Metering device

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a device for dividing dough, and more particularly for dividing dough, such as bread dough and other dough products, into portions of substantially equal weight, or a desired weight, respectively.

German patent application 37 27 596 describes a device for continuously dividing a dough strand of a constant cross-section into dough portions of a constant weight, wherein the dough is hardly mechanically loaded, comprising a supply device for the dough, a shaping device placed so as to connect to the supply device, and a cutting device placed downstream of the shaping device.

The device comprises a hopper for supplying dough to an assembly of four rollers having an omni-directionally closed roller slit. The assembly of rollers then serves both as a conveyor roller, and as a component defining the cross-section or a shaping device.

The dough strand of even cross-section as produced by the roller slit is passed over a short conveyor belt to a cutting device and cut into pieces there.

A drawback of the known device is that it is only suitable for very solid dough, which is of sufficient shape stability after the formation of the dough strand by the roller slit.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved metering device which at least partially overcomes the above-mentioned drawback.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For that purpose according to a first aspect the invention provides a metering device for dough comprising a supply device for the dough, a shaping device placed so as to connect to the supply device, and a cutting device placed downstream of the shaping device, characterised in that the shaping device comprises a series of belt conveyors surrounding a passage channel, each having a conveyor belt, wherein the part of each of the conveyor belts that faces the passage channel forms at least a wall or wall section of the passage channel, and wherein at least one of the conveyor belts facing the passage channel forms a bottom wall for supporting the dough, wherein the supply device comprises a hopper having a supply conveyor belt forming a bottom wall of the hopper, wherein the bottom wall of the hopper connects to the bottom wall of the shaping device and wherein the bottom wall of the hopper and the bottom wall of the shaping device have the same width.

The device according to the invention is provided with a passage channel, formed by the conveyor belts of the series of belt conveyors which conveyor belts face the passage channel. Initially the shape of the dough strand of the device according to the invention is defined by the entrance of the passage channel. Said entrance is formed by the circulating rollers of the respective belt conveyors. Subsequently the dough strand is omni-directionally supported and kept in the desired shape onwards from the supply device over the length of passage channel. Because the bottom wall of the hopper is just as wide as the width of the passage channel, particularly the operational width, wherein the bottom wall of the hopper connects to, and preferably is placed adjacent to and at the same level as the bottom wall of the passage channel, the dough subjected to substantially minimum mechanical load, in a careful manner can be introduced from the hopper into the passage channel. Moreover the supply conveyor belt supports the supply of dough to the shaping device. As a result the optimal

structure of the dough in the hopper is not harmed or hardly so when introduced into the passage channel.

Keeping the dough in the wanted shape during the dough's stay in the passage channel ensures that the dough is able to relax, as a result of which the dough strand when leaving the passage channel remains substantially in the desired shape. This as opposed to the known device, wherein the dough after the deformation by the roller slit may at least partially rebound. Due to this partial rebound the cross-section of the dough strand is less accurately defined which gives rise to a large range in the weights of dough pieces of the same length.

A further advantage of the passage channel according to the invention is that the walls of the channel move along with the dough strand. As a result there substantially is no friction between the walls of the channel and the dough strand, as a result of which the dough is subjected to less mechanical load and moreover is substantially loaded in the same way at all locations, which is advantageous to the dough structure. Moreover it will not be necessary to use a lubricant on the walls of the channel. The device according to the invention is able to run substantially "oil-free".

In one embodiment the hopper comprises an outflow opening in a side wall, wherein the outflow opening is bounded at the lower side by the bottom wall, and wherein the width and the height of the outflow opening equal the width and height, particularly the operational width and operational height, of the passage channel of the shaping device that is placed immediately adjacent to the outflow opening. In that way a mechanical load of the dough to be processed in the metering device according to the invention, can be reduced further.

In one embodiment the supply conveyor belt and the conveyor belt forming the bottom wall of the shaping device are integrally formed. In that way the dough is advantageously continuously supported when passing through the supply device and the shaping device.

In a simple embodiment the passage channel comprises a substantially rectangular cross-section, wherein the passage channel is defined by a

bottom wall conveyor belt, an upper wall conveyor belt and two side wall conveyor belts.

In one embodiment the side wall conveyor belts continue into the hopper and at that location form side wall sections of the hopper that are adjacent to the bottom wall. In that way a mechanical load of the dough to be processed in the metering device can be further reduced when being transferred from the hopper to the shaping device.

