Apparatus and method for conveying pieces of dough

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying triangular pieces of dough (W), which are reversely oriented in a transverse group-by-group arrangement on an upstream conveyor (3), to a downstream conveyor (5), where each group of dough pieces is separated from the remaining groups and the dough pieces of each group are separated from each other and simultaneously rotated through 90 degrees in opposing directions relative to adjacent groups.

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for conveying pieces of dough (for example croissant dough) which are each, for example, in the shape of a triangle or trapezoid. In this specification the term "longitudinal direction" means the direction in which pieces of dough are conveyed on a conveyor, while the term "transverse" means a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. In JP-A-4 158 732 we disclose such an apparatus for longitudinally conveying triangular pieces of dough (croissant dough). In such apparatus an upstream conveyor and a downstream conveyor are longitudinally aligned to longitudinally convey pieces of dough. The upstream conveyor conveys a plurality of pieces of dough which are arranged in groups extending transversely, and in which the dough pieces of alternate ones of said groups have their positions reversed; in other words the base sides of all the triangular pieces of dough of a first group (transverse row) face in one transverse direction while the base sides of all of the triangular piece of dough of the next group face in the other transverse direction. The downstream conveyor longitudinally conveys the pieces of dough while they are being separated from each other and are being rearranged with all of their bases facing downstream. At the junction of the upstream and downstream conveyors (i.e. where the discharge end of the upstream conveyor meets the receiving end of the downstream conveyor) a device for separating the pieces of dough from each other and a device for rotating the separated pieces of dough are arranged, longitudinally spaced from each other. The device for separating the pieces of dough includes a plurality of separating holders, each of which holds a piece of dough from above. Such device arranges each successive group of pieces of dough transversely in a staggered layout. The device for rotating the pieces of dough includes a plurality of rotating holders, each of which holds down and rotates a piece of dough. Such device rotates each group of pieces of dough through 90 degrees, alternately clockwise and counterclockwise, so that the bases of the triangular pieces of dough of all the groups then face downstream. Thus, when the upstream conveyor is operated, it longitudinally and sequentially conveys the pieces of dough, which are alternately reversely positioned group-by-group, and discharges them from its discharge end to the receiving end of the downstream conveyor. As a group of pieces of dough are so discharged, they are held from above and separated by the separating holders so as to be transversely rearranged in a staggered layout, and are then released. Then, when the pieces of dough of the group have been held and rotated clockwise or counterclockwise by the rotating holders so that they face downstream, they are again released. In this known apparatus it can happen that the pieces of dough are unintentionally changed in their layout when they are being transferred from the separating holders to the rotating holders. This causes a problem in that it is complicated to correct the positions of the pieces of dough one they have been carried downstream. Further, since the devices for separating and rotating the pieces of dough are longitudinally spaced, this causes a problem in that they occupy a large longitudinal space. EP-A-0382105 discloses a method of conveying pieces of dough, each of which has a base side, by means of an upstream conveyor and a longitudinally adjacent downstream conveyor, the dough pieces being arranged in contiguous transverse rows on the upstream conveyor with the base sides of the dough pieces facing in opposite transverse directions in each successive row, the method including the step of sequentially conveying the dough pieces row by row from a discharge end of the upstream conveyor to a receiving end of the downstream conveyor. The present invention is characterised by the steps of separating each transverse row of dough pieces from the succeeding rows as the rows are being conveyed to the said receiving end, while simultaneously arranging the dough pieces of said separated row in a transversely staggered layout and rotating them through substantially 90 degrees so that the said base of each dough piece faces downstream. EP-A-0382105 further discloses apparatus for conveying pieces of dough, each of which has a base side, from an upstream conveyor on which the dough pieces are arranged in contiguous transverse rows with the base sides of the dough pieces facing in opposite transverse directions in each successive row, to a longitudinally adjacent downstream conveyor, the apparatus comprising: a first carriage and a second carriage mounted for longitudinal movement at the junction of the said upstream and downstream conveyors; means for longitudinally reciprocating the said first and second carriages in phase such that the reciprocating strokes of the first carriage are longer than those of the second carriage; first holders mounted on the said first carriage for rotation about a vertical axis to hold and rotate a piece of dough; second holders, mounted on the said second carriage