WO2012095069A2

WO2012095069A2 - Food product and device and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2012095069A2
Application number: PCT/DE2011/002085
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Breu
Original assignee: Andreas Breu
Priority date: 2010-12-07
Filing date: 2011-12-07
Publication date: 2012-07-19
Also published as: WO2012095069A3; DE102010053707A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing a food product in the shape of a plait, in particular a sausage product (10, 10'), comprising at least three distribution nozzles (8A, 8B, 8C) arranged on a support (9) and comprising distribution openings for producing three food product strands, in particular sausage mass strands (10'A, 10'B, 10'C). The relative position of the distribution nozzles can be modified in relation to each other for directly forming a food plait from the produced food strands.

Description

Food product and apparatus and process for its preparation

The present invention relates to a sausage product. The present invention further relates to an apparatus and a method for producing a food product, in particular the sausage product according to the invention. From the prior art sausage products are known, which are usually straight. These conventional sausages have a variety of lengths and thicknesses. Furthermore, so-called sausage slices, in particular sausage slices, are known from the prior art. Such sausage slices are characterized in that they are formed into a screw or spiral, this shape is usually fixed by elongated fastening means, such as wood or metal skewer. The sausage products known from the prior art are usually produced by filling sausage meat (for example meat loaf) in animal casings. The disadvantage of such animal casings, for example, is that impurities, for example in the form of feces can never be completely avoided. Furthermore, the production of sausages with intestines is costly.

The object of the present invention is to provide a novel food product, in particular a sausage product, which differs in particular in the form of other, known food products. A further object of the invention is to provide a device and a method which make it possible to produce such a food product as simply, quickly and inexpensively as possible.

The former object is achieved by a sausage product consisting of at least three sausage mass strands interwoven into a pigtail, all sausage

Confirmation copy | strands gutmlos are made and each have a skin that is formed by modification of the outer layer of sausage strands, wherein the individual sausage strands are also connected to each other by the modified sausage mass. Such a form of a sausage product has hitherto not been known from the prior art. In addition to the novel and attractive shape and the associated Kaufanreizes the sausage product according to the invention is a significant advantage that almost three sausages are intertwined. This brings, for example, advantages in storage through space savings. The sausage product according to the invention is also made gutless, ie the outer sausage skin holding together the sausage mass consists neither of a natural gut nor of an artificial intestine, but is produced by the sausage mass itself by modifying this mass, for example by brewing or heating. The sausage product according to the invention is preferably a Bratoder grill sausage.

For simple, rapid and cost-effective production of the sausage product according to the invention, an apparatus for producing a plait braided food product, in particular sausage product, proposed comprising at least three arranged above a tray dispensing nozzles with dispensing openings for the production of three food mass strands, especially sausage mass strands, said the relative position of the dispensing nozzles to each other for the immediate braiding of a food braid from the food mass strands produced is variable. By dispensing nozzles are understood, for example, pipes made of metal or plastic, which are open at one end (dispensing openings) and are connected at the other end in each case with a hose, through which food mass is led to the tubes. However, even in a simpler device, dispensing nozzles can be the ends of hoses from which the food mass to be processed is pressed. Alone it is crucial that the nozzles have discharge openings and are changeable in the position. By the device according to the invention, it is possible in an extremely simple and fast way to produce a braided food product.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, starting from a starting position in which the dispensing openings are arranged side by side so that their centers are preferably substantially parallel to the tray, the dispensing nozzles change their position relative to one another by alternately moving them in two mutually perpendicular directions and preferably the plane perpendicular to the tray defining axial directions (X-axis, Y-axis), preferably located on a left outer position dispensing nozzle by successively swapping the position with their respective right Nachbardüse changes to the right outer position or one on a right outer position By switching the position with its left neighbor nozzle successively changes to the left outer position.

By thus changing the relative position of the individual dispensing nozzles, a particularly simple braiding of a foodstuff of three foodstuffs becomes possible.

It is preferred that the device according to the invention has three dispensing nozzles for the production of three food mass strands. However, it is also conceivable that more than three dispensing nozzles are used.

