U.S. patent application number 11/987747 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-17 for cutter assembly for extruding shaped food pieces.
Invention is credited to Thomas B. Hunter.
Application Number | 20080089970 11/987747 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32713077 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080089970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hunter; Thomas B. |
April 17, 2008 |
Cutter assembly for extruding shaped food pieces
Abstract
A cutter assembly for an extruder includes an elongated
extrusion member having an opened feed end. The opened feed end is
attachable in fluid communication with a first manifold of the
extruder. A filling tube extends through the elongated extrusion
member, which is attachable to a second manifold of the extruder.
An extrusion die is formed in the elongated extrusion member. The
extrusion die is shaped to the general shape of a natural food
piece. A cutter member has an opened drivable end, an elongated
cutter wall, and an opened cutter end with a cutting surface for
cutting extrudate to a desired length as the extrudate exits the
die. The cutting surface is shaped to the general shape of the
extrusion die. The cutter member is disposed at least partially
over and reciprocally slidable on the extrusion wall and operably
connectable at the drivable end to a drive device of the extruder
for reciprocatably sliding the cutting surface of the cutter member
over and away from the extrusion die.
Inventors: |
Hunter; Thomas B.;
(Collinsville, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
32713077 |
Appl. No.: |
11/987747 |
Filed: |
December 4, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10745660 |
Dec 29, 2003 |
7320279 |
|
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11987747 |
Dec 4, 2007 |
|
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60436650 |
Dec 30, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
425/311 ;
264/219 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A21C 11/10 20130101;
A21C 11/163 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
425/311 ;
264/219 |
International
Class: |
A21C 11/16 20060101
A21C011/16; A21C 11/10 20060101 A21C011/10 |
Claims
1. A cutter assembly for an extruder, comprising: an elongated
extrusion member having an opened feed end, said opened feed end
being attachable in fluid communication with a first manifold of
the extruder for supplying a mash to said elongated extrusion
member, said elongated extrusion member having a nidox coating
applied to at least a bottom portion thereof; an extrusion die
formed in said elongated extrusion member, said extrusion die being
shaped to the general shape of a natural food piece, said extrusion
die being formed in said elongated extrusion member after said
nidox coating is applied to thereto; and a cutter member having an
opened drivable end, an elongated cutter wall, and an opened cutter
end with a cutting surface for cutting extrudate to a desired
length as the extrudate exits the die, said cutting surface being
shaped to the general shape of said extrusion die, and said cutter
member being disposed at least partially over and reciprocally
slidable on the extrusion wall and operably connectable at the
drivable end to a drive device of the extruder for reciprocatably
sliding the cutting surface of the cutter member over and away from
the extrusion die.
2. The cutter assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a
filling tube extending through said elongated extrusion member,
said filling tube being attachable to a second manifold of the
extruder for supplying a filling to said filling tube
3. The cutter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cutter
member is tubular and said elongated cutter wall includes an inside
diameter generally the same diameter as an outside diameter of said
extrusion wall, said cutter member being slidable on said extrusion
wall to reciprocate said cutting surface in cooperation with said
extrusion die.
4. The cutter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said filling
tube extends through an axial center of said elongated extrusion
member, said filling tube having an end adjacent to said extrusion
die, said end being bent toward said extrusion die.
5. The cutter assembly according to claim 1, wherein said filling
tube includes an open end adjacent to said extrusion die, said open
end being in the general shape of said extrusion die and said
cutting surface of said cutter member.
6. The cutter assembly according to claim 4, wherein said end of
said filling tube includes an open end adjacent to said extrusion
die, said open end being in the general shape of said extrusion die
and said cutting surface of said cutter member.
7. A method of making an elongated extrusion member for an
extruder, said method comprising the steps of: providing an
elongated extrusion member having an opened feed end, said opened
feed end being attachable in fluid communication with a first
manifold of the extruder for supplying a mash to said elongated
extrusion member; applying a nidox coating to at least a bottom
portion of said elongated extrusion member; and forming an
extrusion die in said elongated extrusion member after said nidox
coating is applied to thereto, said extrusion die being shaped to
the general shape of a natural food piece.
Description
[0001] This application is a Divisional of application Ser. No.
10/745,660, filed on Dec. 29, 2003, now allowed; which claims
priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) on U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/436,650, filed on Dec. 30, 2002; the entire
contents of all are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an extruder cutter assembly
for extruding filled food pieces. More particularly, the present
invention relates to an extruder cutter assembly, which includes an
extrusion member having a filling tube therein and a cutter member
for cutting extrudate exiting the extrusion member to form a filled
food piece having the shape of a natural food piece.
