Including Dough Dividing, Slitting Or Incising Patents (Class 426/503)
  • Patent number: 11819029
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to a method for forming rings from dough or other masses. A mass portion is positioned into a forming device on an abutment under a pressing device, wherein the pressing device has a centering ring, a displacement rod, a cut-out ring and a press ram. The centering ring is placed on the abutment, wherein the mass portion is laterally enclosed by means of the centering ring and is pressed by means of the press ram against the abutment into an approximately cylindrical form with a uniform thickness. A core hole is made in the mass portion by means of the displacement rod, so that a thin core of the mass portion remains between the abutment and the displacement rod. The core is punched out by the cut-out ring, and the press ram is lifted off the mass portion formed into a ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: KÖNIG MASCHINEN GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventors: Eduard Rauch, Florian Rossmann, Wolfgang Staufer, Hannes Stelzer
  • Patent number: 11304423
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a mechanical system for providing a food product on a sheet of paper. The disclosed mechanical system includes an adjustable conveyor belt system that is configured to enable a puck of food product to land up-right. The angle (e.g., slope) of the adjustable conveyor belt system can be adjusted to account for variations in the size and shape of the puck. The disclosed mechanical system also includes a flattener that is configured to provide memory to the pressed pucks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: RISCO USA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Alan G. Miller
  • Patent number: 10939687
    Abstract: A method for forming pieces of food dough and an apparatus thereof is able to cut the food dough continuously extruded through a nozzle along the shape of the hole of the nozzle without causing deformation, and to locate pieces of the food dough on a conveyor without causing deformation. The apparatus for forming pieces of food dough comprises an extruding device and a cutting device, wherein the extruding device comprises a nozzle to continuously extrude food dough downward, and the cutting device comprises a cutting blade to cut the food dough into the pieces of food dough, a moving mechanism to move the cutting blade forward from an initial position, then to move the cutting blade downward, and then to return the cutting blade to the initial position, and a carrying-out conveyor, which is disposed below the nozzle and moves in the direction that the cutting blade moves forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: RHEON AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuzo Tokuhara, Masaaki Tanoi, Masaki Hosoya, Kazuyoshi Onoguchi
  • Patent number: 10285406
    Abstract: An automatic cutting apparatus, applicable to presses for making pasta or to extruders for making snacks includes a main supporting structure, an annular support having a vertical axis, a main shaft arranged coaxially to the annular support, and elements for actuating the main shaft with a rotary motion about its own axis. The annular support can be associated with a press for making pasta or an extruder for making snacks below a die that has a vertical axis and is connected to the outlet of the press or of the extruder, or below a cutting accessory that is interposed between the die and annular support. The main shaft can be coupled to at least one blade that is adapted to act on the lower die face or with at least one blade of the cutting accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: NICCOLAI TRAFILE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Marcello Niccolai, Marco Niccolai
  • Patent number: 9980493
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dumpling producing method and a dumpling producing device. The method comprises the following steps: cutting a mechanically sheeted dough sheet of a unidirectional texture into dumpling wrappers of a pre-defined shape, filling the stuffing into the dumpling sheet, and wrapping the dumpling wrapper along a fold line at an angle of 0 to 20 degrees to the texture orientation of each dumpling wrapper to produce the dumplings. The device comprises: a cutting mechanism consisting of a cutting unit and a rotating unit, wherein the rotating unit is configured to cause an angle formed between the texture orientation of the dumping wrapper and the fold line to be within 0 to 20 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Lee, Muan Zhu, Derong Wang, Gregory C. Vargas, Michael P. Waldherr, Christopher J. Field
  • Patent number: 9637249
    Abstract: A tray loading packaging machine that carries out a method for filling a multi-row packaging tray with piece-form products at a high performance level, having the following steps: dividing up a single-row stream of piece-form products onto a plurality of lanes arranged substantially parallel to one another in order to convey the products further; synchronizing the individual streams of products on the plurality or lanes with one another such that in each case one product from one lane can be transferred to the packaging tray substantially at the same time as in each case one product from the other lanes; and transferring the produces to the packaging tray, wherein in each case one product from one lane is transferred to one row of the packaging tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: LOESCH VERPACKUNGSTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Heinz-Peter Hammacher
  • Patent number: 8944800
    Abstract: A kitchen tool applies texture to gnocchi or gnocchetti. The kitchen tool has a bottom surface defining a plurality of parallel longitudinal ridges. Serrations on the longitudinal ridges help the longitudinal ridges to grip a ball of dough. A cross ridge is generally normal to the longitudinal ridges and depends below the longitudinal ridges. Sides depend below the cross ridge and the longitudinal ridges. The kitchen tool may be a part of a kit that also includes a dry dough mix. A method of using the tool also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Richard R. Riggio
