A dough portioning device comprises a metering device with a container configured to receive a supply of dough, and a separator configured to separate a defined quantity of dough from the supply of dough and to discharge the quantity of dough at a discharge end of the metering device in a discharge direction. The dough portioning device furthermore comprises a conveyor device configured to transport dough in a conveying direction, wherein the conveyor device comprises a conveyor belt, and is arranged below the discharge end of the metering device. The conveyor device furthermore comprises a belt guide configured to bend/fold lateral sections of the conveyor belt relative to a middle section in a direction towards the metering device. The middle section of the conveyor belt has a declivity relative to the discharge end of the metering device, at least in a section in the region of the metering device.

A dough portioning device comprises a metering device with a container configured to receive a supply of dough, and a separator configured to separate a defined quantity of dough from the supply of dough and to discharge the quantity of dough at a discharge end of the metering device in a discharge direction. The dough portioning device furthermore comprises a conveyor device configured to transport dough in a conveying direction, wherein the conveyor device comprises a conveyor belt, and is arranged below the discharge end of the metering device. The conveyor device furthermore comprises a belt guide configured to bend/fold lateral sections of the conveyor belt relative to a middle section in a direction towards the metering device. The middle section of the conveyor belt has a declivity relative to the discharge end of the metering device, at least in a section in the region of the metering device.

The invention relates to a device for guiding and supplying dough to a dough processing or transporting means comprising a receiving chamber with at least one belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt forming at least part of a side wall of the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber is further provided with at least two sealing strips mounted at opposing side ends of the conveyor, wherein the sealing strips create a seal between the conveyor belt and an adjacent stationary wall forming another part of the side wall of the receiving chamber. The invention further relates to a chunker for subdividing dough into smaller parts comprising said device.

A apparatus may be used to cut a dough product having a hole from a dough sheet. The stamping apparatus may have multiple cutting blades, depending from a platen, that are configured for cutting complementary open shapes, in phases, that together form a closed shape defining the dough product periphery. The stamping apparatus may also have a tubular cutting blade depending from the platen, configured to cut a closed shape defining the dough product hole, that is nested within one of the blades that is configured to cut an open shape. The tubular cutting blade may be retractable about a finger contained therewithin that remains in a fixed position in relation to the tubular cutting blade as the blade retracts. Air trapped within the tubular cutting blade, between the finger and a cutout dough piece that does not form part of the dough product, may become compressed during blade retraction. The compression may facilitate ejection of the cutout dough piece from the tubular cutting blade. The finger may be omitted in some embodiments.

A apparatus may be used to cut a dough product having a hole from a dough sheet. The stamping apparatus may have multiple cutting blades, depending from a platen, that are configured for cutting complementary open shapes, in phases, that together form a closed shape defining the dough product periphery. The stamping apparatus may also have a tubular cutting blade depending from the platen, configured to cut a closed shape defining the dough product hole, that is nested within one of the blades that is configured to cut an open shape. The tubular cutting blade may be retractable about a finger contained therewithin that remains in a fixed position in relation to the tubular cutting blade as the blade retracts. Air trapped within the tubular cutting blade, between the finger and a cutout dough piece that does not form part of the dough product, may become compressed during blade retraction. The compression may facilitate ejection of the cutout dough piece from the tubular cutting blade. The finger may be omitted in some embodiments.

A system to make a bread loaf includes means for moving continuously pans along a predetermined path, each pan including at least one cavity sized and configured for making a bread loaf. Means conditioning continuously a batch of unconditioned dough reduces the size of air pockets therein to form a conditioned dough. Means continuously extrude the batch of conditioned dough at a controlled volumetric feed rate and at a controlled pressure to provide a constant stream of conditioned dough that is continuously cut into individual packets. The entire batch is converted into individual packets of conditioned dough corresponding to a predetermined number of bread loaves to be produced from the batch, with all the packets deposited individually in cavities of the pans within 10-20 minutes after mixing ingredients that make the batch.

A dough kneading device has a kneading drum for predefining the bottoms and side walls of kneading chambers, which serve to receive dough pieces to be kneaded. A kneading belt over a circumferential portion abuts the kneading drum for closing the kneading chambers. The kneading belt has a plurality of passage openings with a typical diameter which is smaller than 12 mm. This results in a dough kneading device with which even moist doughs can be kneaded without the use of anti-adhesive agents, if possible, without the dough adhering to the kneading belt and/or the kneading chambers in an unwanted manner.

A dough kneading device has a kneading drum for predefining the bottoms and side walls of kneading chambers, which serve to receive dough pieces to be kneaded. A kneading belt over a circumferential portion abuts the kneading drum for closing the kneading chambers. The kneading belt has a plurality of passage openings with a typical diameter which is smaller than 12 mm. This results in a dough kneading device with which even moist doughs can be kneaded without the use of anti-adhesive agents, if possible, without the dough adhering to the kneading belt and/or the kneading chambers in an unwanted manner.

A dough dividing system is disclosed including a hopper for receiving dough and a divider assembly. The hopper includes a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet. The divider assembly includes a divider block having a divider block cavity, and a first actuator operable to move the divider block between a first position in which the divider block cavity is positioned under the hopper outlet, and a second position in the divider block cavity is positioned over a receptacle inlet. Dough enters the divider block cavity when the divider block cavity is in the first position and the dough is sheared as the divider block moves to the second position.

A dough dividing system is disclosed including a hopper for receiving dough and a divider assembly. The hopper includes a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet. The divider assembly includes a divider block having a divider block cavity, and a first actuator operable to move the divider block between a first position in which the divider block cavity is positioned under the hopper outlet, and a second position in the divider block cavity is positioned over a receptacle inlet. Dough enters the divider block cavity when the divider block cavity is in the first position and the dough is sheared as the divider block moves to the second position.