DOUGH PIECE ROLLED UP WITH A SEPARATOR SHEET, AND METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PREPARING THESE

Abstract

Device for rolling up a dough piece on a separator sheet, comprising a rolling chamber for receiving a flat sheet with a dough piece on top, and configured for rolling up the separator sheet and the dough piece, wherein the chamber comprises a controllable release opening for controlled transfer of the rolled up sheet with the dough piece to a receptacle and at least one sensor for determining directly or indirectly a closure position and/or end of the separator sheet and providing a signal representing said position, a controller for controlling the controllable release opening based on the signal from the sensor; and the receptacle for receiving the dough sheet being configured for holding the dough piece in a predetermined position.

Claims

1. Device for rolling up a dough piece on a separator sheet, comprising a rolling chamber for receiving a flat sheet with a dough piece on top, and configured for rolling up the separator sheet and the dough piece, wherein the chamber comprises: a controllable release opening for controlled transfer of the rolled up sheet with the dough piece to a receptacle, characterized by: at least one sensor for determining directly or indirectly a closure position and/or end of the separator sheet and providing a signal representing said position, a controller for controlling the controllable release opening based on the signal from the sensor; and the receptacle for receiving the dough sheet being configured for holding the dough piece in a predetermined position.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured for limiting movement of the rolled up dough sheet in the rolling direction, in particular by being configured for supporting the dough sheet at at least one location different from its lowmost point.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the support location is adjustable.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is a gutter.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle is configured for transferring the rolled up dough sheet in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein the receptacle comprises a conveyor belt for moving the rolled up dough sheet in the direction parallel to its axis of rotation.

7. Device according to claim 5, coupled to, or comprising a further packaging station, wherein the rolled up separator sheet and dough piece are sealed, in particular wrapped in paper or plastics and more in particular also boxed.

8. Device according to claim 5, comprising means for applying a stroke of glue to the separator sheet prior to further packaging.

9. Device according to claim 5, wherein the receptacle comprises lifting means such as a guide plate for lifting a loose end of the separator sheet to a predetermined orientation.

10. Device according to claim 5, comprising a second sensor for directly or indirectly determining the completion of the rolling up of the separator sheet and the dough sheet and to provide directly or indirectly a signal indicating the completion of the rolling up of the dough sheet and the separator sheet.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to control the release opening based on a signal from the first and the second sensor.

12. Device according to claim 10 wherein the receptacle is configured to reroute a rejected separator sheet with or without a dough piece to another destination than approved separator sheets with dough pieces.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein a rejected dough piece is rerouted to a bin or the like, for instance by lifting the receptacle when a separator sheet with or without a dough piece to be rejected is expected, or by transferring such separator sheet with or without a dough piece in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation, but opposite to a direction in which approved separator sheets with dough pieces are transferred.

Description

[0037] The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures. Herein:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a device according to the state of the art;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a detailed side view of a device according to the state of the art;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a device according to the invention;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a detailed side view of a device according to the invention;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a first detailed front view of a device according to the invention; and

[0043] FIG. 6 shows a second detailed front view of a device according to the invention.

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a device 1 for preparing a dough piece rolled up with separator sheet, comprising a supplier 2 for supplying in a transport direction 3 of dough pieces 4 on separator sheet 5, the dough pieces 4 having a length 6 in the transport direction and a width 7 perpendicular to the transport direction. The device 1 comprises a rolling chamber 8, contiguous to the supplier 2 in the transport direction, defined by at least a subsequent first conveyor 9, a second conveyor 10, and a third endless conveyor 11. The interaction of the first, second and third conveyor will be explained lateron into more detail in the next figure. In FIG. 1 it is visible that the separator sheets 5 extend the length of the dough pieces 4 at their leading edges, with respect to the direction of movement 3. The extending strip 12 of separator sheet is first led into the rolling chamber, to form a paper roll. Afterwards the dough is rolled along, and finally, a lagging stroke 13 of the separator sheet is rolled up. In order to fix the thus formed roll, the lagging stroke 13 is provided with adhesive 14, which may be applied in a strip or in separate dots.

