US 5,156,867 A · Method and apparatus for operating a conching device

Abstract

In a conching device (1) at least one rotor (2, or 3, respectively) is driven by an electric motor (9). The driving motor (9) is controlled by means of a motor control unit (8). To establish the amount of energy introduced into the conching device (1), at least one motor-operation parameter is detected and evaluated. To shorten the conching time of a conching process to the necessary extent, it is provided to establish the amount of energy introduced into the conching device at least during the viscous-plastic phase of the chocolate mass and to control the conching process in dependency upon the summation value of energy attained. Since the amount of energy introduced during the viscous-plastic phase determines the properties and the quality of the chocolate, a high reproducibility will be ensured.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A process for operating a conching device for refining chocolate masses within a trough in which at least one rotor rotates when driven by a motor, the process comprising the steps of

treating said masses by rotation of said rotor during a treatment phase in which said masses assume a viscous-plastic condition, treatment time comprising at least one period ending with at least one operation selected from the group consisting of
adding at least one additive to said masses, and
initiating stoppage of said motor;
detecting at least one parameter representative of the energy consumption of said motor at least during said treatment phase of viscous-plastic condition;
integrating said at least one parameter at least during said phase to get summation values of energy;
and
ending said at least one period after a first predetermined summation value has been attained.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for operating a conching device

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for operating a conching device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14