Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONTRO~ FOR DOUGH LAI~ ;K
The present invention relates generally to a dough feeding system for use in
e~ g dough products by l~min~tion and lapping. More specifically, the
invention relates to an appaldLus and method for flexibly and precisely controlling
the lapping of a variety of l~ .led dough webs, including, for example, extremely
10 thin and delicate pre-formed dough webs, to avoid u-lwalll~d b~ r~ .g, stretching,
tearing, or other problems. The sub~ Lial flexibility and precision of the dough
lapping system is achieved ~rough the use of an independent controller for the
reciprocating conveyor portion of the dough lapper.
In the pro~nctic)n of llum~ us dirf~ L types of dough products, e.g.,
15 danish, croissants, biscuits, etc., it is desirable to provide l~ i"i1led dough
co~ 3lisillg a plurality of layers of ~ fat (e.g., vegetable oil or shortening)
and dough. The precise number of layers of l~ lrtl dough and the tllirkn~oss and
other characteristics of the dough that are desired in a given in~t~nre vary
depending on the particular product being made. Ideal lapped dough characteristics
2 o also vary according to how the layered dough is to be treated in subsequent stages
of the m~mTf~rtllring process for a given dough product. P~ec~nse of variability in
the desired lapping ~ el~, and because the particular dough and lapping
requirements for any product have to be integrated within the operation of the entire
dough feeding system (i.e., the "dough feeding line") when those par~m.oter~
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change, it is extremely advantageous to have a~palalus for dough lapping, which is
tahle to allow relatively easy variation in dough lapping, but an ~I)alalus
which is non~th~ ss capable of precise control.
Conventional dough lapping or l~ l;--g m~chin~s utilize various electro-
5 ..~rh .~ir~l appala~us to ~rr~.;luaLe the lapping of the dough. In general, however,prior dough lapping m~rhinPs colnplise two basic, esse..l;~lly motor-driven
conveyors positioned at 90 degrees relative to one another. A top collvt;yol,
typically referred to as the "infeed collv~yol," has a portion which reciprocates back
and forth to deposit layers of dough on a second, lower-positioned Collvt;yOL,
10 commonly referred to as the "outfeed" or "ta~away Collv~y()L."
The collvelllional infeed conveyor typically colll~lises several parts,
inrln(ling primarily an infeed belt, which is supported by underlying support
~dla~US, for moving the dough forward, and a l~i~?locaLillg shuttle, which
reciprocates relative to the infeed belt causing the dough to be lapped onto the
15 takeaway collv~yor. In collve..~ n~l ~y~ s, a single infeed conveyor drive means
(i.e., motor and gearing a~al~lus) effects motion of both the infeed belt and the
reciprocating shuttle of the infeed cull~t;yol. The reci~locating shuttle may include
one or more s~alale shuttle belts, which are also driven by the same single drive
means. Al~ ~Lively the reciprocating shuttle itself may simply interact with the
2 0 infeed belt to advance and l~ciprocdle it. Since both the infeed conveyor belt and
the r~ciplocaLmg shuttle m~rh~ni~m (with or without additional belts) are controlled
by the same single drive means, any desired adj..~."~s..l to ~e operation of either
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the infeed conveyor or the shuttle m~ch~ ,., affects the operation of both the
infeed conveyor and the shuttle in a collv~ ;on~l dough lapper. (In contrast, it is
typical for the takeaway conveyor to have a dirre~enl and independently-controlled
drive means from that used to drive the infeed col~veyc r and its various sub-
5 elPm~nt~ )
Generally, the structure, speed and pl~rem~nt of the drive means, inrhl~ing
the motor, gears, sprockets, shafts and belts, and other electro-mPch~nic~l
colllpollt;lll7 for the infeed belt and reciprocating shuttle of the convention~l infeed
~;ollveyor ~le~ P, among other things, the speed, direction, and length of travel
10 of the infeed conveyor. Also, construction and pl~cemPnt of the infeed collv~yor
dct~.~ the smoo~ness of travel of the infeed conveyor and the infeed collv~yor's
position relative to the takeaway conveyor at all points during dough lapping.
