Apparatus for producing cheese sticks

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing cheese sticks, comprising an extruder arrangement having a plurality of extruder nozzles (12) arranged next to one another for discharging a cheese mass strand (14), the cheese mass in particular being a pasta filata; a transport channel arrangement having a plurality of separate transport channels (18) arranged next to one another, each extruder nozzle being assigned exactly one transport channel for receiving and conveying one of the discharged cheese mass strands in a conveying direction (F); a portioning device (20) by means of which individual portions (22) can be separated from the cheese mass strands conveyed therein in each case in the transport channels; and a control section (24) downstream of the portioning device in the conveying direction having at least one manipulation device (44) by means of which at least one, in particular exactly one, individual portion can be received and can be removed from at least one of the transport channels.

Description

[0001] Device for making cheese sticks

[0002] The present invention relates to a device for producing cheese sticks, also known in English as "cheese sticks" or "string cheese".

[0003] These types of cheese sticks are particularly popular in the USA. They are often made from a cheese mass that includes pasta filata.

[0004] Known devices for producing such sticks have extruder nozzles through which the cheese mass is forced at an elevated temperature, approximately 60°C. The extruded strands of cheese mass are then cooled (e.g., with cold water or, preferably, with cold brine) and cut into individual portions of a defined length. At the time of cutting, the cheese mass strand must be cold enough to be cut without significant plastic deformation (squeezing), which would be visually undesirable. It is possible to continue cooling after cutting until the sticks have reached the desired target temperature (generally below 10°C, preferably between 4 and 6°C) and the cheese mass has also absorbed enough salt from the brine to achieve the desired flavor of the sticks. Alternatively, it is possible to cool the strands whole until they reach the target temperature and only then separate the individual portions (= sticks) from them.

[0005] Typically, multiple strands are extruded in parallel (parallel tracks) to increase the throughput of the machine. A known problem is that the discharge rate of the individual extruder nozzles is not exactly the same and sometimes even varies over time. Some nozzles discharge more mass per unit of time than others, resulting in the extruded strands moving at different speeds. This, in turn, means that a fixed-rate or simultaneous cutting of the strands leads to varying lengths and weights of the resulting cheese sticks, which is disadvantageous since the goal is to produce sticks with the lowest possible standard deviation from a predetermined norm. The problem described above can be avoided by cutting the strands individually for each track.

[0006] In known devices of the type mentioned above, the separated sticks are then discharged together – either already at the target temperature or still cooling – into a common rinsing channel and fed to a packaging machine. There, grippers pick up the sticks and place them into packaging units, such as deep-drawn packaging trays formed from a film. When the packaging machine stops, for example, during a film change, the sticks must also be removed from the rinsing channel to prevent them from absorbing too much salt from the brine used as a coolant and becoming too salty for the average consumer.

[0007] Removing the sticks from the settling channel, where they are washed in a disorderly fashion, generally requires a sorting process to arrange them so they can be picked up by the grippers with reasonable effort. This sorting process is complex and prone to errors. Furthermore, such grippers are relatively expensive and require maintenance, which also incurs costs.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for the production of cheese sticks that is more efficient while having the simplest possible design. This object is achieved with a device having the features of claim 1.

[0009] According to the invention, the device for producing cheese sticks comprises an extruder assembly with a plurality of extruder nozzles arranged side by side for extruding a strand of cheese mass. In particular, the cheese mass is a type from the pasta filata group, for example, mozzarella. Other types of cheese mass can also be processed with the device according to the invention, for example, processed cheeses that are sufficiently dimensionally stable after extrusion.

[0010] Furthermore, a transport channel arrangement with a plurality of adjacent, separate transport channels is provided, wherein each extruder nozzle is assigned exactly one transport channel for receiving and conveying one of the dispensed cheese curd strands in a conveying direction. The device also includes a portioning device by means of which individual portions (= sticks) can be separated from the respective cheese curd strands conveyed in the transport channels. In order to be able to control the quantity of individual portions in the individual transport channels, the device has a control section downstream of the portioning device in the conveying direction with at least one manipulation device by means of which at least, in particular exactly, one individual portion can be received and removed from at least one of the transport channels.

[0011] For cooling and / or conveying the strands and / or individual portions, the transport channels are preferably supplied with a coolant flowing in the conveying direction. The coolant is, in particular, chilled brine.

[0012] The control section is not part of an optional output unit of the device, which would allow the individual portions to be dispensed for transfer to further processing stations and / or a packaging unit. Dispensing the individual portions, in the context of the present invention, means that the individual portions are permanently removed from the coolant.

