Abstract: A conveyor mechanism for workpieces having an enlarged head and a depending stem of smaller section comprising a plurality of forked carriers movable along a predetermined path of travel. The carriers have arms extending transversely of their path of travel. The arm on the trailing side of the carrier being longer than the arm on the leading side of the carrier so that the longer arm is adapted to deflect workpieces from a loading station onto the carrier and deflect a workpiece off the carrier at a conveyor unloading station.

Abstract: A dough proofing apparatus is for use in association with a dough forming apparatus having a dough piece receiving means which receives preformed dough pieces from a dough dividing machine and directs them toward a toroid forming apparatus wherein the proofing apparatus includes dough conveyance means for receiving and conveying dough pieces in a proofing mode of travel through a closed loop path of travel of the conveyor belt between generally adjacent dough entry and dough exit locations on the toroid forming apparatus. The conveyance belt is passed over vertically spaced pulleys with dough pieces retained thereon by adjacent dough support means on the conveyance belt which cooperate to form open-ended cage-like dough retaining receptacles for dough pieces as they travel on the conveyance means over and about the vertically spaced pulleys.