Abstract: A device (24) for aligning with a feeding line (8) of a moving transfer conveyor (3) and for bending a round elongated dough piece (13) randomly placed on the moving transfer conveyor for transfer, including a pair of stoppers (26, 26) symmetrically arranged in a funnel-shape above the moving transfer conveyor (3) so that the dough piece (13) can be moved to a central position between the stoppers (26) and (26). The stoppers are rotatable to bend the dough piece (13) and movable to release it on the moving transfer conveyor.

Abstract: A device (24) for aligning with a feeding line (8) of a moving transfer conveyor (3) and for bending a round elongated dough piece (13) randomly placed on the moving transfer conveyor for transfer, comprising a pair of stoppers (26, 26) symmetrically arranged in a funnel-shape above the moving transfer conveyor (3) so that the dough piece (13) can be moved to a central position between the stoppers (26) and (26). The stoppers are rotatable to bend the dough piece (13) and movable to release it on the moving transfer conveyor.

Abstract: A device (24) for aligning with a feeding line (8) of a moving transfer conveyor (3) and for bending a round elongated dough piece (13) randomly placed on the moving transfer conveyor for transfer, comprising a pair of stoppers (26, 26) symmetrically arranged in a funnel-shape above the moving transfer conveyor (3) so that the dough piece (13) can be moved to a central position between the stoppers (26) and (26). The stoppers are rotatable to bend the dough piece (13) and movable to release it on the moving transfer conveyor.

Abstract: A device for charging a filling material (6) with respect to pieces of dough (1) transferred on a transfer conveyor (2) comprising detectors (3) mounted on the transfer conveyor, the detectors being adapted to detect transverse shifts of the pieces of dough on the transfer conveyor and to generate signals representative of the amounts of the shifts; a filling-charging mechanism (4) disposed downstream of the detectors, the filling-charging mechanism having discharging nozzles (48) mounted movably in the transverse direction; and a control device (7) for receiving from the detectors the signals representative of the amounts of the shifts and controlling the discharging nozzles to move transversely amounts equal to the respective amounts of the shift.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a uniform strip of bread dough is provided in which a dough mass flows downward from a dough hopper, a dough portion of the flowing dough mass is laterally spread on an outlet conveyor having a weighing table, dough portions are cut and divided from the dough mass into dough pieces when a predetermined degree of the spread of the dough mass is detected by a dough-detecting device, simultaneously the weight of the dough piece is measured, the dough piece is then transferred from the outlet conveyor to a supply conveyor, the divided dough pieces are arranged on the supply conveyor at intervals proportionate to the weights of the dough pieces, and they are stretched to make a strip of bread dough. It has a uniform width and thickness, and is uniform in weight throughout the entire part of the strip of bread dough. Therefore, dough products cut and formed from this strip of bread dough are of a high quality.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing bread dough or the like is provided, which comprises a dough-cutting member comprising a saw blade means, two dough-supporting members, and a drive means for reciprocating the saw blade means, and by which a plastic material such as bread dough or confectionery dough is smoothly severed, whereby pieces of divided bread dough, each having a plate-like form in which no stress has occurred, are obtained. Further, an apparatus for supplying a uniform strip of bread dough or the like is provided, which comprises the apparatus for dividing bread dough and a stretcher or the like for preparing a sheet of dough. By this apparatus, pieces of divided bread dough, each having a plate-like form, are supplied, and these pieces of bread dough are joined to each other to make a uniform strip of bread dough in which no stress has occurred.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing various shapes of bread that comprises the steps of forming a continuous sheet of bread dough, winding up the sheet of bread dough traveling on a horizontal conveyor from one of its sides into a bar of bread dough, causing the bar to fall from the downstream end of the conveyor, and cutting the falling dough body into dough pieces by means of squeezing it with the flat surfaces of a cutter, according to its preset weight or length.

Abstract: A baking apparatus and a method for quickly providing freshly baked bread by reducing time required for baking. In bread-making operations, reducing baking time by using a dough-surface heating unit together with an dough-interior heating unit and then subjecting the baked bread to reduced pressure for lowering moisture content at the dough interior.

Abstract: An apparatus for dividing bread dough or the like is provided, which comprises a dough-cutting member (38) comprising a saw blade means, two dough-supporting members (30, 56), a drive means for reciprocating the saw blade means, and a discharge means (57) for regulating the pieces of bread dough cut to have a thickness corresponding to a preset distance from the dough outlet (35) of the apparatus, thereby producing pieces of bread dough having a uniform thickness. A similar apparatus is modified, which has an adjusting means for moving a second dough-supporting member (112) parallel to its stationary position, thereby changing the size of the dough outlet (35) of the apparatus to meet a required thickness of the bread dough to be cut. Also, a similar apparatus is provided, which has a pressing means (160) for pressing the bread dough in a hopper for dough to maintain the pressure in the bread dough at a uniform value, whereby almost all the bread dough in the hopper (15) can be cut.

