Plant and method for producing puree and / or juice with a determined consistency and / or viscosity starting from a food product

Abstract

Plant (1) for producing juice and / or puree starting from a food product (100) comprising a cold working section (10) to separate the food product (100) into a first main product (101), which is discharged through a first outlet (12), and, optionally, into a first waste product (102) which is discharged through a second outlet (13). A heating section (20) is, furthermore, provided positioned downstream of the cold working section (10) to heat an incoming food product (103), from a first temperature (T1) to a second temperature (T2) obtaining a hot product (104). This is sent to a hot extraction section (30) and divided into a second main product (105) which is discharged through a third outlet (32), and into a second waste product (106) which is discharged through a fourth outlet (33). At least a diverting device (65) is, furthermore, provided to divert at least one between a determined portion (102a) of the first waste product (102) and a determined portion (106a) of the second waste product (106) towards a point of re introduction (Pr). Furthermore, at least a detection device (50) is provided to measure at least a predetermined process parameter (P(ti) ) linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity (Qfi (t) ) of the second main product (105) and a control unit (300) for processing the process parameter (P(ti) ) and, therefore, to operate the or each diverting device (65, 65a, 65b).

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] PLANT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PUREE AND / OR JUICE WITH A DETERMINED CONS ISTENCY AND / OR VISCOS ITY STARTING FROM A

[0003] FOOD PRODUCT

[0004] DESCRIPTION

[0005] Field of the invention

[0006] The present invention relates to the food field and in particular relates to a plant for producing puree and / or j uice from a food product , in particular of vegetable or animal origin, which has a determined consistency and / or viscosity, in particular a high consistency and / or viscosity .

[0007] Furthermore , the invention relates to a method for producing puree and / or j uice from a food product , in particular of vegetable or animal origin having a high consistency and / or viscosity .

[0008] Description of the prior art

[0009] As known, the industrial extraction of j uice and puree from food products , such as fruits and vegetables , is carried out by rotating machines , such as rough extractors and refiner extractors . These, normally, comprise a rotor provided with blades and mounted within a fixed or movable sieve, having a cylindrical , or conical shape , and provided with holes of determined size . The rotor is operatively connected to a motor group which causes the same to rotate about a rotation axis . The centrifugal force so generated by the blades of the rotor on the treated product forces this to move against the sieve causing the same to be separated into the extracted food product, i . e . the j uice, or puree, which passes through the holes of the sieve and is discharged through a first outlet , and the part to be discharged mainly seeds , skins and petioles which, instead, does not pass through the holes of the sieve and is discharged through a second outlet . See as an example US4643085. Generally, the part to be discharged is collected in a conveyor system, such as a screw conveyor, or a conveyor belt, and is normally discharged from the plant, for example collecting the same in a container .

[0010] A known type of process is the extraction at room temperature, also called "cold" extraction, which is , normally, carried out in two steps . In a first step the starting whole product is subj ected to a preliminary treatment, normally a division into pieces of determined size such, for example, described in US2019 / 045963 obtaining a treated product .

[0011] In a second step, which is carried out inside the refiner extractor, the aforementioned separation of the treated product into a main food product, which comprises the j uice and the puree , and the part to be discharged is carried out .

[0012] Normally, the puree extracted at room temperature is , then, heated, in a heating plant, for blocking the enzymatic activity and stabilizing the same, this process is known as enzymatic inactivation .

[0013] Another type of process is the "hot" extraction, which, instead, provides to carry out the extraction after having heated the product in a heating section up to reach a determined temperature .

[0014] A drawback both of the plants for carrying out the "cold" extraction and of the plants for carrying out the "hot" extraction is that when a creamy final product, i . e . having a high viscosity, is to be produced, it is necessary to carry out the extraction working at a high rotation speed of the rotor . In this way, in fact, the friction against the sieve generated inside the machine by rotation of the rotor and, therefore, the processed product is homogenized, because a great part of the waste product, which comprises skin, seeds , and petioles , originally present in the product reduces its si ze and, therefore , can pass through the sieve , thus , increasing the viscosity of the final product .

[0015] However, as known, in the extraction section the most of the main product which is obtained passes through the sieve at its first part . Therefore, even though a high angular speed of the rotor is reached, it is , anyway, not possible, to significantly increase the viscosity of the final product, because the resident time of the treated product within the extraction section is , anyway, not sufficient . In addition to the above, working at high angular velocities means also to have a high energy consumption .

[0016] Therefore , in the plants of known type, both those providing cold extraction sections , and those providing hot extraction sections, it is difficult to obtain a product with a high consistency and / or viscosity, in particular a "creamy" product, and, at the same time, avoid high energy and plant costs .

[0017] Another solution carried out in the prior art plants for increasing the consistency and / or the viscosity of the final product, is to provide concentrators and / or evaporators which increase the consistency and / or the viscosity of the product by removing water . This , anyway, causes high plant and total energy costs .

[0018] Examples of prior art plants with the aforementioned drawbacks are described in US2011 / 244101 , US2022 / 378079 and

[0019] US2014 / 134318 .

[0020] Summary of the invention

[0021] It is , then, an obj ect of the present invention to provide a plant for producing puree and / or j uice , starting from a food product which allows to overcome the above- mentioned drawbacks of the prior art solutions , and, in particular, which allows to obtain a food product with a desired consistency and / or viscosity and, therefore , a determined content of fibres and that , at the same time , is able to reduce the energy and plant costs .

[0022] It is also an obj ect of the present invention to provide a plant for producing puree and / or j uice , starting from a food product which allows to obtain a product with a desired consistency and / or viscosity and, then, with a determined content of fibres and that is , at the same time , versatile , because it is able to process di f ferent typologies of food products of vegetable or animal type .

[0023] It is a further obj ect of the present invention to provide a plant for producing puree and / or j uice starting from a food product which allows to considerably reduce the quantity of the waste product that is generated and discharged from the plant and that , therefore , has a lower environmental impact .

[0024] It is another obj ect of the present invention to provide a method for producing puree and / or j uice having analogous advantages .

[0025] These and other obj ects sono raggiunti da un plant, according to the invention, for producing j uice and / or puree starting from a food product, said plant comprising :

[0026] - a cold working section configured to carry out a predetermined cold working of said food product obtaining a first main product and, optionally, a first waste product which is discharged along a predetermined first discharge path of the waste ;

[0027] - a heating section positioned downstream of said cold working section and configured to trans fer to a food product which enters in said heating section and comprising said first worked main product , a predetermined thermal power Pt suf ficient to cause the same to be heated from a first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2 higher than said first temperature Tl , in such a way to obtain a hot food product ;

[0028] - a hot extraction section positioned downstream of said heating section, said hot extraction section being configured to carry out a hot extraction of said hot food product introduced through a second inlet dividing the same into a second main food product comprising said purea and / or said j uice , which is discharged through a third outlet , and into a second waste product , which is discharged through a fourth outlet along a second discharge path of the waste ; whose main characteristic is that at least a diverting device is , furthermore , provided positioned along at least one between said first and / or said second discharge path of the waste and configured to divert at least a determined portion of the first waste product and / or of the second waste product towards a point of reintroduction Pr ; that at least a detection device is , furthermore , provided configured to measure at least a predetermined process parameter P ( ti ) linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity Qfi ( t ) of said second main product ; and that a control unit is , furthermore , provided configured to process said or each process parameter P ( ti ) and to operate said or each diverting device on the basis of said processed parameter P ( ti ) to adj ust said determined portion of said first and / or said second waste product diverted towards said point of reintroduction Pr, in such a way to keep said consistency and / or viscosity Qfi ( t ) of said second main product exiting said hot extraction section within a predetermined range of values comprised between a predetermined minimum value Qfmin and a predetermined maximum value Qfmax, i . e . Qfmin<Qf i ( t ) <Qfmax .

