阅读说明：本技术 混合和揉搅方法 (Mixing and kneading method ) 是由 伯恩哈德.胡克尔曼 于 2019-09-05 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种通过混合和/或揉搅初始成分来制备物料的方法,所述物料具有均相或由均相形成,所述均相可选地包含分散在均相中的碎块和/或气泡。均相优选在物料中是连贯的或者说连续的,可选地带有分散在均相中的碎块和/或气泡。物料的均相优选具有初始成分的至少一种聚合物和其他组分或由至少一种聚合物和初始成分的其他组分组成。(The invention relates to a method for producing a material by mixing and/or kneading starting components, said material having a homogeneous phase or being formed from a homogeneous phase, optionally containing fragments and/or gas bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase. The homogeneous phase is preferably coherent or continuous in the material, optionally with fragments and/or gas bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase. The homogeneous phase of the mass preferably has or consists of at least one polymer of the starting components and further components of the starting components.)

1. A process for preparing a material having a continuous homogeneous phase from starting ingredients, the process comprising the steps of:

-dosing the components of the initial composition for the mass in the container,

-wherein a homogeneous phase is formed from the components of the starting ingredients,

the components comprising or consisting of at least one polymer and other components, wherein at least one of the polymer and other components is in a liquid state,

-moving the container in a reciprocating motion at a frequency of at least 1Hz along two axes at respectively different frequencies over a stroke of at least 1cm along each axis for preparing a material having a homogeneous phase, optionally with fragments and/or bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase,

-removing the material from the container,

-wherein, optionally, pieces are added to the material which are homogeneously dispersible in the homogeneous phase, and/or the material has gas bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one polymer is starch and/or vegetable protein and the at least one other component is water, and the initial ingredients comprise salt, optionally baking additives and/or foaming agents.

3. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is loaded with pressurized gas and closed before being moved.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the starting components are dosed into the container via at least one inlet line connected to the container.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the container has a bottom lid and a top lid, the bottom lid being removed from the interior volume for removal of material, and the top lid being removed from the interior volume for metered addition of the initial composition.

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the components of the starting ingredients are dosed via an inlet line connected to the container and the removal of the material is carried out continuously or batchwise.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the reciprocating movement of the container is performed continuously.

8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the container is performed along a lissajous figure.

9. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movement of the container is performed within at most 600s or at most 60s and the movement is performed along each axis over a stroke of at least 10 cm.

10. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movement of the container is carried out along two axes arranged in a plane and the container is a cartridge, the cross section of which is arranged in said plane.

11. The method as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the polymer is present in the form of a polymerizable natural or synthetic monomer or oligomer together with an added polymerization initiator or as at least one synthetic crosslinkable and/or thermoplastic polymer.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein the movement is at 3.5 to 350m/s along each axis²Is performed.

13. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the shaping of the mass is carried out after the mass has been taken out of the container, optionally followed by a curing of the mass, in particular by heating.

14. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the movement is carried out at an average speed of 0.5 to 10m/s along each axis.

15. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that no pieces are added, whereby at least 70% by volume of the material is formed by a homogeneous phase formed by the components of the initial composition, and that gas is added to the vessel in order to constitute, by means of gas bubbles, the remaining volume of the material after removal from the vessel.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a method for producing a material by mixing and/or kneading starting components, said material having or consisting of a homogeneous phase which optionally contains fragments and/or gas bubbles dispersed therein. The process can be carried out batchwise or continuously, optionally with continuous, preferably batchwise, initial ingredient input, respectively. The homogeneous phase is preferably coherent or continuous in the material, optionally with fragments and/or gas bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase. Preferably, the material consists of a coherent or continuous homogeneous phase with fragments and/or gas bubbles optionally dispersed in the homogeneous phase, or the material consists of the homogeneous phase. The homogeneous phase of the mass has or consists of preferably at least one polymer and the other components of the starting components, in which optionally at least one is in powder form and at least one is in liquid form, or all are in liquid form. The homogeneous phase is preferably crosslinkable or curable and/or thermally curable.

The method has the advantage of being capable of uniformly mixing into a homogeneous phase in a short time. In the case of cured materials, for example self-curing plastic mixtures, which for example contain polymerizable monomers and polymerization initiators, a longer pot life or processing time is available due to the shorter time for the preparation of the material.

Generally preferably, the mass is a dough based on starch, optionally protein, optionally fat and water, constituting a homogeneous continuous phase comprising or consisting of starch swollen with water and/or protein denatured with water, optionally fat, salt, bulking agent, flavour and colour, for example a dough consisting of flour. Fragments and/or bubbles may be included in the homogeneous phase.