Accordingly, for a collvelllional infeed conveyor, col~,LIuclion of the infeed
COllvt:yol~s single drive means is important for dele- ~~ ~i-.g the nlallll~l in which the
15 infeed collv~yol will operate to lap the fat-treated dough.
Because the electro-m~h~ l colll~ollelll~ of the conveyors of a
collv~lllional lapper essPnti~lly ~e~ P or fLx the lapping characteristics of the
lapper, it is often diffi~ lt or impossible to modify the lapping characteristics
without altering or ch~nging fi-n-l~m~nt~l ~llu~;lult;s or electro-l..Pçh~l-ir~l
2 o components within conventional lapping a~alus. This is true even in dough
lappers that use variable tr~n~mi~.~ion systems, which are o~ liv~;ly interposed
between the infeed conveyor drive means and the reciprocating shuttle, to add
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variability in controlling the reciprocating shuttle. Specifically, such devices allow
the shuttle's linear speed to be varied with respect to the belt speed, but withsolllt;what limited precision. Moreover, such a~ara~us still does not allow the
length of travel of the shuttle, i.e., "stroke length" to be adjusted, the stroke length
5 being fixed by a linear gear. To affect such a change, ~>hy~ical components must be
changed.
With a single conveyor drive means, certain operational ch~r~ ;cs
cannot be fine tuned, so more preferable independent opl;.~ ,lion of the operation
of both the belt and shuttle is not fully possible in collvellLional dough llappers; that
10 is, the certain O~.alil~g ~Lules of the infeed conveyor are only subject to more or
less gross control. For example, the n~nel in which the leci~l.,c~Lillg shuttle
slows as it approaches the end of travel in a given direction and speeds up as it
begins travel in a given direction (i.e., "acceleration/deeeleration profile") is not
subject to precise control in a conventional dough lapper with a single drive means.
15 Although col~e~ g means and indirect control means can be added to offset
the limit~ti~m.c of using a single drive means, the single drive means still nltim~t~ly
limits flexibility. United States Patents Nos. 4,6~,890, and 4,821,634,
originally ~si~n~l to the ~si~n~e of the present invention (now ~ l to the
Moline Co. of Duluth, MN) and na,nil~g as inventor Peter Swanson, ~esrribe dough
2 o lappers generally of the kind sought to be improved by the present invention. The
'890 patent describes a dough lapper having an infeed c~llveyor and a takeaway
conveyor, the belts of which travel perpen~ir~ r to each other. The 7634 patent
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describes a dough l .,.~i., .IOl in which the infeed conveyor and the takeaway
conveyor belts operate in p~r~llel, i.e., "in line." Both patents show or discuss
distinct drive means for the reciprocating and takeaway COl~v~yOl~, but show and
discuss a single drive means for controlling the operation of the belt and the shuttle
5 system of the reciprocating conv~y()l, as is typical in conv~llional dough lapping
systems.
The a~ us of the Sv~ s->n patents do achieve some limited control of the
shuttle of the reciprocating conveyor as a result of the use of an air cylinder to
effect reciprocation of two additional shuttle system belts. However, while the air
lo cylinder permits some additional control, the air cylinder (like in a system with an
interposed variable tl~ ;on system) is also in driving conllec~ion with the same
single drive means for the infeed conveyor.
Accordillgly, the present invention is directed to providing greater control
and flexibility of dough lapping by independently controlling the infeed conveyor
15 belt and the reciploc~ shuttle. The present invention permits the conveyor belt
and shuttle m~ch~ to be ~ etotl relative to one another and relative to the
takeaway collvt:yol, either as hldel elldent el~m~-ntc or in combined operation.
