Knotting system for a dough strand

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for the automated production of knotted dough products, in particular pretzels. Said device comprises: a shaping table ( 2 ) for horizontally supporting a U-shaped bent dough strand ( 46 ); a shaping tool ( 6 ) that can be activated to vertically support the U-shaped bent dough strand ( 46 ), the shaping table ( 2 ) and activated shaping tool ( 6 ) forming a common stop for the U-shaped bent strand ( 46 ); and a knotting head ( 9 ) for seizing the ends of the dough strand and for knotting said strand ( 46 ). According to the invention, the knotting head ( 9 ) can be displaced from a seizing position ( 48 ), in which the ends of the U-shaped bent dough strand ( 46 ) are seized, into an extension position ( 49 ), in which the dough strand is extended, then into a knotting position ( 51 ), in which the dough strand is knotted and finally into a placing position 52, in which the ends of the dough strands are placed on the central part of the dough strand. In addition, the common shaping stop is configured to be stationary, in particular on the horizontal displacement plane.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . Method for the mechanised manufacture of tied dough blanks composed of dough strands, in particular of pretzel blanks, wherein in a first step a dough strand ( 46 ) is received by the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) by a tying head ( 9 ) of a dough-tying device, which is in a gripping position ( 48 ), wherein in a second step the dough strand ( 46 ) is stretched in its longitudinal direction by a degree of stretch (d), the tying head ( 9 ) with the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) is moved from the gripping position ( 48 ) into a stretching position ( 49 ), and the dough strand intermediate section is held between the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) by means of a stationary stop ( 5 ,  6 ), wherein in a third step the tying head ( 9 ) is moved into a tying position ( 51 ) or is rotated, the dough strand ( 46 ) being tied, and wherein in a fourth step the tying head ( 9 ) is moved into a depositing position ( 52 ) in which the dough strand ends are deposited on the rest of the dough strand, characterised in that: 
 in the second step a control which may be set by programme and/or circuit technology is used with an actuator ( 15 ) for the tying head ( 9 ), in the case of which control or actuator the degree of stretch (d) may be preset in a variable manner.    
   
   
       26 . Method for the mechanised manufacture of tied dough blanks composed of dough strands, in particular of pretzel blanks, wherein in a first step a dough strand ( 46 ) is received by the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) by a tying head ( 9 ) of a dough tying device, which is in a gripping position ( 48 ), wherein in a second step the dough strand ( 46 ) is stretched in its longitudinal direction by a degree of stretch (d), the tying head ( 9 ) with the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) is moved from the gripping position ( 48 ) into a stretching position ( 49 ), and the dough strand intermediate section is held between the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) by means of a stationary stop ( 5 ,  6 ), wherein in a third step the tying head ( 9 ) is moved into a tying position ( 51 ) and/or is rotated, the dough strand ( 46 ) being tied, and wherein in a fourth step the tying head ( 9 ) is moved into a depositing position ( 52 ) in which the dough strand ends are deposited on the rest of the dough strand, characterised in that: 
 by means of one or more sensors ( 38 ,  39 ) the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) of the dough strands ( 46 ) are detected in a measuring position located upstream of the gripping position ( 48 ) viewed in the conveying direction ( 35 ), and thereupon the grasping of the dough strand ends by the tying head ( 9 ) is triggered.    
   
   
       27 . Method according to  claim 25  or  26 , characterised in that a tension generated during the second or stretching step is maintained in the dough strand ( 46 ) during the third or tying step wholly or in part.  
   
   
       28 . Method according to  claim 27 , characterised in that in order to maintain this tension in the third step, knot-tying guide means ( 10 ,  11 ) are used, which form a guide passage.  
   
   
       29 . Method according to  claim 27 , characterised in that in the second or stretching step, the tying head ( 9 ) with the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) is removed ( 50 ) from the stop ( 5 ,  6 ) in or according to a dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ).  
   
   
       30 . Method according to  claim 28 , characterised in that in the course of removal ( 50 ), a component of motion transverse to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ) is superimposed on the tying head ( 9 ).  
   
   
       31 . Method according to  claim 28 , characterised in that in the third step, in order to reach the tying position ( 51 ), the tying head ( 9 ) is moved ( 23 ) with the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) counter to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ).  
   
   
       32 . Method according to  claim 28 , characterised in that in the fourth step, in order to reach the depositing position ( 52 ), the tying head ( 9 ) with the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) is moved ( 53 ) counter to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ).  
   
   
       33 . Method according to  claim 32 , characterised in that in the course of reaching ( 53 ) the depositing position ( 52 ) a component of motion transverse to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ) is superimposed on the tying head ( 9 ) in order to approach the dough strand intermediate section between the dough strand ends ( 46   a ).  
   
   
       34 . Apparatus for the mechanised manufacture of tied dough products, in particular pretzels, comprising: 
 (a) a shaping table ( 2 ) for the support of a curved dough strand ( 46 ) with an activatable shaping tool ( 6 ) for the abutment of the curved dough strand ( 46 ) transverse to the support direction, wherein the shaping table ( 2 ) and the activated shaping tool ( 6 ) form a common shaping stop for the curved dough strand ( 46 ), wherein the common shaping stop is formed stationary or fixed with respect to a dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ); and    (b) a tying head ( 9 ) for grasping the dough strand ends and tying the dough strand ( 46 ), wherein the tying head ( 9 ) is so guided and connected to one or more actuators that the tying head ( 9 ) is movable from a gripping position ( 48 ) in which the dough strand ends of the curved dough strand ( 46 ) are grasped, to a stretching position ( 49 ) in which the dough strand ( 46 ) is stretchable in combination with the stop,    characterised in that    one ( 15 ) of the actuators ( 15 ;  27 ,  28 ) of the tying head ( 9 ) is so arranged by circuit or programming technology that the tying head ( 9 ) may be moved from the gripping position ( 48 ) into a stretching position ( 49 ) which may be preset in a variable manner.    
   
