Funnel, Lining for a Funnel, Dough Line and Method for Cleaning a Funnel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a funnel for dough or dough ingredients, comprising at least one funnel wall, extending from a receiving opening to a dispensing opening and comprising containing means for a removable lining, at least one removable lining, corresponding with the shape and area of said funnel wall and comprising positioning means for positioning the lining with respect to the funnel wall, wherein the positioning means are adapted for at least limiting a movement of the lining with respect to the funnel in a direction from the receiving opening toward the dispensing opening in at least one respective mutual orientation of the funnel wall and the lining.

Claims

1. Funnel for dough or dough ingredients, comprising: At least one funnel wall, extending from a receiving opening to a dispensing opening; and comprising containing means for a removable lining; At least one removable lining, corresponding with the shape and area of said funnel wall; and comprising positioning means for positioning the lining with respect to the funnel wall, wherein the positioning means are adapted for at least limiting a movement of the lining with respect to the funnel in a direction from the receiving opening toward the dispensing opening in at least one respective mutual orientation of the funnel wall and the lining.

2. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lining forms a closed surface, extending from a receiving opening to a dispensing opening.

3. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one lining is form-fitting with the at least one funnel wall.

4. Funnel according to claim 1, comprising multiple mutually connected funnel walls, and multiple removable linings, wherein each of the linings corresponds with the shape and area of at least one funnel wall and the multiple removable linings together correspond with the shape and area of the multiple mutually connected funnel walls.

5. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one removable lining comprises an essentially tapered shape.

6. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the at least one removable lining is self-locking in at least the direction from the direction from the receiving opening toward the dispensing opening.

7. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein at least one first lining locks at least one second lining in a direction different from the direction from the receiving opening toward the dispensing opening.

8. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the positioning means comprise at least one broadening, such as a notch, in the shape of the lining, wherein the broadening is configured for abutment with the funnel.

9. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the removable lining comprises a food grade material, more in particular a plastics material, such as HMPE.

10. Funnel according to claim 1 wherein the removable lining comprises handling points, in particular formed by handles.

11. Funnel according to claim 1, wherein the containing means comprise a slot, a guide or a notch.

12. Removable lining for use in a funnel according to claim 1.

13. Dough line comprising a funnel according to claim 1.

14. Method for operating a dough line according to claim 11, comprising removing the at least one lining from a funnel, cleaning it outside or remote from the funnel and positioning it back in the funnel after cleaning.

15. Method according to claim 14, comprising positioning another lining in place during cleaning of the at least one lining.

Description

[0023] The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following FIGURE.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a funnel 1 for dough or dough ingredients according to the present invention, comprising four funnel walls 2-5, each extending from a receiving opening R to a dispensing opening ID, and comprising containing means 6-8, 27 for a removable lining, four removable linings 9-12, each corresponding with the shape and area of a corresponding funnel wall 2-5; and comprising positioning means formed by their shapes and additionally by notches 13-18 for positioning the lining with respect to the funnel wall, wherein the positioning means are adapted for at least limiting a movement of the lining with respect to the funnel in a direction from the receiving opening toward the dispensing opening in at least one respective mutual orientation of the funnel wall and the respective lining. In the case shown, the notches cooperate with the containing means, formed by slots 6-8. The notches exceed the width of the slots and the lining is suspended by the notches (and in the case shown as well by the shape of each lining that is form-fitting with the shape of the funnel wall it covers).

[0025] The linings form a closed surface, that is: once they are in place, extending from a receiving opening to a dispensing opening. In FIG. 1, lining 9 is taken out of its position. When positioned, lining 10 locks linings 9 and 11 directions A and B, which are different from the direction C from the receiving opening R toward the dispensing opening D. The removable lining comprises handling points 19-26, formed by handles.