Continuous Lamination Device for Confectionery Mass

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing laminated confectionery masses, such as halvah, face challenges in achieving reproducible and adjustable lamination, particularly in continuous production processes, where the base and separating masses have different strengths and require precise control to maintain plasticity and prevent solidification during the lamination process.

Innovation Solution

A device with a housing-like stator and a coreless rotor is used for continuous production, featuring separate inlets for the base and separating masses, with a processing line that allows for wetting, conveying, and assembling the masses to create a thread-like structure, utilizing elements like coreless coils, scraping combs, and mandrels to manage gravity and achieve the desired lamination level, with adjustable speed and temperature control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If batch production with lifting kneading mixer is used, then manual flexibility is maintained, but reproducibility and automation are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomation of lamination processVSAvoidreproducibility of lamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical operations with an automated extrusion system featuring a reciprocating screw that automatically performs mixing, laminating, and shaping operations. The controlled reciprocating motion of the screw within the cylindrical chamber eliminates manual intervention while ensuring consistent reproduction of the lamination structure through programmed cycles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs precise control of process parameters including temperature, pressure, and the reciprocating screw motion parameters (stroke length, frequency, direction). By systematically controlling these parameters, the system achieves reproducible lamination results while maintaining high automation. The temperature control prevents solidification during processing, and the controlled reciprocation ensures consistent layer formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If continuous production is implemented, then productivity increases, but control over mass plasticity and lamination degree becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous production outputVSAvoidcontrol of lamination degree
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous production through an extrusion system where the reciprocating screw continuously mixes, laminates, and forms the confectionery mass without interruption. The cyclic reciprocating motion maintains continuous material flow and processing, enabling sustained high productivity while the controlled parameters ensure consistent lamination quality throughout the production run.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates control mechanisms that monitor and adjust process parameters during continuous operation. Temperature control prevents solidification, and the reciprocating screw parameters are regulated to maintain optimal plasticity and lamination degree throughout continuous production, ensuring consistent quality despite the continuous nature of the process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If base mass is kept plastic during lamination, then processing is easier, but solidification control becomes critical

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplasticity of base mass during processingVSAvoidtemperature control to prevent solidification
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent maintains base mass plasticity through precise temperature control during the lamination process. The system controls temperature to keep the sugar-based base mass above its solidification point, ensuring it remains pliable and workable throughout the extrusion and laminating operations, while preventing excessive heating that could cause degradation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares the base mass in advance by heating it to the appropriate temperature range before lamination begins, ensuring it is sufficiently plastic for processing. The temperature control system maintains this state throughout the process, preventing solidification before it can occur and ensuring continuous workability during the entire lamination sequence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables reproducible production of laminated confectionery masses with a uniform degree of lamination, maintaining the thread-like structure and preventing sticking, resulting in a product with unique bite characteristics and adjustable lamination levels.

Implementation Method 1

pulling the base mass wetted with the separating mass and for conveying and assembling the drawn masses in the longitudinal direction of the device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2111762B1Method and device for continuous production of a laminated confectionary mass
Publication Date: 2013.04.24 CHOCOTECH
  • EP2111762B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2111762B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2111762B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device (1) and a method serve for the continuous production of a laminated confectionery mass (14), in particular halva, from at least one base mass (11) and at least one separating mass (12). The device (1) is provided with a housing-like stator (2) and a coreless rotor (3) driven therein about a rotating axis (4). There is at least one inlet (10) for the base mass (11) and the separating mass (12) and a separate outlet (9) for the laminated confectionery mass (14), wherein a processing section (13) for the base mass (11) and the separating mass (12) is formed between the rotor (3) and the stator (2) for joining the base mass (11) and the separating mass (12), for wetting the base mass (11) with the separating mass (12), for drawing the base mass (11) wetted with the separating mass (12) in the free space (17) and for conveying and joining the drawn masses (11, 12) in the longitudinal direction of the device (1).