[0029] Other technical characteristics of the invention and related embodiments of the same are defined by the dependent claims .

[0030] In particular, the or each detection device can be configured to measure at least a process parameter P ( ti ) selected among :

[0031] - quantity of the second waste product exiting the hot extraction section;

[0032] - viscosity of the second main product exiting the hot extraction section;

[0033] - consistency of the second main product exiting the hot extraction section; or a combination thereof .

[0034] More in particular, the quantity of the second waste product exiting the hot extraction section and, i f present , of the first waste product exiting the cold working section, can be computed by measuring the weight or the volume of the second waste product .

[0035] In particular, the point of reintroduction Pr can be positioned along the path of working of the f irst main product in such a way to mix the aforementioned determined portion of the first and / or the second waste product with the first main product .

[0036] In particular, a collecting section can be , furthermore , provided arranged to define a collecting chamber and provided with at least an inlet for introducing the first main product , or the hot product exiting the heating section, or at least a portion of this . The collecting section can be , furthermore , provided with at least an outlet to discharge for example by a pump the product contained inside , and, advantageously, with at least a second inlet for introducing in the collecting chamber the determined portion of the first and / or the second waste product . Generally, the collecting section 40 can comprise a collecting tank 40 , or a collecting duct , or another container configured, anyway, in such a way to define a collecting chamber 45 .

[0037] More in particular, the collecting section can be positioned downstream of the heating section .

[0038] In an alternative embodiment provided by the invention, the collecting section can be positioned upstream of the heating section .

[0039] In another embodiment , a collecting section is provided positioned downstream of the heating section and a supplementary collecting section positioned upstream of the heating section .

[0040] In an embodiment of the invention, the point of reintroduction Pr can be positioned at the collecting section . In particular, the aforementioned point of reintroduction Pr can be positioned at the cold working section, or upstream of the cold working section . More in particular, the aforementioned determined portion of the first and / or of the second waste product can be introduced into the cold working section through a first inlet .

[0041] In an embodiment of the invention, downstream of the hot extraction section, a treatment section can be provided comprising an inlet for introducing the determined portion of the second waste product , and an outlet for discharging a treated waste product . In particular, the treatment section can comprise a fixed cylindrical or conical shaped hollow body, inside of which a third rotor is positioned also this cylindrical or conical shaped, and operatively connected to a third driving group configured to cause the third rotor to rotate about a rotation axis . More in particular, the treatment section is configured in such a way that the portion of the second waste product which enters is equal to the quantity of the discharged treated waste product .

[0042] In particular, the cold working section can be selected among :

[0043] - a softening section arranged to soften the food product which enters by a series of pulses in quick succession obtaining a softened product ;

[0044] - a grinding section arranged to grind the incoming food product ;

[0045] - a chopping section arranged to chop the incoming vegetable food product ;

[0046] - a section where a movement through a sieve is carried out , in particular a cold extraction section;

[0047] - a section where a division is carried out of the vegetable food product which enters in pieces of predetermined si ze , in particular through a cut carried out by a cutting device ; or a combination thereof .

[0048] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for producing j uice and / or puree from a food product comprises the steps of :

[0049] - cold working of said food product which is introduced through a first inlet obtaining a first main product , which is discharged through a first outlet , and, optionally, a first waste product which is discharged through a second outlet along a first discharge path of the waste ;

[0050] - heating downstream of said cold extraction section a food product comprising said main product by trans ferring a predetermined thermal power ( Pt ) suf ficient to cause the same to be heated from a first temperature ( Tl ) to a second temperature ( T2 ) higher than said first temperature ( Tl ) , in such a way to obtain a hot food product ;

[0051] - hot extraction of said hot food product introduced through a second inlet by dividing said hot food product into a second main product comprising said puree and / or j uice , which is discharged through a third outlet , and into a second waste product , which is discharged through a fourth outlet along a second path of the waste ; diverting by at least a diverting device positioned along at least one between the first discharge path of the waste and the second discharge path of the waste of at least a determined portion of said first waste product and / or said second waste product towards a point of reintroduction (Pr) ;

[0052] - detecting at least a predetermined process parameter ( P ( ti ) ) linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity of said second main product ;

[0053] - processing said or each process parameter ( P ( ti ) ) ;

[0054] - operating said or each diverting device on the basis of said processed process parameter ( P ( ti ) ) to adj ust said determined portion of said first and / or said second waste product diverted towards said point of reintroduction ( Pr ) , in such a way to keep said consistency and / or said viscosity Qfi ( t ) of said second main product which is discharged from said hot extraction section within a predetermined range of values comprised between a predetermined minimum value Qfmin and a predetermined maximum value Qfmax, i . e . Qfmin<Qf i ( t ) <Qfmax .

[0055] According to a further aspect of the invention, a plant for producing j uice and / or puree starting from a food product comprises :

[0056] - a cold working section configured to configured to carry out a cold working of said food product which is introduced through a first inlet obtaining a first main product which is discharged along a working path through a first outlet , and, optionally, a first waste product which is discharged through a second outlet ;

[0057] - a heating section positioned downstream of said cold working section and configured to trans fer to a food product which enters in said heating section and comprising said main product , a predetermined thermal power Pt suf ficient to cause the same to be heated from a first temperature T1 to a second temperature T2 higher than said first temperature Tl , in such a way to obtain a hot food product ;

[0058] - a hot extraction section positioned downstream of said heating section, said hot extraction section being configured to carry out a hot extraction of said hot food product introduced through a second inlet dividing the same into a second main food product comprising said purea and / or said j uice , which is discharged through a third outlet , and into a second waste product which is discharged through a fourth outlet along a second discharge path of the waste ;

[0059] - a collecting section comprising :

[0060] - a collecting tank defining a collecting chamber and provided with at least an inlet for introducing said first main product , or with at least a portion of the hot food product ;

[0061] - a pump device configured to discharge from said collecting tank a determined portion of said food product present inside said collecting chamber ; whose main characteristic is that at least a diverting device is , furthermore , provided positioned along at least one between said first and / or said second discharge path of the waste and configured to divert at least a determined portion of the first waste product and / or the second waste product towards a point of reintroduction Pr ; that is , furthermore , provided at least a detection device configured to measure at least a predetermined process parameter P ( ti ) linked to the consistency and / or to the viscosity Qfi ( t ) of said second main product ; and that a control unit is , furthermore , provided configured to process said or each process parameter P ( ti ) and to operate on the basis of said processed process parameter P ( ti ) at least one among : said or each diverting device for adj usting said determined portion of said first and / or said second waste product diverted towards said point of reintroduction Pr ; and said pump device for increasing or decreasing said determined portion of said food product which is discharged from said collecting tank in such a way to decrease or increase the residence time tp of said food product in said collecting tank; in such a way to keep said consistency and / or said viscosity Qfi ( t ) of said second main product which is discharged from said hot extraction section within a predetermined range of values comprised between a predetermined minimum value Qfmin and a predetermined maximum value Qfmax, i . e . Qfmin<Qf i ( t ) <Qfmax .

