DOUGH HANDLING APPARATUS

Abstract

A dough handling apparatus has a conveyor device for dough having a conveying chamber arranged between a dough inlet and a dough outlet, and a conveyor screw arranged in the conveying chamber; a supply container having an outlet opening for supplying dough to the conveyor device, wherein, in an operative position, the outlet opening connects to the dough inlet of the conveyor device, wherein the supply container is pivotable from the operative position into a pivoted-away position; and a helical feed device, wherein the helical feed device is releasably mounted in an upper part of the dough inlet of the conveyor device, wherein a first end of the helical feed device extends into the supply container, and a second end of the helical feed device extends toward the conveyor screw, wherein the second end is arranged near an outer circumference of the conveyor screw.

Claims

1. A dough handling apparatus comprising: a conveyor device for dough comprising a dough inlet, a dough outlet, a conveying chamber arranged between the dough inlet and the dough outlet, and a conveyor screw arranged in the conveying chamber, a supply container comprising an outlet opening for supplying dough to the conveyor device, wherein, in an operative position, the outlet opening connects to the dough inlet of the conveyor device, wherein the supply container is pivotable from the operative position into a pivoted-away position, and a helical feed device for conveying dough in the supply container towards the outlet opening, wherein the helical feed device is releasably mounted in an upper part of the dough inlet of the conveyor device when the supply container is in the pivoted-away position, wherein a first end of the helical feed device extends into the supply container, and a second end of the helical feed device extends toward the conveyor screw, wherein the second end is arranged near an outer circumference of the conveyor screw.

2. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supply container is connected to the conveyor device via a hinge, wherein the hinge is arranged for pivoting the supply container around a horizontal axis.

3. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dough inlet comprises a circle cylindrical part adjacent to the conveying chamber, wherein the second end of the helical feed device extends into the circle cylindrical part.

4. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the dough inlet comprises a cone shaped part between the circle cylindrical part and the upper part.

5. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second end of the helical feed device is arranged to provide a circle cylindrical surface of revolution.

6. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the helical feed device comprises a spiral blade which extends up to the second end of the helical feed device.

7. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dough handling apparatus comprises a drive ring which is rotatable attached to the dough inlet of the conveyor device, and wherein the helical feed device comprises a mounting ring, wherein the mounting ring is removable arranged on top of the drive ring to provide a rotationally fixed coupling between the mounting ring and the drive ring.

8. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the drive ring comprises a support surface, wherein the mounting ring comprises a mounting surface, wherein the mounting surface abuts the support surface when the mounting ring is removably arranged on top op the drive ring.

9. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the drive ring comprises a set of protrusions extending out of the support surface, and wherein the mounting ring comprises a set of recesses, and wherein each protrusion is arranged to fit in one of said recesses when the mounting ring is removably arranged on top of the drive ring.

10. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the mounting ring comprises a set of protrusions extending out of the mounting surface, and wherein the drive ring comprises a set of recesses, and wherein each protrusion is arranged to fit in one of said recesses when the mounting ring is removably arranged on top of the drive ring.

11. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor screw comprises an inlet-side spindle section and an outlet-side spindle section, wherein the inlet-side spindle section has a wider or larger pitch then the outlet-side spindle section.

12. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor screw is a first conveyor screw, wherein the conveyor device comprises a second conveyor screw, and wherein the first conveyor screw and the second conveyor screw comprise interengaging helical flights.

13. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a die arranged at the dough outlet of the conveyor device, wherein the die comprises an opening at a side facing away from the conveying chamber for dispensing dough.

14. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus comprises a knife, which is arranged to move in front of the opening for cutting dispensed dough.

15. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the die comprises an outward facing, substantially flat surface, wherein the flat surface comprises the opening, and wherein the knife comprises an abutment member, wherein the abutment member is arranged to abut at least a part of the flat surface.

16. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the die comprises a cam extending towards a mounting position of the knife, wherein the flat surface extends over said cam, and wherein the abutment member of the knife is arranged to abut the flat surface part of the cam.

17. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the knife comprises a rotatable knife, which is arranged to rotate in front of the opening for cutting dispensed dough.

18. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the knife comprises a rotatable knife, which is arranged to rotate in front of the opening for cutting dispensed dough, and wherein the abutment member comprises a circular ring part, wherein the ring part is arranged to abut at least a part of the flat surface.

19. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the die is coupled to the dough outlet by a twist-lock mount or bayonet mount.

