AU673164B2

AU673164B2 - Apparatus for producing products with a pattern

Info

Publication number: AU673164B2
Application number: AU38384/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Elmar Wilhelm Bernhard Dieren; Georg Silvester Prokscha
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-06-02
Filing date: 1993-05-04
Publication date: 1996-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-04
Also published as: AU3838493A

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For a Standard Patent

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT

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Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: ELMAR WILHELM BERNHARD DIEREN GEORG SILVESTER PROKSCHA and ELMAR WILHELM BERNHARD GEORG SILVESTER PROKSCHA DIEREN and WRAY ASSOCIATES, Primary Industry House, 239 Adelaide merrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Apparatus for Producing Products with a Pattern"

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.11 Details of Associated Provisional Application No: PL2737.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:-- -1-

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41 *4 C 44 -4 C C *444 CC 4' 4 4 4 -2- THIS INVENTION relates to apparatus for forming products with a pattern extending in one direction through the products.

There are many products for which it may be desirable to have a pattern extending through the product to enhance the visual appeal of the product. This applies particularly to food products such as smaligoods, cakes, confectionery and ice cream. More particularly, a pattern in food products which are served in slices would be particularly desirable as it would be present in each serving. The presence of the pattern would enhance the visual appeal of the product and may encourage children to eat the product, particularly if the pattern depicted a cartoon character or some other formation appealing to children.

The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for forming such products.

Apparatus for forming a product with a pattern extending through the product, the product being formed from at least two materials having different visual characteristics which co-operate to display the pattern, the apparatus comprising a die having a plurality of die spaces corresponding to the pattern, a first compartment for receiving a first one of said at least two materials under pressure in a plastic state, a second compartment for receiving a second one of said at least two materials under pressure in a plastic state, flow passages providing communication between each of the compartments and the respective die 20 spaces, each flow passage having a cross-sectional area which is relatively small in comparison to the respective compartment with which it communicates whereby the materials introduced into the compartments are caused to fill the compartments before flowing through the passages.

With this arrangement, the pattern is produced by the visual contrast between the materials.

By the term "plastic state" it is meant that the materials are capable of flowing when subjected to pressure.

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i -3- The apparatus may further comprise delivery means for delivering the at least two materials under pressure in a plastic state to the respective compartments.

The delivery means may include a ram or other delivery device for delivering each material in a plastic state to the respective compartment under pressure.

The delivery means may incorporate a valve associated with each compartment for regulating flow of material under pressure into the compartment.

The die may comprise an outer wall and one or more inner walls configured to form the product with the pattern therein out of the plastics materials as they extrude from the die.

The outer wall of the die may define a nozzle around which a mould can be fitted, the arrangement being such that the mould can progressively retract from the nozzle as materials enter the mould through the die spaces.

In one arrangement, the mould may be a casing for the product, such as a plastic bag in which the product is delivered for sale. In another arrangement, the mould can be constructed so that the product can be removed from the mould at an appropriate time before the product is delivered for sale so as to allow the mould to be reused.

The apparatus may further comprise a base for supporting the mould as materials fill the mould, the base being adapted to progressively retract away from the 20 nozzle as the filling operation proceeds.

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o 08 Oa op CaO* i :1 The base may be operatively connected to the valves which regulate flow of material into the compartments, the arrangement being such that the valves close when the base reaches its outermost position in relation to the nozzle. This ensures that the materials do not continue to enter the mould once it has been filled. Conveniently, the arrangement is also such that the valves are caused to open when the base assumes its innermost position with respect to the nozzle.

The invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of one specific embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus according to the embodiment; Fig. 2 is a view of the die forming part of the apparatus; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of a processed meat product produced with i the apparatus according to the embodiment.

The embodiment shown in the drawings is directed to an apparatus for produci,,ag 0processed meat products in an elongated form with an internal pattern extending 15 longitudinally through the product, an example of such a product being shown in Fig. 3. The product so produced can be sliced transversely as required by a user with the result that the pattern is present in each slice.

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The apparatus comprises a support structure 11 on which there is mounted a head structure 13 and a base structure The head structure 13 comprises a housing 16 having a cylindrical side wall 17, a top wall 19 and an open bottom An extruding die 21 is provided at the lower end of the housing 16. The die 21 extends to the open bottom 20 of the housing and comprises an outer wall 23 defined by the lower section of the side wall 17 of the housing and a plurality of inner walls 25. In this embodiment there are five'inner walls, four of which are circular and the fifth of which resembles a four-leaf clover. The four circular walls each define a respective first die space 26 and the fifth internal wall defines a second die space 27. The region defined within the outer wall 23 and outside of the internal walls 25 forms a third die space 29.

The housing is provided with three compartments above the die, being a first compartment 31 which communicates with each of the first die spaces 26, a second compartment 32 S. 20 which communicates with the second die space 27 and a third compartment 33 which communicates with the third die space 29.

The first compartment 31 is positioned below the second compartment 32 and above the third compartment 33, as shown in the drawings. The third compartment 33 is lowermost and is separated from the die 21 by transverse wall 34.

The first compartment 31 communicates with each of the first die spaces 26 by way of first flow passages 35 each defined by a rigid pipe extending between the first compartment 31 and a respective one of the first die spaces 26. Each of the flow passages 35 is of relatively small cross-sectional area in comparison to the cross-sectional area of the first compartment 31.

I -6- The second compartment 32 communicates with the second die space 27 by way of a flow passage 37 which extends between the second compartment and the second die space and which is of relatively small cross-sectional area compared to the second compartment.

The third compartment 33 communicates with the third die space 29 by way of flow passages defined by apertures 39 each of which is formed in the transverse wall 34 and each of which is of relatively small cross-sectional area of the third compartment.

