GB2381730A

GB2381730A - Production of doner kebabs

Info

Publication number: GB2381730A
Application number: GB0124203A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hasan Sadrettin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-09
Filing date: 2001-10-09
Publication date: 2003-05-14
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-09
Also published as: GB0124203D0; GB2381730B

Abstract

A food aggregate production machine comprises an extrusion mould 6 having an inlet 5 and an outlet 10, a spindle 1, and a drive means, arranged to rotate the spindle about its central axis. A food preparation may be forced, by a supply means, into the extrusion mould via the inlet, and the outlet is arranged to extrude the food preparation evenly around the rotating spindle. A cylindrical food aggregate 4, such as a doner kebab, may be built up with the extrusion mould rising up the spindle as the cylinder is formed.

Description

A Food Aggregate Production Machine Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to machine for processing food and more specifi- cally to a machine for producing food aggregates such as kebabs.

Background of the Invention It is standard practice for machines to be used in the preparation of food. Ma- chines allow food products to be prepared by a limited number of people much more quickly and on a larger scale than is possible by hand.

The amount of time required to produce a food product can have an important effect on the profitability of a particular food product. One such food product is the kebab and more specifically the doner kebab.

Doner kebabs are sold to various food outlets, the most common being chip shops and kebab houses, where they are cooked and sold on to the public. Doner kebabs, as they are sold to the food outlets, take the form of a body or aggregate of spiced meat attached to a metal spit or spindle.

Presently, the doner kebab is constructed by hand using a process that involves building up of the kebab, around a central spindle 1, from layers of the spiced meat 3.

This process, illustrated in Figure 1, is time consuming and even a skilled kebab maker can take half an hour to produce a kebab of average size.

An alternative method of kebab manufacture involves pumping the spiced meat into a cast. However, this method results in the formation of air bubbles in the kebab that reduce the structural integrity of the kebab, which can be of great disadvantage due to the manner in which they are cooked.

There is a need for a machine that can produce kebabs more quickly and more easily that is currently possible.

Summary of Invention In light of the need highlighted above, the invention provides a food aggregate production machine comprising; an extrusion mould, having an inlet and an outlet ; a spindle ; and a drive means, arranged to rotate the spindle about the central axis thereof ; wherein, a food preparation is forced, by a supply means, into the extrusion

mould via the inlet thereof and the outlet is arranged to extrude the food preparation evenly around the rotating spindle.

The extrusion mould may comprise a flat circular disk with the outlet located on one face thereof and the inlet located on the opposite face thereof, the disk having an annular skirt located on the outlet face and the disk also comprising a central hole by which the disk may be rotatably mounted on the spindle.

A conduit may preferably be mounted on the inlet face to enable the connection of the supply means to the inlet.

In the preferred embodiment, the spindle is provided near one end thereof with a concentric fiat base. It will be appreciated that each spindle is removable from the ma- chine so that once the spindle is full (of the food aggregate, ) a new one can be engaged.

Preferably, the drive means would be adapted to secure the spindle by at least one of the ends thereof and to rotate the spindle at a desired speed.

Advantageously the supply means may comprise a pump, which presents the food preparation to the inlet under sufficient pressure to extrude the food preparation through the outlet.

Alternatively, the supply means may comprise a screw feed device, which presents the food preparation to the inlet under sufficient pressure to extrude the food preparation through the outlet. It will be appreciated by the man skilled in the art that alternative methods of supplying the food preparation to the extrusion mould may be equally advantageous.

Advantageously the extrusion mould may be adapted to receive a circular collar concentrically to the annular skirt. It will be appreciated that the size of the circular collar will affect the size of the food aggregate formed.

It may be of further advantage if the extrusion mould comprises a second in- let/outlet construct, arranged adjacent the first inlet/outlet construct, adapted to provide a supply of secondary material adjacent to the extruded food preparation.

One example of a possible secondary material may be collagen, which becomes integrated into the food aggregate to provide structural support thereto, thus allowing larger food aggregates to be produced.

