COLD STAMP DEVICE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cold stamping device for producing shaped consumables from a food mass, in particular a fat mass, preferably a cocoa-containing and / or chocolate-like fat mass, a method for commissioning and operating a cold stamping device.

[0002] Shell-shaped food products are used, for example, as chocolate shells for the production of pralines.

[0003] Shell-like consumables are formed, for example, in hollow molds or alveoli, which are typically formed as depressions in a mold, mold block, or mold plate. These hollow molds or alveoli can be filled with one or more flowable, preferably tempered, food masses, particularly a fat mass. The inner surface of each alveolus determines the outer surface of the shell-like consumable to be produced. For example, hollow bodies can be formed from chocolate mass.

[0004] When pouring the chocolate mass into the molds' alveoli, it preferably has a temperature of approximately 28 °C. To ensure that the chocolate solidifies quickly and retains its shape after the stamps are dipped, the heat must be removed from the chocolate mass. This occurs in the cold stamping unit according to the invention.

[0005] In the production of shaped consumables from a food mass, the alveoli or molds are typically filled with a food mass, particularly a fat mass in a flowable, preferably tempered state. Cooled dies are then inserted into the filled molds, which shape the fat mass and at least partially solidify it, particularly into a hollow shape or sleeve. The dies are then removed from the mass, after which the shaped and solidified fat mass is removed from the molds, possibly after further processing steps. These steps can be repeated on the emptied molds.

[0006] The tray-shaped consumables, in particular hollow shapes, can be further processed, for example filled and / or covered or assembled into a hollow body.

[0007] Cold stamping devices used for this purpose comprise a plurality of coolable stamps, such as those known from EP0981280 A1. The stamps typically have channels through which a temperature-control medium flows. The stamps are preferably made of thermally conductive material, and the dew point of the atmosphere surrounding the food is kept below the temperature of the stamps to prevent condensation from forming on the stamps. This is usually achieved by supplying dry air to the environment.

[0008] The dies are usually mounted on a base plate, which contains the inlet and outlet for the tempering medium. If the dies are to be removed from a working position in which they are ready for immersion into the mold, the base plate must be disconnected from the tempering medium supply. This may be necessary if the dies need to be cleaned, serviced, or replaced. This can be particularly time-consuming and expensive, especially if the dies themselves are subjected to a flow of tempering medium.

[0009] DE 102004056375 A1 discloses a device for the shaping and solidification of warm or hot liquid food masses. It is equipped with a continuous cooling device and an additional cooling device. The stamps, arranged on a plate, can be replaced. The additional cooling is electrically operated and is only activated when the stamps are immersed in the mass to be formed. Cooling is energy-intensive, and it is necessary to wait for the stamps to reach the desired temperature after each stamping process.

[0010] EP1346643 A1 relates to a method for producing chocolate shells, in which plungers with pressing surfaces are immersed in corresponding molds. The temperature of the pressing surfaces is kept below the setting temperature of the chocolate mass during pressing. The plungers are arranged in a holding and cooling device that has cooling channels through which cooling fluid flows.

[0011] EP3139760 A1 discloses a stamp plate and a device for producing tray-shaped food products. The stamp plate comprises at least one temperature-controlled stamp, which, when used as intended, can be immersed in an alveolus corresponding to the stamp.

[0012] The invention is based on the object of overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular of providing a cold stamping device, a method for commissioning and operating a cold stamping device which allow efficient tempering of the stamps and good operability.

[0013] The object is achieved by a cold stamping device having the features according to claim 1.

[0014] The cold stamping device for producing shaped consumables from a food mass, in particular a fat mass, preferably a cocoa-containing and / or chocolate-like fat mass, comprises at least one stamping plate with at least one stamp.

[0015] The stamp plate preferably comprises a base plate on which the at least one stamp is arranged.

[0016] The cold stamping device also comprises at least one thermoblock, which has a base body with at least one chamber for the passage of a temperature control medium, in particular a liquid one. The temperature control medium can be Pekasol 2000, Dynalen HC30, or D-limonene. The thermoblock comprises at least one heat exchange surface.

