FIELD

The present disclosure relates to reducing the time required for dough processing by speeding-up dough relaxation.

BACKGROUND

When handling dough for producing baked goods, the dough requires periods of rest between process steps in which mechanical force is exerted on the dough. The periods of rest cause dough relaxation, as the conformation of the dough proteins undergoes a change which decreases the resistance of the dough against deformation.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a method of reducing a time required for processing a dough provided for producing baked goods by speeding-up dough relaxation, a dough relaxation device and a system employing said method.

The method comprises decreasing a resistance of the dough against deformation after or during a step of exerting mechanical force on the dough by applying an electromagnetic field or by supplying a voltage or a current to the dough. Applying an electromagnetic field to the dough may comprise applying an alternating electromagnetic field to the dough. Supplying a voltage or a current to the dough may comprise supplying an alternating voltage or an alternating current to the dough. For example, the alternating electromagnetic field, the alternating voltage or the alternating current may be supplied by /to electrodes which are in mechanical contact with the dough.

In this regard, the term“dough”, as used throughout the description and the claims, particularly refers to a mixture comprising water and gluten (e.g., wheat flour). Moreover, the formulation“resistance of the dough against deformation”, as used throughout the description and the claims, particularly refers to the elastic properties of the dough. The alternating electromagnetic field may have an amplitude in a range of o.i kV/m to 5 kV/m, preferably in a range of 0.8 kV/m to 3 kV/m, and the alternating electromagnetic field may have a frequency of 20 Hz or more, of 50Hz or more, of too Hz or more, of 500 Hz or more, of 1 kHz or more, of 1 MHz or more, or of 1 GHz or more.

An amplitude of the alternating voltage may be between 10 V and 500 V, preferably between 80 V and 300 V. An amplitude of the alternating current may be between 0.1 A and 10 A, preferably between 0.5 A and 5.2 A.

The method may further comprise exerting mechanical force on the dough or baking the dough after applying the (alternating) electromagnetic field or supplying the (alternating) voltage or the current to the dough.

The method may further comprise another step of exerting mechanical force on the dough or baking the dough after applying the (alternating) electromagnetic field or supplying the voltage or the current to the dough.

The method may further comprise baking the dough after applying the (alternating) electromagnetic field to the dough and exerting mechanical force on the dough.

The method may further comprise baking the dough after applying the (alternating) electromagnetic field to the dough.

Baking the dough may be performed by heating the dough through hot air at least partially surrounding the dough.

The method may further comprise measuring the resistance of the dough against deformation and controlling the (alternating) electromagnetic field based on the measured resistance. Controlling the alternating electromagnetic field based on the measured resistance may comprise determining a parameter selected from the group consisting of an amplitude of the electromagnetic field, a frequency of the electromagnetic field and a duration for which the electromagnetic field is applied to the dough. The step of exerting mechanical force on the dough may comprise at least one of kneading, shaping and dividing the dough. In this regard, the term“shaping”, as used throughout the description and the claims, includes laminating the dough.

The dough may rest less than to minutes, preferably less than 5 minutes, and more preferably less than 1 minute between steps of exerting mechanical force on the dough or between exerting mechanical force on the dough and baking.

The (alternating) electromagnetic field or the voltage or the current may be applied to the dough for a period of less than 30 s, preferably of less than 15 s, and more preferably of less than 5 s.

The (alternating) electromagnetic field or the voltage or the current may be applied to the dough for a period of less than 1 s, preferably of less than 0.1 s, and more preferably of less than 0.01 s.

The extensibility of the dough may be decreased by the step of exerting mechanical force on the dough by a value A and increased by the step of applying an (alternating) electromagnetic field or by supplying a voltage or a current to the dough by a value B, wherein B is more than 50 %, preferably more than 75 %, and more preferably more than 90 % of A.

The dough may comprise gluten.

The dough relaxation device comprises two electrodes, wherein the dough relaxation device is configured to decrease the resistance of the dough against deformation by applying an (alternating) electromagnetic field or by supplying a voltage or a current to the dough.

Preferably, the dough relaxation device is configured to supply an alternating voltage or an alternating current to the dough. The alternating voltage or the alternating current may be supplied to the two electrodes.

