Patent ID: 6159517
Filing Date: 2000-12-12
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
A rounder bar for mounting over a conveyor having an endless conveyor belt for transporting dough pieces thereon along a processing path, said rounder bar comprising:an elongated body having a concavically shaped elongated shaping surface formed thereon, said body extending diagonally across the conveyor belt, said shaping surface being formed of an oil filled plastic material, said shaping surface configured to form an elongated dough shaping pocket with the conveyor belt, said pocket being formed to receive and shape a dough piece transported along the convey belt;said shaping surface having, in sequence, along its length an entrance end, a compression section, an area of maximum compression, an expansion section and an exit end, said compression section configured such that dough pieces first engage said shaping surface of said compression section at said entrance end and begin to rotate against said compression section and the conveyor belt about a rotational axis, said compression section forming a progressively reduced height of said shaping surface with the conveyor belt along the processing path such that said compression section exerts an increasing downward force against the dough pieces as the dough pieces travel through said compression section toward said area of maximum compression, said expansion section forming a progressively increased height of said shaping surface with the conveyor belt along the processing path such that said expansion section exerts a decreasing downward force to dough pieces as the dough pieces travel along said expansion section toward said exit end.