Plant and method for producing puree and / or juice with a high consistency and / or viscosity starting from a food product and contemporaneous reduction of the quantity of the obtained waste product
The plant addresses the challenge of producing high-consistency and high-viscosity puree and/or juice by incorporating a cold working, heating, and hot extraction section, along with a collecting section that recirculates waste, resulting in reduced waste and energy consumption.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IB2024/062045
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-12-01
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-29
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing plants for producing puree and/or juice from food products struggle to achieve high consistency and/or viscosity while minimizing energy consumption and plant costs, and they also generate a significant amount of waste.
A plant comprising a cold working section, a heating section, and a hot extraction section, along with a collecting section that diverts and recirculates waste products to increase the consistency and viscosity of the final product, thereby reducing waste and energy consumption.
The plant effectively produces puree and/or juice with high consistency and viscosity, reduces waste generation, and lowers energy and plant costs by optimizing the processing and recirculation of waste products.
Smart Images

Figure IB2024062045_05062025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] TITLE
[0002] PLANT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PUREE AND / OR JUICE WITH A HIGH CONS ISTENCY AND / OR VISCOS ITY STARTING FROM A FOOD PRODUCT AND CONTEMPORANEOUS REDUCTION OF THE QUANTITY OF
[0003] THE OBTAINED WASTE PRODUCT
[0004] DESCRIPTION
[0005] Field of the invention
[0006] The present invention relates to the food field and in particular it relates to a plant 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 .
[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 driving group which causes the same to rotate about a rotation axis . The centri fugal 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, from 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 final creamy product, i . e . having a high viscosity, must 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 produced by the rotor rotation within the machine against the sieve is increased 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 size 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 obtained main product passes through the sieve at the first part of this . 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 that, at the same time, allows to avoid high energy and plant costs .
[0017] Examples of prior art plants with the aforementioned drawbacks are described in US2011 / 244101 , US2022 / 378079 and US2014 / 134318 .
[0018] Summary of the invention
[0019] It is , therefore , 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 food product with a high consistency and / or viscosity and, then, with a high content of fibress and that , at the same time , is able to limit energy consumption and the plant costs .
[0020] 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 high consistency and / or viscosity and that is , at the same time , versatile , because able to process di f ferent typologies of food products of vegetable or animal type .
[0021] 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 signi ficantly reduce the quantity of waste product that is produced and discharged from the plant with respect to analogous plants of prior art .
[0022] It is another obj ect of the present invention to provide a method for producing puree and / or j uice having analogous advantages .
[0023] These and other obj ects are achieved by a plant, according to the invention, for producing j uice and / or puree starting from a food product, said plant comprising :
[0024] - a cold working section 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 through a first outlet , and, optionally, a first waste product which is discharged through a second outlet ;
[0025] - a heating section positioned downstream of said cold working section and configured to trans fer to a food product which is introduced inside 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 ;
[0026] - 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 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 discharge path of the waste ;
[0027] - a collecting section defining at least a collecting chamber and provided with at least one inlet for introducing said first main product , or at least a portion of said hot food product ; whose main characteristic is that are , furthermore , provided : at least a diverting device positioned along at least one between said first and / or said second discharge path of the waste and configured to divert at least one between a determined portion of the first waste product and a determined portion of the second waste product towards the collecting section; that said collecting section is , furthermore , provided with at least one supplementary inlet for introducing at least one betweeen the determined portion of the first waste product and the determined portion of the second waste product ; and that the cold working section and / or the hot extraction section are configured to trans fer to the first waste product which is discharged from the cold working section and / or to the second waste product which is discharged from the hot extraction section a mechanical energy Em suf ficient to cause the determined portion of the first waste product to move from the second outlet along the first discharge path of the waste and / or the determined portion of the second waste product from the fourth outlet along the second discharge path of the waste , up to reach a respective supplementary inlet of the collecting section .
[0028] Other technical characteristics of the invention and related embodiments are set out in the dependent claims .
[0029] In particular, the cold working section can be selected among :
[0030] - a softening section arranged to soften the incoming food product by a series of pulses in quick succession obtaining a softened product ;
[0031] - a grinding section arranged to grind the food product which is introduced inside ;
[0032] - a chopping section arranged to chop the vegetable food product which is introduced inside ;
[0033] - a section where a movement through a sieve is carried out , in particular a cold extraction section;
[0034] - a section where a division of the incoming vegetable food product into pieces of predetermined si ze is carried out , in particular by cutting the same by means of a cutting device ; or a combination thereof .
[0035] In particular, the collecting section can be positioned upstream of the heating section .
[0036] In an alternative embodiment provided by the invention, in addition or alternatively, the collecting section can be positioned downstream of the heating section .
[0037] In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, a collecting section is provided positioned downstream of the heating section and a supplementary collecting section positioned upstream of the heating section .
[0038] In particular, at least one betweeen the cold working section, for example a cold extraction section, and the hot extraction section can be configured to provide , respectively, to the f irst waste product and / or to the second waste product a kinetic energy Ec suf ficient to move from the second outlet and / or from the fourth outlet to the or each diverting device , and / or, advantageously, suf ficient to reach the inlet of a following section, for example the supplementary inlet of the collecting section .
