The present invention concerns a device with modular structures for the relief impression or cuts onto food pastes and similar, that may be applied to all production sectors making use of gauge rollers with fix or adjustable thickness.

It it the aim of the present invetion to obtain a relief or a cut shape onto the product being worked in the machines for the preparation of "ravioli" , pastes without filling or pastry products or similar.

The aim set forth is reached by means of the device according to the present invetion , comprising a plurality of separate parts , of the kind of half-bands , or full-coating structures , like jackets , prerferably cut, and that may be replaced and assembled for setting up again the diameter of the cylinder of the shaping group of the machine working the paste , or even for realizing cylinders of dimensions different from the original one , for realizing "raviolis " or different products , of differentiated dimensions .

Such variations may be obtained, according to the present invention, varying the diameter of the cylinder according to the dimension of the "ravioli" or other similar product, maintaining unvaried the dimensions inside the cylinder and working only with supporting thicknesses and prologing the blocking pins below the half-bands or below the full-coaging structure or jacket.

The realization of the device according to the present invention may be applied onto all already existing machines and onto those still to be realized, varying the dimensions according to the available spaces and to the specific kind of machine.

The advantages deriving from the device according to the present invention may be described as follows:

- by means of impression each producer, even an artisan, may personalize by means of a mark his own production;

- in the field of fresh pastes, a relief or cut realization onto the final product is made possible, operating onto the thickness or the image as in a bas-relief.

The present invention will be described more in detail hereinbelow relating to the enclosed drawings in which some embodiments are shown.

Figure 1 shows a lateral scheme of a device with modular structures for the relief impression onto food pastes and similar, like filled "raviolis".

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the elements of the device according to the present invention.

Figure 3 shows an external and internal view of the flange.

Figures 4, 5, 6 respectively show a lateral scheme, a view of the details and a front view of a variant of the device according to the present invention, for the relief or cut impression onto not filled food pastes.

The enclosed figures show a device with modular structures for the relief impresion onto food pastes and similar, comprising:

- a flange 1, inside provided with seats 14 for a bushing 10 and with a seat for a washer 12 and for the screw bolt or for the screw 13, or with gears 11 with two cogged wheels or pairs with

endless screw-helical wheel; in the case of composed external and internal flanges, according to the number of the half-bands, a plurality of locking points 15 for the internal part of the flange are obtained;

- one or more half-bands 2, complete with under- band pins 3;

- one or more under-band pins 3, rounded for facilitating the inlet and outlet into the screwings 17 of the slide 7 and provided, in their upper part, with a washer 4, flat in its lower part and curved in its upper part, for adhering to the under-band, without intermediate threading, for preventing a weakening of said pins following to the continuous end-run, with respective out of centre of the couplings; in a possible variant, a recess may be realized in the under-band inserting, instead of the washer 4, a carrying plate linked to the locking pin, all fixed in said under-band;

- a small carter 5 for protection against dust, comprising a plurality of eyelets 16 for the passage of the pins 3 during locking and unlocking;

- one or more self-lubricating bushings 6 or rollon linear bushings;

- a slide 7 of dimensions variable according to the available spaces and the number of locking points, with transating or rotating movement;

- a motor-pin 8, provided with a threading for said slide 7 and with a smooth part for rotating in the self-lubricating bushing 10, with diameter reduction by means of key 9 for the coupling with the motor-gear 11, fixed onto the end of said pin 8;

- a self-lubricating bushing 10, of circular, square or polygonal shape, for determining the locking and avoiding the sliding and the output of said flange 1.