[0013] In particular, the control section is located in an area of ​​the device where the individual portions are still cooled to the target temperature. The control section can therefore be considered part of a cooling section that – viewed in the conveying direction – is located downstream of the portioning device and upstream of the dispensing unit.

[0014] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the claims, the description and the accompanying drawings.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the device, the transport channels run separately from each other at least between the extruder assembly and the end of the control section. The two-dimensional arrangement of the cheese mass created during extrusion of the strands is maintained by the continuously separate transport channels from the nozzles to at least the end of the control section. The transport channels can also run continuously separately from each other to and within the output unit, so that the individual portions are optionally also automatically arranged in two dimensions in the output unit. Continuously separate transport channels do not necessarily mean that they must be free of interruptions (e.g., gaps running perpendicular to the conveying direction).It must simply be ensured that the cheese mass (strand or individual portion) cannot leave the respective transport channel from the extruder nozzle to the end of the control section, or even to and within the dispensing unit, by means of feeding or flushing during normal operation. This excludes active removal processes by the handling device or manual intervention. The handling device may be designed and configured to dispense an individual portion removed from one transport channel into that same and / or another transport channel, for example, to balance or at least equalize the filling levels of the individual transport channels.

[0016] In particular, the manipulation device comprises at least one sensor device which is designed and configured to determine at least one characteristic parameter of the single portion taken, in particular wherein the characteristic parameter is a weight of the single portion.

[0017] Preferably, the manipulation device comprises a receiving tray for the individual portion. It can have an outlet-side closing element, in particular a liquid-permeable element such as a flap with openings, a grid, or a rod, which releases an outlet-side end of the receiving tray to dispense the individual portion. The closing element should reliably stop the individual portion while simultaneously allowing the best possible flow of the fluid.

[0018] The receiving tray can be inserted into the transport channels so that at least one individual portion can enter the receiving tray through a translational movement in the respective transport channel in the conveying direction. It can be provided that a bottom section of the receiving tray can be brought into contact with a bottom section of the respective transport channel, preferably at its inlet end. However, since the individual portions float on the surface of a floating medium when using it, a gap can also be intentionally provided between the bottom section and the transport channel to minimize the accumulation of the medium.

[0019] The control section can include a sloping section where the transport channels have a steeper incline relative to the horizontal than in a section upstream in the conveying direction, so that the individual portions are accelerated by the influence of gravity. This accelerated movement, for example, facilitates the entry of the individual portion into the receiving hopper.

[0020] In particular, a sensor unit is provided with which the number of individual portions in the individual transport channels can be determined, especially in an area upstream and / or downstream of the control section in the conveying direction, in order to record the utilization of the transport channels.

[0021] Optionally, the portioning unit includes multiple separating units for separating individual portions, which can be controlled independently of each other, with one separating unit assigned to each transport channel. This enables lane-specific separation of individual portions.

[0022] A control device may be provided with which the extruder arrangement, the portioning device and / or the manipulation device can be controlled and / or with which data determined or specific by the sensor device and / or the sensor unit can be recorded.

[0023] The present invention further relates to a method for controlling a device according to at least one of the embodiments described above, wherein the portioning device and / or the extruder arrangement are controlled based on a characteristic parameter of at least one individual portion. The characteristic parameter can be determined by means of the manipulation device. However, it is also conceivable – additionally or alternatively – to take into account a parameter determined with another measuring device during the control process. In a device with a portioning device comprising a plurality of separating units for separating individual portions, which can be controlled independently of one another, with each transport channel being assigned a separating unit, the control of the separating units can be adapted individually for each lane based on the determined characteristic parameter.

[0024] One embodiment of the method provides that the manipulation device and / or the extruder arrangement are controlled based on the number of individual portions in the individual transport channels in order to operate the device as efficiently as possible. The number of individual portions in the individual transport channels can be determined based on data from the portioning device and / or at least one separate sensor unit. Such a sensor unit can include an optical sensor.

[0025] According to a further embodiment, individual portions are transferred between transport channels by means of the manipulation device in order to equalize the number of individual portions located downstream of the control section in the individual transport channels. It is also conceivable that individual portions are removed from the device by means of the manipulation device if they do not meet predetermined quality criteria, in particular because a characteristic parameter of an individual portion falls below or exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

[0026] The present invention is explained below by way of example with reference to an advantageous embodiment and the accompanying drawings. These show:

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a device for producing cheese sticks according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 shows an inlet-side section of the device with several extruder nozzles,

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a portioning device with a downstream control section,

[0029] Fig. 4 Sensor units for controlling separation units,

[0030] Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the control section with a manipulation device.