[0039] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the cold working section, for example the cold extraction section, is positioned at a predetermined first height ql from a reference surface , the collecting section is positioned at a predetermined second height q2 from the reference surface , and the hot extraction section is positioned at a predetermined third height q3 from the reference surface . More in particular, at least one betweeen the first height ql and the third height q3 is higher than the second height q2 , in such a way that the first waste product and / or said second waste product is provided with a potential energy Ep suf ficient to cause the determined portion of the first waste product and / or the determined portion of the second waste product to move by gravity from the cold working section and / or from the hot extraction section up to the diverting device positioned downstream, and / or advantageously, suf ficient to reach the following section, in particular up to the supplementary inlet of the collecting section .
[0040] According to another aspect of the invention, a method for producing j uice and / or puree from a food product , said method comprising the steps of :
[0041] - cold working of said food product introduced through a first inlet , into 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 ;
[0042] - heating downstream of said cold working section of a food product which enters 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 ;
[0043] - 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 ; - introducing said first main product , or at least a portion of said hot food product in a collecting section defining at least a collecting chamber through an inlet ;
[0044] - 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 said second waste product towards said collecting section; wherein a step is , furthermore , provided of introducing in said collecting section through at least a supplementary inlet at least one betweeen said determined portion of said first waste product and said determined portion of said second waste product ; and that the cold working section and / or the hot extraction section are configured to trans fer to the first waste product which is discharged from the cold working section and / or to the second waste product which is discharged from the hot extraction section a mechanical energy Em suf ficient to cause the determined portion of the first waste product to move from the second outlet along the first discharge path of the waste and / or the determined portion of the second waste product to move from the fourth outlet along the second discharge path of the waste up to reach a respective supplementary inlet o f the collecting section .
[0045] Brief description of the drawings
[0046] 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 :
[0047] Fig . lA diagrammatically shows a first embodiment of the plant, according to the invention, for producing puree or j uice , with a high consistency and / or a high viscosity starting from a food product of vegetable origin;
[0048] Figures from IB to 9F diagrammatically show some alternative embodiments of the plant of figure 1A for producing puree or j uice , with high consistency and / or high viscosity starting from a food product of vegetable or animal origin;
[0049] Fig . l OA diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible embodiment of a cold extraction section which can be used as cold working section in the plant of figures from 1A to 9F;
[0050] Fig . l OB diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible alternative embodiment of the cold extraction section of figure 10A;
[0051] Fig . l lA 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 9F;
[0052] Fig . l lB diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible alternative embodiment of the hot extraction section of figure 11A;
[0053] Fig . 12 diagrammatically shows a front view of a possible embodiment of a hot or cold extraction section provided by the invention;
[0054] Fig . 13 diagrammatically shows a longitudinal section of a possible embodiment of a treatment section which can be used in the plant of figures from 5 to 8 , 9B and 9C;
[0055] Fig . 14 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 high onsistency and / or viscosity starting from a food product .
[0056] Detailed description of some exemplary embodiments of the invention
[0057] 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 configured to subj ect the food product 100 , which is introduced through an inlet 11 , to a determined cold working, in particular to a working carried out at a temperature comprised between 0 ° C and 40 ° C . In particular, the cold working section can be selected among a softening section arranged to soften the food product 100 by a series of pulses in quick succession obtaining a softened product , or a grinding section arranged to grind the food product which is introduced inside , or a chopping section arranged to chop the food product 100 , or a section where a movement of the food through a sieve is carried out , in particular a cold extraction section, or still a section where a division of the vegetable food product which is introduced inside into pieces of predetermined si ze is carried out , in particular by cutting the same by means of a cutting device . The possibility is also foreseen that the cold working section 10 can comprise a combination o f at least 2 of the aforementioned cold working sections .
[0058] In the case diagrammatically shown in figure 1A, as an example , the cold working section 10 can be a cold extraction section . In this case the cold working section 10 is configured to carry out a cold extraction of the food product 100 . In particular, as known, the cold extraction of the food product 100 is adapted to divide the food product 100 same which is introduced through a first inlet 11 into a first main product 101 , in particular an extracted product , comprising the puree and / or the j uice , which is discharged through a first outlet 12 , and, optionally, into a first waste product 102 which, i f present , is , instead, discharged through a second outlet 13 along a first discharge path of the waste 113 . In particular, the second outlet 13 i s positioned downstream of the first outlet 12 going along the direction of advancement of the food product 100 inside the cold extraction section 10 .
[0059] As diagrammatically shown in the embodiment of figure 10A and in the alternative embodiment of figure 10B, 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 aimed to reduce its si ze by cutting, or grinding, or 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 of the starting product 100 into a main product 101 and a waste product 102 is carried out . 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 inside the hollow body 18 , the first outlet 12 to discharge the main product 101 , and the second outlet 13 to discharge the waste product 102 . In particular, the second outlet 13 can be arranged downstream of the first outlet 12 along the direction of advancement of the processed food product 100 inside the cold extraction section 10 . This can, furthermore , comprise a first rotor 15 operatively connected to a first driving group 81 to cause the same to rotate about a first rotation axis 115 . All ' interne of the first hollow body 18 a first sieve 16 is mounted, in particular of forma cilindrica, or troncoconica, 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 , per ef fetto of the centri fugal force generated by rotazione of the first rotor 15 attorno all ' rotation axis 115 , is moved against the first sieve 16 which provides to divide the same into the first main 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 parte piu fibrosa 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 .
