Apparatus and method for mechanically mixing meat products

Abstract

To provide an apparatus 1 having at least one tool 2 for producing protein decomposition products in a meat material G.SOLUTION: A tool 2 forms a mixing chamber 3 for a meat material G. The mixing chamber 3 includes opposing chamber walls 4a, 4b that are rotatable relative to each other and control a force applied to the meat material G positioned between them. The invention also relates to a method for producing protein decomposition products in the meat material G.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a proteolytic digest of meat material according to claim 1 and a corresponding method according to claim 15. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, meat pieces or shredded meat material, particularly meat pieces intended for the production of reshaped meat, are loaded into the mixing drum of a tumbler, whereby the slow rotation of the mixing drum thoroughly mixes the meat pieces, forming a protein digest on the surface of the meat pieces. The protein digest forms an adhesive film on the surface of the meat pieces, which can be used as a natural binding force and help the meat pieces to overlap and bond together without air pockets during the production of reshaped meat. However, when using a conventional tumbler, the mixing drum, particularly due to its size, is driven at only a few revolutions per minute, for example, 30 rpm, so it can take several hours for the protein digest to form into a complete product. Therefore, this known mixing process is very time-consuming and correspondingly energy-intensive.

[0003] In addition, to produce the desired throughput of meat pieces with proteolysis, tumblers used for this purpose have a relatively large drum volume and therefore take up a lot of space. A large drum provides a drop height from which the meat pieces intermittently fall to the bottom of the drum to form the proteolysis. This impact can cause proteolysis in the meat material. However, this only exerts a discontinuous force on the meat material, so the drum must be rotated for hours to achieve uniform proteolysis throughout the meat material. Furthermore, the fact that conventional tumbler systems primarily have a single opening for loading and unloading meat material means that the mixing process must be interrupted when changing batches. This also contributes to the fact that the operation of the so-called tumbler is very time-consuming, leading to increased energy costs. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method for producing proteolysis in meat material with a favorable energy balance and improved throughput rates. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This object is solved by an apparatus according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 15 for producing proteolysis on meat material.

[0006] Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are given by the subject matter of the respective dependent claims.

[0007] The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing a protein digest in meat material, comprising at least one tool forming a mixing chamber for the meat material. According to the invention, the mixing chamber comprises opposing chamber walls that are rotatable relative to one another, the opposing chamber walls controlling the force exerted on the meat material located between the walls.

[0008] The chamber walls of the mixing chamber, which can rotate relative to one another, allow the meat material received between them to be kneaded uniformly along its surface and continuously throughout the entire process. This is due to the fact that a continuous force input from the opposing chamber walls acts on the meat material between the chamber walls, resulting in the formation of a uniform surface film of protein digest within a short period of time due to the pressing and counter-pressing forces. The force input to the meat material is particularly efficient when the receiving volume formed by the mixing chamber is substantially completely filled with meat material.

[0009] In the present invention, the opposing rotatable chamber walls themselves can be used as counter-pressure tool parts with enlarged tool surfaces to exert forces on the meat material, meaning that the total force acting on the meat material is large enough to achieve the desired protein digestion production with low energy input, even within a short time.

[0010] The meat material may be, for example, strip cut meat or minced meat. Alternatively, it is conceivable to use minced meat as the meat material and process it in the mixing chamber to form a proteolytic digest. It is further conceivable to use the mixing chamber to produce a homogeneous mixture of the supplied minced meat and further supplied spices. The mixing chamber of the device according to the invention can be used in various ways as far as the type of meat material is concerned. However, preferably, the device according to the invention is used for producing a proteolytic digest of meat pieces.

[0011] According to one variant of the invention, the mixing chamber has chamber walls that are rotatable coaxially relative to one another, which results in low noise operation, and also allows the chamber walls to be rotated at high speeds, which results in high throughput.

[0012] Preferably, the chamber walls are rotatable relative to each other about a common vertical axis of rotation, which allows the rotatable chamber walls to jointly function as vibration dampers, i.e. vibrations of one chamber wall resulting from rotation can be counteracted by specifically controlled vibrations of the other rotating chamber wall, allowing the whole device to be controlled with low vibrations, i.e. with a high degree of running smoothness.