The mounting and the functioning of the device according to the present invention may , be described as follows:

- the central part of the cylinder - existing in the machines for shaping "raviolis" - is replaced, unspitting the central pin, while the other parts remain coupled with the lateral structures, and said central part is replaced with a new cylinder worked internally or at its ends, with anti-sliding stops;

- the flanges 1 remain mounted or, by means of a threading, they may get loosened and get distanced from the worked central cylinder,

replacing it also in the case of flanges consisting of a plurality of pins for blocking the bands or the cylinder, in which, loosening the external part, the internal part adhering to the end of the half-bands 2, under the pressure of springs with balls on their heads, keeps still and, with a minimum pressure towards the outside, said band gets unlocked, allowing the replacement;

- the fixing of the bands may take place by means of screws or similar, which pass through said bands and get fixed onto the cylinder, or by means of a precedent passage in the composed flanges;

- the locking of the bands may be performed with screws provided with a cam-lateral sprang pressers; in a variant according to the present invention, a smooth or threaded hole may be performed onto the lateral flanges for inserting a screw or a composed pin, operating onto a spring pin.

Due to the small available space, in a preferred embodiment of the device according to the present invention the following elements are provided:

- the whole worked cylinder with a seat for the slide, the flanges and the half-bands;

- worked bands or bands externally smooth;

- a slot locking system fixed under the band;

- an indirectly worked slide for a slot with the system, fixed under the band;

- a worked slide sliding in a linear guide, or linear bushes or bushings, fixed in a suitable seat in a central area or provided with two terminal linear bushings, with a translation movement with variable run, or with a movement rotating on its own axis, getting locked by means of its own shape, like a cam or with a cam system;

- a slide that is pushed by a micro-cylinder with single or double effect, or by a mechanic actuation with a smooth or threaded pin;

- the passage of air, for actuating the micro- piston, that starts in the lateral flange, starting from the external surface of said flange and crosses a micro-joint, and continuing to the micro-piston with a small pipe of different material, or with a sealed groove out of the same materials.

In a further variant according to the present invetion, a fix ring may be provided around the flange, in which the air connection is present.

With the variation of the dimensions of the "raviolis" - like those with fresh cheese and spinach - also the increase of the diameter of the cylinder is provided by increasing the circumference of the bads and with the interposition of thicknesses and prolongation of the pin provided under said bands, for allowing a rigid and precise complete locking.

The actuating push of slide 7 may be generated by a pneumatic system, with single or double effect, or it may be of the closed circuit kind with sliding piston; in a further variant, said push may also be determined by a mechanic actuation with a smooth or threaded pin, working directly in the section of the slide or placed below the same, while the rotating movement is generated by gears.

For the replacement of the whole roll it is necessary to block the roller-scraping blade with the removal of said blade.

For performing a greater cleaning inside the roll image it is necessary to place - after the passage of the blade - a brush that eliminates the formation of the layer due to the continuous

working of the machine, thus facilitating the detachment of the paste from the worked roll.

Once the correct combination has been found, and for a good centering of the impression onto the finished product, the present invention provides the realization of a transmission gear, consisting of eyelets or holes, for determining the anticipation or retardation of the device according to the distances between the teeth.

Furthermore, in the variant for working not filled food pastes, as shown in figures 4, 5, and 6, the device according to the present invention, provided inserted in the drawing process , comprises pairs of small cylindric rolls 18, with the same diameter on all their length or provided with variations and shapes with increases or reductions of diameter, housed in the lateral hull structures 19, with transmission gears 20, between the pairs of the small rolls and transmission gears 22 for the rotation, with an endless screw of with a conical couple. A belt 23 may be inserted for the possible adjusting ot the impression length.

In the engine traction, the start connection between the elements may be realized with interposed clutches.

In a further variant, in the hull-shaped cap 21 the seats may be realized for the belt and the pulleys, connected with the gear 22, while the beginning motive power is supplied by a central pulley or gear 24, so that if said motive force operated onto a roll pair, the traction of all other rolls is determined by means of belt system in the cap 21 or by means of suitable joints 25.

The elements are all easily replaceable, as they are housed in the hull structures 19 and 21.

The locking of all mentioned components may be performed in a central or peripherical area, according to the available space.

In further variants according to the present invention, a planetary system of two possible kinds may be adopted:

- a planetary, circular system, comprising an element onto which said small cylinders are mounted which, at the end of the rotation, generates, through a coupling, an advancement of

the following small cylinder into a pos itive position; a guided or linear planetary system, comprising a plurality of single cylinders , placed in a line, possibly provided with belts for operating the following cylinders , that will perform further impressions .