DEVICE FOR TWISTING PIECES OF DOUGH

Abstract

A device for twisting pieces of dough comprises a conveyor configured to convey pieces of dough in a production direction. The device further comprises at least one holding belt arranged above the conveyor and configured to engage with a first portion of a piece of dough arranged on the conveyor. Further, the device comprises a turning device configured to turn a turning portion of the piece of dough relative to the first portion and upwardly while the holding belt engages with the first portion of the piece of dough.

Claims

1. A device for twisting pieces of dough, comprising: a conveyor configured to convey pieces of dough in a production direction; at least one holding belt arranged above the conveyor and configured to engage with a first portion of a piece of dough arranged on the conveyor; and a turning device configured to turn a turning portion of the piece of dough relative to the first portion and upwardly while the at least one holding belt engages with the first portion of the piece of dough.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one holding belt and the turning device are arranged side by side in a transverse direction oriented transversely to the production direction.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the transverse direction is oriented perpendicularly to the production direction.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the turning device comprises a hook pivotally arranged above the conveyor.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the hook comprises an engagement portion configured to engage a piece of dough conveyed on the conveyor.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the hook is pivotable from a starting position towards a deflected position by engagement of the engagement portion with the piece of dough and its conveyance by the conveyor.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the engagement portion of the hook is arranged upstream of a downstream end portion of a holding belt of the at least one holding belt when the hook is in the deflected position.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein a pivot axis about which the hook is pivotable is oriented transversely to the production direction.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pivot axis is oriented perpendicularly to the production direction.

10. The device according to claim 8, wherein the pivot axis is arranged upstream of a downstream end portion of a holding belt of the at least one holding belt.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein a conveying speed of the conveyor and a conveying speed of the at least one holding belt are different.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein a conveying speed of the conveyor is lower than a conveying speed of the at least one holding belt.

13. A method for twisting pieces of dough, comprising: conveying pieces of dough in a production direction by a conveyor; engaging a first portion of one of the pieces of dough arranged on the conveyor by a holding belt arranged above the conveyor; and turning, by a turning device, a turning portion of the one piece of dough relative to the first portion and upwardly while the holding belt engages with the first portion of the one piece of dough.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first portion and the turning portion are twisted 180° relative to each other.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first portion and the turning portion are arranged side by side in a transverse direction oriented transversely to the production direction.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the transverse direction is oriented perpendicularly to the production direction.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the conveyor and the holding belt are driven at different conveyor speeds.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the conveyor is driven at a conveying speed that is lower than a conveying speed of the holding belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The disclosure relates to a device as well as to a method of the type described above. In the following, an advantageous embodiment is explained by way of example with reference to drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a device for twisting pieces of dough; and

[0023] FIGS. 2 to 5 show schematic side views of the device from FIG. 1, with a hook shown in different pivot positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] In FIG. 1, a device 1 for twisting pieces of dough 2 is shown in a schematic top view. The device 1 may comprise a conveyor 3. The conveyor 3 may be configured to convey pieces of dough in a production direction P. As in the present embodiment, the conveyor 3 may comprise a conveyor belt. The device 1 may further comprise a holding belt 4. The holding belt 4 may be arranged above the conveyor 3. As in the present embodiment, the holding belt 4 may be configured to engage with a first portion 5 of a piece of dough 2 arranged on the conveyor 3. The device 1 may further comprise a turning device 6. The turning device 6 may be configured to turn a turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 relative to the first portion 5 and upwardly while the holding belt 4 engages with the first portion 5 of the piece of dough 2.

[0025] The first portion 5 of the piece of dough 2 and the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 may be arranged side by side in a transverse direction Q. The transverse direction Q may be oriented transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the production direction P. The holding belt 4 and the turning device 6 may be arranged side by side in the transverse direction Q. By twisting the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 relative to the first portion 5 of the piece of dough 2, a twisted dough product 8 may be produced.

[0026] FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the device 1. Thus, it can be seen that the turning device 6 may comprise at least one hook 9. The hook 9 may be arranged pivotably, in particular about a pivot axis 10, above the conveyor 3. The pivot axis 10 may be oriented transversely, preferably perpendicularly, to the production direction P. The hook 9 may have an engagement portion 11. The engagement portion 11 may be configured to engage with a piece of dough 2 conveyed on the conveyor 3. In particular, the engagement portion 11 may be configured to engage with the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 conveyed on the conveyor 3.

[0027] For better clarity, in FIG. 2 (as well as in the following FIGS. 3 to 5) only the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 is shown. Due to the engagement of the engagement portion 11 with the piece of dough 2, in particular the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2, and the conveying of the piece of dough 2 by the conveyor 3, the hook 9 may be pivoted from a starting position 12 (shown in FIG. 2) to a deflected position 13 (shown in FIG. 4).

[0028] In FIG. 3, the device 1 is also shown in a schematic side view, similar to the view in FIG. 2. However, the hook 9 is shown in a pivoted position between the starting position 12 and the deflected position 13. It can be seen that the turning portion 7 may be turned upwards by the movement of the conveyor 3, the engagement of the engagement portion 11 with the turning portion 7 and the pivoting movement of the hook 9. As a result of the fact that the first portion 5 of the piece of dough 2 (not shown in FIG. 3) may be held by the holding belt 4 at the same time, the first portion 5 and the turning portion 7 may be twisted relative to each other. The holding belt 4 may have a downstream end portion 14. At the downstream end portion 14, the piece of dough 2, in particular the first portion 5 of the piece of dough 2, may be disengaged from the holding belt 4. The pivot axis 10 may be arranged upstream of the downstream end portion 14 of the holding belt 4.

[0029] In FIG. 4, the device 1 is shown in a schematic side view similar to the views from FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 4, the hook 9 is shown in the deflected position 13. The turning portion 7 is shown in an orientation rotated by approximately 180° with respect to that shown in FIG. 2. This rotation, as well as the continued conveyance of the piece of dough 2 by the conveyor 3, may enable the engagement portion 11 of the hook 9 and the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 to be disengaged from one another. It can be seen that, in the deflected position 13, the engagement portion 11 of the hook 9 may be located upstream of the downstream end portion 14 of the holding belt 4.

[0030] The device 1 may further comprise a pressing device 15. The pressing device 15 may be configured to press the piece of dough 2 and/or the twisted dough product 8 against the conveyor 3. An incipient engagement between the piece of dough 2 and the pressing device 15 can already be seen in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, it can be seen that the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 has been rotated 180° with respect to the orientation of the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 shown in FIG. 2. The pressing device 15 may comprise a conveyor belt 16. In FIG. 1, the pressing device 15 is not shown for the sake of clarity.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment of the device 1, the holding belt 4 and the conveyor 3 may be driven at different conveying speeds. Particularly preferred is an embodiment in which the conveying speed of the conveyor 3 is lower than the conveying speed of the holding belt 4. As a result, a rotational momentum that is opposite to the direction of rotation of the turning portion 7 of the piece of dough 2 may be impressed on the first portion 5 of the piece of dough 2. This may facilitate the rotation of the turning portion 7 and the first portion 5 relative to each other and/or prevent the first portion 5 from being turned along with the turning portion 7.