[0004] 2. Description of Background Art
[0005] Extruders for producing extruded food pieces are known. Such
extruders can conventionally include a pressure vessel for
containing, under pressure, a mash of the food to be extruded.
Furthermore, pressure exerting means for maintaining pressure in
the pressure vessel, a manifold in fluid communication with the
pressure vessel, and an extruder cutter assembly, generally located
underneath the pressure vessel, in fluid communication with the
manifold can be included. The extruded food is cut to size by the
extruder cutter assembly.
[0006] Food products that can be extruded in such extruders
include, e.g., meats, poultry, seafood, cereal grains, vegetables,
fruits, and solid dairy products. As specific examples, the mash
may be prepared from beef, chicken, shrimp, wheat, corn, rice,
potatoes, apples, and cheese.
[0007] The food is ground to a particle size consistent with
forming a fluid mash, e.g., particle sizes that will pass through a
U. S. Screen Series No. 5 screen, more usually a No. 10 screen, and
often a No. 20 screen up to about a No. 100 screen.
[0008] Water or other dispersing liquids, e.g., 3% to 70%, may be
added to the ground food in order to produce a liquid mash.
Binders, flavors, preservatives, colors, stabilizers, antioxidants,
and the like may be added to the mash, in conventional amounts.
Most often, a gelling material is added to the mash, e.g., a
settable gum or pectate, for example, guar gum and sodium alginate,
in conventional amounts of about 0.1% to 25%. The gum or pectate is
set by a gelling agent, e.g., a 0.5% to 10% solution of calcium
chloride and sodium alginate.
[0009] The present inventor has invented an extruder cutter
assembly for extruding a food piece in the shape of a natural food
piece. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,043, an extruder cutter assembly
includes an extrusion member and a tubular cutter member for
cutting extrudate exiting the extrusion member. However, the '043
Patent does not include a filling tube for extruding a filling
along with a mash of food to be cut with the cutter member. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,773,043 is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0010] The present inventor has also invented an extruder cutter
assembly for extruding foodstuff containing a filling. In U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/576,766 filed on May 24, 2000, an extruder
cutter assembly includes an extension formed on the extrusion
member and a filling tube to allow for the extrudate to exit the
extruder cutter assembly from the side. This extruder is directed
to the formation of a foodstuff in stick form, not in the shape of
a natural food piece as in the present invention. Accordingly, it
is necessary to include the extension on both cutter member and the
extrusion member, which is not included in the cutter assembly of
the present invention. U.S. application Ser. No. 09/576,766 is
hereby incorporated by reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an
extruder cutter assembly, which makes up for the above deficiencies
of the background art. Specifically, it is an object of the present
invention to provide an extruder cutter assembly, which can form an
extruded product having a filling in the shape of a natural food
piece.
[0012] In order to accomplish the above objects of the present
invention, an extruder cutter assembly according to the present
invention comprises:
[0013] an elongated extrusion member having an opened feed end,
said opened feed end being attachable in fluid communication with a
first manifold of the extruder for supplying a mash to said
elongated extrusion member;
[0014] a filling tube extending through said elongated extrusion
member, said filling tube being attachable to a second manifold of
the extruder for supplying a filling to said filling tube;
[0015] an extrusion die formed in said elongated extrusion member,
said extrusion die being shaped to the general shape of a natural
food piece; and
[0016] a cutter member having an opened drivable end, an elongated
cutter wall, and an opened cutter end with a cutting surface for
cutting extrudate to a desired length as the extrudate exits the
die, said cutting surface being shaped to the general shape of said
extrusion die, and said cutter member being disposed at least
partially over and reciprocally slidable on the extrusion wall and
operably connectable at the drivable end to a drive device of the
extruder for reciprocatably sliding the cutting surface of the
cutter member over and away from the extrusion die.
[0017] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the extruder cutter assembly
of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the extruder cutter assembly
of the present invention illustrating the "ready to cut" state;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the extruder cutter assembly
of the present invention illustrating the "after cut" state;
and
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the extruder cutter assembly of
the present invention along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a front elevation of the annular extrusion member
of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a front elevation of the tubular cutter member of
the present invention; and
[0025] FIG. 7 is a top view of FIG. 4 of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] The present invention will now be described with reference
to the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals
have been used to identify the same or similar elements.