[0060] In the embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 10B, the cold extraction section 10 , ma the medesimo principle can be also adapted for a di f ferent type of cold working section, can be conf igured to fornire al first waste product 102 , eventualmente presente and discharged through the second outlet 13 , a kinetic energy Ec suf ficient to cause the same to move up to the collecting section 40 , or at least up to the diverting device 65 , i f present , which is positioned downstream of the same . In particular, in this case , as diagrammatically shown in figure 10B, the rotor 15 can protrude up to the second outlet 13 and can be operated by the motor group 81 for transmitting the aforementioned kinetic energy Ec to the first waste product 102 .
[0061] Downstream of the cold working section 10 , a heating section 20 is , then, provided configured to trans fer to an incoming food product 101 , or 103 , depending on whether only the main product of the cold working section 10 is sent to the same , or also a portion of the waste coming from at least one betweeen the cold working section 10 and a hot extraction section 30 , as described in detail below, 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 .
[0062] In particular, the aforementioned heating section 20 can transmit to the incoming product 101 , or 103 a thermal power Pt* suf ficient to cause an enzymatic inactivation, therefore , exiting the heating section 20 an enzymatically inactivated product is obtained . In this case , the second temperature T2 can be about 85 ° C- 95 ° C .
[0063] Then, the hot product 104 , in particular enzymatically inactivated, enters a hot extraction section 30 positioned downstream of the heating section 20 . In particular, the hot extraction section 30 is configured to carry out a hot extraction of the hot food product 104 introduced through a second inlet 31 . More in detail , the hot extraction section 30 is adapted to divide the hot food product 104 introduced, into a second main product 105 comprising the puree and / or the 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 in the hot extraction section 30 .
[0064] Analogously to what above described with reference to the cold extraction section 10 , in an embodiment of the invention diagrammatically shown in the figures 11A and 11B, the hot extraction section 30 can comprise a second hollow body 38 provided with the second inlet 31 , the third outlet 32 , and the fourth outlet 33 and where 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 are provided . 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 processed 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 .
[0065] As diagrammatically shown for example in figure 1A and in figure IB, a collecting section 40 can be , furthermore , provided . In particular, the collecting section 40 can comprise at least a tank 40 positioned upstream of the heating section 20 , as for example diagrammatically shown from figure 1A to figure 9C, or at least a tank 40 positioned downstream of the heating section 20 , as diagrammatically shown in figure 9D . In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, which is diagrammatically shown in the figures 9E and 9F, the collecting section 40 can comprise at least a first tank 40 positioned upstream of the heating section 20 and at least a second tank 40 ' positioned downstream of the heating section 20 .
[0066] Generally, the collecting section 40 can comprise a collecting tank 40 , as shown in the figures from 1A to 9F, or a collecting duct, or, anyway, another container configured in such a way to define a collecting chamber 45. In particular, in the examples shown from figure 1A to figure 9C, 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 extraction section 10 . Furthermore , the collecting section 40 can be provided, depending on the selected layout of the plant , with a supplementary inlet 42 for introducing the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , or with the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 , i f produced by the cold working section 10 ( see for example figures 1A, IB and 2 ) , or with first and second supplementary inlets 42 and 43 , for introducing, respectively, the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , or the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 ( see for example figures 7A, 7B and 8 ) .
[0067] In the example of figure 9D, instead, the collecting section 40 is positioned downstream of the heating section 20 , in particular between the heating section 20 and the hot extraction section 30 , and 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 .
[0068] In the example of figures 9E and 9F where a first collecting section 40 upstream of the heating section 20 , more precisely between the cold working section 10 and the heating section 20 , and a second collecting section 40 ' positioned downstream of the heating section 20 , more precisely between the heating section 20 and the hot extraction section 30 , are provided . Therefore , in thi s case , the first collecting section 40 will be provided with an inlet 41 for introducing the first main product 101 from the cold working section 10 and with an outlet 46 for discharging, for example by a pump 91 , the main product 101 . This is , then, sent to the heating section 20 in order to cause the same to be heated from the initial temperature T1 to the final temperature T2 .
[0069] The second collecting section 40 ' defining a respective collecting chamber 45 ' is provided with an inlet 41 ' for introducing a portion 104a of the hot product 104 ( figures 9D and 9E ) or all the hot product 104 ( figure 9F) , and with a respective outlet 46 ' for discharging, for example by a pump 93 , the product which is present inside . In particular, in the example of figures from 9D to 9F, the hot product 104 , or the portion 104a of this , is mixed in the collecting section 40 , or 40 ' , with the portion 106a of the waste 106 discharged from the hot extraction section 30 . In this way a product 107 is obtained which is recirculated to the hot extraction section 30 , for example by the pump 93 .
[0070] The plant 1 , according to the invention, furthermore , provides at least a diverting device 65 positioned along at least one between the first and the second discharge path of the waste 113 and 133 . In particular, the diverting device 65 is configured to divert at least one betweeen the determined portion 102a o f the first waste product 102 and a determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 towards the collecting section 40 .
[0071] In the example o f figure 1A the diverting device 65 is positioned along the second discharge path of the waste 133 and is arranged to divert the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 towards the collecting section 40 , which is pos itioned, in this case , downstream of the hot extraction section 30 .
