MXPA99006146A - Extruder and die assembly for extruding shaped food pieces - Google Patents

Abstract

An extruder (1) is provided for producing an extruded food piece in a shape which simulates the shape of a natural food piece. The extruder (1) hasa pressure vessel (2), a pressure exerting device (3) for the pressure vessel (2), a manifold (4) in fluid communication with the pressure vessel (2), and at least one die and cutter assembly (6) in fluid communication with the manifold (4). The die and cutter assembly (6) has en extrusion member (9) with an extrusion wall (10), a closed extrusion end (11), an opened feed end (12) attachable to the manifold (4), at least one extrusion die (13) formed in the extrusion wall (10) near the extrusion end (11), and a tubular cutter member (14). The tubular cutter member (14) has a driveable end (19), a cutter wall (16) and an opened cutter end (17) with at least one cutting surface (18) for cutting extrudate into the shape as the extrudate exits the die (13). The cutter member (14) is reciprocally slideable on the extrusion wall (10) by drive device (20).

Description

ASSEMBLY OF MOLD AND EXTRUDER TO EXTRUDE PARTS WITH FORMS OF EDIBLE The present invention discloses an assembly of mold and extruder for extrusion of pieces with edible forms, and more particularly to said mold and extruder assembly where the pieces with edible forms simulate the shape of a natural edible piece eg, a shrimp or part of a chicken. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many comestibles are usually consumed as an individual piece of that food. The piece can be a part of a natural edible or all the natural edible can constitute the piece itself. For example, shrimp fried in oil, the natural edible in one piece, are eaten as one piece, while the chicken fried in oil is consumed as a single piece of that natural food. For example, a chicken drumstick. In some edibles, the piece may be constituted by some subdivision of the natural edible, such as strips of cut potatoes to prepare French fries. Without taking into account the origin of the piece, if all the natural edible or part of the natural edible, what is expected by the consumer is that the characteristic form of that piece is present in the food that is going to be consumed and this expectation is very important for customer satisfaction. For example, while a potato can be cut in significantly different ways from the traditional French fries strips, if those forms differ substantially from the traditional strips, the consumer would most likely not estimate that edible French fries and could object similar forms. In many prepared foods, especially for institutional rations, fast food rations and pre-packaged rations, the natural variation in the measure of the natural edible piece causes considerable problems. For example, natural shrimp can vary considerably in size and, therefore, cause variations in the process of fried shrimp in oil for institutions, fast food and for pre-packing purposes. In addition, this causes difficulties in the final cooking of these foods. Therefore, the natural variation in the measurement causes differences in the initial processing requirements before packaging (including freezing) and in the time required for the reheating of the final fry, for example, in a microwave oven or deep fryer. oil Accordingly, it is common practice in the industry that such natural comestibles, for example, shrimp, are pulped and the pulp is extruded in a manner that simulates the natural shape of the shrimp. Since the extruded form will be of a known size and weight, that extruded form of shrimp can be processed (including freezing) and then subsequently reheated or cooked with the assurance that the measure and uniform weight will go through the processing, reheating or frying with uniform results from piece to piece. This method of preparing comestibles in an extruded form is also used for convenient purposes, especially in light snacks. For example, the chicken can be processed through the pulp and the extrusion steps to produce a miniature chicken thigh, which, surely, has no bone, no tissues and the like and is therefore very useful as a light snack, such as aperitif time, light meals and the like. Additionally, to prepare an edible pulp and extrude it to the proper shape, quality control over processed food is much easier, essential pasteurization can be ensured and portion measurements can be controlled, which is particularly important for meals from institutions and for certain fast food purposes, for example, fast food restaurants, hospitals and the like. However, considerable difficulties have been experienced in the industry in the production of such extruded food pieces., in which the industry has not been able to faithfully reproduce the expected shape of the extruded pieces of food. Basically, the extrusion processes of the prior technology involve milling the edible to a particular suitable measure, for example, passing through a No. 10 screen of the US series of screens forming the ground food in a pulp, usually with water and agglutinating agents added and optionally formulated with other ingredients such as starch, cereals, flavorings, preservatives, etc., and placing the pulp in a pressure vessel which is fed to a manifold tube on which one or more mold assemblies and cutters are mounted. In the most modern arrangement, the mold and cutter assembly basically consists of an inner tube (also referred to in the industry as a nozzle) and an outer tube in fluid communication with the multiple tube through which the pulp passes and an outer tube which is reciprocated with respect to the inner sleeve to cut the extrudate in the formed pieces as soon as the extrudate passes through a mold in that inner sleeve. This basic process has been practiced for some time. In a form prior to this, the mold was in the terminal of the inner sleeve and a cutter cooperated with that mold to shorten the extrudate into pieces as soon as the pulp passed through the mold. However, this earlier arrangement has little capacity to model shapes that would exactly simulate the shape of a natural piece and as a result, the technology moved towards more modern mold and cutter distribution. In this latter consideration, the patent of E. U. A. 2,676, 552, published on April 27, 1954, shows the generally modern arrangement of said mold and cutter assembly and is incorporated herein by reference. In that patent, an inner sleeve forms a conduit for the pulp and an outer sleeve forms the cutter to cut the extrudate (pulp) into individual pieces, but at the end of the inner sleeve, a disc is placed so that the mold thus formed It is circular in shape and can, therefore, extrude and cut a figure in the shape of a donut. The outer jacket is reciprocated on the inner sleeve by contact with the shoulders on the inner sleeve which forms the supporting surfaces for the reciprocal movement of the outer jacket. While this method is entirely appropriate for simulating the shape of a piece of a food product in the form of an annular ring, for example, a donut shape, this method is not capable of producing more complicated shapes and the technology proposed modifications of the process Basic and mold and cutter assembly, as described above, to achieve more complex shapes. A notable example of this is the US patent. 4,080,137 published March 21, 1978, which is disclosed in this by reference. This patent describes in more detail the complete basic process of an extruder, as briefly described above, and more particularly shows such a mold and cutter assembly where the mold is not formed at the end of the inner sleeve but in an inner sleeve near the end of the inner shirt. In order to form the mold in that side wall, and by cooperation with the reciprocal cutter to the outer jacket, the distribution is able to produce a shape with an arched upper part and a lower flat surface which can substantially simulate miniature chicken parts . This technique has been followed in the prior art to make other shapes and the US patent 4,152,102, published on May 1, 1979, shows an adaptation of that process to make a shape that simulates a fried shrimp. This patent also describes in greater detail certain aspects of the prior art process, including the binding agent and the gelling step, this patent is incorporated herein by reference. In the process of that patent, again, a discharge of the extrudate from a sidewall is used, but in the mold there is a matrix which allows the extrudate to assume a curved shape, similar to the curved shape of a fried shrimp. In all these processes, however, a common difficulty is that, as the extrudate leaves the mold and is cut by the cutter assembly, that cutter assembly makes a relatively flat cut of the extrudate, and the extrudate has flat sides, for example, a result of a current cut and an earlier cut of the cutter assembly. This difficulty is clearly shown in the drawings of the U.S. patent. 4,152,102, especially in Fig. 9. Obviously, a French fried shrimp does not have opposite flat surfaces, but, instead, is rounded, and that method of extruding the edible piece leaves an undesirable appearance to the edible piece, whose appearance is not that which can be expected by a consumer in consideration of a French fried shrimp, the aforementioned state of the previous technology has existed up to the present time, and therefore, the relationship with the extruded pieces that They have complex shapes or rounded shapes, the industry simply has not been able to duplicate the shape of the natural piece with a degree of accuracy. Therefore, in such complex forms, such as that of a French fried shrimp, it is quite obvious to the consumer that the piece is a molded piece and is not at all similar to the shape of a natural piece. This has a negative effect on the consumer and one in which the industry avoided being more optimistic. In more detail of the technology of the previous extruder, the apparatus demands a pressure vessel to contain the ground food pulp. The pressure is exerted on the pressure vessel by a pressure exerting device which can be any device that exerts pressure on the pulp, for example, gaseous pressure on the head, pressure pump, mechanical pressure, for example, a piston and similar, and no particular form of the pressure-drive device is required. A manifold is in fluid communication with the pressure vessel and at least one, but usually a number of mold and cutter assemblies are in fluid communication with the manifold, such as the pressurized pulp in the pressure vessel flows through the manifold and inside the mold and cutter assemblies.