[0013] The device, and in particular the segments on which the tool is formed, can be configured in particular in the form of a column, which is advantageous for an overall slim design, i.e., a small installation space, and therefore allows the device to be advantageously retrofitted into existing production facilities.

[0014] According to an advantageous variant, the device has a housing surrounding the tool, which avoids interference with the rotatable mass of the tool, and the housing may form, at least in some places, ventilation holes for dissipating the drive heat.

[0015] In order to control the temperature of the meat material processed by the tool, it is conceivable that a temperature-controllable receiving chamber is formed in the housing for said tool, and the cooling unit used for this purpose can preferably be dynamically controlled as a function of the detected temperature of at least one of the two chamber walls.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the chamber walls can rotate at different rotational speeds and / or in opposite rotational directions. This allows for targeted control of the force input to the meat material in the mixing chamber. In particular, the chamber walls can rotate independently of each other. It is therefore conceivable that only one of the two chamber walls rotates, at least temporarily. In this function, the tool can be used in particular to mix supplied meat chunks due to the reduced force input, for example, to mix pre-made minced meat with spices.

[0017] According to one variant, at least one of the two chamber walls is rotatable at a rotational speed of up to 300 revolutions per minute, preferably up to 500 revolutions per minute. Preferably, the rotational speed of each of the chamber walls can be continuously adjusted. In particular, the rotational speeds of the two chamber walls can be synchronized.

[0018] At the beginning of the mixing process, i.e. with a new batch of meat material being filled into the mixing chamber, the chamber walls can only be controlled at a predetermined limited rotation speed in order to gently mix the meat material that arrives first in the mixing chamber, thereby ensuring that the meat material introduced at the beginning of the mixing chamber settles first towards the bottom of the mixing chamber.

[0019] Particularly useful in this context is the provision of a fill level detection system designed to cancel the speed limitation when a predetermined fill level of meat material can be detected in the mixing chamber, i.e., by means of this fill level detection it can be easily detected at what point in time the mixing chamber is filled with enough meat material so that the force input emanating from the chamber wall onto the meat material, and in particular the resulting force transmitted from the meat pieces to each other, can have the greatest effect.

[0020] Preferably, the device for driving the chamber wall has two separate electric motors. It is particularly advantageous to arrange both electric motors one above the other. In particular, overlapping the respective drive shafts allows for a slim design, especially by aligning both with the common vertical rotation axis of the chamber wall. This allows for a columnar design with reduced installation space, and therefore requires very little space while being easily integrated into existing production facilities.

[0021] It is advantageous if the tool is arranged between the two electric motors. This is favorable for a particularly robust design of the device, as it ensures an even weight distribution of the components used. In particular, a high stability of the device can be achieved by designing the outer chamber wall to be driven by the lower electric motor and the inner chamber wall to be driven by the upper electric motor.

[0022] It is conceivable that at least one of the two electric motors could be mounted to the side of the chamber wall it drives. In this arrangement, a belt drive could be used to transmit the drive torque from the electric motor to the chamber wall mounted next to it. This design reduces the overall height because the motors are configured side-by-side, rather than one above the other.

[0023] According to one variant, the mixing chamber has at least partially conical and / or cylindrical chamber walls that can rotate relative to one another. The opposing cylindrical chamber walls form a mixing chamber with an annular gap-shaped volume for the meat material, which offers the advantage of a slim design. The opposing conical chamber walls form a mixing chamber with a conical volume for receiving the meat material, which allows for an increased capacity compared to a cylindrical design. Additionally, the conical design allows the meat material to be quickly dispensed from the mixing chamber at an outlet opening formed in the area of ​​the smallest cross section. This further accelerates the process of forming the protein digest.

[0024] It is advantageous if at least one of the chamber walls that can rotate relative to one another has at least one baffle for the meat material. Such a baffle can take the form of a recess, a ridge, in particular a helical ridge, e.g., a screw-like shape, in order to exert an increased force input on the meat material. The baffle can ensure that the protein digest produced in the mixing chamber is evenly distributed throughout the meat material. Conceivably, at least some areas of at least one of the two chamber walls can have a surface with a sawtooth profile.