Preferably, the tray is formed by a conveyor, in particular by an endlessly driven conveyor belt, or provided on a conveyor shelves. It is also conceivable that the tray is immobile and move the dispensing nozzles. It should only be ensured that the resulting food braid can be stored on the tray, which is achieved by the fact that the resulting food braid is moved away immediately after its emergence of the dispensing Publ openings of the dispensing nozzles and that the dispensing nozzles are moved away from it.

In a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the dispensing nozzles are in a - preferably U-shaped - holding block in position held, wherein in the holding block preferably channels for guiding and discharging media, in particular compressed air are provided. By the compressed air, which can be discharged from openings of the said holding block, it is for example possible to move individual dispensing nozzles horizontally during the braiding process (see description of the figures). In addition to compressed air and other media, for example, with pressure applied water for moving the dispensing nozzles are conceivable.

A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized by at least one gripping device for gripping and moving the dispensing nozzles. The at least one gripping device is generally used for lifting, then horizontal moving and lowering of dispensing nozzles during the braiding process. Preferably, the procedure is such that the said gripper first raises a dispensing nozzle, then the adjacent dispensing nozzle is blown into its original position with compressed air, and then the raised dispensing nozzle is brought into the gap that arises (see description of the figures). However, it is also possible that both actions described above are performed with grippers and compressed air is completely dispensed with. It is also conceivable that a horizontal displacement by mechanical abutment, for example, a hinge or directly from the side or from below or obliquely from below, etc. takes place. If several grippers are provided, they can be arranged both parallel and staggered.

The at least one gripping device may be a conventional mechanical gripper (similar to a pair of pliers). Further, it is possible for the gripper to magnetically grip the dispensing nozzles (metal dispensing nozzles). For this purpose, the gripper may for example have an electromagnet. Preferably, a vacuum can be applied to the gripper, through which the dispensing nozzles can first be sucked in and then lifted and moved. If a dispensing nozzle to be stored again, the vacuum is released again. The dispensing nozzles may also be in contact with other, additional grippers or fixtures during the time they are not being transported or moved to another position

Be held in position so that they do not slip in the longitudinal direction, thereby affecting the product quality. A preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention is characterized by an electrical or electronic control device for controlling the movement of the dispensing nozzles and / or the movement of the tray. In the device according to the invention, therefore, it is possible to dispense entirely with operators, since the production of the foodstuffs is usually done fully automatically and endlessly by the device according to the invention.

For a simple, quick and cost-effective production of a food product which has been plaited into a plait, a process is also proposed in which food mass strands, in particular sausage mass strands, are applied simultaneously from at least three dispensing nozzles, immediately after dispensing by constant and automatic change of the relative positions of the dispensing nozzles be intertwined into a braid.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to produce a food product braided into a braid in a quick, simple and cost-effective manner. In the method according to the invention, for example, the food strands to be intertwined are not first formed and then intertwined, but the foodstuff mass strands are intertwined immediately after they come from the dispensing nozzles.

Particularly preferably, the resulting foodstuff pigtail is deposited on a tray, wherein the tray and / or the dispensing nozzles move relative to one another in order to enable a continuous production and depositing of a foodstuff pigtail. By changing the speed at which the strands are braided or by changing, for example, the conveyor belt speed, the spacing of the individual entanglements can be varied. Likewise, the product or the diameter of the product or the individual strands can be varied by the filling speed.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the drawings and the dependent claims. In this case, the individual features can be implemented individually or in combination with each other.

In the drawings show:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a device according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 a, 2 b, 3:

a schematic front view of the device of Figure 1, wherein only the dispensing nozzles are shown in the holding block;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the Zopfflechteinrichtung of Figure 1, wherein only the dispensing nozzles are shown in the holding block ..;

Figure 5: an inventive sausage product.

