Patent DE-102010008024-A1 (DE)
Title: Device for stretching, smoothing and/or aligning dough blanks such as dough strands pre-formed for pretzel production, comprises rotatable and drivable wheels, which are independent of each other and are arranged next to each other
Inventor: PILLER OSWALD
IPC: A21C3/08
Filed: 2010-02-15
Abstract: The device for stretching, smoothing and/or aligning dough blanks (2) such as dough strands pre-formed for pretzel production, comprises rotatable and drivable wheels (3, 4), which are independent of each other and are arranged next to each other vertical to a conveying direction of a slide or a conveyor belt (1), where the incoming dough blanks are stretched and/or smoothed by using a rotational movement of the wheels simultaneously oppositely running based on the signal of a controller or by using a rotational movement of the one during fixedly-locking the other wheel. The device for stretching, smoothing and/or aligning dough blanks (2) such as dough strands pre-formed for pretzel production, comprises rotatable and drivable wheels (3, 4), which are independent of each other and are arranged next to each other vertical to a conveying direction of a slide or a conveyor belt (1), where the incoming dough blanks are stretched and/or smoothed by using a rotational movement of the wheels simultaneously oppositely running based on the signal of a controller or by using a rotational movement of the one during fixedly-locking the other wheel and/or are aligned by using a rotational movement of the wheels simultaneously oppositely running based on the signal of the controller. The interval of both wheels of the device is considerably adjustable to each other in the direction vertical to the slide or the conveyor belt. The wheels are arranged symmetrical to a longitudinal axis of the slide or the conveyor belt. A freely rotatable or driven wheel or a freely rotatable or non-rotatable pin or stud (5) is provided between both wheels of the device, where the wheel or the pin or stud is considerably arranged in the conveying direction of the slide or the conveyor belt, so that a cross-sectional part of the existing or supposed U-shape or pi-shape of the dough blanks extends vertical to the conveying direction of the slide or the conveyor belt when the dough blank contacts with the wheels of the device and with the wheel or pin or stud. In case of only one wheel or pin or stud is provided, the wheel or pin or stud is arranged so that it lies on a straight line that cuts an imaginary line connecting the center point of the wheel in the middle and in right angle, where in the case of several wheels or pins or studs are provided, the wheels or pins or studs are symmetrically arranged around the longitudinal axis of the conveyor belt or the slide. The driving of the wheels takes place in a pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical manner. The wheels or the wheel or pin or stud are arranged and pivotably implemented above the slide or upper-run of the conveyor belt transporting the dough blanks and/or are adjustable in their longitudinal direction vertical to the plane of the slide and/or the conveyor belt, so that the incoming dough blank does not contact with the wheels and the wheel or pin or stud when the wheels and the wheel or pin or stud are present in a first end position and the incoming dough blank contacts with the wheels and the wheel or pin or stud in a second end position. A sensor device is provided for aligning the dough blanks and comprises two sensors for detecting the dough strand ends of the incoming dough blanks, where the sensors are axially considerably arranged in a predetermined interval in or against the conveying direction to the wheels in the second end position. In the case of the sensors are arranged above the wheels in the conveying direction, a light barrier is provided for detecting a time point, at which the light barrier passes to the cross-section part of the dough blanks with the shanks, where the light barrier is axially considerably arranged in the conveying direction above the wheels in the second end position. An independent claim is included for a method for operating a device for stretching, smoothing and/or aligning dough blanks such as dough strands pre-formed for pretzel production.