Each mold and cutter assembly has an elongated annular tubular member with a tubular extrusion wall (essentially the inner jacket of the prior art, as noted above), a closed extrusion terminal, an open feed terminal connected in fluid communication to the manifold, at least one extrusion die formed in the tubular extrusion wall near the extrusion terminal (essentially the side wall of the inner jacket of the prior art), a tubular cutter having an open operable terminal, and an elongated cutting wall with an open cutter end with at least one cutting surface for cutting the extrudate into the shape as the extrudate exits the mold. The cutter is located at least partially on and reciprocally slidable on the tubular extrusion wall (essentially the same as the inner jacket of the prior art) and operably connected to the terminal operable to a drive device to reciprocally slide the cutter member on and off of the mold. The driving device can be any device for reciprocally moving the cutting member, for example, fluid, mechanical and electrical operated devices. This arrangement is shown particularly in U.S. Pat. 4,080,137, previously recorded, and the conditions and parameters of such an apparatus are well known in the industry and do not need to be repeated at this point.

It can, of course, be a decided advantage in the industry to improve above such apparatuses as well as the apparatus is capable of extruding complex shapes which simulate the shape of pieces of natural comestibles in all aspects of the form and which it does not have, for example, the opposite flat surfaces of the previous technology, as mentioned above. It would be an additional advantage to extrude complex shapes where the shapes are rounded in any or all desired directions, for example, such as the rounded shape of a curved fried shrimp or the rounded shape of a simulated chicken leg. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It has now been found that the apparatus of the prior art described above can be modified to supply said rounded shapes as well as to exactly simulate the shape of a natural edible piece. The invention is based on three primary discoveries and several subsidiary discoveries. As a first primary discovery, it was found that the extrusion mold of the prior art should have a shape generally configured for a cross-sectional shape of the natural edible piece to be extruded, but said mold must also be configured as well for providing a substantially constant transverse flow velocity of the pulp through the mold substantially in all portions of the mold. As a subsidiary finding in this regard, it was found that the natural form of the edible piece can not be submissively copied into the extrudate of the mold when that mold form results in lower substantially transverse flow velocity of the pulp through the mold substantially in all portions of the mold. As an additional subsidiary discovery, it was found that by experimental deviations in the form of the mold from the true natural form of the edible piece, the extruded piece can, however, simulate approximately the shape of the natural edible piece, while at the same time providing a substantially constant transverse flow velocity of the pulp through the mold substantially in all portions of the mold. By the configuration of the mold in such a way, the extruded piece simulates the shape of a natural edible piece, while at the same time it causes the extruded piece to have the rounded shape of the natural piece and not the distorted shape of the previous technology. As a second primary discovery, it was found that the cutting member must be reciprocated at sufficient speeds so that the cutting member is positioned on the mold for a period of time that the pressure of the pulp in the tubular extrusion wall is not substantially changed during a reciprocation of the member. cutter. This is achieved by the distribution of the drive device and / or the mold and cutter assembly so that reciprocation of the cutter member is provided. As a subsidiary finding in this regard, it was found that if the cutting member remains on the mold for periods of time as the pressure of the pulp in the tubular extrusion wall is substantially changed, then a subsequent reciprocation of the cutting member and the extrusion of an edible piece of additional cut results in the edible piece not having the desired shape. As a third primary discovery, it was found that the cutting surface of the cutting member must be generally configured to a shape which is substantially the shape of at least the first quarter of the first mold found by the cutting surface when cutting an edible piece . Other shapes, such as the generally flat cutting surface of the prior art, when it encounters the first portion of the mold in a reciprocal action, cuts the extrudate too close to the first portion found before the remaining portions of the extrudate are cut. This caused a deformation in the shape of the extrudate. However, by the configuration of the cutting surface to a shape which is substantially the shape of at least the first quarter of the first mold found by the cutting surface, a significantly greater amount of extrudate is cut at the same time, and this avoids that distortion in the extruded and cut shape. Thus, briefly indicated, the present invention is a refinement in an extruder to produce an extruded edible piece in a form which simulates the shape of a natural edible piece. Such conventional extruders comprise a pressure vessel containing a pulp of the foodstuff under pressure, a device that exerts the pressure to maintain a pressure in the pressure vessel, a manifold tube in fluid communication with the pressure vessel and at least one mold and cutter assembly in fluid communication with the manifold. The mold and the cutter assembly have (a) an elongated annular extrusion member with a tubular extrusion wall, (b) a closed extrusion terminal, (c) an open feed terminal connected in fluid communication with the manifold, (d) at least one extrusion mold formed in the tubular extrusion wall near the extrusion terminal, and (e) a tubular cutter member having an open operable terminal, an elongated cutting wall and an open cutter terminal with at least one cutting surface for cutting the extrudate in the manner in which the extrudate exits the mold. The cutter member is disposed at least partially on and reciprocally slidable in the tubular extrusion wall and operably connected to the operable terminal towards an impeller to reciprocally slide the cutter member in and out of the mold. The current improvement in that known extruder is where the extrusion mold has a shape generally configured in a cross-sectional shape of the natural edible piece whose mold is also shaped so as to provide a substantially constant transverse flow velocity of the pulp at through the mold to all the mold portions. The driving device is arranged to reciprocate the cutting member at speeds sufficient for the cutting member to be positioned on the mold for a period of time such that a pressure of the pulp in the tubular extrusion wall is not substantially changed during reciprocation of the cutter member. The cutting surface of the shape is generally shaped to the shape which is substantially the shape of at least the first quarter of the first mold found by the cutting surface when cutting an edible piece. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an extruder usable in the present invention, with any of the parts that are those of the prior art arrangement and with some of the parties that have aspects of the present invention; Figure 2 is a lateral elevation of a mold and cutter assembly usable in the present invention, with some of the parts that are those of the arrangement of the prior technology and with some of the parts that have aspects of the present invention; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a mold and cutter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a side elevation of an extrusion member removed from the tubular cutting member for clarification purposes; Figure 5 is a side elevation view of a cutter member removed from the extrusion member for clarification purposes; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the substantially constant transverse flow velocity through the mold; Figure 7 is a partial side elevational view showing a cutting surface configured with at least the first quarter of the first mold found by the cutting surface when cutting the extrudate; Figure 8 is a side elevation view of a further embodiment of a mold and cutter assembly in accordance with the present invention; Figures 9 to 12 show the shapes of the extrudate according to the present invention and according to the prior art; Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the cutter member having a plastic bearing disposed in an interior wall thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES The complete extruder of the present invention is shown in Figure 1. Since many of the components of that extruder are known in the prior art, Figure 1 is only in the form of a diagram, for concision. As shown in Figure 1, the extruder, generally 1, has a pressure vessel 2, a device that exerts pressure 3 to maintain a pressure in the pressure vessel 2, a manifold 4 in fluid communication (line 5) with the pressure vessel 2. There is at least one mold and cutter assembly 6 (seven which is shown in Figure 1). It will be noted that the mold and cutter assembly 6 are in fluid communication with the manifold 4 by means of a connection 7 to an adapter 8 of the manifold. The mold and cutter assembly 6 is better understood from both figures 1 and 2. A mold and cutter assembly has an elongated annular extrusion member 9 with a tubular extrusion wall 10, a closed extrusion terminal 11, and an open feed terminal 12 connected in fluid communication, for example, by an adapter 8, to the manifold 4. There is also at least an extrusion mold 13 formed in the tubular extrusion wall 10 near the extrusion terminal 11. A tubular cutter member 14 has an open operable terminal 15, an elongated cutting wall 16 and an open cutting terminal 17 with at least one cutting surface 18 for cutting the extrudate in a manner as soon as the extrudate exits the mold 13. The cutting member 14 is arranged at least partially on and reciprocally slidable in the tubular extrusion wall 10 and operatively connected to a control terminal 19 to a control device 20 (see Figure 1) to reciprocally slide, as indicated by the arrows 21, the cutting member 14 on and out of the mold 13. The cutting wall 16 is thus reciprocated by the control device, for example, a control arm 22, and details of such control arm can be found in the US patent 4,080,137, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. As the extrudate passes through the mold 13 is cut by the cutting wall 16 having a cutting surface 18, the cut extrudate falls on a movement conveyor 23 (see Figure 1). 1) for collection and for additional processes. Usually, the pulp will have a binder material at this point. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, a binder can be sprayed onto the cut extrudate as it falls to the conveyor 23 to pass through a spray of a liquid binder produced by a series of intermediate sprayers 24 to the mold. and the conveyor 23. The sprayed excess of the agent is captured at one end 25. The present invention is centered around the mold and cutter assembly 6, though not exclusively, and in one embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 3 to 5, although similar parts of the mold and the cutter assembly are shown in Figures 1 and 2. The extrusion mold 13 of the present invention has a shape generally configured to a cross-sectional shape of a natural edible piece, and in the modality illustrated in Figure 3, the shape is that of a fried natural shrimp. However, in addition to having the general form of that natural edible piece, for example, fried shrimp, the mold must be configured so as to provide a substantially constant transverse flow velocity of the pulp through the mold in substantially all portions. of the mold. This is illustrated in diagram in Figure 6, where a portion of the extrusion wall 10 has extrusion molds 13 where, again formed as a piece of natural fried shrimp. And the solid arrows illustrate that range of the pulp through the left side of the mold which is substantially constant in substantially all portions of the mold. As will be appreciatedIf the pulp is not provided with a substantially constant flow velocity through the mold in substantially all portions of the mold, the extrudate may tend to bend and deviate in the natural way, as shown by the dotted arrows on the right side of the mold. mold in Figure 6. Determining the exact shape of the cross section of the mold requires some experimentation, and generally, the shape of the cross section of the mold will not vary greatly from the shape of the cross section of the natural edible piece. For example, as shown in Figure 4, the shape of the cross section of the mold clearly approximates the shape of the cross section of the natural edible piece that is being extruded, for