Proprocess Corporation

Eugene Louis Raio

Steven M Raio

Arnold R Dyess

A dough press machine for flattening a quantity of dough. The dough press machine comprises a housing having lower and upper platens attached thereto. Releasably attached to the lower platen is a mold which defines a peripheral edge. The mold is sized relative to the lower platen such that the lower platen protrudes beyond the peripheral edge of the mold. The quantity of dough is placable onto the mold, with the movement of at least one of the lower and upper platens toward the other facilitating the compression of the quantity of dough between the upper platen and the mold and the movement of a portion of the quantity of dough over the peripheral edge of the mold into contact with the lower platen.

Dough press with interchangeable perimeter edge molds

A dough press machine for flattening a quantity of dough usable as a crust for a food product such as a pizza pie. The machine has a vertically movable upper platen having a bottom surface and a lower platen having a top surface. The lower platen is movable from and to a position whereby the bottom surface of the upper platen and the top surface of the lower platen are substantially aligned with each other for vertical downward movement of the upper platen against the lower platen. The machine includes a sensor for detecting alignment of the lower platen with the upper platen such that the upper platen is vertically immovable when the lower platen is not in substantial alignment with the upper platen. Vertical movement of the upper platen is accomplished electromechanically with an electric thrust actuator in communication with the upper platen. Operation of the dough press machine provides for efficient product manufacture because of the pressing capacity of the upper platen, and for operator safety because of inoperability of the upper platen unless the lower platen is properly aligned with the upper platen for normal press operation. In this manner both product volume and worker protection are improved.

Dough press machine

A device for forming and par baking a pizza crust from a quantity of pizza dough disposed in a pizza pan. The device comprises a frame having a base portion and an upper housing portion. Releasably attached to the upper housing portion is an upper mold, while releasably attached to the base portion is a lower support platen. Pivotally connected to the upper housing portion is a handle member which is adapted to reciprocally move the upper mold between a loading position wherein the pizza dough may be introduced into the pizza pan and a flattening position wherein the pizza dough is compressed between the bottom surface of the upper mold and the pizza pan. Slidably attached to the support platen are at least two retaining members which extend upwardly from the top surface thereof. Also slidably attached to the support platen is an adjustment mechanism for selectively moving the retaining members linearly relative the top surface as needed to allow the pizza pan to be positioned therebetween.

Growing community of inventors

Huntington Beach, CA, United States of America

Eugene Louis Raio