DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR PROCESSING A FOODSTUFF MATERIAL

Abstract

An apparatus for processing a foodstuff material is provided, specifically for producing sausage products from sausage meat. The apparatus includes a stationary housing which has a wall and which can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to a conveyor pump, and has a discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. Arranged within the housing is an element for partially swirling the foodstuff material within the housing, which is rotatable relative to the wall and along which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed flows. The rotatable element ends within the housing before the discharge opening for delivery of the foodstuff material. The apparatus can produce a string with a substantially cylindrical outer contour from a foodstuff material like sausage meat.

Claims

1. Apparatus (1) for processing a foodstuff material, in particular for producing sausage products from sausagemeat, comprising a stationary housing (6) which has a wall (8) and which can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to a conveyor pump, and has a discharge opening (10) for delivery of the foodstuff material, characterised in that arranged within the housing (6) is an element (12) for partially swirling the foodstuff material within the housing (6), which is rotatable relative to the wall (8) and along which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed flows, and wherein the rotatable element (12) ends within the housing (6) before the discharge opening (10) for delivery of the foodstuff material.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 characterised in that the spacing between the discharge opening (10) of the housing (6) and the outlet (14) or end (14) of the rotatable element (12) is in the range of >0 through about 100 mm, preferably in the range of >0 through about 50 mm and/or the rotatable element (12) is arranged concentrically within the housing (6).

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the rotatable element (12) can preferably be set in rotation by means of a drive unit (16) and is adapted to additionally move at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed when flowing through the housing (6) in the longitudinal direction in a movement with at least one rotational movement component relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing (6).

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 characterised in that the rotatable element (12) is adapted to orient substantially in a spiral shape the structure of the foodstuff material flowing in the portion of the housing (6) between its discharge opening and the outlet (14) or the end (14) of the rotatable element (12) by virtue of the relative movement between the feed tube and the stationary housing (6).

5. Apparatus as set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterised in that the rotatable element (12) is a feed tube (12), through which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material flows and in particular through a substantially annular passage formed between the feed tube (12) and the housing (6).

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 characterised in that the inside diameter of the housing (6) is in a ratio in the range of >1 through about 2 relative to the outside diameter of the rotatable feed tube (12).

7. Apparatus as set forth in one of claims 1 through 4 characterised in that the rotatable element (12) is a swirling means (12) which is arranged rotatably within a stationary feed tube (12) and along which in operation the foodstuff material flows.

8. Apparatus as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterised in that the housing (6) has a portion with a flow cross-section decreasing in the conveyor direction (15) of the foodstuff material and/or the feed tube (12) within the stationary housing (6) is of a substantially constant flow cross-section.

9. Apparatus as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterised in that the rotatable element (12) is coupled to a drive unit (16) which is adapted to displace the rotatable element (12) preferably in a continuous adjustable rotary movement (15).

10. Apparatus as set forth in one of the preceding claims characterised in that the housing (6) cooperates with an extrusion head (24) for the delivery of a string (11) of the foodstuff material, wherein the extrusion head (24) is preferably in the form of a co-extrusion head for delivery of the foodstuff material and a casing material surrounding the foodstuff material.

11. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 characterised in that the co-extrusion head (24) is supported stationarily by means of a machine frame (2) and has a receiving chamber (26) for the flowable, hardenable casing material, in particular alginate or collagen.

12. Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 characterised in that the receiving chamber (26) has an outlet opening (28) which is preferably associated with the discharge opening (10) of the housing (6) so that the flowable casing material is delivered directly on to the surface of the foodstuff material.

13. Apparatus as set forth in claim 11 characterised in that the outlet opening (28) is an annular gap which is arranged concentrically with respect to the housing and which is adapted to deliver the casing material substantially in a radial direction inwardly on to the surface of the string of foodstuff material produced.

14. Apparatus as set forth in at least one of the preceding claims characterised in that at its outer surface and/or at its inner surface the rotatable element (12) has projections and/or recesses, for example grooves or roughenings in order to create increased friction with the foodstuff material during the rotational movement (15).

15. A machine (100) for producing a string from a foodstuff material, in particular a sausage string, comprising a filling hopper for receiving the foodstuff material, a conveyor pump for producing a conveyor flow of the foodstuff material, and an apparatus (1) for processing a foodstuff material, in particular sausagemeat, as set forth in one of claims 1 through 14, and preferably with a dividing device for sub-dividing the foodstuff string which is formed and which is covered with a casing material into individual mutually separated string portions and/or a conveyor machine (120) coupled in fluid-conducting relationship to an extrusion head (24) of the apparatus (1).

