DOUGH PROCESSING DEVICE

Description

[0001] The application relates to dough processing equipment and methods for processing dough.

[0002] Devices for shaping dough are known in the prior art, which include transverse conveying devices to align dough strands transversely to a longitudinal conveyor belt. DE 10 2008 036 624 B4 discloses a device for shaping dough pieces, which has a conveyor belt with an upper run. Strand-shaped dough pieces are transported on the upper run and then transferred to a transverse conveyor belt. There, the dough piece is conveyed transversely to the conveying direction of the conveyor belt to position it relative to the conveyor belt. By pivoting the transverse conveyor belt and using gravity, the dough piece is transferred back to the conveyor belt. This time, however, it is conveyed further between the lower run of the conveyor belt and a so-called trouser plate.

[0003] DE 10 2018 004 351 B3 discloses a device for forming dough strands. Here, too, dough strands are transferred from a longitudinal conveyor belt to a transverse conveyor, where the dough strand is positioned transversely to the longitudinal conveyor belt. The dough strand is then transferred to a longitudinal conveyor located below the longitudinal conveyor belt by being pushed off the transverse conveyor by a push-off device.

[0004] US Patent 3,915,282 A discloses a centering arrangement for dough portions. This arrangement also features an intermediate conveyor between two conveyor belts, which aligns the dough portions centrally with the conveyor belts. Here too, the position of the dough portions is recorded while they are arranged on this intermediate conveyor.

[0005] In all the systems described above, the position of the dough strands is detected by sensors while they are on the transverse conveyor.

[0006] EP 0 647 405 B1 discloses a method for adjusting the position of rolled-up croissant dough pieces. This method utilizes the shape of the dough pieces already rolled into the croissant shape, which automatically center themselves on concave rollers due to their design. Determining the position of the croissant dough pieces is not necessary.

[0007] EP 3 750 403 A1 discloses a device for aligning pieces of dough. The device comprises a first conveyor and a second conveyor for conveying the pieces of dough in a conveying direction. Three transfer units are arranged in a gap between the conveyors. These are configured to move the pieces of dough transported on them independently of one another with a directional component perpendicular to the conveying direction. The device further comprises three measuring units for determining a deviation of the position of each piece of dough on the first conveyor in a lateral direction relative to a predetermined position.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to enable a higher throughput of dough pieces. This object is achieved by a dough processing device with the features of claim 1 or by a method with the features of claim 9.

[0009] A dough processing device is described, comprising a first conveying arrangement configured to convey dough pieces along a production path and a second conveying arrangement configured to convey the dough pieces along the production path. The dough processing device further comprises an alignment unit arranged along the production path between the first and second conveying arrangements and configured to receive the dough pieces from the first conveying arrangement, move them transversely to the production path, and transfer them to the second conveying arrangement. The dough processing device is characterized by a sensor arrangement configured to determine the extent and / or positioning of the dough pieces arranged on the first conveying arrangement in a measuring direction, wherein the measuring direction is oriented transversely, and in particular perpendicularly, to the production path.

[0010] By determining the size and / or position while the dough pieces are still on the first conveying unit, faster alignment of the dough pieces is possible, as they can be moved directly to the desired position after being placed on the alignment unit. In contrast, prior art involves measuring the dough strands after they are transferred to the transverse conveying devices described therein, before they are actually aligned.

[0011] The two conveying arrangements can be provided on one and the same conveying device. For example, the first conveying device can comprise the upper run of a conveyor belt and the second conveying device the lower run of the conveyor belt. The reverse is also conceivable. It is also conceivable that the first and second conveying arrangements are provided on different conveying devices. For example, the first conveying arrangement can comprise the upper run of a first conveyor belt and the second conveying arrangement the upper run of a second conveyor belt.

[0012] The sensor arrangement comprises two sensor units, the sensor units being arranged on opposite sides of the first conveyor arrangement. It is particularly advantageous if the two sensor units are arranged opposite each other with respect to the first conveyor arrangement. Such an arrangement can enable the measurement of the extent and / or positioning of the dough pieces arranged on the first conveyor arrangement using particularly simple sensors, e.g., by measuring the transit time of, preferably electromagnetic, waves. These waves can be, for example, light waves, sound waves, radar waves, or microwaves.

