Process For Knotting A Dough Strand Into A Desired Form, Especially Knotting A Dough Strand In A Pretzel Form, Plus Related Apparatus

Abstract

Process for the knotting of a dough strand into a desired form, particularly for the knotting of a dough strand into a pretzel form, wherein the dough strand subject to stretching of the dough strand length is knotted around a form element that provides the desired form for a dough strand with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand and/or the desired form with an increased form size, whereupon the form element that establishes the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size.

1 . Process for the knotting of a dough strand ( 4 ) into a pretzel form, characterized by the dough strand ( 4 ), while being subjected to stretching of the dough strand length, is knotted around a form element ( 2 ) with an increased form size that provides the desired form for a dough strand with a larger starting length than the actual starting length of the dough strand ( 4 ), whereupon, after completion of the knotting process and the deposition of the strand ends and the central section of the dough strand, the form element ( 2 ) that provides the desired form is removed, at least partially, so that the dough strand ( 4 ) that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size. 
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , characterized in that by means of the form element ( 2 ) the desired form is established for a starting length and with a form size which is, at least 10 to 30% larger than the actual length of the dough strand ( 4 ) or than the desired final size. 
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 2 , characterized in that the form element ( 2 ) has a base plate on which are disposed form bolts ( 3 ) or form pins and holding provisions ( 6 ) for holding the dough strand ends ( 5 ) of the dough strand ( 4 ) in a desired position and implement a form for laying or knotting of the dough strand, and the process further comprises, for the purposes of changing the form determined by the form element, displacing the position of at least one form bolt ( 3 ) or form pin of the form element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 3 , characterized in that at least one form bolt ( 3 ) or form pin is removed by means of extraction or retraction with the aid of at least one table- and/or plate element. 
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the dough strand ( 4 ) is knotted into a pretzel form so that by means of the removal of the form element ( 2 ) the dough strand ( 4 ) and the knot of the pretzel ( 10 ) are drawn together for the implementation of a tight knot. 
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the type of dough of the dough strand ( 4 ) is selected based on the tension characteristics of a dough, the enlarged form size and the desired final size of a finished pretzel. 
     
     
         7 . Process according to  claim 4 , characterized in that the dough strand ( 4 ) is transported to the form element ( 2 ) by means of at least one conveyor belt installation, and taken away in the desired form after the removal of the form element ( 2 ), to an installation for further processing. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus ( 1 ) for knotting of a dough strand ( 4 ) into a pretzel form, characterized in that the apparatus ( 1 ) has a form element ( 2 ) that establishes the desired form for a dough strand ( 4 ) with larger starting length than the actual length of the dough strand ( 4 ) and/or a form element ( 2 ) that establishes the desired form with an increased form size, around which the dough strand ( 4 ) subject to stretching of the dough strand length can be tied and that is subsequently at least partially removable, after completion of the tying process and the deposition of the dough strand ends subject to maintaining the stretching of the dough strand, particularly in the central section of the dough strand, so that the dough strand ( 4 ) that was placed into the desired form contracts into a final size. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 8 , characterized in that the form that is established by means of the form element is a form for a starting length and/or with a form size which is, at least in essence, 10 to 30% larger than the actual length of the dough strand ( 4 ) and/or than the desired final size and/or that the increases in the length and the breadth can be selected differently, subject to the specification of the desired form with an increased form size. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 9 , characterized in that the form element ( 2 ) features a base plate on which are disposed one or several form bolts ( 3 ) or form pins and holding provisions ( 6 ) for holding the dough strand ends ( 5 ) of the dough strand ( 4 ) in a desired position and implement a form for laying or knotting of the dough strand, and that for the purposes of changing the form established by the form element the position of at least one form bolt ( 3 ) or form pin of the form element ( 2 ), is modifiable by means of displacing at least one component of a guidance device and/or by means of transposing at least one component from one into another through passage- or mounting aperture. 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 10 , characterized in that at least one form bolt ( 3 ) or form pin of the apparatus ( 1 ) is removable by means of extraction or retraction a table or plate element. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 11 , characterized in that the dough strand ( 4 ) can be tied, by means of the form element ( 2 ) and/or the holding provision ( 6 ), into a pretzel form so that, by means of the removal of the form element ( 2 ), the dough strand ( 4 ) and the knot of the pretzel ( 10 ) can be drawn together for the purposes of implementing a tight knot. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the type of dough of the dough strand ( 4 ) can, depending on their tension characteristics, and/or the enlarged form size can, depending on the type of dough of the dough strand ( 4 ) and/or the characteristics of the dough strand ( 4 ) and/or the final size and/or the desired shape, be selected. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus ( 1 ) according to  claim 13 , characterized in that the apparatus ( 1 ) features at least one transport installation ( 7 ), particularly a conveyor belt installation which is implemented for the purpose of transport of the dough strand ( 4 ) to the form element ( 2 ) and/or for the conveying away of the dough strand ( 4 ) that has been placed in the desired form subsequent to the removal of the form element ( 2 ), in particular for the conveying away to an installation for further processing. 
     
     
         15 . A method for the knotting of a dough strand ( 4 ) into a pretzel form, the dough strand having a starting length, the method comprising:
 (a) stretching a dough strand in length beyond its starting length and around a form element while stretched;   (b) knotting the dough strand while the dough strand is stretched in length;   (c) at least partially removing the form element; and   (d) permitting the dough strand to contract into a final size that is smaller than the form element.   
     
     
         16 . A method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein the dough strand is stretched by 10% to 30% of its starting length. 
     
     
         17 . A method in accordance with  claim 16  wherein the form element has a base plate having apertures through which are disposed form pins, the form element also including holding provisions for holding the dough strand ends and wherein the method further comprises displacing the position of the form pins through the mounting apertures to extract the pins from the dough strand.