Robust press for processing fat-containing mass

Abstract

The present invention relates to a press (1) for separating fat-containing mass, particularly mass from oily seeds, such as cocoa mass, into fat, particularly liquid fat and cake, comprising a hydraulic cylinder (2) and plunger (3), retainer (4), and a plurality of parallel guide beams (5) extending between the hydraulic cylinder and the retainer, wherein the hydraulic cylinder, beams, and retainer together form a frame, and the hydraulic cylinder (2) and plunger (3), retainer (4), and a plurality of parallel guide beams (5), and disposed within the frame The present invention relates to a press (1) comprising a plurality of press elements (7) slidably mounted on a guide beam, each press (1) having a pot (8) having a cavity for receiving a mass to be pressed and a press (9) having a plug (10) positioned at least partially within the cavity, characterized in that i) the guide beam (5) penetrates the mounting section of the pot (8) and the press (9), the mounting section surrounds the guide beam, and ii) the plug (10) of the press (9) faces the plunger (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a press for separating a fat-containing mass, such as cocoa mass, in particular a mass from (ground) oil seeds, into fat, in particular liquid fat, and cake, comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a plunger housed in the cylinder, a retainer, also called a "counterpart", and a plurality of, for example two, parallel guide beams extending between the hydraulic cylinder and the retainer - the hydraulic cylinder, the beams, and the retainer form an integral frame - a plurality of pressing elements arranged in the frame and slidably mounted on the guide beams, each pressing element comprising a pot having a cavity for receiving the mass to be pressed and a squeezer, also called a "counter-pot", having a plug at least partially disposed within the cavity; typically, a filter is disposed on the front face of the plug and on the side face of the cavity facing the plug, for example on the back side of an adjacent squeezer, and / or one or more springs are provided within the pressing element between the pot and the squeezer to push that part.

Background Art

[0002] In the pressing cycle, the cavity within the pressing element is filled, via a supply line (inlet), with, for example, cocoa mass, which is then compressed. The cocoa butter is filtered through the filter and squeezed out and discharged. When a sufficient amount of butter has been squeezed out of the cocoa mass, the pressure is released and the press is returned to the starting position. In that position, the pot is pressed onto the squeezer and the cocoa cake comes out. Finally, the pot is returned to the starting position and the cycle is completed.

[0003] Various cocoa presses are provided by companies such as Duyvis, Nagema / Heidenau, Carle Montanari, Bauermeister, and GSR.

[0004] Patent Document 1 addresses the problem of increasing the productivity of a press for pressing oil-containing materials, particularly cocoa mass, without increasing the number or diameter of the pressing chambers. For this purpose, the filtration elements placed in the chamber walls have a non-planar shape, such as hemispherical, tapered, or “serpentine,” with an increased area.

[0005] Patent Document 2 relates to a press for separating cocoa mass into cocoa cake and cocoa butter, which comprises a frame on which one or more pressure elements are disposed, and means for compressing the pressure elements, each pressure element having a cavity for receiving the cocoa mass to be pressed, and having at least one filter and at least one press within the cavity. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 92 / 12853 [Patent Document 2] European Patent No. 1042961 [Patent Document 3] German Patent No. 1247137 [Patent Document 4] French Patent No. 1.078.482 [Patent Document 5] U.S. Patent No. 4,633,775 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent No. 3,073,238 [Patent Document 7] British Patent No. 512 536 [Patent Document 8] U.S. Patent No. 2,072,942 [Patent Document 9] German Patent No. 1109501 [Patent Document 10] European Patent No. 0634268 [Patent Document 11] German Patent No. 14990 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In known presses, an undesirable phenomenon that sometimes occurs near the end of a pressurizing cycle, especially when the press is operating at high production speeds, is the so-called "cake explosion." The objective of the present invention is to reduce, and ideally prevent, the risk of cake explosion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] For this purpose, the press according to the present invention is characterized by a combination of i) a guide beam passing through a mounting section of a pot and press, which preferably includes a pot and press adjacent to at least a hydraulic cylinder, and the mounting section surrounding the guide beam, and ii) the plug of the press facing toward the plunger and therefore toward away from the retainer.

