FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of bread involving
dividing and deposition of the dough which are difficult to handle and also to a system
for dividing accurately, involving selective combination of a conveying systems outlets.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for dividing
viscous flowable paste material such as baker's dough from a large mass of a material
into smaller masses of predetermined volumes.
BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART
It is well known to independently handle bread dough which are sticky in nature to
provide accurate weight. It is also known that the provision of dough dividers under the
presently available conventional system is complex and basically involve independent
handling. Such known system thus involve strenuous control of such independent unit
which in turn necessarily affected the efficiency and desired user friendly devices to
carry out the process and systems for dividing bread dough which are difficult to
handle.
Importantly, it is also found that the provision of such independent handling units for
bread manufacturing units is difficult to maintain desired standards of dough
consistency like density, viscosity especially during deposition. It is important to have
better control during dividing of dough more effective and user friendly process and
system.
US 5270070 discloses a dough divider method and apparatus which includes a plurality
of dough blades mounted on a common rotary support plate, with each divider blade
oriented at an angle and biased into positive contact with the face of a dough delivery
block. The rotary support plate is oscillated in a circular path and its divider blades are
arranged to move in downward arcs across each of the dough outlet openings of the
dough delivery block, thereby severing the leading end of the streams of dough moving
through the dough outlet openings, so as to form dough balls.

US5046940 discloses an apparatus and method for dividing a continuous stream of
dough and the like into multiple continuous streams which are simultaneously extruded
and cut-off by a unique cutting mechanism to provide pieces to be baked into buns, rolls
and the like having predetermined weights of uniform density and texture. The
apparatus and method may also be used for other materials that are similar to dough and
its characteristics.
US4332538 discloses a method and apparatus for dividing viscous flowable paste
material such as baker's dough from a large mass of the material into smaller masses of
predetermined volumes, under conditions wherein the dough is rapidly moved from its
large mass, the moving dough is accurately metered as it moves toward a dispensing
nozzle, and the dough that has passed through the dispensing is severed from the
oncoming dough and falls to an awaiting container.
The conventionally used apparatus comprises complex system, which in turn affects the
efficacy of the method.
Thus there is a need to provide a more effective and user friendly method and apparatus
for dividing viscous flowable paste material.
OBJECT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for dividing
baker's dough.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for dividing baker's
dough from a large mass of a material into smaller masses of predetermined volumes.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
An apparatus for dividing stream of flowable paste material into pieces of uniform
weight comprising:

an inlet opening means for continuous flow of the flowable paste material mounted on a
conveying means, said conveying means comprises a three way port system for
conveying the paste material at a required feed rate into at least two adjustable
volumetric filling, said volumetric filling being actuated by means of at least one
pneumatic cylinder,
such that said stream of flowable paste material is divided by means of adjusting the
said pneumatic cylinder at a pre-set weight of the flowable paste material and activating
at least one plunger means controlled by a stepper motor at a preset length detected by at
least one sensing means, said plunger means controlling the opening and closing of the
said three way port system.
It is another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for dividing stream of
flowable paste material at a pre-set weight into individual portion comprising the steps
of:
passing the stream of the flowable paste material at an uniform speed through inlet
opening means onto the conveying system;
conveying the paste material through a three way port into an adjustable volumetric
filler;
such that the amount of the paste material to be conveyed into the said volumetric filler
is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder adjusted to a pre-set weight and activates a
plunger means controlled by a stepper motor which upon reaching the preset length
detected by at least one sensing means, controls the opening and closing of the three
way port and ejects the said individual balls of the flowable paste material onto a
conveyor system positioned below the said volumetric filler means.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus and a method for
dividing streams of flowable paste material into individual portions at a pre-set weight.
According to the present invention dividing the flowable paste material is done on the
basis of conveying the said paste material at the required feed rate and being diverted in
to different routes by a set of three way port system and dividing in to required quantity
by means of adjustable volumetric filling and the paste material separated by the three
way port itself without any external cutting means or nozzles. The apparatus further

