Abstract
The invention relates to a method for producing a three-dimensional confectionery item from at least one sugar mass (19, 28) using a casting mould (1) which can be assembled from at least two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16), wherein each casting mould part has at least one partial cavity (5, 17, 18), with the proviso that the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) can be brought into an assembled state in which the two partial cavities (5, 17, 18) produce a common mould cavity (8, 20) which gives the confectionery item its three-dimensional shape, wherein the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are arranged in an open casting position (PG) in which the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) are arranged so as to be open towards the top, and the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are then put together and brought into a closed transport position (PT).
Claims
1. A method for producing a three-dimensional confectionery item from at least one sugar mass (19, 28) using a casting mould (1), which can be assembled from at least two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16), wherein each casting mould part has at least one partial cavity (5, 17, 18), with the proviso that the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) can be brought into an assembled state in which the two partial cavities (5, 17, 18) produce a common mould cavity (8, 20) which gives the confectionery item its three-dimensional shape, wherein the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are arranged in an open casting position (PG) in which the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) are arranged so as to be open at the top, that, in the casting position (PG), a portion of the sugar mass (19, 28) of the confectionery item is poured into both partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16), that the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are then put together and brought into a closed transport position (PT) in which the casting mould is arranged horizontally, wherein the upper side (4) of one casting mould part (2, 3, 15, 16) comes into contact with the upper side of the other casting mould part (2, 3, 15, 16) and the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) have lined up and form the common mould cavity (8, 20) wherein the casting mould is formed as a reusable permanent mould and, after the sugar mass (19, 28) has been poured in, the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) of the permanent mould are moved first of all from the open casting position (PG) into a closed intermediate position (PZ) in a closing movement, in that, in the closed intermediate position (PZ), the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are already lined up and the common mould cavity (8, 20) is formed, and in that, in a pivoting movement, the casting mould is then moved from the closed intermediate position (PZ) into the horizontal transport position (PT).
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the closing movement for putting the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) together into the intermediate position (PZ) is performed in a time-controlled manner such that an accelerated and a decelerated movement phase are performed until the intermediate position (PZ) is reached, wherein the closing movement is performed accelerated at the start of the closing movement out of the casting position (PG) and is performed decelerated before the upper sides (4) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) come into contact.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, during the closing movement, the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are rotated towards one another symmetrically about an axis of rotation (T) into the intermediate position (PZ).
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the closing movement of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) into the intermediate position (PZ) is carried out so quickly that poured-in sugar masses (19, 28) in the two partial cavities (5, 17, 18) can still join to one another when the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) have been lined up and the casting mould (1) is closed.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the closing movement until reaching the intermediate position (PZ), in which the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) are brought into overlapping, is performed within a closing time which is in the range of 0.1 to 3 seconds.
6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the pivoting movement of the casting mould (1) from the intermediate position (PZ) into the transport position (PT) is performed within a depositing time which lies in the range of from 0.1 to 3 seconds.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein two different sugar masses (19, 28, 31) are poured into at least one partial cavity (5, 17, 18) of a casting mould part (2, 3, 15, 16), and in that the different sugar masses (19, 28, 31) are poured into the partial cavity (5, 17, 18) next to one another or one on top of the other.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar mass (19, 28, 31) is poured into the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) at a pouring temperature in a particular temperature range, depending on its composition, namely: for pectin gel 70-100° C., for gelatin 50-90°°C., for carrageenan 90-110° C., for agar 35-70° C., for hard caramel 80-150° C., and for toffee or soft caramel 80-120° C.
9. The device for producing a three-dimensional confectionery item, the device comprising: at least one casting mould (1) having at least two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) which can be assembled, wherein each of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) is provided with at least one partial cavity (5, 17, 18), wherein, when they are lined up, the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) form a mould cavity (8, 20); and a handling unit including a holding mechanism for at least one of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16), and a pivoting mechanism with which the casting mould part (2, 3, 15, 16) is movable; a control unit is configured to control movement dynamics for a closing movement of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) from a casting position (PG) into a intermediate position (PZ) and the movement dynamics for a pivoting movement of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) from the intermediate position into a transport position (PT).
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein at least one casting mould part (2, 3, 15, 16) has on an upper side (4) an annular rim (21, 22) which surrounds the partial cavity (5, 17, 18) and protrudes at the upper side (4).
11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the annular rim (21, 22) is formed as a separating wedge (24).
12. The device according to claim 9, wherein the casting mould (2, 3, 15, 16) is provided with a positioning means in order to align the two casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) relative to one another when the upper sides thereof come into contact with one another.
