DEVICE FOR EXTRUSION AND MANUFACTURING OF AN ALIMENTARY PASTE

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TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention concerns a device that is mainly composed of a container, so called pastry-cylinder, connected to an extrusion pipe including a dosage valve. From said extrusion pipe it is possible a controlled extrusion of an alimentary paste, like i.e. almond/pistachio and/or similar products. The whole device is activated by an external pressure source, like i.e. a pressurized air bottle, and it is properly calibrated by an additional control system. The whole device is connected to a structure where it is free to translate, so that workers are comfortable in using it on a workbench of a pastry-laboratory.

BACKGROUND ART

In the prior art, the manufacturing of almond paste, and similar products, has found application in the industrial field and the handmade field. In the first case, the big quantity of processed products requires a standard working program, and there is an additional difficulty to switch from a type of paste to another, because it is necessary to disassemble the manufacturing machines, remove any residual foods from gears, and then to reassemble the same machines.

In the second case, the handmade method requires the use of the so-called "sac a poche", and that requires some skilled workers, having physical force and experience.

Furthermore, in case of creams, and similar products, the so-called "dripping" machines are employed, with treadle-control, and other electrical and mechanical devices, with a significant leakage of product.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Therefore, the main objective of the present invention is to provide a machine

for extrusion and manufacturing of an alimentary paste, like almond/pistachio paste, etc., and to provide a machine that is easy to be used and versatile, efficient and reliable, characterized by an affordable cost, and respecting the standard sanitary measures for this type of products. Another objective is to disclose a machine that is a valid support in the realization of handmade products, and that is comfortable to be used either by skilled workers in the pastry-laboratory and other workers with less physical force and experience.

A further objective is to disclose a machine that is composed of modular elements, so that the part expressing a force cannot be in contact with the alimentary paste, or other extruded products, and the part containing the alimentary paste can be easily removed and submitted to a separate washing and/or sanitary process.

Another further objective of the present invention is to allow the full recovery of the residual products, contained inside the extrusion pipe, so that raw materials are saved and waste materials are minimized.

Therefore, it is specific subject of the present invention a device, for extrusion and manufacturing of an alimentary paste, characterized in that comprising: a machine body, containing inside two elements working as a unique block and strongly jointed to said machine body, so that the above three elements represent an airtight and closed structure; a piston, that together with said elements defines a structure able to express a mechanical force towards the direction of the lower container that contains an alimentary paste; an extrusion pipe, connected at the base of said container, and including a proper dosage valve; - an external supply circuit, suitable to define the correct level of pressure inside

said airtight structure, according to different functional steps, so that it is possible a controlled extrusion of an alimentary paste, like i.e. almond/pistachio paste and/or similar products, from said extrusion pipe. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The present invention will now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a front view of a possible embodiment of the extrusion device of the present invention, placed on a workbench that is typical of a pastry-laboratory; figure 2 is a front view of a component that provides the necessary pressure and that, together with a cylinder 34 and a piston 26, realizes an airtight structure; figure 3 is a front view of a piston, that gives a constant force according to the longitudinal direction, and where a set of housings 27 are placed at the respective basis; figure 4 is a front view of a valve-controlled head, having an 0-r/ng, that is the only element put in contact with food or extruding product, said element including an integrated draining system 80; figure 5 is a front view of a control system based on pressure valves, that includes a switch valve 5 and a set of valve-controlled pipelines; figure 6 is a front view of two machine components: a cylinder 34, and a container 42 where a set of safety devices 37, 38, 39, 40 are placed; figure 7 is a front view of an external draining component, for recovery of extrusion pipe's content; figure 8 is a front view of a switch valve with a command lever; figure 9 is a top view of the same switch valve of figure 8.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

It is herein underlined that, in the following, only one of the many conceivable embodiments of the present invention will be described, and that this is just a particular example that do not introduce any limitations, having the possibility to describe many other embodiments based on the disclosed technical solutions of the present invention. In the different figures, the same elements will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

From a general point of view, the invention appears as illustrated in figure 1 , where it is represented a device 96, for extrusion and manufacturing of alimentary paste, installed on a workbench 95, typical of a pastry-laboratory.

This device is composed of, as main components, a container 42, where a food to be extruded is contained, and a flexible extrusion pipe 92, that is connected, at one extremity, to the basis of container 42, and at the other extremity, to the dosage valve 69 from which said food can be extruded. Another component of device 96 is the so-called machine body 34, where said container 42 and related extrusion pipe 92 is connected. Two elements 21 (figure 2) and 26 (figure 3), working as a unique block, are contained inside machine body 34, strongly jointed, so that the three elements 34, 21 and 26 represent an airtight and closed structure. Said piston 26 has a proper shape in order to be inserted, according to a joint mechanism, in a lower valve-controlled head with O-ring 28 (figure 4). This head 28 has a proper housing able to join said piston in a unique block, and expressing a mechanical force towards the direction of the lower container 42 connected to machine body 34. An external supply circuit 97 (figure 5) is installed in order to provide the correct level of energy, as a pressurized air flow, for the entire device 96. The main component of

this circuit 97 is a switch-valve 5 that is connected, through channel 1 , to an external pressure source, like i.e. a pressurized air bottle.