[0062] Brief description of the drawings

[0063] The invention will now be shown with the following description of its exemplary embodiments , exempli fying but not limitative , with reference to the attached drawings in which :

[0064] Fig . lA diagrammatically shows a first embodiment of the plant, according to the invention, for producing puree or j uice , with a determined consistency and / or viscosity and, therefore , with a determined content of fibres starting from a food product of vegetable or animal origin;

[0065] Figures from IB to 12E diagrammatically show some possible alternative embodiments of the plant of figure 1A for producing puree or j uice , with a determined consistency and / or viscosity and, therefore , with a determined content of fibres starting from a food product of vegetable or animal origin;

[0066] Fig . 13 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible embodiment of a hot extraction section which can be used in the plant of figures from 1A to 12E ;

[0067] Fig . 14 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible alternative embodiment of the hot extraction section of figure 13 which can be used in the plant of figures from 1A to 12E ;

[0068] Fig . 15 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible embodiment of a treatment section which can be used in the plant of figures 8 , 9 and 12B .

[0069] Fig . 16 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible embodiment of a cold extraction section which can be used in the plant of figures from 1A to 12E ;

[0070] Fig . 17 diagrammatically shows a possible embodiment of the invention for the collecting section of the plant, according to the invention, for producing puree or j uice , with a high consistency and / or viscosity starting from a food product . Detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0071] As diagrammatically shown in figure 1A, a plant 1 , according to the invention, for producing j uice and / or puree from a starting food product 100 , in particular of vegetable or animal origin, comprises a cold working section 10 , in particular a working section for working an incoming product at a temperature TO comprised between 0 ° C and 40 °C configured to configured to carry out a cold working of the food product 100 . In particular, the cold working section 10 diagrammatically shown in figure 1A with a block, can be selected among a softening section arranged to soften the incoming food product , for example by a series of pulses in quick succession obtaining a softened product , a grinding section arranged to grind the incoming food product , a chopping section arranged to chop the incoming vegetable food product , a section where a movement through a sieve is carried out , in particular an extraction section, a section where a division i s carried out of the incoming vegetable food product into pieces o f predetermined si ze , in particular through a cut by a cutting device , or a combination thereof .

[0072] In particular, the cold working section 10 of the food product 100 is configured to subj ect the food product 100 , which is introduced through a first inlet 11 , to a determined kind of working obtaining a f irst main product 101 , which is discharged through a first outlet 12 , and which, in particular, is fed along a further working path 111 . In some embodiments according to the invention, the cold working section 10 can also cause to obtain a first waste product 102 . In this case , the first waste product 102 is discharged through a second outlet 13 along a first discharge path of the waste 113 . In particular, the second outlet 13 is positioned downstream of the first outlet 12 going along the direction of advancement of the food product 100 in the cold working section 10 .

[0073] Still as diagrammatically shown in figure 1A, downstream of the cold working section 10 , along the working path 111 , a heating section 20 is , then, provided configured to trans fer to an incoming food product 103 comprising the main product 101 , a predetermined thermal power Pt suf ficient to cause the same to be heated from a first temperature Tl , for example comprised between 0 ° C and 40 ° C, to a second temperature T2 higher than the first temperature Tl in such a way to obtain a hot food product 104 , for example at a temperature T2 comprised between 40 ° C and 90 ° C .

[0074] In particular, the aforementioned heating section 20 can trans fer to the incoming product 103 a thermal power Pt* suf ficient to cause an enzymatic inactivation, therefore , downstream of the heating section 20 an enzymatically inactivated product is obtained . In this case , the second temperature T2 can be about 85 ° C- 95 ° C .

[0075] The hot product 104 , in particular enzymatically inactivated, then enters a hot extraction section 30 positioned downstream of the heating section 20 . In particular, the hot extraction section 30 is configured to subj ect the hot food product 104 introduced through a second inlet 31 to a hot extraction . More in detail , the hot extraction section 30 i s adapted to divide the incoming hot food product 104 into a second main product 105 comprising the puree or j uice , which is discharged through a third outlet 32 , and into a second waste product 106 , comprising in particular skins , seeds , and generally the most fibrous part of the processed product , which is discharged through a fourth outlet 33 , in particular arranged downstream of the third outlet 32 along the extraction direction of the product into the hot extraction section 30 .

[0076] In an embodiment of the invention which is diagrammatically shown in the figures 13 and 14 , the hot extraction section 30 can comprise a second hollow body 38 provided with the second inlet 31 , with the third outlet 32 and with the fourth outlet 33 and wherein are , furthermore , provided a second rotor 35 operatively connected to a second driving group 82 arranged to cause the second rotor 35 to rotate about a second rotation axis 135 and a second sieve 36 , in particular cylindrical or conical shaped, provided with a plurality of holes 37 and positioned externally to the second rotor 35 . In particular, the second sieve 36 can be positioned coaxially to the second rotor 35 . In this way, the hot food product 104 which is treated in the hot extraction section 30 , due to the centri fugal force generated by the rotation of the second rotor 35 about the rotation axis 135 , is moved against the second sieve 36 , which provides to divide the same into the second main product 105 , which passes through the holes 37 of the second sieve 36 and is discharged through the third outlet 32 , and into the second waste product 106 which, instead, does not pass through the holes 37 of the second sieve 36 and is discharged through the fourth outlet 33 along a second discharge path of the waste 133 . In particular, the fourth outlet 33 can be arranged downstream of the third outlet 32 going along the extraction direction .

[0077] In particular, whilst in the embodiment of figure 13 the sieve ends before reaching the fourth outlet of the waste 33 , in the embodiment of figure 14 , the sieve 36 extends for all the lenght of the fourth outlet of the waste 33 , or substantially for all the lenght of the same . In this way, the motor group 82 , and, in particular the second rotor 35 , can trans fer to the second waste product 106 a kinetic energy Ec which is suf ficient to allow the same to be moved along the aforementioned discharge path of the waste 133 without using any displacement device .

[0078] The plant 1 , according to the invention, furthermore , provides at least a diverting device 65 positioned along the second discharge path of the waste 133 .

[0079] In particular, as diagrammatically shown in figure 1A, the diverting device 65 can be configured to divert at least a determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , towards a point of reintroduction Pr . More in particular, in figure 1A the point of reintroduction Pr is positioned upstream of the heating section 20 and the cold working section 10 does not produce any waste product . Furthermore , the second waste product 106 is , at first , divided by a diverting device 65 into the aforementioned determined portion 106a, which is diverted towards the point of reintroduction Pr, and into another portion 106b which, instead, is discharged from the plant 1 . Therefore , in this case , the first main product 101 is mixed with the aforementioned determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 forming the aforementioned food product 103 which is introduced in the heating section 20 at the first temperature Tl.

[0080] Still according to the invention, the plant 1, furthermore, provides at least a detection device 50 configured to measure at least a predetermined process parameter P(ti) linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity Qfi (t) , and, therefore, to the content of fibres, of the second main product 105.

[0081] The plant 1, furthermore, provides a control unit 300 configured to process the or each process parameter P(ti) and to operate the or each diverting device 65 and / or 65a and / or 65b on the basis of the processed process parameter P(ti) for adjusting the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 which is diverted towards the point of reintroduction Pr in order to keep the consistency and / or the viscosity Qfi (t) of the second main product 105 which is discharged from the hot extraction section 30 above a predetermined minimum value Qfmin, i.e. Qfi (t) ) >Qfmin.

