Apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction

Claim 1

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and guide means operatively associated with the rolling means to support the rolling means when in contact with the dough against upward or downward deflection and thereby restrict the rolling means to predetermined elevations at all times while moving from the center to the periphery of the dough strip.

Claim 2

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and guide means operatively associated with the rolling means to support the rolling means when in contact with the dough against upward or downward deflection and thereby restrict the rolling means to predetermined elevations at all times while moving from the center to the periphery of the dough strip.

Claim 3

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mouNted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and a flour catch pan removably mounted in the lower portion of the apparatus, said flour catch pan having openings therein for the rolling means to extend downwardly therethrough into contact with the dough.

Claim 4

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mouNted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and a flour catch pan removably mounted in the lower portion of the apparatus, said flour catch pan having openings therein for the rolling means to extend downwardly therethrough into contact with the dough.

Claim 5

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and said rolling means comprising a series of rollers each mounted for free rotation on its own axis and each roll is mounted upon a nylon bushing.

Claim 6

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and said rolling means comprising a series of rollers each mounted for free rotation on its own axis and each roll is mounted upon a nylon bushing.

Claim 8

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and said rolling means being supported upon drive chain means entrained over chain sprockets located at the approximate center of the apparatus and laterally thereof whereby the movement of the chain over the sprocket carries the rolls from a centrally located position to the side edge of the dough strip and back again and roll accelator means mounted upon the framework in position to be engaged by the rolls before the rolls contact the dough surface whereby the engagement between the accelerator means and the rolls will cause the rolls to rotate just prior to their coming into contact with the dough surface thereby reducing friction between the rolls and the dough.

Claim 9

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and from the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough strip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and said rolling means being supported upon drive chain means entrained over chain sprockets located at the approximate center of the apparatus and laterally thereof whereby the movement of the chain over the sprocket carries the rolls from a centrally located position to the side edge of the dough strip and back again and roll accelator means mounted upon the framework in position to be engaged by the rolls before the rolls contact the dough surface whereby the engagement between the accelerator means and the rolls will cause the rolls to rotate just prior to their coming into contact with the dough surface thereby reducing friction between the rolls and the dough.

Claim 10

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and form the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough sTrip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and said rolling means being supported upon drive chain means entrained over chain sprockets located at the approximate center of the apparatus and laterally thereof whereby the movement of the chain over the sprocket carries the rolls from a centrally located position to the side edge of the dough strip and back again and the rolling means being elevated at the center of the apparatus slightly higher than the elevation of the rolling means at the periphery of the dough strip whereby excessive thinning at the center of the strip is prevented.

Claim 11

An apparatus for rolling dough strips in the cross machine direction comprising a supporting framework adapted to be suspended over a dough strip, dough spreading rolling means mounted upon the framework for movement while positioned in operative contact with the dough strip from the approximate center of the apparatus to the left side thereof along a lateral path of travel perpendicular to the axis of the rolling means and form the approximate center of the apparatus to the right side thereof to thereby spread the dough sTrip laterally of its central axis toward each side edge thereof when each rolling means moves outwardly on the lateral axis, elevating means to lift the rolling means away from the dough when they travel from the periphery of the apparatus to the center thereof, thereby holding the rolling means out of contact with the dough and said rolling means being supported upon drive chain means entrained over chain sprockets located at the approximate center of the apparatus and laterally thereof whereby the movement of the chain over the sprocket carries the rolls from a centrally located position to the side edge of the dough strip and back again and the rolling means being elevated at the center of the apparatus slightly higher than the elevation of the rolling means at the periphery of the dough strip whereby excessive thinning at the center of the strip is prevented.