[0009] In one embodiment, the guide beam penetrates most, preferably all, of the mounting sections of the pots and presses located within the frame.

[0010] In another embodiment, the guide beam penetrates the mounting section of the hydraulic cylinder (housing) and / or retainer.

[0011] In another embodiment, the mounting sections (of the press, pot, hydraulic cylinder, and / or retainer) surround each guide beam by at least 270°, preferably completely surround the guide beam, i.e., enclose the entire circumference of the guide beam.

[0012] The mounting section for the pot and press may be provided, for example, on the lateral extension of the pot and press, for example, on the "ears".

[0013] This invention addresses the problem of cake explosion, a phenomenon that occurs when a large amount of fat, such as cocoa butter, is pressurized from a fat-containing mass, such as cocoa mass, near the end of the pressurizing cycle, i.e., when the residual cocoa mass is virtually solid and the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder and in the cocoa mass, as well as the force in the press, is very high (the specific pressure in the pot can reach several hundred bar, or even exceed a thousand bar). The phenomenon of cake explosion is complex and is not yet fully understood. However, it has been found that reversing the orientation of the press, in combination with the plug facing the plunger and the guide beam penetrating the mounting section of the pot and press cylinder, with the mounting section surrounding the guide beam, reduces, or even prevents, the risk of cake explosion.

[0014] In one embodiment, the pot and press, and preferably further the hydraulic cylinder (housing), are typically round in shape and have mounting openings located near, for example, the lateral extensions of the pot and press and the side walls of the hydraulic cylinder (housing), corresponding to the cross-section of the guide beam, through which the guide beam passes.

[0015] In another embodiment, the distance between the openings of the hydraulic cylinders is greater than the distance between the opening of the pot and the opening of the press, preferably by at least 0.005%. This distance is at least 0.008% greater, preferably by a percentage between 0.01% and 0.03%. This difference provides space for the guide beam to bend inward when pressurized. By providing this space, any inward clamping force applied to the pot by the guide beam when pressurized is reduced.

[0016] In one embodiment, the press contacts the pot of an adjacent pressurizing element at least when pressurizing, and preferably when filling.

[0017] Therefore, during pressing, the press actively propels the pot. More specifically, the end face of the press facing away from the hydraulic cylinder presses the contacting pot in the (axial) direction away from the hydraulic cylinder. Preferably, all presses, except for the press that is farthest away from the hydraulic cylinder that preferably contacts the retainer, preferably contact the pot of the next adjacent pressing element.

[0018] The present invention also relates to a press for separating a fat-containing mass into fat and cake, as described above, comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a plunger, a retainer, and a plurality of parallel guide beams extending between the hydraulic cylinder and the retainer, wherein the hydraulic cylinder, the beams, and the retainer are integrated to form a frame, the hydraulic cylinder and the plunger, the retainer, and the plurality of parallel guide beams, and a plurality of pressing elements disposed within the frame and slidably mounted on the guide beams, the pressing elements comprising pots having cavities for receiving the mass to be pressed, and presses having plugs disposed at least partially within the cavities, and the press comprising a tensioning element arranged and configured to pull the press in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder during cake extraction.

[0019] By pulling instead of pushing, the mechanism for opening the press to extract the cake can be configured to be more compact and / or robust. For example, the push rod that practically penetrates the entire press may be omitted, thus simplifying maintenance, such as maintenance involving the removal of the pot and / or the press, and / or facilitating cleaning.

[0020] In one embodiment, one or more springs, for example two springs (not shown), are provided between each pot of the pressing element and the press, thereby pushing the pot and the press apart, particularly closing the pressing element after cake extraction.

[0021] In one embodiment, the pulling element comprises a pulling rod between adjacent pots, i.e., between adjacent pressurizing element pots, a pulling rod between adjacent presses, and at least one mechanical actuator, such as one or more, for example two or more, for example four, a hydraulic cylinder, which pulls the press toward the main hydraulic cylinder, thereby opening the press and extracting the cake. The at least one mechanical actuator may be positioned, for example, adjacent to or within the main hydraulic cylinder.