13. The device according to claims 12, wherein the positioning means includes magnets or centring pins (Z) and complementary centring openings (Q) are provided as positioning means.
14. The device according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) is a permanent mould made of a rigid plastic.
15. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar mass (19, 28, 31) is poured into the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) at a pouring temperature in a temperature range of 65-75° C. for gelatin.
16. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar mass (19, 28, 31) is poured into the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) at a pouring temperature in a temperature range of 100-110° C. for carrageenan.
17. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar mass (19, 28, 31) is poured into the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) at a pouring temperature in a temperature range of 45-55° C. for agar.
18. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar mass (19, 28, 31) is poured into the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) at a pouring temperature in a temperature range of 120-140° C. for hard caramel.
19. Method according to claim 1, wherein the sugar mass (19, 28, 31) is poured into the partial cavities (5, 17, 18) of the casting mould parts (2, 3, 15, 16) at a pouring temperature in a temperature range of 90-110° C. for toffee or soft caramel.
Description
[0049] The invention is represented by way of example and described in detail below with reference to several figures in a drawing. There are shown in:
[0050] FIG. 1 a perspective representation of two casting mould parts in the open casting position,
[0051] FIG. 2a a schematic representation of the casting position according to FIG. 1,
[0052] FIG. 2b a schematic representation of an intermediate position with casting mould parts put together, which form a closed casting mould, and the casting mould in a transport position,
[0053] FIG. 3a a perspective representation of the intermediate position according to FIG. 2b,
[0054] FIG. 3b a perspective representation of the transport position according to FIG. 2b,
[0055] FIG. 4 a sectional representation through two casting mould parts during a closing movement,
[0056] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged section of the casting mould according to FIG. 4 in the intermediate position with closed mould cavity,
[0057] FIG. 6 casting mould parts in the casting position with sugar mass poured in,
[0058] FIG. 7 casting mould parts in the casting position with sugar mass poured in and a further ingredient,
[0059] FIG. 8 a first movement profile for the casting mould parts,
[0060] FIG. 9 a second movement profile for the casting mould parts,
[0061] FIG. 10 a third movement profile for the casting mould parts,
[0062] FIG. 11 a top view of a device for carrying out the method,
[0063] FIG. 12 a side view of the device according to FIG. 11 in the casting position,
[0064] FIG. 13 a side view of the device according to FIG. 12 in the intermediate position.
[0065] FIG. 1 shows a casting mould 1, namely the two casting mould parts 2 and 3 thereof are represented in perspective next to one another in a plane. The casting mould 1 is provided for producing a three-dimensional confectionery item from at least one sugar mass according to the method proposed here. In FIG. 1, it is open. The casting mould parts 2 and 3 are thus in a casting position PG because, in this flat arrangement, each casting mould part can be moved to a casting machine G, with which sugar mass can be poured in. To receive the sugar mass, in the example of casting mould part 3 it is shown that an upper side 4 is provided in each case with ten partial cavities 5. The partial cavities 5 are arranged on the upper side 4 in two rows of five partial cavities. In this example, the sugar mass is poured into the partial cavities one row after the other by the casting machine G.
[0066] FIGS. 2a and 2b show schematic representations of the two successive movement steps of the casting mould 1 or the casting mould parts 2 and 3, respectively. According to FIG. 2a, the casting mould 1 is open. The casting mould parts thereof are in the casting position PG in a plane. The direction of a symmetrical closing movement, with which the casting mould parts 2 and 3 can be put together and adopt an intermediate position PZ, as shown in FIG. 2b, is indicated with arrows 6 and 7. According to this, the upper sides have each been rotated by an angle of 90°. In the intermediate position PZ reached in this way, the upper sides of the casting mould parts 2 and 3 touch. The variant described here in detail, with a symmetrically rotating closing movement of the two casting mould parts into the 90° intermediate position, is preferred. However, other movement forms are also possible, in which the intermediate position lies at an angle which is smaller or larger than 90°. Thus, for example, one casting mould part can be rotated by 89° and the other casting mould part can be rotated by 91° in the opposite direction, or one casting mould part can be rotated by 10° and the other casting mould part can be rotated by 170° in the opposite direction, in order to obtain the closed casting mould. The partial cavities 5 of the two casting mould parts 2 and 3 have been lined up and form a mould cavity 8 closed on all sides, which gives the contained sugar mass the desired three-dimensional shape.