16. A method of producing a string from a foodstuff material, in particular sausagemeat, comprising the steps: conveying the foodstuff material in the conveyor direction (15) along a housing (6) by means of a conveyor pump; during the conveying operation producing in addition a rotational movement component on parts of the foodstuff material around the longitudinal axis of the housing (6) by means of a rotatable element (12) which is arranged within the housing (6) and which ends before a discharge opening (10) of the housing for delivery of the foodstuff material.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 including one, more of all of the steps recited hereinafter: conveying at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material along the rotatable element (12), delivering the foodstuff material conveyed in a rotatable feed tube (12) out of an outlet (14) of the rotating feed tube or leaving the operative region of rotatable swirling means (12) arranged in a stationary feed tube (12) by the foodstuff material into a portion of the stationary housing (6), producing a substantially spiral-shaped orientation of the structure of the foodstuff material flowing along the stationary portion, in particular between the outlet (14) or end (14) of the rotatable element (12) and the discharge opening of the housing, axially conveying a partial amount of the foodstuff material in the conveyor direction through a substantially annular passage provided between the feed tube and the stationary housing, bringing the partial amounts of the foodstuff material together before the discharge opening of the housing, and applying a casing material to the external surface of the foodstuff string, preferably in the region of the discharge opening of the housing using a co-extrusion head.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, explain the one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine for producing a string from a foodstuff material with an apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention and an apparatus for further processing.

[0040] FIG. 2 is a front view of the machine shown in FIG. 1.

[0041] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus for processing the foodstuff material.

[0042] FIG. 4 is a simplified view illustrating one mode of operation of the apparatus.

[0043] FIG. 5 is a perspective view in cross section of the apparatus.

[0044] FIG. 6 is a front view in cross section of the apparatus of FIG. 5.

[0045] FIG. 7 is a detail view of an extrusion head arranged at the discharge opening of the apparatus.

[0046] FIG. 8 is a perspective view in cross section of the apparatus according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a machine 100 for producing a string from a foodstuff material like sausage meat or the like. The machine 100 includes a filling machine 110, by which the foodstuff material which is in the form of a raw material is processed to afford a continuously conveyed string. The filling machine 110 includes a housing 112 and a filling hopper 114 arranged on the housing 112 for introducing the foodstuff material to be processed. A conveyor device (not shown in detail) is provided within the filling machine 110. The foodstuff material is conveyed in the direction of a filling machine connection 116 at the filling machine 110 by the conveyor device which in an embodiment is in the form of a conveyor pump. The filling machine 110 is connected by way of a connecting conduit 118 to the apparatus 1 according to the invention for processing the foodstuff material.

[0048] The machine 100 further includes a conveyor machine 120 which is of a similar design configuration to a filling machine for a casing material for enclosing the foodstuff material, comprising a housing 122 and a filling hopper 124 arranged at the housing. The filling hopper 124 is adapted to receive the casing material to be applied to the outside of the string to be created. For example alginate or collagen is used as the casing material. A conveyor mechanism (not shown in detail) is arranged within the housing 122. The casing material is drawn out of the filling hopper 124 and put under pressure by the conveyor mechanism. The conveyor mechanism which can be in the form of a conveyor pump conveys the casing material in the direction of the apparatus 1 for processing the foodstuff material, by way of a conveyor machine connection 126 and a connecting conduit 128 connected thereto.

[0049] As FIGS. 1 and 2 further show the apparatus 1 for processing the foodstuff material is arranged immediately downstream of the filling machine 110 in the conveyor direction of the foodstuff material, that by way of the connecting conduit 118 receives the string of foodstuff material that is being conveyed continuously or also cyclically. The casing material for the string to be produced in contrast is fed to the apparatus 1 from a longitudinal side.