[0072] In particular, the or each diverting device 65 , can be a guillotine valve , or a gate valve , or can comprise , generally, a separator which is able to move within a containement body for partitioning an incoming flow, in particular the flow of the first or the second waste product 102 , or 106 by dividing the same in a first portion 102a, or 106a, which is directed towards the collecting section 40 , and in a second portion 102b, or 106b, which, instead, is discharged from the plant 1 .
[0073] In particular, the collecting section 40 is , furthermore , provided with at least one supplementary inlet , for example a second inlet 42 , for introducing at least one between the determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 and the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 .
[0074] According to what is provided by the present invention, the f irst waste product 102 which is discharged from the cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section, and / or the second waste product 106 which is discharged from the hot extraction section 30 i s provided with a mechanical energy Em suf ficient to cause the determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 to move from the second outlet 13 along the first discharge path of the waste 113 and / or the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 to move from the fourth outlet 33 along the second discharge path of the waste 133 , up to reach the respective supplementary inlet 42 , 43 of the collecting section 40 . As known, with the expression mechanical energy Em it should be intended the sum of the kinetic energy Ec and potential energy Ep . In particular, in the present invention, the waste product which is discharged from the cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section, or from the hot extraction section 30 , will have a mechanical energy which can be in part Kinetic energy Ec and in part potential energy Ep, or only one of the two types of energy, suf ficient to allow the same to be discharged through the respective outlet and the movement of the same at least up to the diverting device 65 , or 65a, or 65b .
[0075] More in particular, in a first embodiment of the invention diagrammatically shown in figure 1A, the cold working section 10 , for example an extraction section, and the hot extraction section 30 can be respectively positioned at a first height ql and at a third height q3 from a reference surface 200 ( see for example figure 1A) . More in particular, at least one betweeen the first and the third height ql and q3 can be higher than a height q2 at which the collecting section 40 is positioned with respect to the aforementioned reference surface 200 . In this way, the first waste product 102 and / or the second waste product 106 is provided with a mechanical energy, more precisely a potential energy Ep, suf ficient to cause the movement of the aforementioned determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 and / or the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 by gravity from the cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section, and / or from the hot extraction section 30 in the collecting section 40 , or at least up to reach the diverting device 65 , i f present , positioned along the respective discharge path of the waste 113 , or 133 .
[0076] In the embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 1A, the hot extraction section 30 , in particular the fourth outlet 33 of this , is positioned at the aforementioned third height q3 higher than the second height q2 at which the collecting section 40 is pos itioned, in particular the or each supplementary inlet 42 of this . In this way, it is possible to feed by gravity the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 in the collecting section 40 , or at least up to the diverting device 65 . In this case , the hot extraction section 30 can be carried out as diagrammatically shown in figure 11A.
[0077] Still with reference to figure 1A, the cold working section 10 can be positioned at a first height ql higher than the third height q3 . In the case of figure 1A, the first waste product 102 is not introduced into the collecting section 40 and is , instead, completely discharged from plant 1 . The first main product 101 can be fed into the tank 40 by gravity .
[0078] In the alternative embodiment which is diagrammatically shown in figure IB, the second waste product 106 can be provided with a kinetic energy Ec suf ficient to cause the second waste product 106 to be discharged from the hot extraction section 30 , and in case the aforementioned portion 106a, up to the diverting device 65, or even downstream of this up to reach the collecting section 40 . In particular, in this case , as diagrammatically shown in figure 11B, the rotor 35 can extend up to the fourth outlet 33 and rotate at a speed such as to transmit to the second waste product 106 the aforementioned kinetic energy Ec sufficient to cause the same to exit through the aforementioned fourth outlet 33 , and the movement of the same up to the collecting section 40 . In this way, both in the embodiment of figure 1A and in the embodiment of figure IB, it is possible to obtain a final product 105 with a high consistency and / or viscosity due to the presence of a high quantity of fibres , avoiding the need to use pumps , screw conveyors , or other devices for sending the aforementioned determined portion of the first waste product 102 and / or the second waste product 106 in the collecting section 40 , thus saving both energy and installation and maintenance costs . This , in particular, because di f ferently from the prior art solutions , it is not necessary to use push devices , or suction devices , along the first di scharge path of the waste 113 and / or the second discharge path of the waste 133 .
[0079] In a possible embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 12 , the second, or the fourth, outlet 13 or 33 , can be arranged tangential to or substantially tangential to the machine body 18 , or 38 . In this way, the discharge of the first or the second waste product 102 , or 106 from the cold working section 10 , in particular an extraction section, or from the hot extraction section 30 , and its movement towards the collecting section 40 , is facilitated .
[0080] In the alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 2 , the hot extraction section 30 is positioned at the aforementioned third height q3 which can be higher or lower than the second height q2 at which the collecting section 40 is positioned . In this case, the second waste product 106 is completely discharged from the plant 1 . Still with reference to figure 2 , the cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section, is positioned at a first height ql from the reference surface 200, higher than the third height q3 . In this case, at least a diverting member 65, for example a guillotine or a gate valve, is provided positioned along the discharge path of the waste 113 of the first waste product 102 in such a way to obtain the aforementioned determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 . In particular, the first waste product 102 can be fed to the diverting device 65 by gravity from the cold working section 10, in particular the cold extraction section as shown in the figure . More in particular, also the aforementioned determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 exiting the diverting device 65, can be fed by gravity from the diverting device 65 in the collecting section 40 . In this case, as diagrammatically shown in figure 2 , also the first main product 101 can be fed by gravity in the collecting tank 40.