[0082] In an alternative embodiment according to the invention, the or each diverting device 65 and / or 65a and / or 65b can be operated by the control unit 300 on the basis of the process parameter P(ti) for adjusting the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 which is diverted towards the point of reintroduction Pr in order to keep the aforementioned parameter below a predetermined maximum value Pmax, i.e. P(ti) )dpmax, in particular to keep the consistency and / or the viscosity Qfi (t) of the second main product 105 which is discharged from the hot extraction section 30 below a predetermined maximum value Qfmax, i . e . Qf i ( t ) ) <Qfmax .

[0083] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the control unit 300 can adj ust the or each diverting device 65 and / or 65a and / or 65b to keep the aforementioned value of the consistency and / or of the viscosity of the main product 105 and, therefore , of the content of fibres of the same , within a predetermined range of values , that means between a predetermined minimum value Qfmin and a predetermined maximum value Qfmax, i . e . Qfmin<Qf i ( t ) <Qfmax .

[0084] More in detail , as diagrammatically shown in the example of figure 1A, the detection device 50 can be configured to measure the consistency and / or the viscosity Qfi ( t ) of the second main product 105 . For example , the detection device 50 can be configured to measure the viscosity of the second main product 105 , for example a viscosimeter . In an alternative embodiment foreseen, the detection device 50 can be configured to measure the consistency of the second main product 105 , for example it can be a Bostwick consis tometer , in particular a Bostwick consistometer working in line . In particular, the detection device 50 can be adapted to work in line , that means on the food product which is fed along the working line , or not in line , for example by taking at determined intervals of time a sample of the same which is , then, subj ected to a measurement externally to the line .

[0085] As diagrammatically shown in the alternative embodiment of figure IB, the cold working section 10 can be a cold extraction section . In this case , as diagrammatically shown in the embodiment of f igure 16 , according to the invention, the cold extraction section 10 can comprise a first part 10a, where the starting food product 100 can be introduced through an inlet 11 to be subj ected to a determined preliminary treatment , for example finali z zato to reduce the si ze by cutting, or grinding, or by subj ecting the same to a series of pulses in quick succession, and provided with a motor group 84 , and a second part 10b, positioned downstream of the first part 10a , where the aforementioned division is carred out of the starting product 100 into a main product 101 and into a waste product 102 .

[0086] More in detail , the second part 10b of the cold extraction section 10 is provided with a hollow body 18 comprising an inlet 11 through which the treated product is introduced in the hollow body 18 , the first outlet 12 for discharging the main product 101 , and the second outlet 13 for discharging the waste product 102 .

[0087] In particular, the second outlet 13 can be arranged downstream of the first outlet 12 along the direction of advancement of the food product 100 processed inside the cold extraction section 10 . This can, furthermore , comprise a first rotor 15 operatively connected to a first driving group 81 for causing the same to rotate about a first rotation axis 115 . Inside the first hollow body 18 a first sieve 16 is mounted, in particular cylindrical or conical shaped, provided with a plurality of holes 17 . The first sieve 16 is positioned externally to the first rotor 15 , for example provided with a plurality of blades . In particular, the first sieve 16 can be positioned coaxially to the first rotor 15 . More in detail , the food product 100 , due to the centri fugal force generated by the rotation of the first rotor 15 about the rotation axis 115 , is moved against the first sieve 16 which provided to dived the same into the first extracted food product 101 , which passes through the holes 17 of the first sieve 16 and is discharged through the first outlet 12 , and into the first waste product 102 , in particular comprising the most fibrous part of the food product , such as skins , seeds , etc . , which, instead, does not pass through the holes 17 of the first sieve 16 and is discharged through the second outlet 13 .

[0088] As diagrammatically shown in figure IB in the case that the cold working section 10 is an extraction section, but as a skilled person in the art can easily deduce , also valid in the case that the cold working section is of di f ferent type , as well as for the embodiments of figures from IB to 12B, the consistency and / or the viscosity of the second main product 105 can be controlled by adj usting the value of a determined parameter of the second waste product 106 , for example its weight or volume .

[0089] As diagrammatically shown in the further alternative embodiment of figure 1C, a first measurement device 50a can be provided configured to measure a first process parameter Pl ( ti ) of the second main product 105 , for example the viscosity, or the consistency, of the second main product 105 , and a second measurement device 50b configured to measure a second process parameter P2 ( tl ) of the second waste product 106 , for example its weight or volume , linked, anyway, to the consistency and / or the viscosity of the second main product 105 .

[0090] In the further alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure ID, the diverting device 65 is provided arranged along the first path of the waste 113 . In this case , therefore , the diverting device 65 is conf igured to divide the first waste product 102 into a first portion 102a which is diverted towards the point of reintroduction Pr to be mixed with the first main product 101 , and into a second portion 102b which, instead, can be , for example , diverted towards a discharge zone .

[0091] In particular, in an embodiment of the invention, at least a displacement device 90 can be , furthermore , provided arranged to move the second waste product 106 , or, as shown in figure 2 , the determined portion 106a of the waste product 106 exiting the diverting device 65 along a path downstream of this latter . In this case , the or each displacement device 90 , for example a conveyor belt , can be associated to the aforementioned detection device 50 , for example a load cell .

[0092] As diagrammatically shown in figure 3 , the aforementioned displacement device 90 can be of bidirectional type , that means configured in such a way to be able to move the determined portion 106a of the waste product 106 in a first displacement direction 191 , in particular to move the same towards the aforementioned reintroduction point Pr, or in a second displacement direction 192 opposite to the first displacement direction 191 ( case that is shown in figure 3 ) , for example for discharging the same from plant 1 . In an embodiment foreseen, the aforementioned inversion of the motion from the first to the second displacement direction 191 , 192 and vice versa, can be operated by the control unit 300 . In particular, the inversion of the motion from the first direction of advancement 191 to the second direction of advancement 192 , or vice versa, can be obtained by using a motor 95 which is able to reverse the direction of rotation .

[0093] In the embodiments which are diagrammatically shown in the figures 4A and 4B, the case is provided that the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 is moved, for example by a conveyor belt 90 , towards the inlet 11 of the working section 10 , for example in the case of figure 4A and 4B towards the cold extraction section, to be introduced together with the food product 100 in the same . Therefore , the reintroduction point Pr is placed, in this case , upstream of the inlet 11 of the cold working section 10 , or immediately upstream of the same . Also in this case , the detection device 50 can be configured to measure at least a parameter P ( ti ) of the second main product 105 linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity of the same and, therefore , to the content of fibres .

[0094] More in particular, as diagrammatically shown in figure 4A, analogously to what above described with reference to figure 3 , the detection device 50 can be a load cell associated to the conveyor belt 90 . In the alternative embodiment of figure 4B, a first and a second detection device 50a and 50b are , instead, provided, respectively, arranged to measure a first process parameter Pl ( t ) of the second main product 105 and a second process parameter P2 ( t ) o f the second waste product 106 , for example its weight or volume .