for rotation about a vertical axis to hold and rotate a piece of dough; and a rotating mechanism for rotating the said first and second holders through substantially 90 degrees. The present invention is characterised in that the said first holders are mounted on one side of the said first carriage to hold and rotate some of the pieces of dough of each row while the said second holders are mounted on one side of the said second carriage to hold and rotate the remaining pieces of the dough of the row, the said first and second holders being transversely aligned; and the said rotating mechanism being arranged to rotate the said first and second holders through substantially 90 degrees in opposite directions per forward stroke of the first and second holders while the first and second carriages are longitudinally reciprocated a plurality of times, so that each row is separated from the succeeding rows and simultaneously the dough pieces of each said separated row are separated from each other and positioned in a transversely staggered layout while being rotated through substantially 90 degrees in opposite directions row by row. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a plan view of one side of an apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the other side of the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partly sectional side view taken along line III-III in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a partly sectional side view taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a plan view to show the separation and rotation of longitudinally and transversely arranged pieces of dough; and Fig. 6 is a timing chart for some elements of devices for separating and rotating the pieces of dough. With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the apparatus 1, which separates and longitudinally conveys longitudinally and transversely adjacent pieces of dough W, includes an upstream conveyor 3 and a downstream conveyor 5. The conveyors 3, 5 are longitudinally aligned. In the embodiment each piece of dough W is triangular (for example as used for making croissants) and has a base side Wb. However, the shape of the dough may be trapezoidal or of any other shape. As shown in Fig. 5, triangular pieces of dough W are arranged in transversely extending groups (rows) WG. The base Wb of each piece of dough W of a first group WG faces to one side, while the base Wb of each piece of dough W of the next group WG faces to the opposite side. Thus the groups of pieces of dough are alternately reversed in position relative to each other. The upstream conveyor 3 longitudinally conveys the pieces of dough where they are adjacent to each other, as shown at the right side in Fig. 5. The downstream conveyor 5 longitudinally conveys the pieces of dough when the pieces of dough of a group have been separated from each other and from the remaining groups, with the bases Wb of the pieces of dough W all facing downstream. As is known from JP-A-4 158 732, the downstream conveyor 5 operates at a faster speed than the upstream conveyor 3. At the junction of the upstream and downstream conveyors 3, 5 (i.e. where the discharge end (3 out) of the upstream conveyor 3 meets the receiving end (5 in) of the downstream conveyor 5), a pair of support frames 7,7 are mounted. A longitudinally extending guide rail 9 (Fig. 3) is mounted on each frame 7 through a fixing bracket 11. Transversely extending first and second carriages 13 and 15, which are longitudinally spaced apart, are mounted on the pair of guide rails 9,9 so that both carriages 13, 15 can move longitudinally. The first and second carriages 13,15 are moved in synchronized reciprocating motions by a reciprocally operating device 17 so that the longitudinal reciprocating strokes (forward and return strokes) of the first carriage 13 are longer than those of the second carriage 15. With reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, a plurality of first holders 19 for holding a group of pieces of dough W from above are rotatably mounted on the upstream side of the first carriage 13 through corresponding fixing blocks 21, while a plurality of second holders 23 are rotatably mounted on the downstream side of the second carriage 15 through corresponding fixing blocks 25. The first and second holders 19,23 are aligned transversely. Each holder 19 or 23 has a support pipe 27 rotatably mounted on the fixing block 21 or 25, an ejector 29 mounted on the distal end of the support pipe 27, a pin rod 31 disposed for vertical movement in the support pipe 27, and a plurality of pins 33 mounted on the lower end of the pin rod 31 for penetrating a piece of dough from above. These pin rods 31 of the first holders 19 are connected by a first pin-rod-connecting bar 35, which extends transversely, and similarly the pin rods 31 of the second holders 23 are connected by a second pin-rod-connecting bar 37 which extends transversely. Each pin-rod-connecting bar 35 or 37 is mounted for longitudinal movement at its ends on guide rods 41,41, which are mounted for vertical movement on the support frames 7,7 through support arms 39,39 (only one guide rod 41 is shown in Fig. 1). By means of a pin-rod-operating device 43 (as explained below), the first and second holders 19,23 can lower the pin-rod-connecting bars 35,37 to cause the penetrating pins 33 to extend downward through the ejectors 29, or can raise the bars 35,37 to retract the pins 33 upward from the ejectors 29. A screw member 45 is secured to each holder 19 or 23 (Fig. 4), and a nut 47, which is vertically movable, is threaded on the screw member 45. The nuts 47 of the