[0017] Heat exchange here refers to temperature equalization. The heat exchange surface primarily serves to cool the stamping plate, i.e., to absorb heat.

[0018] The thermoblock has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening, which are fluidically connected to the chamber.

[0019] The stamp plate comprises a, preferably flat, contact surface which can be brought into thermally conductive contact with the heat exchange surface of the thermoblock.

[0020] The base body comprises, particularly in the vicinity of the heat exchange surface, a material with good thermal conductivity, for example a metal, preferably aluminum. For the purposes of this invention, a material with good thermal conductivity is understood to be a material with a thermal conductivity of 170 to 220 W / mK or better.

[0021] In particular, the heat exchange surface of the thermoblock and the contact surface are designed such that at least 60%, preferably at least 80%, of the contact surface is adjacent to the heat exchange surface. At least 60%, preferably at least 80%, of the contact surface is preferably complementary to a corresponding part of the heat exchange surface. The heat exchange surface is preferably also flat.

[0022] The heat exchange surface can also be slightly convex or cambered so that the center of the surface can fit particularly well against the, preferably flat, contact surface and to achieve the most homogeneous heat exchange possible over the entire surface.

[0023] The contact surface and heat exchange surface preferably extend in a plane perpendicular to the stamping direction. The stamping direction is the direction in which the at least one stamp of the stamping plate is moved relative to an alveolus.

[0024] The cold stamping device is preferably designed such that the temperature exchange can take place directly between the heat exchange surface and the contact surface and no further active temperature control means, such as an electrically operated additional cooling device, is to be arranged between the heat exchange surface and the contact surface.

[0025] The chamber comprises at least one inlet channel and at least one return channel, which are fluidically connected to each other. The inlet channel is arranged closer to the heat exchange surface than the return channel, with the chamber being arranged such that the temperature control medium flows first through the inlet channel and then through the return channel on its way from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the inlet opening and outlet opening may be arranged close to each other, but the inlet channel and return channel may be at substantially the same distance from the heat exchange surface.

[0027] At least the inlet channel is preferably arranged at a small distance, i.e. at a distance of less than 20 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, from the heat exchange surface.

[0028] The temperature control medium, in particular a cooling fluid, such as a cooling liquid, can flow through the inlet opening and the inlet channel(s). Through the temperature exchange with the base body and the heat exchange surface, the heat can be exchanged with the contact surface over a short distance.

[0029] The temperature control medium absorbs heat from the base body, making it warmer in the return channel than in the inlet channel. Since at least the inlet channels are arranged a short distance from the heat exchange surface, the heat radiated from the contact surface can be easily absorbed by the temperature control medium. This cooling is particularly effective.

[0030] The tempering medium in the return channel, which may be even cooler than the ambient temperature, can also contribute to the temperature control.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment of the cold stamping device, the inlet channel and the return channel are arranged substantially parallel to each other and / or substantially parallel to the heat exchange surface.

[0032] This leads to the most uniform temperature control possible of the base body across the surface transverse to the stamping direction and therefore to a uniform temperature control of the heat exchange surface.

[0033] The inlet opening and the outlet opening for the temperature control medium can be arranged close to one another, for example on a first side of the base body, so that the temperature control medium is first guided via the at least one inlet channel from the first side to the side of the base body opposite the first side and back to the first side via the at least one return channel.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment of the cold stamping device, insulation is arranged on the side of the chamber facing away from the heat exchange surface, in particular on the side of the return channel facing away from the heat exchange surface.

[0035] Therefore, a temperature exchange with the contact surface preferably takes place. The temperature control medium, especially the temperature control medium flowing back in the return channel, preferably absorbs little or no heat from the environment, but primarily from the direction of the contact surface.

[0036] The insulation is preferably formed as a layer parallel to the heat exchange surface. The insulation can comprise or consist of a plastic, with the plastic being, in particular, PE500.

[0037] Cavities can also be provided in the thermoblock for insulation. These cavities can be structurally connected to the fluid-carrying channels and are preferably filled with insulating material, such as a plastic, to prevent "dead" fluid pockets.