[0067] The following movement step is also shown in FIG. 2b by means of an arrow 9. This is a pivoting movement, which moves the casting mould parts 2 and 3 together as an already closed casting mould 1 from the intermediate position PZ into a transport position PT through a rotation by 90°. In the transport position PT, the casting mould part 3 has returned to the position which it was in at the start in the casting position, which is shown in FIG. 2a. The casting mould part 2 has left its initial position and is now upside down on the casting mould part 3 with its partial cavities pointing downwards. Together with the partial cavities 5 of the casting mould part 3, mould cavities 8 are formed.
[0068] A perspective view of the casting mould 1 in the intermediate position PZ is shown in FIG. 3a and a perspective view of the casting mould 1 in the transport position PT is shown in FIG. 3b. The casting mould 1 has dome-shaped partial cavities, the outer wall 10 of which can be seen in each case on an underside 11 of the casting mould part 2. Moreover, dividers 12, 13 and 14, which promote the dimensional stability of the casting mould part 2, are arranged on the underside 11. Furthermore, the underside 11 is effectively hollow, which saves material and weight.
[0069] A sectional representation through two casting mould parts 15 and 16 of another casting mould during a closing movement about an axis of rotation T is represented in FIG. 4. In the cross-section shown, the casting mould part 15 has six partial cavities 17 and, in the cross-section shown, the casting mould part 16 is provided with six partial cavities 18. The partial cavities 17 and 18 are filled with sugar mass 19. During the closing movement, forces which result from the dynamics of the closing movement and gravity F.sub.s act on the sugar mass 19 in accordance with the arrows 6 and 7. Moreover, adhesive forces act at the interface between the sugar mass and the partial cavity and cohesive forces act within the sugar mass 19. The greater the cohesive forces in the sugar mass 19 are, the greater is the internal friction and thus the viscosity. The viscosity is in turn a measure of the resistance of the sugar mass 19 to shear, i.e., to flow processes. The greater the viscosity of the sugar mass 19 is, the greater a force must be in order to make it flow in a certain way in a certain time period. At the same time, gravity F.sub.S is acting if a flow process of the sugar mass 19 takes place downwards out of the partial cavity 17 or 18 during the closing movement. Because of the dynamics of the closing movement, a generated centrifugal force F.sub.z counteracts this and brings about a flow of the sugar mass 19 in the radial direction away from the axis of rotation T. At the same time, the cohesive forces within the sugar mass 19 counteract the flow processes in the sugar mass 19.
[0070] The duration of the closing procedure must be adapted such that the influences of the centrifugal acceleration (the quicker the closing procedure, the greater the centrifugal force) and the influences of the gravitational force in the centre of the mould cancel each other out to the greatest possible extent. Due to the forces in the centre of the mould almost being in equilibrium, the confectionery mass flows as little as possible. If the viscosity of the confectionery mass is sufficiently high, it can even be prevented from flowing out beyond the rims of the cavity. A deceleration phase is provided, which brings about an inertia force F.sub.T on the sugar mass, which expels it from the partial cavity perpendicular to the surface of a casting mould part. On the other hand, the cohesive force provides for the cohesion of the sugar mass and counteracts it melting or running and the adhesive force causes the sugar masses not to flow out of the partial cavities.
[0071] Through a selection of a suitable recipe or a suitable composition of the sugar mass 19, the flow process thereof can be slowed or adjusted such that its viscosity is matched in an expedient manner to the dynamics of the closing movement of the casting mould parts 15 and 16. The flow process can also be influenced by a partial solidification, namely in the time period between the pouring procedure and the closing movement of the two casting mould parts of a casting mould. It is expedient if the internal flow processes during the closing movement proceed so slowly that no sugar mass 19 or only a small amount of sugar mass can flow beyond the rims of the partial cavities 17 and 18 during the duration of the closing procedure, wherein in addition the sugar masses are then still in a state in which they can join to one another in a material sense when the surfaces thereof meet when the mould cavity is closed. Thus, the meeting surfaces of the sugar masses are then still to have a certain “stickiness”.
[0072] In the example represented in FIG. 4, a little less sugar mass 19 has been poured into each partial cavity 17 or 18 than the maximum that the partial cavity can hold. In the partial cavities, the surfaces of the sugar mass 19 adjust themselves according to the forces acting on them. In the example shown, the fill level is chosen in this way. At the partial cavity which is furthest away from the axis of rotation T, the centrifugal force F.sub.z is not so large that the sugar mass 19 would overflow radially outwards and at the partial cavity which is closest to the axis of rotation T, the force of gravity F.sub.s is not so large that the sugar mass 19 would run out downwards. In order to achieve this, initially in the casting position PG less sugar mass was poured into the partial cavity (17, 18) than the maximum that would have fitted in. The fill level of the sugar mass 19 is below the rim of the partial cavity (17, 18).
