Dough transfer device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for transferring pieces of dough, comprising - a weighing device (1), in which dough can be weighed into dough portions with a defined weight and / or volume and can be discharged therefrom as dough products (4) and - a working device (2), by means of which the portioned dough products (4) can be processed, in particular worked, wherein - the weighing device (1) is positioned relative to the working device (2) such that a dough product (4) which has been portioned by the weighing device (1) can be transferred to the working device (2) in a transfer region (5). According to the invention, a release device (6) is arranged in the transfer region (5) between the weighing device (1) and the working device (2), said release device (6) being designed to be movable in an oscillating manner, wherein the release device (6) is designed and arranged such that dough products (4) which are transferred from the weighing device (1) to the working device (2) in the transfer region (5) can be brought into contact with the release device (6), can be discharged from the weighing device (1), and can be introduced into the working device (2).

Description

[0001] Dough transfer device

[0002] The invention relates to a device for transferring dough pieces according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0003] A variety of devices are known from the prior art for processing dough, for example in rounding devices or rounding drums. A variety of weighing devices, such as weighing drums, in which dough is divided into smaller dough portions of defined weights, are also known from the prior art. Between the individual processing stations, it is necessary in bakery devices to transport the dough or dough pieces from one station to the next. A variety of techniques for transferring dough pieces are known from the prior art and are indispensable for the production of baked goods and rolls. The devices known from the prior art include, for example, belt conveyors or dough removal or transfer rollers.

[0004] Such a device known from the prior art is disclosed in AT 518778 A1. The dough pieces discharged from a weighing device are conveyed by a discharge belt in the transfer area between a kneading drum and a dough drum.

[0005] A disadvantage of the systems known from the prior art is that the dough pieces remain in contact with the conveyor belts or dough removal or transfer rollers for a relatively long time during transfer. This often causes the dough pieces to stick to the belts and rollers, which can sometimes result in the entire dough pieces getting stuck or the weight being negatively reduced due to individual dough pieces breaking off. In addition, this often leads to undesirable deformation of the dough pieces. The use of known release agents such as flour or oil can provide some relief in the devices known from the prior art. However, the use of flour or oil as a release agent has the disadvantage that the dough pieces are more or less exposed to this release agent, which negatively affects the taste and further processing of the dough pieces and also the appearance of the finished rolls.Furthermore, the belts known from the prior art are technically complex and therefore expensive, as well as difficult to maintain, since the belts must be removed from the machines to remove dirt from the rollers and the belt itself. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a device for transferring dough pieces that has as little contact with the transfer means as possible and requires no separating agent.

[0006] This object is achieved in a device according to the preamble of patent claim 1 with the characterizing features. According to the invention, a detaching device is arranged in the transfer area between the weighing device and the kneading device, wherein the detaching device is designed to be movable in an oscillating manner, wherein the detaching device is designed and arranged such that dough pieces transferred from the weighing device to the kneading device in the transfer area can be brought into contact with the detaching device, discharged from the weighing device and introduced into the processing station, in particular the kneading device, or fed to it.

[0007] The advantage of the device according to the invention is that it eliminates the need for a conveyor belt with complex tensioning mechanisms and belt guidance. This avoids complex constructions, saves costs, and also simplifies cleaning of the individual parts of the device. It also prevents dough or dough pieces from sticking to the release device, thereby negatively affecting the weight or the production process. The oscillating movement of the release device also increases the timing of the individual work steps, making the dough piece output more energy-efficient overall.

[0008] Particularly advantageous embodiments of the device are further defined by the features of the dependent claims:

[0009] A preferred embodiment of the device is provided in that the detachment device comprises a dough flap, wherein the dough flap is designed to be pivotable in an oscillating manner about a pivot axis, wherein the dough flap is configured and arranged such that dough pieces transferred from the weighing device to the processing station, in particular the kneading device, in the transfer area can be brought into contact with the dough flap, discharged from the weighing device and introduced into the processing station, in particular the kneading device, or fed thereto. A further alternative embodiment is provided if the detachment device comprises a linear drive and a detachment slide moved in an oscillating manner by the linear drive.

[0010] The dough piece can be conveyed particularly easily from the weighing device into the processing station, in particular the kneading device, by arranging the kneading device in the direction of gravity below the weighing device, wherein the detaching device, in particular the dough flap or the detaching slide, is arranged such that during the oscillating movement of the detaching device, in particular during the pivoting movement of the dough flap, the dough piece can be accelerated in the direction of the processing station, in particular the kneading device.