[0025] According to a particularly advantageous variant, at least one of the chamber walls that can rotate relative to one another forms a helical surface in at least some areas. It is conceivable that the inner chamber wall is formed by a body in the form of a screw. The outer chamber wall can be formed by a hollow body having a helical shape along its inner surface. This allows the meat material received between them to roll even better, so that forces can be applied to the meat material from all sides. This further accelerates the production of protein breakdown products in the meat material. In addition, such a surface is very easy to clean.

[0026] According to one embodiment, at least one of the two chamber walls is formed by an exchangeable tool part that can be easily replaced by another tool part, which may have a different surface finish. Preferably, the entire tool can be removed, especially without tools, for the purpose of a cleaning process.

[0027] It is conceivable that the apparatus comprises a feed device for feeding the meat material into the mixing chamber and / or a receptacle for the meat material into which the meat material can be fed. The feed device may in particular have a feed pipe connecting the receptacle to the mixing chamber. According to a particularly simple design, the feed pipe alone forms the feed device, i.e. no separate receptacle is used for storing the meat material, but the meat material enters the mixing chamber directly via the feed pipe.

[0028] Advantageously, the receptacle for the meat ingredients is positioned above the mixing chamber, which has the effect that the weight force arising from the container acts on the device from above, thereby providing a damping effect on the rotatable mass of the mixing chamber positioned below, resulting in an overall improvement in the smoothness of operation of the device.

[0029] According to one variant, the receptacle is positioned directly above the mixing chamber, i.e., the meat material can be fed directly from the receptacle into the mixing chamber. In this variant, the electric motor that drives the mixing chamber can be positioned on the side of the mixing chamber. In this way, despite the use of a receptacle for storing the meat material, a reduction in the overall height of the device is achieved, and the meat material stored in the receptacle can be fed directly from the receptacle into the mixing chamber, i.e., without intermediate piping connections.

[0030] In particular, the mixing chamber can be supplied with meat material directly from the bottom of the receptacle positioned above, through an opening in the form of an annular gap. Due to the weight of the meat material from above, as the mixed meat material leaves the mixing chamber, new meat material is continuously pressed from above out of the receptacle and into the mixing chamber connected below. To ensure that the meat material in the receptacle moves in a targeted manner towards the annular opening formed in its base, the receptacle can have a tapered shape towards the mixing chamber, in particular in the form of a funnel adjacent to the mixing chamber. This allows the meat material from the receptacle to be supplied to the mixing chamber in a targeted manner.

[0031] Conceivably, the receptacle may have a double-walled boundary wall enclosing an air gap therebetween to better maintain the temperature of the meat material stored in the receptacle, and the boundary wall may be configured to be temperature controlled to cool the meat material received therein.

[0032] Conceivably, multiple tools having rotatable chamber walls can be connected to the receptacle to receive meat material from the receptacle, and the tools can be fed meat material from the receptacle in parallel, thereby increasing the flow rate.

[0033] According to one embodiment, the mixing chamber includes both a feed opening for the meat material and a separately designed discharge opening for the meat material with the proteolytic digest. These two openings allow for an uninterrupted, i.e., continuous, mixing process, since the meat material to be processed can be fed into the mixing chamber through the feed opening just as the meat material with the proteolytic digest that has been processed in the mixing chamber exits the mixing chamber through the discharge opening. This means that the downtime of the device can be reduced.

[0034] Both the supply of meat material and the discharge of meat material with proteolytic digestion can be controlled by the intervening mixing process in the mixing chamber, in which the volumetric flow rate can be varied by controlling the rotational speed of each of the chamber walls. In particular, this device can therefore easily be integrated into dynamic open-loop or closed-loop control processes designed to automatically adjust the supply of unprocessed meat material under speed control as a function of the required loading amount of meat material with proteolytic digestion.

[0035] In particular, it is conceivable that reversal of the rotational speed of at least one of the rotatable chamber walls can thereby exclusively prevent discharge of the treated meat material from the discharge opening of the mixing chamber, i.e., so that the meat material circulated in the mixing chamber can be automatically retained therein without the need for a separate closing mechanism for the discharge opening.

