DOUGH MANIPULATION APPARATUS

摘要

With reference to figure 2, dough manipulation apparatus (100) is shown thereby, in combination with a biscuit cutting machine (101). The apparatus (100) is operable to form and then manipulate dough sheets (103) before output of the sheets to the biscuit cutting machine (101), and comprises a sheet forming unit (104), a sheet laminating unit (105) and means (106) for controlled bypass of the sheet laminating unit (105), whereby output of sheets (103) produced by the sheeter (104) can be passed, by downwardly-inclined conveyor (107), direct to the biscuit cutting machine (101), without lamination. With additional reference to figures 3 and 4, the bypass means (106) comprise a conveyor (115), a further conveyor (134) disposed beneath the lower roll (114), and a diverter device (135). The conveyor (115) is movable substantially horizontally, as indicated by double-headed arrow (136), from a position relatively close to the bottom roll (114) (figure 3) to another position (figure 4), relative remote therefrom. This movement of the conveyor (115) is achieved by actuators (137) (figure 4 only). The actuators (137) provide means for selectively bringing the bypass means (106) into, and out of, operation. With reference to figure 4, to bring the laminator (105) (figure 2) into operation, the actuators (137) are operated so as to pull the conveyor (115) away from the lower roll (114) of the sheeter (104). Dough sheet (103) produced by the sheeter (104) can now pass downwardly on to the conveyor (134), and then over the rollers (142) of the diverter device (135) and beneath the retracted conveyor (115). The sheet (103) then falls over an inclined bar (140) and on to (120) (figure 2) so that conveyor is transported to gauge rolls (121-124). Thereafter the sheet (130) is cut into lengths, the lengths superimposed on each other to form a laminate, and the laminate supplied to the biscuit cutting machine (101) by the conveyors (126-128). The biscuit cutting machine (101) and sheet forming unit (104) of the apparatus are in alignment, as shown. The whole arrangement results in a compact production plant (108).