In the case of polymers that are food products, the pieces are pieces of food products, such as grains, chocolate, vegetable pieces, such as nuts, fruits, fruit components, raisins, etc.

Optionally, the initial component comprises an added gas, e.g. CO₂Nitrogen, nitrogen oxides (in particular NO or N)₂O) which is gaseous under pressure, or solid or liquid.

Preferably, the method has a step of shaping the mass and curing or crosslinking the mass, for example by heating, after mixing the initial components or after preparing the mass from the initial components. In case the dough is formed on the basis of flour as polymer, said heating may also be referred to as baking.

Prior Art

It is known to produce homogeneous masses by mixing and kneading the components of the starting components in a container in which a motor-driven stirrer is arranged, or by means of an extrusion device or by pumping through a line in which a static mixer is arranged.

Document WO 2015/114118 a1 describes the processing of raw meat for scattering, binding and/or salting and marinating in a container, wherein one wall or the entire container is driven in a reciprocating motion, preferably the entire container is driven in two axes, each at a different frequency.

Technical problem

The object of the invention is to provide an alternative or improved method for mixing or kneading (or kneading), by means of which a material can be produced that has a homogeneous Phase that is preferably continuous throughout the material.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention solves the technical problem, inter alia, by means of the features of the claims, by a method for producing a mass from starting components, which has a coherent homogeneous phase, comprising or consisting of the following steps:

-dosing (or formulating) the components of the initial ingredients (or initial compositions) of the mass in the container,

-wherein a homogeneous phase is formed from the components of the starting ingredients, which components comprise or consist of:

at least one polymer, preferably a natural polymer, such as starch and/or protein, and other (or further) components, wherein at least one of the polymer and the other components is in a liquid state,

or a monomer or oligomer, the oligomer optionally being polymerizable and/or crosslinkable, e.g. being a crosslinkable oligomer and/or crosslinkable polymer, optionally with a crosslinking agent and/or a polymerization initiator,

for preparing the material, the container is moved in a plane along two axes of movement (also referred to herein as axes) at a frequency of at least 1Hz, for example in a reciprocating manner, respectively at different frequencies along each axis and over a path of at least 1cm, preferably at least 10cm along each axis, wherein optionally the phases of the movements relative to one another along the axes are changeable, in particular the phases are changed over the duration of the movement, the material having a homogeneous phase, optionally with fragments (or fragments) and/or gas bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase,

-optionally removing the material from the container,

-optionally shaping the mass,

optionally curing the mass, in particular by heating.

Optionally, the homogeneous phase comprises gas bubbles dispersed in the homogeneous phase, for example such that the material consists of at least 70% by volume of the homogeneous phase, at least 80% by volume, at least 90% by volume or at least 95% by volume or at least 99% by volume of the homogeneous phase, wherein the remaining volume content of the material is gas bubbles, wherein said volume content can be provided inside the container and/or preferably after the material has been removed from the container. When the starting components comprise a foaming agent, for example a bulking agent, in particular yeast, the gas content can be increased further after removal from the container, for example during the shaping and/or curing of the mass, which is effected by heating. Further optionally, fragments may be added to the material, which fragments are, for example, unevenly bound to the homogeneous phase in at most 10 vol.%, at most 5 vol.%, at most 2 vol.%, or which material has no added fragments.

The fragments, optionally dispersed in the homogeneous phase, can be added to the starting components or can be added during the preparation of the material which is formed from the homogeneous phase by moving the container and be mixed into the homogeneous phase, for example by moving the container back along the two axes of movement. The bubbles may be formed by a blowing agent or gas in the starting ingredients.

In the method, the components of the starting composition comprise, preferably at least one polymer, preferably a natural polymer, such as starch and/or protein, and further components, wherein at least one of the polymer and the further components is in liquid form, or consist of the above-mentioned components, and the container is moved back and forth along two axes at different frequencies in each case at least 1cm, preferably at least 10cm, over a path along each axis at a frequency of at least 1Hz, which movement produces a material having a homogeneous phase which passes through or consists of at least one polymer and at least one further component, optionally with dispersed fragments and/or gas bubbles in the homogeneous phase. The homogeneous phase runs through the entire mass and, together with the fragments and/or bubbles enclosed in the homogeneous phase, constitutes the structure of the mass. The homogeneous phase is preferably a highly viscous, e.g. sugar mix, caramel or chocolate or flour based dough, which may be a dough with a foaming agent, e.g. yeast dough or dough, or a dough without a foaming agent, e.g. noodle dough or pie dough.