It may be of further advantage, if the machine is placed in series with other re- lated machines, such as a food preparation device, thereby facilitating a more continu- ous production method from basic ingredients to the food aggregate stage.

The machine may comprise a shaping element, which engages the food aggregate to provide a uniform finished product. One such shaping element could be a cutting blade adapted to trim the food aggregate as it is rotated by the drive means. Alternative shaping elements will be applicable to food aggregates of various types.

It is appreciated that the extrusion mould may have a shaper arranged on the outlet face thereof. The shaper would be positioned so that as the spindle is rotated the shaper acts upon the top of the food aggregate. This shaping function also helps to flatten the top of the food aggregate, once the aggregate has reached its required size. Preferably, the shaper will be a spreading device which smoothes out the top of the aggregate.

Although in the preferred embodiment, the food aggregate being produced is a doner kebab, it will be appreciated that alternative food aggregates may be produced using the concept of this machine.

Another aspect of the invention involves an improved method of producing a food aggregate, comprising; supplying the food preparation to the extrusion mould at a adequate pressure; wherein the extrudate is directed to collect around the rotating spindle by the extrusion mould and wherein the food preparation is built up into a column around the spindle as the extrusion mould is forced along the spindle by the extrudate.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings which illustrate both the prior art and the preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 illustrates the construction of a food aggregate by hand, as is carried out in the prior art; Figure 2 illustrates the manufacture of a food aggregate by the application of the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows an enlarged aspect of the preferred embodiment in cross-section so that the extrusion process may be more clearly understood; and Figure 4 shows the underneath plan view of the extrusion mould element of the preferred embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment The preferred embodiment will be described with relation to the manufacture of a doner kebab. It will be appreciated that alternative food aggregates may also be constructed without the need for considerable redesigning of the preferred embodiment.

In contrast to the construction of a food aggregate, in this case a doner kebab, by hand as is illustrated in Figure 1, Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of the invention which provides an improved method of constructing a food aggregate.

The finished product comprises of the food aggregate 4 mounted on and around a spindle 1, because of the way in which doner kebabs are cooked, the spindle must of a standardised design. The design of a doner kebab spindle or skewer will be appreciated by the man skilled in the art. The process at the heart of the production of a doner kebab is the positioning of the food preparation around the spindle.

Figure 2 shows the spindle 1, which comprises a concentric flat base 2 located towards one end of the spindle. The spindle is received by holding means 7 that permit the rotation of the spindle 1. A drive means 8 communicates with the spindle 1 and provides a rotating force. The type of drive means used must be capable of providing a controllable rotating force; suitable types of drive means will be appreciated by a skilled man. The drive means 8 has remote control means (not shown) to make the machine more user friendly.

The extrusion mould 6 is adapted to locate on the spindle 1. The food preparation is provided, under suitable pressure, to the extrusion mould 6 from a supply means A via a conduit 5. In the preferred embodiment, the supply means A comprise a conventional sausage filler. However, it is appreciated that alternative supply means may be used, such as a screw thread pump. It is also appreciated that the food aggregate production machine may be placed in a production line with other machines that process

the basic ingredients before the food preparation is supplied to the extrusion mould 6 via conduit 5.

As the spindle 1 rotates, the food preparation is extruded around it thus causing the food aggregate 4 to form. The extrusion mould 6 facilitates the shaping of the food aggregate 4 and as the food preparation flow continues the extrusion mould 6 is guided upwards along the spindle, thus producing the column shaped food aggregate 4.

The process of the food aggregate formation can be better appreciated from Figure 3. The spindle 1 passes through a hole in the extrusion mould 6, thus creating a pathway for the extrusion mould 6 to move along as the food aggregate 4 is created.

The extrusion mould 6 comprises a flat circular disc 9 with a first hole 10 that the food is extruded through and a second hole 12, through which the spindle 1 is received. It is appreciated that a spindle 1 should fit snugly through the second hole 12, so that the food preparation cannot escape through the top of the extrusion mould 6; this could involve the use of washers but other suitable methods with be appreciated. The extrusion mould also comprises a skirt 11 mounted on the opposite face of the disc 9 to the conduit 5.