[0095] In the further alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 5A, downstream of the cold working section 10 , in particular between this and the heating section 20 , a collecting section 40 , for example a collecting tank, can be provided defining a collecting chamber 45 . More in particular, the collecting tank 40 can be provided with a first inlet 41 for introducing in the collecting chamber 45 of the first main product 101 . Furthermore , the collecting tank 40 can be provided with a second inlet 42 for introducing the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106. Therefore, in this case, the mixing of the first main product 101 with the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 is carried out within the collecting tank 40 and not, as diagrammatically shown in the figures from 1A to 4B within a duct , or pipe, of the plant 1 . The so obtained product 103 is , then, sent from the collecting tank 40 to the heating section 20 by a push device, for example a lobe pump 93 . Even though in figure 5A is diagrammatically shown, as an example , the case that the detection device 50 is arranged to measure a parameter P ( ti ) of the second waste product 106 , a skilled person in the art will have no di fficulty to adopt the solutions described above with reference to figure 1A, 1C and 2 , concerning the positioning of the or each detection device 50 , 50a, 50b also for the plant solution of figure 5A.

[0096] For example, in figure 5B a plant layout is shown analogous to that of figure 5A, but where, analogously to the case of figure 2 , a displacement device 90 is provided equipped with a detection device 50 , for example a load cell , for feeding the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 in the collecting tank 40 .

[0097] In figure 6 another embodiment of plant 1 according to the invention is diagrammatically shown . In this case , the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 is moved up to the reintroduction point Pr by a screw conveyor 90 . Also in this case , as an example , the case is shown where only one detection device 50 is provided arranged to measure a proces s parameter P ( ti ) on the second main product 105 , for example the viscosity, or the consistency . However, a skilled person in the art will have no di f ficulty to adopt the solutions above described with reference to figures 1A, 1C and 2 , concerning the positioning of the or each detection device 50 , 50a, 50b also for the plant solution of figure 6 .

[0098] In the further embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 7 , in addition to the diverting device 65a arranged along the path 133 of the second waste product 106 , a second diverting device 65b is provided arranged along the path 113 of the first waste product 102 which i s discharged from the cold extraction section 10 . In particular, the second diverting device 65b is arranged to divert a first portion 102a of the first waste product 102 towards the collecting section 40 , in particular towards an inlet 43 of a collecting tank 40 , and a second portion 102b of the first waste product 102 towards a discharge zone to be discharged from plant 1 . More in particular , the first portion 102a of the first waste product 102 can be introduced in the collecting section 40 after being moved by a displacement device 90b, for example a conveyor belt , or a pump . In figure 7 the case is shown where a first and a second detection device 50a and 50b are provided respectively configured to measure a first parameter Pl ( ti ) on the second main product 105 , and a second parameter P2 ( ti ) on the second waste product 106 . The second detection device 50b can be , for example , a load cell associated to a first displacement device 90a arranged to move the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 towards the collecting section 40 .

[0099] According to still another embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown in figure 8 , plant 1 can comprise , furthermore , a treatment section 70 . In particular, the treatment section 70 can comprise an inlet 71 for introducing the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , and an outlet 72 for discharging a treated waste product 106 ' a . More in particular, as diagrammatically shown in figure 15 , the treatment section 70 can comprise a fixed hollow body 78 cylindrical or conical shaped, inside of which a third rotor 75 also this cylindrical or conical shaped is positioned, and operatively connected, in particular by a motor shaft 87 , to a third driving group 83 . This is configured to cause a rotation of the third rotor 75 about a rotation axis 175 to cause the food product to move against the internal surface 73 of the fixed hollow body 78 . In particular, the internal surface 73 can be " smooth" or "waved" , and provides a plurality of portions recessed with respect to a base surface , or can also be provided with a series of recesses and protuberances alternating to each other . In particular, the third rotor 75 can be provided with a plurality of blades 76 at least a part of which provided with an edge 77 facing, in use , towards the fixed hollow body 78 . The treatment section 70 is configured in such a way that the portion 106a of the second incoming waste product 106 is equal to the quantity of the treated waste product 106 ' a exiting through the outlet 72 .

[0100] In particular, the third driving group 83 can be configured to cause the aforementioned rotation of the rotor 75 about the rotation axis 175 at a predetermined angular velocity w, for example comprised between 1000 and 7000 rpm, advantageously, between 1000 and 6000 rpm .

[0101] In the case of f igure 8 , the treatment section 70 is arranged in such a way to discharge the treated waste product 106 ' a in the hot extraction section 30 .

[0102] More in detail , in the embodiment of figure 8 , a first diverting device 65a diverts the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 towards a displacement device 93 , for example a pump, but also a conveyor belt , or a screw conveyor, configured to move the same up to the inlet 71 of the treatment section 70 . Downstream of the first diverting device 65a is , then, provided a second diverting device 65b which, instead, provides to divert the portion 106b of the second waste product 106 by dividing the same into a third portion 106c, which is diverted towards the collecting section 40 , and a fourth portion 106d which, instead, is diverted towards a plant discharge zone .

[0103] In the embodiment of figure 9 , the treatment section 70 described above with reference to figure 8 is provided positioned between the hot extraction section 30 and the collecting section 40 . In this case, the second treated waste product 106 ' a exiting the treatment section 70 through outlet 72 is introduced in the collecting section 40 .

[0104] As diagrammatically shown in the figures 10A and 10B, in a further embodiment of the invention, a supplementary diverting device 85 can be provided arranged to divide the hot product 104 exiting the heating section 20 into a first portion 104a, which is introduced in the hot extraction section 30 , and into a second portion 104b which, instead, is introduced upstream or downstream or even, inside , of the cold extraction section 10 .

[0105] More in detail , in the case diagrammatically shown in figure 10A, the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot product 104 is introduced in the cold extraction section 10 through an inlet 14 . In this way, it is possibile to heat the first main product 101 by mixing with the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot food product 104 before discharging the same from the cold extraction section 10 through the first outlet 12 , analogously to what is described in EP2611312 .

[0106] In the alternative embodiment which is diagrammatically shown in figure 10B, instead, the duct crossed by the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot product 104 intersects the discharge duct of the first main product 101 downstream of the cold extraction section 10 . In this case , therefore , the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot food product 104 heats the first main product 101 by mixing with this only after that this is discharged from the cold extraction section 10 through the first outlet 12 . In a further embodiment not shown for simplicity, the suet crossed by the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot product 104 can, instead, be introdued in the cold extraction section 10 through the inlet 11 .

[0107] As diagrammatically shown in the embodiments of figures from 11A to 12B, in the case that in addition or alternatively to the first detection device 50a as described above with reference to figure 10 , a supplementary diverting device 85 is provided, for example configured to detect the viscosity or the consistency, of the second main product 105 , a second detection device 50b can be provided arranged to measure the height H ( ti ) of the product 103 in the collecting section 40 . In particular, the collecting section 40 can be provided with a collecting tank defining a collecting chamber 45 and provided with a first inlet 41 for the first main product 101 and with at least a second inlet 42 for introducing into the collecting chamber 45 the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 . More in particular , a pump device 93 is provided configured to discharge from the collecting tank 40 a determined portion of the food product 103 which is present in the collecting chamber 45 . In this case , the control unit 300 , on the basis of the processed parameter P ( ti ) , for example the viscosity, or the consistency, of the main product 105 , can be configured to operate the pump device 93 to increase or decrease the determined portion of the food product 103 which is discharged from the collecting tank 40 and, therefore , to decrease or increase , respectively, the residence time tp of the food product 103 in the collecting chamber 45 . The control unit 300 is , however, furthermore , configured to keep the aforementioned height H ( ti ) of the product 103 in the collecting section 40 measured by the detection device 50b between a predetermined minimum value Hmin, and a predetermined maximum value Hmax . In particular, by increasing the residence time tp, a greater fraction of the waste product 106 will be absorbed by the first main product 101 and, therefore , the consistency and / or the viscosity of the second main product 105 will increase , in particular for a greater quantity of fibres absorbed by the same . Instead, by decreasing the residence time pt , the opposite result will be achieved and, then, the consistency and / or the viscosity of the second main product 105 will be reduced, in particular because of the lower content of fibres of the same .

