Agitating – Rubber or heavy plastic working – Stationary mixing chamber
Reexamination Certificate
2003-03-27
2004-09-21
Soohoo, Tony G. (Department: 1723)
Agitating
Rubber or heavy plastic working
Stationary mixing chamber
C366S297000, C366S299000, C366S325800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06793386
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a kneading device and a ropesizer which are suitable for producing confectionery such as a soft candy. In particular, the present invention relates to a kneading device and a ropesizer which make possible a continuous production of such confectionery.
BACKGROUND ART
Recently, soft candies are being marketed that have superior softness when initially chewed and do not adhere to the teeth. Such soft candies may be produced by, for instance, the following process:
a first step in which a saccharide, water, vegetable oil, and emulsifier are mixed and emulsified to prepare a soft candy base raw material liquid;
a second step in which the soft candy base raw material liquid is boiled down to obtain a high viscosity raw material which is used as a soft candy base;
a third step in which after mixing and boiling down sucrose, water, and glucose syrup, the mixture is cooled and crystals are precipitated to obtain a fine sucrose crystal composition;
a fourth step in which a low viscosity raw material including the fine sucrose crystal composition obtained in the third step is added to and mixed with the high viscosity raw material (the soft candy base) obtained in the second step to obtain a high viscosity mixture (i.e., a raw material mixture);
a fifth step in which saccharide, water, and foaming protein such as gelatin are mixed and whipped to obtain a frappe;
a sixth step in which a secondary raw material such as the frappe obtained in the fifth step is added to and mixed with the mixture (the raw material mixture), which is obtained in the fourth step and is used as a primary raw material, to obtain a soft candy composition in which a large amount of air is included to give a characteristic of a soft candy; and,
a seventh step in which two kinds of the soft candy compositions having different flavor are prepared in the sixth step, and they are formed into a product by wrapping one of the soft candy compositions with the other one of the soft candy compositions.
In the production process mentioned above, since it is difficult to sufficiently carry out a mixing (mulling) process and, at the same time, continuously convey the resultant mixture, especially in the fourth step in which the low viscosity raw material including the fine sucrose crystal composition is added to and mixed with the high viscosity raw material (the soft candy base) to obtain the high viscosity mixture (the raw material mixture), a batch type production process is conventionally adopted and a continuous production process is not employed.
Also, for the same reason as above, a batch type production process is adapted for the sixth step in which the secondary raw material such as the frappe is added to and mixed with the mixture (the raw material mixture) to obtain a soft candy composition, and a continuous production process is not utilized.
Moreover, in the seventh step in which one of the materials is wrapped up by the other to be formed into a product, a method is adopted in which an extrusion instrument, for instance, an extruder, is used and the nozzle thereof is made duplex to form the product, or in which the product is prepared by hand.
However, since the raw material to be mixed (mulled) deteriorates over time and the physical properties of the products differ at the initial production stage and at the final production stage if the batch type production process is employed for the above-mentioned fourth or sixth step, it becomes necessary to adjust the conditions such as temperature or time in the subsequent steps in order to eliminate the effect of the difference over time. Accordingly, production control becomes complicated, and this is one of the factors which reduces productivity.
In order to solve the above problems, although attempts have been made and experiments have been conducted to prepare a product by using a kneading device such as a single axial or twin axial extruder or onrator, a desired kneaded material could not be obtained due to such factors as heat generated during the kneading process. That is, the characteristics of soft candy which has superior softness when initially chewed and which is resistant to adhering to the teeth is obtained mainly in the above-mentioned sixth step, and in the fourth step in which a large quantity of air is incorporated into the mixture. However, in the above-mentioned kneading device, the amount of air incorporated into the mixture becomes insufficient due to such factors as heat generated in the mixing process, and as a result, a mixture having desired properties cannot be obtained.
Also, as for the above-mentioned seventh step, if the method is employed in which an extrusion instrument such as an extruder is used and the nozzle thereof is made duplex to form the product, there are certain limits in the working conditions: for instance, if a raw material is used whose content of fats and oils is, for example, 8% or more, it generates oil stains. Moreover, if the method in which the product is manually prepared is employed, the wrapping amount of the product, and hence, the quality of the product may differ from one product to another. Accordingly, it is not suitable for use in a continuous production process.
The present invention takes into consideration the above-mentioned circumstances, with the object of providing a kneading device which makes possible the introduction of air into the mixture and the continuous conveyance of the mixture while a mixing process is being carried out, as well as providing a ropesizer which is capable of continuously forming a product by wrapping one of the raw material with the other which are continuously conveyed from the above-mentioned kneading device.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The kneading device in one embodiment kneads a raw material of high viscosity and a raw material of low viscosity and continuously delivers a raw material mixture obtained, including: a casing; a pair of screw shafts disposed parallel to each other in the casing; and, a driving unit for rotating the screw shafts, wherein a helical portion is formed at one end of the pair of screw shafts so that the raw material is conveyed from one end of each of the pair of screw shafts to the other end, and a plurality of mixing pins is provided with the other end side of the screw shaft with regard to the helical portion in the circumferential direction of the screw shaft.
In another embodiment, each member of the pair of screw shafts is configured so as to rotate inwardly from top to bottom.
In another embodiment, a mixing pin is provided at the inside of the casing.
In another embodiment, the plurality of mixing pins provided with the pair of screw shafts is arranged at a height so that they overlap with each other between the pair of screw shafts in such a manner that they do not interfere with each other.
In another embodiment, an overlapping portion of the mixing pins between the pair of screw shafts is equal to or less than a half of the height of the mixing pin.
In another embodiment, the plurality of mixing pins are formed in a flat plate shape and are obliquely disposed with respect to a rotation axis of the screw shaft so that the surfaces of the mixing pins facing the other end of the screw shaft face the rotation direction of the screw shaft.
In another embodiment, an introduction opening for the raw material having high viscosity and an introduction opening for the raw material having low viscosity towards the pair of screw shafts are provided separately.
In another embodiment, an outlet for discharging the raw material mixture is provided with the casing at a position below the other end of the screw shaft, and a wiping plate for wiping off the raw material mixture, which is conveyed by the screw shafts, to the outlet is provided with the casing at a position corresponding to the other end of the screw shafts.
In another embodiment, a cover for sealing the inside of the casing is provided with the casing so that 5-50% of the inside volume of the sealed space is empty.
In another embodiment, a
Kanai Akishige
Kimura Tsuguo
Masukawa Sumio
Ohno Yoshihiro
Morinaga & Co., Ltd.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Soohoo Tony G.
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