Dough press with interchangeable perimeter edge molds

Details Dough press with interchangeable perimeter edge molds Dough press with interchangeable perimeter edge molds

1998-08-26

2001-12-25

Nguyen, Nam (Department: 1722)

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

With safety feature

Plural starting buttons or mold operating means dependent...

C425S167000, C425S408000, C099S432000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06332768

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to food processing equipment, and more particularly to a dough press machine for flattening a quantity of dough which includes interchangeable molds selectively attachable to a lower platen thereof for purposes of forming a pie crust of a desired diameter having a raised peripheral edge upon the completion of the flattening process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
There is currently known in the prior art different types of dough press machines, each of which is specifically suited for flattening a quantity of dough to facilitate the formation of, for example, a pizza pie crust. Currently known dough press machines typically comprise upper and lower platens which are attached to a support structure so as to be in alignment with each other. The upper platen is usually attached to an element of the support structure which is configured to allow the upper platen to be reciprocally moveable toward and away from the lower platen. Use of the prior art dough press machines is typically accomplished by initially placing a quantity of unformed dough either directly upon the lower platen or upon a carrier such as a pan which is placed upon the lower platen. Thereafter, the upper platen is actuated toward the lower platen so as to flatten the quantity of dough and spread the same radially outward in a manner forming a non-cooked crust having a generally circular shape. In some prior art dough press machines, the upper platen is provided with a heating element to par bake the dough during the crust formation process.
To provide access to the lower platen for the placement and removal of the dough from thereupon, the same is often pivotally or detachably mounted to the support structure of the dough press machine, and is thus movable from a position of vertical alignment with the upper platen to one in which the lower platen is disposed laterally outward relative to the upper platen. Thus, when a quantity of dough is to be flattened through the use of the dough press machine, the lower platen is typically first pivoted outwardly from beneath the upper platen, thus allowing the operator to easily place a quantity of dough upon the lower platen. Thereafter, the lower platen is pivoted back into vertical alignment with the upper platen, which is then actuated so as to move downwardly toward the lower platen in the above-described manner for purposes of flattening the quantity of dough. The reciprocation or upward and downward movement of the upper platen is typically accomplished either hydraulically or pneumatically. After the quantity of dough has been flattened, the lower platen is again pivoted from beneath the upper platen, with the flattened dough being removed from the lower platen and another quantity of dough being placed thereupon for flattening through the repetition of the above-described cycle.
While the prior art dough press machines are generally suitable for flattening a quantity of dough, they possess certain deficiencies in relation to the production of pizza pie crusts which detract from their overall utility. Foremost of these deficiencies is the inability of prior art dough press machines to flatten a quantity of dough in a manner wherein the resultant pizza pie crust formed by the flattening process includes a raised peripheral edge. As is well known to pizza makers, it is generally desirable for the peripheral edge of the pizza pie crust to be provided with a raised peripheral edge or lip for purposes of preventing pizza sauce or other viscous materials used in the pizza preparation from dripping or running over the edge of the crust. Those prior art dough press machines which include structures adapted to facilitate the formation of a raised peripheral edge on the resultant pizza pie crust are generally unable to produce pizza pie crusts of differing diameters.
The present invention addresses and overcomes the above-described deficiencies of prior art dough press machines by providing a dough press machine which is capable of flattening quantities of dough to form pizza pie crusts of any one of a number of differing diameters wherein each pizza pie crust, regardless of its diameter, is formed to include a raised peripheral edge. These and other objects of the present invention, will be described in more detail below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dough press machine for flattening a quantity of dough. The dough press machine comprises a housing having lower and upper platens attached thereto. In the present dough press machine, the lower platen is pivotally connected to the housing and movable between an operating position and an access position relative thereto. The upper platen is itself movably attached to the housing and reciprocally movable toward and away from the lower platen. More particularly, the present dough press machine includes a thrust actuator which is attached to the housing, with the upper platen being attached to the thrust actuator and reciprocally movable toward and away from the lower platen thereby. The lower platen defines a generally planar top surface, with the upper platen defining a generally planar bottom surface. Additionally, the lower and upper platens each preferably have a generally circular configuration, and are in substantial coaxial alignment with each other when the lower platen is in the operating position.
The dough press machine of the present invention further comprises a mold which is releasably attached to the lower platen. The mold preferably has a generally circular configuration, and defines a generally planar top surface as well as a peripheral edge. In the present dough press machine, the diameter of the mold is less than the diameter of the lower platen such that the top surface of the lower platen extends radially beyond the peripheral edge of the mold when the mold is releasably attached to the lower platen. As will be recognized, the upper platen is in substantial coaxial alignment with the mold when the same is attached to the lower platen and the lower platen is in its operating position.
In the present dough press machine, the lower platen includes a circularly configured opening which extends axially therethrough. Additionally, the mold includes a lock member which extends axially from the bottom surface thereof and has a size and configuration which is complementary to that of the opening. The receipt of the lock member into the opening facilitates the releasable attachment of the mold to the lower platen in a manner wherein the mold is prevented from rotating relative to the lower platen. In addition to the lock member, the mold includes a retainer member which has a generally U-shaped or horseshoe shaped configuration, and is attached to the lock member. The retainer member is engageable to a stop member of the present dough press machine which is attached to the housing. In this respect, the engagement of the retainer member to the stop member facilitates the location of the lower platen in its operating position.
The stop member, in addition to assisting in locating the lower platen to the operating position, also serves as a sensor which is electrically connected to the thrust actuator. In this respect, the stop member/sensor is operable to detect the position of the lower platen and the alignment thereof with the upper platen. More particularly, due to its location upon the housing, the stop member/sensor is able to detect when the lower platen has been pivoted into its operating position, and is operable to prevent the thrust actuator from moving the upper platen toward the lower platen when the lower platen is not in its operating position in substantial alignment with the upper platen.
The dough press machine of the present invention is used by initially moving the lower platen to its access position. Thereafter, a mold of a desired diameter is selected and releasably attached to the lower platen via the receipt of the lock member of the mold into the opening of the lower platen. A quan

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