Abstract: A rounder bar assembly (10) with floating foot (56) for use with an endless belt conveyor (12) incorporates an elongated body (20) configured for shaping dough pieces (14) transported along the endless belt of a conveyor. A backing plate (22) and a spacer (24) are disposed between the body (20) and the backing plate, with the body (20), backing plate (22) and spacer (24) defining cavity (26) therebetween. An elongated flexible foot (56) is movably mounted within the cavity (26) so that a portion of the foot (56) extends from the cavity when the foot is in a compressed position. A visco-elastic material (63) is disposed within the cavity (26) between the spacer (24) and the foot (56) such that the visco-elastic material is responsive to movement of the foot, thereby allowing the foot to conform to the belt of the conveyor. The visco-elastic material has a property of expanding volumetrically in response to a force applied thereto that displaces some of the volume of the material.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the oil filled rounder bar with grooves for use with an endless belt-type conveyor for transporting dough pieces thereon incorporates a shaping surface formed of oil filled plastic material. The shaping surface forms a pocket with the belt of the conveyor and receives and shapes dough pieces transported along the belt of the conveyor. Preferably, an array of grooves are formed in the shaping surface to promote frictional engagement of the dough pieces with the shaping surface. Method aspects also are provided.

Abstract: A bakery dough flour applicator 10 for applying flour 12 to a dough piece 22 as the dough piece 22 travels along a processing path 134 includes a hopper 32 for supplying flour 12 and a transfer assembly 54 for providing flour 12 from the hopper 32 to an aerator 34 which creates an airborne flow of flour 40. The airborne flow of flour 40 is delivered to the interior of an enclosure 130 disposed about the dough processing path 134 through a plurality of spray nozzles 44 which direct the airborne flow of flour 40 to a dough piece 22 travelling through the enclosure 130 along the processing path 134 so that flour 12 from the airborne flow 40 adheres to the exterior surface of the dough piece 22. Flour 12 that does not adhere to a dough piece 22 is collected and filtered and provided back to the hopper 32 for later use.

Abstract: An anti-fouling coating utilizes capsaicin as an anti-fouling agent. In a preferred embodiment, finely divided capsaicin, an oleoresin capsaicin liquid solution, or crystalized capsaicin, is mixed with a suitable corrosion resistant epoxy resin which is then mixed with a hardening catalyst and applied to the surface to be treated. In some applications, finely divided inert particles may be added to impart additional desirable characteristic to the surface. The capsaicin constituent used in the coating preferably has a rating of from about 100,000 to about 1,500,000 Scoville Heat Units. The capsaicin may be mixed with a silicon dioxide and then solubilized into a free-flowing homogeneous liquid oleoresin composition by adding a solvent to increase solubility and facilitate mixing. The capsaicin may also be formed into crystals which are mixed with the coating material.

Abstract: An energy absorber or bumper for positioning on one object to absorb the impact of the later with another object is formed of an arcuate strip of rigid resiliently deflectable material having a plurality of corrugations extending circumferentially coaxial with the radius of curvature. When positioned on an object, the center of the arcuate strip is bowed radially outwardly from the surface of the object. The strip of material has sufficient resiliency to allow deflection of the arcuate surface of the material inwardly relative to the radius of curvature upon impact to the bowed surface and thereafter returns to its original configuration. In an elongate configuration, the height of the ridges above the furrows allows independent deflection of the ridges relative to one another along the longitudinal axis of the strip upon impact to the ridges and thereafter return to their original configuration.