Patent ID: 6303168
Filing Date: 2001-10-16
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
A method of forming and dividing a dough stream for processing by dough processing equipment, said method comprising the steps of:providing a mass of dough;providing a pump chamber communicating with said mass of dough;providing first and second dough delivery conduits communicating with said pump chamber, said first and second dough delivery conduits merging with and communicating with a main dough delivery conduit, said main dough delivery conduit communicating with dough processing equipment;reciprocating a first piston and a second piston within said pump chamber, said first piston reciprocating between a first retracted position and a first extended position, said second piston reciprocating between a second retracted position and a second extended position;moving said first piston to said first retracted position and said second piston to said second retracted position;urging at least a portion of said mass of dough into said pump chamber;moving said first piston toward said first extended position such that a first portion of dough is delivered from said pump chamber and into said first dough delivery conduit;moving said second piston toward said second extended position such that a second portion of dough is delivered from said pump chamber and into said second dough delivery conduit;arranging a flapper valve within a merger of said first and second dough delivery conduits, said flapper valve configured to pivot between a first valve position and a second valve position, in said first valve position said flapper valve allowing only said first dough delivery conduit to communicate with said main delivery conduit, in said second valve position said flapper valve allowing only said second dough delivery conduit to communicate with said main delivery conduit such that said flapper valve allows said first portion of dough and said second portion of dough to form a stream of dough within said main delivery conduit; anddividing the stream of dough into dough pieces.