[0031] Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the manipulation device,

[0032] Fig. 7 shows a top view of an embodiment of a tray or tray for holding individual portions,

[0033] Fig. 8 shows a sectional view through another embodiment of a tray,

[0034] Fig. 9 shows a partial view of a cross-section of an embodiment of a tray.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a device 10 for producing cheese sticks. It comprises extruder nozzles 12 through which a cheese mass, in particular but not exclusively from the pasta filata group, is pressed to form cheese strands 14.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of three adjacent extruder nozzles 12, which are fed with cheese curd from a common distributor 16. The distributor 16 contains, for example, a screw conveyor (not shown) which, when the device 10 is in operation, forces cheese curd through the extruder nozzles 12. The strands of cheese curd 14 emerge from the extruder nozzles 12 and are each received by a transport channel 18 (hereinafter referred to as "channel"). Each nozzle 12 is assigned its own channel 18. The channels 18 are arranged separately from one another and run parallel to each other. The channels 18 are supplied with cooled brine (-3 °C to +10 °C, preferably 0 °C to 4 °C), which serves to cool the strands 14 exiting the nozzles 12 at a temperature of at most 55 °C to 68 °C, in particular 60 °C to 62 °C.

[0037] The strands 14 are cut into individual portions 22 (= cheese sticks) in a portioning device 20 (see again Fig.1).

[0038] The individual portions 22 are separated from the strands 14 only when the cheese mass is stable and can be cut without excessive squeezing. A period of 1 to 2 minutes may elapse between the discharge of the cheese mass and the cutting, during which the strands 14 are cooled by the brine (pre-cooling).

[0039] The cooling of the individual portions 22 continues after the portioning device 20. This is achieved by the brine, which also flows through the channels 18 downstream of the portioning device 20. The channels 18 remain separate from each other.

[0040] Upstream of the portioning device 20, the strands 14 are pushed in the conveying direction F by the material emerging from the nozzles 12. Downstream of the portioning device 20, the flow of the brine in the conveying direction F contributes significantly to the transport of the individual portions 22. It thus acts as a cooling slurry medium. The channels 18 can also be (slightly) inclined relative to the horizontal.

[0041] A control section 24 is located downstream of the portioning device 20, in which the channels 18 remain separate from one another. A manipulation device 44 is also provided in the area of ​​the control section 24, with which individual portions 22 can be extracted from the channels 18.

[0042] The operation of the portioning device 20 and the control section 24 as well as the manipulation device 26 is explained below with reference to Figs. 3 to 6.

[0043] Figure 3 shows a cutting unit 28 of the portioning device 20. Each channel 18 is assigned its own cutting unit 28, which can also be controlled separately. As mentioned earlier, the discharge of the strands 14 from the nozzles 12 is generally not perfectly uniform. It is a known problem that the discharge is uneven and can even vary over time. Often, the discharge (and thus the velocity of the corresponding strands 14) from nozzles 12 located at the edge is lower than that of nozzles 12 more centrally located. Therefore, the strands 14 cannot be cut simultaneously. In this case, individual portions 22 of significantly different lengths would be produced. Individual portions 22 in channels 18 in a central area would be considerably longer than individual portions 22 in peripheral channels 18.

[0044] Individual separation of the individual portions 22 is made possible by also individually detecting the length of the individual portions 22 for each lane. For this purpose, a sensor unit 30 is provided for each channel 18 (= lane), to which a stop angle 32 is assigned (see also Fig. 4). As the strands 14 are fed, their free ends abut a stop leg 34 of the corresponding angle 32 and deflect it. This causes a transmission leg 36 of the stop angle 32 to pivot upwards. The pivoting of the transmission leg 36 is detected by the sensor unit 30 and transmitted to a control unit 38 of the device 10. As soon as a certain threshold value of the pivoting of the angle 32 is detected, the control unit 38 outputs a signal to activate the corresponding separation unit 28 and separate an individual portion 22 from the corresponding strand 14. The threshold ultimately defines the length of the single portion 22.

[0045] Contrary to what has been shown and described above, a direct connection between the control unit 38 and the separation unit 28 can also be provided.

[0046] The separated individual portions 22 are washed away from the portioning device 20 by the brine flowing in the channels 18. The conveyance of the individual portions 22 in the conveying direction F can be supported by a slight incline of the channels 18.