  • Patent number: 8926307
    Abstract: A dough depositing machine adapted for use in the manufacture of non-traditional baked goods and methods related thereto. Non-traditional dough (e.g., gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian, or vegan dough) may have properties that are more difficult to accommodate during manufacturing than the properties of traditional dough. Accordingly, various components of the dough depositing machine may be adapted to operate with non-traditional dough. For example, at least one of a dough delivery mechanism, a forming portion, a cutting assembly and a controller of the dough depositing machine may be adapted for use with non-traditional dough. These components of a dough depositing mechanism may be provided as originally manufactured equipment or may be retrofit to an existing dough depositing machine designed for use with traditional dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Dale Rodrigues
  • Publication number: 20140370175
    Abstract: An apparatus configured for concurrently cutting, imprinting and piercing of a sheet of dough consisting of flour, water and yeast to produce imprinted loaves is disclosed. Arrays of molded frames each containing edged borders and an emboss pattern are placed onto the surface of a cylinder member configured for rotating onto a sheet of dough to simultaneously cut out loaves, imprint the loaves with the emboss pattern and pierce the loaf with pins. The emboss pattern contains areas raised above the surface of the cylinder member and recessed areas below that surface. The emboss patterns include a plurality of Coptic religious symbols that are imprinted onto the loaves to form a Korban used for ceremonial purposes. The emboss pattern is heated and initiates a par-baking process when the cylinder member engages the dough. The formation of the Korban loaves is completed by baking the loaves in the oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventor: Michel T. Bakhoum
  • Publication number: 20140134315
    Abstract: An extruder die designed to produce a spiral corn-based snack food product with consistent, tight spiral pitch and the resultant food product. The extruder die has a center post parallel to the flow path along with three cone-shaped receiving ports arranged in a cloverleaf pattern around the center post. The die has three curved slots on the output side of the die which are in fluid communication with the cone-shaped receiving ports. At the distal end of each of these slots is a semi-circular tip. The tip has a diameter larger than the width of its associated slot. Further, the tip is located at the apex of a cone-shaped receiving port with which it is in fluid communication, thus providing for the highest flow velocity of the extrudate through the tip. The resultant flow profile produces the consistent spiral shape of the snack product produced by the die design described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shalaka Narwankar, Richard James Ruegg
  • Publication number: 20140113047
    Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for forming and cutting a dough sheet into a plurality of generally spherically shaped, boule-type dough products in a continuous process. The apparatus includes a rotatable drum and a plurality of cutter molds disposed on the rotatable drum for engaging, shaping and severing dough from the sheet as the dough sheet moves along the dough travel path. Each of the cutter molds including a peripheral edge portion, a base portion and a curved, annular side wall defining a concave, generally bowl-shaped internal cavity, with the peripheral edge portion establishing a cutting edge for the cutter mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoff Suski, Frank Konkle, Ed Francis, Peter A. Huberg
  • Patent number: 8679565
    Abstract: A system for removing trim from sheet dough including a belt defined by an upper edge, lower edge, an interior surface, and an exterior surface, wherein a plurality of brushes extend from the lower edge of the belt at an orientation substantially perpendicular to the lower edge, an idler sprocket in communication with the interior surface of the belt, and a motor configured to rotate the belt about the idler sprocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventor: James W. Finkowski
  • Patent number: 8679563
    Abstract: A sheeter includes an internally grooveless front roller, a rear roller configured to rotate counter to the front roller, a partially spiraled stripper wire coupled across the front roller, and a conveyer belt connected to a proximal conveyer roller and a distal conveyer roller. The conveyer belt includes a landing zone configured to prevent damage to a received product. The conveyer belt includes a raised portion adjacent to the proximal end and flat portion towards the distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Casa Herrera, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael L. Herrera
  • Patent number: 8668486
    Abstract: An extruder die designed to produce a spiral corn-based snack food product with consistent, tight spiral pitch and the resultant food product. The extruder die has a center post parallel to the flow path along with three cone-shaped receiving ports arranged in a cloverleaf pattern around the center post. The die has three curved slots on the output side of the die which are in fluid communication with the cone-shaped receiving ports. At the distal end of each of these slots is a semi-circular tip. The tip has a diameter larger than the width of its associated slot. Further, the tip is located at the apex of a cone-shaped receiving port with which it is in fluid communication, thus providing for the highest flow velocity of the extrudate through the tip. The resultant flow profile produces the consistent spiral shape of the snack product produced by the die design described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shalaka Narwankar, Richard James Ruegg
