Dough handling unit and apparatus for and a method of handling dough

A dough handling unit for handling dough, the dough handling unit comprising

• a housing;
• an inlet configured for introducing the dough into the housing;
• an outlet configured for discharge of the dough from the housing;
• a handling chamber configured for handling the dough, the handling chamber arranged within the housing along a portion between the inlet and the outlet, and the handling chamber substantially closed off relative to the surroundings;
• and
• a dough structuring portion arranged in the handling chamber, the dough structuring portion having a nozzle which is configured to reduce a flow cross-section for structuring of the dough, and the flow cross-section in the dough structuring portion downstream of the nozzle enlarged again in relation to the reduced flow cross-section in a region of the nozzle.

An apparatus for processing dough, the apparatus comprising:

• a dough handling unit for handling the dough, the dough handling unit comprising a housing, an inlet configured for introducing the dough into the housing, an outlet configured for discharge of the dough from the housing, a handling chamber configured for handling the dough, and a dough structuring portion arranged in the handling chamber, the handling chamber arranged within the housing along a portion between the inlet and the outlet, the handling chamber substantially closed off relative to the surroundings, the dough structuring portion having a nozzle which is configured to reduce a flow cross-section for structuring of the dough, and the flow cross-section in the dough structuring portion downstream of the nozzle enlarged again in relation to the reduced flow cross-section in a region of the nozzle;
• and
• a filling machine coupled to the dough handling unit, the filling machine including a filling hopper configured for receiving the dough and a delivery pump configured for delivery of the dough to the dough handling unit,
• wherein the dough handling unit arranged downstream of the delivery pump.

A method of processing dough, the method comprising:

• introducing a dough into a dough feed opening of a substantially-closed processing section;
• delivering the dough in the processing section by a filling machine in a direction of a dough discharge opening, wherein the dough passes through a handling unit which is arranged after the filling machine in a delivery direction of the dough;
• and
• handling the dough in the handling unit by passing the dough through a dough structuring portion with a nozzle reducing the flow cross-section for structuring of the dough.