comprises a set of sensors to carry out the sequence of operations and controls the
stoppage of filling to the set required quantity and gives the signal to carry out the
sequences to eject the dough piece out of the system.
The nature of the invention, its objects and advantages are discussed in further details in
relation to non-limiting exemplary illustration of the process/system as per the following
accompanying figures: 1Aand 1B.
Fig 1A and fig 1B demonstrate a plan view and a elevation view of the apparatus of the
present invention wherein the said apparatus comprises a flowable paste material inlet
opening means (100) mounted on a conveyor means (110) which passes the said paste
material through the three way port (120, 120A and 120B) to the volumetric cylinder
(130A, 130B). The required amount of the paste material to be conveyed to the
volumetric cylinder (130A) is controlled by the pneumatic cylinder (150A) adjusted to a
pre-set weight of the paste material. Upon dispensing the pre-set weight of the flowable
material to the volumetric filler, the plunger (140A), which is freely movable in the
volumetric cylinder (130A) is pushed till it reaches a preset length, which in the stroke
length can be controlled by a stepper motor (170A). As soon the plunger (140A) reaches
the preset length which is detected by the sensor (210A) , the primary three way port
(120) actuates and diverges the paste material into the secondary three way port (120B).
In the mean time the secondary three way port (120A) actuates which close one way and
opens other way to exit the dough through a pneumatic cylinder (180A). The plunger
(140A) moves towards the secondary three way port (120A) with the effort of
pneumatic cylinder (150A), so that the paste material eject through the third port which
is open to air at the bottom of the secondary three way port (120A). Soon the paste
material ejects, the secondary three way port 120A will be activated through a
pneumatic cylinder (180A) to reach the home position, while it cuts the dough by self
and drops the dough in to a reversible transfer conveyor (190) which is mounted on load
cell (200) to estimate the weight of the dough and give back the information and soon to
the stepper motor (170A) to correct the set weight. The pneumatic cylinder pusher
(180A) will go back to the home position. In the mean while the paste material is
diverted to the secondary three way port (120B) and flows to the volumetric cylinder
(130B) through the secondary three way port (120B) and pushes the plunger (HOB)
which is freely moveable within the volumetric cylinder (130B) till the plunger (HOB)
reaches the set required length which in the stroke length can be controlled by a stepper

motor (170B). As soon the plunger (HOB) reaches the preset length which is detected
by the sensor (210B), the primary three way port (120) actuates and diverges the paste
material into the secondary three way port (120A). In the mean while the secondary
three way port (120B) actuates which close one way and opens other way to exit the
dough through a pneumatic cylinder (180B). The plunger (140B) moves towards the
secondary three way port (120B) with the effort of pneumatic cylinder (150B), so that
the paste material eject through the third port which is open to air at the bottom of the
secondary three way port (120B). Soon the paste material ejects, the secondary three
way port 120B will be activated through a pneumatic cylinder (180B) to reach the home
position, while it cuts the dough by self and drops the dough in to a reversible transfer
conveyor (190) which is mounted on load cell (200) to estimate the weight of the dough
and give back the information and soon to the stepper motor (170B) to correct the set
weight. The pneumatic cylinder pusher (180B) will go back to the home position. The
cycle keep continuing to divide the flowable paste material in to the inlet opening
system till the flowable paste material is fully consumed.
Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiment, this
description is not meant to be construed in the limiting sense. Various modifications of
the described embodiment, as well as alternate embodiment of the inventions will
become apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description of the
invention or by following routine experimentation. It is therefore contemplated that such
modification can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present
invention as defined.
It is possible by way of the above disclosed process of dividing the bread dough to
provide correct and consisting weight. Advantageously, the process enables a simple
and effective manner of dividing with minimal mechanical moving parts.
Advantageously, the above process according to the invention of dividing the bread
dough can be carried out efficiently by way of a selective combination of conveying
system to produce the bread in bakery industry.