[0050] The apparatus 1 includes a displaceable frame 2, at the underside of which are arranged rollers 4. The foodstuff material or the string produced therefrom is processed by the apparatus 1. In the present case a casing material is applied to the outside of the preferably continuously conveyed foodstuff material string by the apparatus 1. The casing material is preferably solidified on the outside of the string by using a liquid additive material. In an embodiment subdivision of the foodstuff material string into individual string portions is effected by the apparatus 1 itself or by a further processing device 130 connected downstream of the apparatus 1. In particular individual sausages are successively separated from a preferably continuously conveyed string of sausages. The apparatus 1 provides in particular for influencing the structure of the foodstuff material string produced and thus in particular the shrinkage behaviour thereof. That has a particularly advantageous effect on a cooking process subsequent to production of the string portions.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a detail view of the apparatus 1 according to the invention for processing the foodstuff material. Arranged on the frame 2 of the apparatus 1 is a housing 6, 6 having a stationary wall 8, which housing can be connected in fluid-conducting relationship to the conveyor pump (not shown) of the filling machine 110. The housing 6 has a discharge opening 10 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for delivery of the foodstuff material string 11 (FIG. 4) from the apparatus 1. Arranged within the stationary housing 6, 6 is an element 12 which is rotatable relative to the wall 8 for partially swirling the foodstuff material within the housing 6. In an embodiment of the invention the rotatable element 12 is in the form of a rotatably mounted, preferably drivable feed tube, through which in operation at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed flows. In addition the rotatable element 12 ends within the housing 6 before the discharge opening 10 thereof for delivery of the foodstuff material. The rotatable element 12 extending in the direction of its longitudinal axis therefore does not extend to the discharge opening but maintains a spacing relative thereto so that a partial space 17 (FIG. 4) is formed within the housing 6 between the end of the rotatable element 12 and the discharge opening. In operation foodstuff material preferably flows into that partial space 17 which is preferably somewhat enlarged.

[0052] In a preferred design in which the rotatable element 12 is in the form of a feed tube the outlet 14 thereof ends at a spacing before the discharge opening 10 of the housing 6 with its stationary wall 8. According to a preferred embodiment the spacing between the discharge opening of the housing and the outlet of the feed tube is in the range of >0 through about 50 mm. This provides that the foodstuff material is moved less or is no longer moved by the rotatable element 12 in the region between its end and the discharge opening 10 of the housing 6, that is to say the partial space 17. In that partial space 17 in the housing 6 the foodstuff material is moved primarily in the axial direction of the stationary housing.

[0053] As can be seen by way of example from FIGS. 4 and 5 a rotatable element 12 in the form of the feed tube is arranged concentrically within the housing 6. The rotatable element 12 is carried rotatably on the housing 6 by two rotary bearings 18 and is caused to rotate or driven in rotation relative to the stationary housing 6, 6 by a drive unit 16. The rotatable element 12 is adapted to displace at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material to be conveyed, when flowing through the housing 6, in its longitudinal direction, in addition in a movement involving at least one rotational movement component relative to the longitudinal axis of the housing 6.

[0054] It will be apparent from FIG. 4 that, specifically at the transition from the end region 19 of the rotatable element into the stationary housing 6 and into the partial space 17 thereof the arrangement provides that the structure of the foodstuff material flowing between the discharge opening 10 of the housing 6 and the outlet 14 of the rotatable element 12 acquires a more non-homogenous, preferably partially or substantially spiral orientation by virtue of the conveyor movement of the foodstuff material in the conveyor direction (arrow 15) and the rotational movement (arrow 15) of the feed tube 12 relative to the stationary housing 6. Within the feed tube 12 the fibers 13 of the foodstuff material being conveyed are still oriented parallel in the conveyor direction of the foodstuff material. After the foodstuff material issues from the outlet 14 of the feed tube or when it passes over from the operative region of the rotatable element 12 into the housing 6 with its stationary wall 8, the fibers 13 of the foodstuff material are oriented differently. After leaving the discharge opening 10 on the housing 6 the string 11 of foodstuff material has fibers 13 which are oriented in a more non-homogenous fashion and which for example are oriented at least partially or substantially in a spiral form around the longitudinal axis of the stationary housing 6.

[0055] In an embodiment which is not shown in greater detail, in operation of the apparatus according to the invention, the foodstuff material flows coaxially both through the rotatable feed tube and also through a substantially annular passage formed between the feed tube and the housing. The inside diameter of the housing can be in a ratio in the range of >1 through about 2 relative to the outside diameter of the rotatable element. A portion of the housing 6 can involve a flow cross-section which reduces in the conveyor direction of the foodstuff material.

[0056] The rotatable element 12, in the present case the feed tube shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, is of a substantially constant flow cross-section over its entire length. The drive unit, by way of a control device (not shown) coupled thereto of the apparatus, is adapted to cause the rotatable element to rotate in a continuous adjustable rotary movement. As can be seen from FIG. 5 the drive unit 16 has an electric motor 20 which by way of a transmission gear 22 transmits the rotary movement produced by the electric motor to the rotatable element 12. The feed tube 12 is coupled to the connecting conduit 118 of the filling machine 110 by way of a coupling portion 30.