[0047] The device 10 has - as already indicated above - the control section 24, which is also shown in Fig. 5.

[0048] The control section 24 has a chute section 40, and the channels 18, which still run separately from one another and alongside each other, have a significantly greater inclination to the horizontal than in upstream sections of the channels 18. The individual portions 22 entering the control section 24 therefore accelerate in the chute section 40. This acceleration facilitates the entry of the individual portions 22 into a receiving trough 42 of a manipulation device 44 (see also Fig. 6) when the trough 42 is positioned in one of the channels 18. It is understood that a bottom section 43 of the receiving trough 42 is preferably designed to be complementary to, or at least partially adapted to, a cross-section of the channels 18 in order to offer as little resistance as possible to the entry of the individual portions 22.The trough 42 is inclined in accordance with the inclination of the channels 18 in the chute section 40, so that individual portions 22 can slide into the trough 42 when it is lowered into the corresponding channel 18. Vertical movement VB of the trough 42 is provided by appropriate mechanisms and motors. Optionally, the trough 42 can also be movable in the conveying direction F. The manipulation device 44 also allows lateral movement SB of the receiving trough 42, so that it can be lowered into each of the channels 18 as required.

[0049] On the outlet side, the tray 42 is closed by a closing element (not shown), for example, a liquid-permeable flap, a grid, or a rod, when a single portion 22 is to be received. To release the single portion 22 again, the closing element is removed, for example, the flap opens. Due to the inclined arrangement of the receiving tray 42, the single portion then slides out of the tray 42 and into the channel 18 in which the tray 42 is currently located.

[0050] With the aid of the manipulation device 44, individual portions 22 can be transferred between the channels 18 in order to achieve the most uniform possible filling of the channels 18 with individual portions 22 downstream of the control section 24. Due to the differences in the speeds of the strands 14 described above, and thus sooner or later a different number of individual portions 22 in the channels 18, a product build-up can occur in channels 18 located in the central region if the operation of the device 10 is aligned with the speed of the strands 14 in the channels 18 at the edge of the arrangement of channels 18. If the operation of the device 10 is aligned with the speed of the strands 14 in the channels 18 in a central region, the channels 18 at the edge are not fully utilized. The manipulation device 44 can equalize the utilization of the channels 18 and thus improve the utilization of the device 10.

[0051] The manipulation device 44 is connected to the control unit 38, which, based on the information obtained by the sensor units 30, can determine how many individual portions 22 are located in the individual channels 18 upstream of the control section 24, since this information formed the basis for the individual separation processes. Alternatively or additionally, further sensor units, for example optical sensors, can be provided to detect the "occupancy" of the channels 18. Based on the data regarding the utilization or "occupancy" of the channels 18, the control unit 38 instructs the manipulation device 44 to extract individual portions 22 from specific channels 18 and dispense them into other channels 18 in order to balance or at least equalize the "occupancy" of the channels.

[0052] The manipulation device 44 can – in addition to or as an alternative to the transfer functionality – include a measuring device (not shown) for determining a characteristic parameter of the received individual portion 22. For example, this characteristic parameter is the weight of the individual portion 22, which is determined by means of a scale (not shown) integrated into the manipulation device 44. This information can also be taken into account when controlling the device 10 by the control unit 38. Specifically, if it turns out that the received individual portions 22 in certain channels 18 deviate from a certain target weight, the control unit 38 can adjust a threshold value that triggers the separation of the individual portions 22 in order to correct this problem.In principle, it is also conceivable that the data could be taken into account during the operation of the distributor 16, which is optionally also controlled by the control unit 38, for example to reduce or increase the speed of all strands 14.

[0053] The characteristic parameter can also be used to remove individual portions 22 that do not meet a specific quality criterion (e.g., "underweight" portions). A collecting device 46 is provided downstream of the control section 24 in the conveying direction F (see again Fig. 1). It has a collecting wall 48 that can be inserted into the transport channels 18, which continue to run parallel and separately from one another, to collect individual portions 22 conveyed in the channels 18. As soon as a desired quantity of individual portions 22 is reached in the individual channels 18 and / or a desired residence time of the individual portions 22 in the brine is reached, the collecting wall 48 is removed. The device 10 is typically operated in such a way that a build-up of individual portions 22 forms in front of the collecting wall 48. The wall 48 may have openings to prevent the brine from backing up and overflowing the wall 48.Ultimately, any element can be used that stops the individual portions 22 but allows the slurry medium to flow through. A transverse (thin) rod, a grid, or similar can achieve this.