1 shows a schematic side view of a device 1 according to the invention with a feed hopper 2 for filling sausage meat (eg sausage meat). The feed hopper 2 forms the inlet to an example, a screw conveyor having extruder 3, on which a filling ström divider 4 is arranged. The filling flow divider 4 has three outlets 5, which are each connected to a hose 6a, 6b, 6c. At the other end, the tubes 6a, 6b and 6c are connected to a braid device 7. In particular, the tubes 6a, 6b, 6c are connected to dispensing nozzles 8A, 8B, 8C of the braid device 7. Since the dispensing nozzles 8A, 8B, 8C are arranged side by side in a row, only the right outer dispensing nozzle 8C (seen from the front) can be seen in the present illustration. The processed sausage mass is filled into the hopper 2, passes from there into the extruder 3 and is then conveyed into the Füllstromteiler 4. There, the sausage mass to be processed is pressed into the tubes 6a, 6b, 6c and migrates from there into the dispensing nozzles 8A, 8B, 8C of the stopper device 7. The dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C are arranged slightly above an endlessly driven conveyor belt 9. The pressed from the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C and plaited by these braided sausage product 10 is deposited on the conveyor belt 9 and according to the production speed (extrusion speed) at the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C moved away by the conveyor belt 9. The "endless" braided sausage braid 10 is separated by means of a separating device 11 into small sausage braids 10 'suitable for sale In the present embodiment, the actions of the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C are controlled by an electrical control device (not shown here) after a preselected or In the illustrated embodiment, the control device also controls the drive of the extruder 3 and thus the power of the extruder 3 and the drive of the conveyor belt 9, i.e. the switching on and off of the Conveyor belt 9 and / or its speed, in such a way that the sausage strands extruded from the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C on the conveyor belt 9 or a there provided documents (eg sheets) form the desired Zopfform.The control device can also the Abtrvorvorrich - controlled.

The shaped sausage braids 10 'arrive on the conveyor belt 9 to form a skin in a scalding tunnel, not shown here, in which the sausage products 10' are passed through a bath of hot or boiling water. Following this, the sausage products produced are subjected to further processing steps, depending on the start of the sausage, for example smoking, ripening, drying, cooling, grilling, freezing etc.

The "endlessly" braided sausage braid 10 can also be separated into subsections 10 'at a later time of production, which can still be done in the raw state or even if the product is already steamed, cooked, fried, baked, frozen, fried, for example etc. is.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b each show six times a schematic front view of the device 1 according to the invention, wherein in each case six method steps in the production of a sausage braid are shown here. In the present illustrations, all elements except for the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C and holding block 12 holding them have been omitted. It should be noted that in Figure 1, the holding block 12 is not shown. In the following, an exemplary production sequence, as shown in FIG. 2a, will first be described.

In the initial position, in the described device, three dispensing nozzles 8A, 8B and 8C are juxtaposed in a row with their centers on an imaginary line. The nozzles 8A to 8C are held laterally in position by the U-shaped support block 12. In the first step, the right outer dispensing nozzle 8C is raised by means of a gripper, not shown here, whereby a gap is created at this point. The gripper working here works with a vacuum, through which the dispensing nozzle is sucked. Subsequently, compressed air is blown out of the holding block 12, which obliquely from the bottom plate 13 of the holding block 12 to the middle discharge nozzle 8 B strikes. For this purpose, an obliquely extending channel is introduced in the bottom 13 of the holding block 12, through which the compressed air is passed to the outside. By the compressed air coming from below, the discharge nozzle 8B is conveyed to the right outside to the position originally occupied by the discharge nozzle 8C. Simultaneously or shortly thereafter, the dispensing nozzle 8C is first moved vertically to the left by the gripper so that the dispensing nozzle 8B is above the middle position at which the dispensing nozzle 8C was originally positioned (operation 2).

Subsequently, the dispensing nozzle 8C is deposited by the gripper on the bottom 13 of the holding block 12 and is now in the middle position. Simultaneously or subsequently, the dispensing nozzle 8A located on the left in the starting position is raised (step 3). This can be done with a second gripper or with the gripper, which has performed the previous step. After lifting (or simultaneously) the discharge nozzle 8A, compressed air is blown through a second passage in the bottom 13 of the holding block 12 onto the discharge nozzle 8C. Again, the compressed air hits obliquely from below onto the dispensing nozzle 8C. In contrast to

Step 1, in which the compressed air was led from bottom left to top right, now the compressed air is guided from bottom right to top left, whereby the dispensing nozzle 8C is moved horizontally to the left position. Simultaneously or subsequently, the dispensing nozzle 8A is moved horizontally so far that it is now positioned above the center position (step 4). Finally, the dispensing nozzle 8A is placed in the middle position on the bottom 13 of the support block 12 (step 5). This completes a wicking process. The sequence of position changes described above can also be reversed. The order of braiding can also take place in the following order:

First, z. B. the middle strand transported to the right outside, wherein the outer strand is displaced into the middle. Then the middle strand is again transported to the left outside, whereby in turn the outer strand is displaced into the middle. The order can also be reversed here.