20. The dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least the conveying chamber of the conveyor device is arranged inside an enclosure, wherein the dough handling apparatus comprises a cooling device for cooling the inside of the enclosure or for providing a coolant fluid to coolant conduits which are arranged in a casing of the conveyor device.

21. A method of conveying dough, comprising providing a dough handling apparatus according to claim 1, and supplying dough to the conveyor device from the supply container.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a side view of an example of a dough handling apparatus of the invention,

[0040] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the example of FIG. 1,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section view of an example of a dough handling apparatus of the invention in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor screw,

[0042] FIG. 4A shows a cross-section view of an example of a dough handling apparatus of the invention in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the conveyor screw, with the supply container in the operative position,

[0043] FIG. 4B shows a cross-section view of the example of FIG. 4A, with the supply container in the pivoted-away position,

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross-section view of an example of a dough handling apparatus of the invention, at least partially arranged in an machine enclosure, and

[0045] FIG. 6 shows a horizontal cross-section view of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0046] The figures show examples of a dough handling apparatus 1 according to the invention. The dough handling apparatus 1 comprises a conveyor device 2 for dough comprising a conveying chamber 23 arranged in a casing 231, between a dough inlet 21 and a dough outlet 22. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a conveyor screw 24 is arranged in the conveying chamber 23.

[0047] In the example shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor screw is a first conveyor screw 24, and the conveyor device comprises a second conveyor screw 24 which combingly engages with the first conveyor screw 24. As clearly shown in FIG. 3, the first conveyor screw 24 and the second conveyor screw 24 comprise interengaging helical flights. Thus the flights of the first conveyor screw 24 are arranged in the gap between the consecutive flights of the second conveyor screw 24, and vice versa.

[0048] In the example shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the conveyor screw 24 comprises an inlet-side spindle section 25 and an outlet-side spindle section 26, wherein the inlet-side spindle section 25 has a larger or wider pitch then the outlet-side spindle section 26. It is noted that the use of a double conveyor screw 24, 24 as shown in FIG. 3 can also be combined with a conveyor screw 24 having spindle sections 25, 26 with a different pitch as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B.

[0049] The dough handling apparatus 1 further comprises a supply container 3. The supply container 3 comprises a cone-shaped hopper with a wide inlet opening 34 surrounded by an upper edge 33, and a narrow outlet opening 31 for supplying dough to the conveyor device 2. In an operative position, the outlet opening 31 connects to the dough inlet of the conveyor device 2. The supply container 3 is pivotable from the operative position as shown in FIG. 4A, into a pivoted-away position as shown in FIG. 4B. The supply container 3 is hingedly attached to the upper part of the dough. inlet 21 via a hinge 36. The hinge 36 is arranged for pivoting the supply container 3 around a substantially horizontal axis, which in FIGS. 4A and 4B extends substantially perpendicular out of the plane of the drawing.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, for example, the supply container 3 may be provided with a stator 32, which is removably connected to the upper edge 33 of the supply container 3. The stator 32 as shown in the figures is provided with a fixed helical screw blade 35.

[0051] Furthermore, the dough. handling apparatus 1 comprises a helical feed device 4 for conveying dough in the supply container 3 towards the outlet opening 31. The helical feed device 4 is releasably mounted in an upper part of the dough inlet 21 of the conveyor device 2, as will be described in more detail below. The helical feed device 4 comprises a helical screw member 40. In the operative position of the supply container 3, a first end 41 at the upper side of the helical screw member 40 extends into the supply container 3, and a second end 42 at the lower side of the helical screw member 40 extends toward the conveyor screw 24. The second end 42 is arranged near an outer circumference of the conveyor screw 24, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B. When the stator 32 is arranged in the supply container 3, the upper part of the helical feed device 4, in particular the helical screw member 40 thereof, surrounds the lower part of the stator 32.

[0052] As shown in the FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, and more clearly indicated in FIG. 4B, the dough inlet 21 comprises a cone shaped part 211 at a side of the dough inlet 21 facing said supply container 3, and a circle cylindrical part 212 at a side of the dough inlet 21 adjacent to the conveying chamber 23. As shown in the examples of FIGS. 3, 4A and 4B, the second end 42 of the helical screw member 40 extends into the circle cylindrical part 212. Preferably, the second end 42 of the helical screw member 40 is arranged to provide a substantial circle cylindrical surface of revolution. Accordingly, the second end 42 of the helical screw member 40 provides a substantial circle cylindrical helical screw which provides suitable guidance and conveying of the dough towards the conveyor screw 24, 24 in the conveyor device 2.