example, from a fried shrimp. However, from the desired natural edible piece to the desired natural edible piece, deviations from that form of true cross section will be required to ensure the substantially constant flow velocity of the pulp through the mold and substantially all portions of the mold. . This experimentation is easy to achieve, since, by observing the shape of an extruded piece and comparing it with natural form, deviations of the natural form can be easily observed and mold modifications in those deviations can be made. When the cut extrudate is in substantially the same shape as the natural edible piece, then the cross-flow velocity of the pulp through the mold is substantially constant in substantially all portions of the mold. As will also be appreciated, the flow velocity of the pulp through the mold will depend on the pressure of the pulp in the wall of the tubular extrusion 10. On the other hand, the pressure of the pulp in the tubular extrusion wall 10 will depend on the pressure of the pulp in the pressure vessel 2, the pressure of the pulp in the manifold 4, and the flow velocity through these. As best seen in Figure 1, if all the molds 13 are opened at the same time, a considerable amount of pulp can be entirely extruded there and the pressure in each tubular extrusion wall 10 can fall rapidly. Further, as the pulp leaves the mold 13 (see Figures 6 and 2), there will be a local pressure drop in the mold 13. To minimize the local pressure drop in the mold 13, so that the flow velocity is substantially constant of the pulp through the mold can be supplied, the control device 20 (see Figure 1) must be arranged to reciprocate the cutting member 14 at speeds sufficient for the cutting member 14 to be placed on the mold for a period of time so that the pressure of the pulp in the tubular extrusion wall 10 is not substantially changed during a reciprocation of the cutting member. In order to reciprocate the cutting member 14, the excess pressure does not rise in the extrusion wall 10 and, at the same time, in order to reciprocate the cutting member 14, the mold is opened for extrusion for a time so that substantially does not occur a drop in the local pressure of the pulp. All this promotes a substantially constant flow velocity of the pulp through the mold substantially in all portions of the mold. In addition, by arrangement of a control device 20, for example, the arm 22, for each mold and cutter assembly 6, the opening of each mold can be stepped to avoid "a sudden pressure drop of the pulp. Another important feature to ensure that the extruded piece is in the substantial form of the natural edible piece, is that the cutting surface 18 (see Figures 2 and 5) is generally configured to a shape which is substantially the shape of minus the first quarter of the first mold 13 found by the cutting surface 18 when cutting the extrudate inside the edible piece. Figure 7 illustrates this feature where the mold 13 in the extrusion wall 10 has indicated on it a dotted line 70 which approaches the first quarter of the first mold found by the cutting surface 18 of the cutting wall 16. It will be seen that the cutting surface 18 is generally shaped to a shape which is substantially the shape of at least the first quarter of the mold 13 found by the cutting surface 18 when cutting the extrudate into an edible piece. To thus configure the cutting surface so that at least the first quarter of the mold form, it can be ensured that, as the cut of the extrudate starts, the cut takes place over a large portion of the lower part 71 of the mold and that the cut begins over a wider area of that lower part, for example, at least the first quarter of this. This is opposite to a flat cutting surface 18 which was used in the prior art or even a slightly curved cutting surface 18 (see Figure 2) which has also been known. It is preferable that more than the first quarter of the mold is in contact with the shaped cutting surface 18, for example, a third or even a medium, but this is not always practical for all the shapes that may be desired with the extrusion mold. However, if at least the first mold room found by the cutting surface 18 is shaped to that shape, this will be sufficient to produce a cutting extrusion closely simulating the shape of a natural edible piece, especially when practiced with the substantially constant flow velocity of the pulp through the mold in substantially all portions of the mold, and reciprocation of the cutting member, as explained above. All previous assistance in maintaining the substantially constant flow velocity of the pulp through the mold in substantially all portions of the mold and avoiding distortions of the cut piece to thereby produce a rounded piece. The substantially constant flow rate, in part, will depend on maintaining a substantially constant pressure in the pressure vessel 2, whose pressure is supplied by a pressure-drive device 3 (see Figure 1). While the device exerting the pressure can be any device, for example, a pressurized gas such as compressed air or the like, it is preferred that the pressure exerting device 3 be a pump in a recirculation duct 26 (see Figure 1) to continuously recirculate the pulp from the pressure vessel 2 through the pump 3 and • return to the interior of the pressure vessel 2 to maintain a constant pressure of the pulp in the pressure vessel 2. When the pump is located In a recirculating duct for the pressure vessel, that pressure can be controlled very carefully and consistently. This is especially true where the pump is a positive displacement pump, which is the preferred embodiment of the invention. While the above will maintain a substantially constant pressure on the extruder system, for example, the pressure vessel 2, the manifold 4 and the mold and cutter assembly 6, a local pressure differential may occur during a reciprocation of the cutter wall 16. For example, if the cutting wall 16 remains on the mold 13 for a sufficiently long time, the pressure of the pulp in the extrusion wall 10 will, of course, increase. Otherwise, if the cutting wall 16 remains on the mold 13 for only a short period of time, the extrusion mold is substantially the majority of the time open and there may be a pressure drop of the pulp in the extrusion wall. 10. There is consequently an intermediate situation where the cutting member 14 is reciprocated fast enough but not too fast on the mold that the pressure of the pulp in the tubular wall 10 is not substantially changed during the reciprocation of the cutting member, as was explained previously.