[0038] The inlet channel preferably comprises a plurality of channels which run along the heat exchange surface at a short distance from the heat exchange surface.

[0039] The inlet channel can also consist of a channel that is arranged in a meandering shape in the base body.

[0040] Cylindrical channels in the base body of the thermoblock can at least partially form the inlet channel.

[0041] The inlet channel can also comprise a distribution chamber which distributes the tempering medium from the inlet opening to the, preferably cylindrical, channels.

[0042] The channels can be milled into the thermoblock and have, for example, a rectangular or partially circular cross-sectional area.

[0043] The cylindrical channels are arranged, in particular, parallel to each other and to the heat exchange surface. Preferably, the cylindrical channels are equidistant from each other.

[0044] Alternatively, the channels, preferably cylindrical, are spaced at different distances from each other, whereby the respective spacing can depend on the distance of the channels from the edge of the heat exchange surface. For example, more heat must be dissipated in the center of the die plate than at the edge regions.

[0045] In this way, a uniform temperature exchange between the temperature control medium and the heat exchange surface is enabled.

[0046] The cylindrical channels preferably have a diameter of 4 mm to 20 mm, preferably 4 mm to 8 mm, more preferably between 6 mm and 7 mm, and a spacing of 6 mm to 40 mm, preferably 20 mm to 35 mm, more preferably between 35 mm and 30 mm.

[0047] The length of the channels is adapted to the length or width of the base body and / or the heat exchange surface and can be 40-1200 cm. The volume flow of the temperature control medium can be between 10 and 15 m³ / h, preferably approximately 13 m³ / h.

[0048] These dimensions enable effective temperature exchange.

[0049] In an advantageous embodiment, the base body of the thermoblock is constructed from plates. In particular, a first plate comprises the heat exchange surface.

[0050] The plates enclose at least parts of the chamber, in particular cylindrical inlet channels.

[0051] The plates can have recesses on at least one side of the plate, which together with recesses of an adjacent plate form one or more channels, in particular inlet channels.

[0052] Spacer elements can be arranged between the plates so that the temperature control medium can be guided between two spaced-apart plates, particularly in the return channel. The plates can have openings for the passage of the temperature control medium, for example, for the passage of the temperature control medium from the inlet opening into a distribution chamber and / or from the inlet channel into the return channel.

[0053] At least some of the plates are preferably made of metal, for example made of aluminum and / or containing aluminum.

[0054] The thermoblock preferably has as few horizontal separation planes as possible to counteract the risk of leaks. The thermoblock preferably has a separation plane in which the at least one inlet channel is arranged, and a separation plane in which the at least one return channel is arranged.

[0055] Insulation can be arranged on a plate or form a plate of the base body itself. An insulation plate can be sandwiched between adjacent plates.

[0056] Advantageously, the cold stamping device further comprises a pumping device for conveying tempering medium.

[0057] The pump can be a vertical, multi-stage centrifugal pump. The pump preferably has a pumping power between 5 and 10 kW, more preferably 7.5 kW, achieving a flow rate of 13 m³ / h, for example, at a pressure drop of 4 bar.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the cold stamping device, the stamping plate is movable from a maintenance position, in which the stamping plate is not in thermally conductive contact with the thermoblock, to an operating position, in which the stamping plate is in thermally conductive contact with the thermoblock. The stamping plate is also movable from the operating position to the maintenance position.

[0059] In particular, the stamp plate can be pushed onto slide-in rails.

[0060] For this purpose, the thermoblock can have, preferably two, slide-in rails that run parallel to each other and parallel to the heat-dissipating surface. The edge areas of the stamp plate can be placed on support surfaces of the slide-in rails that face the base body. The stamp plate can then be slid back and forth along the slide-in rails. The stamp plate can be slid under the thermoblock until the contact surface and the heat-exchange surface have the desired overlap.