Accordingly, the present invention provides selective system with interactive
constructional features adapted to facilitate the above dividing of bread dough, which is
difficult to handle.
Advantageously, according to a preferred aspect of the invention, the dividing of dough
is achieved selectively involving divider unit comprising selectively and operatively
connected with conveying system like single/ double screw feeding, plunger pumps,
piston pumps and other types of dosing pumps and the like for wide variety of
controlled dividing of dough with minimal variances. Further the method of the present
invention prevents enmeshing of the flowable paste material portions with each other
and removes gases produced during fermentation process. The individual portions of the
paste material are passed through fermentation process from the divider to the oven for
baking.

We Claim:
1. An apparatus for dividing stream of flowable paste material of uniform weight
comprising:
an inlet opening means for continuous flow of the paste material on a conveying
means, said conveying means comprising a three way port system for conveying
the paste material at a required feed rate into at least two adjustable volumetric
filling, said volumetric filling being actuated by means of at least one pneumatic
cylinder,
such that said stream of flowable paste material is divided by means of adjusting
the said pneumatic cylinder at a pre-set weight of the flowable paste material and
activating at least one plunger means controlled by a stepper motor at a pre set
length detected by at least one sensing means, said plunger means controlling the
opening and closing of the said three way port system.
2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pneumatic cylinder controls the
amount of the paste material by means of sensors.
3. The apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 and 2, wherein the sensing means
control the functioning of the port system by detecting a preset length.
4. The apparatus as claimed in claims 1, wherein the feed rate varies depending on
the production capacity, preferably 6kg/minute to 36 Kg/minute.
5. The apparatus as claimed in claims 4, wherein the feed rate is 27.6 kg/ minute
6. A method for dividing stream of flowable paste material at a pre-set weight into
individual portion comprising the steps of:
passing the stream of the flowable paste material at an uniform speed through
inlet opening means onto the conveying system;
conveying the paste material through a three way port into an adjustable
volumetric filler;
such that the amount of the paste material to be conveyed into the said
volumetric filler is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder adjusted to a pre-set

weight and activates a plunger means controlled by a stepper motor which upon
reaching the preset length detected by at least one sensing means, controls the
opening and closing of the three way port and ejects the said individual balls of
the flowable paste material onto a conveyor system positioned below the said
volumetric filler means.
7. The method as claim in claim 5, wherein the speed of the flowable paste material
through the inlet opening means is equal to the number of dividing required per
minute multiplied by weight of the each sliced portion of the flowable paste
material.

An apparatus for dividing stream of flowable paste material into pieces of uniform
weight comprising:
an inlet opening means for continuous flow of the flowable paste material mounted on a
conveying means, said conveying means comprises a three way port system for
conveying the paste material at a required feed rate into at least two adjustable
volumetric filling, said volumetric filling being actuated by means of at least one
pneumatic cylinder,
such that said stream of flowable paste material is divided by means of adjusting the
said pneumatic cylinder at a pre-set weight of the flowable paste material and activating
at least one plunger means controlled by a stepper motor at a preset length detected by at
least one sensing means, said plunger means controlling the opening and closing of the
said three way port system.
A method for dividing stream of flowable paste material at a pre-set weight into
individual portion comprising the steps of:
passing the stream of the flowable paste material at an uniform speed through inlet
opening means onto the conveying system;
conveying the paste material through a three way port into an adjustable volumetric
filler;
such that the amount of the paste material to be conveyed into the said volumetric filler
is controlled by a pneumatic cylinder adjusted to a pre-set weight and activates a
plunger means controlled by a stepper motor which upon reaching the preset length
detected by at least one sensing means, controls the opening and closing of the three
way port and ejects the said individual balls of the flowable paste material onto a
conveyor system positioned below the said volumetric filler means.