[0108] The control unit 300 , in this case , can be however also configured to control the diverting device 65 on the basis of the aforementioned processed process parameter P ( ti ) , in such a way to increase or decrease , the quantity 106a of the second waste product 106 , or in an embodiment that is not shown in the figure , the quantity 102a of the first waste product 102 , and thus contributing to increase or decrease , the consistency and / or the viscosity of the second main product 105 .

[0109] Even though the embodiment described above and providing the supplementary diverting device 85 has been shown only with reference to the plant layouts of figures from 9A to 12B, a skilled person in the art will have no di f ficulty to adopt the same principle of functioning also for the other plant layouts described above .

[0110] The same principle described above with reference to figure 11A regarding the control of height H by the control unit 300 in the collecting tank 40 , can be also adopted in the alternative embodiments o f figures 11B, 11C and 11D . More precisely, in all the alternative embodiments that are shown from figure 11B to figure 11D, the portion 106a of the waste product 106a is sent downstream of the cold working section 10 , in particular downstream of the cold extraction section, where is mixed with the first main product 101 . Furthermore , whilst in the embodiments of figures 11B and 11C, the second portion 104b of the hot product 104 is fed into the cold working section 10 through an inlet 14 , externally to the sieve in the case of an extraction section, in figure 11D the second portion 104b of the hot product 104 is fed downstream of the cold working section 10 . Therefore , in the case of figures 11B and 11C, the hot product 104b is mixed with the first main product 101 within the cold working section 10 , whilst in the case of figure 11D, the mixing is carried out downstream of the cold working section 10 .

[0111] In all the embodiments of figures 11B-11D, a supplementary collecting section 40 ' is , furthermore, provided positioned downstream of the heating section 20 . In particular, the supplementary collecting section 40 ' delimits a collecting chamber 45' associated to a detection device 50 ' b arranged to measure the height H ( ti ) of the hot product 104 within the same . On the basis of the measured height H ( ti ) , analogously to what described above with reference to figure 11A, the control unit 300 provides to adj ust a supplementary pump device 93 ' to increase or decrease, the quantity of hot product 104 discharged from the supplementary collecting chamber 45' and, then, to decrease or increase , respectively the residence time tp of the same . Also in this case, the control unit 300 will be arranged to keep the height H ( ti ) of the hot product 104 within the supplementary collecting chamber 45' between a predetermined minimum value Hmin and a predetermined maximum value Hmax .

[0112] In the case shown in the figures 12A and 12B, the hot product 104 is fed into a hot extraction section 30 . From this , in the case of figure 12A, the waste product 106 , and in particular the portion 106a of this , from the hot extraction section 30 is directly sent to a collecting section 40 .

[0113] In the case diagrammatically shown in figure 12B, instead, the waste product 106a is sent , for example by a pump device 94 , to a treatment section 70 of the type described above , and, then, to a collecting section 40 , for example by gravity i f the treatment section 70 is positioned at a height higher than the collecting section 40 , or by a displacement device not shown in figure 12B for simplicity, for example a pump, or a conveyor belt , or a screw conveyor .

[0114] In the embodiments described above with reference to figures from 1A to 12B, the first waste product 102 , i f present , and the second waste product 106 , can be moved by a displacement device 90 , for example a screw conveyor, or a conveyor belt , or by a pump . In this last case , the waste product 106 can be , advantageously, diluted with water or with a main product , for example j uice or puree , for simpli fying the pumping carried out by the pump .

[0115] The waste product 106 and / or 102 can also have a mechanical energy, intended as the sum of the potential energy Ep and of the kinetic energy Ec, sufficient to move the same downstream of the respective outlet 13 and / or 33 without using displacement devices . This can be, for example, obtained by arranging the different sections at respective heights able to discharge by gravity . In particular, the section arranged upstream will be positioned at a hight higher than the height of the section arranged downstream.

[0116] Another possibility is that the cold working section 10 and / or the hot extraction section 30 and / or the treatment section 70 is able to transmit to the exiting product a kinetic energy Ec sufficient to move the same downstream of the respective otulet without the need to use displacement devices . For example, in the case of a hot extraction section 30 , this result can be reached, as in the case of figure 14 , by using a sieve 36 which extends up to the outlet 33 of the waste product 106.

[0117] Still a further embodiment according to the invention, but not shown in figure for simplicity, provides that the collecting tank 40 is not positioned upstream of the heating section 20 , as for example shown in the figures from 7 to 9, but downstream of the same . In particular, in this case, it is possibile to adj ust the height H in the collecting tank 40 positioned downstream of the heating section 20 as described above with reference to the figures 12A and 12B .

[0118] In particular, the collecting section 40 , for example comprising at least a tank 40 , can be positioned upstream of the heating section 20 , as for example diagrammatically shown from figure 1A to figure 12B . In some embodiments foreseen, for example , shown in the figures 12C, 12D and 12E , the collecting section 40 can be positioned downstream of the heating section 20 .

[0119] More precisely, in the embodiments of the invention diagrammatically shown from figure 11B to 12B, 12D and 12E , a collecting section 40 can be provided positioned downstream of the heating section 20 , and a supplementary collecting section 40 ' positioned upstream of the heating section 20 .

[0120] In particular, in the examples shown in the figures 5A, 5B, from 7 to 12B, the collecting section 40 is provided with at least an inlet 41 for introducing the first main product 101 which is discharged from the cold working section 10 , in particular from the cold extraction section . Furthermore , the col lecting section 40 can be provided, depending on the chosen plant layouts , with a supplementary inlet 42 for introducing the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , or of the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 , i f produced by the cold working section 10 , or with a first supplementary inlet 42 and with a second supplementary inlet 43 , for introducing, respectively, the portion 106a o f the second waste product 106 , or of the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 ( see for example figures 1A- 12B ) .

[0121] In the embodiments shown in the figures 12C, 12D and 12E , at least a col lecting section 40 i s provided positioned downstream of the heating section 20 , in particular between the heating section 20 and the hot extraction section 30 . In this case , the collecting section 40 , for example comprising a tank, is provided with an inlet 41 for introducing at least a portion 104a of the hot product 104 which is discharged from the heating section 20 . In the collecting section 40 is , furthermore , introduced the portion 106a exiting the diverting device 65 of the second waste product 106 which is discharged from the hot extraction section 30 . In thi s way, in the collecting section 40 a food product 107 is obtained, in particular by mixing the aforementioned portion 104a of the hot food product 104 with the aforementioned portion 106a of the second waste product 106 . Still as diagrammatically shown in the figures from 12C to 12E , the food product 107 can be recirculated, for example by a pump 93 , to the hot extraction section 30 to be subj ected to a hot extraction .

[0122] As diagrammatically shown in figure 12E , di f ferently from the solutions shown in the figures 12C and 12D, the hot food product 104 which is discharged from the heating section 20 is completely introduced in the collecting section 40 through an inlet 41 .

