Abstract: A dispensing device for supplying measured quantities of batter to baking containers, and a method of operating such device use a peristaltic pump driven by a servo-motor drive. The peristaltic pump has a flexible conduit with a first end connected to a supply container for receiving batter and a second end from which the batter is dispensed. A movable pump element precisely moves batter through the flexible conduit from the first end toward the second end. A shut-off valve adjacent the second end of the flexible conduit closes the conduit when the measured quantity of batter has been dispensed. A conveyor is positioned beneath the second end of the flexible conduit for moving baking containers into position therebeneath for deposit of batter. The movable pump element has a peristaltic driver including a plurality of rollers, a drive shaft to rotate the peristaltic driver such that the rollers apply pressure to the flexible conduit, pressing the flexible conduit against a curved pressure surface of a shoe.

Abstract: Sheeting head apparatus for rolling and flattening a quantity of dough, includes a sheeting head, an infeed conveyor, and an outfeed conveyor. The sheeting head defines a dough path therethrough and includes a plurality of opposed roller pairs, a first roller of each pair being positioned on a first side of the dough path and a second roller of each pair being positioned on a second side of the dough path. The first roller of each roller pair is mounted for rotation and for independent movement toward and away from the dough path. The second roller of each roller pair is mounted for rotation adjacent the dough path. The infeed conveyor conveys a quantity of dough to the sheeting head, and the outfeed conveyor for conveying a quantity of rolled and flattened dough from the sheeting head. A sensor, adjacent the infeed conveyor, senses an unduly thick or double quantity of dough being conveyed by the infeed conveyor to the sheeting head.

Abstract: A metering unit for dough and related foodstuffs having a dough feeder unit, support structure, dough hopper, effluent housing, drive motor and centerless helix, with the effluent housing including an inlet, center and outlet section. The centerless helix is disposed within the effluent housing, and is rotatably coupled to the drive motor. Dough is fed into an aperture in the input section of the effluent housing, and upon rotation of the centerless helix, is discharged from the outlet section of the effluent housing. The internal flowpath of the effluent housing can include a separate discharge liner to prevent the centerless helix from contacting the flowpath wall. Additional control mechanisms can be included to limit motor power output and protect the system in event of an overpressure condition. The system is portable, and can be coupled to a conventional conveyor system to create an integrated approach to dough metering and transport.