Abstract: Disclosed are devices and processes for producing baked thin-walled shaped articles from baking or pouring mixtures which expand during the baking process. The bottom half (18) of a baking mold (16) for producing thin-walled shaped articles is accommodated in the bottom tongs section (13) of a pair of baking tongs (7) and the top half (17) of the baking mold is accommodated in the top tongs section (15) of the tongs (7). The mold halves (17, 18) and tongs sections (13, 15) are provided with stop surfaces (68c, 64d) and sealing surfaces (17a, 18a, 21a, 22a) and are in mutual contact when the baking mold (16) is closed. At least one clamp device (30, 31) is provided to press the mold halves (17, 18, 21, 22) of the closed baking mold (16) together; said clamp device forces at least the two mold halves (17, 18) of the closed baking mold (16) together with a predetermined clamping force during clamping and eliminates at least the play between them.

Abstract: With a process for manufacturing compostible thin-walled molded articles such as cups, plates, fast-food packagings, trays, flat sheets and the like, by applying a starch-based baking composition on the lower part of a multipart, preferably bipartite mold, to obtain a tough, durable article of high mechanical stability by using an essentially fat-free baking composition composed of water, a starch product, a release agent, and optionally further conventional additives, by baking the baking composition filling the mold, and by conditioning the resulting product to establish a moisture content of 6-22% by weight, the invention proposes the use, in addition to or instead of starch, of at least one modified starch selected from the group comprising starch esterified with organic acids or phosphoric acid, etherified starch, cross-linked starch and starch capable of being modified by ionic interaction.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process applying a water-repellent and/or waterproof coating to at least one side or the inside of shaped elements, which are obtained in that starch-containing compositions are baked between two mould halves or are extruded. That process is characterized in that a lacquer which in addition to one or more low-boiling solvents which are miscible with water and are innocuous from the aspect of human and/or ecotoxicology and one or more rottable film-forming substances and one or more rottable hydrophobic plasticizers is applied and during the application of said lacquer the adsorbed water of hydration is removed from the surface layer of the shaped element which is to be coated, whereafter the solvent mixture is removed which a minimum moisture content from 5% by weight to one at which there is no odour maintained in the substrate.

Abstract: In a continuous oven for making baked ware comprises a baking belt, which extends through an elongate oven space, and upper and lower radiant heaters, which are flown through by heating gas and are included in a heating gas circulating circuit, which comprises a heat exchanger, which is arranged to be heated by the nesting gases being recycled and serves to neat the air that is to be supplied to the oven space The heat exchanger is included in the heating gas circulating circuit between the radiant heaters and the exhaust gas outlet and in an air circulating circuit provided with a water vapor outlet and a fresh air inlet is disposed between the fresh air inlet and the oven space.

Abstract: In a hinge for pivotally connecting the tongs of a pair of baking tongs, the hinge pin is rotatably mounted by means of at least one sliding surface bearing, which comprises sliding surfaces, which are in sliding contact with each other and are respectively provided on the hinge pin and on one of two members which are pivotally connected. One of said sliding surfaces comprises a sliding surface segment and is formed with openings adjoining said sliding surface segment on opposite sides thereof and with scraping edges, which are in sliding contact with the other of said sliding surfaces and define said openings and said sliding surface segment on opposite sides thereof.

Abstract: A biodegradable container baked from a waffle material is composed of a pair of half shells each of which has a pair of lugs for flaps engaging in recesses of the other half shell and formed with ribs along generatrices of the respective side wall having detent recesses engageable by bulges or beads of the recesses of the other half shell. Additional ribs can be provided for stiffening purposes. The container is useful for foods distributed at fast-food restaurants or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for the quality control of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end. The individual, one-piece receptacles are preferably aligned, in several groups, side by side, similarly with respect to their spatial orientation. The receptacles are turned over to a conveyor line where they pass through at least one testing station at which measurement results specific to each type of receptacle are obtained. The analysis of these results indicates the structural integrity and accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle. The receptacles, as a function of the receptacle-specific measurement results, are removed from the conveyor line if defective; and only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptacles are stacked and further advanced as a stack.