As the food preparation, which is supplied via the conduit 5, is extruded from the outlet hole 10 it collects around the rotating spindle 1. Initially the food preparation collects in the space created between the extrusion mould and the spindle base 2 and thereby is shaped to a desired size. However, once the continuous flow of food preparation has filled the space the build up of the food aggregate 4 causes the extrusion mould 6 to move upwards along the spindle 1. Therefore, by maintaining a steady flow of food preparation from the supply means (not shown) a column shaped food aggregate 4 will be created.

It will be appreciated that all of the elements of the preferred embodiment that are likely to put into contact with food-such as the extrusion mould and the spindlemust be made from a material that is easy to clean ; materials such as stainless steel would be suitable.

The arrangement of the extrusion mould 6 may be better understood from Figure 4. It will be appreciated that the outlet hole 10 may vary in shape and size dependant on the food preparation being extruded.

The diameter of the skirt 11 limits the diameter of the food aggregate column formed by the preferred embodiment. It is appreciated that the diameter of the food aggregate may be varied by attaching a concentric collar to the outlet face of the extrusion mould 6. The formation of an alternative sized food aggregate in this way, may also be facilitated by adapting the outlet 10 so that it can be varied in size, for example by a sliding mechanism.

With different sizes of food aggregate, it will be appreciated that the rate at which the food preparation is supplied may require altering. Therefore, control means for setting the rate of supply (not shown) would give an advantage.

Claims

Claims 1. A food aggregate production machine comprising; an extrusion mould, having an inlet and an outlet ; a spindle ; and a drive means, arranged to rotate the spindle about the central axis thereof, wherein a food preparation may be forced, by a supply means, into the extrusion mould via the inlet, and wherein the outlet is arranged to extrude the food preparation evenly around the rotating spindle.
2. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the extrusion mould comprises: a flat circular disk with the outlet located on one face thereof and the inlet located on the opposite face thereof ; and an annular skirt located on the outlet face of the disk, the disk also comprising a central hole by which the disk may be rotatably mounted on the spindle.
3. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 2, further comprising a conduit mounted on the inlet face to enable the connection of the supply means to the inlet.
4. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising a concentric flat base provided towards one end of the spindle.
5. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the spindle is removable.
6. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the drive means is adapted to secure the spindle by at least one of the ends of the spindle and to rotate the spindle at a desired speed.

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7. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising said supply means arranged to force said food preparation into the extrusion mould.
8. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein the supply means comprises a pump, which presents the food preparation to the inlet under sufficient pressure to extrude the food preparation through the outlet.
9. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein the supply means comprises a screw feed device, which presents the food preparation to the inlet under sufficient pressure to extrude the food preparation through the outlet.
10. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the extrusion mould is adapted to receive a circular collar concentrically to the annular skirt, the size of the circular collar affecting the size of the food aggregate formed.
11. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the extrusion mould comprises a second inlet/outlet construct, arranged adjacent the first inlet/outlet construct, adapted to provide a supply of secondary material adjacent to the extruded food preparation.
12. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 11, wherein said secondary material is collagen.
13. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, further comprising a shaping element, arranged to engage the food aggregate to provide a uniform finished product.

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14. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 13, wherein said shaping element comprises a cutting blade adapted to trim the food aggregate as it is rotated by the drive means.
15. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim, wherein the extrusion mould comprises a shaper arranged on the outlet face so that as the spindle is rotated the shaper acts upon the top of the food aggregate.
16. A food aggregate production machine in accordance with claim 15, wherein the shaper is a spreading device which smoothes out the top of the aggregate.
17. A doner kebab produced using a food aggregate production machine in accordance with any preceding claim.
18. A method of producing a food aggregate, comprising the steps of : supplying a food preparation to an extrusion mould at an adequate pressure; directing the extrudate to collect around a rotating spindle by the extrusion mould ; and building up the food preparation into a column around the spindle as the extrusion mould is forced along the spindle by the extrudate.
19. A doner kebab produced using a method in accordance with claim 18.
20. A food aggregate production machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of producing a food aggregate substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.