Abstract
The invention relates to a system and method for improvingly controlling the production of food products from granular raw materials such as for instance cereal rice formed into crackers. More in particular, the invention relates to an adjustable mechanical stop mechanism for better controlling the distance between the dies where pressure-baking of food occurs, and to provide the possibility of adjustable distance between the dies in case of multiple compressions of the food material, for which different die spacings can then be installed, leading to very repeatable and unchanging food processing conditions and thus an improved and much more constant quality of end product such as a cracker.
Claims
1. An adjustable mechanical stop for controlling the die spacing of a food baking apparatus, the mechanical stop comprising: a supporting system and at least one mounting element mounted onto the supporting system wherein the supporting system and/or the at least one mounting element are adjustable in spatial position, being movable for translation and/or rotation; wherein each of the at least one mounting element comprises one or more protrusions, and wherein per mounting element the one or more protrusions are adjustable in amount of protrusion, and/or the protrusions differ in amount of protrusion amongst each other.
2. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one mounting element, comprising each at least two protrusions differing in amount of protrusion amongst each other, is movable along an axis being perpendicular to the protrusions of the at least one mounting element.
3. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 2, wherein the at least one mounting element is movable by a mechanical, electrical, pneumatic or hydraulically driven system.
4. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1, wherein the supporting system is rotatable around an axis being parallel with the one or more protrusions of the at least one mounting element.
5. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 4, wherein the at least one mounting element comprises one protrusion each being adjustable in amount of protrusion by a motorized system.
6. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 4, wherein at least two mounting elements are mounted onto the supporting system, and wherein the at least two mounting elements are even in number, being mounted onto the supporting system per pair in a circular symmetric manner.
7. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 6, wherein each pair of mounting elements comprises a first mounting element comprising a first protrusion and a second mounting element comprising a second protrusion, and wherein the first mounting element and corresponding first protrusion is positioned diametrically opposite to the second mounting element and corresponding second protrusion.
8. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 6, wherein the protrusions of the mounting elements differ in amount of protrusion per pair of the mounting elements.
9. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1, wherein the supporting system is plate or disk shaped.
10. The adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are rod or bolt shaped.
11. A food baking apparatus comprising the adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1.
12. A method for controlling the distance between a first die and a second die of a food baking apparatus, where in between a food product is baked, the method comprising: (i) providing the adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1; (ii) putting the supporting system and/or the at least one mounting element in a first position; and (iii) driving the supporting system and/or the at least one mounting element towards a second position.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein prior to (ii) per mounting element the one or more protrusions are adjusted in amount of protrusion; and/or the method further comprising (iv) driving the supporting system and/or the at least one mounting element towards an even further position.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method is applied during one and the same food baking process.
15. A food baking process based on double or multiple compression, the process comprising: providing the adjustable mechanical stop according to claim 1, and/or a cracker, chip or food product made by the food baking process.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a mechanical stop of a food baking apparatus in accordance with the art.
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of an adjustable mechanical stop for a food baking apparatus in accordance with the invention.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of an adjustable mechanical stop for another food baking apparatus in accordance with the invention.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically enlarged version of an embodiment of an adjustable mechanical stop for a food baking apparatus in accordance with the invention, as of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] The invention relates to a solution for providing a better and more accurate way of controlling the distance between the dies, i.e. the mutual die distance, of a food baking apparatus. More in particular, a system is provided to obtain an accurate and repeatable way of controlling the die distance. Further, with the invention the possibility is offered of having different installable die distances in case of multiple compressions of the food ingredient such as for instance rice or other granular raw material. Very repeatable and unchanging processing conditions are herewith achieved, and thus an enhanced and much more constant quality of end product, being for example a cracker or chip, is reached. Due to the entered control of the die distance, disturbing factors having an influence thereon can be eliminated, being for instance moisture content (and thus liquidity in the compressed status) of the food materials, temperature changes of food materials and/or dies, changes in response time of pneumatic, electrical, electronic or hydraulic components etc. Hence, with the invention, a system is provided to eliminate disturbing and varying factors and their influence on the die distance, and thus reducing varying processing conditions leading to irregular or unwanted end products. Moreover, it becomes possible to avoid so-called over-compression in a very repeatable way of certain food materials like for instance oily seeds where often too much oil is being pressed out as a result of heat and pressure.
