dough cutting device for producing a dough piece for baking toast or the like. The dough roll is moved on a lower conveyor belt having a roll centerline oriented transverse to a conveying direction. At least one cutting knife rotating about a front rotational axis is arranged at a distance corresponding to a variably adjustable front separating gap above the lower conveyor belt, and sectionally cuts the dough roll, wherein a front connecting web of the dough roll remains.

Abstract: A dough processing system for processing a U-shaped strand of dough comprising a processing head, which has two gripping means for looping the dough strand, and a shaping table, which is provided with positioning means for positioning the dough strand, wherein the shaping table is embodied as a processing table, in which various positioning means of the processing table have multiple different processing functions.

Abstract: Process for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the automated production of knotted dough products, in particular pretzels. Said device comprises: a shaping table (2) for horizontally supporting a U-shaped bent dough strand (46); a shaping tool (6) that can be activated to vertically support the U-shaped bent dough strand (46), the shaping table (2) and activated shaping tool (6) forming a common stop for the U-shaped bent strand (46); and a knotting head (9) for seizing the ends of the dough strand and for knotting said strand (46). According to the invention, the knotting head (9) can be displaced from a seizing position (48), in which the ends of the U-shaped bent dough strand (46) are seized, into an extension position (49), in which the dough strand is extended, then into a knotting position (51), in which the dough strand is knotted and finally into a placing position 52, in which the ends of the dough strands are placed on the central part of the dough strand.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the automated production of knotted dough products, in particular pretzels. Said device comprises: a shaping table (2) for horizontally supporting a U-shaped bent dough strand (46); a shaping tool (6) that can be activated to vertically support the U-shaped bent dough strand (46), the shaping table (2) and activated shaping tool (6) forming a common stop for the U-shaped bent strand (46); and a knotting head (9) for seizing the ends of the dough strand and for knotting said strand (46). According to the invention, the knotting head (9) can be displaced from a seizing position (48), in which the ends of the U-shaped bent dough strand (46) are seized, into an extension position (49), in which the dough strand is extended, then into a knotting position (51), in which the dough strand is knotted and finally into a placing position 52, in which the ends of the dough strands are placed on the central part of the dough strand.

Abstract: Process for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

Abstract: Method for producing individual dough pieces from a continuous line of dough, in which a row of separate, individually complete contours running diagonally or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the line is cut out of the end section of the line of dough, which correspond to the dough pieces, these contours or dough pieces lying in a row next to one another are removed from the end of the line and delivered rotated or pivoted or otherwise positioned for further processing, with the cutting devices that are used to cut out the row of dough pieces at the end of the line being used as a whole or in part to remove and deliver or otherwise position, guide, hold, rotate, and/or displace the cut-out dough pieces, and with the cutting devices being returned to the end of the line after delivery for another cutting-out process.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining grain size distribution patterns of particles for selected measuring ranges, wherein a specimen cell (15) is arranged in a convergent monochromatic light beam (4) and the produced diffraction patterns (5a, 6a, 7a) are received by a photo detector. By altering the spacing of the specimen cell (15) from the photo detector (44), the measuring range can be selected for differing grain sizes.