Abstract: A wafer block magazine for a shorttime intermediate storage of wafer blocks is characterized by two or more juxtaposed storage towers, which are provided with vertical conveyors, which inside each storage tower define horizontal storage compartments for the wafer blocks, which storage components are adapted to be vertically raised and lowered. The first storage tower includes a feeding station for receiving the wafer blocks. At least the last storage tower includes a taking station for delivering wafer blocks. The magazine is also characterized by a vertically displaceable horizontal conveyor for forwarding the wafer blocks between horizontally aligned storage compartments of the storage towers.

Abstract: A receptacle made of a starch-based biodegradable material is formed with a side wall, and a generally flat floor formed with an array of criss-cross upstanding ridges projecting from and unitary with a surface of the floor and meeting at intersections. Each rib has an undulating, generally sinusoidal, outer edge having high points spaced relatively far from the surface and low points relatively close to the surface. The ribs are positioned such that each intersection is at a high point of one of the ribs and a low point of another of the ribs.

Abstract: An interstage wafer block accumulator for a plant for the production and further processing of wafer blocks. In an interstage wafer block accumulator comprising at least one conveyor and a plurality of accumulator units, each of which accommodates one or more wafer blocks and is disposed between a feed station and a delivery station, it is proposed that said accumulator units for the wafer blocks accommodated in each accumulator unit should be consecutively arranged in the direction of travel of the wafer blocks. Each of said accumulator units comprises a separate horizontal conveyor for accommodating and forwarding wafer block stacks, each of which comprises one wafer block or a plurality of superimposed wafer block stacks. The interstage wafer block accumulator may have a plurality of superimposed storage levels. The accumulator units may be consecutively arranged on said plurality of storage levels in the direction of travel of the wafer blocks.

Abstract: In a coating apparatus for applying a coating composition to substantially flat baked pieces, particularly cookies or the like, which apparatus includes a supply container (15) and a metering device (14) succeeding that container, it is proposed to provide between the supply container (15) and the metering device (14) a substantially horizontal screw conveyor (13), which serves to transpsort the coating composition to the metering device (14) and which at its discharge end opens into the metering device (14), which includes a cylindrical coating head (14) having a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis. The metering body of the coating head (14) consists of a cylindrical drum (21), which rotates about the longitudinal axis of the coating head (14). That drum (21) is provided with radial discharge nozzle passages (28). A pressure sensor (36) for controlling the velocity of conveyance of the screw conveyor (13) is provided in a stationary part of the coating head (14).

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the quality control of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end. The individual, one-piece receptacles are preferably aligned, in several groups, side by side, similarly with respect to their spatial orientation. The receptacles are turned over to a conveyor line where they pass through at least one testing station at which measurement results specific to each type of receptacle are obtained. The analysis of these results indicates the structural integrity and accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle. The receptacles, as a function of the receptacle-specific measurement results, are removed from the conveyor line if defective; and only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptacles are stacked and further advanced as a stack.

Abstract: Baking tongs for producing edible wafers from wafer dough in a wafer baking oven or an automatic wafer baking machine consist of a wafer baking mold comprising baking mold parts in respective tong parts which are moved toward each other and away from each other in order to open and close the wafer baking mold. For a rigid interlocking of the two tong parts when the wafer baking mold is closed, the tong parts are provided with cooperating closure sections. The closure section of one tong part is provided with a rigid locking pin, which protrudes from the inside surface of that closure section. The closure section of the other tong part is formed with a through opening, which constitutes a passage for the locking pin, and is provided with a hook which is engageable with the locking pin. The hook is pivoted on the outside of the closure section and has an engaging surface for engaging an engaging surface of the locking pin. The hook is provided with an actuating element for pivotally moving the hook.