[0061] Preferably, the insert rails are mounted in such a way that they have a certain amount of movement in a direction perpendicular to the heat-dissipating surface. The insert rails can be attached to the base body of the thermoblock via guide rods. The insert rails can be pushed toward the base body, and the edge areas of a stamping plate resting on the support surfaces can be clamped between the insert rail and the base body so that the contact surface and the heat exchange surface are adjacent to one another.

[0062] The guide rods ensure that the insert rails do not tilt and maintain their alignment with the heat-dissipating surface. This also ensures that the stamping plate maintains its alignment when the insert rails are pulled toward or removed from the base body.

[0063] Preferably, the stamp plate can be fixed in the operating position with fastening means, in particular clamping nuts.

[0064] The clamping nuts are preferably arranged on the thermoblock and interact with fastening elements by means of which the stamp plate can be fixed to the thermoblock.

[0065] The fastening elements can be attached to the stamp plate.

[0066] Preferably, the fastening elements are attached to slide-in rails. The clamping nuts can interact with screw elements arranged on the slide-in rails. For example, threaded rods can be attached to the slide-in rails, which extend through recesses in the thermoblock and are supported in clamping nuts.

[0067] The clamping nuts can preferably be operated from the side of the base body opposite the heat exchange surface.

[0068] The clamping nuts are specifically power clamping nuts with a planetary gear. These can be easily tightened and loosened by hand.

[0069] Preferably, two insertion strips and two clamping nuts are provided per insertion strip so that a stamp plate can be fixed with four clamping nuts.

[0070] A thermoblock can be provided with a pair of insert rails to accommodate a stamp plate, or several pairs of insert rails can be provided to accommodate several stamp plates.

[0071] The thermoblock can have a heat exchange surface for each stamp plate or a common heat exchange surface for all stamp plates.

[0072] A heat conducting plate can be arranged between the contact surface and the thermoblock.

[0073] This can be attached to the stamp plate, especially to the contact surface.

[0074] The heat-conducting plate can be designed as a foil and compensates for unevenness in the contact surface and / or the heat exchange surface. This results in minimal air inclusion between the contact surface and the heat exchange surface, which could impair temperature equalization between the surfaces.

[0075] The thermal plate can be made of copper or contain copper.

[0076] In an advantageous embodiment of the cold stamping device, the stamping plate, at least one base plate and the at least one stamp are made in one piece and preferably from metal, for example aluminum.

[0077] Preferably, the stamps are milled out of a plate blank.

[0078] On the side of the stamping plate facing away from the contact surface, centering pins and stop elements can be attached in addition to stamps, preferably formed integrally with a base plate. These ensure precise alignment of the stamps with respect to a mold.

[0079] In an advantageous embodiment of the cold stamping device, it comprises a plurality of stamping plates, preferably with different topographies for different shapes to be achieved and / or with a different number of stamps, each of which can be brought into an operating position.

[0080] The cold stamping device is thus designed as a set from which a stamping plate with a desired topography can be selected. All stamping plates in the set fit, for example, into the insert rails of the thermal block, but produce different stamping patterns.

[0081] The cold stamping device can comprise a plurality of thermoblocks arranged in a frame, each of which comprises a receptacle for a stamping plate or a plurality of receptacles for a plurality of stamping plates.

[0082] The problem is solved by a system having the features according to claim 12.

[0083] The system for producing shaped consumables from a food mass, in particular a fat mass, preferably a cocoa-containing and / or chocolate-like fat mass, comprises a cold stamping device as described above and a receptacle for at least one mold with at least one alveolus for filling flowable food mass.

[0084] The holder can be guided under the thermoblock using a conveyor belt.

[0085] The system preferably comprises a lifting device by means of which the cold stamping device can be moved in the direction of the holder and / or the holder can be moved in the direction of the cold stamping device.

[0086] The system may also comprise a translation device with which the cold stamping device can be moved together with the holder transversely to the stamping direction.

[0087] The object is achieved by a method for commissioning a cold stamping device having the features according to claim 13.

[0088] The cold stamping device comprises at least one stamping plate with a contact surface and at least one thermoblock with at least one heat exchange surface, in particular as described above.

[0089] The process comprises the following steps. First, the stamp plate is inserted into a holder attached to the thermoblock. Specifically, the holder comprises insert strips attached to the thermoblock.