  • Patent number: 8663726
    Abstract: An object is to provide a method and an apparatus for lapping strip-shaped food dough onto a transporting unit without repeatedly applying tension or relaxation. A method of lapping food dough in which strip-shaped food dough being continuously conveyed is lapped onto the transporting unit configured to transport the food dough in a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the food dough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Oderaotoshi, Tomokuni Akutsu, Hiroyuki Okaizumi, Norio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8647104
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dough cutter for cutting a plurality of dough products from a dough sheet. The dough products are cut from the dough sheet into a defined geometrical shape and provide for easy pull-apart pastries once they are baked, cooked, or fried. The dough cutter consists of a plurality of dies, each containing a plurality of inner geometric cutouts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Inventor: Ron Tillman
  • Publication number: 20140037810
    Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Russel
  • Publication number: 20130266707
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: Fritsch GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Fackelmann, Josef Hoos
  • Publication number: 20130251876
    Abstract: A process for producing noodle strips in which a dough sheet is slit into noodle strips using a rotary slitting device comprising at least a pair of cutting blade rolls, scraping members and air flow supply means. The dough sheet is passed through the cutting blade rolls, to thereby slit the dough sheet into noodle strips; the noodle strips are peeled off from the cutting blade rolls using the scraping members, to thereby separate into upper and lower noodle strip bundles; and air flow is supplied to the slit noodle strips from the air flow supply means. There is provided a process capable of stably realizing generally straight noodle strips with no strong longitudinal waves even in a mass production line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: SANYO FOODS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshiaki Nagayama
  • Patent number: 8535039
    Abstract: A dough cutting apparatus is suitable for cutting a sheet of dough. The dough cutting apparatus includes a structure defining a blunt dough engaging portion. The present invention can be embodied in a number of different ways, including a wheel cutter, a rotary drum cutter, a reciprocating head cutter, or another cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Evans, James W. Finkowski, Gene A. Russel
  • Publication number: 20130236594
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a palate cleanser wine cookie, a method of cleansing the palate of a person for wine tastings using the cookie, a process of cleansing the palate of a person for wine tastings using the cookie, and a process for preparing a palate cleanser wine cookie. The palate cleanser wine cookie is useful for palate cleansing and as a palate-cleansing tool for purposes of correctly tasting a wine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Hazel B. Juliani
  • Patent number: 8512782
    Abstract: A food piece with a first dough sheet having a first inner surface, a first outer surface, and a first peripheral edge. The food piece also includes a second dough sheet having a second inner surface, a second outer surface, and a second peripheral edge. The first peripheral edge of the first dough sheet is joined together with the second peripheral edge of the second dough sheet to define a perimeter. The food piece also includes an embossment positioned within the perimeter. The embossment extends upon at least one of the first outer surface and the second outer surface and includes at least one line along which the first and second dough sheets are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Joseph George Akamittath, Charles Aden Smith, Dave Helsen
  • Publication number: 20130209648
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wheat flour composition, a dough composition comprising the flour composition and food products comprising the wheat flour composition. It particularly relates to wheat flour composition suitable to prepare flat breads (including Indian style bread known as chapatti), noodles and pasta. The problem of the addition of gum at higher levels, although helpful in improving colour and rheological properties of dough, suffer from a beany odour experienced during preparation of the dough and during consumption of the flat bread. The same problems have been found in noodles where gum has been added to improve rheology, such as fried noodles and pasta. Surprisingly it has been found that a wheat flour composition comprising chick pea flour and guar gum, is easily processed into a dough that is soft and can easily be processed into flat breads, noodles or pasta, and the baked product (flat bread, chapatti, noodle or pasta) that is also soft and yet has acceptable sensory properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Chandrika Mohanan, Suresh Kumar Nediyedath, Akalya Shanmugam
  • Patent number: 8505445
    Abstract: The present invention provides a device for performing multiple folding on a pastry case enclosing a stuffing so as to made stuffed foods with pastry cases, such as Chinese spring rolls and Mexican tacos. The device is characterized in that a stuffing feeder, a pastry case front folding plate, a pastry case front pressing stand, a pastry case two-sided folding plate, a pastry case flanging and pressing stand, and a consecutive folding and pressing stand are disposed on a conveyor belt of an apparatus in sequence, for performing the steps of: upon entry of the pastry case onto the conveyor belt, feeding a stuffing automatically and continuously, and then performing single folding, two-sided folding, and secondary bending-pressing, to thereby form stuffed foods with pastry cases by multiple folding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Ou-Young Robert