The dough relaxation device may be configured to provide an alternating electromagnetic field that has an amplitude in a range of 0.1 kV/m to 5 kV/m, preferably in a range of 0,8 kV/m to 3 kV/m. The alternating electromagnetic field may have a frequency of 20 Hz or more, of 50Hz or more, of too Hz or more, of 500 Hz or more, of 1 kHz or more, of 1 MHz or more, or of 1 GHz or more.

The dough relaxation device may be configured to provide a voltage between 10 V and 500 V, preferably between 80 V and 300 V. The dough relaxation device may be configured to provide a current between 0.1 A and 10 A, preferably between 0.5 A and 5.2 A.

The dough relaxation device may be configured to apply the (alternating) electromagnetic field or the voltage or the current to the dough for a period of less than 30 s, preferably of less than 15 s, and more preferably of less than 5 s.

The dough relaxation device may be configured to apply the (alternating) electromagnetic field to the dough 16 for a period of less than 1 s, preferably of less than 0.1 s, and more preferably of less than 0.01 s.

The electrodes may be configured to be in mechanical contact with the dough, at least during operation of said device.

The system may comprise the dough relaxation device and a dough kneader, shaper, or divider arranged upstream of the dough relaxation device.

The dough relaxation device may be configured to increase an extensibility of the dough by a value B, wherein B is more than 50 %, preferably more than 75 %, and more preferably more than 90 % of an extensibility decrease A caused by the dough kneading, shaping or dividing device (kneader/shaper/divider).

The system for producing baked goods comprises a dough relaxation device as described above and a dough kneader, shaper, or divider arranged upstream of the dough relaxation device, wherein the dough relaxation device is configured to increase an extensibility of the dough by a value B, wherein B is more than 50 %, preferably more than 75 %, and more preferably more than 90 % of an extensibility decrease A caused by the dough kneader, shaper, or divider. The system may further comprise a sensor for measuring the resistance of the dough against deformation, wherein the dough relaxation device is configured to control the electromagnetic field based on the measured resistance.

The system may further comprise an oven wherein the system may be configured to produce baked goods containing gluten.

It will be appreciated that the features and attendant advantages of the disclosed system may be realized by the disclosed method and vice versa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages will become more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views, unless otherwise specified.

Fig. l schematically illustrates components of a system for producing baked goods, according to a first example;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates components of a system for producing baked goods, according to a second example;

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b schematically illustrate components of a system for producing baked goods, according to a third example;

Fig. 4a schematically illustrates a dough relaxation device;

Fig. 4b schematically illustrates a modification of the dough relaxation device of Fig. 4a;

Fig. 4c schematically illustrates another modification of the dough relaxation device of Fig. 4a;

Fig. 4d schematically illustrates a modification of the dough relaxation device of Fig. 4b; Fig. 4e schematically illustrates another modification of the dough relaxation device of Fig. 4a;

Fig. 4f schematically illustrates another modification of the dough relaxation device of Fig. 4b;

Fig. 5 shows a flow-chart of a method of reducing the time required for processing dough provided for producing baked goods by speeding-up dough relaxation;

Fig. 6 shows a diagram illustrating the effect of a period of rest on the ductility of the dough;

Fig. 7 shows a diagram illustrating the effect of the method on the ductility of the dough;

Fig. 8 shows a diagram illustrating the resistance of the dough against deformation during a rheological test;

Fig. 9 shows a diagram illustrating the effect of a period of rest on the relaxation halftime of the dough;

Fig. 10 shows a diagram illustrating the effect of the method on the relaxation halftime of the dough; and

Fig. 11 shows a diagram illustrating the effect of the method on the temperature of the dough.

Notably, the drawings are not drawn to scale and unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates components of a system 10 for producing baked goods. The system 10 comprises a kneader 12 with one or more dough hooks 14 for mixing flour (containing gluten), water and other ingredients of the dough 16. After mixing, the dough 16 is removed from the kneader 12 and undergoes one or more shaping and/or dividing steps. As shown in Fig. l, the dough 16 may be placed on a conveyer 18 that transports the dough 16 to a shaper/divider 20. As mechanical force has been exerted on the dough 16 in the kneader 12, shaping and dividing (including deformation of) the dough 16 may be facilitated by a preceding dough relaxation.

