Abstract: A dough line, comprising at least one conveyor for transporting elongated dough pieces in a direction of conveyance, a first and a second contact surface extending in the direction of conveyance arranged above the conveyor that curls up a dough piece conveyed underneath into a cylindrical shape, and a moulding unit for moulding the curled up dough piece, compressing the dough piece in an axial direction, wherein the first contact surface is configured for exerting a force onto a leading edge of the dough piece with at least a component in a direction opposite to the direction of conveyance and subsequently curling up the dough piece over a part of its length, and the second contact surface is configured for engaging the dough piece at an outer lateral surface of the part already curled up by the first contact surface substantially tangentially with respect to the direction of conveyance.

Abstract: This method for producing stuffed food(s), each stuffed food including an outer envelope in a first food product, and an inner stuffing in a second food product, includes the following steps: providing a sheet of the first food product, and a roller of the second food product, and winding the sheet around the roller.

Abstract: An improved dough-rolling apparatus and method for rolling sheeted dough. The proposed invention comprises a dough-rolling apparatus having a dough sheeter that cuts a dough sheet into preforms having a concave leading edge and convex trailing edge. A rolling curtain creates a rolled preform with the leading edge on the inside and the trailing edge on the outside. The rolled preform is cooked to produce a rolled snack product with consistent thickness throughout its length and a round outer flap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and device for curling up dough slices, comprising a conveyor for the dough slices, a gripping element, arranged above the conveyor, for curling up a dough slice conveyed under the gripping element by the conveyor, pressure means, for pressing curled up dough slices on the conveyor, wherein the distance along which the gripping element grips dough slices is adjustable in the direction of conveyance.

Abstract: An apparatus for molding and proving dough, including a pair of sheet rollers for providing a dough strip to a dough molder, a means for engaging and disengaging a retractable dough divider, the retractable dough divider when engaged separates the dough into dough portions as its exits the dough molder and a prover for recovering the dough portions. Also disclosed is a dough molder for a strip of dough including a conveyor having a first run spaced below a curling mat to curl the dough strip; the curling mat resting on at least the first run of the conveyor, the curling mat having a raised section which does not contact the first run.

Abstract: A spool winding assembly for winding a composite strip onto a spool having a hub is disclosed. The strip includes an elongate plastic strip having a flat base portion and a plurality of laterally spaced apart lengthwise extending rib portions upstanding from the base portion; and a plurality of elongate reinforcing members extending lengthwise within respective rib portions, the rib portions and the reinforcing members forming composite ribs. The assembly includes: a main frame, a spool holder for rotatably supporting the spool relative to the main frame, a spool drive unit for driving the spool with respect to the main frame, a carriage mounted for lateral movement with respect to the spool, a bender mounted to the carriage for receiving the strip as it is fed towards the hub of the spool and for deforming the strip to give it a curved base portion, and a bender drive unit operably connected to the bender for driving the strip through the bender.

Abstract: A dough moulder including a dough conveyor operable to receive a strip of dough, the conveyor having a first run operable to co-operate with a curling element to curl or roll the dough strip into a dough piece and a second run operable with a pressure rolling board to mould the dough piece, wherein the pressure rolling board has an upper section and a lower section, the lower section including a plurality of formed channels or troughs.

Abstract: A method of making a composite tubular article made up of at least two concentric members, the outer of said members being tubular and the inner of said members being at least cylindrical and preferably tubular, and struts disposed in supporting and positioning orientation between the inner and outer members, by extruding a moldable material into the desired profile; stretching the inner tubular member over a cooling mandrel and disposing a cooling sleeve over the outer tubular member under conditions sufficient to solidify the article; twisting and longitudinally pulling the solidified article, so that it rotates over the cooling mandrel and inside the cooling sleeve while it is moving down stream across the cooling mandrel, whereby causing the extrudate to be twisted into a helical shape.

Abstract: An improved dough-rolling apparatus and method for rolling sheeted dough. The proposed invention comprises a dough-rolling apparatus having a dough sheeter, a sheeting conveyor having a ramped section, a roll-initiating curtain positioned above the ramped section, and a roll-completing curtain positioned above the conveyor and downstream from the roll-initiating conveyor. Sheeted and cut dough pieces are deposited onto a steel mesh, partially-ramped sheeter belt, where two wire-mesh rolling curtains are draped onto the sheeter belt to induce rolling of the dough pieces.

