Patent ID: 9198438
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
1. A method of forming spherically shaped, dough products comprising: delivering a dough sheet, having opposing first and second surfaces, on a conveyor along a dough travel path; rotating a drum, having a sleeve extending about and being secured thereto supporting a plurality of cutter molds, provided in the dough travel path such that the plurality of cutter molds, provided with peripheral cutting edge portions and concaved bowl-shaped internal cavities, receive dough in the bowl-shaped internal cavities of the cutter molds to establish spherically shaped, dough products with flat bottom portions and rounded, ball-shaped main body portions while the cutting edge portions engage the dough; severing the dough sheet by causing a concave-shaped front end portion of each cutter mold to initially engage the dough sheet upon rotation of the drum, followed by convex-shaped opposing side portions of each cutter mold, and then a concave-shaped rear end portion of each cutter mold engages the dough sheet during rotation of the drum, with each of the convex shaped opposing side portions having a curvature which mimics a side curvature of the sleeve, wherein the plurality of cutter molds directly engage and sever the dough upon rotation of the drum to form the spherically shaped, dough products; and causing the dough products to be released back onto the conveyor from the bowl-shaped internal cavities.