Abstract: An apparatus for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

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: A food dough forming apparatus for joining together a first end face of a rod-shaped food dough and a second end face of another rod-shaped food dough, the apparatus including: deforming and facing means for deforming the food doughs so as to cause the first end face and the second end face to face each other; and joining means for joining together the end faces caused to face each other by the deforming and facing means.

Abstract: A dough processing system for processing a U-shaped strand of dough comprising a processing head, which has two gripping means for looping the dough strand, and a shaping table, which is provided with positioning means for positioning the dough strand, wherein the shaping table is embodied as a processing table, in which various positioning means of the processing table have multiple different processing functions.

Abstract: Process for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the automated production of knotted dough products, in particular pretzels. Said device comprises: a shaping table (2) for horizontally supporting a U-shaped bent dough strand (46); a shaping tool (6) that can be activated to vertically support the U-shaped bent dough strand (46), the shaping table (2) and activated shaping tool (6) forming a common stop for the U-shaped bent strand (46); and a knotting head (9) for seizing the ends of the dough strand and for knotting said strand (46). According to the invention, the knotting head (9) can be displaced from a seizing position (48), in which the ends of the U-shaped bent dough strand (46) are seized, into an extension position (49), in which the dough strand is extended, then into a knotting position (51), in which the dough strand is knotted and finally into a placing position 52, in which the ends of the dough strands are placed on the central part of the dough strand.

Abstract: Process for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

Abstract: An automated pretzel forming machine that produces fresh unbaked pretzels with hand formed characteristics by extruding premixed dough onto a folding table. This table is moved by a bi-directional positioning stage, forming the unfolded and untwisted pretzel shape. The folding table twists the ends of the extruded dough rope then folds the twisted portion on top of the main body of extruded dough resulting in the classic hand twisted pretzel shape. The twisted and folded pretzel is transferred from the folding table through the use of a lift and rotate unit and is subjected to a patterned soda spray and salted before being unloaded from the lift and rotate unit to an existing conveyor oven.

Abstract: A method for automated forming of a knot in a strand of dough includes providing a spacer element having an outer surface and an integral channel, and forming around this outer surface a loop from a first part of the strand. A second part of the strand is then positioned such that at least an end of the strand extends into the channel, crossing a virtual plane passing through the loop, and the spacer element is withdrawn from the loop of dough such that the strand remains in the form of a knot. A device for implementing the method typically includes a work surface with at least one aperture, a mechanical manipulator for gripping and manipulating the dough, and a displacer element aligned with the aperture and movable in a direction roughly perpendicular to the working surface to displace an end of the strand through the plane of the loop of dough to form a knot.

Abstract: An twisted pretzel producing apparatus has a conveyor with a surface for receiving and transporting a rope of dough. An anvil engages the rope of dough so that continued conveyor movement form a curved dough portion. A twister assembly grabs the two ends of the rope of dough and rotates to form a twisted section of dough. The twister assembly includes a set of plungers that press the two ends against the curved portion to form a twisted pretzel. The exact location and degree to which the ends are pressed against the curved portion are randomly varied so that each pretzel has a different appearance as occurs with pretzels made by hand.

Abstract: A method of producing pretzels which are shaped from straight lengths of dough (S) of essentially circular cross-section which have been cut to length. A length of dough (S) is introduced into a shaping device so that it lies partly on a first surface at a first level and partly on a second surface at the same level. The two surfaces are subsequently rotated with respect to each other and one is then folded over on to the other. In addition, the length of dough (S) is guided in a clearly defined way from the moment it is delivered to the shaping device by a feed device to the time the shaped pretzel is deposited on a suitable surface. The shaping device is designed to enable a large number of very uniformly shaped pretzels to be produced within a short time.

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 improved method and device for mechanically producing pretzels. The method and device produces strings of dough having precisely predetermined cross-sectional and longitudinal dimensions. The invention provides a high throughput rate of pretzels and low rejection rate, together with simple operability, such that the device is cost-effective even in small bakeries.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a process for producing the looped form of a pretzel from a straight, stretched rope of dough (1) using a machine so as to lower the production costs in pretzel making. Essentially, the central part (4) of the straight rope of dough (1) is taken up by the receiving part of a mold (3), then the front section of the receiving part of the mold (3) swings upwards and the receiving part of the mold (3) is turned along with the central part (4) of the rope of dough (1) by 360.degree. relative to the ends of the rope of dough (1) so that both sides of the rope are looped together.

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: Tool for the formation of a pretzel blank from a strand of dough which takes the form of a molding pan having at least one slot on groove with a twisted and/or looped pattern, molded into its bottom, corresponding to the shape of a pretzel.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming noodle bundles by folding strands of noodles, suspending the folded noodle strands from the apparatus at an intermediate position of the folded noodle strands and folding them again. The twice-folded noodles are then rotated by the apparatus to fold them at least once more or to roll up the doubly folded noodle strands in order to place loose ends of the noodle strands within the finally folded or rolled up noodle bundle, and subsequently removing the apparatus from the folded or rolled up noodle bundle.

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 process is provided for the continuous production of a uniform density pretzel dough. The ingredients of the pretzel dough are continuously supplied to a continuous operating assemblage and the dough is continuously produced, utilizing a relatively short retention time in the mixer. Within the continuous operating assemblage are mixing units and conveying units in ratio of approximately three to one, respectively.

Abstract: A food processing apparatus having an extrudate outlet nozzle, an extrudate receiver, the nozzle and receiver being movable to discharge extrudate in a preselected two dimensional line configuration on the receiver, and a programmable controller for controlling the movement to achieve the configuration.