[0054] By removing wall 48, a batch of the collected individual portions 22 can enter a dispensing unit 50 until the leading individual portions 22 strike a stop wall or end wall 53. Like wall 48, wall 53 can also be designed to prevent disruptive accumulation of the flushing medium.

[0055] In the transport unit, the transport channels 18 continue as channel sections arranged on a tray 52. ​​The tray 52 can be removed from the output unit 50.

[0056] An example of such a tray 52 is shown in Fig. 7. The tray 52 has four parallel channel sections 18A. The number of channel sections 18A corresponds to the number of transport channels 18. Although there is a gap between the inlet end of the channel sections 18A and an outlet end of the transport channels 18, since the tray 52 is removable, the channel sections 18A can functionally be considered part of the transport channels 18. The channel sections 18A continue the concept of separate conveyance of the individual portions 22. This ultimately means that the cheese mass introduced into a channel 18 ultimately ends up in the corresponding channel section 18A, unless it has been actively removed from the corresponding channel 18, for example, to be transferred to another channel 18 or because a characteristic parameter of one of its properties suggests that it does not meet certain quality criteria.

[0057] In the tray 52 shown, the leading individual portions 22 strike against channel stops 53' formed in the channel sections 18A. The stops 53' are preferably designed such that – like the walls 48, 53 – they retain the individual portions 22, but allow the floating medium to flow through them (e.g., ribs, grids, etc.).

[0058] As soon as the manifold 48 is removed, a batch of individual portions 22 is dispensed onto the corresponding tray 52. ​​The aim is for the tray 52 to be completely filled, meaning that all channel sections 18A would then be fully occupied with individual portions 22. Afterwards, the manifold 48 is closed again. In this context, it is advantageous if the length of the trays 52 or the channel sections 18A is approximately a multiple of the desired (average) length of the individual portions 22, in order to avoid, as far as possible, the last individual portions 22 only being partially dispensed onto the tray 52.

[0059] Tray 52 now contains a well-defined number of individual portions 22 in a two-dimensional arrangement (matrix arrangement). The filled tray 52 can now be removed. After the filled tray 52 is removed, a tray 52 arranged in a tray storage unit 54 moves up to fill it (see again Fig. 1). The tray storage unit 54 preferably contains a stack of trays 52, with the uppermost one being filled and then removed. The tray 52 can then be fed to a gripper 56 with at least one gripper 56, which places the individual portions 22 onto a conveyor belt or directly into or onto a packaging unit. Due to the well-defined arrangement of the individual portions 22 on the tray 52, the gripper 56 can operate quickly and efficiently.

[0060] Functionally, an optional buffer 58 is provided between the output unit 50 of the gripper assembly, in which filled trays 52 can be temporarily stored, for example, if problems arise during the transfer of individual portions 22 to the corresponding packaging. This can occur, for instance, when a film change is required in a thermoforming packaging device that forms packaging units from a film. The operation of the gripper 56 must then be paused, even though individual portions 22 continue to be produced and delivered.

[0061] The individual portions 22 can also be dried in a well-defined manner in the buffer 58. To facilitate this process, the trays 52 (a cross-section of a tray 52 with 24 channel sections 18A is shown in Fig. 8) can have draining openings 60 (for example, slots) (see Fig. 9).

[0062] The buffer 58 can, for example, be a type of cabinet into which the trays 52 can be inserted. Directly stacking the trays 52 on top of each other is also conceivable. In such an embodiment, vertical spacers (e.g., projections or similar) can be provided on the trays 52 to ensure a constant distance between them. Positioning elements (e.g., stops or similar) can also be provided to ensure that the trays 52 can be stacked precisely and reproducibly.

[0063] The exemplary embodiment of a device for producing cheese sticks described above enables the efficient production and dispensing of individual portions. It should be noted here that the concept of a control circuit for equalizing the utilization of the individual channels and / or for determining characteristic properties of the individual portions 22, on the one hand, and the concept of providing continuous transport channels in order to dispense the well-defined, two-dimensional arrangement of individual portions 22, on the other hand, can be advantageously combined as described above. However, it is also quite conceivable to use these two individual concepts separately. [List of reference symbols]