In the procedure described above, the problem may arise that the hoses 6a to 6c, through which the mass to be braided (here: meat) is transported, gradually knot. This is counteracted by the fact that, following the production sequence shown under FIG. 2a, the production sequence now described follows, which is illustrated in FIG. 2b.

Again, the dispensing nozzles 8 A to 8 C in the starting position are next to each other in a row. First, the middle dispensing nozzle 8B is first lifted by a gripper. Simultaneously or subsequently, the left dispensing nozzle 8A is horizontally shifted to the center position. This is also done here by means of compressed air, which is this time out of a channel in the side wall 14a of the holding block 12 and laterally on the discharge nozzle 8A applies (step 1). Subsequently or at the same time, the dispensing nozzle 8B is guided horizontally to the left by the gripper until it is above the position originally assumed by the dispensing nozzle 8A (step 2). Then, the discharge nozzle 8B is deposited on the bottom 13 of the holding block 12. Simultaneously or subsequently, the dispensing nozzle 8A is raised (step 3). This can be done with a second gripper or with the gripper, which has previously gripped and transported the dispensing nozzle 8B. Now, compressed air is blown from a passage in the right side wall 14b of the holding block 12 onto the discharge nozzle 8C. This moves it horizontally to the left in the middle position. Simultaneously or subsequently, the dispensing nozzle 8A is guided to the right by the gripper, so that this dispensing nozzle 8A is located above the position originally occupied by the dispensing nozzle 8C (step 4). Finally, the dispensing nozzle 8A is deposited on the bottom 13 of the holding block 12 and is now in the right position (step 5). The described production process can also run in reverse order. A positive side effect of the production sequence shown in FIG. 2b is that the hoses unravel after the production process according to FIG. 2a and thus a continuous or an endless production process becomes possible. So the production can start from the starting position and z. B. are reversed after the third wicking passage in their direction of production, so that unravel the hoses again. If now the production z. B. runs for six braiding quasi backwards, the hoses but twisting only three braiding long in the other direction before the production is changed back in their direction, so this almost runs forward again. But this is not absolutely necessary. You can also z. B. perform three braiding operations in one direction and only three braiding operations back.

FIG. 3 shows, analogously to FIGS. 2a and 2b, six times a schematic front view of the device 1 according to the invention, a further, preferred method sequence being shown here during the production of the sausage product according to the invention. In the following, the production process, as shown in FIG. 3, will be described. In the initial position, the three dispensing nozzles 8A, 8B and 8C lie side by side in a row, their centers lying on an imaginary line. The nozzles 8A to 8C are held laterally in position by the U-shaped support block 12. In the first step, the two outer dispensing nozzles 8A and 8C are raised by means of grippers (not shown here), gaps being created at these locations. Subsequently, compressed air is blown out from the left side wall 14a of the holding block 12 which laterally hits the middle discharge nozzle 8B and conveys it to the right outside position. Simultaneously or shortly thereafter, the dispensing nozzle 8A is lowered again and the dispensing nozzle 8C is moved vertically to the left so that it is above the middle position. Then, the discharge nozzle 8C is lowered. Simultaneously or shortly thereafter, the dispensing nozzles 8A and 8B are raised. Subsequently, compressed air is blown out of the right side wall 14b of the holding block 12 and laterally impinges on the discharge nozzle 8C. Thereby, the discharge nozzle 8C becomes the left outer one Position blown. Simultaneously or shortly thereafter, the dispensing nozzle 8A is moved vertically to the right, so that it is above the middle position. The dispensing nozzle 8B is lowered and is now back to the right outer position. Finally, the dispensing nozzle 8A is lowered and is now in the middle position. The dispensing nozzle 8C has therefore successively moved from the right outer position to the left outer position. This completes a wicking process.

3, the problem may arise that the hoses 6a to 6c, through which the mass to be braided is transported, gradually become knotted. This is counteracted by the fact that, following the production sequence shown in FIG. 3, the production sequence follows, which is illustrated in FIG. 2b.

