Production Of Articles With Varying Content Of Additives

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for continuous production of a number of articles including at least two different types of articles from a pasty mass. The mass is introduced into a processor unit ( 4 ) by means of a supply unit ( 2 ), processed in the processor unit and transported further thereby, whereupon an adjunct is added by a metering unit ( 10 ) to the mass transported through the processor unit ( 4 ). The mixing of the adjunct introduced to the mass is carried out by a mixing unit ( 6 ) with mixing elements located downstream of the processor unit ( 4 ). The mass with provided adjunct is formed by a forming unit (S) into individual articles downstream of the mixing unit. According to the invention, the metering of the adjunct is carried out in a sequence of metering conditions with at least two different metering conditions, wherein the metering unit ( 10 ), for a given metering condition, introduces the adjunct to the mass at a given metering rate.

1 . A device for continuously producing a multiplicity of articles comprising at least two different types from a pasty mass, the device comprising:
 a processing unit ( 4 ) with transporting elements for processing and transporting the mass;   a feeding unit ( 2 ) for feeding the mass into the processing unit ( 4 );   a metering unit ( 10 ) for metering an additive into the mass transported through the processing unit ( 4 ), which metering unit ( 10 ) is connected by means of at least one one switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) to at least one source (Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 ) of a respective additive, it being possible for a respective switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) to be switched into a switching state in which the metering unit ( 10 ) can meter the respective additive into the mass at a respective metering rate;   a molding unit ( 8 ), provided after the processing unit ( 4 ), with molding elements for molding the mass provided with an additive into individual articles,   
     characterized in that a mixing unit ( 6 ) with mixing elements for mixing the additive metered in to it by means of the metering unit ( 10 ) adjoins downstream of the processing unit ( 4 ) with its transporting elements before the molding unit ( 8 ) follows downstream of it ( 6 ). 
   
   
       2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  for the continuous production of articles for daily use from a set polymer material, characterized in that the processing unit ( 4 ) with transporting elements is a compounding unit for polymer materials. 
   
   
       3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1  for the continuous production of articles for daily use from a set ceramic material, characterized in that the processing unit ( 4 ) with transporting elements is a compounding unit for ceramic materials. 
   
   
       4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in particular for the continuous production of comestibles from a moistened mass of raw material containing starch and/or protein, characterized in that the processing unit ( 4 ) with transporting elements is an extrusion-cooking unit for materials containing starch and/or protein. 
   
   
       5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in particular for the continuous production of comestibles from a moistened mass of raw material containing starch and/or protein, characterized in that the processing unit ( 4 ) with transporting elements is a cold-extrusion unit for materials containing starch and/or protein. 
   
   
       6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the metering unit ( 10 ) is connected by means of a switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) to at least one source (Q 1 , Q 2 , Q 3 ) for an additive, and in that the switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) can be switched into a first switching state, in which the metering unit ( 10 ) can meter the additive into the mass with a first metered amount, and into a second switching state, in which the metering unit ( 10 ) can meter the additive into the mass with a second metered amount. 
   
   
       7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the metering unit ( 10 ) is connected by means of the switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) to a first source (Q 1 ) for a first additive and to a second source (Q 2 ) for a second additive, and in that the switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) can be switched into a first switching state, in which the metering unit ( 10 ) can meter into the mass a first metered-amount mixing ratio of the first additive and the second additive, and into a second switching state, in which the metering unit ( 10 ) can meter into the mass a second metered-amount mixing ratio of the first additive and the second additive. 
   
   
       8 . The device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the switching unit (F 1 , M 1 , P 1 , F 2 , M 2 , P 2 , F 3 , M 3 , P 3 ) can be switched into a third switching state, in which the metering unit ( 10 ) can meter into the mass a third metered-amount mixing ratio of the first additive and the second additive. 
   
   
       9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that, in a first switching state, only a first type of additive can be metered in with a first metered amount. 
   
   
       10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that, in a second switching state, only a second type of additive can be metered in with a second metered amount. 
   
   
       11 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that, in a third switching state, a first type of additive and a second type of additive can be simultaneously metered in with the first metered amount and with the second metered amount, respectively. 
   
   
       12 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the processing unit ( 4 ) with transporting elements is an extruder. 
   
   
       13 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the mixing unit ( 6 ) is a mixing kneader, which has transporting elements ( 62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  66 ) at least in subregions along the transporting direction of its mixing chamber ( 67 ). 
   