[0073] Sugar mass would then overflow if gravity can act on the sugar mass for sufficiently long. Sugar mass can be prevented from overflowing out of a partial cavity through a targeted matching of the time, viscosity of the sugar mass and dynamics of the closing movement. In this way, a larger volume of sugar mass 19 can be poured in. The volume of the sugar mass poured in can thus be reconciled with the actual volume of the partial cavity (17, 18).
[0074] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged section of the casting mould from FIG. 4 in the intermediate position. The casting mould parts 15 and 16 are put together and the two partial cavities 17 and 18 thereof form a closed mould cavity 20, which is completely filled with sugar mass 19. An annular rim 21 is provided on the partial cavity 17 and an annular rim 22 is provided on the partial cavity 18. The two annular rims protrude in each case at the upper side. The annular rim 21 has a blunt wedge-shaped cross-section 23, which forms a separating wedge 24. The separating wedge 24 has an annular separating surface 25, which is arranged parallel to the upper side of the casting mould part 15. The separating surface 25 has a small surface area, as a result of which it achieves a high contact pressure when it comes into contact and is pressed together with the casting mould part 16 when the two casting mould parts are put together. An inner side 26 of the separating wedge belongs to the shaping partial cavity 17 and, with it, forms a continuous inner surface. The annular rim 22 has an identical design to the annular rim 21. In principle it is also possible to dispense with one of the annular rims. If only one annular rim 21 is provided on the casting mould, then it is arranged on the casting mould part which lies at the bottom in the transport position. An annular rim has an advantage in particular when an excess portion of sugar mass 19 is squeezed out of the mould cavity. For one thing, the excess portion of sugar mass is severed from the sugar mass 19 inside the mould cavity due to the high contact pressure. In addition, the squeezed-out excess portion of sugar mass has space on an outer side 27 of the annular rim 21. Without an annular rim, the excess sugar mass would be distributed over a wide area on the upper side of the casting mould part, which disadvantageously produces an increased cleaning effort. If two annular rims 21 and 22 are provided, this has the advantage that any casting mould part can optionally be used at the top or the bottom in the transport position. This is true at least when the partial cavities are symmetrical at the top and the bottom because the confectionery item to be moulded has a symmetrical shape. On the other hand, for asymmetrical three-dimensional confectionery items, two types of casting mould parts are needed, in the case of which the top and bottom cannot be interchanged. In order to fix the relative alignment of the two casting mould parts, the casting mould part 15 is provided with two centring pins, like centring pin Z shown in the section, and the casting mould part 16 is provided with two complementary centring openings Q.
[0075] FIG. 6 shows the casting mould parts 2 and 3 according to FIG. 2a in the casting position PG with sugar mass 28 poured in. In this case, the sugar mass 28 is in a still soft or sticky state. It is partially solidified to a degree or has a viscosity of a level such that it forms a mound 29, which has a raised surface 30 which protrudes partially above the partial cavity and only flattens out very slowly. The cohesion acting within the sugar mass can be influenced such that the raised surface 30 of the mound 29 persists sufficiently long to perform the closing procedure of the casting mould parts 2 and 3, which moves them from the horizontal casting position PG into the intermediate position in which the casting mould is closed. Raised mounds 29 of sugar mass 28 are located in the two partial cavities which are put together to form a mould cavity. During the closing movement, the raised mounds 29 of the two casting mould parts 2 and 3 meet and are pressed together such that they are deformed, wherein the sugar mass is distributed in the partial cavities and fills them. The mounds 29 are then still sticky on the surfaces 30, which allows the sugar masses 28 to join to one another and to become a single body, which results in the finished confectionery item. Ideally, sugar mass 28 is poured into the partial cavities in a quantity the volume of which is identical to the volume of the partial cavity, or, in total, a volume is poured into both partial cavities which corresponds in total to the volume of the mould cavity.