[0090] In particular, edge areas of the stamp plate are placed on support surfaces of the slide-in rails and the stamp plate is pushed onto the slide-in rails.

[0091] Then a thermally conductive contact is established between the contact surface and the heat exchange surface.

[0092] Preferably, the stamp plate is fixed to the thermoblock with clamping nuts.

[0093] The clamping nuts can in particular interact with screw elements attached to slide-in strips in such a way that the slide-in strips are pulled towards the base body of the thermoblock and the stamping plate is clamped between the slide-in strips and the base body.

[0094] The object is achieved by a method for operating a cold stamping device having the features according to claim 15.

[0095] The cold stamping device comprises at least one stamping plate with a contact surface and at least one thermoblock with at least one chamber for passing through tempering medium and at least one heat exchange surface, as described above.

[0096] The procedure includes the following steps.

[0097] A temperature control medium, in particular a temperature control liquid, is guided through the at least one chamber, wherein the temperature control medium is first guided through at least one inlet channel of the chamber and then through at least one return channel of the chamber, wherein the inlet channel is arranged at a distance from the heat exchange surface which is smaller than the distance of the return channel from the heat exchange surface.

[0098] Alternatively, the inlet channel can be arranged at the same distance from the heat exchange surface as the return channel.

[0099] Preferably, at least the inlet channel is arranged at a small distance, i.e. at a distance of less than 20 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, from the heat exchange surface.

[0100] When the contact surface of the stamp plate is in thermally conductive contact with the heat exchange plate, heat is exchanged between the heat exchange surface and the contact surface. The heat exchange plate can absorb heat from the stamp plate and transfer it to the temperature control medium. This removes heat from the stamps, i.e., cools them.

[0101] The heat is transferred out of the cold stamping device via the temperature control medium. The temperature control medium flowing close to the heat exchange surface, which flows fresh into the cold stamping device, has the greatest temperature difference to the stamping plate and is therefore best able to absorb heat. As long as there is still a temperature difference to the stamping plate, the returning temperature control medium can also absorb heat.

[0102] Preferably, the chamber of the thermoblock is shielded with insulation on the side facing away from the heat exchange surface, so that heat exchange occurs predominantly via the heat exchange surface and with the stamp plate and not with the rest of the environment.

[0103] The invention is explained below in exemplary embodiments with reference to drawings.

[0104] It shows Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a cold stamping device in a sectional view; Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of a system with the cold stamping system in a perspective view; Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the cold stamping device in a perspective view; Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the cold stamping device in a further perspective view; Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of the cold stamping device in a further sectional view; Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of the cold stamping device in a further sectional view; Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of the cold stamping device in a perspective view with section; Figure 8 shows a detail from Figure 7 ; Figure 9Flow lines of the tempering medium in a perspective view of the cold stamping device.

[0105] Figure 1shows a schematic representation of a cold stamping device 100 in a sectional view.

[0106] The cold stamping device 100 comprises a stamping plate 10 with a base plate 16 and a plurality of stamps 11. The surface of the stamping plate 10 facing away from the stamps is formed as a flat contact surface 12. This contact surface is in thermally conductive contact with a likewise flat or planar heat exchange surface 25 of a thermoblock 20.

[0107] The thermoblock 20 has a base body 21 with at least one chamber 22 for the passage of a temperature control medium. The temperature control medium is preferably liquid, e.g., Pekasol 2000, Dynalen HC30, or D-Limonene.

[0108] The thermoblock 20 has a flat heat exchange surface 25 which forms an outer surface of the thermoblock 20 which faces the stamp plate 10.

[0109] Figure 2shows a schematic representation of a system 200 with a cold stamping system 100 in perspective view.

[0110] The thermoblock 20 has insert strips 33.

[0111] In Figure 2 the stamp plate 10 is in a maintenance position in which the stamp plate 10 is not in thermally conductive contact with the thermoblock 20.

[0112] From this maintenance position, the stamp plate 10 can be brought into an operating position in which the stamp plate 10 is in thermally conductive contact with the thermoblock 20.

