Device and Method for Forming Dough Pieces

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device (01, 18) for forming substantially straight, in particular wound, dough pieces (02) into an annular shape, comprising a bending unit for annularly bending the dough piece (02), the bending unit comprising: at least one retaining jaw (04) and two movably supported shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) and a lifting device and a stamp (17),
wherein, while being in engagement with the dough piece (02), a shaping jaw (08, 19) provided with a projection (12, 27) is displaced along a displacement path section between an initial position and a final position, and wherein the projection (12, 27) is in contact with the lower surface of the dough piece (02) at the initial position, and wherein the projection (12, 27) has been brought out of engagement with the dough piece (02) at the final position.

Claims

1. A device (01, 18) for forming substantially straight, in particular wound, dough pieces (02) into an annular shape, comprising a bending unit for annularly bending the dough piece (02), the bending unit comprising: at least one retaining jaw (04), which is adapted to be brought into contact with the inner side of the dough piece (02) and which forms an opening into the annularly bent dough piece (02), and two movably supported shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20), which are adapted to be brought into engagement with the outer side of the dough piece (02), wherein the dough piece (02) can be annularly bent around the retaining jaw (04) by driving the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20), and a lifting device, one shaping jaw (08, 19) being adapted to be lifted by driving the lifting device, and this shaping jaw (08, 19) having provided thereon a projection (12, 27) which, when the shaping jaw (08, 19) is in contact with the dough piece (02), contacts the lower surface of the dough piece (02), and the projection (12, 27) being adapted to be lifted by driving the lifting device, so as to lift the end (13) of the dough piece (02), which rests on the projection (12, 27), and arrange it on the other end (14) of the dough piece (02) in an overlapping mode, and a stamp (17), the overlappingly arranged ends (13, 14) of the annularly bent dough piece (02) being adapted to be pressed against each other between a support (03) and the stamp (17) by driving the stamp (17), characterized in that, while being in engagement with the dough piece (02), the shaping jaw (08, 19) provided with the projection (12, 27) is displaced along a displacement path section between an initial position and a final position, wherein the projection (12, 27) is in contact with the lower surface of the dough piece (02) at the initial position, and wherein the projection (12, 27) has been brought out of engagement with the dough piece (02) at the final position.

2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the projection (12, 27) protrudes beyond the free end (11) of the shaping jaw (08, 19), wherein the projection (12, 27) extends transversely to the center axis (30) of the dough piece (02) at the initial position, and wherein the projection (12, 27) extends parallel to the center axis (30) of the dough piece (02) at the final position.

3. The device according to claim 2, characterized in that, at the final position, the distance between the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20), which are in contact with the dough piece (02), on the one hand and the back of the retaining jaw (04) on the other corresponds to the width of the ends (13, 14) of the dough piece (02).

4. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) are arranged one above the other at the final position of the displacement path section.

5. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) each have a sliding surface (15, 16, 28, 29) which enters into engagement with the dough piece (02), the sliding surfaces (15, 16, 28, 29) sliding and/or rolling on the surface of the dough piece (02) while they are in engagement with the dough piece (02) along the displacement path section.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shaping jaws (19, 20) are each bipartite, wherein the second part (22, 24) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) can be pivoted relative to the first part (21, 23) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) by means of a drive unit, and wherein the second part (22, 24) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) is adapted to enter into engagement with the dough piece with a sliding surface (28, 29) thereof, and wherein the shaping jaws (19, 20) are adapted to be brought out of engagement by pivoting the second part (22, 24).

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (01, 18) comprises two additional pre-shaping jaws (05, 06), which are adapted to be brought into engagement with the outer side of the dough piece (02), wherein the straight dough piece (02) can be bent round the retaining jaw (04) in a bow shape by driving the pre-shaping jaws (05, 06).

8. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining jaw (04) is round or triangular in cross-section, the center of the straight dough piece (02) coming to lie against the rounded tip of the triangular retaining jaw (04) and/or that the retaining jaw (04) tapers in a downward direction, in particular that the retaining jaw (04) is configured conically.

9. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bending unit in its entirety or the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) and/or the retaining jaw (04) and/or two pre-shaping jaws (05, 06) and/or the stamp (17) are replaceably fixed to the device (01, 18).

10. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (01, 18) comprises a position sensor, in particular a picture camera, with an evaluation unit, the position sensor being able to detect the position of the dough piece (02).

