GB2268903A

GB2268903A - Food processing apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2268903A
Application number: GB9215671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Ou Young
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-07-23
Filing date: 1992-07-23
Publication date: 1994-01-26
Also published as: GB9215671D0

Abstract

Apparatus for extruding food products includes a forming device comprising forming rods 37 pivotally mounted around aperture 32 of base part 31 and engaged with posts 39 of swivel ring 38 such that rotation of swivel ring 38 in one direction pivots rods 37 into the aperture to narrow the effective size thereof while rotation of swivel ring 38 in the opposite direction pivots rods 37 out of the aperture, increasing the effective size thereof. In a preferred form of apparatus a motor 10 drives two spiral conveyer rods 11, 21 located in vats, 12, 22, to force foodstuffs down co-axial conveyer pipes 13 and 23 to be finally formed by forming device 30, a finished food product being discharged from the apparatus on conveyer belt 40. <IMAGE>

Description

FOOD PROCESSING APPARATUS The present invention relates to an apparatus for processing food, in particular to a simple, compact machine which may be adapted to process a wide variety of processed foods produced on an extrusion principle.

The background of the present invention relates to the field of automated food processing. In particular the use of machinery to undertake the repetitive and laborious tasks previously done manually. For example, the time and energy of skilled workers may be wasted during the processes involved in noodle making, such as preparing the flour, mixing the flour with water, crumbling and mixing the flour and cutting the mixture into pellets before the final process of forming the noodle. Therefore, manufacture by hand can no longer satisfy the demand of customers.

Focussing of the requirements of the makers of steamed dumplings, steamed pies, cakes, biscuits, bread and even such traditional Taiwanese snacks as meatballs, moon cakes and balls made of glutinous rice, the object of the present invention is to provide such manufacturers with a machine which is ideal for the production of these kinds of food. A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine which is able to satisfy all such process requirements such as skin making, filling, stuffing and pattern moulding for food making. Another object of the present invention is to provide a machine which processes food at a higher speed than that possible by hand to more uniform specifications, to more stabilised quality and to more hygenic standards.

According to the present invention, there is provided a food processing apparatus comprising one or more conveyer pipes carrying food ingredients, and a forming device located at an opening in said pipe or pipes, said forming device comprising a base portion having a central aperture, a plurality of forming members pivotally mounted on said base portion and around said aperture, and a swivel ring engaging, in use, with said forming members, such that said forming members are moved radially inward to reduce the effective size of said central aperture when said swivel ring is rotated in first direction and said forming members are moved radially outward to increase the effective size of said central aperture when said swivel ring is rotated in a second direction.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a food processing apparatus for skin-making, stuffing-filling and patternmoulding comprising a motor means in engagement with a gear box, said gear box transmitting the power from the motor to two spiral conveyer rods, one of which is located within a first bucket containing a first material, for example a dumpling mixture, while the other is located within a second bucket containing a second material, for example a vegetable filling mixture; the two spiral conveyer rods, in use, forcing the first and second material into first and second conveyer pipes respectively, the second conveyer pipe having a smaller diameter than the first conveyer pipe and the second conveyer pipe being arranged co-axially inside the first conveyer pipe, the first and second conveyer pipes having a common opening connected with a forming device; the forming device comprising a generally planar base portion having "upper" and "lower" sides and a central circular aperture, the base portion also having a flange member around the inner circumference of the aperture, the flange member being recessed from both the upper and lower planes of the base portion, the upper side of the flange having a plurality of protruding pivot points equidistantly placed around the circumference of the central circular aperture and a plurality of elongate slots each placed radially outward from one of the pivot points; a swivel ring having a plurality of connecting rods, the swivel plate and connecting rods engaging, in use, with the lower side of the base portion such that the connecting rods protrude through the elongate slots in the flange member; a plurality of forming rods, each being pivotably engaged with one of said pivot points and one of said connecting rods such that, in use, rotation of the swivel plate causes the forming rods to conduct an obliquely inward movement (toward the centre of the central aperture), or an obliquely outward movement (away of the centre of the central aperture) enabling a portion of the first and second materials extruded from the first and second conveyer pipes to be moulded, formed and cutoff, in the preferred example to produce a dumpling containing a vegetable filling; and a conveyer belt to enable the portion which has been formed to be discharged from the apparatus.

The presently preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partially cut-away side view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a structural view of the presently preferred embodiment of the forming device of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a view of the forming device of Fig. 3 in the open position, in a plan view and in a sectional side view, in use; and Fig. 5 is a view of the forming device of Figure 4 in the closed position.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a motor 10 which is vertically and invertedly secured onto a gear box 20 which transmits power to spiral conveyer rods 11 and 12 inside buckets 12 and 22 by means of appropriate gear shifting. Spiral conveyor rods 11 and 12 may be any suitable shape or size and material, but in the preferred embodiment are in the form of a helical screw which forces the material inside buckets 12 and 22 into first and second conveyor pipes 13 and 23 respectively. Conveyor pipe 13 is of a smaller diameter than conveyor pipe 23 and passes into conveyer pipe 23 underneath bucket 22 to form a coaxially or concentrically arranged twin pipe. The twin pipe formed by conveyer pipes 12 and 23 extends laterally and then vertically downward to engage with the upper portion of forming device 30. A conveyor belt 40 is provided underneath the forming device 30 so that the formed food may be conveyed and discharged from the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus is best described by way of an example, such as the production of a dumpling containing a vegetable filling. First the dumpling mixture (which may have been blended beforehand or may be blended by the apparatus) is put into bucket 22. The vegetable filling (which may be seasoned and prepared beforehand) is put into the second bucket 12.