While this will vary with the pulp, temperature and pressure of the pulp, for most situations it has been found that the cutting member 14 should be reciprocated on the mold 13 at a speed between about 60 and 800 cycles per minute, and more preferably between about 150 and 700 cycles per minute, with between about 300 and 600 cycles per minute is most usual for most pulps and temperatures with most forms of molds. This will ensure the said constant pressure, such a number of reciprocations, especially in the greatest number of cycles per minute, can cause substantial difficulties with the bearings between the extrusion wall 10 and the cutting wall 16, and for this reason, special bearings can be required, as it is revealed below. In consideration of the pressure in the mold, as explained above, the viscosity of the pulp should be relatively constant, and to maintain the viscosity of the pulp relatively constant, the temperature of the pulp should also be kept relatively constant, for this purpose , the extruder can be provided with a temperature control device, for example, a heating device and / or a cooling device 30 (see Figure 1) to maintain the temperature of the pulp in the pressure vessel at a relatively constant temperature. While the control device 30 has been shown in the pressure vessel 2 for illustrative purposes only, that control device 30 may be outside the pressure vessel. For example, a control device can be placed in the manifold or on the outside of the manifold or in the pressure vessel. The control device can be a heating device, such as an electric heating device, a steam coil, or a coil with a hot liquid or infrared heating rods or the like, or a cooling device such as a coil cooled with water to ensure that the temperature is controlled and maintained. In the most preferred embodiment where a positive displacement pump 3 is used in a recirculation line 26, the positive displacement pump, by the mechanical action thereof, will add energy (heat) to the recirculating pulp. In this way, the heating device can be, at least in part, the positive displacement pump located in the recirculation duct of the pressure vessel. Since the relatively positive displacement pump can be operated continuously, it can supply the energy to the recirculating pulp for use in maintaining a desired temperature. This is especially true in view of the feed arrangement towards the extruder. In a typical extruder, the feed arrangement is passed through the feed conduit 27 (see Figure 1) inside the rectifier or pulp modeling unit 28 and through the tube 29 into the recirculation conduit 26. This will allow the feed arrangement to be immediately affected by the input of heat energy from the positive displacement pump and help maintain a desired pulp temperature. Otherwise, for the same reason too much energy (heat) can be added to the pulp, and maintained at a desired temperature, the temperature control device can be, at least in part, a cooling device. As shown in Figure 1, there may be numerous molds and cutter assemblies 6 (seven are shown in Figure 1). However, that number can vary widely from just one mold and cutter assembly to fifty molds and cutter assemblies, but more usually that number is between five and twenty and more usually between five and fourteen. As shown in Figure 4, the extrusion wall 10 may have several molds 13 therein with more cross-sectional shapes of the mold, the number of molds will be reduced, while, in other way, with molds of smaller cross-sectional shapes, the number of molds can be increased. Normally, however, the molds will not be more than four in any single extrusion wall 10 but usually three molds can be accommodated, albeit with larger simulated food pieces, in order to avoid a local pressure drop as noted above, only one mold will be included in the extrusion wall 10. Figure 8 illustrates the same where there is a single mold 13 in the extrusion wall 10, since that mold 13 simulates a small chicken thigh and is so large that several molds 13 in the extrusion wall 10 the pressure of the pulp in the extrusion wall 10 can be substantially reduced when the mold is opened. As seen in Figure 4, the outer surfaces, generally 40, of the extrusion wall 10 have at least one surface of the bearing 41 on which the cutting member 14 is reciprocally slidable. Figure 4 shows two such bearing surfaces, but one or even more than 10 such bearing surfaces, or more, can be used. These bearing surfaces 41 firmly fit the inner surface 50 (see Figure 5) of the cutting member 14 as well as to have precise sliding and cutting action when reciprocated on the mold 13. While these bearing surfaces may simply be machined portions on the extrusion wall 10 or on the inner surface of the tubular cutting member 14, they can also be separate bearings made of a special material for bearings to increase the life of the bearings, for example, the grade of the bearing steel, sintered impregnated bearings of oil and the like. However, in the largest number of reciprocating cycles per minute as discussed above, especially above 350 cycles per minute, the material of the usual bearings has a relatively limited life before use loosens the bearings and a tight sliding between the extrusion wall 10 and cutter member 14 is not as large as possible. Thus, especially for the greatest number of cycles per minute, it is more preferred that the bearings are constituted by a plastic bearing sleeve mounted on the inner surface 50 of the cutting member 14. The aforementioned sleeve can thus be mounted on a number of modes, but preferably the cutting member 14 has a recess formed in the inner surface 50 thereof. After placing the sleeve within that gap, the inner diameter of the sleeve is formed, for example, drilled or machined, to a precise dimension which is, for example, only 0.00254mm (1 / 10,000 inch) greater than outer diameter of the extrusion wall 10. This provides an extremely closed tolerance for the bearing, and with a designed plastic (one that has resistance to abrasion, high stress and high incompressibility), for example, materials such as HYDEX, reciprocations of 500 to 800 cycles per minute can be sustained for many days without the bearings loosening. Bearing liners can be maintained in the recess by conventional means such as flanges or retaining rings. Figure 13 shows an example of such a plastic jacket for bearing 130 located in a recess 131 on the inner wall 50 of the cutting member 14. The plastic jacket can be held within the recess 131 by a rim or retaining ring 132. A way of providing the cutting surface 18 (see Figure 5) that is in register with the shape of the mold 13, at least in the first quarter of that mold found by the cutting surface 18, as explained above, a slot 51 (see Figures 2 and 5) is provided in a tubular cutter member 14 and a straight protrusion, e.g., a stud, 42 (see Figures 4 and 2) is fastened to the extrusion wall 10 and projects through a slot 51. In this way, when the cutting wall 16 has an axial slot 51 and the extrusion wall 10 has a straight protrusion 42 (eg, stud 42) positioned within that slot, the cutting surface remains in register with the extrusion mold. The simplest way to keep the cutting surface in register with the extrusion mold is that of the bolt 42 that is screwed fixed within the wall of the extruder 10, but, obviously, many other equivalent mechanical devices can be used to achieve the same. results, for example, a wedge and nest arrangement, a bolt and guide arrangement, and the like. The most preferred form of the invention is where the closed extrusion terminal 11 has at least one deviator of the partially conical extrudate 45 (see Figures 2 and 4) projecting into the annulus