[0045] In FIG. 1, it is visible that the first endless conveyor 9 comprises a number of wheels, arranged mutually spaced in a width direction, and rotatable on a common axis of rotation 15 in a width direction. The second endless conveyor 10 comprises a number of endless strings or belts, arranged mutually spaced in a width direction, at positions that fall in between the positions of the wheels of the first endless conveyor 9, and the third transporter 11 comprises a number of endless strings or belts, arranged mutually spaced in a width direction, at positions that fall in between the positions of the endless strings or belts of the second conveyor 10. This way, in motion, a chamber is formed, with “moving walls” that curl up the separator sheet to a cylinder. After being curled up, the rolls 16 of separator sheets 4 with dough pieces 6 are fed away by a transporter 17.

[0046] FIG. 2 shows a detailed side view of the device 1 from FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 it is visible, that a leading strip 12 of the separator sheet 5, encounters three endless conveyors 9, 10, 11, each having a direction of conveyance B, C, D perpendicular to the direction of conveyance of a previous conveyor, and the transport direction A respectively, and together configured for leading an item supplied to the rolling chamber around, such that it encounters itself again.

[0047] It is also visible that the working surfaces of the conveyors 9, 10, 11, being the locations where interaction with the separator sheet (and indirectly the dough) takes place, have intersecting planes, and thus form a closed chamber. This is the reason that the first endless conveyor 9 is formed by a number of wheels (which may be provided with rubber or the like for increasing friction, and the second endless conveyor 10 comprises a number of endless strings or belts, arranged mutually spaced in a width direction, at positions that fall in between the positions of the wheels of the first conveyor 9. The third conveyor 11 comprises a number of endless strings or belts, arranged mutually spaced in a width direction, at positions that fall in between the positions of the endless strings or belts of the second conveyor 10.

[0048] During the rolling of a separator sheet 4 with a dough piece 5, the second conveyor 10 is moved in the direction E, and the third conveyor 11 is moved in the direction F, in order to increase the volume of the rolling chamber 8.

[0049] The supplier 2 comprises a perforated cylinder 18, wherein along at least at a part 19 of the mantle of the cylinder, a vacuum is applicable, and wherein at an edge of the part in a downstream transport direction, a scraper 20 is provided, for scraping the leading edge of the paper from the perforated cylinder 18.

[0050] When a roll 16 is finished within the rolling chamber, the first conveyor 9 is moved in the direction G, for opening the chamber and transferring the roll to a transporter 17. Afterwards, all conveyors are brought back to their initial positions for starting a new cyclus.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a device 20 for rolling up a dough piece 21 on a separator sheet 22, comprising a rolling chamber 23 for receiving a flat sheet 22 with a dough piece 21 on top, and configured for rolling up the separator sheet 22 and the dough piece 21 wherein the chamber 23 comprises a controllable release opening 24 for controlled transfer of the rolled up sheet 22 with the dough piece 21 to a receptacle 25 and a sensor 26 for determining a closure position of the separator sheet 22 and providing a signal representing the position, and a controller (not shown) for controlling the controllable release opening based on the signal from the sensor 26 and the receptacle 25 for receiving the dough sheet being configured for holding the dough piece in a predetermined position supporting the dough sheet at at least one location different from its lowmost point, by means of an adjustable support location 27. The device comprises a second sensor 28 for determining the completion of the rolling up of the separator sheet and the dough sheet and to provide a signal indicating the completion of the rolling up of the dough sheet and the separator sheet. The second sensor determines the arrival of a dough piece and can also determine its length, by detecting the end said dough piece. Based on the detected start, the rolling chamber is controlled, in particular the speed in which it increases. Knowing the length of the dough piece (either because it is constant, or because it is measured), it is also known when the rolling is finished. The first sensor detects the end of the separator sheet, and based on known distances to the rolling chamber from that moment its position is known.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the same device 20 from FIG. 3. Like reference numbers indicate like parts as in FIG. 3. It is visible that the receptacle 25 is configured for transferring the rolled up dough sheet 21 in a direction parallel to its axis of rotation during rolling and thereto comprises a conveyor belt for moving the rolled up dough sheet in the direction parallel to its axis of rotation, that is into or from the plane of the figure.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows a first detailed front view of a device according to the invention. Again, like reference numbers indicate like parts. Here, it is clearly visible that the rolled up separator sheets and dough pieces are transported in a direction A parallel to their axis of rotation during rolling. The receptacle 25 may however be configured to reroute a rejected separator sheet with or without a dough piece to another destination than approved separator sheets with dough pieces.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows such situation wherein a rejected dough piece is rerouted in a direction B to a bin, by lifting the receptacle 25 when a separator sheet with or without a dough piece to be rejected is expected.

[0055] The above figures are examples only, and in no way limiting the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.