Method and apparatus for extrusion of food products including back pressure valve/diverter
First Claim
1. An extruder system comprising:
- an elongated tubular extruder barrel presenting an outlet end;
an elongated, axially rotatable, flighted screw within said extruder barrel;
a selectively adjustable back pressure valve assembly operatively coupled to said extruder barrel outlet end, said assembly including a structure defining a passageway with an inlet and an outlet, said inlet communicating with said extruder barrel outlet end, said assembly having a valve member selectively shiftable relative to said passageway for altering the effective cross-sectional open area presented by the passageway; and
a product treatment assembly located adjacent said passageway outlet for receiving product after passage through said extruder barrel and back pressure valve assembly, said treatment assembly permitting superatmospheric pressure treatment of said product therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An extruder system (10, 124) for the processing of feed materials is provided including an extruder (12), adjustable back pressure valve assembly (14) and a superatmospheric post-extrusion product treatment assembly (16, 124). The back pressure valve assembly (14) includes an adjustable valve member (48) which can be shifted to alter the effective cross-sectional open area of a product passageway (36), and alternately can be shifted to a product diverting position wherein the product is diverted from downstream processing. The treatment assembly (16) includes a sealed housing (78) directly coupled to the assembly (14) so that product emerging from the assembly (14) passes into housing (78) without experiencing atmospheric pressure. The treatment assembly (124) includes a product-guiding cowling (128) which is open to the atmosphere, together with a sealed housing (134) for effecting above atmospheric pressure treatment of extruded product.
143 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An extruder system comprising:
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an elongated tubular extruder barrel presenting an outlet end;
an elongated, axially rotatable, flighted screw within said extruder barrel;
a selectively adjustable back pressure valve assembly operatively coupled to said extruder barrel outlet end, said assembly including a structure defining a passageway with an inlet and an outlet, said inlet communicating with said extruder barrel outlet end, said assembly having a valve member selectively shiftable relative to said passageway for altering the effective cross-sectional open area presented by the passageway; and
a product treatment assembly located adjacent said passageway outlet for receiving product after passage through said extruder barrel and back pressure valve assembly, said treatment assembly permitting superatmospheric pressure treatment of said product therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An extruder system comprising:
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an elongated tubular extruder barrel presenting an outlet end;
an elongated, axially rotatable, flighted screw within said extruder barrel;
a product treatment assembly located for receiving product after passage thereof through said extruder barrel, said treatment assembly comprising a product-guiding cowling open to atmospheric pressure and a sealed treatment housing having an inlet and an outlet, one end of said cowling disposed about said barrel segment outlet and the other end of the cowling located adjacent said treatment housing inlet, said treatment housing permitting superatmospheric pressure treatment of said product therein. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of processing a product comprising the steps of:
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providing an extruder including an elongated extruder barrel equipped with an elongated, axially rotatable, flighted screw therein, and an apertured die plate;
passing product ingredients into and through said extruder and die plate to form an extrudate, and, during such passage, subjecting the ingredients to heat, pressure and shear in order to at least partially cook said ingredients;
subdividing said extrudate;
passing said subdivided extrudate through atmospheric pressure for a maximum period of up to about 1.5 seconds;
directing said subdivided extrudate after said atmospheric passage into and through a sealed treatment housing; and
subjecting the subdivided extrudate to a superatmospheric pressure treatment within said housing. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification