Apparatus and method for processing of a food, and in particular for the processing of dough

Abstract

An apparatus and method for processing a foodstuff comprises a closed conveyor path, a conveyor device, and a treatment chamber. The conveyor path includes an inlet and an outlet. The conveyor device is positioned within the closed conveyor path and configured to receive the foodstuff from the inlet. The conveyor device is further configured to convey the foodstuff along the closed conveyor path toward the outlet. The treatment chamber is positioned within the closed conveyor path downstream of the conveyor device for receiving the foodstuff from the conveyor device. The treatment chamber includes a rotatably driven first kneading shaft configured to collide the foodstuff within the treatment chamber.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for processing a foodstuff, comprising;
 a closed conveyor path including an inlet and an outlet;   a conveyor device positioned within the closed conveyor path, the conveyor device configured to receive the foodstuff from the inlet and to convey the foodstuff along the closed conveyor path toward the outlet; and   a treatment chamber positioned within the closed conveyor path downstream of the conveyor device, the treatment chamber configured to receive the foodstuff from the conveyor device, and the treatment chamber including a rotatably driven first kneading shaft,   wherein the first kneading shaft is configured to collide the foodstuff within the treatment chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the treatment chamber is positioned adjacent to the conveyor device. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein at least one first kneading element is arranged on the first kneading shaft. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the first kneading shaft includes at least one holding element positioned within the treatment chamber, the at least one holding element configured to prevent the entirety of the foodstuff from rotating with the first kneading shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the holding element is selected from the group consisting of a hook, a bar, and a stripper, and the holding element is arranged immovably in the treatment chamber. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the treatment chamber further includes a second kneading shaft configured to collide the foodstuff within the treatment chamber. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein at least one second kneading element is arranged on the second kneading shaft. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25  wherein the first kneading shaft is positioned parallel to the second kneading shaft, the first and second kneading shafts configured to be synchronously driven in opposite rotatable directions such that at least a portion of the first and second kneading elements mutually interengage. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the treatment chamber includes a chamber inlet and a chamber outlet, the chamber inlet extending to the chamber outlet along a central axis, and the first kneading shaft being positioned parallel with the central axis. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the conveyor device includes a conveyor chamber and a first conveyor shaft, the conveyor chamber having a conveyor chamber inlet and a conveyor chamber outlet, and the conveyor shaft being mounted within the conveyor chamber and extending between the conveyor chamber inlet and the conveyor chamber outlet. 
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the conveyor device further includes a second conveyor shaft, the second conveyor shaft extending between the conveyor chamber inlet and the conveyor chamber outlet. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 28  wherein the conveyor device further includes an adjacent portion and an outlet-side portion, the outlet-side portion having reduced pitch relative to the adjacent portion. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 21  wherein the conveyor device includes a conveyor chamber and a first conveyor shaft, the conveyor chamber including a conveyor chamber inlet and a conveyor chamber outlet, the conveyor shaft mounted within the conveyor chamber and extending between the conveyor chamber inlet and the conveyor chamber outlet, and the first kneading shaft being positioned coaxially with the first conveyor shaft. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the first kneading shaft is connected to the first conveyor shaft such that the first conveyor shaft is configured to transmit force to the first kneading shaft. 
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the conveyor device includes a conveyor chamber, a first conveyor shaft, and a second conveyor shaft, the conveyor chamber including a conveyor chamber inlet and a conveyor chamber outlet, the first and second conveyor shafts mounted within the conveyor chamber and extending between the conveyor chamber inlet and the conveyor chamber outlet, the first kneading shaft being positioned coaxially with the first conveyor shaft, and the second kneading shaft being positioned coaxially with the second conveyor shaft. 
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33  wherein the first kneading shaft is connected to the first conveyor shaft such that the first conveyor shaft is configured to transmit force to the first kneading shaft, and the second kneading shaft is connected to the second conveyor shaft such that the second conveyor shaft is configured to transmit force to the to the second kneading shaft. 
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a portioning unit positioned within the closed conveyor path downstream of the conveyor device. 
 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the portioning device is positioned upstream of the treatment chamber. 
     
     
         37 . A method of processing a foodstuff, comprising;
 introducing the foodstuff into a conveyor device through a foodstuff inlet;   conveying the foodstuff with the conveyor device along a closed conveyor path toward a foodstuff outlet;   receiving the foodstuff in a treatment chamber downstream of the conveyor device; and   rotatably driving a first kneading shaft within the treatment chamber for colliding the foodstuff.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 preventing the entirety of the foodstuff from rotating with the first kneading shaft via at least one holding element within the treatment chamber. 
 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 synchronously driving the first kneading shaft and a second kneading shaft; 
 rotating a first kneading element arranged on the first kneading shaft while rotating a second kneading element arranged on the second kneading shaft; and 
 interengaging the first and second kneading elements. 
 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 portioning the conveyed foodstuff with the conveyor device; and 
 compacting the foodstuff with an outlet-side portion of the conveyor device with reduced pitch relative to an adjacent portion of the conveyor device. 
 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 portioning the conveyed foodstuff downstream of the conveyor device within the closed conveyor path. 
 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37  further comprising:
 portioning the conveyed foodstuff upstream of the treatment chamber within the closed conveyor path.