APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING A REGULATED FLOW OF PLASTIC MATERIALS SUCH AS DOUGH

摘要

Apparatus and method for quantifying the flow rate of e.g. dough (3) by controlling the speed of a feed conveyor (15) when the dough is transferred from the feed conveyor (15) onto a constant-speed conveyor (21). The dough is weighed by a device (13) and the movement of the feed conveyor is controlled at a speed inversely proportional to the weight measurements. The dough is consequently stretched or compressed cooperatively with two pressing means such as rollers (25,29) to make constant the weight of dough per unit length.