   
       14 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the mixing unit ( 6 ) is a multi-screw extruder. 
   
   
       15 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that the mixing unit ( 6 ) has along an axial transporting direction a subregion with kneading elements ( 65 ), in particular with polygonal blocks or knurls. 
   
   
       16 . The device as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that the mixing unit ( 6 ) has along an axial transporting direction a subregion with screw elements ( 62 ,  63 ,  64 ,  66 ). 
   
   
       17 . The device as claimed in  claim 16 , characterized in that the mixing unit has forwardly transporting screw elements ( 62 ,  63 ,  64 ) and/or rearwardly transporting screw elements ( 64 ). 
   
   
       18 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) is arranged directly downstream of the mixing unit ( 6 ). 
   
   
       19 . The device as claimed in  claim 18 , characterized in that the processing chamber of the molding unit ( 8 ) and the transition ( 7 ) from the processing chamber of the mixing unit ( 6 ) to the molding unit ( 8 ) are formed without any dead volume. 
   
   
       20 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the processing chamber of the molding unit ( 8 ) and the transition ( 7 ) have no movable machine elements. 
   
   
       21 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the inside wall of the processing chamber of the molding unit ( 8 ) and of the transition ( 7 ) do not have any edges. 
   
   
       22 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the inside wall of the processing chamber of the molding unit ( 8 ) and of the transition ( 7 ) have a radius of curvature of at least 2 mm in all regions. 
   
   
       23 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the processing chamber of the molding unit ( 8 ) and the transition ( 7 ) from the processing chamber of the mixing unit ( 6 ) to the molding unit ( 8 ) have nozzles for metering in a fluid. 
   
   
       24 . The device as claimed in  claim 19 , characterized in that the inside wall of the processing chamber of the molding unit ( 8 ) and of the transition ( 7 ) is lined with a nonstick coating, which consists in particular of a polymer material comprising F atoms or Si atoms. 
   
   
       25 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the metering unit ( 10 ) is connected to the mixing unit ( 6 ). 
   
   
       26 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that the metering unit ( 10 ) is connected in an axial subregion of the mixing unit ( 6 ) that lies in or upstream of the axial subregion with the kneading elements ( 65 ). 
   
   
       27 . The device as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that the metering unit ( 10 ) is connected in an axial subregion of the mixing unit ( 6 ) that lies directly upstream of the axial subregion with the kneading elements ( 65 ). 
   
   
       28 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the feeding unit ( 2 ) is preceded by a preconditioner ( 21 ) for moistening a dry loose raw material containing starch and/or protein. 
   
   
       29 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) has a die ( 82 ) or a multiplicity of dies ( 82 ). 
   
   
       30 . The device as claimed in  claim 29 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) has a cutting means, which follows the die ( 82 ) or the multiplicity of dies ( 82 ). 
   
   
       31 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) is followed by a drying chamber. 
   
   
       32 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) is followed by an expansion chamber ( 83 ). 
   
   
       33 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) is followed by a flaking roller mill. 
   
   
       34 . The device as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) is followed by a liquid bath. 
   
   
       35 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the molding unit ( 8 ) is followed by a further mixing unit for mixing up the multiplicity of articles comprising at least two different types of articles. 
   
   
       36 . A method for continuously producing a multiplicity of articles comprising at least two different types of articles from a pasty mass, in particular using a device according to one of  claims 1  to  34 , the method having the following steps:
 feeding the mass by means of a feeding unit into a processing unit;   transporting and processing the mass through the processing unit;   metering an additive by means of a metering unit into the mass transported through the processing unit;   mixing the metered-in additive into the mass by means of a mixing unit with mixing elements downstream of the processing unit;   molding the mass provided with the additive into individual articles by means of a molding unit with molding elements downstream of the mixing unit,   
     characterized in that the metering in of the additive takes place in a sequence of metering states comprising at least two different metering states, the metering unit in a respective metering state metering the additive into the mass at a respective metering rate. 
   
   
       37 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that, after the molding of the articles, setting of the articles is performed. 
   
   
       38 . The method as claimed in  claim 37 , characterized in that, after or during the setting of the individual articles, mixing up of the set or setting articles is performed. 
   
   
       39 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  for the continuous production of articles for daily use from a polymer material, characterized in that the transporting and processing of the material as a polymer melt is performed by compounding. 
   
   
       40 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  for the continuous production of articles for daily use from a ceramic material, characterized in that the transporting and processing of the material as a ceramic paste is performed by compounding. 
   
