Food forming concept
AssigneeGea Food Solutions Bakel B.V.
InventorsHendrikus Petrus Gerardus Van Gerwen, Petrus Hubertus Maria Schoenmakers
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a food forming drum (1) comprising a multitude of rows (2′) of product cavities, each row comprising a multitude of product cavities, wherein the product cavities are provided as one or more at least partially porous members (78) made from a porous material with interconnecting pores. The present invention further relates to a food forming apparatus comprising a food forming drum and a porous member. Additionally, the present invention relates to a movable unit to transport a drum and a method to change a drum or clean the food forming apparatus.
Claims18
A moveable unit to transport a mould drum, the moveable unit comprises:
- a frame, and
- a support frame connected to the frame, the support frame comprising a generally planar wall that is configured to removably connect with one side of a generally planar support structure of a production support means such that the production support means cantilevers from the support frame, the production support means comprising a spindle that extends from an opposing side of the generally planar support structure on which the mould drum is supported.
A moveable unit to transport a mould drum, the moveable unit comprises:
- a support frame comprising a generally planar wall that is configured to removably connect to one side of a generally planar support structure of a production support means, the production support means comprising a spindle on which the mould drum is supported,
- wherein the support frame is connected to only one end of the production support means such that the production support means and the mould drum cantilever from the support frame when the production support means is connected to the support frame and the mould drum is supported on the spindle,
- a positioning means that is adapted to position the moveable unit relative a forming apparatus, a cleaning apparatus, and/or a storage unit, and
- wherein the moveable unit is adapted to load, unload, and move the mould drum between the forming apparatus, the cleaning apparatus, the storage unit, or a combination thereof.
A moveable unit to transport a mould drum, the moveable unit comprises:
- a frame having an L-shape, the frame comprising a horizontal portion and a vertical portion connected to an end of the horizontal portion,
- a support frame connected to the vertical portion, the support frame comprising a generally planar wall that is configured to removably connect to a generally planar support structure of a production support means, the production support means comprising a spindle that extends from the generally planar support structure of the production support means, the mould drum is configured to be removably supported on the spindle,
- wherein the generally planar wall of the support frame comprises a plurality of projections that are configured to be received into corresponding bores defined in the generally planar support structure of the production support means,
- wherein the support frame comprises an opening defined in the generally planar wall, the opening is configured to receive and support an end of the production support means,
- wherein only one end of the production support means is connected to the support frame such that the production support means and the mould drum cantilever from the vertical portion of the frame,
- wherein the production support means is also adapted to support the mould drum on a forming apparatus when the production support means is removed from the moveable unit and connected to the forming apparatus,
- wherein the mould drum comprises a plurality of product cavities disposed around an outer circumference of the mould drum,
- a positioning means that is adapted to position the moveable unit relative the forming apparatus, a cleaning apparatus, and/or a storage unit,
- wherein the moveable unit is adapted to load and unload the mould drum from the forming apparatus, the cleaning apparatus, the storage unit, or a combination thereof, and
- wherein the support frame comprises an align mechanism that is adapted to adjust an angle of the production support means and the mould drum relative to the forming apparatus, the cleaning apparatus, and/or the storage unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.