GB2073089A

GB2073089A - A dismountable die plate for food-pasta extrusion

Info

Publication number: GB2073089A
Application number: GB8106144A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-04-04
Filing date: 1981-02-26
Publication date: 1981-10-14
Also published as: GB2073089B; CA1131075A; FR2479653B1; IT8021392V0; IT206039Z2; JPS578731A; JPS5839499B2; FR2479653A1

Abstract

To facilitate maintenance and cleaning of the die-plate, it is formed by two disc-shaped elements (2, 3) which combine to define the desired passage sections for the tubular pasta shapes to be extruded. The passage sections are defined between openings (9) in one of the elements (3) and solid section parts (5) which project into the openings (9) from one of the surfaces of the other element (2). The solid section parts (5) are fixed within holes (10) of the element (2), by means of webs (7) which also engage the internal walls of the openings (9) when the elements (2, 3) are assembled together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dismountable die-plate for machines used in the production of fresh food-pasta This invention relates to a dismountable die plate for food-pasta machines. More particularly, the invention relates to a die-plate of the type made up of two mutually connectable elements, the structure and arrangement of these elements conferring on the die-plate particular characteristics of utility.

Conventionally designed die-plates are usually obtained by forming the pasta passage sections directly from a main single body. Such designs present problems regarding cleaning and general maintenance of the die-plates themselves.

In fact the pasta, in the process of its extrusion into the desired shape, is firmly pushed against the body of the die-plate tending to become impacted and to block the said passage sections by virtue of its hardening. The spaces of the die-plate, generally difficult to clean even immediately after the production of the pasta shapes, constitute a serious drawback with regards to the cleaning of the die-plate if in the meantime the pasta has been allowed to harden.

Also known are die-plates made up of a number of interconnectable units.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a die-plate which facilitates and simplifies the maintenance operations.

According to the present invention, there is provided a die-plate for the production of tubular shapes of fresh food-pasta of the type connectable to a conventional extrusion machine by means of a threaded ring nut, comprising a first disc-shaped element having solid parts of circular section projecting from one of its surfaces; and a second disc-shaped element having openings adapted to receive the solid parts of the said first disc-shaped element, wherein the first disc-shaped element has circular through-holes co-axial with said solid parts and of diameter greater than the diameter of said parts, the fixing of said solid parts within its respective hole in said first disc-shaped element being effected by means of support webs provided in the base of the through-holes of the first discshaped element.

The die-plate is further characterised in that the passage sections for the extruded pasta through the body of the die-plate are defined in the first element by the free spaces between the said webs and the periphery of the holes, and in the second element by the facing and contiguous outlines respectively of the solid circular parts of the first element and of the openings of truncoconical section of the second element.

An embodiment of a die-plate made in accordance with the present invention suitable for the production of macaroni and other types of tubular pasta, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Fig. 1 is a front view of a die-plate illustrating the section for discharging pasta shapes from the die-plate; - Fig. 2 is a section along the lines I1--I1 of Fig.1 with the elements separated; - Fig. 3 shows, in perspective, the first discshaped element from the side of the projecting solid parts; and - Fig. 4 shows the second disc-shaped element in frontal view, illustrating the inlet side of the pasta from the extruder to the die-plate.

With reference to the drawings, a die-plate made in accordance with the invention is indicated by the reference numeral 1 of Fig. 1.

The die-plate is obtained by the joining of discshaped elements 2 and 3 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The disc-shaped element 2 is made up of a disc 4 provided with an edge 4' and may be completely formed of plastics material or light metal. The said disc-shaped element 2 is provided with solid parts 5 of substantially cylindrical shape, as well as through-holes 6. Said parts 5 are centered coaxially relative to said holes 6 and project from the surface of the disc 4 being fixed by means of webs 7 (usually three or four in number) which project a certain height from the surface of disc 4 together with cylindrical parts 5.

The disc-shaped element 3 is made up of a disc 8 having an edge 8' and having openings 9 of the truncoconical section.

The coupling between the disc-shaped elements in accordance with the combination illustrated in Fig. 2 results in the formation and completion of the die-plate. More specifically the cylindrical parts 5 of the disc-shaped element 2 are inserted in the truncoconical openings 9 of the disc-shaped element 3 from the side of the major base of these holes, until the webs 7 engage against the internal walls of said openings 9.

The function of the webs, over and above that of positioning the solid parts 5, is also that of maintaining the parts 5 straight during extrusion, as well as that of reciprocally centering the discshaped elements 2 and 3, in order to attain the combination of said elements in the desired form.

Said combination determines the formation of the spaces 10 defined between the contiguous surfaces respectively of the cylindrical parts 5 and holes 9.

Said die-plate is attached to a conventional machine for the production of different forms of pasta with the use of a threaded ring nut acting against the edges 4' and 8' of the elements 2 and 3 respectively. The inlet section of the pasta in the die-plate is that of the holes of disc-shaped element 2.

After this first phase of cr.ossing and entering of the pasta in the die-plate 3, the pasta is chanelled through the spaces 10, through which the pasta, broken up into the inlet section by virtue of the presense of webs 7, recombines into the complete profile of the finished product.

During cleaning, the mutural separation of the elements 2 and 3 is easily carried out by pushing on the ends of the parts 5, visible on the outlet section of the die-plate.

In the example illustrated, the die-plate is provided with four openings 9 and four parts 5.

Clearly, the number of components may vary depending on the dimensions of the required shape and of the surface of the die-plate.

Claims

1. A die-plate for the production of tubular shapes of fresh food-pasta of the type connectable to a conventional extrusion machine by means of a threaded ring nut, comprising a first disc-shaped element having solid parts of circular section projecting from one of its surfaces, and a second disc-shaped element having openings adapted to receive the solid parts of said first disc-shaped element, wherein the first disc-shaped element has circular through-holes co-axial with said solid parts and of diameter greater than the diameter of said parts, the fixing of said solid parts within its respective hole in said first disc-shaped element being effected by means of support webs provided in the base of holes of disc-shaped element.

2. A die-plate as claimed in claim 1 wherein the passage sections for extruded pasta through the body of the die-plate are defined in the first element by the free spaces between the webs and the periphery of said holes, and in the second element by the facing and contiguous outlines respectively of the circular solid parts of the first element and the openings of the second element.

3. A die-plate as claimed in either claim 1 or 2, wherein the openings of the second disc-shaped element are of truncoconical section.

4. A die-plate as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said webs project from the surface of said first disc-shaped element and engage the inner walls of the openings of the second discshaped element acting as a reciprocal centering and positioning means between the first and second disc-shaped elements.

5. A die-plate as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each of the disc-shaped elements are provided with respective peripheral shoulders for engagement of the die-plate by a threaded ring nut for fixing the die-plate to an extrusion machine.

6. A die-plate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.