[0027] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the extruder cutter assembly 1 of
the present invention in the "ready to cut" state. Referring to
FIGS. 1-2, the extruder cutter assembly 1 includes an elongated
annular extrusion member 9 and a tubular cutter member 14. The
annular extrusion member 9 has a generally tubular extrusion wall
10 (see FIG. 4) on which the tubular cutter member 14 is mounted
for reciprocation to cut extrudate exiting the die 11 formed in the
tubular extrusion wall 10. The die 11 is formed by a through hole
of a predetermined shape of a natural food piece. In the figures,
the natural food piece is a chicken drummy; however, it should be
understood to one having ordinary skill in the art that the die can
be formed in other shapes as well.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, it is advantageous to apply a nidox
coating to the die 11. the nidox coating is applied to a bottom of
the elongated extrusion member 9 prior to the formation of the
through hole, which forms the die 11. The die is then cut out to
the general shape of a desired food piece. This process results in
a very sharp edge on the die 11. It has been found by the present
inventor that the sharp edge remains sharp for an extended period
of time.
[0029] The extrusion member 9 has a closed end 13 and an opened
feed end 12 (see FIG. 4). The extruder cutter assembly 1 of the
present invention is attachable to an extruder, such as the
extruder described in the above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,043.
Accordingly, the extruder will not be described in detail. The open
feed end 12 is attachable in fluid communication to a manifold (not
shown) by, for example, a threaded flange 15. The manifold is
connectable to a pressure vessel (not shown) for containing a mash
under pressure by a pressure-asserting device (not shown).
[0030] Further to this, it is preferable that the extruder cutter
assembly 1 of the present invention be a 13/4'' or a 2'' diameter
assembly. A 2'' diameter assembly would be the maximum diameter
supportable by, for example, the above-mentioned extruder. However,
it should be understood to one having ordinary skill in the art
that an assembly of a larger or smaller diameter is within the
scope of the present invention. The use of larger diameter
assemblies can be accomplished by modifying the extruder itself to
provide a larger distance between assemblies. Alternatively, a
larger diameter assembly can be accomplished by providing an
assembly on every other attachment, with alternating attachments
being closed off.
[0031] A filling tube 20 extends through an internal passageway 17
of the annular extrusion member 9. The filling tube 20 includes a
filling tube extension 21, which extends through the extrusion wall
10 of the annular extrusion member 9. The extrusion wall 10
includes a pair of holes 23 and 25 for receiving the filling tube
extension 21. A hole 27 includes a setscrew 28, for example,
therein to secure the filling tube extension 21 in place. An o-ring
can be used to seal between the filling tube extension 21 and the
holes 23 and 25 to ensure that filling material does not seep into
the internal passageway 17 of the annular extrusion member 9. The
filling tube 20 is also in fluid communication with a second
manifold (not shown), which is connectable to a second pressure
vessel (not shown) for containing a filling under pressure by a
second pressure exerting device (not shown) via the filling tube
extension 21.
[0032] It is noted that the manifolds are included in the
embodiment described above for distributing the mash and the
filling to a plurality of extruder cutter assemblies. However, if
only one extruder cutter assembly is to be used, the necessity of
the manifolds is eliminated.
[0033] It should also be understood that the extruder cutter
assembly 1 of the present invention can also be operated in a
reverse manner. Specifically, providing a mash to the filling tube
20 and a sauce or filling to the internal passageway 17 can form a
very unique food product having a coating on the outside. Of
course, in this example, the relative sizes of the filling tube 20
and the internal passageway 17 may have to be modified in order to
obtain a desired product.
[0034] The tubular cutter member 14 has an open drivable end 29, an
elongated cutter wall 31, and an open cutter end 33. The open
cutter end 33 includes a cutting surface 35 for cooperating with
the die 11 in the extrusion wall 10 to cut and crimp extrudate to a
desired length as the extrudate exits the extrusion member 9. The
cutting surface 35 should be formed at an angle between 25 to
90.degree. to a surface of the extrusion wall 10.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 2, the cutting surface 35 is shaped to the
general configuration of the die 11 as disclosed in the
above-mentioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,773,043 in order to obtain a more
natural looking food piece. In addition, referring to FIG. 4, it is
preferred that an end 22 of the filling tube 20 be bent toward the
die 11. This ensures that the filling exits the die 11 in a smooth
and consistent manner through a center of the die 11. It is
preferable that the filling tube be bent at an angle of 10.degree.;
however, the specific bend to the filling tube 20 will depend on a
particular application. Furthermore, an opening 24 of the filling
tube 20 can advantageously be shaped to the general shape of the
die 11. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the opening 24 of the
filling tube 20 is lengthened in the length direction of the die
11.
[0036] In addition, although not illustrated in the figures, the
opening 24 can also be increased in the width direction as well,
depending on the application. For example, in FIG. 5, the die 11 is
in the shape of a chicken drummy. Therefore, the left side of the
opening 24 should be wider than the right side in order to ensure
that more filling is supplied to the wider portion of the resulting
chicken drummy. It should also be understood to one having ordinary
skill in the art that the shape of the opening 24 will depend on
the shape of the die 11. Specifically, shaping the opening 24 to
the general shape of the die 11 will result in a more evenly filled
food piece.