Abstract: A baking or roasting oven is provided with a transfer apparatus by which the pieces of edible material which is to be roasted, such as slices of white bread, soft wafers, etc., are fed into the oven and the roasted toasts are removed from the oven. The oven comprises an endless chain of hinged tongs, which can be opened and closed and are adapted to hold the pieces of edible material which are to be roasted. The chain of tongs moves in the oven in two superimposed planes. A transfer station is provided adjacent to the upper plane in which the upper course of the chain of tongs extends. The tongs move in an open position through that transfer station, which contains two sets of drums, which are closely spaced one behind the other in the direction of travel of the upper course of the chain of tongs and are disposed above the bottom plates of the open tongs of said upper course.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the quality control of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end. The individual, one-piece receptacles are preferably aligned, in several groups, side by side, similarly with respect to their spatial orientation. The receptacles are turned over to a conveyor line where they pass through at least one testing station at which measurement results specific to each type of receptacle are obtained. The analysis of these results indicates the structural integrity and accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle. The receptacles, as a function of the receptacle-specific measurement results, are removed from the conveyor line if defective; and only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acceptable receptables are stacked and further advanced as a stack.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for the quality control of individual, one-piece receptacles, which are open at one end. The individual, one-piece receptacles are preferably aligned, in several groups, side by side, similarly with respect to their spatial orientation. The receptacles are turned over to a conveyor line where they pass through at least one testing station at which measurement results specific to each type of receptacle are obtained. The analysis of these results indicates the structural integrity and accuracy of shape of the respective receptacle. The receptacles, as a function of the receptacle-specific measurement results, are removed from the conveyor line if defective; and only the structurally integral and shape-accurate acdeptable receptacles are stacked and further advanced as a stack.

Abstract: An apparatus for operating the locks of wafer baking tongs, which revolve in a wafer baking oven and move past the stationary operating apparatus, which is mounted in the wafer baking oven, comprises a movable closing element, which is engageable with the actuating member of the lock to lock the latter. It is proposed to provide an unlocking element, which is engageable with the actuating member to unlock a lock which has not entirely been locked. An actuator is provided for moving the unlocking element into engagement with the actuating member when the closing element has been pushed back a predetermined distance from its operative position by the actuating member when the lock has not entirely been locked.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for placing wafer pieces into molding depressions of casting molds. The casting molds are continuously conveyed by a conveyor in a direction of travel. The wafer pieces are delivered with upwardly facing top faces to a support plate or a separating device which is spaced above the plane of conveyance for the casting molds and are moved on said support plate or through said separating device in a direction which is opposite to the direction of travel of the molds. A transfer device is provided between the conveyor, on the one hand, and the support plate or the separating device, on the other hand, and is provided with retaining elements for retaining the wafer pieces operable to gradually reverse the wafer pieces until they move upside down in the direction of travel of the casting molds in synchronism therewith and in register with respective ones of said molding recesses.

Abstract: In an apparatus for making a rolled wafer cone from a baked flat wafer blank made from a sugar-containing wafer dough, the baked wafer blank is rolled to form a wafer cone in a winding mold while the wafer blank is still in a soft, deformable state after the baking operation. Thereafter the rolled wafer cone is permitted to harden. In order to ensure the production of wafer cones having consistently exactly the same shape, it is proposed that the wafer cone which is unrestrained at least in part is shortened in the winding mold to a predetermined length while the wafer cone is adapted to be plastically deformed. For this purpose the rolled wafer cone disposed in the winding mold is subjected to a plastic deformation only at one end or only at both ends.

Abstract: When it is desired to single consecutive filled wafer slices, which are advanced with abutting trailing and leading faces, respectively, so that the singled wafer slices are ultimately spaced apart, a separation between consecutive wafer slices is to be effected in time even if the wafer slices are filled with cream so that their filling layers will strongly adhere to each other. This can be ensured in that a transfer device is provided between a feeding conveyor for advancing consecutive wafer slices abutting at their trailing and leading faces, respectively, and a delivering conveyor for advancing the rows of wafer slices on a delivery plane, which is vertically spaced from the feeding plane, on which the wafer slices are advanced by the feeding conveyor, and the transfer device pulls each leading wafer slice from the next succeeding wafer slice and moves the pulled-off wafer slice to the delivery plane.