Methods and systems for automatically extruding and cutting dough-based products having pre-selected weights
AssigneeHDN Development Corporation
InventorsGarcie M. McCall, Stanley N. Lowry, Charles David Crawford, Joey R. Spruill, Robert Simpson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for automatically forming dough-based products, such as doughnuts involves pressurizing a tank containing dough. The dough is extruded to form a flight of dough-based products. The weight of the flight of dough-based products is measured. The weight data is transmitted to a computer. The measured weight is compared to a predetermined weight stored in the computer memory. The pressure in the tank is adjusted automatically before subsequent extrusions.
Claims32
A method for automatically forming dough-based products, comprising:
- adding dough to a tank comprising a lid;
- securing the lid to the tank;
- pressurizing the tank containing dough;
- extruding the dough into at least one dough-based product;
- determining weight data, wherein determining weight data comprises measuring the weight of the at least one dough-based product;
- comparing the weight data of the at least one dough-based product to a predetermined weight stored in a computer memory;
- and
- adjusting the pressure in the tank based on the weight comparison.
An apparatus for automatically forming dough-based products, comprising:
- an extruder tank comprising a lid and an air inlet, and containing dough;
- means for securing the lid to the extruder tank;
- a source of air pressure coupled to the air inlet;
- a computer;
- at least one load cell in communication with the extruder tank and the computer;
- an air pressure controller in communication with the computer and the source of air pressure;
- and
- at least one extruding mechanism for extruding at least one dough-based product.
An apparatus for extruding, comprising:
- an extruder tank for containing dough comprising a lid and an air inlet;
- means for securing the lid to the extruder tank;
- a source of air pressure coupled to the air inlet;
- a computer;
- at least one load cell in communication with the extruder tank and the computer;
- an air pressure controller in communication with the computer and the source of air pressure;
- and
- at least one extruding mechanism in communication with the extruder tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.