The present invention further provide for electronic control of a drive means
to control the mov~ nl of the reci~rocalillg shutLle m~ch~ni~m, ~e. ~--i~ ~ ;ng precise
20 control and flexibility of dough lapping chal~cl~,lisLics. The controller should be
capable of precisely afr~clillg control of the speed of shuttle r~ciplocalion relative to
the speed of the infeed belt, the position at which the dough will begin to be
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deposited on the takeaway conveyor, and ~e width of the dough as it is lapped onto
the takeaway collv~;y~r.
The shuttle controller should be capable of d~l~....;,.i,.g the precise relativeposition of the collvcy~l's shuttle, and be capable of controlling the speed and~t celer~tion of the shuttle, inrlnrling when travel direction is reversed. The shuttle
controller should also be capable of providing o~ Ll~vel proLecLion to override any
il~ap~lop~ cly wide shuttle movement that may be brought about by, for example,
opel data input by a human ~cl~lor.
Acco~dingly, the present invention provides a dough web reeding device for
forming a dough web into a l~ "i"~ ;d dough web by lapping the dough web on
itself. S~ecirlcally, the dough web feeding device culll~lises an infeed collv~;yor
having a first Collvt;yi~ means with a top surface that in~ hl(1es a first discl~ c end
and a belt that is movably mounted on the first Collvcyillg means. The first
discharge end of the first cullv~ying means is non-~. c i~locaL~lg relative to the
ground during operation of the dough web feeding device.
The infeed conveyor of the dough web feeding device also includes a first
drive means (i.e., motor and gearing ap~aldLus with rollers) in col~bindLion with the
first conveying means operable for effecting movell~c.,L of the belt of the first
Collvcyillg means at a first Collvt;yil~g speed in a first direction.
~rl~1ition:~11y, the infeed conveyor inrlnl1e~ a reciprocating means or shuttle
mer.h~ni.~m positioned beneath the top surface of the Collvcyill~ means. The
reciprocating means includes a second dischalge end. The second discl~lge end of
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the reciprocating means is movable relative to said first discharge end to move the
belt of the collv~yur means in l~ciylocalil~g motion relative to the first discharge
end. The infeed conveyor also colllynises a second drive means in conll~ Lion with
the reciprocating means operable for effecting mov~ lll of the reciprocating means
at a second reciprocating speed in the first dhk.:lioll and in a second direction
opposite the first direction at a third reciprocating speed.
FIGS. lA and lB are top plan and side elevational views of the dough
lapper showing the COIlv~yOl belt, the reciprocating shuttle, the conveyor belt drive
means, and the drive means for the lcciylucaLillg shuttle.
0 FIG. 2 is a diag~ ie view in pelsyecLive showing the dough lapper,
including the infeed collv~yor, dough paths and the lCCiylOC~Lillg shuttle of the
infeed conv~yor.
FIG. 3 is a diag,~ ir view in perspective showing the conveyor drive
means and the servo stroke device CulllyliSi~ the reciprocating shuttle drive means.
FIG. 4 is a first side elevation of the servo stroke device and ~ttAche~
m~chAnieme.
FIG. 5 is a second side elevation of the servo stroke device and ~tt~rhe~
m~ hAl~,.e~".~,
FIGS. 6A and 6B are side elevational views of the dough lapper at an
20 ext~n~l~od and an i,~l~"l,~liAte position of travel of the reciprocating shuttle.
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R~f~. .;.-g to FIGS. lA and lB and 2, l~f~rellce numeral 10 ~esi~n~t.os
generally a dough lapping a~aldLus which is operable for taking a pre-formed webof dough 12 and laying web of dough 12 into a plurality of layers, one on top of the
other, fo~ lg a l~ ted or lapped dough 14. Dough lapper 10 generally
inrlll~es an infeed conveyor 16 and a takeaway conveyor 18. Lapped dough 14 is
shown being deposited in lapped condition on tak.,dwdy conveyor 18 for removal to
a snhseque~t processin~ stage/a~p~alus (not shown). In the present embo-lim~nt
infeed and takeaway conveyors 16 and 18 are shown being oriented p~ e~ r to
each other. However, this orientation is merely illu~llalive and the COllv~yOI~ may
be o~ led dirr~t;lllly, in~ lin~, for example, in parallel.