[0123] As anticipated above , in the figures 12D and 12E , a supplementary collecting section 40 ' can be provided upstream of the heating section 20 . In particular, in this case , in the supplementary collecting section 40 ' , which means the collecting section upstream of the heating section 20 , only the first main product 101 , which is discharged from the cold working section 10 , is fed, in particular from the cold extraction section, from which, after a determined residence time , the first main product 101 is withdrawn, for example by a pump 91 , and sent to the heating section 20 to cause the heating of the same from temperature T1 to temperature T2 , and from here to the collecting section 40 where the hot product 104 , or a portion 104a of this , as described above , is mixed with the portion 106a of the waste product 106 which is discharged from the hot extraction section 30 .

[0124] Even though, in the embodiments diagrammatically shown in the figures from 12D to 12 F, the case is always shown where the control unit 300 controls the diverting device 65 on the basis of the value of a parameter P ( ti ) detected by a detection device 50 on the second main product 105 , is , however, also possible that in addition, or alternatively, to the control unit 300 is arranged to adj ust the diverting device 65 on the basis of a parameter, for example the weight or the volume , that is measured on the waste product 106 exiting the hot extraction section 30 . Furthermore , in the embodiments of figures from 12C to 12E , as described above with reference to figures from 11A to 12B, it is also foreseen that a detection device 50 can be provided associated to the collecting section 40 for measuring the height of the product 107 inside the collecting chamber 45 and that the control unit 300 is arranged to adj ust the pump 93 for keeping the aforementioned height between a minimum value and a maximum value .

[0125] In particular, also in the plant layouts shown in the figures from 12C to 12E , between the hot extraction section 30 and the collecting section 40 , that means downstream of the hot extraction section 30 , or between the collecting section 40 and the hot extraction section 30 , that means upstream of the hot extraction section 30 , a treatment section 70 can be provided of the type for example described above with reference to figures 8 , 9 and 12B .

[0126] In particular, according to an embodiment of the invention, even though the or each diverting device 65 is shown positioned downstream of the hot extraction section 30 and / or of the cold working section 10 , it can also be positioned with the same function within the body of the section same which will be , in this case, advantageously, provided with an outlet for discharging the portion 102a, or 106a and with another outlet for discharging the portion 102b, or 106b .

[0127] In figure 17 an embodiment according to the invention is diagrammatically shown where the inlet 41 and at least a supplementary inlet 42 , or 43 , of the collecting section 40 are configured in such a way to cause the first main product 101 , or at least the aforementioned portion 104a of the hot food product 104 , and the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106, or the determined portion 102a of the first waste product 10 , to flow towards a premixing zone 47 arranged upstream of the collecting chamber 45 . In this way, a premixing is carried out of the first main product 101 , or at least of the aforementioned portion 104a of the hot food product 104 , with the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106, or the determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 , before the same reach the collecting chamber 45. For example, in figure 14 is diagrammatically shown the case that the first main product 101 , introduced in the collecting section 40 through inlet 41 , and at least a portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , introduced in the collecting section 40 through the supplementary inlet 42 , are premixed at a premixing zone 47 positioned upstream of the collecting chamber 45. In particular, the cold working section 10 and the hot extraction section 30 are configured in such a way that the first main product 101 , or the aforementioned portion 104a of the hot food product 104 , is able to provide , respectively, to the second waste product 106 and to at least a portion 102a of the first waste product 102 , a mechanical energy Em suf ficient to cause the movement within the collecting chamber 45 .

[0128] The foregoing description exemplary embodiments of the invention will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others , by applying current knowledge , will be able to modi fy and / or adapt for various applications such embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and, accordingly, it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modi fications will have to be considered as equivalent to the speci fic embodiments . The means and the materials to reali ze the di f ferent functions described herein could have a di f ferent nature without , for this reason, departing from the field of the invention . It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology that is employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation .

Claims

CLAIMS1. Plant (1) for producing juice and / or puree starting from a food product (100) said plant (1) comprising:- a cold working section (10) configured to configured to carry out a cold working of said food product (100) which is introduced through a first inlet (11) obtaining a first main product (101) , which is discharged through a first outlet (12) , and, optionally, a first waste product (102) which is discharged through a second outlet (13) along a first discharge path of the waste (113) ;- a heating section (20) positioned downstream of said cold working section (10) and configured to transfer to a food product (101,103) which enters said heating section (20) and comprising said main product (101) , a predetermined thermal power (Pt) sufficient to cause the same to be heated from a first temperature (Tl) to a second temperature (T2) higher than said first temperature (Tl) , in such a way to obtain a hot food product (104) ;- a hot extraction section (30) positioned downstream of said heating section (20) , said hot extraction section (30) being configured to carry out a hot extraction of said hot food product (104) introduced through a second inlet (31) dividing the same into a second main food product (105) comprising said puree and / or juice, which is discharged through a third outlet (32) , and into a second waste product (106) which is discharged through a fourth outlet (33) along a second discharge path of the waste (133) ;said plant (1) being characterized in that at least a diverting device (65, 65a, 65b) is, furthermore, provided positioned along at least one between said first and said second discharge path of the waste (113,133) and configured to divert at least one between a determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) and a determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) towards a point of reintroduction (Pr) ; in that at least a detection device (50) is, furthermore, provided configured to measure at least a predetermined process parameter (P(ti) ) linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity (Qfi (t) ) of said second main product (105) ; and in that a control unit (300) is, furthermore, provided configured to process said or each process parameter (P(ti) ) and to operate said or each diverting device (65, 65a, 65b) on the basis of said processed process parameter (P(ti) ) to adjust said determined portion (102a, 106a) of said first and / or said second waste product (102,106) diverted towards said point of reintroduction (Pr) , in such a way to keep said consistency and / or viscosity (Qfi (t) ) of said second main product (105) which is discharged from said hot extraction section (30) within a predetermined range of values comprised between a predetermined minimum value (Qfmin) and a predetermined maximum value (Qfmax) , i.e.(Qfmin) < (Qfi (t) ) d (Qfmax) .

2. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said or eachdetection device (50, 50a, 50b) is configured to measure at least a process parameter P(ti) selected among:- quantity of said second waste product (106) exiting said hot extraction section (30) ;- viscosity of said second main product (105) exiting said hot extraction section (30) ;- consistency of said second main product (105) exiting said hot extraction section (30) ; or a combination thereof.

3. Plant according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said point of reintroduction (Pr) is positioned along a working path (111) of said first main product (101) downstream of said cold working section (10) to mix said determined portion (102a, 106a) of said first and / or said second waste product (102,106) with said first main product (101) .

4. Plant according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said point of reintroduction (Pr) is positioned at a collecting section (40) configured to delimit a collecting chamber (45) and positioned between said cold working section (10) and said heating section (20) , or between said heating section (20) and said hot extraction section (30) , said collecting section (40) being provided with:- at least a first inlet (41) for introducing in said collecting chamber (45) of said first main product (101) which is discharged from said cold working section (10) , or of at least a portion (104a) of said hot food product (104) which is discharged from said heating section (20) ;- at least a second inlet (42) for introducing in said collecting chamber (45) said determined portion (102a, 106a) of said first and / or of said second waste product (102,106) .

5. Plant according to claim 1, or 2, wherein said point of reintroduction (Pr) is positioned upstream of said cold working section (10) , and wherein said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) is introduced into said cold working section (10) through said first inlet (11) .