In one embodiment the two side wall conveyor belts are placed between the upper wall conveyor belt and the bottom wall conveyor belt. In one embodiment the longitudinal sides of the two side wall conveyor belts abut the adjacent upper and bottom wall conveyor belt, respectively. In that way the conveyor belts form a substantially omni- directionally closed passage channel surrounding the passage.

In one embodiment the conveyor belts of the shaping device, at least between the circulating rollers, are provided with a support device for the conveyor belts bounding the passage channel to rest upon. In one embodiment the support device comprises a roller track comprising a series of freely rotatable rollers placed parallel next to each other in transportation direction, wherein an axis of rotation of the rollers is oriented substantially transverse to the transportation direction. Because of the rollers that are fixedly positioned in the belt conveyor, wherein the dough is moved past the rollers, a kneading action can be performed on the dough in the passage.

The size and/or weight of the dough portions may for instance be adjusted by setting a desired length at a constant cross-section of the dough strand. Due to the improved shape stability of the dough after being formed in the shaping device according to the invention, dough pieces can be realised with a larger accuracy and/or a lower variety in size and/or weight.

However, to increase the range of adjustable size and/or weight of the dough portions, and/or to be able to adjust the dimensions of the dough portions to a next step in the dough processing process, in one embodiment the distance between the longitudinal side walls, and thus

the operational width of the passage device, is adjustable, as a result of which the surface of the cross-section of the dough strand is adjustable.

In an alternative embodiment the upper wall and bottom wall conveyor belt are placed between the two side wall conveyor belts. In one embodiment the longitudinal sides of the upper wall and bottom wall conveyor belt abut the respective adjacent side wall conveyor belts. In one embodiment the distance between the upper and bottom wall, and thus the operational height of the passage device is adjustable, as a result of which the surface of the cross-section of the dough strand is adjustable.

In one embodiment the rectangular cross-section along the passage channel is substantially constant, preferably having a height and width that is substantially constant over the length of the passage channel.

In one embodiment the device further comprises drive means for the conveyor belts of the series of conveyor belts of the shaping device, wherein the drive means are adapted for synchronising the movement of the conveyor belts, preferably having them run in sync.

In one embodiment the cutting device comprises a cutting conveyor belt for supporting the dough, wherein a cutting element is placed above the cutting conveyor belt. In one embodiment the cutting conveyor belt and the conveyor belt forming the bottom wall of the shaping device are integrally formed. In that way the dough is continuously supported in an advantageous manner when passing through the shaping device and the cutting device.

On the one hand the cutting element can be placed at a fixed position with respect to the cutting conveyor belt. In that case the cutting motion will have to be performed very quickly, so that a dough strand moving along on the cutting conveyor belt cannot be blocked by the cutting element. Alternatively or additionally the supply of the dough strand to the cutting device can be carried out intermittingly, so that the cutting conveyor belt is strongly decelerated or even stopped during cutting the dough strand.

On the other hand the cutting element can be placed so as to be moved back and forth in a transportation direction of the cutting conveyor belt.

In one embodiment the movement of the cutting element, at least in the transportation direction, runs substantially synchronous to the movement of the cutting conveyor belt. Because the cutting element is able to move along with the cutting conveyor belt and therefore with the dough strand, there is sufficient time to cut the dough suitably into parts, particularly in such a way that the dough structure is spared as much as possible.

In one embodiment the cutting element can be moved substantially transverse to the support surface of the cutting conveyor belt for cutting the dough. In one embodiment the cutting element comprises a guillotine.

In one embodiment the cutting element is placed substantially transverse to the transportation direction of the cutting conveyor belt. In that case the dough strand can be substantially transversely cut in half, and dough parts having a substantially rectangular bottom surface are realised.

In one embodiment the cutting element can be placed at an angle, particularly an acute angle, to the transportation direction of the cutting conveyor belt. In that case the dough strand can be cut substantially at an angle, and dough parts having a substantially parallelogram-shaped bottom surface are realised.

In one embodiment the cutting element can be moved between a first position substantially transverse to the transportation direction and a second position at an angle to the transportation direction. By first cutting the dough strand in the first position, subsequently moving the cutting element to the second position and cutting it in said second position, dough parts having a substantially triangular bottom surface can be realised. In that case the cutting element is for instance moved from the one to the other position in between each cutting movement.

