Abstract:
A guard member for use with a dough sheeter having a shut-off mechanism includes a first portion structured to be coupled at or near a dough feed opening of the dough sheeter and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion having a front face and an opposite rear face, the rear face being structured to engage and activate the shut-off mechanism when contact is made with the front face by an outside force.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention generally relates to dough sheeter apparatus and, more particularly, to a guard member for use on a dough sheeter apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Dough sheeters for many specific products have been provided including both batch and continuous strip forming devices having automatic and manual feeds. With manual feed devices, caution and great care must be exercised by the operator to avoid injury, particularly the catching and crushing of fingers and hands by and between cooperating dough rollers. This is especially true in the case of dough sheeters being used by relatively young and/or inexperienced operators with the highest incidence of carelessness and inattention. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate an example of a dough sheeter apparatus  10  (hereinafter “dough sheeter”) with an added dough rolling attachment  12 . Such example dough sheeter  10  is known as a Rol-Sheeter model manufactured by Acme Pizza and Bakery Equipment of Commerce, Calif. Dough sheeter  10  includes a housing  14  having an inlet  16  into which an operator would insert a generally thick piece of dough (not shown) for processing. Once inside the dough sheeter  10 , the inserted dough passes between a number of adjustable rollers (not shown) in a manner that flattens the dough into a thin piece of dough having a generally uniform desired thickness. After passing through the internal rollers, the dough exits the housing  14  via outlet  18  where the flattened dough is disposed on conveyor  20 . In the example Rol-Sheeter shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the flattened dough then passes under the rolling attachment  12  which causes the flattened dough to be rolled into a generally cylindrical shape, such as for use in making a loaf of bread. 
     As shown in greater detail in  FIG. 2 , the dough sheeter  10  further includes a safety bar  22  disposed generally across inlet  16  and a central guard member  23  extending generally downward and outward in the inlet  16  above the safety bar  22 . Safety bar  22  includes a first end  24  that is generally movably coupled to the housing  14  and an opposite second end  26  that extends through a slot  28  in the housing  14  and is coupled to a shut-off mechanism  30 . Safety bar  22  and central guard member  23  are thus arranged in a manner such that if an operator were to attempt to place a hand into the inlet  16  while the dough sheeter  10  was powered on, thus risking possible injury due to the internal moving parts, such attempt would tend to raise the safety bar  22  and thus activate the shut-off mechanism  30 , shutting off the dough sheeter  10 . However, such actuation of the shut-off mechanism  30  would only occur when an operator attempted to reach under the safety bar  22 , thus causing it to move upward. In an instance where the operator reaches over the safety bar  22 , for instance attempting to reach around central guard member  23  instead of under, the safety bar would not be moved upward, and thus the shut-off mechanism would not be activated. Such instances commonly lead to injury to the operator. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need in the art for improved safety equipment for use with dough sheeters, particularly improved safety equipment that may be readily applied to existing units. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Certain objects of the invention are achieved by providing a guard member for use with a dough sheeter having a shut-off mechanism. The guard member comprising a first portion structured to be coupled at or near a dough feed opening of the dough sheeter and a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion having a front face and an opposite rear face. The rear face being structured to engage and activate the shut-off mechanism when contact is made with the front face by an outside force. 
     The first portion may comprise a generally planar member, and the second portion may comprise a first planar section coplanar with the planar member and a second planar section positioned generally 90° to the first planar section. 
     The first portion may comprise a first part of a unitary piece of material and the second portion may comprise a second part of the unitary piece of material. The unitary piece of material may be formed from stainless steel. 
     The first portion may comprise a first member, and the second portion may comprise a second member hingedly coupled to the first member by a number of hinge members. Each of the number of hinge members may comprise a spring member disposed in a manner which biases the second member with respect to the first member. 
     The first member may be a generally planar member, and the second member may comprise a first planar portion disposed at an angle to the first member and a second planar portion positioned generally 90° to the first member. 
     The first portion may comprise a number of apertures, each of the number of apertures being structured to engage a corresponding threaded stud of the dough sheeter for coupling the guard member to the dough sheeter. 
     The guard member may be structured to cover a substantial portion of the inlet. 
     Further objects of the invention are achieved by providing a dough sheeter for processing pieces of dough. The dough sheeter comprising a housing having a dough feed opening structured to receive the pieces of dough, a shut-off mechanism disposed at the dough feed opening, the shut-off mechanism structured to terminate operation of the dough sheeter when activated, and a guard member. the guard member comprising a first portion coupled to the housing at or near the dough feed opening, and a second portion movable with respect to the first portion. The second portion having a front face and an opposite rear face. The rear face engaging and activating the shut-off mechanism when displaced with respect to the first portion. 
     The shut-off mechanism may be displaced in a vertical direction by the second portion when the shut-off mechanism is engaged and activated. 
     The housing may comprise a number of studs and the first portion may comprise a number of apertures, wherein each of the number of apertures engages a respective one of the number of studs. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a known dough sheeter mechanism; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view of a portion of the dough sheeter mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a guard member according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the guard member of  FIG. 3  installed on the dough sheeter mechanism of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an isometric view of a guard member according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is an isometric view of the guard member of  FIG. 5  installed on the dough sheeter of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “axial”, “top”, “bottom”, “aft”, “behind”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as it is oriented in the drawing FIGS. or as it is oriented when resting upright on a flat horizontal surface. It is also to be understood that the specific elements illustrated in the FIGS. and described in the following specification are simply example embodiments of the invention. Therefore, specific dimensions, orientations and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting. 