[0025] In FIG. 2, part of a food baking apparatus is illustrated for some parts comparable with FIG. 1, particularly with respect to the hydraulic drive system. Again, a drive system 100 is depicted, comprising of hydraulic cylinders 110, 120 and a drive shaft 140. The hydraulic drive system 100 is here also connected to a transmission member 150, having an upper arm 160 and a lower arm 170. Raising the punch by hydraulically pushing transmission member 150 towards a near vertical alignment of the upper and lower arm 160, 170, the end of the compression stroke, i.e. the top position of the punch inside the dies (not shown), is now defined by the installation and settings of a mechanical adjustable stop 200, being able to stop the hydraulic drive in different ways, depending on selected configuration, hereinafter also referred to as drive stopper, more in particular here referred to as horizontal drive stopper. With the design and positioning of mechanical adjustable stop 200, the drive system 100 is stopped along a more or less horizontal direction, i.e. more or less parallel with the cylindrical rods 110, 120 of the hydraulic drive system 100. In other words, the horizontal stopper is acting along a (more or less) horizontal direction. By means of the adjustable mechanical stop 200, the stroke of the driving parts for making the dies move is now controlled, or in other words, the die spacing or distance between the dies can be manipulated in a controlled way. The adjustable mechanical stop 200 comprises of a supporting system, in this instance a plate or disk 210, onto which mounting elements are mounted, in this instance nut-shaped elements 220, 230, 240, 250, out of which protrusions, in this example bolts are protruding. According to this design, four nut-shaped mounting elements are pairwise provided onto a circular supporting system, in a circular symmetric manner, whereas other designs may also occur in accordance with the invention, wherein more or less nut-shaped mounting elements with bolts (protrusions) accordingly are present. For two of the nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230 the corresponding protruding bolts 221, 231 are visible in FIG. 2, whereas the bolts of the other two nut-shaped mounting elements 240, 250 are hidden behind the upper arm 160 of the transmission member 150.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 4, the adjustable mechanical stop 200 of the embodiment of FIG. 2 is represented more schematically in front view and in an enlarged format. As shown, all protruding bolts 221, 231, 241, 251 of respective nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 are displayed now. The amount of protrusion can differ amongst nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 and is in fact installable or adjustable by means of more or less screwing the bolts 221, 231, 241, 251 in the nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250. This screwing can be done either manually, or else for example an electromotor is coupled for driving the bolts 221, 231, 241, 251 more in or out of the nut-shaped elements 220, 230, 240, 250. The supporting plate or disk 210 is circularly shaped having a central axis A being perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of FIG. 4. The bolts 221, 231, 241, 251 are rod-shaped and have their longitudinal axis also perpendicular to FIG. 4, hence being parallel with the axis A. The nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 are positioned onto the disk shaped supporting system 210 in a circular symmetric manner. More in particular, the four nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 are each of them lying on one of the axes Q1, Q2 forming quadrants. In fact, the nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 are lying per pair onto one of the axes Q1, Q2, i.e. onto the axis Q1 nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 240 are positioned, whereas onto the axis Q2 nut-shaped mounting elements 230, 250 can be seen. The respective protruding bolts 221, 241 of nut-shapes 220, 240 pair and corresponding bolts 231, 251 of nut-shapes 230, 250 pair are also lying onto corresponding axes Q1, Q2 respectively. The nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 are thus together with their respective bolts 221, 231, 241, 251 lying per pair onto a common disk diameter. In other words, a first pair of nut-shapes and bolts is formed by nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 240, and their corresponding bolts 221, 241, while a second pair is formed by nut-shaped mounting elements 230, 250, and their corresponding bolts 231, 251. According to an embodiment, when a pair of nut-shaped mounting elements and respective bolts is positioned horizontally along the axis Q2, it will act as mechanical stop for the food baking apparatus, more in particular it will enable stopping the hydraulic drive of the apparatus. Even more in particular, the protruding bolts 231, 251 will determine the end stroke of the drive system 100, when touching the upper arm 160 of the transmission member 150 whenever pushed towards near vertical alignment of the arms. According to a further embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the bolts is the same per pair, meaning that here e.g. the bolts 221, 241 from the first pair are protruding with the same amount, whereas the bolts 231, 251 from the second pair are also protruding with the same amount, although the amount of protrusion may differ from pair to pair. The supporting plate or disk 210 can be rotated around its central axis A, either manually, or else motor driven. This way, the nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 230, 240, 250 and their corresponding bolts 221, 231, 241, 251 can change in radial position. This way another pair may be selected into horizontal position for acting as stop for the hydraulic drive system 100. As depicted in FIG. 4, the second pair of nut-shaped mounting elements 230, 250 and respective bolts 231, 251 are in horizontal position along the axis Q2, and hence acting here as selected stop mechanism. When turning the supporting plate or disk 210 for 90 to the right, or in clockwise direction, around its central axis A, the first pair of nut-shaped mounting elements 220, 240 and corresponding bolts 221, 241 will come into horizontal position along the axis Q2. The first pair is then selected as stop mechanism for the drive system.
