Internal rotor for a device for producing protein breakdown in meat products and use of such an internal rotor

Abstract

The invention relates to an inner rotor (4) for generating protein breakdown in meat and for conveying the meat in a product flow direction (R), wherein the inner rotor (4) has a shaft end (11) that comes into contact with the meat and has a circumference (U) that expands at least partially in the product flow direction (R).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an internal rotor for producing protein breakdown in meat products according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding use of an internal rotor according to claim 15.

[0002] EP 1 508 365 A1 discloses a horizontal mixing chamber with horizontally mounted internal rotors designed for the rapid breakdown of protein in meat products. The internal rotors are specifically designed as screw conveyors. Alternatively, the internal rotors feature paddle-shaped tools designed to scrape meat from their mutually facing surfaces during rotation, thus conveying it further. However, this requires the design of the paddle-shaped tools, and in particular their rotational movement, to be coordinated, which can lead to increased manufacturing costs or reduced operating speed.AT 324 875 B discloses a further horizontal mixing chamber with a horizontally mounted shaft therein, which is equipped with several blades, in particular arranged along a helical line running around the shaft, to process meat received in the mixing chamber so that protein breakdown occurs. A pneumatically adjustable partition is formed along the horizontally mounted shaft to allow for the release of a discharge opening for the processed meat.

[0003] DE 2 318 316 A discloses a mixing device with a pot-shaped container for holding meat and a vertically mounted mixing shaft driven by an electric motor within the container, which is equipped with several agitator blades to mix the meat in the container. EP 4 410 101 A1 discloses a mixing chamber with a housing which is rotatably mounted in sections as an outer rotor, and an inner rotor mounted vertically within the housing which can rotate together with the outer rotor to produce protein breakdown in the meat located between them.

[0004] Meat, especially sinewy material, can become wound up on the shafts or internal rotors used for processing meat, particularly on an internal rotor mounted vertically in a mixing vessel. This has been observed primarily at the shaft or rotor end located in the direction of product flow.

[0005] Removing the wrapped meat from the rotor end results in undesirable downtime. Wrapped meat can also clog or block the outlet for the treated meat. This may prevent controlled dispensing of treated meat from the mixing chamber.

[0006] Furthermore, meat that gets stuck on the inner rotor can negatively affect hygienic operation.

[0007] The invention aims to improve an internal rotor for protein digestion in meat products by means of simple, design-related technical features, such that the disadvantages previously described in connection with the prior art can be eliminated or at least reduced. Furthermore, it aims to provide a corresponding application for an internal rotor.

[0008] This problem is solved using an internal rotor according to claim 1 and using a corresponding internal rotor according to claim 15.

[0009] Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective dependent claims.

[0010] The invention relates to an internal rotor for generating protein breakdown in meat and for conveying the meat in a product flow direction. According to the invention, the internal rotor has a shaft end that comes into contact with the meat and has a circumference that expands at least partially in the product flow direction. Such a shaft end has the positive effect on the internal rotor according to the invention that no meat can wrap around it during operation, at least not permanently. This is primarily due to the fact that during operation of the internal rotor, the meat arriving at the shaft end according to the invention, i.e., at its increasingly expanding circumference, is pushed onto the increasingly larger circumference by the product flow generated by the internal rotor in the product flow direction, i.e., the advancing mass, so that it reliably expands and...The product flow generated by the inner rotor expands, meaning it tends to deform in the opposite direction to a looping effect, and consequently cannot become entangled at the shaft end. The product flow generated by the inner rotor thus works synergistically with the increasing circumference of the inner rotor at the shaft end in the direction of product flow, reliably preventing the meat from wrapping around the shaft end. The meat expands at the shaft end according to the invention rather than wrapping tightly around it. Therefore, the hygienic production of protein breakdown in meat products can be further improved using the inner rotor according to the invention, and, above all, a continuous work process can be carried out more effectively.

[0011] Suitable meat products include, for example, shredded or diced meat, but also coarser meat, especially strips. Alternatively, ground meat could be used, which is processed along the inner rotor to initiate protein breakdown. Furthermore, the inner rotor could be used to produce a homogeneous mixture of ground meat and added spices. The inner rotor is versatile in terms of the type of meat used. However, it is preferably used to generate protein breakdown in pieces of meat.

[0012] Preferably, the end of the shaft has a circumference that expands continuously in the direction of product flow. This allows the meat to be conveyed along it with increasing tension without getting stuck.

[0013] It is conceivable that the end of the shaft could be funnel-shaped, at least in sections, to prevent meat from wrapping around it. In particular, the end of the shaft could widen, at least in sections, into a polygonal funnel shape or a conical funnel shape to prevent meat from wrapping around it.

[0014] Preferably, the shaft end is formed by a rotationally symmetric body, in particular in the form of a rotationally symmetric body. Its axis of rotation is aligned with an axis of rotation of the inner rotor. A shaft end formed as a body of revolution or in the form of a body of revolution is particularly cost-effective to manufacture.

[0015] One embodiment provides that the shaft end is shaped like a trumpet head or a bell. Such a shaft end can also be used to give the meat a desired radial conveying direction at the shaft end as it exits the inner rotor, for example, to direct it specifically towards an outlet opening.

[0016] It would be advantageous if, at least in some areas along the widening end of the shaft, a geometry further facilitates the conveying of the meat was formed. For example, it would be conceivable for the widening end of the shaft to have a helical surface, at least in some areas.

[0017] One variant provides for the shaft end to be configured for connection to a drive unit. For example, a square receptacle formed at the shaft end could be used to positively engage the output shaft of an electric motor or a gearbox output shaft. Alternatively, the drive unit could comprise an electric motor and a gearbox unit connected to the electric motor, particularly a reduction gearbox, which is connected to the shaft output of the inner rotor to drive it at a desired speed.

[0018] Preferably, the shaft end is provided as an interchangeable attachment for the inner rotor. This would allow the shaft end to be manufactured as a separate component and easily replaced with a new one when worn.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the shaft end has at least one channel for a vacuum application at its end face. The end face can be arranged to be isolated from the meat product, i.e., it is located on a side facing away from the product, in order to prevent the channel from being blocked by the meat product. The channel can also serve as a drainage channel to remove meat juices that accumulate at the shaft end.

[0020] It would be advantageous if the shaft end had at least a section with a cutting blade or several cutting blades for shredding meat. The shaft end could then be used as a cutting tool, particularly to shred meat consisting of long pieces right at the outlet of the inner rotor, thus facilitating further transport and, in particular, allowing it to fit more easily through an outlet opening.

[0021] One possibility would be a cutting blade that forms a helical shape along the surface of the expanding shaft end. This could be used both as a cutting tool and as a conveying device at the shaft end.

[0022] Preferably, the inner rotor has a section adjacent to the shaft end, configured for the mechanical processing of meat, with several purely axial or helical longitudinal grooves. Such a section can be used to generate protein breakdown in the meat before it reaches the shaft end. The longitudinal grooves can be used, on the one hand, to gently knead the meat using mechanical forces to generate protein breakdown. On the other hand, they can be used as conveying elements to transport the meat along the inner rotor in the product flow direction, so that the desired thrust effect occurs at the shaft end to expand the meat.

[0023] One advantageous variant involves the longitudinal grooves extending to the widening end of the shaft. This means that one end of the longitudinal grooves is formed by the widening shaft end. This design creates a beneficial conveying and ejection effect on the meat, i.e., improved transport, as the meat can be transferred directly from the longitudinal grooves to the widening shaft end, allowing it to be conveyed continuously over the shaft end without becoming entangled. In other words, the force applied to generate protein breakdown, including conveying the meat via the longitudinal grooves, can be directly transferred to widening the meat at the shaft outlet.

[0024] In particular, the inner rotor is designed to include a conveying section, especially a screw conveyor section, positioned upstream of the section with longitudinal grooves in the product flow direction. Such a conveying (screw conveyor) section ensures that the section with longitudinal grooves is reliably supplied with meat. Specifically, this allows the meat to be continuously fed to the section with longitudinal grooves, enabling it to continuously produce meat with protein breakdown.

[0025] It would be advantageous if the inner rotor were designed for vertical mounting with the expanding shaft end pointing downwards. This can promote a more compact design. Furthermore, the weight of the meat itself can be used for a continuous output of protein-digesting meat when the product flow is vertical.

[0026] The invention further relates to a device with an inner rotor according to the invention, wherein the device has a mixing chamber in which the inner rotor is mounted vertically with the expanding shaft end pointing downwards. Meat fed into the mixing chamber from above, which is conveyed downwards along the inner rotor in the product flow direction and thus moves towards the expanding shaft end in the product flow direction, expands at this point so that it cannot wrap itself around the shaft end.

[0027] One embodiment provides that the mixing chamber has a base with a recess in which at least one through-hole for a vacuum application is formed and in which the end face of the shaft end, formed by the channel, is recessed. This allows a vacuum line to be established to the mixing chamber in an area isolated from the meat, thereby reliably generating a vacuum in the mixing chamber to prevent, in particular, air inclusions in the meat stream.

[0028] One practical variant provides that the outer boundary of the mixing chamber is formed, at least in part, by a housing section configured as an outer rotor. This outer rotor section has a surface facing the longitudinal grooves of the inner rotor, which is also formed with longitudinal grooves. These longitudinal grooves can run purely axially or helically to form, together with the longitudinal grooves on the inner rotor, a suitable tool for applying mechanical forces to the meat to break down proteins. The combination of longitudinal grooves can guide the meat precisely to the end of the shaft, ensuring that it stretches reliably and passes through.

