Automated pretzel forming machine

Details Automated pretzel forming machine Automated pretzel forming machine

1999-09-08

2001-08-21

Bhat, Nina (Department: 1761)

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

Pretzel bending type

C425S327000, C425S375000, C425S409000, C426S499000, C426S500000, C426S517000, C426S302000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06276919

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The current invention addresses the need for automatic pretzel making machinery that forms larger sized pretzels into the classic pretzel shape. The method shown offers a unique way of forming any size pretzel, however our development focus was production of larger gourmet pretzels. There has been much work in the so-called bulk bag bite size pretzels commonly sold in the grocery stores. However many of these production machines do not form the classic pretzel shape. The present invention automates the forming of the pretzel into the classic “child with folded praying arms shape” attributed to circa 610 AD. Because of the difficulty in forming this classic shape, many current automation techniques for bulk pretzel manufacture alter or simplify the shape of the pretzel to achieve the required production rates and capital costs.
The majority of the prior art and inventions cited offer methods, which are not the classic pretzel shape. Of the patents cited, the only ones which wind up with the classic shape are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,766,663, 5,702,732, 5,556,660, 5,494,428, and 5,009,910. These cited patents use vastly different methods, some more suited to bulk manufacture of smaller pretzels, and some require large capital outlays because of the complexity of the equipment. Also if these cited methods were scaled up to produce the larger gourmet pretzels the resulting floor space and investment in capital equipment make these machines unusable for many point of sale production facilities. Prior art also cited in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,894,002 and 4,536,147 use an extruder to present the dough and some type of X-Y movement which limits the movement to produce only an altered pretzel shape.
The present invention combines modern automated forming techniques, which results in greater consistency of product, speed of production, with the classic 610 AD “hand formed” pretzel shape.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a general object of the present invention to provide a machine that takes raw pretzel dough and produces a salted unbaked pretzel with the same characteristics as if it were hand formed.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a machine that produces pretzels for point of sale production facilities. That is, the machine is to be compact in size and easy to disassemble and reassemble for daily cleaning
It is further the object of the present invention to provide a machine that produces fresh pretzels with hand formed characteristics at a faster rate than if made by hand.
In accordance with the present invention, the hand formed characteristics are achieved through the use of a unique folding table onto which raw dough is extruded and the dough rope shaped through bi-directional motion of the folding table on a bi-directional positioning stage. The folding table also twists the dough then folds it resulting in a pretzel with hand formed characteristics. The raw dough pretzel is subjected to a soda water spray and salting before being unloaded from the machine into a conveyor oven. The application of the soda water causes the pretzel to brown when baked in the oven. Also in accordance with the present invention, all parts that come in direct contact with food items are easily disassembled with no tools for daily cleaning.
The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views.


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Benzel's Pretzel “How Pretzels Were Invented” www.aasdcat.com/cyber/brbenz.htm.
By Jeanine 1996 “Soft Pretzel Recipe” http://soar.berkeley.edu/recipes/snacks/pretzels04.rec.

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