[0013] It is conceivable that the alignment unit is configured to move the dough pieces perpendicular to the production path based on signals received from the sensor array. This allows for more precise adjustment of the dough pieces' positions, particularly relative to the second conveyor. It is conceivable that the alignment unit initially resides in a standard position, then, upon receiving a dough piece, moves it to a desired position based on signals received from the sensor array, transfers it to the second conveyor, and finally returns to its standard position.Alternatively, it is conceivable that the alignment unit, even before receiving the piece of dough, moves to a position based on signals received from the sensor arrangement, which is chosen such that the piece of dough is positioned in the desired way after the alignment unit returns to a standard position, takes over the piece of dough from the first conveying arrangement, returns to the standard position and finally transfers the piece of dough to the second conveying arrangement.

[0014] Preferably, the alignment unit can be configured to center the dough pieces relative to the second conveying arrangement in a direction perpendicular to the production path, based on signals received from the sensor arrangement. A dough piece can be considered centered relative to the second conveying arrangement in a direction perpendicular to the production path if it has equal distances from both side edges of the second conveying arrangement in said direction. Centering dough pieces can be particularly advantageous in the production of pretzels, since these are made from strands that have a thickening. To achieve a desired, symmetrical pretzel shape reproducibly, it can be advantageous if the thickening is located in the middle of the strand.This can be made easier by centering the strands of dough before the so-called long rolling process (this is where the thickening is created).

[0015] The alignment unit can include a third conveying arrangement configured to transport the dough pieces parallel to the production path. This facilitates the transfer of the dough piece to the second conveying arrangement, which can increase the processing speed.

[0016] It can be particularly advantageous if the third conveying arrangement is configured to transport the dough pieces in either of two opposite directions. This allows, as mentioned above, the transfer of the dough piece to the second conveying arrangement and / or the conveying of a dough piece classified as defective in the opposite direction, thus removing it from the further production process. Both opposite directions can be oriented parallel to the production path, especially its alignment at the alignment unit. One direction can be oriented in the same direction as the production path at the alignment unit, while the other can be oriented in the opposite direction.

[0017] The third conveying arrangement can, for example, include a conveyor belt.

[0018] Furthermore, a method for processing dough is described. The method comprises conveying pieces of dough along a production path through a first conveying arrangement, transferring the dough pieces from the first conveying arrangement to an alignment unit, moving the dough pieces transversely to the production path, and transferring the dough pieces from the alignment unit to a second conveying arrangement. The method is characterized by determining the extent and / or positioning of the dough pieces arranged on the first conveying arrangement in a measuring direction, wherein the measuring direction is oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the production path.

[0019] As mentioned above, determining the size and / or position of the dough pieces while they are still on the first conveying unit allows for faster alignment, as the pieces can be moved directly to the desired position after being placed on the alignment unit. In contrast, prior art techniques involve measuring the dough strands after they are transferred to the transverse conveying devices described therein, before they are actually aligned.

[0020] As with the disclosed device, the two conveying arrangements can be provided on one and the same conveying device. For example, the first conveying device can comprise the upper run of a conveyor belt and the second conveying device a lower run of the conveyor belt. A reverse configuration is also conceivable. It is also conceivable that the first and second conveying arrangements are provided on different conveying devices. For example, the first conveying arrangement can comprise the upper run of a first conveyor belt and the second conveying arrangement the upper run of a second conveyor belt.

[0021] Preferably, the dough pieces can be moved transversely to the production path based on signals received from the sensor arrangement. This allows for more precise adjustment of the dough pieces' position, particularly relative to the second conveying arrangement. It is conceivable that the alignment unit is initially in a standard position, then, upon receiving a dough piece, moves it to a desired position based on signals received from the sensor arrangement, transfers the dough piece to the second conveying arrangement, and finally returns to the standard position.Alternatively, it is conceivable that the alignment unit, even before receiving the piece of dough, moves to a position based on signals received from the sensor arrangement, which is chosen such that the piece of dough is positioned in the desired way after the alignment unit returns to a standard position, takes over the piece of dough from the first conveying arrangement, returns to the standard position and finally transfers the piece of dough to the second conveying arrangement.