[0037] Referring again to FIG. 2, the elongated cutter wall 31 of
the tubular cutter member 14 includes two cut-out portions 37
formed on an outside surface thereof adjacent the open drivable end
29. The cut-out portions 37 are for receiving the operable end of a
drive device (not shown) in order to reciprocate the cutter member
14 in cooperation with the die 11. The drive device can be any well
known device for reciprocating the cutter member 14. It is also
possible to provide a groove (not shown) around the outer
circumference of the annular extrusion member 9 instead of the
cut-out portions 37 as would be understood to one having ordinary
skill in the art. However, if a groove is used, it will be
necessary to also include a mechanism for ensuring that the cutting
surface 35 remains aligned with the die 11.
[0038] It is noted that the extrusion wall 10 and the cutter member
14 are illustrated having cooperating circular tubular shapes;
however, it can be readily understood to one having ordinary skill
in the art that they may be made in other cooperating shapes as
well. All that is necessary is for the cutter member 14 to have an
inside diameter of generally the same size and shape as the outside
diameter and shape of the extrusion wall 10 to allow the cutting
member 14 to reciprocate in a sliding manner on the outside of the
extrusion wall 10.
[0039] The operation of the extruder cutter assembly of the present
invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
FIG. 2 illustrates the "ready to cut" state, while FIG. 3
illustrates the "after cut" state. It should be noted that the
"after cut" state can actually be beyond the closed end 13 of the
extrusion member 9. Referring to FIG. 2, the mash is forced through
the open feed end 12 of the extrusion member 9 from the pressure
vessel for containing a mash of food while the cutter member 14 is
in the upper position. The filling is also forced through the
filling tube extension 21 and the filling tube 20 from the pressure
vessel for containing filling. As noted above, if a plurality of
extruder cutter assemblies is used, the mash and filling are also
fed through first and second manifolds, respectively, for
distributing the mash and filling to the extruder cutter
assemblies.
[0040] The mash and filling merge together in the internal
passageway 17 and are forced through the die 11. Once a
predetermined length of extrudate is fed through the die 11, the
cutter member 14 is moved from the position illustrated in FIG. 2
to the position illustrated in FIG. 3 to cut the extrudate to the
predetermined length. The movement of the cutter member 14 drives
the cutting surface 35 into cooperation with the die 11 in order to
cut the extrudate and crimp the extrudate to ensure that the
filling remains within the extruded food product after being
cut.
[0041] The above operation occurs continuously with the extrudate
exiting the die 11 and being cut by the reciprocating cutter member
14 in order to produce food products of a predetermined length.
[0042] It should be noted that the filling tube 20 can be removed
from the filling tube extension 21. This allows for the filling
tube 20 to be replaced with a filling tube 20 having a passageway
of a different shape. This allows the possibility of matching the
shape of the opening 24 in the filling tube 20 with the die 11 in
the extrusion member 9. This provides the advantage of increasing
the consistency in the filing of the resulting extruded food
product. The possibility of removing the filling tube 20 from the
filling tube extension 21 and the filling tube 21 from the
extrusion member 9 also allows for easy cleaning of the extruder
cutter assembly 1.
[0043] The cutter member 14 is disposed at least partially over and
reciprocally slidable on the tubular extrusion wall 10 and is
operably connected at the drivable end to a drive device for
reciprocatably sliding the cutter member over and away from the die
11. The rate of number of strokes per minute (down and up) at which
the cutter member can operate can range from 80 strokes/minute
through 500 strokes/minute.
[0044] The pressure in the pressure vessel will vary considerably
from mash to mash and die to die, but pressures of 1 to 250 psig
are normally used, especially with the usual mash temperatures of
25.degree. F. to 75.degree. F. Water or other dispersing liquids,
e.g., 3% to 70%, may be added to the ground food in order to
produce a liquid mash. Binders, flavors, preservatives, colors,
stabilizers, antioxidants, and the like may be added to the mash,
in conventional amounts. Most often, a gelling material is added to
the mash, e.g., a settable gum or pectate, for example, guar gum
and sodium alginate, in conventional amounts of about 0.1% to 25%.
The gum or pectate is set by a gelling agent, e.g., a 0.5% to 10%
solution of calcium chloride and sodium alginate.
[0045] The length of individual products extruded in accordance
with the present invention will depend upon both the rate at which
the cutter member operates and the rate at which the product is
extruded, the latter being a function of the viscosity of the
product in the pressure vessel and the pressure being applied to
that product.
[0046] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that
the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be
regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,
and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in
the art are intended to be included within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *