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US 11,528,921 B2Granted
Die for a confectionery moulding machine
AssigneeTNA Australia Pty Limited
InventorMarek Grus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A die assembly (10) used with a tray (11) employed in a continuous confectionary stark moulding machine/process, in which a plurality of the trays (11) are used. The tray (11) is of a rectangular configuration and includes upwardly extending side walls (12) that surround a space (13) that receives starch, in powder form, typically the powder would be flour.
Claims13
A die assembly to engage a tray having a tray periphery and that receives a powder that is engaged by the die assembly to form a cavity in the powder in which a product having a configuration is formed, the die assembly comprising:
- a body of generally rectangular configuration including:
- a pair of first sides that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, and
- a pair of second sides that are generally parallel and transversely spaced and that extend between the pair of first sides, with the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides surrounding a central area;
- a support portion extending across the central area and being fixed to the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides;
- at least one mould member fixed to the support portion and projecting from the support portion such that, when the tray is engaged by the die assembly, the at least one mould member presses into the powder to form at least one cavity in the powder;
- at least one duct through which a gas passes, the at least one duct being integrated within at least one of the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides;
- and
- at least one gas outlet or gas inlet that communicates with the at least one duct so as to provide at least one gas stream to pass the tray periphery to remove the powder therefrom.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a tray comprising:
- a rectangular surface;
- a sidewall connected to the rectangular surface that surrounds a space above the rectangular surface configured to receive a powder, wherein the sidewall includes:
- a top surface;
- and
- a side surface;
- a die assembly positioned above the tray and configured to engage the tray, the die assembly comprising:
- a body of generally rectangular configuration including:
- a pair of first sides that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, and
- a pair of second sides that are generally parallel and transversely spaced and that extend between the pair of first sides, with the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides surrounding a central area;
- a support portion extending across the central area and being fixed to the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides;
- at least one mould member fixed to the support portion and projecting from the support portion such that, when the tray is engaged by the die assembly, the at least one mould member presses into the powder to form at least one cavity in the powder;
- at least one duct through which a gas passes, wherein the gas passing through the duct is drawn into the duct as a result of reduced air pressure, the at least one duct being provided by at least one of the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides;
- and
- at least one gas inlet extending from the at least one duct and positioned above the top surface of the sidewall of the tray when the die assembly engages the tray, wherein the at least one gas inlet communicates with the at least one duct so as to deliver the gas to the at least one duct, and so as to provide at least one gas stream that is directed upward from the top surface of the sidewall of the tray to remove the powder from the top surface of the sidewall of the tray.
12 more elements
A system comprising:
- a tray comprising:
- a rectangular surface;
- a sidewall connected to the rectangular surface that surrounds a space above the rectangular surface configured to receive a powder, wherein the sidewall includes:
- a top surface;
- and
- a side surface;
- a die assembly positioned above the tray and configured to engage the tray, the die assembly comprising:
- a body of generally rectangular configuration including:
- a pair of first sides that are generally parallel and transversely spaced, and
- a pair of second sides that are generally parallel and transversely spaced and that extend between the pair of first sides, with the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides surrounding a central area;
- a support portion extending across the central area and being fixed to the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides;
- at least one mould member fixed to the support portion and projecting from the support portion such that, when the tray is engaged by the die assembly, the at least one mould member presses into the powder to form at least one cavity in the powder;
- at least one duct through which a gas passes, wherein the gas passing through the duct is drawn into the duct as a result of reduced air pressure, the at least one duct being provided by at least one of the pair of first sides and the pair of second sides;
- and
- at least one gas outlet extending from the at least one duct and positioned above the top surface of the sidewall of the tray when the die assembly engages the tray, wherein the at least one gas outlet communicates with the at least one duct so as to receive the gas from the at least one duct, and so as to provide at least one gas stream that is directed toward the top surface of the sidewall of the tray to remove the powder from the top surface of the sidewall of the tray.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.