[0036] A particularly advantageous design results from the fact that the tool comprises a rotatable drum and a rotor coaxially mounted within the drum but rotatable independently of the drum, wherein the drum and rotor form chamber walls of a mixing chamber that are rotatable relative to one another, the drum forming an outer tool part, i.e., an outer chamber wall, and the rotor forming an inner tool part, i.e., an inner chamber wall of the mixing chamber formed therebetween.

[0037] Preferably, the drum forms a cylindrical or conical drum wall facing the rotatable body, and the rotatable body forms a cylindrical or conical rotor wall facing the drum, wherein the drum wall and rotor wall form chamber walls of a mixing chamber that is rotatable relative to each other.

[0038] If the gap formed between the drum and the rotor has a gap width of less than 10 cm, preferably less than 5 cm, it is possible, among other things, to impinge a large force on the meat material. This narrow gap dimension of the mixing chamber can prevent the meat material from remaining untreated without a force impingement during the mixing process in the mixing chamber.

[0039] According to one variant, the apparatus has a discharge device connected to the mixing chamber for the meat material with the proteolytic product treated by the tool. The discharge device may have a screw conveyor designed to transport the meat material with the proteolytic product away from the apparatus in a predetermined conveying direction. The screw conveyor may be rotatably mounted in a transport pipe connected to the discharge opening of the mixing chamber. This allows the meat material produced with the proteolytic product to be transported to a predetermined discharge position.

[0040] It is conceivable that the transport tube or at least parts thereof can be designed to be swiveling and / or telescopic so that the meat material with the protein digest carried therein can be delivered to different delivery points.

[0041] The discharge device may comprise a separator for separating excess proteolysis. In particular, the transport tube may have a separator formed, for example, as a perforated section at the bottom of the tube, along which excess proteolysis can be separated from the meat material conveyed above.

[0042] Preferably, all surfaces of the device that come into contact with the meat material are formed by stainless steel components, some surfaces may be highly polished to better prevent the adhesion of impurities.

[0043] According to one variant, the discharge device has at least one rotatable cutting tool for cutting the meat material or mixed material with the proteolytic product conveyed from the mixing chamber into smaller pieces, which also makes it possible to produce pulpy, homogeneous meat chunks with the proteolytic product from the meat pieces leaving the mixing chamber.

[0044] The cutting tool may comprise at least one rotatable cutting blade and / or may be mounted as a removable mounting kit, particularly at the outlet of the discharge device.

[0045] According to an advantageous variant, the production of protein digests in the meat material can be increased by creating a vacuum in the mixing chamber. For this purpose, the device can have at least one vacuum pump connected to the mixing chamber. In this advantageous variant, the mixing chamber is used as a vacuum chamber, so that it technically performs a dual function. The applied vacuum can compensate for the compressive and counter-compressive forces exerted on the meat material in the mixing chamber by the rotation, allowing the protein digest to be formed more effectively. In particular, the vacuum promotes the absorption of (seasoning) liquid, for example brine, into the meat material being treated in the mixing chamber.

[0046] It is contemplated that one of the electric motors on the device that may be used to rotate the chamber wall may also be used to drive the vacuum pump. In this embodiment, the application of vacuum may be coupled to the rotation of the chamber wall. That is, the application of vacuum occurs automatically in the mixing chamber as the chamber wall rotates. Alternatively, the vacuum pump may have its own drive. Specifically, it may have its own electric motor.

[0047] One embodiment of the present invention relates to a reshaped meat production plant including at least one device according to the present invention and a filling station, where the meat material with the protein digest produced by the device can be filled into at least one mold provided in the filling station for producing reshaped meat. The protein digest in the meat pieces ensures that the meat pieces received in the mold are bonded together by the smoking or cooking process, resulting in the production of a consistent piece of meat according to the mold, which can be easily sliced.

[0048] According to one variant, the filling station comprises a vacuum packaging machine designed to partially pack under vacuum the meat material with the proteolytic product that leaves the device.

[0049] In particular, it is conceivable that several machines according to the invention are connected in series adjacent to one another to a filling station via a discharge device designed to receive the meat material with proteolysis from each machine according to the invention and transport it to the filling station, where it is then filled into moulds provided to produce reshaped meat or, alternatively, fed to a vacuum packaging process.

