Patent ID: 8568126

Claim:
In apparatus for looping pre-shaped strands of raw dough to produce pretzels, said strands having two ends, said apparatus comprising, in combination: (a) a device for supplying the raw dough strands and a loop-forming device for looping the raw dough strands, in order to produce pretzel-shaped raw dough products; and (b) at least one first thermal imaging sensor configured for (1) detecting a position of at least one end of each raw dough strand for the purpose of controlling the loop-forming device to grip said at least one end, and (2) detecting a dough temperature; wherein said end position of each raw dough strand is detected by said at least one first thermal imaging sensor; and wherein the dough temperature of the raw dough strands is also detected by said at least one first thermal imaging sensor, whereby said dough temperature is increased or decreased to achieve a predetermined temperature, depending upon said detected temperature, so said at least one first thermal imaging sensor serves to monitor a strength of said strands of dough as is required for handling of the raw dough strands.