A tunnel shaper including an elongated forming tunnel for shaping amorphous food materials into a desired shape. The forming tunnel includes a bore defined by an inner wall. A channel extends along the length of the forming tunnel and is in open communication with the bore. A top tunnel extends along the tunnel in alignment with the channel. The top tunnel is adjustable with respect to the forming tunnel in order to control the shape of a amorphous material piece processed by the shaper. An adjustment bar and one or more adjustment shafts extend between the adjustment bar and the forming tunnel. A conveyor belt conveys amorphous material pieces through the bore of the forming tunnel and the distance of the top tunnel with respect to the forming tunnel is adjusted in order to control the shape of a amorphous material piece processed by the shaper.

A tunnel shaper including an elongated forming tunnel for shaping amorphous food materials into a desired shape. The forming tunnel includes a bore defined by an inner wall. A channel extends along the length of the forming tunnel and is in open communication with the bore. A top tunnel extends along the tunnel in alignment with the channel. The top tunnel is adjustable with respect to the forming tunnel in order to control the shape of a amorphous material piece processed by the shaper. An adjustment bar and one or more adjustment shafts extend between the adjustment bar and the forming tunnel. A conveyor belt conveys amorphous material pieces through the bore of the forming tunnel and the distance of the top tunnel with respect to the forming tunnel is adjusted in order to control the shape of a amorphous material piece processed by the shaper.

The invention is directed to a rounder or rounding machine having one or more conveyor(s) having a horizontal conveyor surface with a support frame. A rounder bar height adjustment system is provided. Included in the height adjustment system is a bar camber adjustment system. One or more rounder bars are coupled to the support frame by one or more rounder bar height adjustment systems above the conveyor at a set height and at a camber angle set by the at least one camber adjustment system. A rounder bar seal on the rounder bar is provided having a rounder bar seal channel and a rounder bar seal channel contour. The rounder bar seal having a first body member having one or more first semi-spherical contours and a second body extending down at an angle from the first body member, and third body member extending from the first body member and extending in an opposed direction from the second body member. The rounder bar seal channel contour then mates with, at least in part, the first body member through the first semi-spherical contour, with the first body portion being coupled and retained within the channel and rotating freely therein. The second and third body members extending from the first body member and contacting the horizontal conveyor surface of the conveyor belt and self aligning the seal bar with the horizontal conveyor surface such that the rounder bar seal effectively forms a seal.

The invention is directed to a rounder or rounding machine having one or more conveyor(s) having a horizontal conveyor surface with a support frame. A rounder bar height adjustment system is provided. Included in the height adjustment system is a bar camber adjustment system. One or more rounder bars are coupled to the support frame by one or more rounder bar height adjustment systems above the conveyor at a set height and at a camber angle set by the at least one camber adjustment system. A rounder bar seal on the rounder bar is provided having a rounder bar seal channel and a rounder bar seal channel contour. The rounder bar seal having a first body member having one or more first semi-spherical contours and a second body extending down at an angle from the first body member, and third body member extending from the first body member and extending in an opposed direction from the second body member. The rounder bar seal channel contour then mates with, at least in part, the first body member through the first semi-spherical contour, with the first body portion being coupled and retained within the channel and rotating freely therein. The second and third body members extending from the first body member and contacting the horizontal conveyor surface of the conveyor belt and self aligning the seal bar with the horizontal conveyor surface such that the rounder bar seal effectively forms a seal.

A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce two or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion through rapidly changing release sections along the working length of the rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By substantially changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar as it passes through a rapid transition area one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce two or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion through rapidly changing release sections along the working length of the rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By substantially changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar as it passes through a rapid transition area one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

A rotary dough shaper including a drive assembly, a support assembly, and a rolling assembly. The rolling assembly comprises a gauging drum having an external surface and an adjustable back plate having an internal surface. The support assembly supports the gauging drum and the adjustable back plate such that a rolling gap is formed therebetween, and the gauging drum is rotatably coupled to the support assembly such that the gauging drum rotates with respect to the support assembly to roll a dough ball between the adjustable back plate and the gauging drum.

A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce two or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion through rapidly changing release sections along the working length of the rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By substantially changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar as it passes through a rapid transition area one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

A rounding device and method of rounding that provides improved rounding of semi solid material portions by introducing changes or variations in the contours or profiles of rounding bars to produce two or more changes in the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion through rapidly changing release sections along the working length of the rounding bars and round the surfaces of the semi solid material portion with greater uniformity and consistency. By substantially changing the axis of rotation of the semi solid material portion in the working length of the variable contour rounding bar as it passes through a rapid transition area one can improve the rounding and avoid blemishes and deformities that occur to the surface of the semi solid material portion in existing devices.

A rounder bar including a blade in continuous contact with a conveyor for forming dough into various shapes. An adjustable footer on the rounder bar includes a plurality of adjustment tools that can be adjusted in selectable zones to minimize dough leakage in any selected zone across the length of the rounder bar. Each adjustment tool is connected to a corresponding locking plate that is disposed in a recess in the blade. The pressure of the blade against the conveyor in a particular zone is responsive to rotation of the adjustment tool in that particular zone, enabling adjustment of dough leakage in that zone.