  • Patent number: 8440251
    Abstract: Improved doughs containing dehydrated potato products, food products made from said doughs, and the methods for making the same are disclosed. Although the improved doughs contain non-ideal dehydrated potato products, processing efficiency and finished product quality are comparable to that of finished products made with doughs containing dehydrated potato products having from 40% to 60% broken cells and from 16% to 27% free amylose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Kellogg North America Company
    Inventors: Maria Dolores Martinez-Serna Villagran, Anthony John Boiano
  • Patent number: 8431172
    Abstract: A method for the continuous production of cookies having a high content of large inclusions, such as chocolate chips, nuts, and fruit pieces includes extruding a cookie dough containing the inclusions through a die orifice to obtain an extrudate dough rope, and cutting the extrudate dough rope with an ultrasonic cutting blade. The ultrasonic cutting severs the extrudate dough rope into dough pieces which fall onto a moving conveyer into a substantially uniform or regular array for uniform baking. The ultrasonic cutter is controlled to provide a roughened top surface on a dough piece to provide a home baked appearance upon baking, while cutting through the inclusions without substantial displacement of the inclusions which would cause pock marks on the surface of the dough piece, and without substantial dough piece weight variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Srinivas Vangeepuram, Mihaelos Nicholas Mihalos, Theodore N. Janulis
  • Publication number: 20130084377
    Abstract: A dough tray is provided for distributing dough. The dough tray includes a plurality of dough wells, a plurality of grooves defined by the dough wells, and a plurality of denesting features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Orris
  • Publication number: 20130078343
    Abstract: A kitchen tool applies texture to gnocchi or gnocchetti. The kitchen tool has a bottom surface defining a plurality of parallel longitudinal ridges. Serrations on the longitudinal ridges help the longitudinal ridges to grip a ball of dough. A cross ridge is generally normal to the longitudinal ridges and depends below the longitudinal ridges. Sides depend below the cross ridge and the longitudinal ridges. The kitchen tool may be a part of a kit that also includes a dry dough mix. A method of using the tool also is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Richard R. Riggio
  • Patent number: 8387521
    Abstract: A kneaded dough dividing apparatus has a divider vessel body having a dough inlet and two dough outlets for discharging kneaded dough as two streams of dough. The divider vessel body is provided therein with an outlet control member that simultaneously partially closes the two dough outlets. The outlet control member is displaceable relative to the two dough outlets to reduce the opening area of one of the two dough outlets when enlarging the opening area of the other of the two dough outlets and to reduce the opening area of the other dough outlet when enlarging the opening area of the one dough outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Oshikiri Machinery Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuzuru Oki, Masami Umetsu, Takahiro Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 8353234
    Abstract: A food dough cutting method and cutting device thereof capable of forming conveyed food dough strips that have nearly identical weight per unit time when dividing band shaped food dough into multiple food dough strips in the conveyance direction, and is further capable of performing the same number of cuts for each food dough strip when cutting each food dough strip along the width direction into food dough pieces having a specified weight are provided. The conveyed food dough is aligned to a position that is displaced by just an alignment displacement amount with respect to a reference position that is based on the installation position of cutting members. The alignment displacement amount is calculated based on the ratio of the width dimension of the food dough and the lengths of food dough pieces that are cut from food dough strips on both sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akinori Takama, Susumu Kominato, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Publication number: 20120308701
    Abstract: The baking pan disclosed herein creates a single, or double, bite sized baked product that has a crispy outer edge and a chewy interior. The ratio between the side of the interior insert of the pan and the exterior side of the pan is critical to form the desired product. The pan can range in size from about a 5 inch exterior diameter to a 16 inch exterior diameter with the interior insert increasing accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Inventors: Sharon Lynn Campbell, George Campbell
  • Patent number: 8293308
    Abstract: A method for producing wafers by extrusion comprising the steps of a. Preparing an ingredient mix b. Feeding the mix in an extruder and cooking the mix c. Extruding the cooked mix such that an extruded and expanded non-planar structure is formed d. Unfolding the structure to give a large extruded sheet e. Subjecting the extruded sheet to stretching/pulling f. Adjusting the sheet in order to obtain a desired thickness g. Drying the sheet h. Separating the sheet into wafers of desired dimensions The invention also relates to the wafers thus produced and to a wafer production line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Nestec S.A.