[0022] In one embodiment, a pulling element, particularly a mechanical actuator, is positioned and configured to pull the press closest to the main hydraulic cylinder toward the main hydraulic cylinder (and thus via a pulling rod between the press and other presses). Preferably, a dummy plate, for example, an unplugged press, is present between the hydraulic cylinder and the pot closest to the hydraulic cylinder, and at least one actuator is attached to the dummy plate, which is then attached to the nearest press via at least one pulling rod. In one embodiment, the pot closest to the retainer is connected to the retainer, for example, via one or more rods, to restrict the movement of this pot relative to the retainer (and thus via a pulling rod between the pot and other pots) during cake extraction.

[0023] In one embodiment, the press has at least a filled or stationary position (where the cavity is closed) and an open position (for extracting the cake), and in the filled position, the plunger extends from the hydraulic cylinder to a position further away than in the open position, preferably at least 5 centimeters away, preferably at least 8 centimeters away.

[0024] Typically, filters are positioned in front of the plug and on the side of the cavity opposite the plug (the rear of the adjacent press). The distance between filters is preferably in the range of 20 to 80 mm, preferably in the range of 25 to 70 mm, preferably in the range of 30 to 60 mm, preferably more than 30 mm and less than 60 mm.

[0025] In one embodiment, the diameter of the hydraulic cylinder is greater than 500 mm, preferably greater than 550 mm, for example 800 mm, and / or the diameter of the cavity (Dp) is greater than 400 mm, preferably greater than 450 mm, preferably greater than 500 mm, for example 600 mm, and / or the number of pressurizing elements is in the range of 10 to 26, preferably in the range of 16 to 24, for example 20 pressurizing elements, and / or the cavity is cylindrical, and / or the filter is flat or substantially flat. The smaller the distance between filters, the smaller the cavity volume, which also allows for a reduction in the duration of individual cycles, i.e., an increase in the number of cycles per unit time. In fact, the latter has been found to overcompensate for the former and can result in higher productivity.

[0026] For completeness, we will focus on the following patent publications.

[0027] Patent Document 3 relates to a multi-pot press for de-oiling cocoa, in which the press pot and pot piston are connected to a sliding member whose closing direction is reversed in the direction of pressurization. German Patent No. 1 247 137 addresses the problem of cocoa mass ejection, which occurs at the beginning of the pressurization cycle while the cocoa mass is still liquid, i.e., when the pressure in the hydraulic cylinder and the pressure in the liquid cocoa mass, as well as the force in the press, are still relatively low. In German Patent No. 1 247 137, the root cause of the liquid cocoa mass ejection is attributed to excessive friction or inclination of the pressure pot.

[0028] Patent Document 4 relates to a press for extracting butter from a liquid paste of cocoa seeds, comprising a series of flanged rings (cylinders) and a series of flanged pistons, which move relative to each other and are guided by two or more columns. The press comprises a device for hooking the cylinders and pistons to keep them closed and prevent the liquid paste from leaking out during pressurizing, as well as a hydraulic operating device that is stationary within the cylinders to separate the cylinders from their respective pistons and perform the removal of used cakes.

[0029] Patent document 5 relates to attaching a filter mat woven from stainless steel wire to the press plate of a cocoa press plate. It is known that the bent edge portion of the mat is inserted into a groove in the press plate and secured using a push cord.

[0030] Patent Document 6 relates to a horizontal hydraulic press comprising a frame constituting a central body, two heads spaced horizontally apart from the central body on opposing sides, and four tie rods, each set of two tie rods, which firmly fix different heads to the body on different sides.

[0031] Patent document 7 relates to a press for separating liquid from solid material, having a series of plunger bearing plates mounted in a column formation between a resistance head and a hydraulic ram.

[0032] Patent document 8 relates to a press having a series of horizontally arranged coaxial press chambers and coaxial filter plates that are axially movable relative to the end walls of the chambers.

[0033] Patent document 9 discloses a cocoa press having an inlet for cocoa mass and an outlet for cocoa butter. The filling height of the pot (Presstopf) is preferably about 20 mm and should not exceed 30 mm. Patent document 10 is directed toward a male pot for pressing cocoa and fatty seeds. Patent document 11 relates to a cocoa press having a plurality of press elements (Kasten), each provided with a single filter means.