[0050] In particular, meat material can be filled into moulds supplied one by one at a filling station and transported away from them in a desired direction. To provide the empty moulds, the reshaped meat production plant can have an underpass or low-floor conveyor, which can run through at least several sections within the machine frame of the reshaped meat production plant. Such a reshaped meat production plant can be integrated as a production line in a limited space. In particular, the reshaped meat production plant has a linear structure. It is therefore conceivable that several reshaped meat production plants operate side by side as parallel production lines.

[0051] The present invention further relates to a method for producing protein digests in meat material, in which meat material, in particular meat pieces or minced meat, is fed into at least one mixing chamber. According to the method of the present invention, opposing chamber walls of the mixing chamber are rotated relative to each other to exert a mechanical force on the meat material located therebetween. This makes it possible to control the mechanical force input through the chamber walls to the meat material located therebetween within a short time, so as to produce a desired mass of protein digests on the meat material, which is advantageous in terms of bonding strength for subsequent processing, in particular for the production of reshaped meat.

[0052] In particular, the chamber walls may be rotated at least temporarily in counter-rotating directions and / or about a common vertical axis of rotation to produce meat material with proteolytic degradation therebetween.

[0053] According to one variant, a vacuum is applied to the mixing chamber, which allows the mechanical forces generated by the rotation to be increased on the meat material received in the mixing chamber, thereby producing protein hydrolysates in a short period of time.

[0054] Additionally, the present invention relates to the use of a mixing chamber having opposing chamber walls that are rotatable relative to one another to exert a controlled mechanical force input on meat material therebetween to produce a protein digest.

[0055] Preferably, the mixing chamber is used to apply a compressive force and a counter compressive force to the meat pieces enclosed therein and filling the chamber volume by rotating at least one of the chamber walls such that proteolysis is formed from the surface cellular structure of the enclosed meat pieces. Optionally, the mixing chamber can also be used as a vacuum chamber by applying a vacuum between the chamber walls.

[0056] It is conceivable to use several mixing chambers arranged in series in the production direction to produce meat material with protein digests that are filled using a discharge device of a filling station located downstream in the production direction.

[0057] The invention will now be explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the following drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0058] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of an apparatus according to the present invention in cross section; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 1 is an embodiment of a device according to the present invention having a receptacle. [Figure 4a] 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention having a cylindrical chamber wall. [Figure 4b] 1 is a schematic representation of a device according to the invention having a conical chamber wall. [Figure 5] 1 is a reshaped meat production plant having several devices according to the present invention.

[0059] Identical technical components are each given the same reference numerals in the drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0060] Figure 1 shows an apparatus 1 for producing a protein digest in a meat material G. In Figure 1, the meat material G is formed from pieces of meat, for example minced pork. The apparatus 1 has a tool 2 which forms a mixing chamber 3 for the meat material G. The tool 2 in Figure 1 has a cylindrical structure.

[0061] The mixing chamber 3 of Figure 1 has opposing chamber walls 4a, 4b that are rotatable relative to one another to control the pushing and counter-pushing forces K exerted on the meat material G located therebetween (see Figures 4A and 4B). According to Figure 1, the chamber walls 4a, 4b of the mixing chamber 3 are cylindrical. As a result, the tool 2 has a cylindrical design.

[0062] The chamber wall 4a, shown on the inside in Fig. 1, can be driven by an electric motor 5a. The chamber wall 4b, shown on the outside in Fig. 1, is provided with a further electric motor 5b. Fig. 1 shows that the tool 2, including the mixing chamber 3 formed therewith, is mounted between the two electric motors 5a, 5b. The two electric motors 5a, 5b have respective drive shafts 6a, 6b rotatable together with the chamber walls 4a, 4b about a common vertical rotation axis 7. The device 1 of Fig. 1 therefore has a slim design and is generally in the form of a column, which design allows it to be easily installed in production facilities.

