Login| Sign Up| Help| Contact|

Patent Searching and Data


Title:
DEVICE FOR EXTRUDING SUSPENSION SUBSTANTIALLY COMPRISING POTATO STARCH
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/002246
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
Device for extruding suspension substantially comprising potato starch to form a product for frying such as a french fry, comprising a container for containing the suspension provided with at least one extrusion opening for passage of the suspension, a wall part which co-acts with the container and which is movable with a directional component toward the at least one extrusion opening, and an operating member engaging on the wall part for moving the wall part by rotating the operating member, wherein the rotation axis of the operating member is parallel to the direction of the directional component with which the wall part is movable toward the at least one extrusion opening.

Inventors:
HALBERTSMA ARNOLD (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2009/050372
Publication Date:
January 07, 2010
Filing Date:
June 24, 2009
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
GDK INVEST B V (NL)
HALBERTSMA ARNOLD (NL)
International Classes:
A21C11/16; A23L19/18; A47J19/00
Foreign References:
DE19854296A11999-06-24
US2420616A1947-05-13
US4127375A1978-11-28
US2455267A1948-11-30
GB1152747A1969-05-21
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
VAN OEFFELT, Abraham (BN 's-Hertogenbosch, NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. Device for extruding suspension substantially comprising potato starch to form an extrudate such as a product for frying, more particularly a french fry, comprising: - a container for containing the suspension provided with at least one extrusion opening for passage of the suspension;

- a wall part which co-acts with the container and which is movable with a directional component toward the at least one extrusion opening; and

- an operating member engaging on the wall part for moving the wall part by rotating the operating member; characterized in that

- the rotation axis of the operating member is parallel to the direction of the directional component with which the wall part is movable toward the at least one extrusion opening.

2. Extruding device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the device is also provided with a second operating member connected rigidly to the container.

3. Extruding device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first operating member supports rotatably on the container.

4. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the at least one opening is substantially square and has a size between 3 x 3 mm and 8 x 8 mm, and has in particular a size of about 5 x 5 mm.

5. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container comprises a plurality of openings, wherein all openings have an equal area.

6. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first operating member is rotatable through a limited angle of rotation relative to the container.

7. Extruding device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the angle of rotation of the operating member is limited such that a length of the extrudate of the suspension amounts to between 3 and 10, and in particular about 7 cm, when the operating means is rotated through the limited angle of rotation.

8. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first operating member is connected to the wall part via a unidirectional force transmission for the purpose of displacing the wall part in a first rotation direction of the operating member with the directional component toward the at least one opening, and for allowing the first operating member to run freely relative to the wall part in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction.

9. Extruding device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the unidirectional force transmission comprises a ratchet.

10. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device is also provided with a cutting device for severing the extrudate from the suspension in the vicinity of the at least one opening,

11. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the at least one opening is arranged in a releasable part of the container.

12. Extruding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the at least one opening is closable.

Description:
Device for extruding suspension substantially comprising potato starch

The present invention relates to a device for extruding suspension substantially comprising potato starch to form a product to be fried such as a french fry.

Such devices are known per se and generally comprise a container for containing the suspension, provided with at least one extrusion opening for passage of the suspension, a wall part which co-acts with the container and which is movable with a directional component toward the at least one extrusion opening, and an operating member engaging on the wall part for moving the wall part by rotating the operating member. Such a wall part thus forms a piston. Often present here for the purpose of performing this movement is a lever which is adapted to transmit to the wall part a torque exerted on the lever.

A drawback of the known constructions is that during operation of the lever there results a play of forces on the device such that there is a particularly great risk of unbalancing or tipping over the device. These devices therefore need to be attached to a carrier or to a support to enable operation thereof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for forming at least an extrudate from a quantity of suspension substantially comprising potato starch which does not have the above stated drawback, or to provide a usable alternative thereto.

The present invention provides for this purpose a device for extruding suspension substantially comprising potato starch to form a product for frying such as a french fry, comprising a container for containing the suspension provided with at least one extrusion opening for passage of the suspension, a wall part which co-acts with the container and which is movable with a directional component toward the at least one extrusion opening, and an operating member engaging on the wall part for moving the wall part by rotating the operating member, characterized in that the rotation axis of the operating member is parallel to the direction of the directional component with which the wall part is movable toward the at least one extrusion opening. Because the operating member is parallel to the directional component of the movement of the wall part, the device is easy to use, particularly when during use of the device the opening is situated on the underside thereof.

This advantage is increased when the device is provided with a second operating member connected rigidly to the container. The device can then be operated by moving the two operating members, which can advantageously be embodied as handles, toward each other. A very small or even no net force or torque is in this way exerted on the device, and all exerted force is used for the purpose of forming the at least one extrudate.

The container can for instance take a substantially cylindrical form, wherein the wall part is substantially circular. The rotation axis of the first operating member can here advantageously coincide with the axis of the cylinder, and the second operating member can be connected to the jacket of the cylinder. The stability of the device can be increased still further by supporting the first operating member rotatably on the container. The operating members can particularly be embodied as handles extending in a direction away from the jacket of the cylindrical container.

In order to form at least an extrudate, such as a french fry for frying, from the suspension comprising potato starch, it is recommended that the at least one opening is substantially square and has a size between 3 x 3 mm and 8 x 8 mm, and has in particular a size of about 5 x 5 mm. When the suspension, which for this purpose is preferably form-retaining and kneadable, is allowed or pressed therethrough, an extrudate results with the usual form of a french fry.