As shown in Fig. 1, dough relaxation may be performed as a continuous process where the dough 16 is passed (at constant speed) through a dough relaxation device 22 which applies an (alternating) electromagnetic field or supplies a voltage/ current to the dough 16. For example, the dough relaxation device 22 may apply an AC voltage (e.g., 50 Hz) in the range of 80 V to 300 V to a dough strand having a width of 0.1 m, wherein the strand is transported at a speed that ensures that the dough 16 is exposed to the alternating electromagnetic field or to the voltage for a defined period of time (e.g., a period in the range of 1-5 s).

Table 1: Preferable Relaxation Parameters

By increasing the frequency, lower voltages and/or shorter durations may be achieved. However, the invention is not limited to an alternating electromagnetic field but may also be practiced by applying (short) electromagnetic field pulses to the dough 16.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, applying the alternating electromagnetic field or supplying the voltage to the dough 16 causes a decrease 24a of the resistance of the dough 16 against mechanical deformation, as the dough 16 passes through the dough relaxation device 22. Moreover, applying the alternating electromagnetic field or supplying the voltage to the dough 16 causes an increase in ductility. After having passed the dough 16 through the dough relaxation device 22 the dough 16 may be fed to the shaper/divider 20. As the shaper/divider 20 also exerts mechanical force on the dough 16, it may be necessary to pass the shaped/divided dough 16 through another (or the same) dough relaxation device 22 to (fully or partially) revert the increase 24b in resistance against deformation and the decrease in ductility (induced by the process step of shaping/dividing the dough by the shaper/divider). When shaping/dividing the dough 16 is finished, the dough 16 may be placed in an oven 26 for baking. The oven 26 may comprise a heating element that heats the air inside the oven 26, wherein the heat is transferred from the air to the dough 16.

Notably, dough relaxation may not only be performed between steps involving the exertion of mechanical force on the dough 16 (such as kneading, shaping or dividing) but may also be performed during said steps. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the dough relaxation device 22 may be integrated into the kneader 12 and/or the shaper/divider 20. If the dough relaxation device 22 is integrated into the kneader 12 and/or the shaper/divider 20, the alternating electromagnetic field or the voltage/ current may be applied to the dough 16 at recurring intervals (of a set frequency) or in response to a sensed increase in the resistance of the dough 16 against the processing. For example, the dough relaxation device 22 may be provided by the kneader 12 and/or the shaper/divider 20 with a measurement of the resistance of the dough 16 against deformation. For instance, the kneader 12 and/or the shaper/divider 20 may be provided with a sensor 12a, 20a that measures a force required to knead and/or shape/divide the dough 16.

The dough relaxation device 22 may then control the electromagnetic field based on the measured resistance. For example, the dough relaxation device 22 may determine an amplitude of the electromagnetic field, a frequency of the electromagnetic field and a duration for which the electromagnetic field is applied to the dough 16 based on the measured resistance. Notably, measuring the resistance of the dough 16 against deformation and applying the electromagnetic field may be performed in parallel or in sequence. For instance, the resistance of the dough 16 against deformation may be measured at an end of a kneading and/or shaping/dividing step and the measured resistance may be used to control an electromagnetic field applied to the dough 16 after the kneading and/or shaping/dividing step. In another example, the resistance of the dough 16 against deformation may be measured during a kneading and/or shaping/dividing step and the measured resistance may be used to control an electromagnetic field applied to the dough 16 during the kneading and/or shaping/dividing step. For instance, each time the resistance approaches or increases an upper limit, the electromagnetic field may be applied to the dough 16.

As illustrated in Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b, the dough relaxation device 22 may also be used as a stand-alone device 22. For example, a dough 16 withdrawn from a kneader 12 or a shaper/divider 20 and requiring relaxation may be placed on a support and the dough relaxation device 22 may be moved past the dough 16 while applying an alternating electromagnetic field or supplying a voltage/ current to the dough 16. Notably, a relative movement between the dough relaxation device 22 and the dough 16 is not mandatory but may be advantageous in view of keeping the size of the dough relaxation device 22 small and achieving relaxation uniformity.