of the tubular extrusion wall 10 and extending through at least at a diameter 46 (see Figures 4 and 2) of the tubular extrusion wall 10 placed inside the extrusion mold 13. More preferably, that diverter 45 is in a truncated cone shape. The purpose of the diverter is to find the pulp flowing through the extrusion wall 10 and to divert that main flow coming essentially from an axial flow to a substantial transverse flow where the pulp finds the mold 13 in the transverse direction to thereby decrease the turbulence of the pulp passing through the mold. With this diminished turbulence of the pulp, a more uniform and predictable form of the extrudate is supplied. In a reciprocation of the cutting member 14 on the extrusion wall 10, by means of which the extrudate is cut, it is important for that cut to be complete as well as to avoid any lint between the cutting pieces of the extrudate, for this purpose, it is more preferable that the cutting wall 16 has a sufficient length as well as a leading edge of the cutting surface 18 extends beyond the closed extrusion terminal 11 when the cutting wall is slid to a further extension of a reciprocating movement. . By said extension of the cutting surface 18 beyond the mold 13, it will be ensured that there are no lint between cuts of successive extrudates. However, to completely ensure this lack of lint, it is more preferred that a more advanced edge of the cutting surface 18 also extends beyond the closed extrusion terminal 11. Of course, when there are several molds, for example, by At least two molds, in the extrusion wall, there must be a corresponding number of cutting surfaces, for example, two, on the cutting wall. There must be a cutting surface for each extrusion mold, and those cutting surfaces must be maintained in register with the mold, for example, with the bolt, bolt or the like, as explained above. Also, in order to avoid any lint and the like, it is preferable that one of the surfaces of the bearings 41 (see Figure 4), when used, is also the portion of the extrusion wall 10 where the molds 13 are configured. Since the surfaces of the bearings will have at least one mold placed therein, and from the surfaces of the bearings more suitably fitted within the inner surface 50 of the tubular cutting member 14, this will also help to eliminate any lint. There are also a number of other means of securing the desired flow of the pulp through the mold so that the extruded edible piece is in a form which simulates the figure of a natural edible piece. In this way, where the diverter 45 extends within the annulus of the tubular extrusion wall 10 such that the smaller terminal of the diverter is on the diameter 46 which is approximately equidistant between the opposite axial edges 47, 48 (see Figure 4) of the mold, a maximum deviation of the pulp from the axial flow to the transverse flow, as discussed above, will be achieved and this will optimize the accuracy of the duplication of the natural form. In addition, the cutting surface 18 may be at least partially conical in the axial direction, as shown by the cone 53 in Figures 5 and 8. Further, where the extrusion wall 10 and the cutting wall 16 have a circular cross section , this will facilitate any pressure drop caused by the flow of the pulp through it and improve the accuracy of the extruded shape. However, if desired, the extrusion wall 10 and the cutting wall 16 can have other shapes, such as square, rectangular, oval and polyhedral shapes. Any other shape other than a circular shape, for example, of circular cross section, will not require the protrusion 42, since such shapes will be self-aligned and, in that sense, are an advantage. However, other shapes than a circular cross section may cause non-uniform flow of the pulp and, consequently, is not preferred. The benefits of the present invention are illustrated in the diagrams of Figures 9 to 12. Figure 9 shows a simulated fried shrimp produced in accordance with the present invention, and it will be noted that the configuration is generally that of a shrimp and also has a rounded configuration as a result of the practice of the invention. Figure 10, otherwise, shows a similar extrusion, according to the prior technology, as explained above, and it will be pointed out that the shape is distorted from that of a typical French fried shrimp, and more importantly, in instead of being rounded, the form is somewhat square, which, certainly, is not at all similar to a natural fried piece. The same results are shown in relation to Figures 11 and 12, which simulate small chicken thighs (see Figure 8). Here again, the product of the present invention, as shown in Figure 11, is rounded, while the product of the prior art is somewhat distorted and, again, does not have the rounded shape but has a somewhat square shape. While the foregoing describes the apparatus of the invention in detail, the following are general conditions of the use of apparatuses in methods for producing the edible piece. These conditions may, however, vary widely from pulp to pulp and are only examples and guides to such conditions. The pulp can be prepared from any foodstuff, for example, meats, poultry meats, seafood, cereal grains, vegetables, fruits and solid dairy products. As specific examples, the pulp can be prepared from beef, chicken, shrimp, wheat, corn, rice, potatoes, apples and cheese. The food is ground to a single particle size that forms a fluid pulp, for example, measurements of particles that will pass through screen No. 5 of the US series of screens, most usually a No. 10 screen and often a screen No. 20 or above to more or less the screen 100. Water and other dispersant liquids, for example, from 3% to 70%, can be added to the ground food in order to produce a liquid pulp, binders, condiments, preservatives, colors, stabilizers, antioxidants and the like can be added to the pulp, in conventional amounts. More frequently, a binder material is added to the pulp, for example, a settable gum or pectin, for example, vegetable gum, sodium alginate, in conventional amounts of about 0.1% to 25%. The gum or pectin is determined by a binding agent, as explained above, for example, from 0.5% to 10% calcium chloride solution. The pressure on the pressure vessel will vary considerably from pulp to pulp and from mold to mold, but pressures of 6,895 to 345 Kpa (1 to 50 psig) are normally used, and especially with the usual temperatures of the pulp of -12.6 ° C at 10 ° C (25 ° F to 50 ° F) ^ Also, in the previous discoveries, it was indicated that certain conditions, configurations, forms and pressures are not "substantially" changed. In this regard, the term "substantially" means that the change is sufficient to cause a visually distinct different configuration of the extruding and cutting of the edible pieces. For example, it is indicated that the mold is configured to deliver a substantially constant flow velocity of the pulp through the mold in substantially all portions of the mold. He finished "substantially" in this regard means that the flow velocity is such that the extruded and cut piece does not vary substantially, noticeably and visually from the desired simulated edible piece. The same meaning is also intended for similar terms in the specification, for example, relatively. Thus, by practice of the present invention, the difficulties of the prior technology, as described above, are indisputable. It will be recognized by those with ordinary experience in the industry can immediately see several equivalents of the apparatus of the present, for example, in relation to it, as well as to other places, and it is intended that those obvious variations are within the spirit and scope of the attached claims.