    Inventors: Christophe Dautremont, Rodolfo De Acutis, Hugo Piguet
  • Publication number: 20120263854
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat bread dough composition, comprising: A) flour; B) shortening; C) water; and D) a leavening system having a leavening base and a leavening acid having a combination selected from the group consisting of a) sodium aluminum phosphate and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate; b) sodium aluminum phosphate and sodium acid pyrophosphate; c) sodium acid pyrophosphate and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate; d) sodium acid pyrophosphate, monocalcium phosphate, and calcium acid pyrophosphate; e) dicalcium phosphate dehydrate, monocalcium phosphate, and calcium acid pyrophosphate; f) sodium aluminum phosphate, sodium acid pyrophosphate, and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate; g) sodium aluminum sulfate and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate; and h) sodium aluminum sulfate and sodium acid pyrophosphate, the sodium acid pyrophosphate exhibiting an evolved percentage of carbon dioxide of about 30 or less at room temperature prior to baking, and the slower reacting of the leavening acids in the combination
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: INNOPHOS, INC.
    Inventors: LISA CHEDID, JOHN TOCZEK, JOHN BRODIE
  • Patent number: 8282379
    Abstract: A dough sheet for producing thin, baked chips is obtained continuously by compressing a dough sheet to a thickness of less than or equal to about 0.035 inch between counter-rotating gauge rolls while maintaining the surface of each gauge roll at a temperature of about 85° F. to about 95° F. Maintaining the gauge roll surface temperature at about 85° F. to about 95° F. avoids sticking, tearing, and shredding of the thin dough sheet as it is compressed and transferred by the gauge rolls, even at high production rates or line speeds. A rotary cutter is employed to obtain thin, irregularly shaped, scallop-edged snacks in a variety of shapes from a single dough sheet without producing dough scraps between the pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Mihaelos N. Mihalos, Jessica H. Schwartzberg, Theodore N. Janulis, Barbara E. Baumann, Stephanie M. Ferguson, Zena E. Forte
  • Patent number: 8163323
    Abstract: A method for preparing bread includes forming a dough billet and providing a frame including a sling of flexible cloth material secured between two cross members, the sling defining an elongate trough sized to receive the dough billet. The dough billet is disposed in the elongate trough such that the dough billet has a predetermined orientation and the dough billet is moved into a cutting station using a conveyor. The dough billet is scored in the sling at the predetermined orientation with an automated cutting station. The dough billet is removed from the elongate trough by raising the dough billet by pressing a contact element against a bottom of the sling and taking the raised dough billet from the frame. The dough billet is also cooked on an oven floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: New French Bakery, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter Kelsey, Jürgen Ullrich
  • Patent number: 8146469
    Abstract: A container or pan for producing predetermined food portions is disclosed. Indicia are formed on the container at selected intervals adjacent an outer peripheral edge. A cutting blade is provided having a length substantially equivalent to a length, or a width, or a diameter of the container; or to a distance between a pair of cooperating indicia. The cutting blade is adapted to extend from the indicia on one side of the container to the indicia on another side of the container. The cutting member is placed in alignment with the respective indicia and then forced downwardly through the food. The indicia provide a guide to readily align the cutting blade for cutting the food into selected sized portions without having to measure and mark the food prior to cutting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Inventor: Becky Parr
