Heated platen expansion compensator for a dough press

A dough press comprising:

• (a) a base, an upper platen attached to an upper frame attached to the base, and a lower platen attached to a lower frame attached to the base, at least one of the platens being a heated platen;
• (b) an expansion compensating coupler for attaching the heated platen to its corresponding frame, the expansion compensating coupler including at least two expansion compensating assemblies, each expansion compensating assembly comprising:
• (1) a threaded rod with a diameter attached to the heated platen;
• (2) a coupler hole in the corresponding frame;
• (3) a sleeve in the coupler hole, the sleeve having a length, and a coaxial bore with a diameter larger than the threaded rod diameter;
• and
• (4) in order moving away from the platen, a distal nut turned onto the threaded rod, a distal washer on the threaded rod, the threaded rod extending through the bore, a proximal washer on the threaded rod, and a proximal nut turned onto the threaded rod;
• (5) whereby the distal nut and proximal nut are tightened to secure the platen to the corresponding frame and whereby, when the heated platen is heated and expands, the diameter of the bore is larger enough relative to the diameter of the threaded rod to permit the threaded rod to move outwardly within the bore, thereby preventing warping of the platen.

A dough press comprising:

• (a) a base, an upper platen attached to an upper frame attached to the base, and a lower platen attached to a lower frame attached to the base, at least one of the platens being a heated platen;
• (b) an expansion compensating coupler for attaching the heated platen to its corresponding frame, the expansion compensating coupler including at least two expansion compensating assemblies, each expansion compensating assembly comprising:
• (1) a threaded rod with a diameter attached to the heated platen;
• (2) a coupler hole in the corresponding frame with a diameter larger than the threaded rod diameter;
• (3) in order moving away from the platen, a distal nut turned onto the threaded rod, a distal washer on the threaded rod, the threaded rod extending through the coupler hole, a proximal washer on the threaded rod, and a proximal nut turned onto the threaded rod;
• (4) whereby the distal nut and proximal nut are tightened to secure the platen to the corresponding frame and whereby, when the heated platen is heated and expands, the diameter of the coupler hole is larger enough relative to the diameter of the threaded rod to permit the threaded rod to move outwardly within the coupler hole, thereby preventing warping of the platen.