[0113] Edge areas 15 of the stamp plate 10 rest on slide-in rails 33 of the thermoblock 20. The stamp plate 10 can be pushed on the slide-in rails 33 under the thermoblock 20, so that the contact surface 12 of the stamp plate 10 is adjacent to the heat exchange surface 25 (see for example Figure 1 ) of the thermoblock 20.

[0114] A heat conducting plate 50 is arranged on the contact surface 12 of the stamping plate 10. In the operating position, the heat conducting plate 50 is located between the contact surface 12 and the heat exchange surface 25 (see Figure 1 ) so that the heat conducting plate 50 rests on both the contact surface 12 and the heat exchange surface 25.

[0115] The contact surface 12 may have a smaller area than the heat exchange surface 25, so that the stamp plate 10 in the operating position can be located completely below the heat exchange surface 25 of the thermoblock 20 (see for example Figure 3 ). The contact surface 12 is then completely overlapped by the heat exchange surface 25 in plan view.

[0116] Below the thermoblock 20 and the stamp plate 10 there is a holder 101 for at least one mold with at least one alveolus for filling the flowable food mass. The holder 101 and the stamp plate 10 can be moved towards each other so that the stamps 11 (see Figure 1 ) can be immersed in the alveoli of the mold (not explicitly shown) and form a mass contained therein.

[0117] The receptacle 101 may be a belt or a processing surface arranged below the cold stamping device.

[0118] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a cold stamping device 100 in a perspective view.

[0119] When the stamping plate 10 is pushed under the base body 21 of the thermoblock 20 so far that the heat exchange surface 25 and the contact surface 12 (see for example Figure 1) correspond with each other, a stop (not shown) prevents the stamp plate 10 from being pushed beyond the edge of the thermoblock 20.

[0120] The stamping plate 10 is pulled towards the base body 21 of the thermoblock 20 and fixed thereto by means of four power clamping nuts 34.

[0121] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of a cold stamping device 100 in a further perspective view with a view of the stamps 11.

[0122] The stamp plate 10 comprises a plurality of stamps 11 extending from a base plate 16. Stop elements 13 and centering pins 14, which also extend from the base plate 16, are also arranged on the stamp plate 10.

[0123] The centering pins 14 contact the outer edges of the molds (not shown in the figures) during stamping and ensure precise mutual alignment of the stamping plate 10 and the mold. After the stamping plate 10 and the mold have approached each other, the stop elements 13 rest against the mold, in the area between the alveoli or in an area around the alveoli. The stop elements 13 can, on the one hand, press the mold into a flat position and / or, on the other hand, ensure a defined distance between the stamping plate and the mold, so that excess material, in particular, flows out of the alveoli in a targeted manner and can later be removed.

[0124] The stamp plate 10 is located according to Figure 4 in operating position, i.e. below the base body 21 of the thermoblock 20.

[0125] The stamp plate 10 rests on two slide-in rails 33 which are fastened to the base body 21 by guide rods 36.

[0126] When the insertion strips 33 are tightened to the base body 21 by means of power clamping nuts 34, the contact surface 12 of the stamping plate is in thermally conductive contact with the heat exchange surface 25 (see Figure 1 ).

[0127] Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a cold stamping device 100 in a further sectional view.

[0128] The slide-in rails 33 are attached to the base body 21 of the thermoblock 20 by guide rods 36. At the same time, screw elements in the form of threaded rods 35 are attached to the slide-in rails. These lead through openings 37 in the base body 21 and interact with power clamping nuts 34. The power clamping nuts 34 pull the slide-in rails 33 toward the base body 21, with the guide rods 36 ensuring that the slide-in rails 33 do not tilt. The edge areas 15 (see Figure 2) of the stamp plate 10 are pulled towards the base body 21 with the insertion strips and clamped between the insertion strips 33 and the base body 21.

[0129] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of the cold stamping device 100 in a further sectional view, as well as a detailed view of a section D. The sectional plane is spanned by a vertical direction 51, in which the stamping takes place, and a horizontal direction 52 perpendicular to the flow direction of the tempering medium in the chamber 22.

