The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 05, 2000
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2000
Ronald Louis Meibach, Deerfield, IL (US);
Kraft Foods, Inc., Northfield, IL (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of forming proofed dough for baked goods in a predetermined shape, as well as an apparatus for practicing the method. The apparatus includes a closed dough handling system that includes a pressurized dough mixer, a dough transporting device joined to the pressurized dough mixer, and an injection molding device joined to the dough transporting device. The method includes the step of transporting proofed dough from the pressurized dough mixer through the dough transporting device to the injection molding device, wherein the injection molding device fills the injection mold with dough when it is connected to the dough transporting device, thus forming one or more pieces of dough having the predetermined shape within the molds. The injection molds containing the dough may then either be conveyed into an oven to form a baked piece of dough having the predetermined shape, or conveyed into a freezer to form a frozen piece of dough having the predetermined shape.