In one embodiment the cutting element is rotatable about an axis of rotation extending substantially transverse to the transportation surface of the cutting conveyor belt.

In one embodiment the device further comprises a control for controlling the cutting element depending on the speed of movement of the dough in the cutting device and a desired size and/or weight of the dough portions.

The aspects and measures described in this description and the claims of the application and/or shown in the drawings of this application may where possible also be used individually. Said individual aspects, such as the cutting element that moves along with the cutting conveyor belt, placing a support device in the form of a roller track between the circulating rollers of the belt conveyor and other aspects may be the subject of divisional patent applications relating thereto. This particularly applies to the measures and aspects that are described per se in the sub claims.

SHORT DESCRJPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments shown in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a schematic view in cross-section along the line A-A in figure 1 ,

Figure 3 shows a schematic view in cross-section along the line B-B in figure 1 ,

Figure 4 shows a schematic top view of a second exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention,

Figure 5 shows a schematic view in cross-section along the line C-C in figure 5, and

Figure 6 shows a schematic view in cross-section along the line D-D in figure 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The first exemplary embodiment of a metering device 1 according to the invention shown in figures 1 , 2 and 3, comprises three parts; a supply device 2, a shaping device 3 and a cutting device 4.

The supply device 2 comprises a hopper having upright walls 21 , 22 and a bottom wall 24. The bottom wall 24 in this exemplary embodiment is formed by a part of the belt conveyor 1 1 extending below the hopper. For supporting the bottom wall 24 a support device 241 , in the form of a roller track comprising a series of freely rotatable rollers, is placed between the rollers 12, 324 on either side of the bottom wall 24.

The surface of the belt conveyor 11 facing the inner side of the hopper may in that case be provided with means for improving the transportation of dough out of the hopper.

In one embodiment the conveyor belt comprises a surface of a material having a high frictional coefficient, at least to dough. The friction between the surface of the conveyor belt of the belt conveyor 1 1 and the dough in the hopper, improves the way in which the conveyor belt takes dough along to the outlet opening 26 of the hopper.

In one embodiment the surface of the conveyor belt is provided with a surface texture for increasing friction between the surface and dough and/or for taking along dough to the outlet opening 26 of the hopper.

The upright wall 22 of the hopper that faces the shaping device 3, is placed substantially transverse to the bottom wall 22. Preferably the belt conveyor 1 1 is placed substantially horizontally and the upright wall 22 is placed substantially vertically. In an alternative exemplary

embodiment the upright wall 23 facing the shaping device 3 is placed at an angle so that the upper side 25 of the shaping device 3 deflects.

In a further alternative exemplary embodiment the upright wall 21 facing away from the shaping device 3 can be slid substantially parallel to the bottom wall 24 in the direction L for adjusting the length of the bottom wall in the hopper.

Below the wall 21 facing away from the shaping device 3, a circulating roller 12 of the belt conveyor 1 1 is placed. The belt of the belt conveyor 1 1 connects against the lower sides 21 of the hopper, except with the wall 22 facing the shaping device 2. At its side facing the belt conveyor 1 1 , the wall 22, 23 facing the shaping device 3 is provided with an opening 26 for letting the dough pass from the hopper to the shaping device 3.

The shaping device 3 comprises a series, particularly four, belt conveyors 32, 33, 34, 35 surrounding a passage channel 31 , each belt conveyor having a conveyor belt, wherein the part of each of the conveyor belts 321 , 331 , 341 ,351 facing the passage channel 31 forms a wall of the passage channel 31 . The lowermost conveyor belt 321 forms a bottom wall for supporting the dough. As can clearly be seen in figure 2, the belt conveyor forming the bottom wall 321 is a part of the belt conveyor 1 1 , extending below both the hopper 2, the shaping device 3 and the cutting device 4.

