A vane powered rotor system or a vane powered rotor may utilize a servomotor and may gently extract, meter, and extrude a product under low pressure. The system or rotor may maintain original product properties of the product during portioning or separation of the product. The system or rotor may include a first group of cavities that may become filled with the product, as the vane powered rotor continuously rotates. The product may be discharged through a second group of cavities opposite the first group of cavities. The first and second group of cavities may be arranged laterally about opposing sides of the vane powered rotor.

In a food dough forming device according to the present invention, a dough forming flow path is formed to be enclosed between at least two rotatable rollers and between two wall plates. At least one of the at least two rotatable rollers is at least one long rotatable roller (31A, 32A). At least one remaining rotatable roller is at least one short rotatable roller (33A, 31B, 32B, 33B). A far-side wall plate (53) of the two wall plates has a fitting recess (53A, 53B) into which an arc portion of a periphery of the long rotatable roller is fitted, and a recessed cutout (53C, 53D, 53E, 53F) at the rotational shaft for the short rotatable roller. The short rotatable roller is fitted onto the rotational shaft for the short rotatable roller to abut the far-side wall plate. The nearside wall plate is disposed to abut the short rotatable roller. An axial movement of the short rotatable roller is limited by the two wall plates.

The invention is directed to a foodstuff extrusion portioning device and more specifically a cutter head assembly on such an extruder having a servo motor, a cutter shuttle coupled to a cutting element, a controller and being programmed via a product variable to provide a velocity profile. The cutter in the velocity profile has a first velocity and it reduces speed to a second velocity and goes more slowly through the last portion of the foodstuff. The at least two velocities being fully programmable and the controller can provide for instantaneous and additional programmed velocities throughout the cutting profile. The cutter further providing tilt control so it can drop the portion at the moment the portion detaches from the extruded foodstuff stream. It cuts and/or breaks off portions in a far more uniform and controllable manner to more accurately portion and better place the cut portions. This also provides the portion with minimal residual energy pushing it forward as it drops through the effect of gravity and the cutter can be used so as to further direct and push the portion downward so as to optimally place it.

The invention is directed to a foodstuff extrusion portioning device and more specifically a cutter head assembly on such an extruder having a servo motor, a cutter shuttle coupled to a cutting element, a controller and being programmed via a product variable to provide a velocity profile. The cutter in the velocity profile has a first velocity and it reduces speed to a second velocity and goes more slowly through the last portion of the foodstuff. The at least two velocities being fully programmable and the controller can provide for instantaneous and additional programmed velocities throughout the cutting profile. The cutter further providing tilt control so it can drop the portion at the moment the portion detaches from the extruded foodstuff stream. It cuts and/or breaks off portions in a far more uniform and controllable manner to more accurately portion and better place the cut portions. This also provides the portion with minimal residual energy pushing it forward as it drops through the effect of gravity and the cutter can be used so as to further direct and push the portion downward so as to optimally place it.

An illumination and visualization device is provided along with a method of illuminating and visualizing and a formulation for an enhanced visualization (EV) coating for a baking pan or similar implement. The EV coating having a fluorescent component that shows the condition of the coating and any interfering materials that can adhere to the pan during use. The method and device for illumination and visualization can have a conveyance device which moves baked goods pans. The pans are illuminated with a known energy source or light. As noted, the EV coating having been applied as, for instance but not limited to, a release or non-adhesion coating layer reacts with and re-emits or reflects energy when subjected to certain incident energy forms or frequencies in the form of, for instance, light. The device can then provide an image of the pan and highlight any variations in the light re-emitted by the coating which can indicate wear on the coating or, in another non-limiting example, the presence of baked on debris.

An illumination and visualization device is provided along with a method of illuminating and visualizing and a formulation for an enhanced visualization (EV) coating for a baking pan or similar implement. The EV coating having a fluorescent component that shows the condition of the coating and any interfering materials that can adhere to the pan during use. The method and device for illumination and visualization can have a conveyance device which moves baked goods pans. The pans are illuminated with a known energy source or light. As noted, the EV coating having been applied as, for instance but not limited to, a release or non-adhesion coating layer reacts with and re-emits or reflects energy when subjected to certain incident energy forms or frequencies in the form of, for instance, light. The device can then provide an image of the pan and highlight any variations in the light re-emitted by the coating which can indicate wear on the coating or, in another non-limiting example, the presence of baked on debris.

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for making soft pretzel sticks and bites. The method involves conveying dough sheets, forming form V-shaped slot patterns, and trimming the dough sheet into parallel dough strips. The dough strips are cut along the midportion of each V-shaped slot pattern, producing dough strips with a central portion, and two series of dough segments extending from opposite sides of the central portion. The dough segments of each dough strips are folded into a braid pattern and cut into dough sticks or bites. The dough sticks and bites are washed in a caustic solution, allowing excess solution to drain through the braid pattern, then baked in an oven. The braid pattern allows the pretzel sticks and bites to expand and aerate during baking without being constrained by the pretzel skin, resulting in a soft, airy interior and a traditional exterior.

The present invention discloses an apparatus and method for making soft pretzel sticks and bites. The method involves conveying dough sheets, forming form V-shaped slot patterns, and trimming the dough sheet into parallel dough strips. The dough strips are cut along the midportion of each V-shaped slot pattern, producing dough strips with a central portion, and two series of dough segments extending from opposite sides of the central portion. The dough segments of each dough strips are folded into a braid pattern and cut into dough sticks or bites. The dough sticks and bites are washed in a caustic solution, allowing excess solution to drain through the braid pattern, then baked in an oven. The braid pattern allows the pretzel sticks and bites to expand and aerate during baking without being constrained by the pretzel skin, resulting in a soft, airy interior and a traditional exterior.

The present invention relates to a dough handling device, comprising a dough sheeting stage, for delivering a dough sheet with a predetermined thickness and a controllable dough stretching or condensing stage, for locally stretching or condensing the dough sheet, comprising a first stretching or condensing conveyor belt with a controllable speed, configured for receiving the dough sheet from the dough sheeting stage and transporting said dough sheet in a direction of conveyance, from upstream to downstream and a second stretching or condensing conveyor belt with a controllable speed for transporting the dough sheet in said direction of conveyance, and a controller, for controlling the speed of the first stretching or condensing conveyor belt and/or the second stretching or condensing conveyor belt and/or the relative speed of the first stretching or condensing conveyor belt and the second stretching or condensing conveyor belt and therewith to locally alter the density and/or thickness of the dough sheet.

An illumination and visualization device is provided along with a method of illuminating and visualizing and a formulation for an enhanced visualization (EV) coating for a baking pan or similar implement. The EV coating having a fluorescent component that shows the condition of the coating and any interfering materials that can adhere to the pan during use. The method and device for illumination and visualization can have a conveyance device which moves baked goods pans. The pans are illuminated with a known energy source or light. As noted, the EV coating having been applied as, for instance but not limited to, a release or non-adhesion coating layer reacts with and re-emits or reflects energy when subjected to certain incident energy forms or frequencies in the form of, for instance, light. The device can then provide an image of the pan and highlight any variations in the light re-emitted by the coating which can indicate wear on the coating or, in another non-limiting example, the presence of baked on debris.