[0130] The base body 21 of the thermoblock 20 is constructed from plates 30, 31. A first plate 31 comprises the heat exchange surface 25.

[0131] Part of the inlet channel 26 is formed by cylindrical channels 29 in the base body 21 of the thermoblock 20. The channels 29 are formed by, for example, milled recesses in the first plate 31 and in the adjacent plate.

[0132] The cylindrical channels 29 with round or rectangular cross-section are arranged parallel to each other and parallel to the heat exchange surface 25.

[0133] The cylindrical channels 29 have a diameter d of 4 mm to 8 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 7 mm, and a distance A of 20 mm to 35 mm, preferably between 35 mm and 30 mm.

[0134] At least the inlet channel 26 has a distance 44 from the heat exchange surface 25 of less than 20 mm, preferably less than 10 mm.

[0135] An insulation 28 made of plastic, preferably PE500, is arranged on the side of the return channel 27 facing away from the heat exchange surface 25. This insulation 28 prevents, in particular, the temperature control medium from absorbing heat from the side of the thermoblock 20 facing away from the stamping plate 10.

[0136] Spacer elements 38 are mounted between the plates 30, between which the return channel 27 runs.

[0137] The spacer elements 38 can be designed as a single piece with an adjacent plate, for example, as milled protrusions on the plate. In this case, the spacer elements 38 are milled from a base body.

[0138] Figure 7 shows a schematic representation of a cold stamping device 100 in a perspective view with a sectional view. The sectional plane is spanned by a vertical direction 51, in which the stamping takes place, and a horizontal direction 53 along the flow direction in the inlet channel 26 and the return channel 27.

[0139] The thermoblock 20 has an inlet opening 23 through which tempering medium can be fed into the inlet channel 26, and an outlet opening 24 through which tempering medium can be discharged from the return channel 27.

[0140] Figure 8 shows a detail from Figure 7 .

[0141] The inlet channel 26, which can be fed via the inlet opening 23, is arranged closer to the heat exchange surface 25 than the return channel 27. The tempering medium flows from the inlet opening 23 to the outlet opening 24 (see for example Figure 7 ) first through the inlet channel 26 and then through the return channel 27.

[0142] In the inlet channel 26, the tempering medium flows from a distribution chamber 43 into cylindrical channels 29.

[0143] The distance 39 between the inlet channel 26 and the heat exchange surface 25 is smaller than the distance 40 of the return channel 27 from the heat exchange surface 25.

[0144] Figure 9 shows flow lines 60 of the tempering medium in a perspective view of the cold stamping device 100. The illustrated course of the flow lines 60 is the result of a simulation using a computer program.

[0145] The temperature control medium flows from an inlet line 41 through an inlet opening 23 into the inlet channel 26. Downstream of the inlet opening 23, the temperature control medium is distributed into cylindrical channels 29.

[0146] Upon entering the thermoblock 20, the temperature control medium exhibits the greatest temperature difference from the environment, and in particular from the stamping plate 10. On its way through the cylindrical channels 29, the temperature control medium heats up and then flows through the return channel 27 back to the outlet opening 24 and into a drain line 42. On its way through the return channel 27, the temperature control medium can heat up even further and extract further heat from the temperature control medium flowing through the inlet channel 26 and the stamping plate 10. The insulation 28 prevents heat exchange between the returned temperature control medium and the environment on the side facing away from the heat exchange surface 25 (see Figure 28).

Claims

1. A cold stamping device (100) for producing shaped consumable goods from a food mass, in particular a fat mass, preferably a cocoa-containing and / or chocolate-like fat mass, comprising at least one stamp plate (10) with at least one stamp (11), and at least one thermal block (20) which has a main body (21) with at least one chamber (22) for conducting a, in particular liquid, tempering medium, the thermal block (20) having at least one inlet opening (23) and at least one outlet opening (24), which are connected to the chamber (22) in a fluid-conducting manner, the stamp plate (10) comprising a preferably planar contact surface (12), and the contact surface (12) can be brought into heat-conducting contact with a heat exchange surface (25) of the thermal block (20), characterized in that the chamber (22) comprises at least one inflow channel (26) and at least one return channel (27), and the inflow channel (26) is arranged closer to the heat exchange surface (25) than the return channel (27), the chamber (22) is arranged such that the tempering medium flows from the inlet opening (23) to the outlet opening (24) first through the feed channel (26) and then through the return channel (27).