As shown in the cross-section of the passage channel along the line B- B of figure 1 in figure 3, the passage channel 31 is shaped substantially rectangular. The passage channel 31 comprises a bottom wall 321 and an upper wall 331 and two longitudinal side walls 341 , 351 . In this exemplary embodiment the upper wall 331 and the bottom wall 321 are placed between the two side wall conveyor belts 341 , 351. In that case the longitudinal sides 332, 333 of the upper wall 331 and the longitudinal sides 322, 323 of the bottom wall 321 abut the respective adjacent side wall conveyor belts 341 , 351. As shown in figure 1 , a support device 346, 356 is placed between the circulating rollers 344 and 345, 354 and 355 of the side wall conveyor belts 341 , 351 , for supporting the conveyor belts 341 , 351 . Said support devices 346,

356, each comprising a substantially flat plate, urge the conveyor belts 341 , 351 against the longitudinal sides 322, 332 and 323, 333 as a result of which the passage channel 31 is closed off substantially all round; that means that leakage will substantially not occur between the longitudinal sides of the upper wall and the side walls, and between the longitudinal sides of the bottom wall and the side walls, respectively.

Also between the rollers 324 and 325, 334 and 335 of the bottom wall 321 and the upper wall 331 , respectively, support devices 326, 336 are placed for the conveyor belts bounding the passage channel 31 to rest upon. In that case said support devices 326, 336 are formed like a roller track each comprising a series of freely rotatable rollers placed parallel to each other in transportation direction T, wherein the axis of rotation of the rollers is oriented substantially transverse to the transportation direction T and parallel to the bottom wall 321 and the upper wall 331 , respectively. Compared with the support devices 346, 356 in the form of flat plates mentioned earlier, the support devices 326, 336 in the form of a roller track cause far less frictional resistance when the conveyor belts are driven past the respective support devices.

When the conveyor belts 321 , 331 are slightly flexible in a direction substantially transverse to the plane of the respective conveyor belts, the conveyor belts are able to move apart between the rollers and at the location of the rollers are moved towards each other again. The rollers that are fixedly placed with respect to the conveyor belt 321 , 331 are thus able to perform a kneading action on the dough that is taken along by the conveyor belts 321 , 331 , 341 , 351 through the passage channel 31 .

Preferably the speeds of the conveyor belts 321 , 331 , 341 , 351 are synchronised with respect to each other so that the walls of the passage channel 31 are able to run along with the dough as one unity. As the shaping element runs along with the dough, there is substantially no friction between the dough and the walls of the passage channel.

In one embodiment, the conveyor belts 321 , 331 are provided with a reinforcement (not shown) extending substantially transverse in the

transportation direction T over the width of the conveyor belt. As a result said conveyor belts 321 , 331 will show a large resistance against bending through in the direction d as shown in figure 3 and have a high flexibility in the direction h. For instance the reinforcement can be designed like metal rods which are embedded in the direction d in the material of the conveyor belts 321 , 331 .

Downstream of the shaping device 3 a cutting device 4 is placed. The cutting device 4 comprises a bottom wall 41 which in this exemplary embodiment is formed by a part of the conveyor 1 1 extending below the cutting element 42.

The cutting element 42 comprises a blade 43 which by carrying out a cutting motion, is able to cut the formed dough strand through down to the bottom wall 41 . In this exemplary embodiment the blade 43 is designed like a guillotine that is substantially movable in vertical direction S.

In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in figures 1 and 2, the cutting element 42 can be moved back and forth in the transportation direction

T. As a result the cutting element is able to move along substantially synchronously to the conveyor belt 1 1 during making an incision in the dough, and after making the incision is completed, can be moved back to a part of the dough strand situated upstream, in order to start a new cutting motion again at that location.

As shown in figure 1 the cutting element 42 can also be swung about an axis of rotation 44, which is oriented substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface 41. Due to swinging the cutting element 42 at an angle a, the dough strand can also be cut at an angle. In a particular exemplary embodiment the dough is first cut at an angle a during a forward stroke in the direction T, after which the cutting element 42 is put back to angle a =0 and is subsequently cut again perpendicular to the transportation direction T. In this way it is possible to cut the dough strand into substantially triangular parts which may be advantageous in further dough processing, for instance for generating triangular bread rolls and/or triangular dough slices for creating croissants.

In order to prevent that the conveyor belt 1 1 is pushed too far away due to the cutting motion, the conveyor belt 1 1 is provided with a support device 45 at the location of the bottom wall 41 , which support device is designed like a flat plate placed directly underneath the surface of the bottom wall 41.

In figures 4, 5 and 6 a second exemplary embodiment of a metering device 7 according to the invention is shown. This metering device 7 also comprises three parts: a supply device 5, a shaping device 6 and the same cutting device 4, as already described above in the first exemplary embodiment.