[0081] In the embodiment of figure 3 , both the cold working section 10 , in particular the cold extraction section, and the hot extraction section 30 are positioned respectively at a first height ql and at a third height q3 higher than the second height q2 at which the collecting section 40 is positioned . In this case , a first diverting member 65a i s provided mounted along the first discharge path of the waste 113 downstream of the cold working section 10 and a second diverting member 65b mounted along the second discharge path of the waste 133 downstream of the hot extraction section 30 . The first and second diverting members 65a and 65b, for example a guillotine , or gate , valve , or comprising a separator which is able to move within a containement body, are adapted to divert , respectively a portion 102a of the first waste product 102 and a portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , towards the collecting section 40 , whilst the remaining portions 102b and 106b of the first and second waste products 102 and 106 are directed along a di f ferent discharge path, in particular to be discharged from the plant 1 . In this case , both the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 and the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 are fed up to the respective diverting device 65a and 65b and advantageously, from this up to the collecting section 40 , preferably by gravity .
[0082] In the further alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 4 , the hot extraction section 30 i s positioned at the third height q3 higher than the second height q2 , at which the collecting section 40 is positioned, with respect to the reference surface 200 . The cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section, instead, can be indi f ferently provided at a height ql higher or lower than the second height q2 . More in detail , in this case , a first diverting member 65a is provided mounted along the first discharge path of the waste 113 , and a second diverting member 65b mounted along the second discharge path of the waste 133 . Also in this case , the first and second diverting members 65a and 65b , for example the guillotine , or gate , valve are adapted to deviate towards the collecting section 40 , and precisely respectively towards a first and a second supplementary inlet 42 and 43 of this , respectively a portion 102a of the first waste product 102 and a portion 106a of the second waste product 106 , whilst the remaining portion 102b and 106b of the first and the second waste product 102 and 106 are directed along a di f ferent discharge path, in particular to be discharged from the plant 1 . In this case , only the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 is fed by gravity in the collecting tank 40 , whilst the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 is moved up to reach the collecting section 40 by a displacement device 90 , for example a conveyor belt as shown in figure 4 , or alternatively a screw conveyor, or an analogous device . The first main product 101 can be fed from the cold working section 10 to the collecting section 40 by a pump device , for example a pump 92 , such as a lobe pump .
[0083] According to a further embodiment of the invention, diagrammatically shown in the figures 5 and 6 , between the hot extraction section 30 and the collecting section 40 a treatment section 70 can be provided . In particular, the treatment section 70 can comprise an inlet 71 for introducing the portion 106a o f 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 13 , the treatment section 70 comprises a fixed hollow body 78 cyl indrical or conical shaped, inside of which a third rotor 75 is positioned also this cylindrical or conical shaped, and operatively connected to a third driving group 83 . This is operatively connected by a motor shaft 87 to the third rotor 75 in order to cause the same to rotate about a rotation axis 175 . In this way, during the rotation of the third rotor 75 about the rotation axis 175 , a movement of the food product against the internal surface 73 of the fixed hollow body 78 is caused . In particular, the internal surface 73 can be " smooth" , or "waved" and provides a plurality of recessed portions with respect to a base surface , or can be also provided with a series of recesses and protuberances alternating to each other .
[0084] In particular, the third rotor 75 can be provided with a plural ity of blades 76 at least a part of which provided with an edge 77 facing, in use , towards the fixed hollow body 78 .
[0085] The treatment section 70 is configured in such a way that the portion 106a of the incoming second waste product 106 is equal to the quantity of the treated waste product 106 ' a which is discharged from the same and arranged to be fed in the collecting section 40 . More in detail , in the case of figure 5 , the treatment section 70 is positioned at a fourth height q4 with respect to the reference surface 200 lower than the third height q3 at which the hot extraction section 30 is positioned . Therefore , the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 is fed by gravity into the treatment section 70 through inlet 71 .
[0086] In the alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 8 , instead, the treatment section 70 can be positioned at a fourth height q4 which can indi f ferently be higher or lower than the third height q3 at which the hot extraction section 30 is positioned . In this case , as still diagrammatically shown in figure 8 , the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 is moved by a displacement device 95 , for example a conveyor belt , or a screw conveyor, into the treatment section 70 through inlet 71 .
[0087] In all the embodiments diagrammatically shown from figure 5 to figure 8 , the treatment section 70 is positioned at a fourth height q4 higher than the second height q2 at which the collecting section 40 is positioned . In this way, the treated waste product 106 ' a which is discharged from the treatment section 70 through outlet 72 can be introduced by gravity into the collecting section 40 through an inlet 42 .
[0088] Furthermore , both in the embodiment of figure 5 and in the embodiment of figure 6 , the first waste product 102 is discharged outside the plant 1 , and, therefore , it does not pass through the collecting section 40 .