Alternatively, the components of the initial composition may comprise polymerizable monomers or oligomers and/or at least one crosslinkable oligomer and/or crosslinkable polymer, optionally with a crosslinking agent and/or a polymerization initiator, wherein said components may be mixed into the homogeneous phase. The polymers are formed here by polymerizable precursor compounds. Generally for the purposes of the present invention, the mixture prepared from the starting components can also constitute a homogeneous phase, when particles formed from the individual components of the starting components are still and locally contained in the homogeneous phase, said particles preferably being bonded by polymerization or crosslinking. The topical particles may be, for example, ungelatinized starch granules or unbroken polymer. Preferably, the homogeneous phase comprises at most 5% by weight, preferably at most 4% by weight, at most 3% by weight, at most 2% by weight or at most 1% by weight of particles formed from the components of the starting components, wherein the particles are preferably incorporated in the homogeneous phase by polymerization or crosslinking.

According to the invention, the mixing or kneading of the starting components is effected by a reciprocating movement of the container along two axes at a frequency of at least 1Hz and at respectively different frequencies over a stroke of preferably at least 1cm, at least 2cm or at least 3cm or at least 10cm, for example up to 50cm, up to 30cm, up to 20cm or, in the case of short distances, up to 10cm along each axis.

In general, the movement along the two axes may be implemented as a reciprocating movement of the container along two movement axes, which respectively enclose an angle, for example 90 °. It is preferred here that the reciprocating movement is done along each movement axis at a frequency of at least 1Hz or at least 2Hz or at least 3Hz, preferably at least 4Hz or at least 5Hz, at least 6Hz, at least 7Hz, at least 8Hz or at least 9Hz, at least 10Hz or at least 15Hz, for example up to 50Hz or up to 20 Hz. In a plane along both axes, and thus in a reciprocating movement along both movement axes, the container is preferably moved along lissajous figures (lissajous figure). In this case, it is preferred that the planes along the two axes or the reciprocating movements along the two or three movement axes are each carried out at different frequencies, for example at a frequency which differs from the higher frequency by 1% or 5% to 50%. In the case of two axes of movement, for example at 45 °, preferably 90 °, to one another, the reciprocating movement can be carried out along the first axis of movement, for example at a frequency of 5Hz, and along the second axis of movement at a frequency of 0.1 to 4.9Hz, in particular 4.1 to 4.8 Hz.

The reciprocating movement of the container may for example extend over a distance of at least 1cm, preferably at least 2cm or at least 5cm, at least 10cm or at least 15cm, for example up to 50cm, up to 30cm or up to 20 cm. Further preferably, the reciprocating motion of the container is resonant. The reciprocating movement of the container is non-linear and can be sinusoidal, triangular or curved, preferably running along lissajous figures, which preferably lie in a plane or are two-dimensional. Since the generally non-linear axis of motion, preferably the reciprocating motion along the lissajous figure, results in uniform and vigorous mixing even if the components of the composition have similar or identical specific gravities. Each axis of movement may itself be linearly extended, so that a non-linear movement of the container is formed by the superposition of movements along the two axes of movement.

Preferably, the container has a bottom lid which should be opened or removed from the inner volume to enable the inner volume to be opened after the reciprocating movement in order for the material to be taken out or dropped. It is further preferred that the container has a lid which should be removed from the interior volume in order to be able to open the interior volume for filling with the components of the initial composition. In the case of the batch process, the containers can be filled in this way after the top cover has been opened, the inner volume can then be closed by means of the top cover, and the bottom cover can be opened after the reciprocating movement in order to drop the material. Such a bottom lid and bottom lid to be opened can be formed by only one lid, when the container is moved from the first position, in which the one lid is arranged above the inner receptacle, to the second position, in which the lid is arranged below the inner receptacle, and the mutually opposite cross-sectional openings of the container are closed by a defined lid.

Optionally, the container is temperature-regulated, in particular cooled. The container can be cooled by arranging the container in a cooled housing or by providing the container with a double jacket through which a coolant can flow.

In general, the container may have a triangular or quadrangular, optionally polygonal, cross-section which can be closed on one end by a first cover part and a second cover part arranged on the opposite end. The container can be arranged with one lid arranged above the other, preferably with its cross section arranged parallel to the horizontal plane. Preferably, the container has an oval or circular cross-section, the terminal opening of which is covered by a cover, which may be arched or planar. The container preferably comprises a cylindrical interior volume.

The movements or reciprocating movements along the two axes can be driven by a drive motor, wherein the different frequencies of the movements along the axes are realized, for example, by means of a slotted guide, an eccentric drive and/or by means of a transmission. Alternatively, the reciprocating motion may be driven by a controlled drive motor. The drive motor may be a linear drive, for example an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic linear-action drive or a rotary motor.

