MXPA96005800A - Reco device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cutting device at the exit of rows of a cooking / extrusion system (1), comprising a rotating shaft (6) carrying several cutting edges (7), in which the axis of rotation ( 33) of the tree is confused with that (34) of the cooking / extrusion system and in that the cutting edges have different lengths and are not continuous, nor linear

Description

TRIMMING DEVICE DESCRIPTION The invention relates to a cutting device at the exit of rows of a cooking / extrusion system, comprising a rotating shaft that carries several cutting edges. It is already known to dispose at the exit of a cooking / extrusion device, of a trimming device, especially in animal feed, to obtain dry food having the shape given by the extrusion die. The Japanese patent 86 280 260 in the name of KK Ooyama Foods Machinery, relates to a device for manufacturing food for family animals and comprising at the exit of the extrusion die, two rotating blades supported by a shaft, whose axis is parallel to the eg of the extruder; one of the blades allows to make a notch on the product and the second allows the total trimming of the product. The drawback of this device is that the axis of the blade is offset relative to the axis of the extruder, which implies that the blades of the blade rotate in a vacuum over a large part of its rotation circle, which may raise problems of security and adjustment of the sheets, because the centrifugal force is great. On the other hand, this trimming device can only be used with one row of product exit. The object of the present invention is that of finding a trimming device that does not pose any safety problem, or that presents any risk of deregulation and that allows use from an extruder that may comprise several output rows.

The invention relates to a cutting device at the exit of rows of a cooking / extrusion system, which comprises a rotating shaft with several cutting edges, in which the axis of rotation of the shaft is confused with that of the system of rotation. decoction / extrusion and in which the cutting edges have different lengths and are not continuous or linear. The device according to the invention allows making croquettes for the feeding of animals, or breakfast cereals comprising discrete surface effects (ears, fish ears, thin cones) or larger (fish mouths, cat's feet). The device can be used to manufacture all the products extruded on extruders of a screw or double screw or on any machine that allows to push the dough through one or more rows: the device according to the invention is placed directly at the exit of those rows and the rotation of the cutting means is regulated, at the appropriate speed that allows obtaining the desired product, that is the desired thickness of the croquette or of the cereal. The starting paste may or may not be colored. The procedure is as follows: in the first compartment of the extruder, the mixture of all the ingredients, namely flour, water, sugar, aromas and dyes and the paste formed in this way is progressively heated to cook, and pushes through a variable number of rows that have the desired croquette or cereal shape, such as cat, mouse, fish, cone, other animal or vegetable forms, as well as geometric shapes. At the exit of the row, the batten strip is cut with the device according to the invention, comprising one or more cutting edges (blades) whose arrangement allows to obtain the different surface effects. If the cutting edges of different lengths are planned, we speak of an alternate cut. If the non-continuous cutting edges are planned, we speak of a shifted cut and finally with non-linear cutting edges, we speak of a fluted cut.

By cutting edge of different lengths, it is understood in the present description, a cut with blades distributed according to a certain angle around the axis of rotation of the shaft; two successive blades do not have the same size. These blades cut perpendicularly to the axis of the cooking / extrusion system: on the other hand, this is also true for non-continuous and non-linear cutting edges. In the case of edges of different lengths, the trimming device is constituted by at least two blades of different lengths arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The general principle is based on the fact that the shorter blade makes a notch on the extrusion strip at the exit of the row, in order to cause the appearance of a larger surface effect, such as fish mouth or paw of cat, and the second blade cuts in its entirety the notched croquette. In a preferred embodiment, the cutting edges of different lengths comprise four blades of different length, arranged at right angles. In this case, the two blades disposed symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft, have the same length. The two longer blades have practically twice the length of the shortest blades. This geometry of the blades allows to make larger surface effects: for example, the exit row has the shape of cat or fish and two cat legs or a fish mouth opening are obtained. The distance between the legs or the opening of the fish mouth. it is linked to the natural expansion of the output product of the row, but also to an appropriate cutting angle. In effect, the angle of the small blade (angle of attack) will cause the spacing of the two notched symmetrical parts (2 lips, 2 legs). This cutting technique is used for two different products, namely two-legged cat croquettes and open fish mouth croquette. Of course it can also be applied to other types of products, for example, breakfast cereals or confectionery products. By non-continuous cutting edges, it is understood in the present description, that cutting edges are available that comprise at least one blade having two displaced blades; these leaves are practically the same length and are arranged at different distances from the axis of rotation of the tree.

