Abstract: A system is provided for conveying dough along a conveying section, and the system comprises an elongate dough-conveying element that defines the conveying section. The dough-conveying element comprises a dough-supporting region that forms a supporting surface for dough conveyable or to be conveyed by means of the system, and at least one lateral region extending laterally along the dough-supporting region in the longitudinal direction of the dough-conveying element. The at least one lateral region is movably disposed or formed, in particular pivotally disposed or formed, relative to the dough-supporting region. Furthermore, the dough-conveying element exhibits flexurally-rigid material behavior in the vicinity of the dough-supporting region and resiliently-extensible material behavior in the vicinity of the at least one lateral region.

Abstract: A method for processing a U-shaped dough strand (100) having a first dough strand end, which can be used as a securing dough strand end (111), and a second dough strand end, which can be used as a looping dough strand end (121), in which the dough strand (100) is looped by means of a processing head (200) having at least two gripping means (201, 202) to form at least one dough strand loop (161, 162, 163) and is positioned by means of a processing table (300) having positioning means (304, 305, 306, 307), and at least one positioning means embodied as a lifting means (307) raises sections of the dough strand (100) to a raised position relative to the processing table (300), and/or at least one positioning means embodied as a table gripper (306) stretches and/or pulls sections of one of the dough strand ends (121).

Abstract: A rotating nozzle assembly for a die machine connectable to a dough extruder has a stationary sleeve with a first end having internal and external annular recesses and an annular stepped seating surface and a second end mountable in the die machine mounting plate. A nozzle has a first end rotatably disposed in the stationary-sleeve first-end internal annular recess, a second end and a radially outwardly-protruding annular ring between the first and second nozzle ends. A ring seal is disposed between the stationary-sleeve first-end annular stepped seating surface and the radially outwardly-protruding annular nozzle ring. A nozzle cap is fixedly attached to the stationary-sleeve first end. The nozzle is rotatably disposed in the nozzle cap. The nozzle second end extends beyond the nozzle cap. An annular stepped axial thrust bearing surface in the nozzle cap prevents relative axial movement of the nozzle while allowing rotation of the nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for machine production of pretzels, comprising: providing a pretzel shaping and looping device, 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, wherein the central area of the strand of dough is wrapped around a plurality of bolt-type shaping elements of the shaping unit that are adjustable in height; gripping the ends of the dough using grippers and stretching the strand of dough (8) by pulling on the ends of the strand of dough, while securing the central area of the strand of dough by the shaping unit, and shaping a pretzel knot using a mutual rotation of the grippers, wherein the shaping of the pretzel knot is initiated by rotation of the grippers during the stretching of the strand of dough.

Abstract: A hydrator includes a dry module with a vertically oriented tube having a central axis, an interior, an upper inlet aperture, a lower outlet, and an inlet section including a dry inlet. A mixing segment includes a vertically oriented tube having an interior wall, a mixing-segment inlet at an upper end, and a mixing-segment outlet at a lower end. The mixing segment is vertically aligned with and sealingly connected to the outlet of the dry module. A rotating hydrator shaft has a liquid channel and a longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of the dry module. Dry blades are disposed on and rotate with the hydrator shaft in the mixing segment. A hydrator nozzle is disposed on and rotates with the hydrator shaft and has a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the liquid channel and open to the mixing segment for discharging liquid from the liquid channel.

Abstract: A hydration chamber for dry ingredients is disclosed. The chamber has a metered ingredients feed, a diverter that distributes the ingredients within the chamber, and a spray nozzle for hydrating the ingredients. The spray may be varied to achieve different levels of hydration, such as for the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients and the spray pressure can be varied.

Abstract: The hydration apparatus includes an air augmentation feature that intersects the ingredients. The air augmentation inlet is positioned to cause turbulence in the ingredients prior to the ingredients passing a liquid discharge nozzle that hydrates them.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions that can be aerated to produce foamed emulsions. More particularly, the present invention relates to an aeratable or aerated O/W emulsion comprising a continuous aqueous phase and a dispersed oil phase, said emulsion containing: —25-55 wt. % water; —4-50 wt. % oil; —3-12 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; —20-60 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof; —1-20 wt. % of polysaccharides; —0-30 wt. % of other edible ingredients; wherein the saccharides are contained in the emulsion in a concentration of at least 60% by weight of water and wherein the polysaccharides are contained in the emulsion in a concentration at least 2% by weight of water. The O/W emulsions of the present invention are capable of forming foamed emulsions with high firmness and excellent shape retaining properties.

Abstract: The hydration apparatus includes an air augmentation feature that intersects the ingredients. The air augmentation inlet is positioned to cause turbulence in the ingredients prior to the ingredients passing a liquid discharge nozzle that hydrates them.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for mixing a variety of dry ingredients with a liquid is disclosed. The mixing chamber has an accumulation chamber that evenly distributes ingredients as they pass a liquid spray nozzle, resulting in uniform hydration. The liquid may be sprayed at a variety of pressures to achieve varying levels of granule hydration to permit the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Even dry ingredients which are generally slow to absorb moisture may be rapidly and evenly hydrated without an excess of liquid. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients, can also be varied.