6. Plant (1) , according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said cold working section (10) is an extraction section comprising a first hollow body (18) provided with said first inlet (11) for introducing said food product (100) , of said first outlet (12) and of said second outlet (13) and wherein are provided a first rotor (15) operatively connected to a first driving group (81) arranged to cause said first rotor (15) to rotate about a first rotation axis (115) and a first sieve (16) provided with a plurality of holes (17) and arranged to be positioned externally to said first rotor (15) , said first rotor (15) being arranged to move said food product (100) against said first sieve (16) in such a way to divide the same into said first main product (101) which passes through said first sieve (16) and is discharged through said first outlet (12) , and into said first waste product (102) which, instead, does not pass through said sieve (16) and is discharged through said second outlet (13) .

7. Plant (1) , according to one or more of the previousclaims, wherein said hot extraction section (30) comprises a second hollow body (38) provided with said second inlet (31) , with said third outlet (32) and with said fourth outlet (33) and wherein are, furthermore, provided a second rotor (35) operatively connected to a second driving group (82) arranged to cause said second rotor (35) to rotate about a second rotation axis (135) and a second sieve (36) provided with a plurality of holes (37) and arranged to be positioned externally to said second rotor (35) , said second rotor (35) being arranged to cause said hot food product (104) to move against said second sieve (36) in such a way to divide the same into said second main product (105) which passes through said second sieve (36) and is discharged through said third otulet(32) , and into said second waste product (106) which, instead, does not pass through said second sieve (36) and is discharged through said fourth outlet ( 33 ) .

8. Plant according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein downstream of said hot extraction section (30) a treatment section (70) is, furthermore, provided comprising an inlet (71) for introducing said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) , and with an outlet (72) for discharging a treated waste product (106'a) , wherein said treatment section (70) comprises a fixed hollow body (73) cylindrical or conical shaped, inside of which a third rotor (75) is positioned also this cylindrical or conical shaped, and operatively connected to a thirddriving group (83) configured to cause said third rotor (75) to rotate about a rotation axis (175) , wherein said treatment section (70) is configured in such a way that said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) introduced through said inlet (71) is equal to the quantity of said treated waste product (106' a) exiting through said outlet (72) .

9. Plant (1) , according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said or each diverting device(65, 65a, 65b) is arranged to divert said determined portion (102a, 106a) of said first or second waste product (102,106) towards a displacement device (90) arranged to feed said determined portion (102a, 106a) of said first or second waste product (102,106) in said point of reintroduction (Pr) , and wherein said detection device (50) is associated to said displacement device (90) .

10. Plant (1) according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein between said heating section (20) and said hot extraction section (30) a supplementary diverting device (85) is provided configured to divert a first determined portion (104a) of said hot main product (104) towards said hot extraction section (30) and a second determined portion (104b) of said hot main product (104) upstream, downstream, or within said cold working section (10) , to be mixed with said first main product (101) in said cold working section (10) , or downstream of said cold working section (10) .

11. Plant (1) , according to claims 4 and 10, wherein saidcollecting section (40) is arranged to define a collecting chamber (45) , wherein a pump device (93) is provided configured to discharge from said collecting chamber (45) a determined portion of said food product (103) which is present in the same.

12. Plant (1) , according to claim 11, wherein said control unit (300) is configured to operate said pump device (93) to increase or decrease said determined portion of said food product (103) which is discharged from said collecting chamber (45) in such a way to decrease or increase the residence time (tp) of said food product (103) in said collecting tank (40) , on the basis of said process parameter (P(ti) ) .

13. Plant, according to claim 12, wherein a supplementary detection device (50b) is, furthermore, provided arranged to detect the height (H(ti) ) of said food product (103) in said collecting chamber (45) and wherein said control unit (300) is configured to adjust said pump device (93) in such a way to keep said height (H(ti) ) between a predetermined minimum value (Hmin) and a predetermined maximum value (Hmax) .

14. Plant, according to claim 13, wherein a supplementary collecting section (40' ) is, furthermore, provided arranged to define a respective supplementary collecting chamber (45' ) and positioned downstream of said heating section (20) .

15. Plant, according to claim 14, wherein a supplementary pump device (93' ) is, furthermore, provided configured to discharge from said supplementary collecting chamber (45' ) a determined portion of said hot foodproduct (104) fed from said heating section (20) , and wherein said control unit (300) is configured to operate said pump device (93' ) to increase or decrease said determined portion of said hot food product (104) which is discharged from said supplementary collecting chamber (45' ) in such a way to decrease or increase the residence time (tp) of said hot food product (104) in said supplementary collecting chamber ( 45 ’ ) , on the basis of said process parameter (P(ti) ) .

16. Plant, according to claim 15, wherein a supplementary detection device (50'b) is, furthermore, provided arranged to detect the height (H(ti) ) of said hot food product (104) in said supplementary collecting chamber (45' ) , and wherein said control unit (300) is configured to adjust said supplementary pump device (93' ) in such a way to keep said height (H(ti) ) between a predetermined minimum value (Hmin) and a predetermined maximum value (Hmax) .

17. Plant (1) , according to claim 9, wherein said or each displacement device (90) is configured to move said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) in a first displacement direction (191) towards said point of reintroduction (Pr) , or in a second displacement direction (192) opposite to said first displacement direction (191) .

18. Plant according to any claim from 4 to 17, wherein said inlet (41) and said at least a supplementary inlet (42,43) of said collecting section (40) are configured to mix at a premixing zone (47) arranged upstream of said collecting chamber (45) one betweensaid first main product (101) and said at least a portion of said hot food product (104) , with one between said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) and said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) , before they enter in said collecting chamber (45) .

19. Method for producing juice and / or puree starting from a food product (100) said method comprising the steps of :- cold working (10) of said food product (100) which is introduced through a first inlet (11) , obtaining a first main product which is discharged through a first outlet (12) , and, optionally, of a first waste product (102) which is discharged through a second outlet (13) along a first discharge path of the waste (113) ;- heating (20) downstream of said cold working section (10) of a food product (101,103) comprising said first main product (101) by transferring a predetermined thermal power (Pt) sufficient to cause the same to be heated from a first temperature (Tl) to a second temperature (T2) higher than said first temperature (Tl) , in such a way to obtain a hot food product (104) ;- hot extraction (30) of said hot food product (104) introduced through a second inlet (31) by dividing said hot food product (104) into a second main product (105) comprising said puree and / or juice, which is discharged through a third outlet (32) , and into a second waste product (106) which is discharged through a fourth outlet (33) along a second path of the waste (133) ;said method (1) being characterized in that the steps are, furthermore, provided of :- diverting by at least a diverting device (65, 65a, 65b) positioned along at least one between said first discharge path of the waste (113) and said second discharge path of the waste (133) , a determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) and / or a determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) towards a point of reintroduction (Pr) ;- detecting at least a predetermined process parameter (P(ti) ) linked to the consistency and / or the viscosity (Qfi (t) ) of said second main product (105) ;- processing said or each process parameter (P(ti) ) ;- operating said or each diverting device (65.65a, 65b) on the basis of said process parameter (P(ti) ) elaborate to adjust said determined portion (102a, 106a) of said first and / or said second waste product (102,106) diverted towards said point of reintroduction (Pr) , in such a way to keep said consistency and / or viscosity (Qfi (t) ) of said second main product (105) which is discharged from said hot extraction section (30) within a predetermined range of values comprised between a predetermined minimum value (Qfmin) and a predetermined maximum value (Qfmax) , i.e. (Qfmin) < (Qfi (t) ) d (Qfmax) .

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