Abstract: The present invention is an attic insulating material comprised of polystyrene separating components mixed with cellulose fibers, which has a stabilized R-factor compared to cellulose insulation. The addition of polystyrene to the cellulose prevents settling of the insulation and the resulting diminished R-factor.

Abstract: A pressure plate facing fabric is secured to the pressure plate of a bagel forming machine. The fabric is positioned to form an acute angle with the circulating belt of the machine to avoid build-up of dough at the feed-in end of the machine.

Abstract: A dough forming machine having a stationary frame with a flat top surface, a continuous belt wrapped around said flat plate having a drive drum at one end and a idler drum at a respective other end, the drive drum being driven for rotation by a motor, and a forming tube above said plate and receiving a section of the belt through the tube to curl the belt into a cylindrical shape. An arcuate plastic pressure plate upstream of said forming tube is elevated a distance from a surface of the continuous belt for receiving dough pieces between the arcuate pressure plate and the continuous belt for forming the dough pieces into a circular shape in the forming tube around a mandrel extending within the tube. At an output end of the forming tube is arranged a rotating table for receiving formed dough pieces, the rotating table driven by a drive belt which receives power from the motor. The rotating table is advantageously foldable downwardly during non-use.

Abstract: An improved dough divider is provided which has a measuring cup assembly for dividing a mass of dough into uniform smaller slugs. The apparatus is adjustable so that size of the dough slugs can be increased or decreased. The dough divider has a piston-cylinder arrangement for supplying a flow of dough. The measuring cup assembly has a cylindrical housing which has a central axis. A plunger aligned on the axis so that it can reciprocate axially within the housing. An elongated stud is threaded through the housing so that the stud is aligned axially with a stem of the plunger. The plunger slides in said housing when dough is pressed against the plunger face, such that the plunger stem can contact the stud to limit the sliding of the plunger.

Abstract: A modification is provided to a traditional dough-forming machine for producing bagels so that the machine can produce an elongated bagel stick. The machine has a flat conveyor belt onto which incremental pieces of dough are dropped. The belt is pulled through a forming tube which curls and rolls the dough increments around an axially positioned mandrel. The mandrel has an elongated fin which extends at least to or through a wall of the forming tube and which prevents free ends of the dough from pressing against each other to form a continuous circular shape around the mandrel.

Abstract: A dough divider is provided having a piston and cylinder mechanism for repeatedly pressing dough into a measuring cup assembly. Dough is drawn from a hopper into the cylinder through a tube. A lubrication port is disposed in the tube, and a channel extends from the port to the cylinder. The port and channel arrangement provide a self-cleaning lubricating arrangement which keeps the dough from sticking.

Abstract: Applicants have devised a new and improved method of making bialys that reduces the cost of production by eliminating the relatively expensive step of shaping each piece of dough manually and also insures greater uniformity in the shape of the bialys. After each piece of dough is relaxed by first proofing, it is positioned under a heated die that is shaped to press the dough into a form which becomes the basis of the bialy shape, with a flat, relatively dense center portion completely surrounded by a softer outer rim portion. The heat and pressure applied to the flat center portion of the bialy kills all the yeast cells in that portion of the bialy, while permitting yeast growth to continue within the outer rim portion. The density of the flat center portion becomes sufficient to prevent the outer rim from shrinking back on to the center, as the outer rim expands due to the induced growth from the yeast.

Abstract: A dough shield is disclosed for an apparatus for forming and rolling dough into ring-shaped pieces such as bagels. The apparatus has a flat conveyor belt wrapped into a forming tube having a V-shaped notch. The dough shield extends upward at a leading end thereof from said notch and downward at a trailing end inside the forming tube. The dough shield has a dough guiding surface which prevents excess dough from leaving the confines of the wrapped belt and forming tube and clogging up and fouling the equipment. In another embodiment, the shield is arranged between the tube and the belt along its length. The dough shield is ogive-shaped in plan view and concave downward in a vertical plane. The shield is provided with an adjustment bracket for adjusting the vertical height of the shield with respect to the forming tube and mandrel.

Abstract: A device for feeding dough is provided which has a hopper for receiving dough and directing the dough downwardly to a housing which contains a first rotatable member for engaging and urging the dough downwardly toward a pair of opposed second rotatable members. The second rotatable members have a gap therebetween to receive the dough therethrough and they rotate in opposite directions to urge the dough downwardly therebetween. Both the first and second rotatable members have a surface configuration which enhances engagement between the rollers and the dough. An orifice is provided in the housing below the second rotatable members for receiving the dough from the second rotatable rollers. The dough thus leaves the housing in the form of a continuous cylinder having a diameter of the same size as the orifice.