Profile Extrusion Process For Producing Shaped Pet Food

Abstract

The invention relates to a profile extrusion process for producing fashioned animal food, especially dog chew bones, the process comprising the following steps: loading an extruder with casein, a plasticizer and with additives; preparing a plasticized casein compound containing 10 to 80% casein by weight, wherein the casein and the plasticizer are subject to a mechanical strain at a temperature below 130° C. in the extruder; molding the casein compound into a profile, wherein the casein compound is pressed through the extruder nozzle onto a transfer device and is consolidated on said transfer device; curing the profile, wherein the profile is cooled on the transfer device; portioning the profile into portions of any length, wherein the profile is cut at a corresponding position using a cutting tool.

Claims

1. Profile extrusion process for producing fashioned animal food, especially dog food, the process comprising the steps: loading an extruder with casein, a plasticizer aid with additives; preparing a plasticized casein compound containing 10 to 80% casein by weight, wherein the casein, the plasticizer and the additives are mechanically mixed in the extruder at a temperature below 130° C.; molding said casein compound into a profile by means of constant delivery through the extruder nozzle; uniformly discharging the profile and consolidation of its shape through cooling, by means of the transfer device; continuously portioning he profile into pieces of equal length using a cutting device.

2. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound is foamed in the extruder nozzle using physical and/or chemical foaming agents.

3. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound is formed into one or several profiles through the extruder nozzle.

4. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound in the extruder is added at least one vegetable protein in amount of 5 to 50% by weight of the total mass, said vegetable protein being contained in nuts, kernels or fruits.

5. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound is mixed with protein from fish or meat.

6. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound in the extruder is added with saturated or unsaturated fatty acids.

7. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound in the extruder is added with carbon hydrates.

8. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound in the extruder is mixed with at least one additive selected from the group consisting of natural flavoring substances, artificial flavoring substances, herbs, fruits, mineral substances, vitamins, polysaccharides or chlorophyll.

9. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein an alditol, especially sorbitol, is used as a plasticizer.

10. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound in the extruder is mixed with particles, natural fibers, synthetic fibers and/or granulate.

11. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the profile is sprinkled with particles, natural fibers, synthetic fibers and/or granulate.

12. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound is fed to the extruder nozzle from a plurality of spatially separated material streams.

13. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the casein compound is moved through several successively positioned extruders.

14. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the profile is sprayed with liquid immediately after leaving the nozzle.

15. Profile extrusion process according to claim 1, wherein the profile is molded in a press before or after portioning.

Description

EMBODIMENT 1

[0040] Preparation of a casein-polymer compound. Extrusion takes place in a 30 mm diameter twin-screw extruder type 30 E from Dr. Collin. The extruder comprises at least 4 cylinders. The flange with the nozzle is disposed on the end of the extruder. Depending on the addition of further substances, the extruder may be expanded up to 12 cylinders. Additives can thus be fed to the process successively, whereby the protein compound is given various properties. The strand or strands are subsequently cooled and their shapes consolidated. Thereafter, the strands are cut into pieces of equal length. The finished products directly fall out from the cutting device. Depending on the variant the products can be refined using a reshaping process or surface treatment.

[0041] Heating takes place via 4 cylinder heating zones with the following temperature characteristic.

TABLE-US-00001 Temperature 65 70 75 80 85 60 Function Material Water Plasticization Delivery Flange Nozzle feed feed zone zone Heating I II II II III IV zone

[0042] The casein is added via a dosing device. Water is added by means of a pump. The additives, especially rice flour, are added via additional dosing devices. The casein compound is processed into animal food in a single step by means of an extrusion process.

[0043] Depending on the desired texture of the finished product, the casein compound may be subject to modifications during plasticization in the plasticization zone. If a soft and particularly a spongy texture of the product is desired, it is provided for the casein compound being foamed by means of physical and/or chemical measures. The foamed casein compound can then be extruded in a corresponding manner through the nozzle and can be consolidated on the conveyor belt so that the resulting profile is given the desired texture after consolidation.

[0044] The production process and the processing of the casein compound into animal food is illustrated in FIG. 1. The raw materials fed to the extruder 3 via a dosing device 1 and the plasticizer added by means of a pump 2 are kneaded to form a casein mixture. The casein mixture is then molded and delivered through the nozzle 4. The transfer device 5 transfers and consolidates the profile. The cutting device cuts pieces of equal length.