[0076] Alternatively, it is possible to pour the sugar mass 28 in in a quantity which in total slightly exceeds the volume of the mould cavity. In this case the mould cavity is completely filled, and an excess portion of sugar mass is pressed out of the mould cavity formed when the casting mould is closed. The excess sugar mass can be severed from the sugar mass by means of an annular rim (not represented), according to the principle as described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0077] Another alternative provides for pouring in less sugar mass 28, which in total is slightly less than the volume of the mould cavity. In this case the mould cavity may not be completely filled, but rather a small gap in the mould cavity is accepted, which remains empty or contains air. It is to be taken into consideration that the accuracy of the casting machine does not allow high-precision metering as a rule. Taking into consideration a metering error of the casting machine predefined in device-technology terms, it can either be set such that in total over-metering takes place, with the result that an excess portion of sugar mass 28 must be squeezed out of the mould cavity, or the casting machine is set such that in total under-metering takes place so that a gap forms in the mould cavity. The size of the gap can be minimized. It must not be larger than the volume which corresponds to the metering error of the casting machine.
[0078] A further example is represented in FIG. 7, which is in turn based on the casting mould parts 2 and 3 according to FIG. 2a in the casting position PG. In contrast to the example of FIG. 6, here a second ingredient 31 has been poured in in addition to the sugar mass 28, namely in each case in one of the partial cavities of a mould cavity. This ingredient can be a further sugar mass or, for example, an insertable solid ingredient, such as a nut, etc. If the ingredient 31 is a sugar mass, it can be partially solidified to a degree such that, although it sticks to the first sugar mass 28, it does not mix with it at all or mixing only takes place in a defined layer. Furthermore, over-metering or under-metering can also take place in this example in order, in the total of the sugar mass 28 including the further ingredient 31, to have metered more or less into the partial cavities than corresponds to the volume of the mould cavity formed.
[0079] In order to move the casting mould or the two casting mould parts about the axis of rotation into the intermediate position it is expedient to control the time of the closing movement. It is also beneficial if the pivoting movement from the intermediate position into the transport position is also performed in a time-controlled manner. FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 give examples of correspondingly time-controlled movement profiles, which are simply represented in a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system with the angular speed [rad/s] against time [t]. Moreover, in each case a graph (function graph) is plotted, which represents the angle against time as well as a graph for the angular acceleration against time [rad/s.sup.2].
[0080] A triangular profile is represented in FIG. 8. It relates to the angular speed of the rotating closing movement of the casting mould parts, starting from a 0° casting position PG into a 90° intermediate position PZ, which is reached after t=1.0 seconds. Not depicted here is the subsequently necessary pivoting movement of the closed casting mould from the 90° intermediate position PZ into the 0° transport position PT, which can also be time-controlled.
[0081] In the triangular profile of FIG. 8, the angular speed increases to t=0.5 seconds. This is an acceleration phase, which is represented in a graph G1 as a rising straight line 32 in the triangular profile. Then, a sharp bend 33 is effected and the angular speed decreases again to t=1 second, which means a deceleration phase, which is represented as a falling straight line 34 in the triangular profile. In addition, the angle against time is represented as a further graph G2 in FIG. 8. According to this, the 90° intermediate position is reached after t=1 second. In addition, the angular acceleration against time [rad/s.sup.2] is represented as a third graph G3.
[0082] The movement profile represented in FIG. 9 is trapezoidal. In a graph G4, the trapezoidal profile likewise has an acceleration phase, which ends after approx. t=0.3 seconds and is represented as a rising straight line 35. This straight line transitions into a horizontal line 37 with a sharp bend 36, i.e., into a phase with constant angular speed. The horizontal line is in turn connected with a sharp bend 38 to a deceleration phase, which is represented as a falling straight line 39, which starts at approx. t=0.7 seconds and has slowed down to 0 rad/s after t=1 second. Moreover, the angle is plotted against time as graph G5, which reaches the 90° intermediate position after t=1 second, wherein in the centre between the acceleration phase and the deceleration phase a straight line 40 is represented, which shows the phase with constant angular speed, and the angular acceleration is in turn shown as graph G6.
[0083] In addition, an angular speed-time curve can be provided, the graph G7 of which is designed as a polynomial function 41, as in FIG. 10. This graph without sharp bends likewise has at least an acceleration phase and a deceleration phase, which transition into one another at a maximum 42. The example of FIG. 10 is a fifth-degree polynomial. In addition, in FIG. 10 the angle is plotted against time as graph G8, which reaches the 90° intermediate position after t=1 second, in which the casting mould parts are put together and the casting mould is closed, and the angular acceleration is in turn shown as graph G9.
[0084] The pivoting movement of the closed casting mould from the 90° intermediate position PZ into the 0° transport position PT, that is not depicted, can also have an acceleration phase and a deceleration phase.
