Abstract: A dough stretcher comprising a drive shaft mounted to rotate on a vertical system axis and a mechanism for rotating the drive shaft at a speed in the range of between 40 RPM and 100 RPM. The bottom end of a lower platen shaft is attached to the drive shaft to extend upwardly an angle of from 1° to 4° from the system axis. The lower platen is mounted to the top end of the lower platen shaft so that it rotates perpendicularly about the lower platen shaft. An upper platen is mounted above the lower platen to reciprocate vertically to the lower platen. In operation, as the upper platen is lowered, it touches the dough on the lower platen. As the lower platen gyrates, the upper platen flattens the dough and pushes it outwardly toward the edge.

Abstract: An apparatus for shredding meat with a hopper and a frame. The hopper has upper and lower rotor assemblies mounted to rotate horizontally within a shredding region. Each rotor assembly is composed of an arbor and fingers arranged in paraxial rows around the arbor. Four rows of pegs extend horizontally into the shredding region. A front row and a back row are each 0.75 inch above and below, respectively, the upper rotor assembly. A back row and a front row are each 0.75 inch above and below, respectively the lower rotor assembly. The hopper is suspended in the frame, which houses the drive mechanism that rotates the rotor assemblies in opposite directions. The upper rotor assembly pushes product dropped into the shredding region into the upper back row to shred the product. The lower rotor assembly pushes the shredded product into the lower front row to further shred the product.

Abstract: An apparatus for shredding meat with a hopper and a frame. The hopper has upper and lower rotor assemblies mounted to rotate horizontally within a shredding region. Each rotor assembly is composed of an arbor and fingers arranged in paraxial rows around the arbor. Four rows of pegs extend horizontally into the shredding region. A front row and a back row are each 0.75 inch above and below, respectively, the upper rotor assembly. A back row and a front row are each 0.75 inch above and below, respectively the lower rotor assembly. The hopper is suspended in the frame, which houses the drive mechanism that rotates the rotor assemblies in opposite directions. The upper rotor assembly pushes product dropped into the shredding region into the upper back row to shred the product. The lower rotor assembly pushes the shredded product into the lower front row to further shred the product.

Abstract: A dough rounder with a base, motor, drum, and auger. The auger is mounted to the base and the drum is mounted to rotate about the auger. The auger has a hollow cylinder and a spiral ramp fixed to the outer surface of the cylinder. The upper surface of the ramp is textured for gripping the dough. In one embodiment, the ramp upper surface is textured by a plurality of spurs.

Abstract: The present invention is a dough sheeter with integral dough docker. The dough docker is a removable assembly with a docker subassembly and a scraper subassembly. The docker subassembly includes the docker roller and grate. The docker sprocket, driven by the sheeter motor, has a disk that meshes with a complimentary disk on the docker roller. The scraper subassembly includes the scraper, the backer attached to the scraper, and the gap adjuster, which includes a semicircular shaft that abuts the backer, a rectangular shaft attached to the scraper, and a threaded rod extending from the semicircular shaft through a hole in the scraper and a threaded hole in the rectangular shaft. The gap is adjusted by turning the rod in or out of the threaded hole.

Abstract: A dough rounder with a base, motor, turntable, drum, and auger. The auger mounts to the base and the drum mounts to the turntable to rotate about the auger. The auger has a hollow cylindrical center. Dough dropping into the auger strikes a flexible plate extending at an angle from the cylinder wall. The plate deflects downwardly when struck by the dough and pushes the dough out of an opening in the side of the cylinder when it rebounds.

Abstract: A dough rounder with a base, motor, turntable, drum, and auger. The auger mounts to the base and the drum mounts to the turntable to rotate about the auger. The drum/auger mounting mechanism has a shaft or annular extension from the auger bottom captured by the turntable or a pin extending upwardly from the base into an opening in the bottom of the auger. Horizontal handles at the top of the auger are captured by supports extending upwardly from the base, supporting the auger and preventing lateral motion relative to the drum.