holders 19,23 are connected by connecting bars 49,51 which move the screw members 45 to rotate the holders. For longitudinal movement, the connecting bars 49,51, at both of their ends, are mounted on guide rods 55,55, which in turn are mounted on the support frames 7,7 through brackets 53, 53 (only one guide rod 55 being shown in Fig. 1). The holders 19,23 are rotated clockwise or counterclockwise through 90 degrees by a rotating mechanism 57 during the longitudinal reciprocation of the first and second carriages 13, 15, such that the holders 19,23 change the direction in which they rotate while being connected to the carriages and in association with every longitudinal and forward movement of the carriages. A sliding shaft 59, which extends longitudinally, is attached to each nut 47, and a guide plate 61, which guides the longitudinal sliding of the sliding shaft 59, is attached to the connecting bar 49 or 51, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The reciprocally operating device 17 will now be described in detail. In Figs. 1 to 3 a pair of support members 63,63, which are longitudinally spaced apart from each other, are mounted on each support frame 7. A rotary shaft 65, which extends longitudinally, is journalled in the pair of support members 63, 63 of each support frame 7. A cylindrical separating cam 67 is secured on the rotary shaft 65. First and second separating cam grooves 69,71 are formed in the cylindrical surface wall of the cam 67. The first separating cam groove 69 receives and supports a first separating mover (cam follower) 73 so that the mover 73 can move longitudinally. The mover 73 is connected to one end of the first carriage 13. The second separating cam groove 71 receives and supports a second separating mover 75 so that the mover 75 can move longitudinally. The mover 75 is connected to one end of the second carriage 15. The shapes of the first and second separating cam grooves 69,71 are such that the longitudinal reciprocating strokes of the first separating mover 73 (i.e., the first carriage 13) are longer than those of the second separating mover 75 (i.e., the second carriage 15), as shown in Fig. 6. To rotate the rotary shafts 65, a drive motor 77 is mounted on one of the support frames 7, and a drive shaft 79, which extends transversely and which is mounted on the frames 7,7 downstream of the carriages 13,15, is connected to the motor 77. Each end of the drive shaft 79 is connected to a respective end of each rotary shaft 65. The mechanism 57 which moves the nuts 47 will now be described in detail. A pair of multiple cams 81, each of which is concentric with a respective rotary shaft 65, are integrally fixed to such shaft, as shown in Fig. 1. Each multiple cam 81 has two plane groove cams, one of which is a rotating cam groove 83 located at its right side (Fig. 1). The rotating cam groove 83 receives and supports a rotating mover 85 (Fig. 3) such that it can move vertically in the groove 83. The rotating mover 85 is connected to the connecting bars 49,51 through a pair of links 87,89 and the guide rod 55. The proximal end of the link 87 is connected to an auxiliary link 93, which for vertical movement is pivotably mounted on a support block 91 so that the link 87 can move laterally relative to the auxiliary link 93. The shape of the rotating cam groove 83 is such that during two longitudinal reciprocating strokes of the separating movers 73,75, as in Fig. 6, the rotating mover 85 moves vertically from the return stroke end of its forward stroke to the middle of the forward stroke by the time the separating movers 73,75 start their first forward strokes and reach their first forward stroke end, and the rotating mover 85 moves vertically from the forward stroke end of its return stroke to the middle of the return stroke by the time the separating movers 73,75 start their second forward strokes after they complete their first return strokes and reach their second forward stroke end. The pin-rod-operating device 43 will now be described in detail. The multiple cam 81 acts as a plane groove cam which rotates the holders 19,23 and acts as another plane groove cam which vertically moves the penetrating pins 33. Each multiple cam 81 is provided with a pin cam groove 95 at the left side of the rotating cam groove 83. The pin cam groove 95 receives and supports a pin mover 97, which is connected to the connecting bars 35,37 through a pair of links 99,101 and the guide rod 41. The proximal end of the link 99 is connected to a support block 103, which is, for vertical movement, pivotably mounted on the support frame 7. According to this structure, holders 19,23 hold and release the pieces of dough W as explained below. Before the carriages 13,15 (i.e., separating movers 73,75) start their forward strokes from their return stroke ends, the multiple cams 81 and separating cams 67 are rotated to lower the pin movers 97 to cause the penetrating pins 33 of the holders 19,23 to project from the ejectors 29. Thus these pins 33 penetrate and hold the pieces of dough W. Further, before the carriages 13,15 (i.e., the separating movers 73,75) start their return strokes from their forward stroke end, the multiple cams 81 and separating cams 67 are rotated to raise the pin movers 97 to cause the penetrating pins 33 to retract into the ejectors 29, thereby releasing the pieces of dough W from the pins 33. A reverse-driven shaft 107, which extends transversely, is mounted downstream of the carriages 13, 15. Another reverse-driven shaft 109, which also extends transversely, is attached to the shaft 107. A plurality of positioning plates 111, arranged in a staggered