Three drive means are int~n~l~d to be used with dough lapper 10. Takeaway
conveyor 18 would be driven by its own drive means (not shown). Additionally,
infeed conveyor 16 is driven by two sepaldl~ drive means, a first drive means 20for effecting opelalioll of an infeed conveyor belt 22, and a second drive means 24
for effecting operation of reciprocating shuttle 26 of infeed COllv~yOL 16.
Drive means 20 inr.lll~es electro-m~ ni~l a~aLus of the kind generally
known in the art for use in ~ Lhlg infeed COllv~yOl- belt 22 completely through a
path of rotation 28. Path of rotation 28 is formed by and supported, where
a~f~pliaLe, by a plurality of rollers 30. As formed, path of ro~lioll 28 provides
2 û infeed collv~yor belt 22 with â top surface 32 upon which web of dough 12 is
carried Çc,l ~d toward reciprocating shuttle 26. Also, as explained in greater detail
below, path of rot~tion 28 is operative to accommodate and vary with the move,~ L
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of reciprocating shuttle 26. Reciprocating shuttle 26 is position~-l below top surface
32 of infeed COllvcyOl belt 22 such that, at a first dischargc end of top surface 32
where web of dough 12 falls from top surface 32, dough web 12 is deposited on a
portion of infeed conveyor belt 22 usually being kept in reciprocating motion
5 relative to the first disch~ end of top surface 32 by reciprocating shuttle 26. In
the plcr~ c,d embo~limPnt7 reciprocating shuttle 26 is in l(~n~ lin~l ~lignmPnt with
infeed conveyor belt 22.
Specific~lly, drive means 20 inrllT-les a L.li~llaly drive motor 34 (see also
FIG. 3), which is in driving engagement with driving belt 36, idler pulley system
lo 38, and driving belt 40 to effect mov~lllcllL of i~feed conveyor belt 22 along path of
rotation 28 in a well known llla~ . It should be obscl ~cd that, while drive means
20 causes conveyor belt 22 to operate in a nla~ to cooperate with reciprocating
shuttle 26 and allowing l~ loc~ling shuttle 26 to actually contact and move infeed
conveyor belt 22, drive means 20 does not itself effect movelllclll of reciprocating
shuttle 26.
Drive means 24 (including the ll~icru~r~cessor) effects movc"lcllL of
lo~aLillg shuttle 26 i~u~ ent of drive means 20. That is, no mPch~nir~l
linkage exists b~ween separate drive means 20 and 24. Drive mean 24 coTnpri.~es a
servo stroke device 44, the operation of which is dil~lly controlled by a
2 o microprocessor which is part of drive means 24. In a ~rercl,~d embo~lim.o.nt servo
~ stroke device 44 is indileclly controlled by a central proce~sin~ unit (CPU) 46,
which is operable to control all the various portions and filnrtion~ of dough lapper
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10, inrJ~l~ling drive means 20. ~ .l ;v~ly, drive means 20 may have a s~te
controller, in which case, CPU 46 would track --without controlling-- the operation
of drive means 20. CPU 46 allows pro~ of various pdl,..~P!rlx ( li.cc~l~sed
below) to effect precise operation of drive means 24 through its ~ Lopr(3cessor. In
5 the prert;lr~d embo~im~nt CPU 46 includes an input device in the form of a
keyboard (not shown), which a human ~ldlOl uses to control Lldl~~ of
operation for Icci~l~Jca~ulg shuttle 26.