[0063] 1 shows that each chamber wall 4a, 4b of the tool 2 is rotatable in opposite directions 8a, 8b about a vertical rotation axis 7. Between the two chamber walls 4a, 4b, a baffle 9 is shown schematically formed on the inner chamber wall 4a and / or the outer chamber wall 4b (see also FIGS. 4A and 4B). The baffle 9 may, for example, be in the form of a spiral, so that the chamber wall 4a or the chamber wall 4b thereby forms a spiral surface. It is conceivable that both chamber walls 4a, 4b have a spiral baffle 9.

[0064] The apparatus 1 shown in Figure 1 further comprises a feed device 10. According to Figure 1, the feed device 10 is a feed pipe 11 for feeding the meat material G into the mixing chamber 3. The feed pipe 11 opens into a housing 12 of the tool 2 and feeds the meat material G into the mixing chamber 3, for example through a feed opening in the outer chamber wall 4b (not shown). The housing 12 is substantially cylindrical and forms a receptacle for the tool 2.

[0065] In addition to the feed opening, which is not shown in Fig. 1, the mixing chamber 3 is also formed with a separate discharge opening 13 for the meat material G with the proteolytic product. This is formed at the lower outlet of the tool 2. According to Fig. 1, the discharge opening 13 feeds the meat material G with the proteolytic product into a discharge device 14. The discharge device 14 comprises a transport pipe 15 and a screw 16 arranged therein as conveying means for further conveying the meat material G that has entered the pipe 15 through the discharge opening 13 in the conveying direction R.

[0066] The meat material G flows into the supply pipe 11 of the supply device 10 and passes through the supply pipe 11 formed as a chute into the mixing chamber 3. By rotating at least one of the chamber walls 4a, 4b about the rotation axis 7, the meat material G received between the chamber walls 4a, 4b can be subjected to a pressing force K and a counter-pressing force K such that proteolytic products are formed on the surface of the meat pieces, which serves as a binding force for downstream processes, for example for the production of reshaped meat.

[0067] The two chamber walls 4 a, 4 b can be controlled by rotating in opposite directions, or possibly in the same direction but at different rotational speeds, so that the meat material G located therebetween passes through the discharge opening 13 into the discharge device 14 at a desired volumetric flow. A screw 16 rotating in the discharge device 14 now transports the meat material G in the conveying direction R.

[0068] The device 1 shown in Figure 1 is a mini-tumbler with speed-controllable chamber walls 4a, 4b due to its columnar shape. The columnar design shown in Figure 1 can be easily attached to a base U, for example by screwing.

[0069] 1 has three vertically aligned modular segments: an upper drive module 17a, a lower drive module 17b, and an intermediate tool module 17c together with a feed device 10. When assembled one above the other, the vertically aligned modules, i.e., upper drive module 17a, lower drive module 17b, and intermediate tool module 17c, form a slim column with a mass that rotates along a rotation axis 7, thereby creating an overall rigid and vibration-insensitive structure.

[0070] FIG. 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of the device 1 shown in FIG. 1. The device 1 has a casing 18 enclosing the electric motors 5a, 5b and the tool 2 arranged between them. The modular segments 17a, 17b, 17c arranged one above the other are separated from each other by partitions 19a, 19b formed in the casing 18, providing a particularly stable structure for the device 1. This segmented structure also has the advantage that the tool 2 located between the electric motors 5a, 5b can be easily removed without having to remove the electric motors 5a, 5b. This removal function of the tool 2 is represented diagrammatically by the double arrow P.

[0071] 2 further shows that the casing 18 is formed with an upper mounting bracket 20a and a lower mounting bracket 20b. The lower mounting bracket 20b can be used to screw the device 1 to a substrate U. The upper mounting bracket 20a can be used to attach a receptacle 21 (see FIG. 3). Ventilation holes 22 are associated with each electric motor 5a, 5b in the illustrated casing 18 to dissipate motor heat.

[0072] Figure 3 shows the device 1 of Figures 1 and 2 fitted with a receptacle 21. The receptacle 21 is used to store meat material G. The receptacle 21 is connected to the mixing chamber 3 via a pipe connection 23 joined to the supply pipe 11. The supply pipe 11 and the pipe connection 23 may have an integral structure.

[0073] The meat material G stored in the receptacle 21 automatically slides through the inclined bottom 24 into the pipe connection 23 and then through the supply pipe 11 into the mixing chamber 3. The meat material G is treated by the mechanical force input by rotating the chamber walls 4a, 4b, and a protein digest is formed therein.

