Patent EP-2342971-A1 (EP)
Inventor: ZORN BERNARD
IPC: A21C3/02
Filed: 2010-12-15
Abstract: The device for preforming baker dough into a strip for dividing the dough into dough rolls, comprises an enclosure in an opening (3) of a hopper (2) for storing dough, a horizontal conveyor belt (4) subjected to a conducting unit, side walls for guiding the dough on both sides of the belt and parallel to the direction for shifting of the belt, and a roller for smoothing the dough, which is extending transversely at a fixed distance above the conveyor belt and subjected to an alternating upstream and downstream and in the direction of shifting of the conveyor belt. The device for preforming baker dough into a strip for dividing the dough into dough rolls, comprises an enclosure in an opening (3) of a hopper (2) for storing dough, a horizontal conveyor belt (4) subjected to a conducting unit, side walls for guiding the dough on both sides of the belt and parallel to the direction for shifting of the belt, and a roller for smoothing the dough, which is extending transversely at a fixed distance above the conveyor belt and subjected to an alternating upstream and downstream and in the direction of shifting of the conveyor belt. A nozzle is present juxtaposed immediately in upstream of the smoothing roller and fixed in shifting of the roller to be stretched partially in the hopper and sealing a part of the opening under the hopper when the smoothing roller is pushed upstream. The side walls for guiding are defined by strips of vertical conveyor defining a loop circuit for wrapping around vertical rollers. A unit is arranged for adjusting the thickness of the dough at the outlet of a tunnel. A unit is arranged for adjusting the smoothing roller at height and the hopper with respect to the conveyor belt. The smoothing roller is fixed by a carriage on which the conducting unit acts for undergoing an alternative movement, and rotatably mounted on the carriage. A belt partially wraps around the smoothing roller, and defines a looped circuit extending between the smoothing roller and another return roller placed higher than the carriage. The belt of the carriage is subjected to a driving unit at a speed of shifting synchronized with that of the conveyor belt regardless of the carriage movement. The driving unit is boarded on the carriage, and associated with a unit of management to ensure the shifting at synchronized speed of the belt with that of the transfer belt. The conducting unit is defined by the return roller around which the belt is partially wound and a motorized conducting belt is partially wound around the return roller. The carriage is associated with a unit for scraping the belt, and a unit for flouring or oiling the belt. The device comprises an extension unit under the upstream wall of the hopper, and a pusher for swinging in the direction for shifting the conveyor belt. The pusher present in the form of a flap is mounted and hinged on the lower edge of the upstream wall of the hopper, and pivotally mounted on a slide for moving longitudinally over the conveyor belt by a motor. The flap is integrated with the lower edge of the upstream wall of the hopper by a vertical and rotation movement.