Machine for making filled pasta

A machine for making filled pasta comprising:

• a first feeding device configured for feeding a first layer of pasta dough,
• a second feeding device including at least one pair of laminating rollers configured for feeding a second layer of pasta dough,
• a shaping device including at least one driven movable mold defining a cavity and a sealing edge surrounding at least a portion of the cavity, the cavity receiving the first and second layers of pasta dough and a filling to form the filled pasta, the shaping device located downstream of the first and second feeding devices, with reference to an unrolling direction of the first and second layers of pasta dough;
• the shaping device being configured to advance the first and second layers of pasta dough and also configured, while advancing the first and second layers of pasta dough, to shape the first and second layers of pasta dough to receive the filling and to seal the first and second layers of pasta dough to each other with the sealing edge to define a joining zone;
• the machine being configured to control the advancing of the first and second layers of pasta dough by the respective first and second feeding devices such that at least along a first stretch of a path of the first layer of pasta dough between the first feeding device and the shaping device, an excess length of the first layer of pasta dough forms by gravity a respective first bend having a vertical orientation along the unrolling direction and at least along a first stretch of a path of the second layer of pasta dough between the second feeding device and the shaping device, an excess length of the second layer of pasta dough forms by gravity a respective second bend having a vertical orientation along the unrolling direction;
• wherein the first feeding device comprises a first pair of laminating rollers and a second pair of laminating rollers configured for laminating the first layer of pasta dough;
• the second pair of laminating rollers being located after the first pair of laminating rollers with reference to the unrolling direction of the first layer of pasta dough;
• a first advancing device including a first driven conveyor configured for advancing the first layer of pasta dough and interposed between at least a portion of the first feeding device and the shaping device for causing the excess length of the first layer of pasta dough to form the first bend along the first stretch of the path of the first layer of pasta dough between the first advancing device and the shaping device;
• the first driven conveyor having an upward facing surface which supports a weight of the first layer of pasta dough along a length of the first driven conveyor, thereby precluding stretch of the first layer of pasta dough along the length of the first driven conveyor, the excess length of the first layer of pasta dough forming the first bend along the first stretch of the path of the first layer of pasta dough between the first driven conveyor and the shaping device, directly downstream of the first driven conveyor;
• a second advancing device including a second driven conveyor configured for advancing the second layer of pasta dough and interposed between at least a portion of the second feeding device and the shaping device for causing the excess length of the second layer of pasta dough to form the second bend along the first stretch of the path of the second layer of pasta dough between the second advancing device and the shaping device, the second driven conveyor having an upward facing surface which supports a weight of the second layer of pasta dough along a length of the second driven conveyor, thereby precluding stretch of the second layer of pasta dough along the length of the second driven conveyor, the excess length of the second layer of pasta dough forming the second bend along the first stretch of the path of the second layer of pasta dough between the second driven conveyor and the shaping device, directly downstream of the second driven conveyor;
• a first control unit and a first measuring device configured for measuring a vertical depth of the first bend;
• the first measuring device being connected to the first control unit for controlling a speed of the first layer of pasta dough upstream of the shaping device;
• the first control unit being configured to control an advancing speed of the first advancing device to 1) reduce an advancing speed of the first layer of pasta dough upstream of the shaping device if the vertical depth of the first bend, measured by the first measuring device, exceeds a first predetermined maximum threshold value, and 2) increase the advancing speed of the first layer of pasta dough upstream of the shaping device if the vertical depth of the first bend, measured by the first measuring device, is below a first predetermined minimum threshold value;
• a second control unit and a second measuring device configured for measuring a vertical depth of the second bend in the second layer of pasta dough;
• the second measuring device being connected to the second control unit for controlling a speed of the second layer of pasta dough upstream of the shaping device;
• the second control unit being configured to control an advancing speed of the second advancing device to 1) reduce an advancing speed of the second layer of pasta dough upstream of the shaping device if the vertical depth of the second bend, measured by the second measuring device, exceeds a second predetermined maximum threshold value, and 2) increase the advancing speed of the second layer of pasta dough upstream of the shaping device if the vertical depth of the second bend, measured by the second measuring device, is below a second predetermined minimum threshold value.