Abstract: A manually operated dough press comprising a frame with a base and a housing. A shaft mounted for reciprocating motion extends from an opening in the housing and an upper platen is attached to the lower end of the shaft. A pair of lower platens are pivotally mounted to the base so that they can be alternately aligned with the upper platen. A drive mechanism moves the shaft between an open position where the upper platen is spaced from the aligned lower platen and a closed position where dough on the aligned lower platen is compressed between the upper and lower platens. The drive mechanism includes a mechanism for latching the upper platen in the closed position.

Abstract: A manually operated dough press comprising a frame with a base and a housing, an upper platen having a working surface, and a lower platen attached to the base and having a working surface opposed to, substantially parallel to, and spaced from the upper platen working surface. The upper platen is attached to the lower end of a shaft that extends from the housing and mounted for reciprocating motion. A pair of mated interlocking components, one attached to the shaft and one attached to the housing, provide stability for vertical reciprocation. The drive mechanism includes a rod fixed perpendicularly to the shaft interlocking component, a pair of cam with spiral slots within which the ends of the rod ride, and an axle to which the cams are mounted and driven by a handle that rotates the cams to raise and lower the upper platen. Counterbalance for the upper platen/shaft is provided by a torsion bar assembly.

Abstract: A dough shell mold for use with a dough press having lower and upper platens with opposed working surfaces. The shell mold has a hub integral with or secured to the lower platen and a ring resting on the lower platen with a hole that mates with the hub. The ring includes an annular groove adjacent to the ring perimeter for producing a raised rim on the shell. In a second embodiment, the ring may have an inner ring mating with the hub and an outer ring around the inner ring. The junction of the rings is the annular groove. Another aspect of the present invention is a notch in the shell mold surface between the mold perimeter and annular groove. A spatula is inserted through the notch between the dough and upper platen to put downward pressure on the dough in order to prevent the dough from shrinking after the upper platen is raised.

Abstract: A manually operated dough press comprising a frame with a base and a housing, an upper platen having a working surface, and a lower platen attached to the base and having a working surface opposed to, substantially parallel to, and spaced from the upper platen working surface. The upper platen is attached to the lower end of a shaft that extends from the housing and mounted for reciprocating motion. A pair of mated interlocking components, one attached to the shaft and one attached to the housing, provide stability for vertical reciprocation. The drive mechanism includes a rack on the shaft interlocking component, a mating pinion fixed to an axle that is part of a handle that an operator uses to raise and lower the upper platen. Counterbalance for the upper platen/shaft is provided by a torsion spring assembly.

Abstract: A dough shell mold for use with a dough press having lower and upper platens with opposed working surfaces. The shell mold has a hub integral with or secured to the lower platen and a ring resting on the lower platen with a hole that mates with the hub. The ring includes an annular groove adjacent to the ring perimeter for producing a raised rim on the shell. In a second embodiment, the ring may have an inner ring mating with the hub and an outer ring around the inner ring. The junction of the rings is the annular groove. Another aspect of the present invention is a notch in the shell mold surface between the mold perimeter and annular groove. A spatula is inserted through the notch between the dough and upper platen to put downward pressure on the dough in order to prevent the dough from shrinking after the upper platen is raised.

Abstract: A dough molder including a stainless steel case, a sheeter, a former, a compressor, and a removable cleaning tray. The sheeter includes a fixed roller, adjustable roller, and a scraper for each roller, where the gap between the rollers is adjustable. The dough from the sheeter is directed to a conveyor belt that moves the dough to the former, a reticulated surface, such as a chain link screen, flexible in the direction of belt movement, that forms the dough into a roll. The belt directs the rolled dough from the former to the compressor that compresses the rolled dough into a cylindrical shape. The cleaning tray is located between the upper and lower legs of the belt, accumulating bits of flour and dough. The tray is removable for emptying.