  • Patent number: 8071149
    Abstract: The dough distribution manifold (10) includes a housing (12) with a perimeter wall (14) forming a dough distribution chamber (20). Removable bottom wall (16) and removable top wall (18) are positioned on the perimeter wall. Top wall (18) includes a cover plate (40) and an insert plate (42), with the insert plate having a protrusion (44) that extends into the dough distribution chamber (20), whereby different sized insert plates may be combined with the cover plate to adjust the height of the dough distribution chamber. The perimeter wall (14) is independently supported with respect to said bottom wall (16) and top wall (18) so that the bottom and top walls may be removed while leaving the perimeter wall in place for inspection and cleaning. Valves (56) and dough dividers (34 and 64) are used to direct the movement of dough in equal amounts through the delivery openings (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: AMF Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce V. Campbell, Remberto Pedraja
  • Patent number: 8048465
    Abstract: A method of forming elbow-shaped crackers using a die cutter is provided. By one approach, the method includes first preparing a cracker dough, and then sheeting the cracker dough to form a dough sheet having a thickness. Next, the formed dough sheet is advanced through a die cutter to form a plurality of elbow-shaped dough pieces from the dough sheet. The formed dough pieces have a non-symmetrical degree of curvature between top and bottom sides thereof so that the formed dough pieces have a recognizable elbow-shaped configuration and the plurality of formed dough pieces are nested together by the die cutter so that there is no sheeted cracker dough remaining between adjacently nested dough pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC
    Inventors: Kenchu A. Tham, Edward Kevin McHugh, Steven Peter Zubanas
  • Publication number: 20110262611
    Abstract: A dough extruder is disclosed that is configured to provide a continuous dough rope suitable for cracker products using a straight extended low friction compression chamber and a die plate oriented substantially perpendicular to a laminar flow of the dough. In one embodiment, the extruder can have a compressive force sufficient to extrude a plastic mass in a laminar flow in the range of about less than 120 psi; a compression chamber providing for an interior coefficient of friction in the range of about 0.2 and 0.35; and a die plate horizontally aligned with the longitudinal axis of the compressive force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventors: Mihaelos Nicholas Mihalos, Chris E. Robinson, Jack Kitchell
  • Patent number: 8017166
    Abstract: Stackable, farinaceous based low-fat snack chips are produced from a thin chain link strip of dough blanks by baking the strip in an oven with the strip blanks supported and carried by a lower mold assembly. Alternatively, the strip may be partially baked and then fried with the strip blanks sandwiched between upper and lower molds to produce reduced fat stackable snack chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Inventor: Steven Amory Twitty
  • Patent number: 7985438
    Abstract: This invention refers to a method for producing integrally flavored non-fried snacks, as well as the preparation thereof, in which upon internally flavoring the pellet, flavors prevail, since a cold-extrusion process similar to that used for producing pastas is used, wherein the temperature does not exceed 100° C., thereby flavors degrades not. In order to produce the snacks according to this, it is required to use pre-gelatinized flours. The flavored pellet undergoes a baking process at a high temperature during a short period of time. An internally flavored snack is produced, to which it is possible to add functional ingredients which would degrade using a normal extrusion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: IHS Global S.A.P.I. De C.V.