Abstract: A dough moulder for producing moulded dough products of a desired size and/or shape. The moulder includes guide plate (155, 156) which are selectively insertable through respective pairs of slots (151, 152, 153) formed in a pressure rolling board (150). The guide plates (155, 156) extend through the pressure rolling board (150) to define a channel of selectable width depending on which pair of slots (151, 152, 153) is selected. The variable width channel enables dough products of a desired size and/or shape to be rolled.

Abstract: The leading edge of a sheet of dough product impacts an impacting feature and causes the leading edge to roll over onto itself thereby initiating a roll. Engagement enhancement is utilized to increased to increase the ability of the sheet of dough product to resist sliding upon impacting the impacting feature. This provides a tighter rolled dough product having a consistent size and shape. Thus, in accordance with one specific aspect of the present invention, rolled dough products for subsequent packaging into containers may be formed that have a repeatable size and shape. By providing rolled dough products having a repeatable size and shape a more efficient and economical process results. This is because the size and shape of the rolled dough product is controlled with respect to the size of the container.

Abstract: An improved method of applying a controlled pressure to the flapper in a curly puff production apparatus. The present invention uses a pneumatic system to apply a pressure to a flapper. The invention utilizes a rotary actuator that applies a near constant pressure to the flapper. Alternatively, a pair of telescoping tubes connected to the flapper and an air pressure source can apply a near constant pressure to either the proximate end or the distal end of the flapper. Further in the alternative, a linear actuator can be used to provide a near constant pressure to the flapper. As a result of applying a constant pressure to the flapper, the pitch in the curls of the curly puff extrudate can be more predictably controlled.

Abstract: An elongated composite tube made up of an inner tube 42 and an outer tube 44 (see FIG. 3) with a plurality of elongated helical ribs disposed between the inner tube and the outer tube in a supporting relationship to both. A slinky like toy made from the composite tube is also disclosed, as is a method of making both.

Abstract: A method of conveying bar-like bread dough pieces is provided. By it a bar-like bread dough piece being conveyed on the conveying face of a conveyor, with its axis being perpendicular to the direction of the conveyance thereof, is caused to rotate about the axis at a point downstream of the conveyor, and then the bar-like bread dough piece having a straight shape is moved to the next step. Further, an apparatus for conveying bar-shaped bread dough pieces is provided. It comprises a conveyor, and an engaging member provided near the conveying face of said conveyor, at a point downstream of said conveyor, for allowing a bar-like bread dough piece being conveyed on the conveying face of the conveyor to rotate about its axis while the engaging member contacts the bar-like bread dough piece, the distance between the engaging member and the conveying face being adjustable.

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.

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.

Abstract: A device for charging a filling material (6) with respect to pieces of dough (1) transferred on a transfer conveyor (2) comprising detectors (3) mounted on the transfer conveyor, the detectors being adapted to detect transverse shifts of the pieces of dough on the transfer conveyor and to generate signals representative of the amounts of the shifts; a filling-charging mechanism (4) disposed downstream of the detectors, the filling-charging mechanism having discharging nozzles (48) mounted movably in the transverse direction; and a control device (7) for receiving from the detectors the signals representative of the amounts of the shifts and controlling the discharging nozzles to move transversely amounts equal to the respective amounts of the shift.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous manufacture of bent rods having a shaped cross section from a reinforced stabilizing material, produced inside a supporting mold wound on a mandrel and containing reinforcing elements impregnated with stabilizable material. The material is stabilized over at least a portion of a length of the mandrel, with the bent rods being adapted to be used in reinforcements for flexible tubing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for accurately estimating the concentration of residual fumigant in a commodity in a fumigation chamber from the rate of decline in concentration of fumigant in the exhaust air stream during the aeration period following fumigation. Because the method is nondestructive and lends itself to automation, it us useful for commercial application.

Abstract: A processing device for a continuous manufacturing of curved strips with a constant or non-constant cross-section, with the curved strips including reinforcing elements embedded in a stabilizable material and produced inside a molding element wrapped around a mandrel at a first end. The reinforcing elements are disposed in the molding element and the elements are impregnated with a stabilizable material, which material is stabilized over at least a portion of a length of the mandrel. The molding element is axially discontinuously displaced relative to the mandrel so as to run toward a second end of the mandrel opposite the first end, with the molding element being disengaged from the mandrel at the second end thereof.