11. A method for forming substantially straight, in particular wound, dough pieces (02) into an annular shape, comprising a bending unit for annularly bending the dough piece (02), the method comprising the following steps: a retaining jaw (04) contacts the inner side of the dough piece (02) and, simultaneously, two movably supported shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) contact the outer side of the dough piece (02) at the initial position of a displacement path section of the two shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20), one of the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) having provided thereon a projection (12, 27) which is in contact with the lower surface of the dough piece (02) at the initial position; displacing the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) along a displacement path section until they reach a final position, the shaping jaw (08, 19) provided with the projection (12, 27) being lifted by means of a lifting device along the displacement path section, so as to lift one end (13) of the dough piece (02) and arranging this end (13) on the other end (14) of the dough piece (02) in an overlapping mode, and wherein the projection (12, 27) is pivoted relative to the dough piece (02) along the displacement path section, and wherein the projection (12, 27) is in contact with the lower surface of the dough piece (02) at the initial position, and wherein the projection has been brought out of engagement with the dough piece (02) at the final position; displacing a stamp (17), the overlappingly arranged ends (13, 14) of the annularly bent dough piece (02) being pressed against each other between a support (03) and the stamp (17) by driving the stamp (17).

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, while being in bending engagement, the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) slide and/or roll on the surface of the dough piece (02) with a respective sliding surface (15, 16, 28, 29) thereof.

13. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, by driving two pre-shaping jaws (05, 06), the straight dough piece (02) is bent round the retaining jaw (04) in a bow shape, and that, subsequently, it is annularly bent around the retaining jaw (04) by driving the two shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20).

14. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that, during displacement of the stamp (17), the shaping jaws (07, 08, 19, 20) are moved apart starting from the final position.

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the shaping jaws (19, 20) are each bipartite, wherein the second part (22, 24) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) can be pivoted relative to the first part (21, 23) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) by means of a drive unit, and wherein the second part (22, 24) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) enters into engagement with the dough piece (02) with a sliding surface (28, 29) thereof between the initial position and the final position of the displacement path section, and wherein, after having reached the final position of the displacement path section, in particular during displacement of the stamp (17), the second part (22, 24) of the shaping jaws (19, 20) is pivoted relative to the first part (21, 23) of the shaping jaws (19, 20), so as to bring the sliding surfaces (28, 29) out of engagement with the dough piece (02).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in the drawings and will be explained hereinafter as an example.

[0024] FIG. 1 shows, in a top view, a device according to the present invention before the bending process starts;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the device according to FIG. 1 after the dough piece has been pre-bent with two pre-shaping jaws;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the device according to FIG. 2 after the initial position of the two shaping jaws for annularly bending the dough piece has been reached;

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the device according to FIG. 3 after the final position of the shaping jaws has been reached and after the overlapping ends of the dough piece have been stamped;

[0028] FIG. 5 shows the device according to FIG. 4 in a simplified perspective side view;

[0029] FIG. 6 shows, in a top view, a second embodiment of a device according to the present invention before the bending process starts;

[0030] FIG. 7 shows the device according to FIG. 6 after the dough piece has been pre-bent with two pre-shaping jaws;

[0031] FIG. 8 shows the device according to FIG. 7 after the initial position of the two shaping jaws for annularly bending the dough piece has been reached;

[0032] FIG. 9 shows the device according to FIG. 8 after the final position of the shaping jaws has been reached and after the overlapping ends of the dough piece have been stamped;

[0033] FIG. 10 shows, in a simplified perspective side view, the device according to FIG. 9 during opening of the shaping jaws.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a device 01 for annularly bending dough pieces 02, e.g. wound croissants. The drawings according to FIG. 1 to FIG. 5 only show the components of the device 01 which are necessary for making the present invention understandable. According to the representation shown in FIG. 1, the dough pieces 02 wound straight about a center axis 30 are first conveyed, resting on a conveyor belt 03, in the direction of the retaining jaw 04. Two pre-shaping jaws 05 and 06 and two shaping jaws 07 and 08 are still out of engagement with the dough piece 02 at this moment.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows the device 01 with the dough piece 02 during pre-shaping of the dough piece 02. To this end, the pre-shaping jaws 05 and 06 are moved into contact with the back of the dough piece 02, so that the dough piece 02 will be bent round the triangular retaining jaw 04 in a bow shape and thus be pre-shaped.

[0036] FIG. 3 shows the device 01 with the pre-shaped dough piece 02 after the two shaping jaws 07 and 08 have been pivoted, driven by a drive axle 09, and the free ends 10 and 11 thereof have thus been brought into engagement with the outer side of the dough piece for the first time.