In order to enable simultaneous forming of a plurality of extrudates or french fries, the container can comprise a plurality of openings, wherein all openings preferably have an equal area so as to prevent the suspension choosing the path of least resistance and being pressed outward through the opening with the largest area.

In order to be able to determine the maximum length of the formed extrudates, a maximum angle of rotation of the first operating member can be limited relative to the container. This limiting can also be adjustable for the purpose of allowing a user of the device to adjust a desired length of the extrudate of the suspension.

In a preferred embodiment the maximum angle of rotation of the operating member is limited such that a length of an extrudate of the suspension carried through the at least one opening amounts to between 3 and 10, and in particular about 7 cm, when the operating means is rotated through this maximum angle of rotation.

When the content of the container is so great that it is not pressed wholly out of the container during rotation of the first operating member through the maximum angle of rotation, it is advantageous to connect the first operating member to the wall part via a unidirectional force transmission for the purpose of displacing the wall part in a first rotation direction of the operating member with the directional component toward the at least one opening, and for allowing the first operating member to run freely relative to the wall part in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction.

Once the first operating member has rotated through the maximum angle of rotation in a first rotation direction, it can be moved in a second direction opposite to the first without herein moving the wall part in a direction away from the at least one opening. When the first operating member is subsequently moved again in the first rotation direction, at least an extrudate, such as a french fry for frying, can once again be formed from the remaining suspension. A robust construction is obtained here when the unidirectional force transmission comprises a ratchet.

For the purpose of separating the at least one extrudate from a remaining part of the suspension the device can be provided with a cutting device for severing the extrudate from the quantity of suspension in the vicinity of the at least one opening.

In order to enable for instance manufacture of different forms of extrudate with the device, the wall part provided with the at least one opening can be releasable, and thus exchangeable. The device can thus serve for instance for the manufacture of french fries of different diameters, or french fries of different cross-sectional forms. In a further embodiment the at least one opening is closable to enable the container to be used for the purpose of preparing the suspension. The opening can here be closed by a displaceable valve which can for instance form part of, or can be formed by, the cutting device. The opening in the container can also be closed by embodying as exchangeable element that part of the container comprising the opening.

The present invention will be further elucidated on the basis of the following non- limitative exemplary embodiments. Herein:

- figure 1 shows a substantially cylindrical container of a device according to the present invention in a first phase of the manufacture of extrudates of a suspension;

- figures 2a and 2b show the container of figure 1 in a second phase;

- figure 3 shows the container of figures 2a and 2b in a third phase;

- figure 4 shows the container of figure 3 in a fourth phase;

- figure 5 shows a perspective side view of a device according to the present invention; and

- figure 6 shows a perspective bottom view of a device according to the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a jacket 1 of a substantially cylindrical container of a device according to the present invention. Placed in the container is an exchangeable base 2 which is not provided with an opening. For the purpose of manufacturing a suspension the container is filled with water 3 and substantially potato starch 4. The suspension is formed by stirring for some time with a stirring implement 5.

Figure 2a shows jacket 1 of the container of figure 1 in which the formed suspension 6 is situated, but from which the base 2 without opening is removed. Due to adhesive force the suspension remains inside the container.

Figure 2b shows jacket 1 of the container of figure 1 and a base 7 for placing instead of base 2 without opening, in which base 7 a number of openings 8 are arranged. Arranged in the vicinity of openings 8 is a cutting means (not shown) which, using an operating member 13, can be carried along openings 8 for the purpose of severing formed extrudates. Figure 3 shows jacket 1 of figure 1 provided with base 7, and wall part 14. Wall part 14 is displaceable in a direction of arrow 15 relative to the container, and thus suitable for pressing suspension 6 out of the container via openings 8.

A connecting part 9 in the form of a cover is placed on the container. Connecting part 9 and the operating member 12 connected thereto are rigidly connected to the container. Operating member 11 is supported rotatably on the container by means of connecting part 9. Connecting part 9 co-acts with bush 10 provided with screw thread. Wall part 14 can now be displaced by rotating operating member 11 about rotation axis 16 in the direction of arrow 17 toward operating member 12. Rotation axis 16 is here parallel to the direction of movement of wall part 14 in the direction of arrow 15.

Figure 4 shows how the first operating member 11 is displaced toward second operating member 12. Wall part 14 is here displaced in the direction 15, whereby from the suspension 6 substantially comprising potato starch a number of extrudates 19 are pressed through openings 8 in base 7. Extrudates 19 are here severed from suspension 6 by operating the cutting device by means of operating member 13.

Figure 5 shows a perspective side view of a device according to the present invention wherein a cylindrical container comprises a jacket 1 and wherein a rotatable operating member 11 is shown, in addition to an operating member 12 connected rigidly to the container. L-shaped recesses are arranged in jacket 1 of the container to enable locking of base 7 (not shown) by means of a thus formed bayonet fastening. Base 7 is provided for this purpose with protrusions 21.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the device of figure 5, wherein base 7 is visible, with the openings 8 arranged therein.

Diverse variants are possible in addition to the shown embodiments, wherein for instance the wall part is displaced in automated manner by means of an electrically driven operating member. The openings can also have forms other than the described square shape, for instance a round shape, a triangular shape or a star shape, or a rectangular opening with short and long sides, for the purpose of forming bars instead of sticks.