Claims
- 1. A method of pressing deformable dough portions comprising the steps of:
- providing a pair of opposing platens;
- providing a central press block positioned between the platens;
- providing a coercive element, attached to the platens, to alternately urge the press plate toward each platen;
- placing a dough portion between the press block and the first platen;
- cycling the press block toward the first platen;
- placing a second dough portion between the press block and the second platen; and cycling the press block toward the second platen.
- 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of heating the platens.
- 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
- providing a source of air pressure; and
- directing the air pressure toward each of the platens.
- 4. The method of claim 1 including the step of:
- providing said coercive element as an electromagnet.
- 5. The method set forth in claim 4 wherein:
- the step of cycling said press block comprises energizing said electromagnet with current of one polarity.
- 6. The method set forth in claim 5 wherein:
- the step of cycling said press block comprises reversing the polarity of current energizing said electromagnet.
- 7. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
- placing said dough portion between said press block and said first platen in timed relationship to energizing said coercive element.
- 8. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
- providing said coercive element as electromagnets in each of said platens and energizing said electromagnets with current flowing in one direction to cycle said press block toward said first platen and then energizing said electromagnets with current in another direction to cycle said press block toward said second platen.
- 9. The method set forth in claim 8 including the step of:
- timing the placement of a dough portion between said press block and said platens, respectively, in relation to energizing said electromagnets.
- 10. The method set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:
- heating said platens with hot air directed toward said platens, respectively.
- 11. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
- heating said platens with electrical heaters disposed adjacent said platens.
- 12. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
- heating said platens with electrical heaters formed integrally with said platens.
- 13. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
- placing a low friction coating on cooperating surfaces of said press block and said platens to reduce friction between said dough portions and said surfaces, respectively.
- 14. The method set forth in claim 13 wherein:
- the step of placing said coating comprises coating said surfaces with polytetrafluoroethylene.
- 15. The method set forth in claim 1 including the step of:
- placing dough portions between said press block and said platens, respectively, with a feeder assembly.
- 16. The method set forth in claim 15 wherein:
- said dough portions are placed between said press block and said platens by dispensing said dough portions, respectively, from plural cups of said feeder assembly.
- 17. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein:
- the step of placing said dough portion between said press block and said first platen comprises dropping said dough portion onto a first surface of said press block for guiding said dough portion into a position between said press block and said first platen; and
- the step of placing said second dough portion between said press block and said second platen comprises dropping a dough portion onto a second surface of said press block for guiding said second dough portion to a position between said press block and said second platen.
- 18. A method of pressing deformable dough portions into flat dough products comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus including a pair of opposed platens, a central press block disposed between said platens and movable toward and away from each of said platens and a coercive element operable to alternately urge said press block toward each of said platens;
- placing a first dough portion between said press block and one of said platens and causing said coercive element to move said press block toward said one platen to flatten said first dough portion; and
- placing a second dough portion between said press block and the other of said platens and causing said coercive element to move said press block toward said other platen to flatten said second dough portion.
- 19. The method set forth in claim 18 including the step of:
- providing a feeder assembly disposed adjacent said apparatus for feeding said dough portions seriatim to said apparatus for placement between said press block and said platens, respectively.
- 20. The method set forth in claim 18 including the step of:
- providing said coercive element as magnetic means for moving said press block from a first pressing position close to one of said platens to a second pressing position close to the other of said platens.
- 21. The method set forth in claim 20 including the step of:
- providing said magnetic means as at least one permanent magnet connected to said press block and providing electromagnets connected to each of said platens, respectively.
- 22. The method set forth in claim 21 including the step of:
- energizing each of said electromagnets to cause said press block to move toward said first platen and said second platen, respectively, to press said dough portions between said press block and said platens, respectively.
- 23. The method set forth in claim 22 including the step of:
- timing the placement of dough portions between said press block and said platens, respectively, in relation to energizing said electromagnets.
- 24. The method set forth in claim 18 wherein:
- the step of placing said dough portion between said press block and said one platen comprises placing said dough portion on a first surface of said press block for guiding said dough portion into a position between said press block and said one platen; and
- the step of placing said second dough portion between said press block and said other platen comprises placing a dough portion on a second surface of said press block for guiding said second dough portion to a position between said press block and said other platen.
- 25. A method of pressing deformable dough portions into flat dough products comprising the steps of:
- providing an apparatus including first and second opposed platens, a central press block disposed between said platens and movable toward and away from each of said platens, said press block including first and second guide surfaces for guiding dough portions to positions between said press block and said platens, respectively, a coercive element operable to alternately urge said press block toward each platen and a feeder assembly disposed adjacent said apparatus for feeding dough portions seriatim to said press block for placement between said press block and said platens, respectively, as guided by said guide surfaces on said press block, respectively;
- energizing said coercive element to cause said press block to move toward said first platen and said second platen, respectively, to press dough portions between said press block and said platens, respectively; and
- timing the feeding of said dough portions to said press block for placement between said press block and said platens, respectively, in relation to energizing said coercive element.
Parent Case Info
This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/905,591 filed Aug. 4, 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,937,739.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Divisions (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
905591 |
Aug 1997 |
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