Motor 10 drives the spiral conveyer rods 11 and 21 to push the dumpling mixture and the vegetable filling through conveyer pipes 23 and 13 respectively into the forming device 30. The forming device 30 will then wrap the dumpling mixture around the vegetable filling and cut off a dumpling ready for steaming. When a continuous operation is being conducted, dumplings of consistent size and quality may be produced.

As indicated in Figure 3, the preferred embodiment of the forming device comprises a base portion 31 having a central circular aperture 32 and circular grooves 33 and 34 forming a flange member. Branch rods or pivot posts 35 protrude from the upper surface of the flange member at equal distances around the central circular aperture and an equal number of elongate slots or grooves 36 are provided, each located radially outward from one of the pivot posts 35. Ten forming rods 37 are provided, one of which is engaged with each of the pivot posts 35 by means of a hole 372 and thus lie in groove 33. Also provided is a swivel plate or ring 38 having ten connecting rods 39 which pass through the elongate slots 36 and engage with the forming rods 37 via hole 371. The swivel ring is located into groove 34.Thus, each forming rods 37 rotates about the pivot post 35 and hole 372 when the swivel ring 38 is rotated so that the connecting rods 39 engaged with hole 371 are rotated.

As indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, rotation of the swivel ring 39 causes the forming rods to move from a fully open position as in Figure 4 to a fully closed position as in Figure 5, thus controlling the effective size of the central aperture 32. As shown in Fig. 4, the extruded dumpling plus filling passes between the open forming members 37 and, after a fixed quantity has passed through, swivel plate 38 may be rotated the short distance required for the forming rods 37 to move inward towards the centre of the circle as shown in Figure 5 to cut-off and wrap up the extruded material to form a dumpling. Swivel plate 38 will then move rapidly back to its original position as shown in Figure 4 to begin forming the next dumpling.

Swivel plate 38 may be operated by any suitable means, for example using pneumatic or hydraulic apparatus, or a mechanical gear-box. The timing and operation of swivel plate 38 is dependent upon the type and nature of the food being processed and may employ suitable control means to regulate the quantity and quality of items produced.

Dumplings produced by the forming means drop down onto the conveyer belt 40 for discharge from the apparatus.

By putting appropriate materials into buckets 12 and 22 an adjusting the rate of operation and, if necessary the shape and form of the forming rods 37, different kinds of products such as steamed pies made of mashed beans, steamed pies made of vegetables, meatballs, breads and so on may be produced using the apparatus.

The end profile of the forming rods 37, for example in the shape of a circular arc, a sharp cutting edge, a blank face or a planar edge with appropriate indentations, may be adapted so as to satisfy the different moulding needs appropriate to each different kind of food product. The forming device 30 may be readily detachable such that a selection of forming devices, each adapted to a different kind of food product, may be easily fitted.

Claims

1. A food processing apparatus comprising one or more conveyer pipes for carrying food ingredients, and a forming device located at an opening in said pipe or pipes, said forming device comprising a base portion having a central aperture, a plurality of forming members pivotally mounted on said base portion and around said aperture, and a swivel ring engaging, in use, with said forming members such that said forming members are moved radially inward to reduce the effective size of said central aperture when said swivel ring is rotated in first direction and said forming members are moved radially outward to increase the effective size of said central aperture when said swivel ring is rotated in a second direction.

2. A food processing apparatus for skin-making, stuffing-filling and pattern-moulding comprising a motor means in engagement with a gear box, said gear box transmitting the power from the motor to two spiral conveyer rods, one of which is located within a first bucket containing a first material, for example a dumpling mixture, while the other is located within a second bucket containing a second material, for example a vegetable filling mixture; the two spiral conveyer rods, in use, forcing the first and second material into first and second conveyer pipes respectively, the second conveyer pipe having a smaller diameter than the first conveyer pipe and the second conveyer pipe being arranged co-axially inside the first conveyer pipe, the first and second conveyer pipes having a common opening connected with a forming device; the forming device comprising a generally planar base portion having "upper" and "lower" sides and a central circular aperture, the base portion also having a flange member around the inner circumference of the aperture, the flange member being recessed from both the upper and lower planes of the base portion, the upper side of the flange having a plurality of protruding pivot points equidistantly placed around the circumference of the central circular aperture and a plurality of elongate slots each placed radially outward from one of the pivot points; a swivel ring having a plurality of connecting rods, the swivel plate and connecting rods engaging, in use, with the lower side of the base portion such that the connecting rods protrude through the elongate slots in the flange member; a plurality of forming rods, each being pivotably engaged with one of said pivot points and one of said connecting rods such that, in use, rotation of the swivel plate causes the forming rods to conduct an obliquely inward movement (toward the centre of the central aperture), or an obliquely outward movement (away of the centre of the central aperture) enabling a portion of the first and second materials extruded from the first and second conveyer pipes to be moulded, formed and cut-off, in the preferred example to produce a dumpling containing a vegetable filling; and a conveyer belt to enable the portion which has been formed to be discharged from the apparatus.

3. A food processing apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. The food processing appratus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the forming device is readily detachable from the remainder of the apparatus.