[0074] FIG. 3 also shows, in a schematic representation, that the upper electric motor 5a, i.e., the upper drive module 17a, can be displaced into the dashed zone 25. The electric motor 5a or drive module 17a positioned in this zone 25 can transmit rotary motion to the inner chamber wall 4a by means of a V-belt 26, thereby rotating it. This alternative configuration reduces the overall height of the device 1. If this alternative configuration further includes a receptacle 21, as shown in FIG. 3, it can be attached directly to the tool module 17c. This variant allows the meat material G to enter the mixing chamber 3 directly from the receptacle 21 through an opening formed in the bottom 24, i.e., without a separate feed device 10. According to this direct meat material feed, it is advantageous if the receptacle 21 is in the form of a funnel with an annular opening formed in its base. This principle of direct meat product feed is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 5.

[0075] The apparatus 1 described above in relation to Figures 1 to 3 forms a mini-tumbler of simple design with a supply device 10 as shown in Figure 1, i.e. without a receptacle 21, or in the variant shown in Figure 3, i.e. with indirect or direct meat product supply from a receptacle 21. All variants are of compact design and can be easily installed in limited spaces.

[0076] The operation of the cylindrical mixing chamber 3 is shown schematically in Figure 4A. The conical mixing chamber 3 will be described in relation to Figure 4B.

[0077] 4A shows cylindrical chamber walls 4a, 4b facing helical surfaces 4a', 4b' rotatable about a common vertical axis of rotation 7. Chamber wall 4a is formed by a drum T. Chamber wall 4b is formed by a rotating body D received in drum T.

[0078] 4A shows that the chamber walls 4a, 4b are rotatable in opposite rotational directions 8a, 8b about a rotation axis 7. The meat material G located between them is mechanically rolled by a pushing force and a counter-pushing force K to produce a protein digest. Here, the meat material G processed between the chamber walls 4a, 4b by the force input can leave the tool 2 through a discharge opening 13 shown diagrammatically and be fed, in particular, to a discharge device 14 shown in FIG.

[0079] According to Figure 4A, the mixing chamber 3 has a volume V1 formed between the cylindrical chamber walls 4a, 4b. The volume V1, which forms the capacity of the mixing chamber 3, is defined, among other things, by the gap width d. Baffles 9 on the chamber walls 4a, 4b used in volume V1 ensure that the meat material G filled therebetween is mixed under the action of the pushing and counter-pushing forces K so as to form protein digests on its surface.

[0080] Figure 4B shows a mixing chamber 3 with a volume V2 formed between conical chamber walls 4a, 4b. These conical chamber walls 4a, 4b also have helical surfaces 4a', 4b' facing each other. Volume V2 has a larger capacity than volume V1 shown in Figure 4A.

[0081] The above described device 1 can be used individually or repeatedly in a production setting.

[0082] 5 shows a reshaped meat production plant 27 having a plurality of devices 1a-1d operating in series in a production direction R, each configured to produce a meat material G with a protein degradation product, and together forming a production line L. The number of devices 1a-1d that together form the production line L may be varied as required.

[0083] According to Fig. 5, four apparatuses 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d arranged one behind the other in the production direction R are connected to a common discharge device 28. The common discharge device 28 has a rotatable screw conveyor 29 mounted along the production direction R, by means of which the meat material G processed by the force input K from the apparatuses 1a-1d can be transported to a filling station 30. Furthermore, Fig. 5 shows that a low-floor conveyor device 31 with conveyor belts 31, 32 makes moulds 33 available in succession at the filling station 30 to be filled with the meat material G from the discharge devices 28.

[0084] 5, each receptacle 21a-21d is directly attached to each tool 2a-2d for the purpose of direct meat material supply. Here, meat material G can be supplied from the receptacle 21a-21d through the annular gap-shaped supply opening 34a-34d to the respective mixing chamber 3a-3d. Each container 21a-21d has a downwardly tapering funnel shape so that meat material G stored therein can be selectively supplied to the respective mixing chamber 3a-3d through the annular gap-shaped supply opening 34a-34d.