Abstract: In a pretzel forming apparatus and method, dough strands are continuously conveyed at arbitrary distance from a receiving station via a knot forming station to a releaase station. Upon entering the receiving station, the ends of each dough strand are grasped by U-shaped grip belts which move the ends toward each other during transport of the dough strand from the receiving station to the knot forming station so as to form a bow-shaped loop with its center portion and side portions. In the knot forming station, opposing brush rolls turn the bow-shaped loop by 360.degree. to form a knot in vicinity of the ends of the dough strand. Thereafter, the bow-shaped loop is folded upwards until occupying a horizontal position. After being suitably moved apart by the grip belts during the transport from the knot forming station and the release station, the ends of the dough strand disengage from the grip belts and sink by virtue of their own weight onto the side sections.

Abstract: A device for continuously producing reinforced stabilizable profiled section bodies, with the device including a mandrel and a drive for rotationally driving the mandrel around the longitudinal axis thereof. The mandrel maintains at least one support of a profile section helically wound on the mandrel. A reinforcement impregnated with stabilizable material is wound around the mandrel and the at least one support. A stabilization arrangement is disposed on at least one portion of a length of the mandrel, and the reinforced material, having undergone stabilization, is separated from the mandrel. The support is wound onto a first extremity of the mandrel and separated from the mandrel at a second extremity. The first extremity of the mandrel includes a first elevated zone or calibration bearing surface on which the support is to be wound, with the bearing surface having a sufficient length to drive the support, through a capstan effect, while not impeding a progression of the support on the mandrel.

Abstract: The apparatus for extruding a paste like product on to a horizontal board or plate while moving the plate relative to the extruder, and subsequently overturning the plate to deliver the configured extrudate to a removal conveyor.

Abstract: Device for manufacturing stones, provided with a frame, with a mould having boundary walls defining moulding rooms inside the mould, with a stamp movable up-and-down arranged above the mould and with a table arranged under the mould. Filling pieces are movable between a first position, in which they are located under the mould and whereby, see in top view, at least parts of the filling pieces project from the walls for forming recesses, and a second position, in which the filling pieces are located beside the mould, seen in top view. Extensions are connected to the filling pieces, those extensions being movable forward and backward and co-operating with guide means for guiding the filling pieces, whereby the extensions project from the mould in the first position.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a pastry product of the type comprising a pastry sheet unit and a film sheet unit which are adapted to be rolled together so that in the finished roll the film sheet unit is substantially interposed between the adjacent layers of the pastry sheet unit, the film sheet unit and pastry sheet unit each having a leading edge and trailing edge. In one aspect the apparatus is adapted to direct and apply the film sheet unit to a surface of the pastry sheet unit at a film application station so that the leading edge of the film sheet unit overlies and is disposed rearwardly of the leading edge of the pastry sheet unit. In another form of the apparatus it is characterised by transport means for transporting the pastry past the film application station whereafter the units are transferred to delivery means which presents the units to the rolling means the direction of travel of the transport means being at right angles to that of the delivery means.

Abstract: A dough make-up machine comprising a rolling-out station having a roller and a carrier for dough pieces, as well as a rolling-up station, while in front of the rolling-up station, there are disposed a moistening roller having a moisture-retaining, roughened surface and means for moistening the roller surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an invention that belongs to the technical field of mines or equipment for bakeries and relates, in particular, to a machine for forming unbroken rings, or similar, of dough out of strips of moistened and kneaded flour.The technical problem that has to be solved is how to construct a machine of this nature which, despite being simple and of a relatively reduced volume, is able to handle contemporaneously many strips of dough and, above all, has the ability to prevent the strips from undergoing force harmful to the formation of dough of a particular shape, for example an unbroken ring.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dough processing machine that is capable of continuously feeding pieces of dough on a traveling surface first to a roll for the flattening operation where the pieces of dough are caused to assume the proper length and width for the desired product to be created therefrom. As the flattened dough is emitted from the rolling operation, the leading edge thereof is caused to be raised from the traveling surface and directed rearwardly while the remainder of the dough progresses through the rolling operation and is advanced to another member which rolls the length of dough upon itself to complete the formation of the finished product.