[0037] FIG. 3 thus shows the initial position of the two shaping jaws 07 and 08 at the beginning of the displacement path section with which the dough pieces 02 are bent into an annular shape. At this initial position of the displacement path section, the free end 11 is not only in contact with the outer side of the dough piece 02 with its horizontal contact surface. The free end 11 has also provided thereon a protruding projection 12, which, at the initial position of the displacement path section shown in FIG. 3, is pushed under the end 13 of the dough piece 02. The free end 10 of the shaping jaw 07, however, is not provided with a projection, so that, during the subsequent bending into an annular shape, the end 14 of the dough piece will not be lifted, but rest on the conveyor belt 03 instead.

[0038] FIG. 4 shows a device 01 at the final position of the shaping jaws 07 and 08 after the bending of the dough piece 02 into an annular shape has been terminated. The dough piece 02 is here bent annularly around the retaining jaw 04 and the two ends 13 and 14 of the dough piece overlap each other. For this purpose, the shaping jaw 08 had been vertically lifted during the displacement of the initial position shown in FIG. 3 along the displacement path until the final position shown in FIG. 4 had been reached, so that the end 13 of the dough piece 02 was arranged above the end 14 thus allowing the overlapping arrangement of the ends 13 and 14. Along the displacement path section between the initial position and the final position shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the dough piece 02 was annularly bent around the retaining jaw 04 by displacing the shaping jaws 07 and 08. The free ends 10 and 11 of the two shaping jaws 07 and 08 have provided thereon sliding surfaces 15 and 16, which roll or slide on the surface of the dough while the shaping jaws 07 and 08 are being displaced between the initial position and the final position. By means of this combined advance-sliding and rolling movement it is accomplished that, at the final position shown in FIG. 4, the projection 12 is no longer in contact with the lower surface of the dough end 13. Instead, the projection 12 extends parallel to the ends 13 and 14, which are arranged in an overlapping mode, at the final position shown in FIG. 4. At this final position, a stamp 17 can then be moved vertically downwards, so that the two ends 13 and 14 will be pressed together between the lower surface of the stamp 17 and the upper surface of the conveyor belt 03, so as to guarantee the annular shape of the dough piece 02 in this way.

[0039] FIG. 5 shows the device 01 with the two shaping jaws 07 and 08 at the end position shown in FIG. 4. For better recognizability, the two pre-shaping jaws 05 and 06 are not shown in FIG. 5. It can be seen that, at the final position, the two shaping jaws 07 and 08 are arranged one above the other and extend parallel to the annularly bent ends 13 and 14 of the dough piece 02. Since the projection 12 thus no longer comes to lie between the two ends 13 and 14 of the dough piece 02, the dough piece can be compressed interference-free in the area of the ends 13 and 14 by vertically displacing the stamp 17.

[0040] FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment 18 of a device 18 according to the present invention used for annularly bending dough pieces 02, e.g. wound croissants. The device 18, which largely corresponds to the device 01, differs from the latter with respect to the structural design and the function of the two shaping jaws 19 and 20. The shaping jaws 19 and 20 are each bipartite and composed of two parts 21 and 22 or 23 and 24. The front part 22 of the shaping jaw 20 has again provided thereon a projection 27 for lifting the end 13 of the dough piece 02. The respective second parts 22 and 24 of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 are pivotable by means of a drive unit, which is not shown, relative to the respective first parts 21 and 23 of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 about the pivot axes 25 and 26. The respective second parts 22 and 24 of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 are engageable, each with a respective sliding surface, with the dough piece 02.

[0041] The drawings according to FIG. 6 to FIG. 10 show schematically the mode of operation of the device 18 in the process of annularly bending dough pieces 02 that are initially wound straight. As can be seen from FIG. 6 to FIG. 9, the mode of operation of the device 18 corresponds, until the final position of the displacement path section for annularly bending a dough piece 02 has been reached, to the mode of operation of device 01 as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

[0042] FIG. 10 shows the mode of operation of the device 18 after the final position of the displacement path section for annularly bending the dough piece 02 has been reached. In order to allow the shaping jaws 19 and 20 to be released from the dough piece 02 without damaging the dough surface, the respective front part 22 and 24 of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 is driven separately and thus pivoted away from the dough piece 02, without any setting movement of the rear parts 21 and 23 of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 taking place. The sliding of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 over the dough piece, which is desired during the closing of the shaping jaws 19 and 20, is thus avoided during the opening of the shaping jaws 19 and 20. Instead, the sliding surfaces 28 and 29 of the shaping jaws 19 and 20 are brought out of engagement with the dough piece 02 with a jerk.