[0034] Next, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to a schematic drawing illustrating an example of a hydraulic cocoa press according to the present invention. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0035] [Figure 1] This figure shows a side view (upper half) and a cross-section of a first example of a hydraulic cocoa press according to the present invention while the press is in the filling position. [Figure 2] This is a diagram showing the press in Figure 1 under pressure. [Figure 3] Figures 1 and 2 show the press in the open position for cake extraction. [Figure 4] Figures 1-3 show the press returning to the filling position. [Figure 5] This is a perspective view of a hydraulic cylinder of a second example of a hydraulic cocoa press according to the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0036] Figures 1-3 show a hydraulic cocoa press 1 for separating cocoa mass into cake and fat, such as fat, which has become liquid due to the high operating temperature. The press comprises a hydraulic cylinder 2 and plunger 3, a retainer 4 also called a "counterpart," and a plurality of parallel guide beams or tie rods 5, typically two, three, or four, extending between the hydraulic cylinder and the retainer. The hydraulic cylinder, rods, and retainer together form a frame. A plurality of pressurizing elements 7, for example, 16, 18, or 20, are arranged within the frame, slidably mounted on the guide beams, and positioned between the cylinder and the retainer.

[0037] Each pressurizing element comprises a pot 8 having a circular cylindrical cavity for receiving a mass to be pressurized, and a press 9 having a circular cylindrical plug 10 slidably and sealably positioned within the cavity. The plug of the press faces the direction of the main hydraulic plunger 3. Each cavity is restricted on both sides (axially) by a disc-shaped filter 12, such as a filter cloth or wire mesh known in itself, mounted on a filter plate. One filter plate is attached to the press, while the other filter plate is attached to the back of the press, forming part of an adjacent pressurizing element. One or more springs, such as two springs (not shown), are provided between the pot and the press of each pressurizing element, thereby pushing the pot and press apart.

[0038] The pot and press have extensions, or "ears," which are mounting openings in the cross-section of the guide beam that correspond in shape and diameter to allow for sliding motion. These extensions may be divided to allow or facilitate mounting the pot and press to the guide beam.

[0039] Press 1 further comprises a pull rod 14 between adjacent pots (pots of adjacent pressure elements), a pull rod 15 between adjacent presses, a dummy plate 16 located between a hydraulic cylinder and the pot closest to the hydraulic cylinder, and at least one mechanical actuator such as two (Figures 1-4) or four (Figure 5) hydraulic cylinders 18 to pull the dummy plate and pot toward the main hydraulic cylinder.

[0040] Figure 1 shows the press in the filled or stationary position. In this position, the spacing between the disc-shaped filters and, therefore, the volume of the cavities within each of the pressurizing elements is maximized. In this example, the spacing between the filters present within each of the pressurizing elements 7 is, for example, 55 mm in the filled position. Also, in the filled position, the plunger extends further from the hydraulic cylinder than in the open position, preferably at least 8 centimeters further.

[0041] Furthermore, in this example, the inner diameter of the hydraulic cylinder is, for example, 800 millimeters, and the diameter of each cavity 8 is, for example, 600 millimeters.

[0042] During operation, the cavity of the cocoa press is filled with cocoa mass. After filling, the pressurizing element compresses the cocoa evenly by moving the plunger of the hydraulic cylinder toward the retainer until the pressure reaches a predetermined value, for example, 535 bar. The pressurizing is illustrated in Figure 2. The pressure is then released, and the press returns past the starting position and from there moves further toward the hydraulic cylinder, pulling the pot onto the press as illustrated in Figure 3, causing the cocoa cake to fall. Finally, the pot is returned to the starting position as illustrated in Figure 4, and the cycle is complete.

