| 摘要 |
A dough depositing machine adapted for use in the manufacture of non-traditional baked goods and methods related thereto. Non-traditional dough (e.g., gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian, or vegan dough) may have properties that are more difficult to accommodate during manufacturing than the properties of traditional dough. Accordingly, various components of the dough depositing machine may be adapted to operate with non-traditional dough. For example, at least one of a dough delivery mechanism, a forming portion, a cutting assembly and a controller of the dough depositing machine may be adapted for use with non-traditional dough. These components of a dough depositing mechanism may be provided as originally manufactured equipment or may be retrofit to an existing dough depositing machine designed for use with traditional dough. |
| 主权项 |
1. A dough depositor for use with dough, the depositor comprising:
a hopper for receiving a supply of dough; a forming portion comprising a die having at least one dough transfer port through which the dough is extrudable to form the dough into a predetermined shape, wherein the at least one dough transfer port comprises a cross sectional area not less than about 0.75 in2 and a diameter of at least about 1 inch; a dough delivery mechanism including at least one roller assembly for driving the dough between the hopper and the forming portion, the at least one roller being mounted by a replaceable bearing insert supported in a separable bearing housing; a cutting assembly comprising a frame for supporting a cutting wire, wherein the frame is mounted to a driveshaft and the frame comprises a reinforced mounting structure to resist movement of the frame with respect to the driveshaft for cutting a portion of dough in the predetermined shape, and wherein the driveshaft comprises a surface treatment that inhibits movement of the frame with respect to the driveshaft; and a controller for controlling the dough depositor, comprising:
a first drive system for controlling the dough delivery mechanism, wherein the controller is operable to control the first drive system to vary a speed at which the dough delivery mechanism operates, anda second drive system for controlling the cutting assembly, wherein the controller is operable to control a speed of the second drive system, andwherein the controller is operable to operate the first drive and the second drive independently, and wherein the first drive system acts on the dough prior to the second drive system; wherein at least one of the hopper, the forming portion, the dough delivery mechanism, the cutting assembly, or the controller is adapted for use with non-conventional dough comprising at least one of a gluten-free, wheat-free, dairy-free, egg-free, vegetarian, or vegan dough. |