    Inventors: Simón Sacal Mizrahi, Marcos Baez Fernández
  • Patent number: 7976889
    Abstract: Improved doughs containing dehydrated potato products, food products made from said doughs, and the methods for making the same are disclosed. Although the improved doughs contain non-ideal dehydrated potato products, processing efficiency and finished product quality are comparable to that of finished products made with doughs containing dehydrated potato products having from 40% to 60% broken cells and from 16% to 27% free amylose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Maria Dolores Martinez-Serna Villagran, Anthony John Boiano
  • Publication number: 20110151052
    Abstract: A method and system for preparing naan bread is provided. A conveyor oven is used to bake flattened and pre-shaped naan bread loaves. The conveyor oven uses high temperature gas heat to bake the naan, imparting traditional characteristics such as the slightly smoky or scorched appearance. The oven interior is preferably lined with stone, granite, clay or porcelain to enhance baking and provide traditional flavour.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: FGF BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: Sam Ajmera, John Gordon, Dragan Janus
  • Publication number: 20110135794
    Abstract: A cooking system includes a main wheel having a first surface and a secondary wheel having a second surface. The second surface of the secondary wheel mates with the first surface of the main wheel at a nip to form and set a grain based material disposed between the first and second surfaces. The grain based material may be dried, toasted, baked, puffed, or blistered between first and second surfaces. The method begins by disposing a cooked or uncooked grain based material over the first surface. The second surface, which corresponds to the first surface is applied to the grain based material at the nip to form and set the grain based material between the first and second surfaces. At least one of the first and second surfaces is heated to heat the grain based material disposed between the first and second surfaces to produce a ready-to-eat grain based product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Norbert Gimmler, Charles Gambino, Hillis Kauffman, Terry Engle, Penny Engle
  • Publication number: 20110100180
    Abstract: A device for portioning a plurality of dough strands into individual dough portions operates as follows: firstly, the produced dough strands, which are transported by a conveyor device, are measured with respect to their volume by a measuring device. Afterwards the dough strands are cut by means of a cutting device as a function of the measurement result into dough portions. This results in a dough portioning where the precision of the portioning is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Herbert Mülders, Dieter Knost
  • Patent number: 7931923
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a loaf of bread of this invention is comprised of a forming step to form a sheet from a block of bread dough that is kneaded from the raw materials for bread, a further forming step to form a bar-like dough by rolling or folding the sheet, a cutting step to cut the bar-like dough, and a placing step to place the bar-like pieces of dough that were cut at the cutting step into a baking mold so that at least one cutting plane faces upward. If there are air bubbles between layers of the bar-like pieces of dough, the air bubbles can escape from a cutting surface of the bar-like pieces of dough when they rise and expand at the fermenting and baking steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Torahiko Hayashi, Keiji Hayashi, legal representative, Michio Morikawa, Sadao Ueno, Hiroyuki Okaizumi
  • Patent number: 7923048
    Abstract: Making a pizza crust includes forming a mass of dough into a substantially flattened shape to define an inner crust bordered by an outer crust extending around the inner crust. The outer crust is divided into a plurality of segments without cutting the inner crust by pressing a plurality of cutting fins of a cutting ring through the outer crust to form the plurality of segments. Each of the plurality of segments defines a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a first side facing the inner crust, and a second side facing opposite the inner crust. Each of the plurality of segments is turned such that the second end is moved away from the inner crust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Pizza Hut, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter G. Graham, Todd W. Craig, Carrie L. Goff
  • Patent number: 7914834
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of forming an edible item. The method includes the step of forming dough into a substantially planar ribbon having a first height. The dough is at least partially elastic. The method also includes the step of permanently displacing a portion of the at least partially elastic ribbon to a second height greater than the first height with a cutting die. The inventive method can produce a cracker formed from sheetable dough. The inventive cracker includes a first portion of planar configuration and a second portion integrally formed with and raised from said first portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Bin Fu, Don Barnes, Suzanne Annette Devyak
  • Publication number: 20110008506
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a food dough cutting method and cutting device thereof capable of forming conveyed food dough strips that have nearly identical weight per unit time when dividing band shaped food dough into multiple food dough strips in the conveyance direction, and is further capable of performing the same number of cuts for each food dough strip when cutting each food dough strip along the width direction into food dough pieces having a specified weight. The conveyed food dough is aligned to a position that is displaced by just an alignment displacement amount with respect to a reference position that is based on the installation position of cutting members. The alignment displacement amount is calculated based on the ratio of the width dimension of the food dough and the lengths of food dough pieces that are cut from food dough strips on both sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicant: RHEON AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akinori Takama, Susumu Kominato, Hiroshi Ueno
  • Patent number: RE42749
    Abstract: A cohesive machineable dough having a high soy content and products made from the dough are shown. The dough has a soy-component, a pre-gelatinized starch component, a liquid component, and optionally other ingredients. Preferably, the soy-component is from about 60% to about 90% of the dry ingredients, the pre-gelatinized starch component is from about 10% to about 40% of the dry ingredients, and water is from about 25% to 45% of the total dough. The dough may be sheeted, cut, and baked to produce products such as flatbreads, crackers, chips, and other snack and bread products of various cuisines. The dough may also be fried after baking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Inventor: Deborah W. Cohen