[0089] The alternative embodiments which are diagrammatically shown in the figures 7 and 8 , instead, provide that , in addition to the aforementioned determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106 which is discharged from the hot extraction section 30 , and sent to the treatment section 70 , as described above , respectively by gravity ( figure 7A) or by a displacement device 95 , for example a conveyor belt ( figure 8 ) , in such a way to obtain the aforementioned treated waste product 106 ' a which is , then, fed by gravity in the collecting section 40 , also a determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 i s sent to the collecting section 40 , in particular by a respective displacement device 90 . Therefore , also in the embodiments of figures 7 and 8 , the height q4 at which the treatment section 70 is positioned, more precisely at which the outlet 72 of this is positioned, is higher than the height q2 at which the collecting section 40 i s positioned .
[0090] More precisely, in the case of the embodiment of plant 1 diagrammatically shown in figure 7A, the aforementioned determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 i s fed by gravity in the collecting section 40 .
[0091] In the alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 7B, instead, the treatment section 70 , or more precisely the inlet 71 of this , is provided positioned at a height q' 4 , higher than the third height q3 of the hot extraction section 30 , or more precisely than the fourth outlet 33 of this .
[0092] In this case , a displacement device 93 , for example a pump, is provided, or a conveyor belt , or a similar device able to send a determined first portion 106a of the second waste product 106 exiting a diverting device 65b, in the treatment section 70 through the inlet 71 . In particular, in the case that a pump 93 is used, a step can be provided for diluting the same , in order to help the pumping of the second waste product , for example by introducing in the discharge duct of the pump 93 a determined flowrate of a main product , or the hot extraction section 30 can be set in such a way to obtain a more fluid exiting waste product and which can be , then, easily pumped .
[0093] The product 106 ' a treated inside the treatment section 70 is discharged from this through the outlet 72 and introduced into the hot extraction section 30 , in particular through the inlet 31 , for example by gravity . Furthermore , in this case , as diagrammatically shown in figure 7B, along the discharge path of the waste 133 of the second waste product 33 a supplementary diverting device 65c can be provided positioned downstream of the diverting device 65b configured to divide a second portion of the waste product 106b coming from the diverting device 65b, into a first portion 106c which is sent towards the collecting section 40 , for example by gravity, and into a second portion 106d which, instead, is discharged from the plant 1 . Even though in the layouts of f igures 7A and 7B the case is shown as an example that a determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 is introduced in the collecting section 40 and, therefore , that 3 diverting devices 65a, 65b and 65c can be provided, all the first waste product 102 which is discharged from the cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section, can be , however, discharged from the plant 1 , therefore , avoiding that the same passes through the collecting section 40 .
[0094] In the case of the embodiment of plant 1 diagrammatically shown in figure 8 , the aforementioned determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 i s fed in the collecting section 40 , more precisely in the collecting chamber 45 , by means of a displacement device , for example a respective conveyor belt 90 .
[0095] 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 .
[0096] In particular, in all the embodiments described above with reference to the figures from 1A to 8 , the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 and / or the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 can be set before starting the plant 1 and, preferably, selected on the basis of the type of vegetable or animal food product 100 to be treated . For example , the portion 102a of the first waste product 102 can be minore of the 50% and the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 can be less than 60% .
[0097] As diagrammatically shown in the figures 9A and 9B, respectively in an embodiment which does not provide the treatment section 70 , and one which, instead, provides the same , a supplementary diverting device 85 can be provided arranged to divide the hot product 104 coming from the heating section 20 in a first portion 104a which i s introduced in the hot extraction section 30 , and in a second portion 104b which, instead, is sent towards the cold extraction section 10 . More precisely, the second portion 104b of the hot product 104 is introduced inside the cold extraction section 10 through an inlet 14 di f ferent from inlet 11 through which the starting product 100 , in particular a whole vegetable product , for example whole fruit , is introduced .
[0098] The solutions diagrammatically shown in the figures 9A and 9B, as well as those of figures from 9D to 9E , which will be described below, allow to heat , for example up to a temperature about 80- 85 ° C, the first main product 101 mixing the same with the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot food product 104 , in particular externally to the sieve 16 , before discharging the same through the first outlet 12 from the cold extraction section 10 . Further details of this technical solution can be for example derived from what is described in EP2611312 .
[0099] In the further alternative embodiment diagrammatically shown in figure 9C, is present again a supplementary diverting device , or a partialitation device , 85 arranged to divide the hot product 104 coming from the heating section 20 into a first portion 104a which is introduced in the hot extraction section 30 , and into a second portion 104b, but the duct which is crossed by this , intersects the discharge duct of the first main product 101 downstream of the cold extraction section 10 . Therefore , in this case , the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot food product 104 heats the first main product 101 by mixing with the same only after that it has been discharged from the cold extraction section 10 through the first outlet 12 . In a further embodiment which is not shown for simplicity, the duct which is crossed by the aforementioned second portion 104b of the hot product 104 , can, instead, be introduced in the cold extraction section 10 through inlet 11 .
[0100] Even though the embodiment described above and which provides that the further diverting device 85 has been shown with reference to the plant layouts of figures 9A and 9B, the present invention also provides the possibilita that the further diverting device 85 can be used with the same purpose also in all the plant layouts described above and shown in the figures from 1A to 8 . At this purpose it is believed that on the basis of the description above of the di f ferent embodiments of the plant 1 according to the invention, a skilled person in the field will have no di f ficult to implement the further diverting device 85 in all the plant layouts diagrammatically shown in the figures from 1A to 8 .
