Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Processes – Treatment or preparation of farinaceous dough – batter – or...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-27
2001-11-06
Yeung, George C. (Department: 1761)
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Processes
Treatment or preparation of farinaceous dough, batter, or...
C425S377000, C425S465000, C426S516000, C426S557000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06312749
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention applies to the automatic pasta-making machinery sector and relates, in particular, to a method for producing a corrugated pasta sheet which facilitates the adherence of the sauce to the surface, and an apparatus which puts this method into operation.
A fundamental element characterizing the construction of automatic pasta-makers, which demands constant, generalized research on the part of all constructors in the sector, is the machine's capacity to produce pasta with a rough surface texture, thereby helping the sauce to adhere to the surface once the pasta has been prepared and improving the quality of the dish created.
Although several types of pasta with grooved surface are already well known, endless attempts to construct a machine which is capable of producing corrugated pasta in the form of a sheet produced by extruding the dough forcibly through a slot in a die plate have revealed the difficulties involved; these prevent the desired results from being obtained in a practical way at an industrial level.
Several prototype machines constructed in the past to obtain this product were in fact equipped with extremely complex mechanisms which were not only costly, but were also unreliable and prevented production from progressing at a regular rate; the result, on the one hand, was that the machines were unable to supply a product of consistent, lasting quality, and on the other, that they required frequent servicing and setting up procedures.
Some pasta producers have now chosen to overcome the problem in a different way, attempting to obtain a corrugated surface by means of a heating effect produced during the production process.
The process basically consists of the pasta being fed through the hole in the die plate at a high temperature and then blasted by a strong current of cold air, accelerated by purposely-designed fans, before being rolled by fitted rollers.
By cooling the sheet, the upper layers of the pasta tend to cool down much more rapidly than the internal layers which remain at a higher temperature for a longer period of time. This operating stage produces a corrugated surface which remains intact, even when the pasta is rolled and cut as required, and passes on to the next stages in the production cycle.
The basic problem with this method, however, is the fact that the rough texture produced disappears totally once the pasta is immersed in hot water for cooking.
Immersion in hot water in fact causes all the layers of the pasta, both internal and external, to homogenize.
From the facts described above, it is therefore apparent that this type of operating method produces a corrugated effect of merely aesthetic quality which, disappearing as soon as the pasta is cooked, does not in any way facilitate the coating of the sauce which is generally added once the pasta has been cooked and removed from the water.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a method whereby corrugated pasta is produced which is genuinely capable of retaining the sauce; a method which is simple and reliable; which is capable of ensuring that consistent quality standards are maintained over a period of time; and which can be put into operation with the use of machinery of relatively simple construction, cheap to run, durable and requiring minimal servicing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These aims and others which are described in more detail in the description below are achieved in accordance with the present invention by a method for producing a corrugated pasta sheet, facilitating the adherence of the sauce to the surface, in which the pasta sheet is obtained by forcibly extruding the dough through a slot in a die plate. The method is characterized by the fact that it comprises the stages during which at least one surface of the sheet is crimped repeatedly, using at least one raised arm-type flexible, elasticized blade whose free end comes into contact with the sheet. The blade is bent out of its non-deformed configuration by the reciprocal dragging action exerted on it by the sheet as it passes through the slot and the returning action produced by its elastic properties. The blade acts as a vibrating element which, together with the die plate, enables material on the surface of the pasta sheet to be transferred from one point to another; such transfer producing a pattern on the surface of the pasta sheet while it is being extruded.
The use of a single blade, which works on only one surface of the pasta, allows pasta to be produced which is suitable for fillings, such as tortellini, ravioli and similar forms, or types of pasta which are wrapped over to enclose a filling, such as cannoli.
The use, on the other hand, of two blades mounted facing each other, allows pasta shapes such as tagliatelle, farfalle and similar to be produced.
Given the relative ease with which the bending characteristics producing the vibrating movement of the blade can be varied, by selecting appropriate construction materials and measurements for the blade, for example, or by mounting more than one blade, each with different characteristics, the method defined by the invention can be used to produce a vast range of rough surface textures, with a variety of geometrical shapes and profiles of different sizes. This therefore allows pasta to be produced which has different, novel characteristics, in terms of both the use to which it is put for the preparation of specific dishes and its external appearance.
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is also supplied, according to claim
12
, with which the method is put into operation, adopting an embodiment which, apart from the vibrating blade, is of a static type and, being free of any moving parts, is capable of ensuring reliable, safe and repetitive performance over a long period of time.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 4420298 (1983-12-01), Mandrick
patent: 5391073 (1995-02-01), Herod et al.
patent: 5840359 (1998-11-01), Lechthaler et al.
patent: 531167 (1983-08-01), None
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patent: 0 683 981 (1995-11-01), None
patent: 1003775 (1952-03-01), None
patent: 164276 (1920-10-01), None
European Search Report, dated Oct. 26, 2000.
Fay Sharpe Fagan Minnich & McKee LLP
Paste Tipiche Regionali S.r.l.
Yeung George C.
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