[0057] As can also be seen from FIGS. 5 and 6 the housing 6 has an extrusion head 24 for discharge of the string of foodstuff material. Besides the discharge of the foodstuff material the extrusion head 24 is also adapted to apply a casing material to the outside of the string produced from the foodstuff material. In the illustrated embodiment the extrusion head 24 is in the form of a co-extrusion head.

[0058] The extrusion head 24 is preferably stationarily mounted fixedly to the machine frame 2 of the apparatus according to the invention. The extrusion head 24 has a receiving chamber 26 for the casing material to be applied to the outside of the string of foodstuff material. The casing material is a flowable but hardenable casing material like for example alginate or collagen.

[0059] The receiving chamber 26 for the casing material of the extrusion head 24 has an outlet opening 28 associated in particular with the discharge opening 10 of the housing 6 for delivery of the foodstuff material. In that way the flowable casing material is applied directly to the surface of the discharged string. In particular the outlet opening 28 is in the form of an annular gap, by way of which the casing material is delivered substantially inwardly in a radial direction on to the surface of the string produced.

[0060] FIG. 7 shows the extrusion head 24 as a detail view in the region of the discharge opening 10 of the apparatus 1 according to the invention (FIG. 3) which is in the form of a co-extrusion head. The housing 6 of the apparatus 1 forms parts of the extrusion head 24, the rotatable element 12 being in the form of a feed tube for foodstuff material. The rotatable element 12 is moveable relative to the wall 8 within the housing 6. In the present case the rotatable element 12 rotates about the central axis 31 of the stationary housing 6.

[0061] The outlet 14 of the feed tube 12 ends at a spacing in front of the discharge opening 10 of the stationary housing 6. A partial space 17 is formed between the end of the rotatable element 12 in the form of the feed tube and the end of the stationary housing. The partial space 17 is of a length L and a diameter D.

[0062] In the preferred embodiment the diameter D of the partial space 17 remains the same over a portion of its length L and is larger than the outside diameter of the element 12 which is rotatably carried in the housing and which here is preferably in the form of the feed tube 12. Preferably, over a portion of the length L of the partial space 17, the diameter narrows conically in the direction of the discharge opening 10. The diameter d at the discharge opening 10 is about 50% of the diameter D of the partial space 17 in the transitional region from the rotatable element 12 to the stationary housing 6. The partial length l.sub.1 of the partial space 17 with its diameter D which remains the same is about half the overall length L of the partial space 17.

[0063] The discharge opening 10 of the stationary housing 6 is directly adjoined by the outlet opening 28 of the receiving chamber 26 for the casing material which is to be applied to the outside of the string produced from the foodstuff material. In the illustrated configuration the outlet opening 28 for the casing material involves a radial orientation.

[0064] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of an apparatus 1 according to the invention, having a housing 6, 6. The housing 6 includes a stationary wall 8 which in the illustrated configuration is in the form of a stationary feed tube 12. A rotatable element 12 is arranged within the stationary feed tube 12. The rotatable element 12 is a swirling means 12 which is arranged at a bar element 21 disposed rotatably in the housing 6, and extends in the direction of the discharge opening 10 of the stationary housing 6.

[0065] In the illustrated embodiment the swirling means 12 is a spiral 23. The foodstuff material which is conveyed through the stationary feed tube 12 is caused to perform a movement with an additional rotatry movement component, by the spiral 23. The rotatable element 12 in the form of the swirling means 12 has an end 14 which ends at a spacing before the discharge opening 10 on the stationary housing 6. The spiral 23 is of an outside diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the stationary feed tube 12.

[0066] The swirling means 12 does not have the function of conveying the foodstuff material through the stationary housing 6 in the longitudinal direction. The second embodiment of the apparatus 1 according to the invention also has a partial space 17, within which the foodstuff material is caused to move with at least a rotational movement component. The swirling means 12 is accommodated coaxially within the feed tube 12, the cross-section of which narrows conically along a portion, and is moveable relative to the wall 8.

