OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to processes, and edible compositions and products, in particular it falls within the category of moulding, flattening and pressing edible material.

More specifically, the objective of the present invention is the home production of empanadas, carimanolas and other traditional edible products using an apparatus for making empanadas without the need to be connected to an energy source, that is, it is manual.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Large companies that mass produce food use similar methods for the production thereof; however, these methods entail expensive machines designed for mass production and that, in general, operate with electric energy.

The patent US4882176 describes an electric apparatus designed for industrial use and the operation of which is to crush and shape a portion of a single type of food that is inserted inside the apparatus and, by means of a rotary screw, the material is pulverised and pressure driven by a piston and passes under pressure through a mould with a specific shape.

Patent application US2015/0044335 A1 describes an electric apparatus the function of which is to crush a portion of food that is inserted inside the apparatus through a rotary screw that pulverises the material and this is transported though the device by means of two rollers, which mould it while it travels to a belt that sends the material to the next phase of the production line.

The patent US9022774B2 describes an electric apparatus that moulds an edible mass through the pressure exerted by a press with industrial moulds that, in turn, cut the material.

Therefore, taking into account the above documents, alternatives must be found that are aimed at a more limited production market than the industrial market, which saves energy and is easy to handle and transport, and can also crush, grind, transport, cut and mould the edible product.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an apparatus for making empanadas or other similar foods in a shorter period of time, manually and without the need for excessive force due to the efficient operation of the cogs that make the apparatus operate.

Therefore, an aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for producing edible material ready for the cooking thereof characterised in that it comprises:

-a crank;

-a cog system connected to the crank;

-crushing rollers connected to the cog system;

-spiral cylinders connected to the crushing rollers transporting the crushed material to a conveyor belt connected to a compressor;

-a tray with an interchangeable mould that collects a flat mass exiting from the compressor and which comprises:

-joints in the centre that contain the filling and

-a press that closes the flat mass with the filling.

The edible material can be an empanadilla, a carimanola or a similar food product produced easily, quickly and economically.

The apparatus is designed to be completely disassembled to simplify the cleaning and maintenance thereof.

With regards to the manufacturing materials of the pieces of the machine, the spiral cylinder can be made of stainless steel, similarly to the cogs that actuate it and those that move the conveyor belt; the moulding plate and the cover of the machine can also be made of plastic to reduce production costs and the weight of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG 1 shows an inner side view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG 3 shows a rear view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG 4 shows a top view of the apparatus of the invention.

FIG 5 shows a top view of the tray of the apparatus of the invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention based on the figures shown is described below.

FIG 1 shows how the handle (1 ) activates the cog system made up of cogwheels (15) (18) (19), and in turn rotates the screw (3) and the rollers (2), which transport the raw material when it is inserted, crushing it until it reaches the grinding disc (4), which transfers the mass to the tray (6) in order to then take it to the outlet of the mechanism to, lastly, be moulded and cut by the mould tray (7). The grinding disc (4) is adjustable due to the screw (5) depending on the type of raw material to be processed.

FIG 2 shows the case (8) to which the ring (9), in which the raw material is inserted, is joined. The lid (10) of the grinding disc (4) functions to protect and better clean the inner portion of the case (8). At the end of the case (8) there is an adjustment nozzle (1 1 ) that enables the thickness of the end product of the process to be changed. The cogwheels (12A) (12B) move the inner conveyor belt (6), which transports the nearly finished product to the adjustment nozzle (1 1 ). In the lower portion there is the drawer (13) to store the mould tray (7).

FIG 3 shows that there is the cogwheel (15) joined to the support (14), said cogwheel being activated by the lever arm (16) and this operates the chain (17), initiating the operation of the apparatus since this drives the cogwheels (18) that in turn activate the movement of the screw (3) and the cogwheels (19) that enable the movement of the rollers (2). The base (20) can also be seen.

FIG 5 shows the lever (22) and, through the joints (21 ), the nearly finished product is subjected to pressure where it cuts and moulds the product through the moulds (23). This entire system is joined to the base (21 ).