   
       41 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  for the continuous production of comestibles from a moistened mass of raw material containing starch and/or protein, characterized in that the transporting and processing of the mass of raw material is performed by extrusion-cooking. 
   
   
       42 . The method as claimed in  claim 36  for the continuous production of comestibles from a moistened mass of raw material containing starch and/or protein, characterized in that the transporting and processing of the mass of raw material is performed by cold extrusion. 
   
   
       43 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the metering in of an additive is performed in a sequence of metering states, the metering unit in a first metering state metering into the mass an additive with a first metered amount and the metering unit in a second metering state metering into the mass an additive with a second metered amount. 
   
   
       44 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , characterized in that the first state and the second state follow alternately one after the other during the metering. 
   
   
       45 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , characterized in that a first additive and a second additive are metered in, it being the case that, in a first state, a first metered-amount mixing ratio of the first additive and the second additive is metered into the mass and, in a second state, a second metered-amount mixing ratio of the first additive and the second additive is metered into the mass. 
   
   
       46 . The method as claimed in  claim 45 , characterized in that, in a third metering state, a third metered-amount mixing ratio of the first additive and the second additive is metered into the mass. 
   
   
       47 . The method as claimed in  claim 43 , characterized in that, in the first metering state, only a first type of additive is metered in with a first metered amount. 
   
   
       48 . The method as claimed in  claim 47 , characterized in that, in the second metering state, only a second type of additive is metered in with a second metered amount. 
   
   
       49 . The method as claimed in  claim 46 , characterized in that, in the third metering state, the first type of additive and the second type of additive are simultaneously metered in with the first metered amount and with the second metered amount, respectively. 
   
   
       50 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that, during a respective metering state or metering cycle, the metered amount per unit of time is kept constant, the metered output having in particular the profile of a square-wave metering pulse. 
   
   
       51 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the metered amount per unit of time is first run up and then run down again during a respective metering state or metering cycle, the metered output having in particular the profile of a triangular-wave metering pulse. 
   
   
       52 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the state duration or the duration of a metering cycle is approximately 2 min to 10 min. 
   
   
       53 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the state duration or the duration of a metering cycle is approximately 10 to 40 s. 
   
   
       54 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that the switching-over duration between different metering states is approximately 0.1 s to 1 s. 
   
   
       55 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , characterized in that, when the moistened mass is being transported and processed, extrusion-cooking is performed, in particular at temperatures between 90° C. and 180° C., and in that an expansion of the comestibles takes place when the mass provided with an additive is being molded into individual comestibles comprising the additive. 
   
   
       56 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , characterized in that, when the mass provided with an additive is being molded into individual comestibles comprising the additive, flaking of the comestibles is performed. 
   
   
       57 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , characterized in that, when the moistened mass is being transported and processed, cold extrusion is performed, in particular at temperatures between 35° C. and 90° C., and in that, after the mass provided with an additive is molded into individual comestibles comprising an additive, drying of the comestibles is performed. 
   
   
       58 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , characterized in that, when the mass provided with an additive is being molded into individual comestibles comprising the additive, introduction of the comestibles into a liquid bath is performed. 
   
   
       59 . The method as claimed in  claim 36 , characterized in that at least one colorant is metered as an additive. 
   
   
       60 . The method as claimed in  claim 41 , characterized in that at least one colorant and/or at least one flavoring is metered as an additive. 
   
   
       61 . The method as claimed in  claim 60 , characterized in that the metering of a colorant and the metering of a flavoring corresponding to the colorant are performed synchronously. 
   
   
       62 . The method as claimed in  claim 60 , characterized in that the metering of a first colorant and/or flavoring and the metering of a second colorant and/or flavoring are performed asynchronously. 
   
   
       63 . The device as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the extruder is a single-screw extruder. 
   
   
       64 . The device as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the multi-screw extruder is a twin-screw extruder. 
   
   
       65 . The device as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the liquid bath is a hot oil bath. 
   
   
       66 . The method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the liquid bath is a hot oil bath. 
   
   
       67 . The method as claimed in  claim 61 , characterized in that the metering of a colorant and the metering of a flavoring corresponding to the colorant are performed synchronously in phase. 
   
   
       68 . The method as claimed in  claim 62 , characterized in that the metering of a first colorant and/or flavoring and the metering of a second colorant and/or flavoring are performed asynchronously in phase opposition.