The Pretzel (pretzel crackers, pretzel bread crackers) biscuit production line is a combination of equipment used for automated production of Pretzel biscuits. The following are its main components and production processes:

 

1. Raw material handling system:

– Flour storage and conveying device: When the production line starts operating, a large amount of flour is stored in a special storage tank or silo. These storage containers can keep the flour dry and clean, avoiding moisture and pollution. When production is needed, the flour is quantitatively conveyed to the dough mixer through a screw conveyor or pneumatic conveying system.

– Water and other ingredient addition devices: An accurate water metering device adds an appropriate amount of water to the dough mixer according to the formula requirements. In addition to water, ingredients such as yeast, salt, sugar, and baking soda need to be added to give the biscuits a specific flavor and texture. These ingredients also have their own addition devices to ensure the accuracy and uniformity of addition.

2. Dough mixing system:

– Dough mixer: This is one of the core equipment of the production line. It fully mixes and stirs flour, water, and various ingredients to form a uniform dough. The stirring speed and time of the dough mixer can be adjusted according to the properties of the dough and process requirements to ensure the quality of the dough. Different types of Pretzel biscuits may require different dough mixing times and intensities. For example, the dough for hard Pretzel biscuits needs to be stirred more thoroughly to form a tough texture.

– Dough proofing device (optional): For some Pretzel biscuit recipes that require fermentation, the dough will enter the proofing device for a period of fermentation after being mixed. The proofing device can control temperature and humidity, providing a suitable fermentation environment for the yeast in the dough, making the dough expand and increasing the softness and taste of the biscuits.

3. Shaping system:

– Extruder (or shaping machine): The mixed dough is extruded into specific shapes such as long strips, rings, or knots through an extruder. These are typical shapes of Pretzel biscuits. The molds of the extruder can be replaced according to needs to produce biscuits of different shapes and sizes. For some complex shapes, special shaping equipment such as a rotary shaping machine or manual shaping auxiliary equipment may be needed.

– Cutting device: If the extruded dough is in a continuous long strip, a cutting device is needed to cut it into individual biscuit blanks. The cutting device can perform precise cutting according to the set length or weight to ensure that each biscuit is of consistent size.

4. Alkali water treatment system (for alkali water Pretzel biscuits):

– Alkali water soaking tank: The formed biscuit blanks will enter the alkali water soaking tank and soak in a certain concentration of alkali water for a period of time. The role of alkali water is to form a unique color and flavor on the surface of the biscuits, and at the same time increase the toughness and crispness of the biscuits. The concentration, soaking time, and temperature of alkali water are all key process parameters that need to be strictly controlled.

– Alkali water recovery and treatment device: To reduce the waste of alkali water and environmental pollution, the production line is usually equipped with an alkali water recovery and treatment device. The soaked alkali water will be collected and can be reused or safely discharged after treatment.

5. Seasoning system:

– Salt sprinkling device: The surface of the biscuit blanks taken out from the alkali water needs to be sprinkled with an appropriate amount of salt to increase the flavor of the biscuits. The salt sprinkling device can evenly sprinkle salt on the surface of the biscuits to ensure that the saltiness of each biscuit is consistent. In addition to salt, other seasonings such as sesame seeds, poppy seeds, and cinnamon powder can also be sprinkled according to product requirements.

– Seasoning conveying and storage device: Various seasonings need to be stored and conveyed to the seasoning device in advance. These devices should ensure the freshness and dryness of seasonings to avoid caking or deterioration.

6. Baking system:

– Oven: The oven is one of the key equipment of the Pretzel biscuit production line. It determines the final taste and quality of the biscuits. The oven usually uses electric heating or gas heating methods and can precisely control temperature and baking time. The biscuits are baked at high temperature in the oven, the moisture evaporates, and the surface becomes golden and crispy. Different types of Pretzel biscuits require different baking temperatures and times. For example, the baking temperature of soft Pretzel biscuits is relatively low and the time is short to maintain their soft texture.

– Temperature monitoring and control system: To ensure the baking quality of biscuits, the oven is equipped with a temperature monitoring and control system. This system can monitor the temperature inside the oven in real time and automatically adjust the heating power according to the set temperature to ensure a uniform and stable temperature inside the oven.

7. Cooling system:

– Cooling conveyor belt: The biscuits after baking are at a relatively high temperature and need to be cooled before packaging. The cooling conveyor belt is usually made of stainless steel and has good heat dissipation performance. The biscuits are cooled down by natural cooling or air cooling on the cooling conveyor belt to reach a temperature suitable for packaging.

– Cooling fan (optional): In some production lines, to speed up the cooling of biscuits, a cooling fan will be installed on the cooling conveyor belt. The cooling fan can accelerate air flow, improve cooling efficiency, and shorten cooling time.

8. Packaging system:

– Packaging machine: The cooled Pretzel biscuits will enter the packaging machine for packaging. The packaging machine can perform different forms of packaging according to product requirements, such as bag packaging, box packaging, or can packaging. The speed and packaging quality of the packaging machine are important factors affecting production line efficiency and product quality.

– Quality inspection device: Before packaging, a quality inspection device is usually set up to inspect the appearance, weight, taste, etc. of the biscuits. Unqualified biscuits will be automatically removed to ensure that the packaged products meet quality standards.