Transport module for handling softened dough intermediates
AssigneeThe Pillsbury Company
InventorsJeffrey A. Samayoa, Jeffrey L. Casper, J. Kofi A. Mensah, Dennis B. Usgaard, Bruce W. Robb, James W. Finkowski
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Abstract
The present invention is directed to an improved apparatus for processing dough intermediates that are less developed, softer or which have enhanced water or moisture levels. More specifically, the present invention relates to the use of an improved dough transport module, that has one or more protuberances extending generally perpendicularly from a supporting surface which supports the dough intermediate for a sufficient interval of time during processing so as to eliminate the waste and loss of dough intermediates prior to processing or packaging steps.
Claims24
A dough intermediate transport module, comprising;
- a substantially rigid outer frame, said rigid outer frame having a predetermined shape corresponding to a prearranged configuration that aids in forming a finished dough product, and said rigid outer frame further having an externally extending configuration and an internally arranged configuration;
- at least one protuberance extending substantially perpendicularly from said internally arranged configuration;
- and
- wherein said protuberance on said internally arranged configuration prevents a dough intermediate from falling out of the dough transport module prior to applying motive force to remove the dough intermediate from the dough transport module.
A dough intermediate transport module, comprising;
- a plurality of generally planar surfaces, each of said generally planar surfaces having first and second longitudinally extending side edges, first and second transversely extending end edges and first and second faces;
- said generally planar surfaces are connected one to another along one of said first and second longitudinally extending side edges to form a geometric configuration;
- at least one protuberance extending substantially perpendicularly from one of said first and second faces of one of said plurality of generally planar surfaces, said protuberance being disposed in an area of said one of said first and second faces that is at least slightly away from one of said first and second transversely extending end edges;
- and
- wherein said at least one protuberance aids in retaining a softened dough intermediate in the transport module during processing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.