Portioning roller, dough portioning device and method

Abstract

Portioning roller (6, 7) which is configurable for portioning dough (3) and can be mounted rotatably about a rotational axis (8, 9), wherein the portioning roller (6, 7) has a roller body (6a, 7a) with several separating edges (12, 13, 15, 16) and a recess (14, 18) is provided between each pair of separating edges (12, 13, 15, 16), characterized in that the recess (14, 18) is lined with a web (17, 19).

Description

[0001] The application relates to portioning rollers for portioning dough, dough portioning devices and methods for portioning dough.

[0002] Devices that deposit portions of dough onto a conveyor belt are known in the prior art. For example, DE 10 2015 003 051 A1 discloses a bakery machine system for conveying dough, which has a portioning device that uses so-called star rollers to clamp off individual portions of dough and drop them onto a conveyor belt. When the dough portions are clamped off, some dough may adhere to the star rollers. This can reduce portioning accuracy or disrupt operation due to unpredictable dough ejection movements. It is known to coat the surface of the rollers with Teflon or oil to reduce adhesion between the roller and the dough. To be able to separate different portion sizes, conventional star rollers must either be completely replaced or fitted with additional parts that limit the volume of the separated dough portion.This is cumbersome and also requires the stock of a large number of different rollers and / or additional parts.

[0003] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved portioning roller that enables more efficient operation of dough portioning devices as well as more efficient methods for portioning dough.

[0004] This problem is solved according to the invention by a portioning roller with the features of claim 1, a dough portioning device with the features of claim 9, and by a method with the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the respective dependent claims.

[0005] A portioning roller is disclosed which is configurable for portioning dough and can be mounted to rotate about a rotational axis. The portioning roller has a roller body with several separating edges, with a recess provided between each pair of separating edges. The portioning roller is characterized by the fact that the recess is lined with a web. It is possible that the web is not bonded to the recess across its entire surface. For example, it is conceivable that only one or more sections of the web are connected to the roller body. These sections can, for example, extend along the roller body in a strip-like manner, particularly parallel to the axis of rotation.

[0006] Providing a lining to the recess can improve the release of the separated dough portion from the portioning roller. In particular, it can facilitate peeling the dough portion from the lining. It is conceivable that a medium, such as air, or a liquid, such as water, could be introduced into a space between the roller body and the lining to aid peeling. Lining the recess with the lining can also enable further advantageous designs, which, as will be explained in more detail below, allow for adjusting the volume of the dough portion to be separated. Additionally, the lining can have a protective effect on the surface of the recess, thus reducing the risk of damage. This can be particularly advantageous compared to conventional Teflon-coated rollers, as such coatings are very susceptible to damage.

[0007] The web can be permeable to fluids, particularly air. This prevents a vacuum from forming between the roller body and the web, thus facilitating the peeling off of the dough portion. Alternatively, the web can be impermeable to fluids, particularly air. This allows for embodiments in which the peeling off of the dough portion can be controlled by ventilating the space between the roller body and the web with air, particularly compressed air, or by evacuating this space.

[0008] It can be advantageous if the membrane forms one or more chambers. This can be beneficial for membranes that are permeable to fluids, especially air, as well as for membranes that are impermeable to fluids, especially air. A membrane can, for example, form one or more chambers by being constructed in two or more layers. Additionally, the two or more layers of the membrane can be at least partially joined together in a suitable manner, in particular welded, to form one or more chambers.

[0009] Additionally or alternatively, it can be advantageous if the track and the recess form one or more chambers. This can enable the formation of one or more chambers without a two-layer or multi-layer track. It should be clear that embodiments are also conceivable that can have both one or more chambers formed by the recess and the track, as well as one or more chambers formed by the track itself, for example, by a two-layer or multi-layer track.

[0010] Regardless of how they are formed, chambers of the type described above can be filled with a filling medium, preferably air. Chambers that can be filled with a filling medium can be used advantageously in various ways. On the one hand, the filling of one or more chambers can be used to facilitate the ejection and / or peeling of the dough portion from the portioning roller. On the other hand, the filling of one or more chambers can be used to reduce the volume of the recess and thus preferably to adjust the portion size of the dough portion produced, at least partially, by the portioning roller. This allows the disclosed portioning roller to be used to produce dough portions of different sizes, whereas with conventional portioning rollers, different portioning rollers are required for different portion sizes.

[0011] The depression can, for example, have a concave surface, preferably curved around an axis of curvature that may be oriented parallel to the axis of rotation. A concavely curved surface of the depression can be advantageous because it provides a relatively continuous surface from which the portion of dough can be more easily removed.

[0012] It can be advantageous if the portioning roller has several, preferably three or four, recesses, each lined with a web. This reduces the angle at which the portioning roller must be rotated to produce a portion. By lining each recess with a web, the advantages already explained above can be extended to multiple recesses. It is conceivable that a separate web is provided for each recess. Alternatively, it is conceivable that several, preferably all, recesses of the portioning roller are lined with the same web.