[0101] In the embodiments of plant 1 diagrammatically shown from figure 1A to figure 9C, the product 103 contained in the collecting chamber 45 of the collecting section 40 , can be sent, in particular pushed, towards the heating section 20 by a push device 91 , for example a pump, such as a lobe pump .
[0102] In the further embodiments diagrammatically shown in the figures from 9D to 9F, the collecting section 40 provides at least a tank positioned downstream of the heating section 20 . Also in this case , the waste product 106 can be discharged from the hot extraction section 30 by gravity, i f the height q3 at which the hot extraction section 30 is positioned is higher than the height q2 at which the collecting section 40 is positioned, and / or because provided with a high kinetic energy Ec . In both the cases , the mechanical energy Em of which the second waste product 106 is provided with, is suf ficient to reach the diverting device 65 , or even suf ficient to allow to the portion 106a of the second waste product 106 to reach the diverting device 65 in the collecting section 40 inside of which it can be introduced through an inlet 42 . In particular, in this case , the hot food product 104 in the case of figure 9F, or at least a portion 104a of the same as in the case of figures 9D and 9E , is diverted by a supplementary diverting device 85 directly towards the collecting section 40 . Therefore , inside the collecting section 40 a mixing is carried out of the hot product 104 and the portion 106a of the waste 106 coming from the hot extraction section 30 obtaining a product 107 . The aforementioned supplementary diverting device 85 diverts , furthermore , a second portion 104b of the hot product 104 towards the cold working section 10 , in particular a cold extraction section where is introduced, for example through an inlet 14 . Still with reference to the embodiments shown in the figures from 9D to 9F, furthermore , a recirculation of the food product 107 contained inside the collecting section 40 , is provided, from this to the hot extraction section 30 , for example by a pump 93 , to subj ect the same to a hot extraction .
[0103] Now, with reference to figure 9E , in addition to the collecting section 40 downstream of the heating section 20 , and in particular between this and the hot extraction section 30 , as described above with reference to figure 9D, a supplementary collecting section 40 ' can be also provided positioned upstream of the heating section 20 , in particular between the cold working section 10 , for example a cold extraction section, and the heating section 20 . In this case , the first main product 101 is introduced into the supplementary collecting section 40 ' , where it remains for a determined time before being sent to the heating section 20 .
[0104] Downstream of the heating section 20 , a supplementary diverting device 85 can be provided for dividing the hot product 104 into a first portion 104a which is introduced in the collecting section 40 through an inlet 41 , and a second portion 104b, which, instead, can be fed to the cold extraction section 10 , for example through an inlet 14 .
[0105] As diagrammatically shown in figure 9F, all the hot food product 104 exiting the heating section 20 can be sent to the tank of the collecting section 40 positioned downstream of the same .
[0106] In particular, also in the layouts of plant shown in the figures from 9D to 9F, 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 from 5 to 7B . In particular, even though each or the diverting device 65 has been shown in the figures downstream of the hot extraction section 30 and / or the cold working section 10 , according to an embodiment of the invention, not shown for simplicity, it can be also provided positioned with the same function within the body of the hot extraction section 30 or the cold working section 10 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 .
[0107] In figure 14 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 102 to meet at 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 , and of the determined portion 106a of the second waste product 106, or of the determined portion 102a of the first waste product 102 before the same reach the collecting chamber 45. For example, in figure 14 the case is diagrammatically shown 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 at least to a portion 102a of the first waste product 102 , a mechanical energy Em suf ficient to cause the same to move inside the collecting chamber 45 .
[0108] 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 is introduced in said heating section (20) and comprising said first 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) ;- a collecting section (40) arranged to define at least a collecting chamber (45) and provided with at least one inlet (41) for introducing said first main product (101) , or at least a portion of said hot food product ( 104 ) ; 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 second discharge paths 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 said collecting section (40) , in that said collecting section (40) is, furthermore, provided with at least one supplementary inlet (42,43) for introducing at least one between said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) and said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) and in that said cold working section (10) and / or said hot extraction section (30) are configured to transfer to said first waste product (102) which is discharged from said cold working section (10) and / or to said second waste product (106) which is discharged from said hot extraction section (30) , a mechanical energy (Em) sufficient to cause said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) to move from said second outlet (13) along said first discharge path of the waste (113) and / or said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) to move from said fourth outlet (33) along said second discharge path of the waste (133) , up to reach a respective supplementary inlet (42,43) of said collecting section (40) .
2. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said collecting section (40) is positioned upstream of said heating section (20) .
3. Plant according to claim 1, wherein said collecting section (40) is positioned downstream of said heating section (20) .
4. Plant, according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein at least one betweeen said cold working section(10) and said hot extraction section (30) is configured to provide, respectively, to said first waste product (102) and to said second waste product (106) a kinetic energy (Ec) sufficient to move from said second outlet (13) and / or from said fourth outlet (33) to a respective supplementary inlet (42,43) of said collecting section (40) .
5. Plant, according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said cold working section (10) is positioned at a predetermined first height (ql) from a reference surface (200) , wherein said collecting section (40) is positioned at a predetermined second height (q2) from said reference surface (200) , wherein said hot extraction section (30) is positioned at a predetermined third height (q3) from said reference surface (200) .