     As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality). As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “attached”, “connected”, “coupled”, or “engaged” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts. 
     An example guard member  40  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 3 . Guard member  40  includes a first portion  42 , of generally planar shape, having a number of apertures  44  disposed therein for securing the first portion  42 , and thus guard member  40 , to the housing  14 , as will be discussed further below. Guard member  40  further includes a second portion  46  having a number of generally planar sections, including a first section  48  coplanar with first portion  42  and a transverse section  50  positioned generally 90° to section  48 . Preferably, guard member  40  is formed from a single sheet of stainless steel material, as depicted in the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , however other types and quantities of material may also be employed without varying from the scope of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  shows the guard member  40  installed on the previously described dough sheeter  10 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the first portion  42  of guard member  40  is rigidly coupled to the dough sheeter  10  via threaded studs (not numbered) which extend from the housing  14  and pass through each of the apertures  44  of the guard member  40 . Threaded retention members  52  retain the guard member  40  on the threaded studs. The construction of guard member  40  along with such coupling arrangement allows for the second portion  46  of the guard member  40  to move relative to the first portion  42  through flexure of the material. Such coupling arrangement also provides for the guard member  40  to be readily aligned with the inlet  16  and easily installed by a single person. It is to be appreciated that other coupling members (e.g., without limitation, threaded insert &amp; cooperating bolt) may also be employed without varying from the scope of the present invention. 
     When installed on the dough sheeter  10 , the upper side (not numbered) of transverse section  50  generally abuts, or is positioned in close proximity to, the underside of safety bar  22 , as generally shown in hidden line drawing in  FIG. 4 . A notched portion (not shown) may be provided in transverse section  50  at or near the first end  24  of safety bar  22  to aid in the fitting and installation of guard member  40  to the dough sheeter  10 . Such positioning of the guard member  40  provides for the safety bar  22  to be raised, and thus shut-off mechanism  30  activated, when contact with the first section  48  of second portion  46  of guard member  40  is made, such as by an operator attempting to place an inappropriate object (i.e., something other than a piece of dough) into the inlet  16 . Such activation of shut-off mechanism  30  is provided due to the flexure of guard member  40 , particularly the relative movement of the second portion  46  relative to first portion  42 . 
     As  FIG. 4  plainly shows, guard member  40  generally covers a substantial portion of, and thus prevents any access to inlet  16  that could have readily occurred in the known dough sheeter  10  (as previously discussed) while still providing for complete functionality of the existing safety-bar  22  and shut-off mechanism  30 . 
       FIG. 5  shows an example of a guard member  60  according to another embodiment of the invention. Guard member  60  includes a first portion, first member  62 , of generally planar shape, having a number of apertures  64  disposed therein for securing the first member  62 , and thus guard member  60 , to the housing  14 , as will be discussed further below. Guard member  60  further includes a second portion, second member  66 , hingedly coupled to first member  62  by a number of hinge members  68 . In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each hinge member  68  includes a spring member  70  that provides a bias between the second member  66  and the first member  62 , which will be discussed in further detail below. 
     Second member  66  includes a number of generally planar sections, including a first planar portion  72  disposed at an angle φ to the first member  62 , and a second planar portion  74 , positioned generally 90° to the first member  62 . Preferably, the first planar portion is disposed at angle of about 30°-60°, providing an increased effective opening to inlet  16  as compared to the embodiment shown in, and described in regard to,  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the guard member  60  installed on the previously described dough sheeter  10 . In the preferred embodiment shown, the first member  62  of guard member  60  is rigidly coupled to the dough sheeter  10  via threaded studs (not numbered) which extend from the housing  14  and pass through each of the apertures  64  of the guard member  60 . Threaded retention members  76  retain the guard member  60  on the threaded studs. The use of threaded studs allows for the guard member  60  to be readily aligned with the inlet  16  and easily installed by a single person. It is to be appreciated that other coupling members (e.g., without limitation, threaded insert &amp; cooperating bolt) may also be employed without varying from the scope of the present invention. 
     When installed on the dough sheeter  10 , the upper side (not numbered) of second planar portion  74  generally abuts, or is positioned in close proximity to, the underside of safety bar  22 , as generally shown in partial hidden line drawing in  FIG. 6 . Second planar portion  74  may further include a notched portion (not shown) at or near the first end  24  of safety bar  22  to aid in the fitting and installation of guard member  60  to the dough sheeter  10 . Such positioning of guard member  60  provides for the safety bar  22  to be raised, and thus shut-off mechanism  30  activated, when contact with the second member  66  of guard member  60  is made, such as by an operator attempting to place an inappropriate object (i.e., something other than a piece of dough) into the inlet  16 . Such activation of shut-off mechanism  30  is provided due to the movement of second member  66  relative to the first member  62  through movement of each of the number of hinge members  68 . In the preferred embodiment shown, each of the spring members  70  bias the second member  66  in a direction generally away from the inlet  16 , in a manner that tends to resist activation of the shut-off mechanism  30 . Accordingly, it is to be readily appreciated that the relative sensitivity of the shut-off mechanism may be adjusted by changing the size, and thus the biasing force, of each of the spring members  70 . 
     As  FIG. 6  plainly shows, guard member  60  generally covers a substantial portion of, and thus prevents any access to inlet  16  that could have readily occurred in the known dough sheeter  10  (as previously discussed) while still providing for complete functionality of the existing safety-bar  22  and shut-off mechanism  30 . 
     While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended hereto and any and all equivalents thereto.