[0011] Advantageously, it can be provided that the detaching device, in particular the dough flap or the detaching slide, has a contact plate which is arranged at the end of the detaching device facing the weighing device and which can be brought into contact with the dough piece during the oscillating movement of the detaching device.

[0012] In order to further prevent dough from sticking, it can be provided that the release device, in particular the contact flap, has a dough-repellent and / or adhesion-reducing coating or consists of a dough-repellent and / or adhesion-reducing material.

[0013] An advantageous embodiment of the device provides that the processing station is designed as a knitting device, wherein the knitting device has a knitting drum rotatable about its axis, wherein the knitting drum comprises a number of knitting chambers which are distributed in particular evenly along the circumference of the knitting drum.

[0014] A further advantageous embodiment is provided in that the weighing device has a weighing drum, wherein the weighing drum comprises a number of receiving chambers in which weighing stamps are arranged, which can be moved back and forth in the receiving chambers, wherein the weighing drum can be rotated or pivoted between a weighing position, in which dough can be introduced into the receiving chambers, and a transfer position into the transfer area.

[0015] Advantageously, depending on the consistency of the dough and the size of the dough pieces, these can be ejected from the weighing device particularly effectively if the detaching device rests on the circumference of the weighing device, in particular on the circumference of the weighing drum, in the transfer area or if the end of the detaching device facing the weighing device is arranged at a short distance, in particular at a distance of 0.05 mm to 10 mm, on the circumference of the weighing device, in particular on the circumference of the weighing device designed as a weighing drum.

[0016] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0017] The invention is schematically illustrated below with reference to particularly advantageous, but not restrictive, embodiments in the drawings and is described by way of example with reference to the drawings:

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention with a dough flap in a schematic sectional view and

[0019] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment with a release slide.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the device according to the invention for transferring dough. The device comprises a weighing device 1, in which dough is divided into dough portions of defined weight and / or volume, so-called dough pieces 4. The device further comprises a processing station designed as a kneading device 2, into which the dough pieces 4 output from the weighing device 1 are introduced and kneaded, i.e., kneaded and shaped. Between the weighing device 1 and the kneading device 2 is a transfer area 5, in which the finished portioned dough pieces 4 are transferred from the weighing device 1 to the kneading device 2. In the transfer area 5, between the weighing device 1 and the kneading device 2, a detaching device 6 is arranged. In the first embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the detaching device 6 comprises a dough flap 3.The dough flap 3 has an elongated base body 31 that can be pivoted or tilted about a pivot axis 34. The pivoting movement is illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

[0021] The dough flap 3 is, as shown in Fig. 1, arranged in the transfer area 5 in such a way that when tilted in the pivot axis 34 on the circumference of the weighing device 1 it touches the dough piece 4 and is conveyed from the weighing device 1 into the molding device 2. The transport movement of the dough piece 4 through the dough flap 3 is shown in Fig. 1 with the dash-dotted lines when the dough piece 4 enters the molding device 2. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the weighing device 1 has a weighing drum 14 which comprises a number of receiving chambers 11, in each of which weighing stamps 12 can be moved back and forth along the arrows shown in Fig. 1. The weighing drum 14 is drum-shaped and has weighing chambers 11 evenly distributed over the circumference.In the weighing device 1, dough is introduced into the receiving chamber 11, for example using a weighing pusher, wherein the weighing stamp 12 is retracted, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1 by the dash-dotted line, and depending on the position of the weighing stamp 12, a defined dough portion is pressed into the weighing drum 14 or the receiving chamber 11. The dough portion or dough piece 4 portioned in this way is then transported by means of the weighing drum 14 in the direction of the transfer area 5, wherein the weighing drum 14 continues to rotate. As the weighing drum 14 rotates, the weighing stamp 12 is then extended in the direction of the circumference of the weighing drum 14 and reaches the maximum discharge depth in the area of ​​the transfer area 5.In the transfer area 5, the dough flap 3 is pivoted, dips a small portion into the weighing stamp 12 or the weighing chamber 11 of the weighing drum 14, comes into contact with the dough piece 4 and moves or accelerates it in the direction of the kneading device 2. The immersion of the dough flap 3 into the weighing stamp 12 or the weighing chamber 11 has the optional advantage that the dough flap 33 can be made as long as possible and thus reaches the entire piece of dough or the entire dough piece 4 for advantageous detachment and thus dispenses it reliably and completely.