[0013] The invention also relates to a dough portioning device comprising a filling aid, preferably a funnel, and at least one, preferably two, portioning rollers of the type described above. Such a dough portioning device can be one way of configuring the portioning roller described above for portioning dough.

[0014] The invention further relates to a method for portioning dough by operating a dough portioning device comprising a filling aid, preferably a funnel, and at least one, preferably two, portioning rollers of the type described above. The method comprises filling dough into the filling aid, separating a portion of dough from the filled dough by rotating the portioning roller, and at least partially filling the chamber or one or more of the chambers with a filling medium. The at least partial filling of the chamber or one or more of the chambers with a filling medium can take place before or after the portion of dough has been separated by rotation.

[0015] Filling the portioning roller before cutting allows for a reduction in the volume of the recess, thus enabling adjustment of the portion size of the dough portion produced, at least partially, by the portioning roller. Filling the portion after cutting facilitates ejection and / or peeling of the dough portion from the portioning roller.

[0016] It can be advantageous if filling the chamber, or one or more of the chambers, moves the portion of dough away from the surface of the recess. For example, this can facilitate the ejection and / or peeling of the dough portion from the portioning roller.

[0017] It can be advantageous if the volume of the dough portion to be separated can be adjusted by filling the chamber or one or more of the chambers. This allows the disclosed portioning roller to be used to produce dough portions of different sizes, whereas with conventional portioning rollers, different portioning rollers are required for different portion sizes. The volume of the dough portion to be separated can be adjusted, for example, by filling the chamber or one or more of the chambers before the dough portion is separated by rotating the portioning roller. Dough can be displaced from the recess by filling one or more chambers with a filling medium.

[0018] It is also conceivable that the chamber, or one or more of the chambers, are at least partially filled both before and after separation. This allows for adjustment of the volume of the separated dough portion and facilitates the ejection and / or peeling of the dough portion from the portioning roller. If multiple chambers are provided, it is also possible to fill a first subset of the chambers before separation and a second subset after separation. The first subset can comprise one or more, but not all, of the intended chambers. The second subset can comprise the remaining chambers. Fig. Figure 1 shows a dough portioning device according to a first embodiment in a schematic sectional view. Fig. 2 shows a dough portioning device according to a further embodiment in the view from Fig. 1. Fig. Figure 3 shows a dough portioning device according to a further embodiment in the view from the preceding figures. Fig. Figure 4 shows a dough portioning device according to a further embodiment in the view from the preceding figures.

[0019] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a dough portioning device 1 in a schematic sectional view. The dough portioning device 1 can include a filling aid 2, in particular a funnel 2. The filling aid 2 can be configured to receive a dough 3. The dough portioning device 1 can further include a portioning roller assembly 4. The portioning roller assembly 4 can be used to produce dough portions 5 from the dough 3. The dough portioning device 1, in particular the portioning roller assembly 4, can include a first portioning roller 6. The dough portioning device 1, in particular the portioning roller assembly 4, can furthermore include a second portioning roller 7.

[0020] The first portioning roller 6 can have a first roller body 6a. The second portioning roller 7 can have a second roller body 7a. The first portioning roller 6, in particular the first roller body 6a, can be mounted or can be mounted so as to rotate about a first axis of rotation 8. The second portioning roller 7, in particular the second roller body 7a, can be mounted or can be mounted so as to rotate about a second axis of rotation 9. The first portioning roller 6, in particular the first roller body 6a, can be rotated about the first axis of rotation 8 in a first direction of rotation 10. The second portioning roller 7, in particular the second roller body 7a, can be rotated about the second axis of rotation 9 in a second direction of rotation 11. The first direction of rotation 10 and the second direction of rotation 11 can be oriented in opposite directions.

[0021] Each of the portioning rollers 6, 7, in particular each of the roller bodies 6a, 7a, can have several separating edges. A recess can be arranged between each pair of separating edges. The first portioning roller 6, in particular the first roller body 6a, can have a first separating edge 12. Furthermore, the first portioning roller 6, in particular the first roller body 6a, can have a second separating edge 13. A recess 14 can be arranged between the first separating edge 12 of the first portioning roller 6 and the second separating edge 13 of the first portioning roller 6. In addition, the second portioning roller 7, in particular the second roller body 7a, can have a first separating edge 15. Furthermore, the second portioning roller 7, in particular the second roller body 7a, can have a second separating edge 16.A further recess 18 can be provided between the first separating edge 15 of the second portioning roller 7 and the second separating edge 16 of the second portioning roller 7.

[0022] The following section describes recess 14 in more detail as an example. It should be clear that the explanations can also be applied to the further recess 18. Recess 14 can have a concave surface 22. The concave surface can be curved, for example, about an axis of curvature 23. As shown in the present embodiment, the axis of curvature 23 can be oriented parallel to the first axis of rotation 8. In a plane oriented perpendicular to the axis of curvature 23, for example, the drawing plane of the Fig. 1, the concave surface 22 can describe a circular or elliptical arc.