Abstract: The invention relates to an oil-and-water emulsion comprising an aqueous phase and an oil phase, said emulsion containing: —15-40 wt. % water; —30-60 wt. % oil; —1.5-18 wt. % of cyclodextrin selected from alpha-cyclodextrin, beta-cyclodextrin and combinations thereof; —12-50 wt. % of saccharides selected from monosaccharides, disaccharides, non-cyclic oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols and combinations thereof. The emulsions according to the present invention are highly stable under ambient conditions, can easily be used as a base for the manufacture of a variety of icings, fillings and toppings. These base emulsions can suitably be aerated (creamed) to produce a creamed icing or filling, or a whipped topping that has excellent ambient temperature stability.

Abstract: A convection oven includes a cooking chamber for cooking a food product, an air circulator that circulates process air in a first direction through the cooking chamber and along a circulation path in a circulation passage. A heat exchanger includes one or more heat transfer ducts longitudinally arranged along the circulation path. One or more heating elements heat a fluid that is circulated in a second direction through the one or more heat transfer ducts which is opposite to the first direction. The process air absorbs heat from the heated fluid as the process air travels along the circulation path back to the cooking chamber. A partition wall may separate first and second parallel portions of the one or more heat transfer ducts. A heat exchanger may preheat fluid entering the one or more heat transfer ducts using heated fluid leaving the heat transfer ducts.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for mixing a variety of dry ingredients with a liquid is disclosed. The mixing chamber has an accumulation chamber that evenly distributes ingredients as they pass a liquid spray nozzle, resulting in uniform hydration. The liquid may be sprayed at a variety of pressures to achieve varying levels of granule hydration to permit the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Even dry ingredients which are generally slow to absorb moisture may be rapidly and evenly hydrated without an excess of liquid. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients, can also be varied.

Abstract: A hydrator includes a dry module with a vertically oriented tube having a central axis, an interior, an upper inlet aperture, a lower outlet, and an inlet section including a dry inlet. A mixing segment includes a vertically oriented tube having an interior wall, a mixing-segment inlet at an upper end, and a mixing-segment outlet at a lower end. The mixing segment is vertically aligned with and sealingly connected to the outlet of the dry module. A rotating hydrator shaft has a liquid channel and a longitudinal axis aligned with the central axis of the dry module. Dry blades are disposed on and rotate with the hydrator shaft in the mixing segment. A hydrator nozzle is disposed on and rotates with the hydrator shaft and has a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the liquid channel and open to the mixing segment for discharging liquid from the liquid channel.

Abstract: A mixing chamber for mixing a variety of dry ingredients with a liquid is disclosed. The mixing chamber has an accumulation chamber that evenly distributes ingredients as they pass a liquid spray nozzle, resulting in uniform hydration. The liquid may be sprayed at a variety of pressures to achieve varying levels of granule hydration to permit the manufacture of dough, batter, or other compositions. Even dry ingredients which are generally slow to absorb moisture may be rapidly and evenly hydrated without an excess of liquid. Process parameters, such as volume flow rate of the dry ingredients, can also be varied.

Abstract: A mixing apparatus having a processing area that exposes free falling dry materials to a high pressure hydration element and forms slurry with the a mixture of the dray materials and liquid.

Abstract: An oven for baking a food product includes a housing having a ceiling, a floor, first and second opposing side walls, at least one internal heating zone defined by the ceiling, the floor and the first and second opposing side walls, and at least one heating source for providing heat to the at least one internal heating zone. The ceiling is formed of carbon steel. At least a surface of the ceiling facing the at least one internal heating zone is formed as a high emissivity chemical conversion coating.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically removing dough pieces from overhead dough proffer, weighing the dough pieces and reinserting them back in to the process stream. The weight information is analyzed to determine whether it represents the weight of pieces or the empty scale weight, and may be used to provide a signal proportional to the weight of a dough portion, or group of dough potions in order to automatically adjust the rate at which dough is fed to the dividing mechanism, thereby increasing or decreasing the dough piece weights to maintain the desired amount of dough per piece.

Abstract: The invention relates to an icing composition that consists of: 30-75 wt. % of fine carbohydrate particles containing at least 90 wt. % of crystalline carbohydrate, at least 90 wt. % of said fine carbohydrate particles having diameter of less than 50 ?m; 15-50 wt. % of fat having a melting point of at least 20° C.; 0-30 wt. % water; and 0.1-30 wt. % of other edible ingredients; wherein the fine carbohydrate particles comprise: —50-100 wt. % of mannitol particles containing at least 90 wt. % mannitol; —0-50 wt. % of sugar particles containing at least 90 wt. % of one or more sugars selected from sucrose, glucose, fructose, lactose and maltose. The icing composition enables the preparation of iced bakery products that exhibit high freeze-thaw stability and that can suitably be stored for several days under ambient conditions without becoming stale.