[0022] The kneading device 2 can advantageously have, as shown in Fig. 1, a kneading drum 21 whose axis can be rotated. The kneading drum 21 has a number of kneading chambers 22 that are evenly distributed along the circumference of the kneading drum 21. The dough piece 4 is discharged from the weighing device 1 in the transfer area 5, as shown in Fig. 1, through the dough flap 3 and introduced, for example, into the kneading chambers 22 or into one of the kneading chambers 22 of the kneading drum 21. The pivoting movement of the dough flap 3 completely separates the dough piece 4 from the weighing die 12 of the weighing device 1, so that it is introduced into the kneading device 2 completely detached from the weighing die 12.The pivoting movement of the dough flap 3 makes it possible to move the dough flap 3 very quickly, whereby the dough piece 4 is in contact with the dough flap 3 for only a short time in the direction of the kneading device 2 and is therefore practically beaten or hurled by the dough flap 3 into the kneading device 2. This has the particular advantage that the contact between the dough piece 4 and the dough flap 3 is kept to a minimum, thus preventing dough pieces or dough from the dough piece 4 from sticking to the dough flap 3.

[0023] As in the preferred embodiment of the dough flap 3 shown in Fig. 1, it has an elongated base body 31. The end 32 of the dough flap 3 facing the weighing device 1 is elongated so that the distance of the pivot axis 34 of the dough flap 3 can be designed depending on the size of the dough piece 4 in order to prevent contact between the pivot axis 34 of the dough flap 3 and the dough of the dough piece 4. A contact plate 33 can preferably be arranged on the elongated base body 31 of the dough flap 3, as shown in Fig. 1, at the end 32 of the dough flap 3 facing the weighing device 1. The contact plate 33 can be connected to the elongated base body 31 of the dough flap 3, for example via screw connections, and can be fastened to it in an interchangeable manner.The contact plate 33 comes into contact with the dough piece 4 during the pivoting movement of the dough flap 3 and can therefore, depending on the nature of the contact plate 33, positively influence the contact between the dough piece 4 and the dough flap 3.

[0024] In the preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention shown in Fig. 1, the dough flap 3 is arranged on the circumference of the weighing device 1 with the end 32 facing thereto, so that a part of the contact plate 33 or of the dough flap 3 dips into the receiving chamber 11 of the weighing device 1 or rests against the circumference of the latter as it pivots past the weighing device 1. In an optional embodiment, the end 32 facing the weighing device 1 or the dough plate 33 of the dough flap 3 is arranged at a short distance from the weighing device 1, for example between 0.05 mm and 10 mm. In this way, depending on the timing and design of the weighing device 1, optimal discharge of the dough pieces 4 from the weighing device 1 can be achieved.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment not shown, the pivot axis of the dough flap 3 is adjustable so that the dough flap can be adjusted depending on the size of the dough pieces 4 or the arrangement of the weighing device 1 to the kneading device 2.

[0026] As shown in the preferred embodiment of Fig. 1, the pivot axis 34 of the dough flap 3 can be arranged parallel to the weighing device 1 or the weighing drum 14 and / or parallel to the kneading drum 21 or its axis. As shown in Fig. 1, the kneading drum 21 or the kneading device 2 is arranged below the weighing device 1 or the weighing drum 14 in the direction of gravity, so that the dough piece 4 is introduced in the transfer area 5 through the dough flap 3 in the direction of gravity from the weighing device 1 into the kneading drum 21 or the kneading device 2. This has the effect that the force required on the dough flap 3 is additionally reduced and the dough piece 4 can be advantageously introduced into the kneading device 2.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the device according to the invention in a schematic view. The detaching device 6 has a linear drive (not shown in Fig. 2) to which a detaching slide 7 is attached. The linear drive adjusts the detaching slide 7 in an oscillating manner. The detaching slide 7 is thus adjusted in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 2 towards the outlet of the weighing device 1 and strikes the dough piece 4. The dough piece 4 is then discharged from the weighing device 1 and moved or displaced in the direction of the processing station designed as a molding device 2 and introduced into one of the molding chambers 22 of the molding device 2. The detaching device 6 is arranged such that the detaching slide 7 is adjusted in an oscillating manner tangentially to the weighing device 1 designed as a weighing drum 14 and optimally discharges the dough piece 4 from the weighing chamber 11.

[0028] As described in relation to Fig. 1, the weighing device 1 of Fig. 2 can optionally comprise a weighing drum 14 which comprises a number of receiving chambers 11 in which weighing stamps 12 can be moved back and forth along the arrows shown in Fig. 2.

[0029] The knitting device 2 of Fig. 2 advantageously has, as described for Fig. 1, a knitting drum 21 rotatable about its axis. The knitting drum 21 has a number of knitting chambers 22 that are evenly distributed along the circumference of the knitting drum 21.