This switch-valve 5 addresses an input fluid towards a "T"-junction 7, that defines two possible branches: a first branch 15, where a valve with piston 82 is installed - having a cone-shaped head with a proper size to close the housing 98 - that is strongly jointed inside a pipeline 17, open to both sides; a second branch, where a pressure control device 8 is installed, and through the pipeline 12 connects circuit 44 (figure 6), at the top of machine body 34 of device 96, directly to inner element 21 of said airtight structure. This airtight structure presents, in the inner element 21, a set of rods 24 that extend down to insert in respective housings 27 that are placed on the basis of piston 26.

Said piston 26 has a cylindric symmetry, and gives a force down that is constant and according to the longitudinal direction, towards said valve-controlled head with O-ring

28. The valve-controlled head with O-ring 28 presents, along the entire radial border, a set of grooves 31 , that rotate towards the outer part during the step of insertion of piston

26, so that said valve-controlled head gets deformed with a consequent improved airtight performance of said O-ring 30.

The same valve-controlled head with O-ring 28 presents, along the entire radial border, a set of draining microchannels 29, near said O-ring 30, so that they allow only the passage of air, and any possible presence of residual air in container 42 can be removed.

All the elements at the top of said valve-controlled head are separated from the lower part of device 96, therefore they never are in contact with food, or extruding product. The container 42 is a modular component, belonging to the device, and can be

removed and used independently and autonomously.

A suction component 16 (figure 5), of said control system based on pressure valves, is able to generate a re-calling action. When switch-valve 5 connects pipeline 3, and component 16 is simultaneously activated, air is drawn up from pipeline 44. In such a way, the airtight structure and piston 26 are re-called together inside machine body 34 as a unique body.

An integrated draining system 80 extends itself from the lowest point of the valve- controlled head with O-ring 28 up to the spiral pipeline 25, through the hollow rod 90 that goes through the basis of piston 26 and is connected to hole 33. In such a way, a complete pressure circuit, working on a lamellar valve 91 , pushes outside the food contained in said extrusion pipe 92.

This integrated draining system 80 is activated when switch-valve 5 connects pipeline 4, and piston 13 automatically closes pipeline 18 and opens the connection between pressure control device 8, three-states valve 19 and pipeline 20, that is also directly connected to spiral pipeline 25 through an independent circuit.

Means of pressure control 8 and suction 16 are calibrated, according to definite parameters related to respective foods/products, and therefore define the action of said control system based on pressure valves. Switch valve 5 is composed of a cylinder 60, figures 8-9, with channels 61, 83, 84, 85, one in front of the others and at the same distance. A sphere 62 is placed at the centre, and there is a passage channel 86, that is selectable on a single or double channel using the lever 63. A spring 65 is placed on lever 63 that keeps on pressure a sphere, and this sphere is directly insertable in respective spherical housings 87. In such a way, it is possible to allow different connections on said channels 83, 84, 85 and then different processes on single supply circuits.

Another draining system 93 (figure 7) is installed externally in respect of the extrusion pipe 92, supplied and controlled by said control system based on pressure valves, through a pipeline 45 that pushes pressurized air inside a cylinder 55, so that a pressurized chamber is created. Inside this cylinder 55 a plug 52 is placed that is crossed by a channel 54, and a hollow cylinder 48 is hosted, a one-way lamellar 47 valve 51 is placed inside this hollow cylinder 48, and both are placed in said pressurized chamber 50, immediately under the plug 52.

In such a way it is possible to realize a pressure circuit that, activating said lamellar 47 valve 51 , expresses a force extruding then the food from the extrusion pipe 92 up to the extremity, where a dosage valve 69 is placed.

The machine body 34 includes an additional set of safety systems, where the most significant one is a semi-automatic mechanical system 40, that does not allow to remove container 42 when the airtight structure is under pressure. This system is automatically enabled and can be disabled only when inner element 21 is completely discharged and without any residual pressure.

Furthermore, a safety valve 37, placed on the upper part of said machine body 34, opens itself when the inner pressure goes beyond a fixed threshold, and releases air so that the standard pressure levels are set again. All the components where food to be extruded is contained, like i.e. container 42 and extrusion pipe 92, have airtight closures in respect of the other parts of device 96.

In such a way, the same food is never put in contact with pressurized air that supplies the entire device 96.

Therefore, the above example shows that the present invention achieves the proposed objectives. In particular, it provides a machine for extrusion and manufacturing of an alimentary paste, like almond/pistachio paste, etc., and provides

a machine that is easy to be used and versatile, efficient and reliable, characterized by an affordable cost, and respecting the standard sanitary measures for this type of products.

Then, the disclosed machine is a valid support in the realization of handmade products, and it is comfortable to be used either by skilled workers in the pastry- laboratory and other workers with less physical force and experience.

Furthermore, the disclosed machine is composed of modular elements, so that the part expressing a force cannot be in contact with the alimentary paste, or other extruded products, and the part containing the alimentary paste can be easily removed and submitted to a separate washing and/or sanitary process.

Finally, the present invention allows the full recovery of residual products, contained inside the extrusion pipe, so that raw materials are saved and waste materials are minimized.

The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiment, but it is clear that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope, as defined in the enclosed claims.