Method and device for dehydrating co-extruded food products

• US 9,173,414 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stork Townsend Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stork Townsend Incorporated
• Inventors: Kobussen, Jos, Bontjer, Marcus Bernhard Hubert, Van den Berg, Kasper Willem, Flores, Hector Angel
• Primary Examiner(s): Ross, Dana
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dang, Ket D
• Application Number:
  US13/298,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20120073454A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 995/35, 995/16, 994/70, 99/14, 99/83, 99/86, 991/03, 991/00, 99/1.P, 991/82, 991/83, 991/93, 991/31, 991/05, 991/54, 991/99, 992/04, 993/52, 991/08, 426/135, 426/140, 426/277, 426/92, 426/105, 426/138, 426/241, 426/276, 426/278, 426/284, 426/305, 426/506, 426/513, 426/514, 426/516, 426/646, 426/517, 426/231, 452/31, 452/33, 452/37, 452/47, 210/167.1, 210/90, 210/195.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 11/00 Sausage making chemical aspects A23L13/00; Apparatus for handling or conveying sausage products during manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 13/0006 Apparatus for making artificial collagen casings chemical aspects A22C13/0016
• CPC Class Codes: A22C 2013/0023 coextruded together with the food product
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/02 Preserving by means of inorganic salts apparatus therefor A23B4/26, A23B4/32
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/033 with addition of chemicals A23B4/037 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/24 Inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23B 4/305 with inorganic salts
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs

Abstract

A method for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products, wherein an aqueous salt solution is supplied to the exterior of the co-extruded food products. A device for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products.

Claims

1. Device for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products, comprising:

a brining system for the co-extruded food products,

supply means for an aqueous salt solution connecting onto the brining system,

collecting means for the aqueous salt solution likewise connecting onto the brining system, wherein the device is also provided with reconditioning means for reconditioning the aqueous salt solution collected by the collecting means and feeding the supply means with a reconditioned aqueous salt solution;

which the reconditioning means comprise a sensor for the measuring of the aqueous salt solution and an intelligent control unit connected to the sensor for automated adjustment of the quality of the aqueous salt solution; and

wherein the reconditioning means reconditions the aqueous salt solution using forced evaporation;

are provided with a filter for filtering contaminants out of the aqueous salt solution;

are provided with a dispensing feed connected to a vessel with a heating coil for feeding an additive to the aqueous salt solution; and

a return means wherein the intelligent control unit selectively the return means and the reconditioning means based on a sensed level of contamination.

2. A device for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products, comprising:

a brining system for the co-extruded food products,

supply means for an aqueous salt solution connecting onto the brining system,

collecting means for the aqueous salt solution likewise connecting onto the brining system, wherein the device is also provided with reconditioning means for reconditioning the aqueous salt solution collected by the collecting means and feeding the supply means with a reconditioned aqueous salt solution, which the reconditioning means comprise a sensor for the measuring of the aqueous salt solution and an intelligent control unit connected to the sensor for automated adjustment of the quality of the aqueous salt solution;

wherein the reconditioning means has means for monitoring discoloration of the aqueous solution; and

a return means wherein the intelligent control unit selectively the return means and the reconditioning means based on a sensed level of contamination.

3. A device for at least partially dehydrating the casing of co-extruded food products, comprising:

a brining system for the co-extruded food products,

supply means for an aqueous salt solution connecting onto the brining system,

collecting means for the aqueous salt solution likewise connecting onto the brining system, wherein the device is also provided with reconditioning means for reconditioning the aqueous salt solution collected by the collecting means and feeding the supply means with a reconditioned aqueous salt solution, which the reconditioning means comprise a sensor for the measuring of the aqueous salt solution and an intelligent control unit connected to the sensor for automated adjustment of the quality of the aqueous salt solution;

wherein the reconditioning means has means for adding an additive to the aqueous salt solution and filtering means for filtering contaminants out of the aqueous salt solution connected to a vessel with a heating coil; and

a return means wherein the intelligent control unit selectively the return means and the reconditioning means based on a sensed level of contamination.