For supporting the transportation of the dough through the metering device 7, particularly for supporting the transportation of the dough from the supply device 5 to the shaping device 6, the metering device 7 may be positioned downwardly inclined in transportation direction T, as shown in figure 5. Preferably the angle β between a bottom wall 54, 621 , 41 of the metering device 7 and a horizontal surface is adjustable, preferably at an angle of 15 degrees or smaller.

The supply device 5 comprises a hopper having upright walls 51 , 52 and a bottom wall 54. The bottom wall 54 is now also formed by a part of the belt conveyor 15 extending below the hopper.

Below the wall 51 facing away from the shaping device 6 a circulating roller 16 of the belt conveyor 15 is placed. The belt of the belt conveyor 15 connects against the lower side of the wall 51 of the hopper, except at the wall 52 facing the shaping device 6 and the longitudinal walls 51 1 .

The bottom part of the longitudinal walls 51 1 is formed by a part of the belt conveyor 65 extending adjacent to the hopper which belt conveyor at the location of the hopper forms a longitudinal side wall section 57. A portion of dough in the hopper, at least in this exemplary embodiment, is thus taken along by the bottom wall 54 and the longitudinal side walls 57 in the direction of the shaping device 6.

For supporting the bottom wall 54 a flat plate 541 is placed underneath the belt conveyor for supporting the bottom wall 54. Furthermore for supporting the longitudinal side walls 57 a flat support plate 58 is placed between the rollers 59, 654 and 59, 644, as shown in figure 4.

At its side facing the belt conveyor 15, the wall 52, 53 facing the shaping device 6 is provided with an opening 56 for passing the dough through from the hopper to the shaping device 6.

This shaping device 6 as well comprises a series of, particularly four, belt conveyors 62, 63, 64, 65 surrounding a passage channel 61 , each of which belt conveyors has a conveyor belt, wherein the part of each of the conveyor belts 621 , 631 , 641 , 651 facing the passage channel 61 forms a wall of the passage channel 61 . The lowermost conveyor belt 621 forms a bottom wall for supporting the dough. Here as well the bottom wall 621 is a part of the belt conveyor 15, extending underneath both the hopper 5, the shaping device 6 and the cutting device 4.

As shown in the cross-section of the passage channel along the line D- D of figure 4 in figure 6, the passage channel 61 is substantially rectangular. The passage channel 61 comprises a bottom wall 621 and an upper wall 631 and two longitudinal side walls 641 , 651 . In this exemplary embodiment the longitudinal side walls 641 , 651 are placed between the upper wall 631 and the bottom wall 621 . In that case the longitudinal sides 641 , 643 and 652, 653 of the longitudinal side walls 641 , 651 abut the respective adjacent bottom wall conveyor belt 621 and upper wall conveyor belt 631 .

As shown in figure 4 a support device 646, 656 is placed between the rollers 644 and 645, 654 and 655 of the side wall conveyor belts 641 , 651. In that case said support devices 646, 656 are formed like a roller track which each comprise a series of freely rotatable rollers placed parallel to each other in transportation direction T, wherein the axis of rotation of the rollers is oriented substantially transverse to the transportation direction T and parallel to the longitudinal side walls 651 , 641 . Said rollers tracks also ensure less frictional resistance and in one

embodiment are also able to perform a kneading action on the dough that is passed along through the passage channel 61 .

As shown in figure 5 a support device 626, 636, each comprising a substantially flat plate, is placed between the rollers 634 and 635, 624 and 625 of the upper conveyor belt 631 and bottom conveyor belt

621 . Said support devices 626, 636 urge the conveyor belts 621 , 631 against the longitudinal sides 642, 643 and 652, 653 of the longitudinal side wall conveyor belts 641 , 651 . Downstream of the shaping device 6 a cutting device 4 is placed which has already been discussed in more detail above.

The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert.

For instance both the bottom wall conveyor belt, the upper wall conveyor belt and the longitudinal side wall conveyor belts can all be provided with a support device in the form of a roller track as for instance shown in a combination of a view in cross-section of figure 2 and a top view of figure 4.

It will furthermore be clear to the expert that although in the exemplary embodiments described above the bottom wall comprises a continuous conveyor belt 1 1 , 15, the various devices may also be provided with individual conveyor belts for one or several of the supply devices 2, 5, shaping devices 3, 6 and/or cutting device 4.