Servo stroke device 44 is in drhing c~ e~;lion with servo linkage dy~alaLus
48. Linkage d~l~aldlUS 48 reciprocates in precise response to the movement of
10 servo stroke device 44. In turn, servo linkage a~alalus 48 is in driving conn~ction
with roller SU~)oll means 50 and 52, each of which comprises one or more rollers
for cont~-~.ting and advallcillg conveyor belt 22 to acco,.~",~te the reciprocation of
reciprocating shuttle 26 caused by precise rotational movt;lllenl in opposite
directions by servo stroke device 44. (See FIGS. 3, 6A and 6B.)
Roller support means 52 is positioned at an e~ ellle second dischdl~e end of
conveyor belt 22 at which end web of dough 12 falls from infeed collv~yol belt 22
onto takeaway coll~/~yor 18. Rec~ se roller support means 52 is kept in
reciprocating motion by servo stroke device 44 and servo linkage a~)al'~lllS48,
dough web 12 is deposited in lapped fashion onto tak~way collv~ol 18. It will be
2 0 a~a~ l that the precise n~ of lapping is dependent on the speeds of the
conveyors relative to each other and on the relative positions of the second
discllarge end and the takeaway conveyor. It will, thelcrol~, also be appd~ t that
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the present invention makes the ll~ er of lapping precisely controllable by servo
stroke device 44, which is ~rogL~ hle by means of a microprocessor (not shown)
t~ control the speed of movement and the length of travel of servo linkage a~l2aldLUS
48 and, Lll~lcro-e, of roller SuypOlL means 52. Although a servomotor-driven stroke
device is described in the present embo~liml~nt it is understood that any suitable
drive means could be used to control shuttle m~h~ 26.
More specifically, it will be observed that roller ~u~oll means 52 has a
range of motion 54 through which the second discharge end travels. The potentialchange in the length of path of rotation 28 caused by range of motion 54 of roller
support means 52 must be offset in order to l.l~ conveyor belt 22 in tension
and traveling at a suitable speed. To accomplish this, the present invention also
utilizes servo linkage aL.~a,aLus 48 to effect movement of roller ~u~poll means 50.
Roller support means 50 also has a range of motion 56 associated with it. Rangesof motion 54 and 56 are made compl i~ y to each other so that, as roller supportmeans 52 moves OULWdrl:l, roller support means 50 moves ~ulwaçllly at a s~ ntly
retarded speed to retain tension in conveyor belt 22. As roller support means 52moves inward, roller support means 50 moves inwardly at a sufficiently i~ eased
speed to also p~ev~ L the presence of slack in conveyor belt 22. (See FIGS. 6A and
6B.)
2 o To provide some further detail, it can be seen that servo linkage a~L,~d~us
~ 48 advances and retracts to change the position of the second discharge end at the
end of roller ~u~C~lL means 52 to f~cilit~te lapping, servo linkage a~aldLus 48
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being ".isc~ lly conn~cte~l to roller means 52 and to roller means 50. As rollersupport means 52 is moved uuLw~d, the total tli~t~nre of travel for conveyor belt
22 l~,m~ills I---r~ d because, at the same time, roller support means 50 is alsomoved uulwald. This results in compli---~ -y dl,.~ges in ranges of motion 54 and56, ~ ctin~ the length of travel of conveyor belt 22 toward and around rollers 55A
and 55B of roller ~u~ull means 50 and 52, lc~e~;Lively.
That is, as reciprocating shuttle 26 a~l~allces, the length of travel of
conveyor belt 22 toward and over roller 55A decreases because the advance of
roller support means 50 moves roller 55A closer to the first discharge end of
col~veyor belt 22. At the same time and in a corresponding amount to ",~i"l;.;"
tension in belt 22, the length of travel of collv~;yol belt 22 toward and over roller
55B i~creâses because the advance of roller support means 52 moves roller 55B
farther from the first dischalge end of co,lv~yol- belt 22. The pl~cess is lcve~sed
when reciprocating shuttle 26 is retracted. During lc~a~;liull, the length of travel of
co~v~yor belt 22 toward and over roller 55A increases because the retraction of
roller ~u~oll means 50 moves roller 55A farther away from the first discharge end
of col,vt;yor belt 22. At the same time and, again, in collc;~oll~lillg amount, the
length of travel of COllv~yOl belt 22 toward and over roller 55B decr~ases because
the retraction of roller support means 52 moves roller 55B closer to the first
2 o discharge end of conveyor belt 22.
