Apparatus for treating dough

Apparatus for the treatment of dough comprising:

• a drum having a longitudinal axis, said drum being mounted for rotation around said axis, said drum including radially inwardly extending openings on an outer peripheral surface of the drum for receiving dough portions;
• a first station for introducing dough portions into said openings;
• a second station for treating the dough portions received in the openings;
• a third station for ejecting the dough portions from the openings,
• said first, second and third stations being disposed near the periphery of the drum and further being spaced circumferentially around the periphery of the drum;
• means for rotating the drum in stepwise increments;
• a plurality of pistons, each respectively arranged for sliding radial movement within a corresponding one of said openings;
• curved guide means associated with said plurality of pistons for positively guiding inward and outward radial movement of the pistons during at least one phase of treatment, said guide means being mounted for rotation around the axis of drum, said guide means having a predetermined starting rotational position, said guide means comprising at least two curved path sections carried on at least two cam members, said cam members being received in assembled relation such that said curved path sections cooperate to form said guide means, said cam members being adjustable relative to each other independently of their rotational motion;
• means for rotating the guide means relative to the drum at least during phases when the drum is not being rotated, said means comprising at least two concentrically bearingly supported shafts respectively associated with said cam members;
• adjustment means for adjusting the starting rotational position of the guide means;
• and
• adjustment means for adjusting rotational positions of said shafts relative to each other.