[0022] It is conceivable that the dough pieces are centered relative to the second conveyor assembly in a direction perpendicular to the production path, based on signals received from the sensor array. A dough piece can be considered centered relative to the second conveyor assembly in a direction perpendicular to the production path if it has equal distances from both sides of the second conveyor assembly in said direction. Centering dough pieces can be particularly advantageous in pretzel production, as these are made from strands that have a thickening. To achieve a desired, symmetrical pretzel shape reproducibly, it can be advantageous if the thickening is located in the middle of the strand. This can be facilitated by centering the dough strands before the so-called long rolling process (during which the thickening is created).

[0023] The application relates to dough processing devices and methods of the type described above. An exemplary embodiment is explained below with reference to drawings. Fig.1 shows a schematic side view of a dough processing device according to an exemplary embodiment. Fig. 2 Shows a schematic perspective view of the alignment unit with parts of the first and second conveying arrangement.

[0024] In Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a dough processing device 1. The dough processing device 1 can be configured to process pieces of dough 2 along a production path P. For this purpose, the dough processing device 1 can, for example, include a winder 3. The winder 3 can be configured to process the initially essentially spherical pieces of dough 2 into elongated, in particular strand-shaped, pieces of dough.

[0025] The dough processing device 1 can further comprise a first conveying arrangement 4. The first conveying arrangement 4 can follow the wrapper 3 along the production path P. The first conveying arrangement 4 can be configured to convey the dough pieces 2 along the production path P. As shown in the present embodiment, the first conveying arrangement 4 can comprise a first run 5, in this case an upper run, of a conveyor belt 6. The first conveying arrangement 4 can, for example, as in the present embodiment, be designed as a long-rolling device configured to roll out the dough pieces 2 to a greater length. For this purpose, the first conveying arrangement can comprise a first rolling plate 5a, which can be arranged opposite the first run 5.

[0026] The dough processing device 1 can include an alignment unit 7, which will be described in more detail later. The alignment unit 7 can be positioned along the production path P following the first conveying arrangement 4.

[0027] The dough processing device 1 can further comprise a second conveying arrangement 8. The second conveying arrangement 8 can be arranged along the production path P following the alignment unit 7. The second conveying arrangement 8 can be configured to convey the dough pieces 2 along the production path P. The second conveying arrangement 8 can, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, comprise a second run 9, in this case a lower run, of the conveyor belt 6. As can be seen from the exemplary embodiment described above, the two conveying arrangements 4, 8, such as the first and second runs 5, 9, can be provided on one and the same conveying device, such as the conveyor belt 6.

[0028] The second conveying arrangement 8 can further comprise a second working plate 10. The second conveying arrangement 8 can be configured such that the dough pieces 2 are conveyed between the second drum 9 and the second working plate 10 along the production path P. The second conveying arrangement 8 can also be configured such that the dough pieces 2 are rolled between the second working plate 10 and the second drum 9.

[0029] The dough processing device 1 can further comprise a discharge conveyor 11. The discharge conveyor 11 can be configured to convey the dough pieces 2 for further processing. Although not shown in the present embodiment, an alignment unit, as described in more detail below, can alternatively or additionally be provided between the second conveying arrangement 8 and the discharge conveyor 11. In such a case, the explanations regarding the first conveying arrangement 4 can apply to the second conveying arrangement 8, and the explanations regarding the second conveying arrangement 8 can apply to the discharge conveyor 11. In this respect, such a configuration of an alignment unit can be considered an example of a configuration in which the alignment unit is arranged between two conveying arrangements that are provided on different conveying devices.

[0030] In Figure 2Figure 7 is a schematic perspective view of the alignment unit 7 and parts of the first and second conveying arrangements 4 and 8. It can be seen that the alignment unit 7 can have a third conveying arrangement 12, in this embodiment a conveyor belt 13. The alignment unit 7, and in particular the conveyor belt 13, can be configured to convey the dough piece 2 in the direction of the production path P and transfer it to the second conveying arrangement 8. Furthermore, the alignment unit 7, and in particular the conveyor belt 13, can be configured to convey a dough piece 2 identified as defective in a direction opposite to the production path P. In this case, the dough piece 2 identified as defective cannot be transferred to the second conveying arrangement 8, but can be ejected from the side of the alignment unit 7 opposite the second conveying arrangement 8.