[0064] 10 Device for making cheese sticks 12 Extruder nozzle

[0065] 14 strand

[0066] 16 distributors

[0067] 18-channel

[0068] 18A Canal section

[0069] 20 portioning device

[0070] 22 single servings

[0071] 24 Control section

[0072] 28 separation unit

[0073] 30 sensor units

[0074] 32 angle stops

[0075] 34 Stop legs

[0076] 36 transmission legs

[0077] 38 Control unit

[0078] 40 slide sections

[0079] 42 Receiving tray

[0080] 43 Floor section

[0081] 44 Manipulation device

[0082] 46 Collection facility

[0083] 48 Collection wall

[0084] 50 output units

[0085] 52 trays

[0086] 53 Notice board

[0087] 53* Channel stop

[0088] 54 tablet storage

[0089] 56 Gripper device

[0090] 58 buffers

[0091] 60 Drainage opening

[0092] F Conveyor direction

[0093] VB vertical mobility

[0094] SB lateral mobility

Claims

Claims 1. Device for producing cheese sticks comprising: - an extruder arrangement with a plurality of extruder nozzles (12) arranged side by side for extruding a strand of cheese mass (14), in particular wherein the cheese mass is pasta filata, - a transport channel arrangement with a plurality of separate transport channels arranged side by side (18), wherein each extruder nozzle is assigned exactly one transport channel for receiving and conveying one of the discharged cheese mass strands in a conveying direction (F), - a portioning device (20) by means of which individual portions (22) can be separated from the respective strands of cheese mass conveyed in the transport channels, - a control section (24) downstream of the portioning device in the conveying direction with at least one manipulation device (44) by means of which at least, in particular exactly one, single portion can be received and removed from at least one of the transport channels.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the control section (24) is a section of a cooling section which - viewed in the conveying direction (F) - is downstream of the portioning device (20).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, the transport channels run separately from each other, at least between the extruder assembly and the end of the control section.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the manipulation device (44) is designed and equipped to dispense a single portion (22) taken from a transport channel (18) into this and / or into another transport channel.

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the manipulation device (44) comprises at least a sensor device which is designed and configured to determine at least one characteristic parameter of the single portion (22) taken up, in particular wherein the characteristic parameter is a weight of the single portion.

6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the manipulation device (44) comprises a receiving tray (42) for receiving the single portion (22).

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein the receiving tray (42) has an outlet-side closing element, in particular a liquid-permeable closing element, which releases an outlet-side end of the receiving tray for the purpose of dispensing the single portion (22).

8. Device according to one of claims 6 or 7, wherein the receiving trough (42) can be inserted into the transport channels (18) so that at least one individual portion (22) can enter the receiving trough by a translational movement in the respective transport channel in the conveying direction (F), in particular wherein a bottom section (43) of the The receiving trough can be brought into the system, at least partially, with a floor section of the respective transport channel.

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control section (24) includes a sloping section (40) in which the transport channels (18) have a greater inclination relative to the horizontal than in a section upstream in the conveying direction (F), so that the individual portions (22) are accelerated by the influence of gravity.

10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a sensor unit is provided with which the number of individual portions (22) in the individual transport channels (18) can be determined, in particular in an area upstream and / or downstream of the control section (24) in the conveying direction (F).

11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the portioning device (20) comprises a plurality of separation units (28) for separating individual portions (22) which can be controlled independently of each other, wherein a separation unit is assigned to each transport channel (18).

12. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a control device (38) is provided with which the extruder arrangement, the portioning device (20) and / or the manipulation device (44) can be controlled and / or with which data determined or specified by the sensor device and / or the sensor unit can be recorded.

13. Method for controlling a device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the portioning device (20) and / or the extruder arrangement are controlled on the basis of a characteristic parameter of at least one single portion (22).

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the characteristic parameter is determined by means of the manipulation device (44).

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the portioning device (20) of the device comprises a plurality of separation units (28) for separating individual portions (22) which can be controlled independently of each other, wherein a separation unit is assigned to each transport channel (18), and wherein the control of the separation units is adapted individually for each lane based on the determined characteristic parameter.

16. Method for controlling a device according to at least one of claims 1 to 12, and in particular with the features of claims 13, 14 or 15, wherein the manipulation device (44) and / or the extruder arrangement are controlled on the basis of the number of individual portions (14) in the individual transport channels (18).

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein the number of individual portions (22) in the individual transport channels (18) is determined on the basis of data from the portioning device (20) and / or a separate sensor unit.

18. Method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein individual portions (22) are transferred between transport channels (18) by means of the manipulation device (44) in order to equalize the number of individual portions located downstream of the control section (24) in the individual transport channels.

19. Method according to at least one of claims 13 to 18, wherein individual portions (22) are taken from the device by means of the manipulation device (44) if they do not meet predetermined quality criteria, in particular because a characteristic parameter of an individual portion falls below or exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

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