DE102011002550B4 - Apparatus for producing fermented vegetable chips - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to provide a device for producing lactic fermented vegetable trimmings comprising a cooking container, which can be closed by means of a closure, with which a simple closure is possible, it is proposed that the closure has, at a region adjacent to the fermentation container, a sealing compound which has ventilating properties.

Description

The invention relates to a device for producing fermented vegetable shred according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the traditional method of sauerkraut production in industry as well as in the household, white cabbage chips provided with brine or dry salt are fermented in barrels having a volume of about 30 to 1000 l or in large containers having a volume of 1 cbm to 100 cbm. The vegetable shreds, which have a thread thickness of 0.5 to 2.0 mm, are mechanically stamped or compacted in the containers. The stuffed so-called Gärstock is then covered with a tarp or cloth and placed on a lid, which is weighted with weights. In large-scale industrial production, a plastic bladder filled with water is frequently applied over the entire area, which compresses the blender, so that the fermentation process can be carried out in several phases, as known from the literature.

In the traditional method of fermenting vegetable shreds, such as beetroot, celery and carrots, the vegetables are usually cut into flat strips of 1 to 2 mm thickness and 3 to 5 mm width or into round strips of 1 to 3 mm diameter and then into one Fermentation tank of 200 to 10000 l content pulped. Thereafter, a brine of 1 to 2% salinity is poured on the Gärstock until it is completely covered with liquid. Subsequently, the surface is covered with a film and the container is closed with a lid that does not hermetically seal.

A liquid container with a venting device is out of the EP 0 718 206 A1 known. The container described there with a suitable closure for re-closure, such as rotary closure dergl., A seal between the upper and possibly. Also lateral mouth edge of the container on the one hand and the inner end surface of the closure on the other hand by means of a deformable sealable mass, should include a Allow partial emptying and is subject to the risk of re-closing that the closure is pressed with greater force to the mouth edge as the first opening is required. As a result, an inadmissibly high internal pressure can build up in gaseous or gas-generating liquids, which can lead to the rupture of the container and thus represents a serious risk of injury. In order to avoid such a risk in the case of re-closing, according to the proposal of the invention, the upper mouth edge of the container has at least one recess or depression running in the direction from the container interior to the lateral mouth edge, and the sealant is selected with regard to its deformability such that that it completely fills and seals the recess when closed for the first time, but no longer so largely adapts to a later change in position of the closure. As a result, in the case of the container according to the invention, after reclosing, only in exceptional cases can a congruent and similarly effective sealing be achieved as in the first closure; The rule is a noticeably reduced seal. The invention is particularly important for the beverage industry with its CO ₂ -containing as well as fermentable products of particular importance.

Methods for fermenting vegetable shreds are, for example, from DE 15 17 080 A1 , of the DE 28 51 360 A1 and the DE 199 40 925 A1 known.

In all the devices known from the prior art for use in methods of fermenting vegetable shreds, it has proved to be disadvantageous that a "double closing" of the fermentation container is necessary because a tarpaulin or foil is placed on the opening first and then then the whole thing is provided with a lid, which also has to be weighted.

The invention is based on the object to provide a device of the type mentioned, with a simple closing is possible.

This object is achieved by the feature combination specified in claim 1.

According to the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for producing fermented, in particular lactose-fermented vegetable shreds. The device according to the invention comprises a fermentation container, which can be closed by means of a closure. The closure has at a region adjacent to the fermentation tank a sealant having ventilating properties.

The closure is thus characterized by an example injected sealant, which has ventilating properties. This means that with an increasing pressure in the sealed fermenter under displacement of the sealant can take place an opening to the environment and thus takes place a pressure relief in the fermentation tank. After the pressure has dropped, the closure closes again and seals with the sealant towards the environment.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the closure is designed as a lid and provided at its connection to the fermentation tank with sealant.

Furthermore, it has proven to be advantageous if the sealant is provided such that when the pressure in the fermentation tank an opening of the closure and thus a pressure relief is effected and at a decrease in the pressure of the closure seals the fermentation tank again.

In a device according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the closure or lid of an aluminum sheet, preferably according to DIN EN 541 is formed. Particularly preferably, the sheet is provided with a sheet thickness of 0.20 to 0.23 mm.

Furthermore, it may also be advantageous if the closure is provided with lacquer on a side facing the fermentation tank.

Good results could also be achieved if the sealant PVC, Esbo, lubricants and / or blowing agents and is particularly preferably provided as a compound.

In addition, the closure with the sealant should advantageously be created such that it has ventilating properties at a pressure of 0.15 to 0.18 bar.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, a liquid-permeable means is further provided in the fermentation tank, which is suitable to be placed on the vegetable shreds substantially over the entire base of the fermentation tank.

