Comestible product sheeter and sheeter roller, and method of using the same

Abstract

To address the problems inherent in creating very thin sheets of dough in a sheeting machine at high speed and with efficient recycling and re-sheeting of the re-work cut out from the sheet, a new sheeting machine with a new front roller is provided, wherein the roller includes non-stick and non-release areas and a plurality of grooves in the non-release area.

1 . A roller for a comestible product skeeter comprising:
 a cylindrically shaped roller having an outer surface;   a plurality of circumferential grooves spaced along the surface of the roller;   a hoop made of a thin band positioned in each groove and less wide than the grooves in which each band is placed;   wherein the surfaces of the groove and the surface immediately adjacent to either side of each groove is a non-release surface material;   wherein the surface material of the roller between the non-release surfaces is a non-stick material.   
     
     
         2 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a second set of circumferential grooves positioned between the non-release surface and the non-stick surface. 
     
     
         3 . The roller claimed in  claim 2  wherein the second set of grooves is less wide than the first set of grooves. 
     
     
         4 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the non-release surface is metal. 
     
     
         5 . The roller claimed in  claim 4  wherein the metal surface has a rough finish. 
     
     
         6 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the non-stick surface is plastic. 
     
     
         7 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the non-stick surface is polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the roller can be operated in a comestible product sheeter at a high speed. 
     
     
         9 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the roller can be operated in a comestible product sheeter to produce a sheeted comestible product exiting the roller with thickness of 20-35 mils as measured prior to drying or cooking, and at a speed of 80-90 feet per minute. 
     
     
         10 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the grooves and the non-release surface adjacent to the grooves are part of a removable hoop fastened onto the roller. 
     
     
         11 . The roller claimed in  claim 10  wherein the removable hoop fastened onto the roller is made of metal. 
     
     
         12 . The roller claimed in  claim 10  wherein the removable hoop fastened onto the roller is fastened with bolts or screws and configured in two or more parts. 
     
     
         13 . The roller claimed in  claim 1  wherein the non-stick surface is part of a removable hollow cylinder placed over the roller. 
     
     
         14 . The roller of  claim 13  wherein the removable hollow cylinder is friction and tension fitted to the roller. 
     
     
         15 . The roller of  claim 1  wherein the grooves are of generally rectangular cross section. 
     
     
         16 . A method of sheeting a comestible dough comprising:
 providing a sheeting apparatus comprising a front roller with an outer surface with a plurality of circumferential grooves spaced along the outer surface and a hoop made of a thin band positioned in or over each groove;   wherein the surfaces of the roller immediately adjacent to either side of each groove is a non-release surface material;   wherein the surface material of the front roller between the non-release surfaces is a non-stick material;   wherein a stripper wire is threaded underneath the thin bands and against the non-release and non-stick surfaces;   sheeting a comestible dough at a speed greater than 85 feet per second and forming a sheet with a thickness of 25 to 30 mils, as measured prior to drying;   cutting out from the sheet a desired shape using a die cutting roller rolled against the front roller;   wherein the cutout portions of the sheet are stripped from the front roller and carried away on a conveyor belt and the rework from the cutouts is carried by the first roller back to the sheeting apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein dough is sheeted at a speed of 90 feet per second or more. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the sheet if formed with a thickness of 27 mils or less.