As illustrated in Fig. 4a, the dough relaxation device 22 may comprise two electrodes 22a, 22b that are connected to a power source 22c. As the dough 16 may have been divided, the dough relaxation device 22 may also comprise multiple electrode pairs 22a, 22b connected to different power sources 22c as illustrated in Fig. 4b (or to the same power source 22c). As illustrated in Fig. 4c and Fig. 4d, the power source 22c may apply voltage pulses to the electrodes 22a and 22b. Moreover, as illustrated in Fig. 4e and Fig. 4f, the power source 22c may be an AC power source (e.g., 50 Hz).

The electrodes 22a, 22b may be configured to be in mechanical contact with the dough 16. To avoid sticking, the electrodes 22a, 22b may be made of a metal which is provided with a non-stick coating. Moreover, the dough relaxation device 22 may be provided with a cleaning module that (mechanically) cleans the electrodes 22a, 22b from dough that sticks to the electrodes 22a, 22b.

Notably, limiting the duration for which the alternating electromagnetic field or the voltage/current is applied to the dough 16 may reduce or even avoid sticking such that the duration may be reduced if sticking occurs. For example, the cleaning module may provide a signal indicating whether or to what degree sticking occurs and the dough relaxation device 22 may reduce the duration for which the alternating electromagnetic field or the voltage/current is applied to the dough 16 in response to excessive sticking. In another example, the composition of the dough 16 may be adapted in response to excessive sticking taking place at the electrodes 22a, 22b of the dough relaxation device 22.

Fig. 5 shows a flow-chart of the process which basically comprises the steps 28, 30 of exerting mechanical force on a dough 16 and applying an (alternating) electromagnetic field or supplying a voltage/ current to the dough 16. As described above, said steps 28, 30 may be performed consecutively but may also be performed concurrently. Moreover, the step 30 of applying an alternating electromagnetic field or supplying a voltage/ current to the dough 16 may be interspersed between consecutive steps 28 und 32 of exerting mechanical force on the dough 16 to reduce the overall dough processing time by avoiding the need for periods at which the dough 16 is at rest. After the final step 32 of exerting mechanical force on the dough 16, the dough 16 may be baked with or without undergoing a further step 34 of applying an electromagnetic field to the dough 16.

In this regard, Fig. 6 shows a diagram illustrating the effect of a period of rest on the ductility of the dough 16 (i.e. the extensibility of the dough 16 until the dough 16 tears apart, as illustrated in the upper part of Fig. 6). As shown in Fig. 6, the ductility constantly increases with the duration of the rest. As shown in Fig. 7 the same effect as letting the dough 16 rest for about fifteen minutes can be achieved by supplying an alternating voltage to the dough 16 for a couple of seconds.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the resistance of the dough 16 when compressed between two plates at constant speed is substantially the same when comparing a dough 16 that has had a period of rest for about 50 minutes and a dough 16 that has been treated in accordance with the parameters indicated in Table 1. As shown in Fig. 9 an Fig. 10, this also applies to the relaxation halftime which has been measured by shearing the dough 16 at a shear rate of 0.02 s ¹ until a strain of too % is reached and which is substantially the same when comparing a dough 16 that has had a period of rest for about 50 minutes and a dough 16 that has been treated in accordance with the process of Fig. 5. As illustrated in Fig. n, applying an alternating voltage to a strand of dough 16 with a width of about o.i m for a couple of seconds (e.g., less than 5 s) increases the temperature of the dough 16 only by a few degrees Celsius (e.g., less than 2°C) such that no cooling of the dough 16 is required.

Accordingly, treating the dough 16 in accordance with the process shown in Fig. 5 allows achieving substantially the same mechanical properties as letting the dough 16 rest for a considerable amount of time (e.g., 10 minutes or above) and allows to instantly proceed with consecutive processing steps such as, for example, shaping and dividing.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS io system

12 kneader

12a sensor

14 dough hook

16 dough

18 conveyor

20 shaper/divider

20 sensor

22 dough relaxation device 22a electrode

22b electrode

22c power source

24a modulus decrease

24b modulus increase

26 oven

28 process step

30 process step

32 process step

34 process step

36 process step