[0023] The recess 14 can be lined with a track 17. The further recess 18 can be lined with a further track 19. The track 17 is explained in more detail below as an example. However, it should be clear that all explanations can also be applied to the further track 19. The track 17 can be a single track 17 that lines all recesses 14 of the portioning roller 6. However, it is also conceivable that each of the recesses 14 is lined by an individual track 17. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, the web 17 can be connected to the portioning roller 6, in particular to the first roller body 6a, in the area of ​​the separating edges 12, 13. This can be seen in Figure 1. Fig. As can be seen in Figure 1, this causes the sheet 17 to detach from the recess 14 due to gravity. This facilitates the detachment and / or peeling of the dough portion 5 from the sheet 17. Furthermore, as can be seen, the sheet 17 can form an arc within a recess 14, for example, when the sheet 17 is connected to the portioning roller 6, in particular to the first roller body 6a, in the area of ​​the separating edges 12, 13.

[0024] In Fig. 2 is a further embodiment in the already in Fig. The view shown in 1 is shown. Fig. The embodiment shown in 2 essentially corresponds to the one in Fig. 1. In contrast to the embodiment shown in Fig. In the embodiment shown in 1, the track 17 can be, as in Fig. Figure 2 shows that several partial arcs 17a, 17b, 17c form within a recess 14. This can be achieved by attaching the track 17 at several additional points distributed across the recess 14. As also shown in Fig. 1 can already be seen, is also in Fig. 2 to recognize that the track 17 can be detached from the depression 14 by gravity.

[0025] In Fig. 3 is a further embodiment in the one already described in the Fig. 1 and Fig. The view shown in section 2 illustrates this. Fig. The embodiment shown in 3 is similar to the one in Fig. 2 illustrated embodiment. In contrast to the one in Fig. In the embodiment shown in 2, the track 17 can be, as in Fig. Figure 3 shows several chambers 20. As shown in the present embodiment, the chambers 20 can be formed by the track 17 and the recess 14. The chambers 20 can be sealed from the environment so that they can be filled with a filling medium 21. Filling the chamber 20 with a filling medium can fulfill various functions. In the Fig. Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary configuration in which filling the chambers 20 with the filling medium 21 can assist in ejecting the dough portion 5. For this purpose, the chambers 20 can be filled with the filling medium 21 after the dough portion 5 has been separated. As shown in Fig. As can also be seen in section 3, the filling medium 21 can be removed from the chambers 20 after ejection. At the latest when the recess 14 points back towards the filling aid 2, the filling medium 21 can be completely removed from the chambers 20.

[0026] Another function of filling chambers 20 is illustrated by example using the following: Fig. 4 explained. Fig. Figure 4 shows a further embodiment in a view already shown in the preceding figures. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 4, chambers that can be filled with filling medium 21 can also be used in embodiments in which only one chamber 20 is provided per recess 14. As shown in Fig. As can be seen in section 4, the chambers 20 can also be filled with filling medium 21 before the dough portion 5 is separated. This allows the volume of the dough portion 5 to be separated to be adjusted. The chamber 20 can be filled with different amounts of filling medium 21 depending on the desired portion size.

Claims

[1] Portioning roller (6, 7) which is configurable for portioning dough (3) and can be mounted to rotate about an axis of rotation (8, 9), wherein the portioning roller (6, 7) has a roller body (6a, 7a) with several separating edges (12, 13, 15, 16) and a recess (14, 18) is provided between each pair of separating edges (12, 13, 15, 16), characterized by , that the depression (14, 18) is lined with a track (17, 19). [2] Portioning roller according to claim 1, wherein the web (17, 19) is permeable to fluids, in particular air. [3] Portioning roller according to claim 1, wherein the web (17, 19) is impermeable to fluids, in particular air. [4] Portioning roller according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the web (17, 19) forms one or more chambers (20). [5] Portioning roller according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the web (17, 19) and the recess (14, 18) form one or more chambers (20). [6] Portioning roller according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the recess (14, 18) has a concave surface (22) which is preferably curved about an axis of curvature (23) which is oriented parallel to the axis of rotation (8, 9). [7] Portioning roller according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the portioning roller (6, 7) has several, preferably three or four, recesses (14, 18) which are each lined with a web (17, 19). [8] Portioning roller according to claim 7, wherein several, preferably all, recesses (14, 18) of the portioning roller (6, 7) are lined with the same web (17, 19). [9] Dough portioning device (1) comprising a filling aid (2), preferably a funnel (2), and at least one portioning roller (6, 7) according to one of the preceding claims. [10] Method for portioning dough (3) by operating a dough portioning device (1) comprising a filling aid (2), preferably a funnel (2), and at least one portioning roller (6, 7) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the method comprises: Pouring dough (3) into the filling aid (2), Separating a portion of dough (5) from the filled dough (3) by rotating the portioning roller (6, 7), and at least partially filling the chamber (20) or one or more of the chambers (20) with a filling medium (21). [11] Method according to claim 10, wherein by filling the chamber (20) or one or more of the chambers (20) the portion of dough (5) is moved away from a surface of the depression (14, 18). [12] Method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein by filling the chamber (20) or one or more of the chambers (20) a volume of the portion of dough (5) to be separated can be adjusted.

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