Method and apparatus for operating a conching device
First Claim
1. 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 oftreating 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 ofadding at least one additive to said masses, andinitiating 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.
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Accused Products
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.
42 Citations
14 Claims
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1. 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A conching device for refining chocolate masses to let them assume a viscous-plastic condition, the apparatus comprising
wall means defining at least one trough; -
at least one rotor rotatably mounted within said trough and having a plurality of tools for treating said masses; motor means for imparting rotating movement to said rotor; motor control means for switching said motor; energy detecting means for detecting the energy consumption of said motor; integrating means connected to said energy detecting means for integrating the energy consumed by said motor at least during a viscous-plastic phase of said masses for deriving an integrated signal; and calculating means receiving said integrated signal from said integrating means for summing up the energy consumption at least during said viscous-plastic phase and controlling said motor control means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification