Patent GB-730791-A (GB)
Title: A machine for making sheets of pastry
IPC: A21C3/00
Filed: 1952-09-01
Abstract: 730,791. Rolling and cutting pastry. BROADBENT, T. E. Sept. 1, 1953 [Sept. 1, 1952], No. 21909/52. Class 87 (2). A machine for rolling and cutting pastry comprises a rolling unit 3, 7, 11 for reducing a mass of pastry to any required thickness, an endless belt pastry conveyer 19, a number of removable and interchangeable cutters 27 for cutting the pastry on the belt into shapes and variable sized strips, a waste pastry plate 33 interposed between the endless belt conveyer and a waste pastry conveyer 41, a waste pastry box 45, a baking sheet conveyer belt 57 below the pastry conveyer belt, a hinged pastry slide 47 for conveying pastry from the belt 19 to a baking sheet, an extension rack 51 for supporting a baking sheet in its passage from the machine and a cutter 22 for cutting the pastry between adjoining or adjacent baking sheets. The rolling unit comprises three pairs of rollers 3, 7, 11 at different levels and at progressively narrowing distances apart operating in conjunction with inclined plates set at suitable angles and with side plates, mounted in slots in the inclined plates for adjustment, to regulate the width of the pastry sheet being rolled. To ensure that the pastry sheet is rolled to the required thickness the three top rollers are adjustable in unison by adjusting gear 15 which is fitted with an indicator 17. Flour may be blown on each pair of rollers to prevent pastry from sticking to them. A screw-adjustable scraper bears against the lower part of each top roller to remove any pastry that has adhered to it in spite of the dusting. The shaft 23 carrying the disc cutters 27 suitable for cutting the pastry into strips, and which may be exchanged for shafts carrying curved blades for circular shapes or discs with cross blades for rectangular shapes, is mounted in bearings 25 which are hinged for easy insertion and removal of the cutters. The belt 19 is supported underneath the cutters by a roller 29 mounted on a bracket 61 resiliently supported from a support 65. The plate 33 is removable and has one edge close to the belt 19 and the other edge close to the waste pastry conveyer 41 and is of such a design as to divert only waste pastry resulting from the cutting to the conveyer 41; the plate 33 is therefore changed when the cutters 27 are changed. The waste pastry is conveyed to the box 45 which is removable for emptying. Prickers may be used instead of cutters, or in association with them. The cut pastry slides onto the baking sheets carried by the belt 57 over the adjustably mounted slide 47, which is hinged to enable it to ride over the turned up edges of the baking sheets. The cutter 22 is mounted in a hinged bearing so that it can be moved out of the way if required and held by a catch. The race 51 may be drawn out and pushed in by a handlk 53, and is fitted with runners 55 which allow the baking sheets to continue their movement after leaving the belt 57. Horizontal and vertical runners 55 are fitted to guide the baking sheets through the machine, the horizontal runners. being adjustable for different widths of baking sheet. The cutters 27, waste pastry plate 33, conveyer 41 and box 45 are not in operation when sheets of pastry the full size of a baking sheet are required. The machine may be mounted on castors.