Patent ID: 6382952
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
A rounder bar adapted to be positioned in sliding contact with a flat belt conveyor at an angle with respect thereto so that individual pieces of dough traveling along the flat belt conveyor contact an elongated, generally arcuate surface of the rounder bar and are forced by such contact to move laterally across the flat belt conveyor as they are carried thereby,the simultaneous contact of the dough with the flat belt conveyor and said generally arcuate surface applying a force with a component lateral to the direction of travel of the dough to thereby round the pieces of dough, said elongated, generally arcuate surface comprising a plurality of spaced apart, parallel lands, each of said lands being substantially disposed in a plane extending generally across along the length of the rounder bar and substantially normal to the flat belt conveyor, the width of each of said lands being no greater than the spacing between adjacent ones of said lands, and said lands being sufficiently close together and having a height sufficient to collectively support a piece of dough substantially out of contact with the rounder bar intermediate said lands as the individual piece of dough travels along the flat belt conveyor in contact with said arcuate surface, to thereby reduce the tendency of the pieces of dough traveling along the flat belt conveyor to adhere to the rounder bar in the absence of a layer of edible oil on said arcuate surface.