As can be seen in Figure 4, the dispensing nozzles 8A, 8B and 8c have centering ribs 15A, 15B, 15C. The centering ribs 15A to 15C are annularly formed over the entire circumference of the discharge nozzles 8A to 8C. The dispensing nozzle 8B has four centering ribs 15B. The discharge nozzle 8A and the discharge nozzle 8C each have a centering rib 15A and 15C, respectively. On the side walls 14a and 14b respectively centering strips 16a and 16b are arranged. The centering ribs 15A to 15C cooperate with each other and with the centering strips 16a, 16b and prevent displacement of the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C in the longitudinal direction. This ensures that the discharge openings 17 A, 17 B and 17 C are positioned approximately always at the same height, which is advantageous for a smooth Zopfflechten.

In the position of the dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C shown here, the centering rib 15A of the dispensing nozzle 8A intervenes on the one hand between two centering strips 16a and on the other hand between two centering ribs 15B of the dispensing nozzle 8B. The centering rib 15C of the dispensing nozzle 8C engages between two centering ledges 16b of the holding block 12 and between two centering ribs 15B of the dispensing nozzle 8B. Thus, a displacement of the individual dispensing nozzles 8A to 8C in the longitudinal direction is prevented or greatly minimized.

The lengths and diameters of the hoses or nozzles are variable and may vary depending on the type of meat or broccoli. The length is also variable and is usually 50 to 200 cm. The diameter may be for example 5 to 15 mm. The hoses are preferably made of plastic (eg food grade) with internal tissue. The hoses can also be made of plastic without tissue. Also conceivable are tubes made of Teflon, metal, etc. Hoses made of different materials can also be used. The hoses may also be lubricated to minimize friction or be in an oil bath.

Figure 5 shows an inventive sausage product 10 ', consisting of three braided to a pigtail sausage mass strands 10' A, 10'B and 10'C.

Claims

claims:

Apparatus for producing a braided food product, in particular sausage product (10, 10 '), comprising at least three dispensing nozzles (8A, 8B, 8C) arranged above a tray (9) with dispensing openings for producing three food mass strands, in particular sausage meal strands (10 'A, 10'B, 10'C), wherein the relative position of the dispensing nozzles to each other for directly braiding a foodstuff from the produced food mass strands is variable.

Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing nozzles (8 A, 8 B, 8 C), starting from a starting position in which the discharge openings are arranged side by side, so that their centers preferably in

Substantially on a line parallel to the tray (9), their relative position to each other by alternately moving in two mutually perpendicular and preferably the plane perpendicular to the file defining axial directions (X-axis, Y-axis) change, preferably one on a left Exiting external position dispensing nozzle (8A) by successively swapping the position with their respective right neighbor nozzle to the right outer position, or a located on a right outer position dispensing nozzle (8C) by successively swapping the position with their left neighbor nozzle to the left outer position.

Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tray is formed by a conveyor, in particular by an endlessly driven conveyor belt (9), or provided on a conveyor shelves.

Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing nozzles (8A to 8C) in a, preferably U-shaped holding block (12) are held in position, wherein in the holding block preferably channels for guiding and discharging media, in particular compressed air are provided.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by

at least one gripping device for gripping and moving the dispensing nozzles (8A, 8B, 8C).

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an electrical or electronic control device for controlling the movement of the dispensing nozzles (8A, 8B, 8C) and / or the movement of the tray (9),

7. A method for producing a braided food product, in particular sausage product (10), wherein from at least three dispensing nozzles (8A, 8B, 8C) at the same time food mass strands, in particular sausage mass strands (10'A, 10Έ, 10'C) are applied, which are intertwined into a braid immediately after deployment by constant and automatic change of the relative positions of the dispensing nozzles.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that the resulting braid (10) is deposited on a tray (9), wherein the tray and / or the dispensing nozzles (8A, 8B, 8C) move relative to each other to produce a continuous and depositing a food plait.

9. Sausage product consisting of at least three trapped to a braid

Wurstmassesträngen (10'A, 10'B, 10'C), all sausage strands are made intestinal.

10. sausage product according to claim 9, characterized in that the sausage strands each have a skin which is formed by modification of the outer layer of the sausage strands, wherein the individual sausage strands are also interconnected by the modified sausage mixture.