[0085] In Fig. 5, the devices 1a to 1d positioned at positions A to D can operate one after the other. In Fig. 5, for example, the device 1a positioned at a first point A in the production direction R starts producing meat material G with a protein digest. As soon as the receptacle 21a is empty, the next device 1b at position B can start producing meat material G with a protein digest, so that the empty receptacle 21a can be filled without interrupting the supply of meat material at the filling station 30.

[0086] The low-floor conveyor 31 shown in Figure 5 can be integrated into the machine frame 35 of the reshaped meat production plant 27. The moulds 33 filled with meat material G can be fed in the production direction R to a downstream pressing or cooking station for temperature treatment of the meat material G contained in the moulds 33, for example for the purpose of producing cooked ham.

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) having at least one tool (2) for producing protein digests in a meat material (G), said tool (2) forming a mixing chamber (3) for the meat material (G); The device is characterized in that the mixing chamber (3) has opposing chamber walls (4a, 4b) that are rotatable relative to each other to control the force (K) exerted on the meat material (G) located therebetween.

2. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the mixing chamber (3) has chamber walls (4a, 4b) which are coaxially rotatable relative to each other.

3. 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the chamber walls (4a, 4b) are rotatable relative to each other about a common vertical axis of rotation (7).

4. 4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the chamber walls (4a, 4b) are rotatable at different rotational speeds and / or in opposite rotational directions (8a, 8b).

5. 5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (1) comprises two separate electric motors (5a, 5b) driving the chamber walls (4a, 4b).

6. 6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the mixing chamber (3) has at least partly conical and / or cylindrical chamber walls (4a, 4b) rotatable relative to one another.

7. 7. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one of the chamber walls (4a, 4b) rotatable relative to one another has a baffle (9) for the meat material (G).

8. 8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chamber walls (4a, 4b) rotatable relative to one another have helical surfaces (4a', 4b') which face one another in at least some areas.

9. 9. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises a feeding device (10) for feeding meat material (G) into the mixing chamber (3) and / or a receptacle (21) for meat material (G) by means of which the meat material (G) can be fed into the mixing chamber (3).

10. 9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the mixing chamber (3) comprises both a feed opening for the meat material (G) and a discharge opening (13) formed separately therefrom for the meat material (G) with the protein digest.

11. 9. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the tool (2) comprises a rotatable drum (T) and a rotor (D) coaxially mounted therein but rotatable independently of the drum (T), the drum (T) and the rotor (D) forming the chamber walls (4a, 4b) of the mixing chamber (3), which are rotatable relative to each other.

12. 12. The device according to claim 11, characterized in that the drum (T) forms a cylindrical or conical drum wall facing the rotor (D), and the rotor (D) forms a cylindrical or conical rotor wall facing the drum (T), the drum wall and the rotor wall forming the mutually rotatable chamber walls (4a, 4b) of the mixing chamber (3).

13. 13. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the apparatus (1) has a discharge device (14) connected to the mixing chamber (3) for the meat material (G) processed by the tool (2).

14. 14. Device according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterized in that a vacuum can be created in the mixing chamber (3).

15. A reshaped meat production plant (27) comprising at least one device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14 and a filling station (30), A reshaped meat production plant (27) in which the meat material (G), more particularly meat pieces, with the protein degradation product produced by the device (1) at the filling station (30) can be filled into at least one mold (33) provided at the filling station (30) or divided by a vacuum packaging machine.

16. 1. A method for producing protein hydrolysates in a meat material (G), comprising the steps of: Meat material (G) is fed into at least one mixing chamber (3), A method characterized in that the opposing chamber walls (4a, 4b) of said mixing chamber (3) can be rotated relative to each other to exert a mechanical force (K) on the meat material (G) located therebetween.

17. 17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the chamber walls (4a, 4b) can be rotated at least temporarily in opposite rotational directions (8a, 8b) and / or about a common vertical rotation axis (7).

18. 1. Use of a mixing chamber (3) having opposing chamber walls (4a, 4b) rotatable relative to each other, The use of a meat material (G) placed between the meat material (G) to exert a controlled mechanical force input (K) for the purpose of producing a protein digest.

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