Abstract: Apparatus for looping raw dough products, in particular strands of dough preshaped to produce pretzels, comprises a device for supplying the raw dough products—e.g. a conveyor—and a loop-forming device for looping the raw dough products, in order to produce pretzel-shaped raw dough products. This device comprises sensors for detecting the ends of the raw dough products for the purpose of controlling gripping devices of the loop-forming device. The sensors for detecting the ends of the raw dough products are designed as thermal imaging sensors.

Abstract: Feeder assembly for raw dough blanks (3, 3?), especially for dough blanks for pretzel production, which comprises a first conveyor belt (1) and at least one second conveyor belt (2) which are arranged sequentially one after the other, said raw dough blanks (3) being disposed on the first conveyor belt (1) at the beginning of the feeding process and being transferred from first conveyor belt (1) to second conveyor belt (2), with the speed of the at least one second conveyor belt (2) higher by a given amount that the speed of the first conveyor belt, whereby the raw dough blanks (3) are stretched and aligned in parallel with the direction of movement of second conveyor belt (2) when transferred from first conveyor belt (1) to second conveyor belt (2). (FIG.

Abstract: Apparatus for looping raw dough products, in particular strands of dough preshaped to produce pretzels, comprises a device for supplying the raw dough products—e.g. a conveyor—and a loop-forming device for looping the raw dough products, in order to produce pretzel-shaped raw dough products. This device comprises sensors for detecting the ends of the raw dough products for the purpose of controlling gripping devices of the loop-forming device. The sensors for detecting the ends of the raw dough products are designed as thermal imaging sensors.

Abstract: An apparatus for stretching and/or aligning raw dough products, in particular, strands of dough pre-shaped to produce pretzels, comprises means for stretching and/or aligning the U-shaped raw dough products arriving with the branches of the U in front. The means for stretching and/or aligning the raw dough products are controlled by a control device that uses as input parameters the extent of the required alignment and/or the extent of the stretching of the raw dough product. This control device comprises a device for close-range photogrammetry, by means of which the exact position of the raw dough product is determined in a computer-assisted manner in an image produced by a digital camera. The raw dough product can be measured using the known removal of the device for close-range photogrammetry towards the raw dough product.

Abstract: Feeder assembly for raw dough blanks (3, 3?), especially for dough blanks for pretzel production, which comprises a first conveyor belt (1) and at least one second conveyor belt (2) which are arranged sequentially one after the other, said raw dough blanks (3) being disposed on the first conveyor belt (1) at the beginning of the feeding process and being transferred from first conveyor belt (1) to second conveyor belt (2), with the speed of the at least one second conveyor belt (2) higher by a given amount that the speed of the first conveyor belt, whereby the raw dough blanks (3) are stretched and aligned in parallel with the direction of movement of second conveyor belt (2) when transferred from first conveyor belt (1) to second conveyor belt (2).

Abstract: In addition to a feeding structure for pieces of dough and a removal device, the device for the production of pretzels displays a working platform, a stand with a holding device and two grippers set up on its underside, a structure for measuring the position of the pieces of dough, and a structure for the control of the grippers. In addition to the working platform, retaining clips that can be transported lengthwise from the pieces of dough with sensors assigned to them are provided in the area taken up by the ends of the pieces of dough before the looping process; the sensors are independent of one another and can be transported independently of the end of the piece of dough until they have reached the end of the piece of dough, after which the retaining clips are closed to grasp the piece of dough at a definite place.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing pretzels is provided, which increases production and reduces waste. The apparatus includes a stationary platform onto which strands of dough are deposited. Adjacent to the platform is a conveyor belt with projections that pull the center of the dough strands off the platform in a direction normal to the strands' longitudinal axis. A pair of sensors, preferably mounted on the platform evenly spaced from the centerline of the conveyor belt, detect the ends of the dough strands as they begin to be pulled off the platform. As each sensor detects its corresponding end of the dough strand, a corresponding holding clamp grips that end, thereby centering the dough relative to the conveyor belt. A pair of moveable grippers rotatable about a common central vertical axis are mounted above the conveyor belt to grasp the ends of the dough strand, twist the ends and deposit the ends on the center portion of the dough strand to form a pretzel.