The first, second and third compartments receive visually different meat mixtures under pressure and in a plastic state from separate sources (such as mixing machines) by way of first, second, and third delivery lines 41, 42 and 43 respectively. The pressure of the flow of meat mixture along each delivery line is regulated according to the particular pattern being produced, as the type of pattern governs the required flow rate along each line. While the visual 15 differences between the various mixtures may take any suitable form, differences in colouring are particularly convenient and effective.

Each delivery line incorporates a valve 45 for regulating flow of the meat mixture therealong, each valve having an open condition and a closed condition. The valves are controlled by solenoids, as will be explained later.

The relationship between the cross-sectional area of each of the compartments 31, 32 and 33 in relation to the respective flow passages 35, 37 and 39 is such that the meat mixtures entering the compartments are caused to fill the compartments before passing along the respective flow passages. In this way, the meat mixtures are delivered at uniform flow rates along the flow passages to the die spaces.

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(4 -7- The side wall 17 of the housing 16 defines a nozzle about which a mould 50 can be positioned. The mould can be in the form of a plastic bag in which the processed meat product is delivered for sale, or a mould of a more permanent nature from which the processed meat prodict is later removed before the product is delivered for sale, thus allowing the mould to be reused.

The mould is supported on a base 51 which can be moved towards and away from the nozzle by way of a telescopic ram i 53 on which the base is supported. The ram 53 is adapted to move the mould 50 when supported on the base 51 into a position in which it is positioned around the nozzle with the bottom of the mould almost in contact with the underside of the die. As the meat mixtures are delivered .oo 0 15 into the mould, the base progressively retracts so as to progressively move the mould from the nozzle until such time as the mould is completely filled. Once the mould has been completely filled, it can be closed at its upper end and removed from the base.

0 20 The movement of the base 51 operates in timed sequence with the valves 45 such that the valves close when the base reaches its outermost position in relation to the nozzle.

.This ensures that the meat mixtures do not continue to enter the mould once it has been filled. The valves are also arranged to open when the base assur-es its innermost position with respect to the nozzle. In this position, the mould is ready to receive the meat mixtures from the nozzle.

During the filling operation, the various dies deliver the meat mixtures into the mould in the desired pattern. As the meat mixtures have different visual characteristics, a Spattern is produced in the processed meat product as it is formed in the mould.

-8- The process meat product produced by the apparatus according to this embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The product is elongated and has a pattern extending along its length. It can be sliced at any point along its length to reveal the pattern. In this way, the pattern appears on each slice of the product regardless of the thickness of the slice.

'.1 Although the invention has one specific embodiment, is not limited thereto and modifications can be made of the invention.

been described in relation to it should be appreciated that it that various alterations and without departing from the scope j 04 *494 0 0004 000 It should also be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the production of processed meat products.

Indeed, the invention may be used to produce any suitable product by an extrusion process with a pattern extending through the product.

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Claims

1. Apparatus for forming a product with a pattern extending through the product, the product being formed from at least two materials having different visual characteristics which co-operate to display the pattern, the apparatus comprising a die having a plurality of die spaces corresponding to the pattern, a first compartment for receiving a first one of said at least two materials under j pressure in a plastic state, a second compartment for receiving a second one of said at least two materials under pressure in a plastic state, flow passages providing communication between each of the compartments and the respective die spaces, each flow passage having a cross-sectional area which is relatively small in comparison to the respective compartment with which it communicates S whereby the materials introduced into the compartments are caused to fill the j compartments before flowing through the passages.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising deliveiy means for 15 delivering the at least two materials under pressure in a plastic state to the respective compariments.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the delivery means comprises a ram for delivering each of the materials in a plastic state to the respective compartment under pressure.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the delivery means incorporates a valve associated with each compartment for regulating flow of the respective material under pressure into the compartment. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims further comprising a housing having an open bottom, the die being provided in the lower end of the housing and extending to the open bottom thereof, the first and second compartments being provided in the housing one above the other. J A' U' /^\TO

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the flow passage providing communication between the compartment which is uppermost and the respective die space extends through the other compartment.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a third compartment, wherein the first, second and third compartments are positioned one above anothet in the housing.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the die comprises an outer wall and one or more inner walls configured to form the product with the pattern therein out of the plastics materials as they extrude from the die.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the outer wall is defined by the housing.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the outer wall of the die defines a nozzle around which a mould can be fitted, the arrangement being such 15 that the mould can progressively retract from the nozzle as materials enter the W S mould through the die spaces. Apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising a base for supporting the mould as materials fill the mould, the base being adapted to progressively retract away from the nozzle as the filling operation proceeds. 20 12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the base is operatively connected to valves for regulating flow of material into the compartments, the arrangement i f being such that the valves close when the base reaches its outermost position in relation to the nozzle. r 13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the arrangement is such that the 1 valves are caused to open when the base assumes its innermost position with respect to the nozzle. RA -4 .o Q ~11 I I -11

14. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this thirtieth day of August, 1996. ELMAR WILHELM BERNHARD DIEREN and GEORG SILVESTER PROKSCHA Applicants WRAY ASSOCIATES Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for Applicant 'e S Sm •s S 5 0 0 0 t K ~~izJL~ ABSTRACT Apparatus for forming an extruded product with a pattern extending through the product. The apparatus comprises a die (21) having three die spaces (26,27,29) corresponding to the pattern. A delivery means is provided for delivering first, second and third materials in a plastic state to separate die spaces. The first, second and third 'materials have different visual characteristics *so as to S form the product with the pattern therein as they are extruded through the die spaces.