[0030] In the embodiments according to the invention, the contact plate 33 can optionally be provided with a non-stick coating or, for example, be made of a material to which the dough piece 4 or the dough of the dough piece 4 has little or no tendency to stick. This can be achieved, for example, by a part or material of a conveyor belt glued to the contact flap 33.

[0031] Optionally to the direction of gravity through the dough flap 3 or the release slide 7

[0032] However, the dough piece 4 can also be transported horizontally through the dough flap 3 or the release slide 7 or vertically or a combination thereof from the weighing device 1 into the working device 2.

[0033] Optionally, the processing station can also be designed as other processing stations known from the prior art. For example, the processing station can also be designed as an optional device, proofer, oven, or other devices known in bakery technology that serve to change the consistency or quality of the dough or dough piece 4.

[0034] Optionally, a transport or conveyor belt can be arranged between the release device 6 and the processing station or the kneading device 2, with which the dough piece 4 is transported into or to the processing station. Thus, the dough piece 4 can be removed from the weighing device 1 by the release device 6 and placed on the transport or conveyor belt, which then feeds it to the processing station.

Claims

Patent claims: Device for transferring dough pieces comprising - a weighing device (1 ) in which dough can be weighed in dough portions of defined weight and / or volume and can be dispensed from the weighing drum (1 ) as dough pieces (4), and - a processing station, in particular a kneading device (2), with which the balanced dough pieces (4) can be processed, in particular kneaded, - wherein the weighing device (1) is positioned relative to the processing station, in particular the kneading device (2), in such a way that a dough piece (4) portioned by the weighing device (1) can be transferred to the processing station, in particular the kneading device (2) in a transfer area (5), characterized in that a detaching device (6) is arranged in the transfer area (5) between the weighing device (1) and the processing station, in particular the kneading device (2), wherein the detaching device (6) is designed to be movable in an oscillating manner, wherein the detaching device (6) is designed and arranged in such a way that dough pieces (4) which are transferred from the weighing device (1) to the kneading device (2) in the transfer area (5) can be brought into contact with the detaching device (6), can be discharged from the weighing device (1) and can be introduced into or fed to the processing station, in particular the kneading device (2).Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detaching device (6) comprises a dough flap (3), wherein the dough flap (3) is designed to be pivotable in an oscillating manner about a pivot axis (32), wherein the dough flap (3) is designed and arranged such that dough pieces (4) which are transferred from the weighing device (1) to the processing station, in particular the molding device (2), in the transfer area (5) can be brought into contact with the dough flap (3), can be discharged from the weighing device (1) and can be introduced into the processing station, in particular the molding device (2), or can be fed to this. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the detaching device (6) comprises a linear drive and a detaching slide (7) which is moved in an oscillating manner by the linear drive. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing station, in particular the molding device (2), in the direction of gravity. is arranged below the weighing device (1), wherein the detaching device (6), in particular the dough flap (3) or the detaching slide (7), is arranged such that during the oscillating movement of the detaching device (6), in particular during the pivoting movement of the dough flap (3) or the linear displacement of the detaching slide (7), the dough piece (4) can be accelerated in the direction of the processing station, in particular the kneading device (2).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detaching device (6), in particular the dough flap (3) or the detaching slide (7), has a contact plate (33) which is arranged on the end (32) of the detaching device (7) facing the weighing device (1), which can be brought into contact with the dough piece (4) during the oscillating movement of the detaching device (6).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detaching device (6), in particular the contact flap (33), has a dough-repellent and / or adhesion-reducing coating or consists of a dough-repellent and / or adhesion-reducing material.

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing station is designed as a knitting device (2), wherein the knitting device (2) has a kneading drum (21) which is rotatable about its axis, the kneading drum (21) comprising a number of kneading chambers (22) which are distributed, in particular, evenly along the circumference of the kneading drum (21).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weighing device (1) has a weighing drum (14), the weighing drum (14) comprising a number of receiving chambers (11) in which weighing stamps (12) are arranged which can be moved back and forth in the receiving chambers (11), the weighing drum (14) being rotatable or pivotable between a weighing position, in which dough can be introduced into the receiving chambers (11), and a transfer position into the transfer area (5).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detaching device (6) rests on the circumference of the weighing device (1), in particular on the circumference of the weighing drum (14), in the transfer area (5) or that the end (32) of the detaching device (6) facing the weighing device (1) rests on the circumference the weighing device (1 ), in particular on the circumference of the weighing device (1 ) designed as a weighing drum, is arranged at a small distance, in particular at a distance of 0.05 mm to 10 mm.

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