[0027] In accordance with an embodiment, the number of nut shaped mounting elements, herein also referred to as nut-shapes, and corresponding bolts is not fixed to four, but can also be larger or smaller. The number of nut-shapes and corresponding bolts is even, in accordance with further embodiment, more in particular the nut-shapes and respective bolts come in pairs lying in line, or on the same diameter in case of a circularly shaped supporting plate or disk 210. As an example, the supporting plate or disk 210 is e.g. provided with eight nut-shapes and corresponding bolts, or either four pairs of nut-shapes with respective bolts. Suppose two pairs are added to the configuration of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, just in between the existing first pair and second pair in a radial symmetric manner, such that the nut-shapes with bolts form a regular octagon. The selection for horizontal position of a pair, i.e. selecting the mechanical stop mechanism or protrusion wanted, can now occur every 45 turning the plate 210 around its axis A.
[0028] With FIG. 3 another embodiment in accordance with the invention is illustrated. Here an adjustable mechanical stop 300 is shown for use at another position of a food baking apparatus, comprising compressible, i.e. movable dies, indicating a possible movement of the dies e.g. bringing them closer towards each other or further away from each other, during which compression takes place. The stop 300 is now occurring in the neighbourhood of the upper and lower die 360, 370 for regulating or adjusting the position therein between, and herein after also referred to as drive stopper, more in particular here referred to as vertical drive stopper. With the design and positioning of mechanical adjustable stop 300, the drive system or punch is stopped along vertical direction, i.e. along the adjustable spacing direction of the movable dies. In other words, the vertical stopper is acting along a (more or less) vertical direction. The same adjustable mechanical stop 300 is depicted in FIG. 3(a) and FIG. 3(b) although the position of one of the components, the mounting elements 320, 330 in particular, has changed. As indicated in FIG. 3(a) the adjustable mechanical stop 300 comprises a supporting system, in this instance a plate 310, onto which two mounting elements 320, 330 are movably mounted, and each of said mounting elements comprises rod-shaped 321, 322, 331, 332 protrusions. The mounting elements 320, 330 comprise two rod-shaped protrusions each, and the rod-shaped protrusion may differ in length, i.e. in amount of protrusion. A first mounting element 320 on one end of the supporting plate 310 comprises the rod-shaped protrusions 321, 322 wherein rod-shaped protrusion 321 is shorter or is less protruding than rod-shaped protrusion 322. A second mounting element 330 is mounted on the other end of the supporting plate 310, whereas this second mounting element 330 is identical in shape and size, including rod-shaped protrusions 331, 332, to the first mounting element 320 with rod-shaped protrusions 321, 322. Referring further to FIG. 3(a), both first and second mounting element 320, 330 are positioned such that the rod-shaped protrusions 322, 332 with longest protrusion are so-called selected, meaning that they are touching the lower surface 380 onto which the lower die 370 is mounted. In this position of mounting elements 320, 330 and hence selected rod-shaped protrusions 322, 332, a distance d1 between upper and lower die 370, 380 is present. The punching lower surface 380 is for instance raised by means of a hydraulic drive system there beneath. Both mounting elements 320, 330 can be shifted or translated within the supporting plate 310 to another position along the axis T, being perpendicular to the direction of the rod-shaped protrusions. For this mounting piece shifting of translating corresponding recesses 311, 312 are provided at each end of the supporting plate 310. Whenever shifting or translating the mounting elements 320, 330 in the direction of the arrow of axis T, another position can be achieved, as shown in FIG. 3(b). In this latter, both first and second mounting element 320, 330 are now positioned such that the rod-shaped protrusions 321, 331 with shortest protrusion are touching the lower surface 380 onto which the lower die 370 is mounted. In this position of mounting elements 320, 330 and thus selected rod-shaped protrusions 321, 331, a shorter distance d2 between upper and lower die 370, 380 is accomplished.
[0029] This mechanical horizontal drive stopper can be combined in a food baking apparatus with the mechanical vertical drive stopper as herein described. Thus in a further aspect of the invention a food baking apparatus is provided, comprising a horizontal drive stopper and a vertical drive stopper according to the invention.
[0030] According to an embodiment of the invention, a mechanical adjustable drive stopper (for a food baking apparatus) is provided acting along a first direction, and another mechanical adjustable drive stopper (for a food baking apparatus) is provided acting along a second direction. According to a further embodiment, further (or multiple) mechanical adjustable drive stoppers (for a food baking apparatus) can be provided acting along a further direction. Having a plurality of mechanical adjustable drive stoppers within one food baking apparatus, acting along multiple different directions, may enable fine-tuning and highly accurate adjustability of the driving system, or herewith controlled compression mechanism, in particular referring to e.g. multiple or double compression or partial press mechanism.