layout, are attached to the shaft 109 so that they can receive the triangular pieces of dough W at their bases Wb, which are in the staggered layout. To vertically rotate the shaft 109 through the shaft 107 in unison with the rotation of the separating cams 67, a cam 113, comprised of a plate cam, is attached to each end of the drive shaft 79, and a reverse-driven link 117, provided with a mover 115 that rotates vertically, is attached to each end of the shaft 107. The operation of the apparatus 1 will now be described. When the groups WG of pieces of dough W (Fig 5) are conveyed on the upstream conveyor 3 and passed to the downstream conveyor 5, the first and second holders 19,23 hold a group of the pieces of dough. By operating the motor 77 the separating cams 67 are rotated to laterally move the first and second separating movers 73,75 in their forward strokes. As already explained, the reciprocating strokes of the first separating movers 73 are longer than those of the second separating movers 75, and they move in phase in their forward strokes. Accordingly, the pieces of dough W of the group are separated and located in a transversely staggered layout. The pieces of dough are then released, and by operating the motor 77 the separating cams 67 are rotated to longitudinally move the separating movers 73,75 carriages 13, 15) in their return strokes. Thus by reciprocating the carriages 13, 15 many times the pieces of dough W of the groups WG are separated group-by-group. While the carriages 13, 15 reciprocate many times, rotating the multiple cams 81 and separating cams 67 causes the rotating movers 85 to reciprocate vertically. As explained above, the screw members 45 are threaded in the nuts 17, and the movers 85 vertically reciprocate once while the separating movers 73, 75 reciprocate twice. Thus the holders 19, 23 rotate substantially through 90 degrees while the direction that they rotate changes per forward stroke of the carriages 13, 15 in phase with the forward stroke. Thus the bases of the pieces of dough are caused to face downstream in the staggered layout and are received by the positioning plates 111 above the downstream conveyor 5.

Claims: A method of conveying pieces of dough (W), each of which has a base side (Wb), by means of an upstream conveyor (3) and a longitudinally adjacent downstream conveyor (5), the dough pieces being arranged in contiguous transverse rows on the upstream conveyor with the base sides (Wb) of the dough pieces facing in opposite transverse directions in each successive row, the method including the step of sequentially conveying the dough pieces row by row from a discharge end of the upstream conveyor to a receiving end of the downstream conveyor; characterised by the steps of separating each transverse row of dough pieces from the succeeding rows as the rows are being conveyed to the said receiving end, while simultaneously arranging the dough pieces of said separated row in a transversely staggered layout and rotating them through substantially 90 degrees so that the said base of each dough piece faces downstream. Apparatus for conveying pieces of dough (W), each of which has a base side (Wb), from an upstream conveyor (3) on which the dough pieces are arranged in contiguous transverse rows with the base sides of the dough pieces facing in opposite transverse directions in each successive row, to a longitudinally adjacent downstream conveyor (5), the apparatus comprising: a first carriage (13) and a second carriage (15) mounted for longitudinal movement at the junction of the said upstream and downstream conveyors; means (17) for longitudinally reciprocating the said first and second carriages in phase such that the reciprocating strokes of the first carriage are longer than those of the second carriage; first holders (19) mounted on the said first carriage for rotation about a vertical axis to hold and rotate a piece of dough; second holders (23), mounted on the said second carriage for rotation about a vertical axis to hold and rotate a piece of dough; and a rotating mechanism (45,47) for rotating the said first and second holders through substantially 90 degrees; characterised in that the said first holders are mounted on one side of the said first carriage to hold and rotate some of the pieces of dough of each row while the said second holders are mounted on one side of the said second carriage to hold and rotate the remaining pieces of the dough of the row, the said first and second holders being transversely aligned; and the said rotating mechanism being arranged to rotate the said first and second holders through substantially 90 degrees in opposite directions per forward stroke of the first and second holders while the first and second carriages are longitudinally reciprocated a plurality of times, so that each row is separated from the succeeding rows and simultaneously the dough pieces of each said separated row are separated from each other and positioned in a transversely staggered layout while being rotated through substantially 90 degrees in opposite directions row by row. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the said means (17) for longitudinally reciprocating the first and second carriages (13,15) includes separating cams (67) arranged to be rotated by a drive motor (77) about longitudinally extending respective axes of rotation (65), first separating movers (73) connected to the first carriage and arranged for longitudinal movement by the rotation of the separating cams, and second separating movers (75) connected to the second carriage and arranged for longitudinal movement by the rotation of the separating cams, the longitudinal reciprocating strokes of the first separating movers being longer than those of the second separating movers so that the longitudinal reciprocating strokes of the first carriage are longer than those of the second carriage. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the separating cams (67) are cylindrical groove cams having cylindrical outer surfaces in which first separating cam grooves (69) for movably receiving the first separating movers (73) and second separating cam grooves (71) for movably receiving the second separating movers (75) are formed, the said first and second separating cam grooves being shaped such that the longitudinal reciprocating strokes of the first separating movers are longer than those of the second separating movers. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein a screw member (45) is securely attached to each said holder (19,23), a nut (47) mounted for vertical movement is threaded on each said screw member, and the said nuts are connected by a connecting bar (49,51), and wherein the means for longitudinally reciprocating the first and second carriages includes rotating cams (81) concentrically and fixedly attached to the said separating cams (67) and rotating movers (85) connected to the said connecting bar to be moved vertically by the rotation of the rotating cams in such manner that the rotating movers vertically reciprocate once while the separating movers (73,75) longitudinally reciprocate twice. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the said rotating cams (81) are plane groove cams having cam grooves (83) at their sides for movably receiving the said rotating movers (85), the plane groove cams being shaped such that the rotating movers rotate vertically while the separating movers (73,75) are reciprocated longitudinally twice. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the said rotating cam grooves (83) are shaped such that during the two longitudinal reciprocating strokes of the said separating movers (73,75) the said rotating movers (85) move vertically from a return stroke end of a forward stroke thereof to the middle of the forward stroke, and the rotating cam grooves move vertically from a forward stroke end of a return stroke thereof to the middle of the return stroke by the time the separating movers start the second forward strokes thereof and reach the stroke ends of the said second forward strokes. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 7, wherein the said holders (19,23) are arranged to hold the pieces of dough (W) from above before the said carriages (13,15) start their longitudinal lateral forward strokes from a return stroke end thereof and to release the pieces of dough before the carriages start their longitudinal return strokes from a forward stroke end thereof. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein each said holder (19,23) includes a pin-operating device comprising a support pipe (27) rotatably mounted on the associated carriage (13,15), an ejector (29) mounted on the lower portion of the support pipe, a pin rod (31) mounted for vertical movement in the support pipe, penetrating pins (33) attached to a lower portion of the pin rod for penetrating a dough piece (W), the penetrating pins being ejectable and retractable from the ejector, and a connecting bar (35, 37) connecting the pin rods of the holders; wherein the said penetrating pins are arranged to be projected downward from the ejector by lowering the said connecting bar before the carriages start their longitudinal forward strokes from a return stroke end thereof, and to be retracted upward into the ejector by raising the connecting bar before the carriages start their longitudinal return strokes from a forward stroke end thereof. Apparatus as claimed in claims 5 and 9, wherein the said pin-operating device includes a pin cam (81) concentrically and fixedly attached to the said separating cam (67), and pin movers (85) connected to the connecting bars (49,51) for pin rods for vertical movement by the rotation of the said pin cam, wherein the pin movers are arranged to move downward before the separating movers start their longitudinal return strokes from a return stroke end thereof, and to move upward before the separating movers start their longitudinal forward strokes from a forward stroke end thereof. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the said pin cam (81) is a plane groove cam for a pin, shaped so that the pin movers move downward before the separating movers start their longitudinal forward strokes from a return stroke end thereof, and move upward before the separating movers start their longitudinal return strokes from a forward stroke end thereof. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 2 to 11, wherein an arranging device is mounted at the downstream of the said carriages (13,15) for arranging pieces of dough of each group in a transversely and staggered layout. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the said arranging device includes a rotating bar (109) extending transversely for vertical rotation and a plurality of arranging plates (111) mounted on the rotating bar in a transversely staggered layout, wherein the rotating bar is vertically rotatable while being connected to the separating cams (67) and in unison with the rotation of the separating cams.

Inventors: KUWABARA HITOSHI, UENO SADAO, KUWABARA, HITOSHI, UENO, SADAO
Applicants: RHEON AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO, RHEON AUTOMATIC MACHINERY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A21C9
IPC codes: B65G47, A21C9, A21C3