6. Plant according to claim 5, wherein at least one betweeen said first height (ql) and said third height (q3) is higher than said second height (q2) , in such a way that said first waste product (102) and / or said second waste product (106) is provided with a potential energy (Ep) sufficient to cause said movement of said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product(102) and / or said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) by gravity from said cold working section (10) and / or from said hot extraction section (30) in said collecting section (40) .
7. Plant according to one of the previous claims, wherein said hot extraction section (30) is positioned at a third height (q3) from a reference surface (200) higher than a second height (q2) at which said collecting section (40) is positioned from said reference surface (200) , wherein said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) is adapted to be fed by gravity in said collecting section (40) .
8. Plant according to claim 7, wherein said cold working section (10) is positioned at a first height (ql) from said reference surface (200) selected among:- a first height (ql) higher than said second height (q2) and wherein said portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) is arranged to be fed by gravity in said collecting section (40) ;- a first height (ql) less than said second height (q2) and wherein a displacement device (90) is provided arranged to move said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) in said collecting section (40) .- a first height (ql) higher or less than said second height (q2) , and wherein said first waste product (102) is arranged to be discharged from the plant (1) without passing through said collecting section (40) .
9. Plant according to one of the previous claims, wherein downstream of said hot extraction section (30) a treatment section (70) is, furthermore, providedcomprising 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, within which a third rotor (75) , also this cylindrical or conical shaped, is positioned, and operatively connected to a third driving 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 portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) which enters through said inlet (71) is equal to the quantity of said treated waste product (106' a) discharged through said otulet(72) , and wherein said treatment section (70) is positioned at a fourth height (q4,q' 4) from said reference surface.
10. Plant according to claim 9, wherein said treatment section (70) is positioned between said hot extraction section (30) and said collecting section (40) .
11. Plant according to claim 9, or 10, wherein said fourth height (q4) is less than said third height (q3) and higher than said second height (q2) , and wherein said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) is introduced into said treatment section (70) by gravity, and said treated product (106' a) is introduced into said collecting section (40) by gravity.
12. Plant according to claim 9, or 10, wherein said fourth height (q4) at which said treatment section (70) is positioned is higher than said third height (q3) , wherein a displacement device (93) is provided arrangedto move said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) in said treatment section (70) , wherein said treated product (106' a) which is discharged from said treatment section (70) is introduced into said hot extraction section (30) by gravity, and wherein along said second discharge path of the waste (133) a supplementary diverting device (65c) is provided positioned downstream of said diverting device (65b) and arranged to divert a determined portion (106c) of a second portion (106b) of said second waste product (106) exiting said diverting device (65b) towards said collecting section (40) .
13. Plant (1) , according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein said cold working section (10) is a cold extraction section (10) comprising a first hollow body (18) provided with said first inlet (11) for introducing said food product (100) , with said first outlet (12) and with said second outlet (13) and wherein a first rotor (15) is provided 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 food 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 dischargedthrough said second outlet (13)14. Plant (1) , according to one or more of the previous claims, 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 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 adapted to be positioned externally to said second rotor (35) are provided, 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 outlet (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) .
15. 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, furthermore, provided configured to divert a first determined portion (104a) of said hot product (104) towards said hot extraction section (30) and a second determined portion (104b) of said hot product (104) upstream, downstream, or in 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) .
16. Plant according to any claim from 9 to 15, wherein a displacement device (95) is, furthermore, provided arranged to move said portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) towards said inlet (71) of said treatment section (70) .
17. Plant according one or more of the previous claims, wherein said inlet (41) and said at least a supplementary inlet (42,43) of said collecting section (40) are configured to flow, at a premixing zone (47) arranged upstream of said collecting chamber (45) , one between said first main product (101) and said at least a portion of said hot food product (104) , and one between said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) and said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) , into each other, before the same enter inside said collecting chamber (45) .
18. Plant according to claim 17, wherein said cold working section (10) and said hot working section (20) are configured in such a way that said first main product (101) , or said at least a portion of said hot food product (104) , is able to fornire a said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) , or to said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) , a mechanical energy sufficient to cause said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) , or of said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) , to move into said collecting chamber (15) .
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) introduced through a first inlet (11) in a first main product (101) which is discharged through a first outlet (12) , and, optionally, in a first waste product (102) which is discharged through a second outlet (13) along a first discharge path of the waste (113) ;- heating (20) 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) ;- introducing said first main product (101) or at least a portion (104a) of said hot food product (104) in a collecting section (40) defining a collecting chamber (45) through an inlet (41) ; 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) of a determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) and / ora determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) towards said collecting section (40) ;- feeding into said collecting section (40) through at least a supplementary inlet (42,43) at least one betweeen said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) and said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) ; and in that said cold working section (10) and / or said hot extraction section (30) are configured to transfer to said first waste product (102) which is discharged from said cold working section (10) and / or to said second waste product (106) which is discharged from said hot extraction section (30) , a mechanical energy (Em) sufficient to cause said determined portion (102a) of said first waste product (102) from said second outlet (13) along said first discharge path of the waste (113) and / or said determined portion (106a) of said second waste product (106) from said fourth outlet (33) along said second discharge path of the waste (133) , up to reach a respective supplementary inlet (42,43) of said collecting section (40) .
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