[0067] An extrusion head 24 as part of the housing 6 of the apparatus 1 is arranged in the region of the discharge opening 10 of the stationary feed tube 12. The extrusion head 24 is fixedly mounted to the machine frame 2 of the apparatus 1. The extrusion head 24 has a receiving chamber 26 for the casing material to be applied to the outside of the string of foodstuff material. The extrusion head 24 has a casing material inlet 32 for the casing material supplied to the extrusion head 24, which is connected in fluid-conducting relationship to the conveyor machine connection 126 of the conveyor machine 120 (FIG. 1) for the casing material. The extrusion head 24 also has an outlet opening 28 associated in particular with the discharge opening 10 on the housing 6. The outlet opening 28 is an annular gap directed in a radial direction towards the surface of the foodstuff material string produced.

[0068] In an alternative preferred embodiment the rotatable element at its outer surface and/or in the configuration in the form of the feed tube, at its inner surface, has projections and/or recesses to create increased friction between the surface of the rotatable element 12 and the foodstuff material being conveyed.

[0069] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the rotatable element, instead of being in the form of the feed tube, is in the form of a bar element which at its outer peripheral surface has a plurality of guide elements or paddles. During operation of the apparatus according to the invention for producing a string from the foodstuff material the foodstuff material is conveyed in the conveyor direction along the housing 6 having the stationary wall by a conveyor pump (not shown). During the conveying movement in the conveyor direction a rotational movement component about the longitudinal axis of the housing is additionally created on parts of the foodstuff material being conveyed through the stationary housing. In that case the production of the rotational movement component on the parts of the foodstuff material is concluded before reaching the discharge opening on the housing 6. In that way a substantially spiral orientation of the structure or the fibers of the foodstuff material is created within the foodstuff material in the transitional region between the rotatable element and the following portion of the stationary housing.

[0070] With the discharge of the string of foodstuff material from the stationary housing a casing material is applied to the outside of the foodstuff material string, thereby causing consolidation at the surface of the string.

[0071] In operation the following method of producing a string from a foodstuff material, in particular sausage meat, is performed: [0072] conveying the foodstuff material in the conveyor direction 15 along a housing 6 by a conveyor pump; [0073] during the conveying operation producing in addition a rotational movement component on parts of the foodstuff material around the longitudinal axis of the housing by a rotatable element 12 which is arranged within the housing 6 and which ends before a discharge opening 10 of the housing for delivery of the foodstuff material.

[0074] Optionally the following more specific steps can additionally be carried out: [0075] conveying at least a partial amount of the foodstuff material along the rotatable element 12, preferably by a rotatable feed tube [0076] delivering the foodstuff material conveyed in the feed tube out of an outlet of the rotating feed tube into a portion of the stationary housing, [0077] producing a substantially spiral-shaped orientation of the structure of the foodstuff material flowing along the stationary portion, in particular between the outlet and the discharge opening of the housing, [0078] axially conveying a partial amount of the foodstuff material in the conveyor direction through a substantially annular passage provided between the feed tube and the stationary housing, [0079] bringing the partial amounts of the foodstuff material together before the discharge opening of the housing, and [0080] applying a casing material to the external surface of the foodstuff string, preferably in the region of the discharge opening of the housing using a co-extrusion head.

[0081] The embodiments described above are descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various variations and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the design and scope of the present invention. The variations and modifications should all fall within the claimed scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0082] 1 apparatus [0083] 2 machine frame [0084] 4 rollers [0085] 6, 6 housing [0086] 8 wall [0087] 10 discharge opening [0088] 11 foodstuff material string [0089] 12 rotatable element [0090] 12 feed tube [0091] 12 swirling means [0092] 13, 13 fibers [0093] 14 outlet [0094] 14 end [0095] 15 conveyor direction [0096] 15 rotational movement [0097] 16 drive unit [0098] 17 partial space [0099] 18 rotary bearing [0100] 19 end region [0101] 20 electric motor [0102] 21 bar element [0103] 22 transmission gear [0104] 23 spiral [0105] 24 extrusion head [0106] 26 receiving chamber [0107] 28 outlet opening [0108] 30 coupling portion [0109] 31 central axis [0110] 32 casing material inlet [0111] L long partial space [0112] L.sub.1 partial length [0113] D diameter partial space [0114] d diameter discharge opening [0115] 100 machine [0116] 110 filling machine [0117] 112 housing [0118] 114 filling hopper [0119] 116 filling machine connection [0120] 118 connecting conduit [0121] 120 conveyor machine [0122] 122 housing [0123] 124 filling hopper [0124] 126 conveyor machine connection [0125] 128 connecting conduit [0126] 130 further processing device