Device For Massaging Products

Abstract

A device for treating products, in particular massaging meat products, comprises at least one treatment section with a space for receiving the products. Said space comprises a treatment device for treating the products. A discharge device is provided for discharging the products from the space of the treatment section. The discharge device can be brought into an active and an inactive operating state with the aid of an actuating device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This is a continuation application of PCT / NL02 / 00473 filed Jul. 15, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference. Priority is claimed from The Netherlands Patent Application No. 1,018,541 filed Jul. 13, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a device for treating products, in particular massaging meat products, comprising: at least one treatment section having a space for accommodating the products, which space comprises treatment means for treating the products; and discharge means for discharging the products from the treatment section. In this context, the term “massaging” is understood as meaning: subjecting products to mechanical influences and / or applying or introducing additives to or into products subjected to mechanical influences. DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART [0003] A device of this type is known, for example, from German Patent Application No. 19,614,368. This...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] It is an object of the invention to provide a device, more particularly a massaging device, in which products can be treated in a flexible manner without the design of the device having to be changed. A further object of the invention is to prevent or at least reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Yet another object of the invention is to prevent damage to in particular small products in the treatment device. Another object of the invention is to significantly improve the possibilities for maintenance and cleaning of the treatment device.

[0012] To achieve one or more of these objects, the device according to the invention comprises discharge means which can be moved into an active and an inactive operating state. This measure makes it possible to adjust the residence time of the products in a treatment section as desired by moving the products into the treatment section when the discharge means are in an inactive operating state and moving the discharge means into an active operating state at the end of the desired residence time. This creates considerable flexibility with regard to use of the device for a wide range of products and applications. A modular structure becomes possible, since the dimensions of the drum do not determine for example the residence time any more, contrary to the prior art.

Problems solved by technology

A drawback of the device according to The Netherlands Patent Application No. 9,201,490 is that it lacks flexibility.

The residence time of the products in the device is substantially fixed for a fixed rotational speed of the massaging surface and the guide means, and consequently different devices are required for products which require different residence times. This is because changing the rotational speed in order to change the residence time generally does not result in the desired product properties, since this also causes the mechanical loads on the products as they pass through the device to change.

Consequently, a long residence time will require a long drum, while a short residence time leads to a drum of limited length.

Another drawback of the known device is that only one type of massaging treatment, i.e. a defined mechanical load on the products which are to be massaged at a defined temperature, with a defined massaging substance and a defined residence time is possible in this device, so that in the case of products which have to be subjected to different massaging treatments, it is necessary for a plurality of devices to be positioned in succession.

A further drawback is that the massaging substance does not remain at a defined portion of supplied products, but rather comes into contact with all products which are moving past, with the result that there is a risk of cross-contamination.

Another disadvantage is that in particular small products can easily be damaged as a result of a part thereof passing into the gap between the helical plate element and the massaging surface.

Yet another drawback of the known device is that it is difficult to maintain and clean, since the possibilities of access to all parts of the interior of the drum are limited.

A further drawback is that the design of the known device requires a large amount of material in relation to the throughput which is achieved.

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