[0085] FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 show a device 43 for carrying out the proposed method for producing a three-dimensional confectionery item. FIG. 11 is a top view of the device 43. It comprises a casting mould 44, which has two casting mould parts 45 and 46 which can be assembled. Furthermore, the device comprises a handling unit 47 with a pivoting mechanism 48. The pivoting mechanism is provided with two pivoting carriers 49 and 50 and each pivoting carrier is provided with a pivot drive 51 and 52. A holding mechanism 53 or 54, respectively, is assigned to each pivoting carrier for detachably fixing one of the two casting mould parts 45 and 46. During a closing movement, each casting mould part 45 and 46 is fixed to its corresponding pivoting carrier 49 or 50, respectively. As soon as the intermediate position PZ is reached and the casting mould 44 is closed, the holding mechanism 53 detaches the fixing from the pivoting carrier 49 and releases the casting mould part 45. In the present example, the casting mould part 45 is provided with magnets 55 and the casting mould part 46 is provided with magnets 56, which together attract the released casting mould part 45 to the other still fixed casting mould part 46 and position them. The positioning is mainly effected by positioning pins and complementary positioning openings and also by the holding mechanisms 53 and 54 of the pivoting carriers 49 and 50. The casting mould part 45 is provided with partial cavities 57 and the casting mould part 46 is provided with partial cavities 58, which in the intermediate position are lined up in pairs. Each pair of closed partial cavities 57 and 58 then forms a mould cavity for a confectionery item.
[0086] In addition, a control unit 59 is provided, with which the movement of the casting mould parts 45 and 46 can be controlled and a dynamic movement can be produced, as explained above with reference to the movement profiles of FIGS. 8, 9 and 10.
[0087] FIG. 12 represents a side view of the device 43 according to FIG. 11 as well as a transport means 60, which supplies the casting mould parts 45 and 46 filled with sugar mass and transfers them to the device 43. According to FIG. 12, the pivoting carriers 49 and 50 are located in a horizontal position, with the result that the casting mould parts 45 and 46 coming out of a casting machine are still arranged in a plane relative to one another, which is thus described as casting position PG. The casting mould part 45 is fixed to the pivoting carrier 49 by means of the holding mechanism 53 and the casting mould part 46 is similarly fixed to the pivoting carrier 50. The casting mould parts 45 and 46 are pivoted from the casting position PG into the intermediate position PZ, which is shown in FIG. 13, in accordance with the arrows 61 and 62. In the intermediate position PZ, the casting mould 44 is closed and the holding mechanism 53 of the casting mould part must then be detached while the holding mechanism 54 holds the other casting mould part 46 and in addition the casting mould part 45 fixed. Along the arrow 63, the closed casting mould 44 is then pivoted into the transport position PT. In the transport position PT, the still fixed casting mould part 46 then lies at the bottom and its fixing is now also detached. The casting mould 44 is then transferred to a transport means 64, with which the casting mould 44 can be transported away.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0088] 1 casting mould
2 casting mould part
3 casting mould part
4 upper side
5 partial cavity
6 arrow
7 arrow
8 mould cavity
9 arrow
10 outer wall
11 underside
12 divider
13 divider
14 divider
15 casting mould part
16 casting mould part
17 partial cavity
18 partial cavity
19 sugar mass
20 mould cavity
21 annular rim
22 annular rim
23 cross section
24 separating wedge
25 separating surface
26 inner side
27 outer side
28 sugar mass
29 mound
30 surface
31 second ingredient
32 rising straight line
33 sharp bend
34 falling straight line
35 rising straight line
36 sharp bend
37 horizontal line
38 sharp bend
39 falling straight line
40 straight line
41 polynomial function
42 maximum
43 device
44 casting mould
45 casting mould part
46 casting mould
47 handling unit
48 pivoting mechanism
49 pivoting carrier
50 pivoting carrier
51 pivot drive
52 pivot drive
53 holding mechanism
54 holding mechanism
55 magnet
56 magnet
57 partial cavity
58 partial cavity
59 control unit
60 transport means
61 arrow
62 arrow
63 arrow
64 transport means
F.sub.S gravity
F.sub.T inertia force
F.sub.Z centrifugal force
G casting machine
G1 graph
G2 graph
G3 graph
G4 graph
G5 graph
G6 graph
G7 graph
G8 graph
G9 graph
PG casting position
PT transport position
PZ intermediate position
Q centring opening
T axis of rotation
Z centring pin