[0043] Reversing the orientation of the press, so that the plug faces the plunger—meaning the direction in which the pot is closed (after the cake from the previous cycle has been discharged) is opposite to the direction of the hydraulic plunger under pressurization—combined with the guide beam penetrating the mounting section of the pot and the press cylinder, and the mounting section surrounding the guide beam, reduces, or even prevents, the risk of cake explosion.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be modified in several ways within the scope of the claims. For example, the cocoa press described above may also be used for or adapted to produce products such as seeds and / or nuts. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0045] 1. Hydraulic cocoa press 2 Hydraulic Cylinders 3 Plungers 4 Retainers 5. Parallel guide beams or tie rods 7. Pressurizing element 8 pots 9 Press 10 circular cylindrical plugs 12 disc-shaped filters 14 Pulling Rod 15 Pulling Rod 16 Dummy Plates 18 Hydraulic Cylinders

Claims

1. A press (1) for separating fat-containing mass, such as cocoa mass, especially mass from oily seeds, into fat, especially liquid fat and cake, A hydraulic cylinder (2) and plunger (3), retainer (4), and a plurality of parallel guide beams (5) extending between the hydraulic cylinder and the retainer, wherein the hydraulic cylinder, beams, and retainer together form a frame, A press (1) comprising a plurality of pressurizing elements (7) disposed within the frame and slidably mounted on the guide beam, each pressurizing element (7) including a pot (8) having a cavity for receiving a mass to be pressed, and a press (9) having a plug (10) at least partially disposed within the cavity, A press (1) characterized by a combination of i) the guide beam (5) passing through the mounting section of the pot (8) and the press (9), the mounting section surrounding the guide beam, and ii) the plug (10) of the press (9) facing the plunger (3).

2. The press (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guide beam (5) penetrates most, preferably all, of the mounting sections for the pots (8) and presses (9) disposed within the frame.

3. The press (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide beam (5) penetrates the mounting section within the hydraulic cylinder (2) and / or the retainer (4).

4. The mounting section surrounds at least 270° around each guide beam (5), preferably completely surrounding the guide beam (5), according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the press (1).

5. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pot (8) and compressor (9), and preferably further the hydraulic cylinder (2), are typically round in shape and have openings corresponding to the cross-section of the guide beam (5), and the guide beam (5) passes through these openings.

6. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 or the preamble of claim 1, wherein the distance between the openings of the hydraulic cylinder (2) is greater than the distance between the opening of the pot (8) and the opening of the press (9), preferably by at least 0.005%.

7. The press (1) according to claim 6, wherein the distance is at least 0.008% greater, and preferably by a percentage within the range of 0.01% to 0.03%.

8. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the press (9) contacts the pot (8) of an adjacent pressurizing element (7) at least when pressurized, and preferably when filling.

9. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or the preamble of claim 1, comprising a pulling element (14-16, 18) configured to pull the press (9) in the direction of the hydraulic cylinder (2) when extracting cake.

10. The press (1) according to claim 9, wherein the pulling elements (14-16, 18) are arranged to pull the plug (10) of the press (9) through the pot (8) when extracting cake.

11. The press (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the pulling element comprises at least one mechanical actuator, such as a pulling rod (14) between adjacent pots (8), a pulling rod (15) between adjacent presses (9), and one or more hydraulic cylinders (8), to pull the press (9) toward the main hydraulic cylinder (2).

12. The press (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the pulling elements (14-16, 18) are arranged to pull the press (9) closest to the main hydraulic cylinder (2) toward the main hydraulic cylinder (2), and preferably include a dummy plate (16) located between the hydraulic cylinder (2) and the pot (8) closest to the hydraulic cylinder (2), and the at least one actuator (18) is attached to the dummy plate (16).

13. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, having at least a filled or stationary position (Figure 1) and an open position (Figure 3), wherein in the filled position, the plunger (3) extends further from the hydraulic cylinder (2) than in the open position, preferably at least 5 centimeters further.

14. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the filter (12) is disposed in front of the plug (10) and on the side of the cavity facing the plug (10), and the distance between the filters (12) is in the range of 20 mm to 80 mm, preferably in the range of 25 mm to 70 mm, preferably in the range of 30 mm to 60 mm, preferably more than 30 mm and less than 60 mm.

15. The press (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the diameter of the hydraulic cylinder (12) is greater than 500 mm, preferably greater than 550 mm, and / or the diameter of the cavity (Dp) is greater than 400 mm, preferably greater than 450 mm, preferably greater than 500 mm, and / or the number of pressurizing elements is in the range of 10 to 26, preferably in the range of 16 to 24, and / or the cavity is cylindrical, and / or the filter is flat or substantially flat.

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