Abstract: A method that comprises continuously depositing fillings on a sheet of bread dough and winding up the sheet with the deposited fillings from one of its sides into a bar of bread dough, with the fillings centered. This simple method serves to reduce production labor.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing various shapes of bread that includes a device for forming a continuous sheet of bread dough, a roller for winding up the sheet of bread dough traveling on a horizontal conveyor from one of its sides into a bar of bread dough, the conveyor causing the bar to fall from its downstream end, and a cutter for cutting the falling dough body into dough pieces by squeezing it with flat surfaces of the cutter, according to its preset weight or length.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stretching dough is provided, by which bread dough or confectionery dough is continuously and smoothly stretched by linearly reciprocating a roller over the surface of the part of the dough that is continuously conveyed by a downstream conveyor of a pair of conveyors, one a downstream conveyor and other an upstream conveyor, while the roller rolls on the dough, without destroying the gluten tissue of the dough, and while determining the conveying speed of the upstream conveyor in response to the change of the thickness of the dough to be stretched, thereby obtaining, in one operation, a desired and uniform dough thickness from the continuously supplied dough material.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing croissants with fillings includes a filling-depositing stage for depositing a filling on a croissant dough piece that is being conveyed in a downstream direction, a rolling-up preparation stage positioned downstream of the filling-depositing stage for raising the croissant dough piece at its leading edge and simultaneously turning the leading edge backward to be folded in the upstream direction to thereby cover the filling, and a rolling-up stage positioned downstream of the rolling-up preparation stage for rolling up the croissant dough piece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a sheet of dough, wherein powdered materials, including flour, yeast, sugar, and fats and oils, for making bread, are mixed with particles of ice, such that the particles of ice do not melt, to make them into a dough mixture. The dough mixture is formed into a continuous belt-like dough mixture having a uniform width and thickness such that the particles of ice do not melt, and then the particles of ice are melted to make the belt-like dough mixture hydrated. Finally continuous hydrated belt-like dough mixture is stretched so that a continuous sheet of dough having a gluten network is provided.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a uniform strip of bread dough is provided in which a dough mass flows downward from a dough hopper, a dough portion of the flowing dough mass is laterally spread on an outlet conveyor having a weighing table, dough portions are cut and divided from the dough mass into dough pieces when a predetermined degree of the spread of the dough mass is detected by a dough-detecting device, simultaneously the weight of the dough piece is measured, the dough piece is then transferred from the outlet conveyor to a supply conveyor, the divided dough pieces are arranged on the supply conveyor at intervals proportionate to the weights of the dough pieces, and they are stretched to make a strip of bread dough. It has a uniform width and thickness, and is uniform in weight throughout the entire part of the strip of bread dough. Therefore, dough products cut and formed from this strip of bread dough are of a high quality.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for stretching and thinning dough. This apparatus consists of a plurality of conveyors 2,3, which are disposed in series so that the traveling speed of the downstream conveyor 3 is higher than that of the upstream conveyor 2, a roller 5 that reciprocates over a given distance 1.sub.2 transverse to the traveling direction of the dough, while reciprocating over a given distance 1.sub.1 in the traveling direction, and a roller 4 that reciprocates over a given distance 1.sub.1 in the traveling direction in synchronism with the transverse roller. The number of reciprocating strokes and the speed of both rollers are regulated to obtain a sheet of high quality dough with a uniform texture.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for continuously dividing bread dough. The apparatus consists of a dough hopper, vertical conveyors mounted on the side walls of the hopper, a dough outlet provided at the bottom of the hopper located under the vertical conveyors, a divider having cutting knives for dividing the dough, a weighing conveyor provided under the divider for weighing the dough discharged through the weighing conveyor, and a control means for controlling the timing in the discharging operation of the weighing conveyor according to the weight of the dough. The weight of the divided dough is instantly and successively weighed, while the period to keep the outlet open is controlled so that a belt-like sheet of dough, with sections of a uniform weight, is continuously produced.

Abstract: A dough-stretching roller apparatus is provided to produce a continuous web of dough in a process to manufacture confectionery and bread. The apparatus includes a pair of upper rollers and a pair of lower rollers, a sensor that measures the width of the dough that contacts the lower rollers, and a controller that controls a motor driving the upper rollers in response to a signal from the sensor. The controller increases the rotational speed of the upper rollers when the sensors detect that the width of dough is less than a preset width while the controller decreases the rotational speed of the upper rollers when the sensors detect that the width of the dough is greater than the preset width. Thus, even if the quantity of dough supplied from a hopper is unstable, the stable production of a stretched web of dough having a constant volume over its length can be continued.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for cutting an enveloped body, which consists of an assembly having at least three circumferentially disposed cutting members, each cutting member having at least two sliding surfaces. The cutting members are assembled in sliding contact with each other such that the sliding surfaces of adjacent cutting members are slidable along each other so as to form or close a central opening surrounded by the cutting members. The opening is opened and closed for cutting the enveloped body passing therethrough. One sliding surface of a cutting member forms a convex surface, and the other sliding surface forms a concave surface complementary to the convex surface, so that the convex surface of a cutting member slides on the concave surface of an adjacent cutting member.

Abstract: A dough sheet laminating apparatus is provided to fold a dough sheet and feed it to the following line. The apparatus includes a feeding conveyor that supplies a dough sheet, a swinging mechanism located below the feeding conveyor, and a conveying device to feed the laminated dough sheet to the following line. The swinging mechanism includes a plurality of horizontal rollers that are substantially parallel to each other. The adjacent rollers rotate in opposite directions. When the dough sheet is supplied by the feeding device to the swinging mechanism, the dough sheet is supported on each roller and is fed by the rotation of each roller to the conveying device. When the swinging mechanism is swung, the dough sheet is folded on the conveying device.