[0029] The invention further relates to the use of a shaft end of an inner rotor driven by a rotary mechanism within a mixing chamber, which expands in circumference at least section by section in the direction of product flow, in particular continuously, in order to prevent the winding of meat product, in particular sinewy material contained in the meat product, around the shaft end of the inner rotor in the area of ​​a bottom of the mixing chamber.

[0030] At the bottom of the mixing chamber, the use of an inner rotor with a shaft end according to the invention can also be used to reliably direct the meat located at the shaft end of the inner rotor in a radial direction away from the shaft end, in particular to direct it to an outlet opening provided at the bottom of the mixing chamber so that it can reliably flow out of the mixing chamber.

[0031] At the bottom of the mixing chamber, the use of the inner rotor according to the invention can reduce the chamber cross-section or narrow the chamber volume in the direction of product flow, thereby achieving an acceleration effect at the end of the shaft on the meat product with a constant volume flow, in order to reliably guide it away from the end of the shaft.

[0032] The use of an internal rotor with a shaft end shaped like a trumpet head or a bell would be particularly advantageous for preventing meat from wrapping around the shaft end. Such a shaft end would also facilitate the efficient radial conveyance of meat away from the shaft end.

[0033] The present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 A device shown in cross-section with an internal rotor for producing protein breakdown in meat products, Fig. 2 an enlarged view of a shaft end formed on the inner rotor, Fig. 3 a side view of the inner rotor in isolated representation, Fig. 4 a perspective view of the inner rotor in isolated representation, and Fig. 5 an isolated representation of the shaft end of the inner rotor.

[0034] Identical technical features are consistently identified in the figures using the same reference symbols.

[0035] Fig. Figure 1 shows a device 1 for producing protein breakdown in meat. The device 1 forms a mixing chamber 2 into which the meat is fed from a receiving container 3. An inner rotor 4 is rotatably mounted in the mixing chamber 2. The inner rotor 4 is rotated by means of a drive unit 5 to convey the meat in the product flow direction R within the mixing chamber 2. The mixing chamber 2 has an outlet opening 6 through which the meat treated by the inner rotor 4 leaves the mixing chamber 2.

[0036] According to Fig. In the mixing chamber 2, an outer rotor 7 is included, which surrounds the inner rotor 4 at least partially. The outer rotor 7 is driven by a further drive unit 8, which is connected to a lower end of the outer rotor 4 by means of a bearing unit 9a. A comparable bearing unit 9b is provided at the upper end of the outer rotor 7 for its rotatable mounting. Operation of the device 1, in particular the simultaneous rotation of the inner rotor 4 and the outer rotor 7, can be monitored and controlled by means of a control unit 10.

[0037] Fig. Figure 2 shows an enlarged cross-sectional view of the lower shaft end 11 of the inner rotor 4. The shaft end 11 has a circumference U that expands continuously in the product flow direction R. The meat product coming from above and pushing forward in the product flow direction R causes the meat product already located at the shaft end below to expand along the expanding circumference U, so that it does not wrap around it, but is reliably pushed radially towards the outlet opening 6 in direction A. This can be facilitated by the fact that, as in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the inner rotor 4 has a section 12 with longitudinal grooves 13 that extend to the shaft end 11, so that the meat product conveyed downwards in the product flow direction R by means of the longitudinal grooves 13 is transferred directly from these to the shaft end 11 which increasingly widens in the product flow direction R, i.e. a seamless transfer of the meat product is ensured.

[0038] In Fig. 2 The wave end 11 is shaped in the form of a trumpet head or a bell. Furthermore, it shows Fig. 2, that the mixing chamber 2 has a pot-shaped bottom part 14 in which the shaft end 11 of the inner rotor 4 is received. The bottom part 14 has a base 15 with a recess 16 in which a through-bore 17 for a vacuum application is formed.

[0039] The recess 16 is designed such that an end face 18 of the shaft end 11 can be received in it. Channels 19 are provided on the end face 18 of the shaft end 11 (see Fig. 5) designed to conduct a vacuum applied at the through-bore 17 into the mixing chamber 2 in order to generate a desired vacuum within the mixing chamber 2. Evacuating the mixing chamber 2 can be used to improve product flow, in particular to prevent air inclusions within the mixing chamber 2. The vacuum also allows liquids or seasonings added to the mixing chamber to be better incorporated into the meat.

[0040] According to Fig. 2 The shaft end 11 is designed as an interchangeable attachment 20 on the inner rotor 4, which is detachably fastened to the section 12. The in Fig. The attachment 20 shown is essentially in the form of a trumpet head or a bell, in order to prevent the meat from wrapping around the shaft end 11 in the area of ​​the base 15 of the base part 14 and to direct the meat towards A to the outlet opening 6.