The general principle is based on the fact that the blade cuts the strip of extrusion paste at the exit of the row in two times. The first part of the blade cuts a part of the croquette while the batter continues to come out before the second part of the blade does not cut. In this way, the appearance of a discrete surface effect (fish ears, mouse ears) is caused. The second part of the blade releases in its entirety, the croquette cut in this way. As above, the surface effect is linked to the natural expansion of the product at the exit of the row, but also to an appropriate cutting angle. In effect, the angle of the blade located closer to the axis of rotation of the tree (angle of attack) will cause the spacing of the first notched part (ear, ear). This cutting technique will be used for two different products, namely croquettes in the form of mice with ears and croquettes in the form of fish with ear. The device according to the invention can also be used for breakfast cereals or confectionery products. In a particular embodiment, non-continuous cutting edges are used comprising two blades with displaced blades; those blades are arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft. In a final embodiment of the device according to the invention, working with non-linear cutting edges. To reach this goal, it is used as a cutting edge, at least one blade with a notched blade. That is to say that the cutting displacement due to the fact of notching, will make a product with grooves. The blade cuts the strip of extrusion paste so as to allow, due to the natural expansion of the extrudate, a non-regular expansion on the surface (not franc cut). This cutting technique is used to prepare thin cone type croquettes. But of course, it can also be used for cereals for breakfast or for confectionery products. In a preferred embodiment, the device with non-linear cutting edges comprises two blades disposed symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft. The great interest of the device according to the invention is that the cutting edges are mounted on a rotating shaft and are of a single piece (single block with one or more blades), while in the Japanese patent mentioned, the cutting system comprises two pieces. The description below is made referring to the drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically represents the extruder with the cutting system; Figure 2 schematically represents the device according to the invention, for alternating cutting; Figure 3 represents the product obtained with the device of Figure 2; Figure 4 schematically represents the device according to the invention for the offset cut. Figure 5 represents the product obtained with the device of Figure 4; Figure 6 schematically represents the device according to the invention for the fluted cut; and Figure 7 represents the product obtained with the device of Figure 6. According to Figure 1, the cooking / extrusion device (1) of the double screw type (2, 3) brings the paste on the Extrusion head (31) through the ducts (32) that arrive on the extrusion dies (4). The pasta is obtained by a mixture that is prepared behind the device, with all the necessary ingredients, namely flour, water, sugar, aromas and colors. The extruder has a temperature profile that allows to reach 130 ° C for a duration of the order of 30 seconds. At the exit of the rows, the device according to the invention (5) is placed, comprising a tree (6) that supports the cutting means (7); that shaft is driven in rotation in the direction of the arrow with the help of the motor (8). The speed of rotation of the tree is adapted to that of the exit flow of the cylindrical extrusion lath, taking into account the thickness you want to give the final product. For a flow rate of the order of 300 kg / h, the shaft is rotated at a speed of approximately 200 revolutions per minute. The axis of rotation of the tree is confused with the axis (34) of rotation of the cooking / extrusion system. Figure 2 represents a schematic view at the end of the extruder (1), of the alternating cutting system. A single row (9) is represented, but of course several rows can be foreseen: this row has in this case, the shape of a fish. The rotating shaft (6) comprises cutting means (10). These cutting means are made in one piece with 4 blades respectively (11, 12, 13, 14), of which two blades are short (11, 13) and two blades are long (12, 14). The edge of the blade is gray. The operation is as follows: the strip of extrusion paste leaves the row (9), and the cutting means driven by the motor (8) (figure 1) rotate in a clockwise direction. The blade (11) makes a slit in the head of the fish to make an open mouth and then the blade (14) completely removes that fish. The pasta strip continues to come out, and the blade (13) makes an open mouth, and the blade (12) takes off the fish. And so on: every pair of blades creates a new fish. The fish (15) is represented in figure 3: the mouth is perfectly open (16). Figure 4 schematically represents the cutting device displaced at the outlet of the extruder (1). In this case, a single row (17) is represented that has the shape of a fish, but several of them can be had. The shaft (6) supports the cutting means (16) which are formed by a single piece and which comprise two blades; each of these blades is constituted by two displaced blades, respectively (19, 20) and (21, 22). The procedure is as follows: the batten strip comes out of the row (17), and the blades driven by the motor (8) rotate in the clockwise direction. The blade (20) makes a notch in the body of the fish to the ears and the blade (19) ends the trimming of the head: due to the fact of the expansion of the product, it is the corner of the blade (20) that allows the Ear training. The blades continue turning and the leaves (21) and (22) cut back a new fish and so on. Figure 5 shows the fish well (23) with its ear (24). Figure 6 represents a schematic end view of the extruder (1) of the fluted cutting device. Only one row (25) is represented, but you can have several. The shaft (6) supports the cutting means (26) which are in one piece and comprise notched blades (27, 28). The operation is as follows: the cylindrical extrusion strip leaves the die (25) and the cutting means (26) rotate in the clockwise direction. The blade (27) cuts the batten strip according to a grooved configuration. The extrusion paste strip moves forward and the blade (28) cuts a new portion. A thin cone (29) is obtained which has stretch marks (30) (figure 7). With the device according to the invention, it is possible to work in the field of animal feed (dry foods), but applications can also be planned in breakfast cereals and confectionery products.

Claims (8)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the invention, we consider it as a novelty and, therefore, we claim as of our novelty, what is contained in the following clauses. 1.- Trimming device at the exit of rows of a cooking / extrusion system, comprising a rotating shaft that has several cutting edges, characterized in that the axis of rotation of the tree is confused with that of the cooking / extrusion system and in that the cutting edges have different lengths and are not continuous or linear.
2. 2. Device according to clause 1, characterized in that the cutting edges of different lengths comprise at least two blades of different lengths, arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft.
3. 3. Device according to clause 2, characterized in that the cutting edges of different lengths comprise four blades of different lengths, arranged at right angles.
4. 4. Device according to any of clauses 2 or 3, characterized in that the longer blades have practically twice the length of the shorter blades.
5. 5. Device according to clause 1, characterized in that the continuous cutting edges comprise at least one blade having two displaced blades that have practically the same length and which are arranged at different distances from the axis of rotation of the shaft.
6. 6. Device according to clause 5, characterized in that the non-continuous cutting edges comprise two blades with displaced blades; those blades are arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft.
7. 7. Device according to clause 1, characterized in that the non-linear cutting edges comprise at least one blade with a notched blade.
8. 8. Device according to clause 7, characterized in that the non-linear cutting edges comprise two blades arranged symmetrically in relation to the axis of rotation of the shaft.