[0053] As schematically shown in FIGS. 3, 4A, 4B and 5, the helical screw member 4, 40 comprises a spiral blade which forms the second end 42 of the helical screw member 4, 40. The spiral blade extends up to the end 42 of the helical feed device 4, 40 which faces the conveyor screw(s) 24, 24, 24 in the conveyor device 2.

[0054] The dough handling apparatus, in particular the dough inlet 21 thereof, comprises a drive ring 213 which is rotatable attached at the upper part of the dough inlet 21. The drive ring 213 is fixedly attached to the upper part of the dough inlet via a bearing 214 which. allows the drive ring to rotate with respect to the upper part of the dough inlet 21. The drive ring 213 is provided with a series of teeth. 215 provided at an outer circumferential surface of the drive ring 213, which teeth 215 are arranged to mesh with a pinion (not shown) which is coupled to a drive motor 51 for driving a rotation of the drive ring 213 around a rotation axis R via the pinion.

[0055] The drive ring 213 comprises a support surface 216, which comprises an upward facing flat ring-shaped surface. The support surface 216 is arranged in a plane which extends substantially perpendicular to the rotation axis R. The support surface is provided with a series of protrusions 217 in the shape of substantially cylindrical members, which extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support surface 216, preferably substantially parallel to the rotation axis R.

[0056] The helical feed device 4 comprises a mounting ring 43 which surrounds the helical screw member 40. The Helical screw member 40 is fixedly attached to the mounting ring 43, and preferably the mounting ring 43 and the helical screw member 40 are integrally formed. The mounting ring 43 comprises a mounting surface 44, wherein the mounting surface 44 abuts the support surface 216 when the mounting ring 43 is arranged on top of the drive ring 213. The mounting ring 43 comprises a set of recesses 45 which are arranged to accommodate the protrusions 217 of the drive ring 213. The recesses 45 according to the present examples comprises substantially cylindrical shaped, blind holes, which debouch in the mounting surface 44 and extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the support surface 44, preferably substantially parallel to the rotation axis R.

[0057] In the operative position as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A, the mounting ring 43 is removable arranged on top of the drive ring 213, wherein the protrusions 217 are arranged in the recesses 45 for providing a rotationally fixed coupling between the mounting ring 43 and the drive ring 213. Furthermore, the supply container 3 is provided with a flange member 37. In the operative position, the flange member 37 is arranged to abut against an upper edge 218 of the dough inlet 21, and is locked in this position by means of a set of locking devices 27. In this situation, the mounting ring 43 is confined between the drive ring 213 and the flange member 37.

[0058] When the locking devices 27 are arranged in an un-locking state, the supply container 3 can be pivoted into a pivoted-away position as shown in FIG. 4B. The mounting ring 43 can freely move upwards in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis R, the protrusions 217 slide out of engagement with the recesses 45, and the helical feed device 4 can easily be removed from the dough handling apparatus 1.

[0059] It is noted that in the examples as described above, the drive ring 213 is provided with protrusions 217 and the mounting ring 43 is provided with matching recesses 45. Alternatively or additionally, the mounting ring 43 is provided with a set of protrusions (not shown) extending out of the mounting surface, and the drive ring is provided with a set of matching recesses (not shown), wherein each protrusion is arranged in one of said recesses when the mounting ring 43 is removably arranged on top of the drive ring 213.

[0060] As further indicated in the figures, the dough handling apparatus comprises a die 6 arranged at the dough outlet 22 of the conveyor device 2. The die 6 comprises an opening 61 at a side facing away from the conveying chamber 23 for dispensing dough which is pushed towards the die 6 by means of the conveyor screw 24.

[0061] The die 6 is coupled to the dough outlet 22 by means of a twist-lock mount comprising a twist-lock catch, or a bayonet mount comprising a bayonet catch. Accordingly the die 6 is provided with an outward extending flange 62, which comprises a series of slots 63. The slots 63 are substantially evenly distributed around the circumference of the die 6. Each slot 63 comprises a first portion 631 through which the head 281 of a stud 28 will pass and a second portion 632 through which the stud 28 will pass, but the head 281 of the stud 28 will not pass. As indicated in FIG. 2, the slots 63 have a shape of a circle section in order to allow a rotation of the die 6 when the studs 28 are arranged in the corresponding slots 63.