[0041] The shaft end 11 of the inner rotor 4 has a receptacle 21 in which a drive shaft 22, passing through the base 15, is inserted. Fig. The drive unit 5 shown in 1 is mounted in a rotationally fixed manner.

[0042] Fig. Figure 3 shows the inner rotor 4 in an isolated side view. The inner rotor 4 includes a conveying section 23, which according to Fig. 3 is present as conveyor screw section 24. Conveyor section 23 receives the meat from the in Fig. 1 shown receiving container 3 and conveys it further into the section 12 formed with longitudinal grooves 13, along which the meat is treated with mechanical force in order to produce protein breakdown.

[0043] The in Fig. The three longitudinal grooves 13 shown form a helical shape, i.e., they are twisted to facilitate the conveying of the meat. Also shown Fig. 3, that the longitudinal grooves 13 only end at the shaft end 11, that is, run out at it, in order to transfer the treated meat directly to the shaft end 11.

[0044] The in Fig. The respective sections of the inner rotor 4 shown in Figure 3, namely the conveying section 23, the section 12 provided with longitudinal grooves 13, and the shaft end 11, can be assembled from three separate components, which can be manufactured separately and, in their assembled state, form the Fig. The 3 shown inner rotor results in 4.

[0045] Fig. Figure 4 shows the inner rotor 4 in an isolated, perspective view. According to Fig. 4 The receptacle 21 formed at the shaft end 11 is designed as a square receptacle to receive the drive shaft 22 of the drive unit 5 in a rotationally fixed manner. However, the receptacle 21 can also have a different geometry that can be positively connected to the drive shaft 22, in particular a different polygonal shape.

[0046] Fig. Figure 5 shows the wave end 11, formed as section 20, in an isolated, perspective view. In particular, in Fig. Figure 5 shows the formation of the end face 18 of the shaft end 11, which has several channels 19. The channels 19 primarily serve the vacuum application described above, but can also be used to drain meat juices. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 1 508 365 A1

[0002] AT 324 875 B

[0002] DE 2 318 316 A

[0003] EP 4 410 101 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Inner rotor (4) for generating protein breakdown in meat and for conveying the meat in a product flow direction (R), characterized by , that the inner rotor (4) has a shaft end (11) that comes into contact with the meat product and has a circumference (U) that at least partially expands in the direction of product flow (R). [2] Inner rotor according to claim 1, characterized by , that the shaft end (11) has a circumference (U) that expands continuously in the product flow direction (R) and / or is at least partially funnel-shaped. [3] Inner rotor according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the wave end (11) is formed by a rotationally symmetric body. [4] Inner rotor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wave end (11) is formed in the shape of a trumpet head or in the shape of a bell. [5] Inner rotor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the shaft end (11) is configured for connection to a drive unit (5) and / or that the shaft end (11) is provided as an interchangeable attachment (20) for the inner rotor (4). [6] Inner rotor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the shaft end (11) has at least one channel (19) for a vacuum application at its end face (18). [7] Inner rotor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wave end (11) has at least in some areas a cutting blade for mincing meat. [8] Inner rotor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the inner rotor (4) has a section (12) adjacent to the shaft end (11) configured for the mechanical treatment of meat products with several purely axial or helically extending longitudinal grooves (13). [9] Inner rotor according to claim 8, characterized by, that the longitudinal grooves (13) terminate on the widening shaft end (11). [10] Inner rotor according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by , that the inner rotor (4) comprises a conveying section (23), in particular a screw conveyor section (24), which is positioned upstream of the section (12) provided with the longitudinal grooves (13) in the product flow direction (R). [11] Inner rotor according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the inner rotor (4) is intended for vertical mounting, with the widening shaft end (11) directed downwards. [12] Device with an internal rotor (4) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the device has a mixing chamber (2) in which the inner rotor (4) is mounted vertically with the expanding shaft end (11) directed downwards. [13] Device according to claim 12 and with an internal rotor according to claim 6, characterized by, that the mixing chamber (2) has a bottom (15) with a recess (16) in which at least one through-bore (17) for vacuum application is formed and in which the end face (18) of the shaft end (11) formed with the channel (19) is recessed. [14] Device according to claim 12 or 13 and with an inner rotor according to claim 8, characterized by , that an outer boundary of the mixing chamber (2) is formed at least in part by an outer rotor (7) which has a surface facing the longitudinal grooves (13) of the inner rotor (4) which is also formed with longitudinal grooves (13). [15] Use of a shaft end (11) of an internal rotor (4) which expands at least partially in the direction of product flow (R) in circumference (U) in order to prevent the winding of meat product, in particular sinewy material contained in the meat product, around the shaft end (11) of the internal rotor (4) in the area of ​​a bottom (15) of the mixing chamber (2).

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