In this case, the liquid-permeable means preferably comprises a latticework.

Thus, for example, a net may be placed on a herb surface over a large area from above and thereby a mechanical pressure be exerted, so that the liquid, which is present by addition of salt and / or water, exits the entire surface of the fermentation stick.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid-permeable means is formed of plastic.

Plastic has the advantage that it is inert and food safe and yet it is inexpensive to manufacture.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the drawing. It show here

1 a closure of a device according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment in a plan view;

2 the closure of 1 in a perspective view;

3 a liquid-permeable means according to another preferred embodiment in a view from below; and

4 the means of 3 in a sectional view.

In the 1 and 2 is a lock 10 or lid of a device for producing fermented vegetable chips shown. The closure 10 has a sealant on a region adjacent to the fermentation tank, here an area resting on the fermentation tank 11 on, which has ventilating properties.

According to the preferred embodiment shown, it is a stackable disposable closure 10 , which can be placed on a fermentation tank, for example made of glass. The closing takes place for example by mechanical deformation of the closures 10 on the container mouth. The material of the closure 10 is aluminum and therefore recyclable.

The lid region, which faces the fermentation material, is preferably provided with a lacquer which is adapted to the corrosion protection for the respective filling material or fermentation product.

For the production of the closures 10 In particular, the following raw materials are suitable:
As metal:

• - Tinplate DIN EN 10333
• - Aluminum DIN EN 541

• – Diese sind spezifisch auf die Verwendung bei Lebensmitteln abgestimmt und sollten vorzugsweise der EuPIA/CEPE-Ausschlussliste sowie der Richtlinie  94/62/EG, Artikel 11 entsprechen.

As a paint:

• - These are specifically designed for food use and should preferably comply with the EuPIA / CEPE exclusion list and with Directive 94/62 / EC, Article 11.

• – Kunststoffdichtungen auf PVC-Basis
• – Die eingesetzten Dichtungsmassen sollten lebensmittelrechtlich konform sein

As a seal:

• - Plastic gaskets based on PVC
• - The sealants used should be compliant with food law

The closure described according to the embodiment 10 can be easily closed, for example, on a Wulstrandmündung a fermentation container by means of a closure head. Due to its special function of "ventilating" due to the sealing compound designed for it 11 he is particularly well suited for a device for producing fermented, especially lactose-fermented, vegetable chips. In the fermentation process, in contrast to prior art devices, no pre-vacuum, no accurate headspace and / or vapor deposition are required.

The compound compound according to the described embodiment as a sealant 11 consists mainly of PVC, Esbo, lubricants and blowing agents.

In the 3 and 4 another preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown.

According to this embodiment, a fermentation container is further a liquid-permeable means 12 provided that is suitable to be placed on the vegetable shredder substantially over the entire base of the fermentation tank.

Will the agent 12 When placed on the vegetable slices, it is ensured that during the fermentation process the vegetable chips are always covered with liquid which has been added or has been produced during the fermentation process, and thus also protected. By using the agent 12 is a predictable fermentation process with guaranteed.

The liquid-permeable agent 12 is according to the preferred embodiment shown with a latticework 13 executed. This latticework 13 ensures the liquid permeability.

Is that liquid permeable agent 12 formed according to the present embodiment of plastic, it is food safe and inexpensive to produce.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

shutter

11

caulk

12

liquid permeable agent

13

latticework

Claims (10)

Apparatus for producing lactic fermented vegetable shrimp comprising a fermenting container, which is closed by means of a closure ( 10 ) is closable, characterized in that the closure ( 10 ) at a region adjacent to the fermentation tank a sealant ( 11 ), which has ventilating properties. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure ( 10 ) is formed as a lid and at its connection to the fermentation tank with sealant ( 11 ) is provided. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealant ( 11 ) is provided such that when pressure occurs in the fermentation tank an opening of the closure ( 10 ) and thus a pressure relief is effected and at a decrease in the pressure of the closure ( 10 ) again seals the fermentation tank. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure ( 10 ) is formed from an aluminum sheet, preferably according to DIN EN 541, and is particularly preferably provided with a sheet thickness of 0.20 to 0.23 mm. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure ( 10 ) is provided on a side facing the fermentation tank with paint. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sealant ( 11 ) PVC, Esbo, lubricants and / or blowing agents. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the closure ( 10 ) is designed so that it has ventilating properties at a pressure of 0.15 to 0.18 bar. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the fermentation container further comprises a liquid-permeable means ( 12 ) is provided, which is adapted to be placed over the entire base of the fermentation tank on the vegetable shred. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the liquid-permeable means ( 12 ) a gridwork ( 13 ). Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the liquid-permeable means ( 12 ) is made of plastic.

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