Claims (27)

1. In an extruder for producing an extruded edible piece in a form which simulates the shape of a natural edible piece comprising a pressure vessel for holding a food pulp under pressure, a device that exerts pressure to maintain a pressure in the food container. pressure, a manifold tube in fluid communication with the pressure vessel, and at least one mold and a cutter assembly in fluid communication with the manifold, said mold and cutter assembly have: (a) an elongated annular extrusion member with a tubular extrusion wall, (b) a closed extrusion terminal, (c) an open feed terminal connected in fluid communication to the manifold, (d) at least one extrusion die formed in the tubular extrusion wall near the extrusion terminal, and (e) a tubular cutter member having an open operable terminal, an elongated cutter wall and a cutter terminal a open with at least one cutting surface for cutting the extrudate into said shape as the extrudate exits the mold, said cutting member disposed at least partially on and reciprocally slidable on the tubular extrusion wall and operatively connected at the terminal operable to a control device for reciprocally sliding the cutting member on and out of the mold, wherein the improvement of the extrusion mold has a shape generally configured to a cross-sectional shape of said natural edible piece but whose mold is configured in order to provide a speed With substantially constant transverse flow of the pulp through the mold in substantially all portions of the mold, the control device is operable to reciprocate the cutting member at speeds sufficient for the cutting member to be positioned on the mold for a period of time that a pressure of the pulp in the extrus wall The tubular ion is not substantially changed during a reciprocation of the cutting member, and the cutting surface is generally shaped to an approximate shape to the shape of at least the first quarter of the mold which is first encountered by the cutting surface when cutting a piece. edible.

2. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the device exerting the pressure is a pump.

3. The extruder of claim 2, wherein the pump is located in a recirculating duct for the pressure vessel.

4. The extruder of claim 3, wherein the pump is a positive displacement pump.

5. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the cutting member is reciprocated on the mold at a speed between about 60 and 800 cycles per minute.

6. The extruder of claim 5, wherein the speed is between about 150 and 700 cycles per minute.

The extruder of claim 6, wherein the speed is between about 300 and 600 cycles per minute.

The extruder of claim 1, wherein there is a temperature control that allows the temperature of the pulp to be maintained at a predetermined temperature.

The extruder of claim 2, wherein the device exerting the pressure is a positive displacement pump located in a recirculation duct for the pressure vessel.

10. The extruder of claim 1, wherein there are several molds and cutter assemblies.

11. The extruder of claim 1, wherein there are several molds in the tubular extrusion wall. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the outer surface of the tubular extrusion wall has at least one bearing surface on which the cutting member is reciprocally slidable. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the cutting wall has an axial groove and the extrusion wall has a straight protrusion located within said groove such that the cutting surface remains in register with the extrusion mold. 14. The extruder of claim 13, wherein the protrusion is a bolt fixed on the extrusion wall. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the closed extrusion terminal has at least one partially conical extrudate diverter projecting into the annulus of the tubular extrusion wall and extending at least one diameter of the wall of the extrusion wall. Extended extrusion inside the extrusion mold. 16. The extruder of claim 15, wherein the diverter is in the form of a truncated cone. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the cutting wall is of sufficient length as a more advanced cutting edge of the cutting surface extends beyond the closed extrusion terminal when the cutter wall is slid to a further extension of a reciprocating movement. 18. The extruder of claim 17, wherein a leading edge of the cutting surface extends beyond a closed extrusion terminal. 19. The extruder of claim 1, wherein there are at least two molds in the extrusion wall and at least two cutting surfaces on the cutting wall.

20. The extruder of claim 12, wherein there are at least two said bearing surfaces. 21. The extruder of claim 20, wherein one of said bearing surfaces has at least one mold placed there. 22. The extruder of claim 15, wherein the diverter extends into the ring of the extrusion wall such that the smaller end of the diverter is located on said diameter which is approximately equidistant between the axial opposite edges of the mold. 23. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the cutting surface is at least in part tapered in the axial direction. The extruder of claim 1, wherein the extrusion wall and the cutting wall have a circular cross section. 25. The extruder of claim 12, wherein an interior surface of the cutting wall has a cross-sectional measurement slightly larger than the cross-sectional measurements of the bearing surface as well as the cutting wall is slidably slidable on the surface. of the bearing. 26. The extruder of claim 1, wherein there is a plastic sleeve bearing between the extrusion wall and the cutting wall.

27. The extruder of claim 26, wherein the shirt

% - The bearing is made of a designed plastic.

10 15 20 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An extruder is provided to produce an extruded edible piece in a form which simulates the figure of a natural edible piece. The extruder has a pressure vessel for containing a pulp, a device for 'exerting pressure on the pressure vessel, and a manifold tube in fluid communication with the pressure vessel and at least one mold and a cutter assembly in communication of fluid with the multiple tube. The mold and cutter assembly has an extrusion member with an extrusion wall, a closed extrusion terminal, an open feed terminal engageable with the manifold, at least one extrusion mold formed in the extrusion wall near the end of the extrusion mold. extrusion and a tubular cutter member, the tubular cutter member has a manageable terminal, a cutter wall and an open cutter terminal with at least one cutting surface for cutting the extrudate into the form as the extrudate exits the mold. The cutting member is reciprocally slidable on the extrusion wall and connected to the operable terminal towards a control device. The invention provides an improvement wherein the extrusion mold has a shape generally configured to a cross-sectional shape of the natural edible piece but whose mold is configured to provide a substantially constant transverse flow velocity of the pulp through the mold in substantially all portions of the mold. The control device reciprocates the cutting member at speeds sufficient for a pressure of the pulp in the extrusion wall to not be substantially changed during reciprocation of the cutting member. The cutting surface is generally shaped to a shape approximate to the shape of at least a quarter of the first mold found by the cutting surface when cutting an edible piece.