[0031] Furthermore, it can be seen that the dough processing device 1 can include a sensor arrangement 14. The sensor arrangement 14 can be configured to determine the extent and / or position of the dough pieces 2 arranged on the first conveying arrangement 4. This determination can be carried out in a measuring direction M. The measuring direction M can be oriented transversely, in particular perpendicularly, to the production path P.

[0032] The sensor arrangement 14 can comprise two sensor units, in particular a first sensor unit 14a and a second sensor unit 14b. As shown in Figure 2To enable detection, the first sensor unit 14b and the second sensor unit 14a can be arranged on opposite sides of the first conveyor arrangement 4. The sensor units 14a and 14b can, for example, be photoelectric sensors that can detect the distance to a piece of dough, for instance, by measuring the time of flight. The positioning and / or size of the pieces of dough arranged on the first conveyor arrangement 4 can be calculated from the signals of the sensor arrangement 14, in particular from the two sensor units 14a and 14b. For this purpose, the sensor units 14a and 14b can be arranged at a defined distance from each other and / or at a defined distance from the edge of the first conveyor arrangement 4.

[0033] The alignment unit 7 can be movable, as indicated by arrows 16. This allows the alignment unit 7 to be configured to move, and in particular align, a piece of dough 2 lying on it relative to the second conveying arrangement 8. Specifically, the alignment unit 7 can be configured to center the piece of dough 2 relative to the second conveying arrangement 8.

Claims

1. Dough processig device (1), comprising: a first conveying assembly (4) configured to convey dough pieces (2) along a production path (P), a second conveying assembly (8), configured to convey the dough pieces (2) along the production path (P), und an aligning unit (7) disposed along the production path (P) between the first conveying assembly (4) and the second conveying assembly (8) and configured to receive the dough pieces (2) from the first conveying assembly (4), move the dough pieces (2) transverse with respect to the production path (P) and transfer the dough pieces (2) to the second conveying assembly (8), and a sensor assembly (14), configured to determine an extension and / or a positioning of the dough pieces (2) disposed on the first conveying assembly (4) in a measuring direction (M), wherein the measuring direction (M) is oriented transverse, in particular orthogonal, with respect to the production path (P), characterized in that the sensor assembly (14) comprises two sensor units (14a, 14b), wherein the sensor units (14a, 14b) are disposed on opposing sides of the first conveying assembly (4).

2. Dough processing device according to claim 1, wherein the aligning unit (7) is configured to move the dough pieces (2) transverse with respect to the production path (P) based on signals received from the sensor assembly (14).

3. Dough processing device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aligning unit (7) is configured to center the dough pieces (2) relative to the second conveying assembly (8) in a direction, which is oriented orthogonally with respect to the production path (P), based on signals received from the sensor assembly (14).

4. Dough processing device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the aligning unit (7) has a third conveying assembly (12) configured to convey the dough pieces (2) parallel with respect to the production path (P).

5. Dough processing device according to claim 4, wherein the third conveying assembly (12) is configured to selectively convey the dough pieces (2) in one of two opposing directions.

6. Dough processing device according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the third conveying assembly (12) has a conveyor belt (13).

7. Method for processing dough, comprising: Conveying dough pieces (2) along a production path (P) by a first conveying assembly (4), Transferring the dough pieces (2) from the first conveying assembly (4) to an aligning unit (7), Moving the dough pieces (2) transverse with respect to the production path (P), Transferring the dough pieces (2) from the aligning unit (7) to a second conveying assembly (8), Determining an extension and / or a positioning of the dough pieces (2) disposed on the first conveying assembly (4) in a measuring direction (M), wherein the measuring direction (M) is oriented transverse, in particular orthogonal, with respect to the production path (P), characterized in that the determining is effected by a sensor assembly (14) comprising two sensor units (14a, 14b), wherein the sensor units (14a, 14b) are disposed on opposing sides of the first conveying assembly (4).

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the dough pieces (2) are moved transverse with respect to the production path (P) based on signals received from the sensor assembly (14).

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the dough pieces (2) are centered relative to the second conveying assembly (8) in a direction, which is oriented orthogonally with respect to the production path (P), based on signals received from the sensor assembly (14).