   
       35 . Apparatus according to  claim 34 , characterised in that the actuator ( 15 ) arranged by circuit or programming technology for presetting the stretching position ( 49 ) in a variable manner is guided parallel to the conveying direction ( 35 ) and is formed with an electric servo or stepper motor ( 16 ).  
   
   
       36 . Apparatus according to  claim 35 , characterised in that the actuator ( 15 ) has a linear guide ( 18 ,  19 ) which is coupled ( 17 , 22 ) to the servo or stepper motor ( 16 ) and which extends parallel to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ) and beyond an outlet of the shaping table ( 2 ) facing in the conveying direction ( 35 ).  
   
   
       37 . Apparatus for the mechanised manufacture of tied dough products, in particular pretzels, comprising: 
 (a) a shaping table ( 2 ) for supporting a curved dough strand ( 46 );    (b) an activatable shaping tool ( 6 ) for the abutment of the curved dough strand ( 46 ) transverse to the support direction, wherein the shaping table ( 2 ) and the activated shaping tool ( 6 ) form a common shaping stop for the curved dough strand ( 46 ), wherein the common shaping stop is formed stationary or fixed with respect to a dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ); and    (c) a tying head ( 9 ) for grasping the dough strand ends and tying the dough strand ( 46 ), wherein the tying head ( 9 ) is so guided and connected to one or more actuators ( 15 ;  27 ,  28 ) that the tying head ( 9 ) is movable from a gripping position ( 48 ) in which the dough strand ends of the curved dough strand ( 46 ) are grasped, to a stretching position ( 49 ) in which the dough strand ( 46 ) is stretchable in combination with the stop,    characterised in that in order to detect the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) of the curved dough strands ( 46 ) one or more sensors ( 38 ,  39 ) are provided, whose measuring positions are upstream of the gripping position ( 48 ) in the conveying direction ( 35 ).    
   
   
       38 . Apparatus according to  claim 37 , characterised in that the respective measuring position of the sensor(s) ( 38 ,  39 ) is formed on the shaping table ( 2 ).  
   
   
       39 . Apparatus according to  claim 38 , characterised by a sensor measuring position such that the dough strand ends ( 46   a ) of the curved dough strand ( 46 ) lying on the shaping table ( 2 ) may be detected by the sensors ( 38 ,  39 ).  
   
   
       40 . Apparatus according to  claim 38 , wherein the shaping table has one or more conveying strands ( 3 ,  4 ) and associated deflection sheaves around which the conveyor strands pass, characterised in that the sensor(s) ( 38 ,  39 ) are disposed immediately above the one or more deflection sheaves of the conveyor strands ( 3 ,  4 ) positioned to the rear in the conveying direction ( 35 ).  
   
   
       41 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , characterised in that the tying head ( 9 ) is so guided and connected to the actuator(s) ( 15 ) that the tying head ( 9 ) may be moved ( 23 ) from the stretching position into a tying position ( 51 ) in which the dough strand may be knotted.  
   
   
       42 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , characterised in that the tying head ( 9 ) is so guided and connected to the actuator(s) ( 15 ) that the tying head ( 9 ) may be moved ( 53 ) from the tying position ( 51 ) into a depositing position ( 52 ) in which the dough strand ends may be deposited on the dough strand intermediate section.  
   
   
       43 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , characterised in that the shaping tool ( 6 ), with pins ( 5 ) or other holding bodies, may be moved steadily in or counter to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ) and only in one direction ( 44 ,  45 ) transverse or oblique thereto.  
   
   
       44 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , characterised in that two sensors ( 38 ,  39 ) are disposed at the sides of the shaping table ( 2 ) diametrically opposed or otherwise opposite one another, so that a measuring line or a measuring plane is formed at least in parts parallel to the shaping table ( 2 ) and transverse or oblique to the dough strand conveying direction ( 35 ), the sensors ( 38 ,  39 ) being disposed in the starting region or in the last half of the shaping table ( 2 ) in the conveying direction ( 35 ).  
   
   
       45 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the actuators ( 15 ,  16 ;  25 ;  27 ,  28 ) of the tying head ( 9 ) comprise a rotary drive ( 25 ), characterised in that the rotary drive ( 25 ) is formed to be programme-controlled with a servo or stepper motor.  
   
   
       46 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , wherein the actuators ( 15 ,  16 ,  17 ;  25 ;  27 ,  28 ) of the tying head ( 9 ) comprise a rotary drive ( 25 ), characterised in that its axis of rotation ( 57 ) is formed as an endless rotary axis and permits rotation of the tying head ( 9 ) through 360° and/or 720° or through plural revolutions, a rotary duct being provided for passing through the control signals and supply currents for the tying head or its rotary drive ( 25 ).  
   
   
       47 . Apparatus according to  claim 40 , characterised in that the actuator(s) ( 15 ;  25 ;  27 ,  28 ) are connected to a control, which is so arranged in terms of circuit or programme technology that sets of parameters may be stored and retrieved, which comprise the number of rotations of a rotary drive ( 25 ) for the tying head ( 9 ) or the degree of stretch (d) or the coordinates of a gripping, stretching, tying or depositing position for the actuator ( 15 ).  
   
   
       48 . Apparatus according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the control is so formed by circuit and/or programme technology that all or some of the control parameter sets mentioned are referenced via a dough product encryption key.