2. The cold stamping device according to claim 1, wherein the feed channel (26) and the return channel (27) are arranged essentially parallel to one another and / or essentially parallel to the heat exchange surface (25).

3. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an insulation (28) is arranged on the side of the chamber pointing away from the heat exchange surface (25), in particular on the side of the return channel (27) pointing away from the heat exchange surface (25).

4. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein cylindrical channels (29) in the main body (21) of the thermal block (20) at least partially form the feed channel (26), wherein the cylindrical channels (29) are arranged in particular parallel to one another and to the heat exchange surface (25), and the cylindrical channels (29) preferably have a diameter (d) of 4 mm to 8 mm, preferably between 6 mm and 7 mm, and a spacing (A) of 20 mm to 35 mm, preferably between 35 mm and 30 mm.

5. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the main body (21) of the thermal block (20) is constructed from plates (30, 31) and wherein in particular the first plate (31) comprises the heat exchange surface (25).

6. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cold stamping device further comprises a pumping device for conveying tempering medium.

7. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stamp plate (10) is movable from a maintenance position, in which the stamp plate (10) is not in heat-conducting contact with the thermal block (2 0), into an operating position, in which the stamp plate (10) is in thermally conductive contact with the thermal block (20), in particular on insertion rails (33).

8. The cold stamping device according to claim 7, wherein the stamp plate (10) can be fixed in the operating position by means of clamping nuts (34), wherein in particular the clamping nuts (34) cooperate with screw elements (35) arranged on insertion rails (33).

9. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a heat-conducting plate (50) is arranged between the contact surface (12) and the thermal block (20), preferably arranged, in particular fastened, on the contact surface (12).

10. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stamp plate (10) with the at least one stamp (11) is made in one piece and preferably made of metal.

11. The cold stamping device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of stamp plates (10), preferably with different topographies for different forms to be achieved, of which one can be brought into an operating position at a time.

12. A plant (200) for producing molded comestible products from a food mass, in particular a fat mass, preferably a cocoa-containing and / or chocolate-like fat mass, comprising a cold stamping device (100) according to one of the preceding claims and a holder (101) for at least one mold having at least one cavity for filling with flowable food mass.

13. A method for putting into operation a cold stamping device, comprising at least one stamp plate (10) with a contact surface (12) and at least one thermal block (20) with a heat exchange surface (25), according to one of the preceding claims 1-11, the method comprising the following steps: inserting the stamp plate (10) into a receiver attached to the thermal block, in particular pushing the stamp plate (10) onto insertion rails (33); establishing a heat-conducting contact between the contact surface (12) and the heat exchange surface (25).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the stamp plate (10) is fixed to the thermal block (20) by clamping nuts (34), wherein the clamping nuts (34) in particular interact with screw elements (35) attached to insertion rails (33), so that the insertion rails (33), which are preferably attached to the main body (21) of the thermal block (20), are pulled in the direction of the main body (21), so that the stamp plate (10) is clamped between the insertion rails (33) and the main body (21).

15. A method for operating a cold stamping device (100), comprising at least one stamp plate (10) with a contact surface (12) and a thermal block (20) with at least one chamber (22) for conducting a tempering medium and one (25) heat exchange surface, in particular according to one of the preceding claims 1-11, the method comprising the following steps: - passing a tempering medium through the at least one chamber (22), the tempering medium first being passed through a feed channel (26) of the chamber (22) and then through a return channel (27) of the chamber (22), the feed channel (26) being arranged at a distance from the heat exchange surface (25) which is smaller than the distance of the return channel (27) from the heat exchange surface (25), - in particular, exchange of heat between the heat exchange surface (25) and the contact surface (12).