[0062] At the dough outlet 22 of the conveyor device 2, a series of substantially round studs 28 are arranged to extend in the extension of the conveying chamber 23, in the direction toward the die 6. Each round stud 28 comprises a round head 281, which has a larger diameter than the stud 28. When mounting the die 6 onto the dough outlet 22 at the end of the conveying chamber 23, the first portion 631 of the slots 63 is placed over the studs 28 in such a way that the heads 281 of the studs 28 protrude out of the flange 62 at a side facing away from the conveying chamber 23. Subsequently, the die 6 is rotated using the handle 64 into a locking position as shown in FIG. 2, wherein the studs 28 are placed in the second portion 632 of the slots 63 and the heads 281 of the studs 28 abut the surface of the flange 62 at a side facing away from the conveying chamber 23.

[0063] When an amount of dough is provided in the supply container 3, and the conveyor device 2 is driven by the drive or motor 52, the dough handling apparatus of the present invention conveys the dough towards the die 6 and a substantially continues strand of dough is extruded out of the opening 61 of the die 6. When the dough handling apparatus is used for providing separate portions of dough, the extruded stand is cut in the desired portions using a knife 7. The knife 7 is arranged for carrying out a cutting motion in front of the opening 61, and is able to cut the extruded dough strand into sections. Although the knife may be arranged to perform a substantially linear and/or reciprocating movement, like a guillotine, it is preferred to use a rotatable knife 7, as shown in FIG. 1. The rotatable knife 7 is arranged to rotate in front of the opening 61 of the die 6 for cutting dispensed dough.

[0064] In the examples shown in the figures, the die 6 comprises an outward facing, substantially flat surface 65, wherein the flat surface 65 comprises the opening 61. The rotatable knife 7 comprises a substantially circular ring part 71, wherein the ring part 71 is arranged to abut at least a part of the flat surface 65. As shown in FIG. 2, the die 6 comprises a cam 66 extending towards the rotatable knife 7. The flat surface 65 extends over said cam 66, wherein the ring part 71 of the rotatable knife 7 is arranged to abut the flat surface part of the cam 66. This allows to move the knifes 72 of the rotatable knife 7 over the flat surface 65, close to the opening 61 of the die 6. In use, when the rotatable knife is driven by the drive or motor 53, the extruded dough. is cut immediately after it has left the opening 61, which increases the accuracy of cutting the strand of dough into dough portions of substantially equal weight, or a desired weight, respectively.

[0065] The cam 66 and the ring part 71, in combination with the twist-lock mount or bayonet mount, is further arranged to move the cam 66 out of engagement with the ring part 71, when the die 66 is rotated to move out of the locking position to a position wherein the studs 28 are arranged at the first portion 631 of the slots 63. The die can now be removed from the dough outlet 22 of the conveying device 2, without having to remove the rotatable knife 7.

[0066] In the last example of a dough handling apparatus 1, shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the conveyor device 2 is for the most part arranged inside an enclosure 8. Only part of the dough inlet 21 is arranged on top of the enclosure 8. In addition the supply container 3 is arranged on top of the enclosure 8. In particular, the conveying chamber 23 and the drive motors 51, 52, 53 are arranged inside said enclosure 8, in particular in a substantially separate compartment inside said enclosure, which separate compartment is delimited by substantially vertical walls 82, 83. Furthermore, the enclosure 8 is provided with a substantially separate compartment 81 for a controlling unit which controls the operation of the dough handling apparatus.

[0067] In the example as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the dough handling apparatus 1 comprises a cooling device 9 for cooling the inside of the enclosure 8. In particular, the cooling device 9 is mounted at a side of the enclosure 8 and is arranged adjacent to the compartment 84 containing the conveying chamber 23, and is provided with a blower 91 for blowing cool air into said compartment 84. Alternatively or additionally, the cooling device 9 is connected via a set of tubes 92 to cooling conduits inside the casing 231 of the conveying chamber 23 or cooling jacket around the conveying chamber for cooling the conveying chamber 23 by means of a coolant or cooling fluid. The cooling device 9 prevents a heating up of the dough while it is conveyed and compressed in the conveying chamber 23 of the conveyor device 2.

[0068] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiments and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the present invention as described in the appended claims.