Conditioner

#The present invention relates to a conditioner, in particular for the production of conditioned foodstuffs or animal foods.

#Conditioners are used individually as processors or in conjunction with pressing or expander plants in the preparation of animal foodstuffs or foodstuffs. These are generally mixers, in which a product for processing is processed over a certain period thermally or hydrothermally. This processing serves to render the products hygienic, and to improve the nutritional value and/or the product structure.

#Such mixers are known for example from EP-B-231764 and EP-B-610789. In this example a dosing device is connected upstream of such a mixer and a compression mould or an expander is supplied from the mixer. The mixer is provided with a heating mantle and contains a rotating shaft, which is equipped with mixing and conveying elements.

#The invention will now be described in greater detail hereinbelow in an embodiment with reference to a diagram, in which:

#FIG. 1 shows an exemplary conditioner in a main illustration;

#FIG. 2 shows the exemplary conditioner of FIG. 1 in section;

#An exemplary conditioner 1 contains a dosing element 2 (screw dosing element), a mixer 3 and two detention elements 4 (in FIG. 3 only one detention element 4 is shown to simplify), which are arranged above one another and form a conditioning module. The mixer 3 and the detention element 4 in each case exhibit identical faceplates 5 or 6, by means of which the module arrangement is also effected.

#The product is guided via the corresponding product supply openings 7, 9 or product discharge openings 8, 10. The product is transferred via the product discharge opening 10 of the lower detention element 4 into a dicing press 30. A flange to the product supply opening 7 of the mixer 3 attaches the dosing element 2.

#The mixer 3 has a fast-running rotor for intensive product mixing with steam, gases and/or fluids. On the contrary, the detention element 4 is fitted with a slow-running rotor. In the detention element 4 the heated, mixed product is maintained at a defined temperature for a specific period.