Thus, it is a~dlellL that the positions of roller means 50 and 52 relative to
one ~no~ and to the first discl ~ge end of top surface 32, will allow co"v~:yor
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belt 22 to remain in rotation with the requisite amount of t~n~ion F~ r-~ ore, it
will be appreciated that the particular a~alaLus for accompli~hin~ the above-
desc.il)ed reciprocation should not be limited to the precise a~lpa,~lus herein
described with this plcrt:lled embo-lim.ont
R~Çell~g to FIGS. 3-5, reciprocating shuttle 26, drive means 20 and 24,
and servo linkage a~al~lus 48, are described here in greater detail. The servo
stroke device or a~lalus 44 co~ ;ses, among other things, a state of the art
servomotor 45 having a resolver means for use in precisely t1~lr,l llli~ the amount
and speed of rotation of the servomotor. Il~ullllalion provided by the resolver is
available to the microprocessor of servo stroke device 22 and to CPU 46 to control
the servomotor.
Servo stroke device 44 is linked by a standard gearing app~a~us 58 that re-
orients the plane of rotation by 90 degrees. (In the preferred embodiment described
here, re-orientation of the plane of rotation accomplishes a si~nifir~nt space savings
in the overall housing for dough lapper 10.) A sprocket 60 of gearing alJ~alatus 58
drives a chain 62 that turns a sprocket 64. Sprocket 64 is conn~ct~-l to a shaft 66
used to turn a roller 68 that turns a belt 70.
In the pl~r~llcd embo-lim~nt, belt 70 is made to rotate in reciprocating
motion by seno stroke device 44, but belt 70 has a limit~(l, fnely ~djllst~ble
2 o rotation of less than one-half rotation. This allows a clamping bracket 72, which is
positioned on the top side of belt 70 to be retained on the top side of belt 70 and
effect reciprocating motion of a reciprocating bar 74 which comprises part of the
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servo stroke device 44. Reci~roca~ing bar 74 is ~u~olL~d from cont~cting the
servo and gearing a~-alus by a ~u~Oll connP-ctor 78 slidably co.~ cl~d to a
~u~olL bar 80. Reciprocating bar 74 connects to roller ~u~u~ means 50 and 52
through a linkage bracket 82. Linkage bracket 82 connects to a servo linkage bar
84 that assists in driving roller support means 50 and 52 in cooperative mo~,~l.. ~;.ll,
as described above. Specifically, servo linkage bar 84 pulls a chain 85 that turns
sproc~t 86 to move inward (toward the servo) roller support means 50 and 52,
which are physically conn~cted to operate in concert with each other. (See E IGS.
6A AND 6B.) Another sprocket 88 and chain 90 (see FIG. 3) operate to turn the
0 rollers in roller ~u~oll means 50 when conveyor belt 22 is moving.
Accordingly, it can be seen that the present inYention is ~rÇecliv~ to precisely
control ~e dough lapping process by controlling and driving operation of the
reciprocating shuttle independent of the conveyor belt. Yet, because central
electronic controls are employed that receive data and lla~ control i,)fol~ ion
15 to the drive means for the reciprocating shuttle, and that receive data from the
conveyor belt drive means, the speed of reciprocating shuttle 26 of the present
invention can be ~dj--~t~d relative to the speed of conveyor belt 22 lltili7in~ the
cet~ lly processed illr~JI ."~ on. Specifically, the present invention allows a human
~el~or to specify, elecllol~ically, a speed "ratio" (as betweell conveyor and
2 o shuttle) to set the speed of operation of l~ Calillg shuttle 26.
The L"esel-L invention therefore permits greater control and flexibility in
dough lapping, allowing independent control of the lapping characteristics,
14
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inr.lullin~ the lap offset, the lap stroke and the lap widtb. The lap offset is the
position 92 on takeaway conveyor 18 where the dough is first deposited on the
takeaway collv~yor. The lap stroke 94 is the total ~ re of travel of shuttle 26
from the offset position 92, which ~leL~ lP~s the lap width of the lapped dough 14.
5 Rec~ e shuttle m~r~ 26 is controlled independently of infeed conveyor belt
22, each of these lapping chara~;L,li~lics can be precisely ~jnctP~ wi~,uuL requiring
.cignifir~nt cll~nges to the overall system 10. Increased flexibility in sçlPcting the
lapping ch~r~rtçrictir~s pe~ a wider variety of products to be made on the same
lapper without requiring e~ siv~ line downtime and equipment retooling to make
0 difr~,cl.~ products as with previous dough lapping ap~alus.
Along the same lines, the present invention allows a human operator to
specify an "offset" position 92 at which location on takeaway conveyor 18 dough
will begin to be lapped. An c~eld~or can also specify how far reciprocating shuttle
26 will travel from the shuttle position corresponding to the offset to ~lP tç " ,; .~ a
15 "stroke" 94 or total width of travel and the width of lapped dough 14. ~See ~IG.
2.~ In anu~r emboflim~o-nt, the shuttle mPc~ 26 can be locked in a single
nonreciprocating position while infeed conveyor 22 continues its path of rotation.
This p.,~ yet ~lllel degree of flexibility in that the dough lapping eqllipm~nt
can function simply as a conveyor without lapping the dough. Having the ability to
20 control the shuttle 26 independently of the conveyor drive means 20 eli",i"~les the
need to remove the entire lapping a~alalus 10 from the dough procçssing line if
lapping is not desired for a particular product.
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The present invention also permits precise control of servo stroke device 44
such that its speed and acceleration/deceleration profile can be finely controlled
throughout its rotational mov~lelll. This p~ llniLs the movement of reciprocating
shuttle 26 to be adjusted to avoid ~ hil~ of thin dough webs, or to put extra
5 tension across a dough web when this is desired.
~ re.. ;.,g to EIG. 5, a further feature of the present invention is ~escribed.
The present invention incorporates o~ dvel prot~ ion to plcv~;llL excessive
movement of reciprocating shuttle 26. In the ~lcr~lred embo~limPnt, the invention
inrJIl(lPs travel sensors 96, 98 and 100. These sensors work in colljul~Lion with a
position elçmP-nt 102 (~ rhP~l to clamping bracket 72~, and the microprocessor of
reciprocating conveyor 16 to ~iete....i~-~ when the amount of rotation of belt 70 is
too great. This might be caused, for ~x~ ,le, if a human ~c;~aLol specifies and
inoldilldlely small (negative) offset or an excessive (positive) stroke.
Clamping bracket 72 and position el~mPnt 102 norm~lly should travel only
15 bclvveell sensor element 96, which is positioned to cullespol~d to a zero offset for
reciprocating conveyor 16, and a location interior to sensor eJemPnt 98, ~e position
of which co~r~spollds to just slightly more than the m~ximnm allowable stroke for
lapped dough 14. Accordingly, if position elemP,nt 102 comes to be ~etectPd by
either of position sensors 96, 98 or 100, it will be known that m~ximnm (or more
2 o than m~ximllm) travel has taken place; any nPcess~ry coll~cLi~/e action will then be
carried out. F.Yres~ive movel,l~lll in the direction of position sensor 94 is known as
16
CA 02207578 1997-06-11
W O 97/18716 PCTfUS96/18034
"positive" overtravel; excessive movement in the direction of position sensor 96 is
known as "negative" Ov~lavel.
While the foregoing description seeks to fully capture the present invention,
it should be lln-l~rstood that the form of this invention is not int~n-le~l to be limited
5 by the L~,r~lled embodiment, as herein illustrated and described.