In general, the movement of the containers is in each case from 3.5 to 350m/s along one axis, preferably along each axis²E.g. at least 60m/s²Preferably at least 100m/s²Or 150m/s²Or at least 160m/s²Or at least 200m/s²E.g. up to 260m/s²Or up to 250m/s²For example from 160 to 260m/s²Or from 200 to 250m/s²And generally preferably combined with an average speed along one axis, preferably along each axis, respectively, of at least 0.5m/s, preferably at least 2m/s, preferably at least 3.5m/s, for example up to 10m/s or up to 6m/s, for example 3 to 4 m/s. The distance of the movement along at least one axis, preferably along each axis, is for example 12 to 24cm here.

To achieve a rolling movement, the container has, for example, an at least triangular or quadrangular, preferably pentagonal to octagonal, symmetrical or asymmetrical cross section, preferably an elliptical or circular cross section, and the reciprocating movement along the movement axis takes place in a plane which extends, for example, substantially parallel to the cross section up to a small angle, for example, up to 20 °, relative to the cross section. Preferably, the plane extends parallel to the horizontal plane. The reciprocating movement can thus be set to a rolling movement, so that the phase of the movement changes along the axis. Accordingly, optionally, the frequency of motion along each axis may vary over the duration of the reciprocating motion, and/or the phase of motion along the axis may vary.

In a closed container, a round product can be formed by the initial component filling the bottom of the container volume (for example to a filling degree of 50 to 90%, for example to 80 to 90%), in that the reciprocating movement is performed along a low-frequency lissajous figure. The reciprocating movement may thus optionally have a time scale in which the reciprocating movement is performed along a low frequency lissajous figure, for example along each axis at a frequency of at most 15 Hz.

Alternatively, the material is not evacuated from the container, but the container itself constitutes a mold for solidifying the material, in particular the material formed in the container is solidified in the container by heating or baking. In this embodiment, the method is for example suitable for baking shapes from starting ingredients with a higher sugar and/or sugar alcohol and e.g. cocoa or chocolate content.

The homogeneous mass may be a food material, for example a sugar mixture, which is optionally melted and/or with a content of dissolved water, caramel or chocolate, or for example a starch-and/or protein-based dough, which preferably has a content of water and/or fat, respectively.

Generally, the reciprocating movement along one or both axes preferably comprises a time share (or portion) towards the end of the reciprocating movement, wherein the movement is performed along one or both axes at a frequency that is favorable for the rolling movement of the material in the container and preferably forms a low frequency lissajous figure. Such motions of the lissajous figures at low frequencies may respectively have the same frequency along each axis of motion and be in phase with each other by 80 to 100 °, preferably 90 °, for example to form elliptical or circular motions.

Preferably, the container has at its first end at least one inlet line through which at least one component of the initial composition, optionally all components of the initial composition, is filled into the container, and on the opposite second end an outlet line through which material can be taken out of the container after the reciprocating movement, for example by gravity falling from the container. Instead of the outlet line, the removal of the material can also be effected by a collecting device, such as a bowl or a conveyor belt, which is arranged at a distance below the container.

The inlet line and/or the outlet line can each, independently of one another, be made of an elastic hose or of a tube having at least two joints and a section of varying length between the at least two joints. The joint of the tube can be formed, for example, by two hollow sphere segments, which are arranged slidably and/or torsionally in each other and centered, each hollow sphere segment being connected to a tube segment. The section of the pipe element which changes in length can be formed by two pipe sections which are inserted into one another and arranged so as to be longitudinally slidable.

In this case, a cover is arranged between the inlet line and the container and/or between the container and the outlet or outlet line, respectively, which closes the container after metering the starting component into the container, wherein the cover arranged on the outlet or outlet line is opened after the reciprocating movement in order to remove the material, is subsequently closed again, and the cover arranged on the inlet line is opened and a new starting component is metered into the container. In this way, the method can be carried out in divided fashion.

Alternatively, for example, the starting components can also be metered continuously or in portions into the container during the reciprocating movement or during the interruption of the reciprocating movement, and the material can be removed continuously or in portions via the outlet or outlet line. Overall and in this embodiment, it is preferred that the starting components are metered continuously or in portions into the container by means of the first conveying device and the material is withdrawn continuously or in portions through the outlet or outlet line by means of the second conveying device. The conveying devices can each independently be an extruder pump or a fluid pump, for example a gear pump, a screw conveyor worm, a centrifugal pump or a rotary piston pump. The first transport device is for example connected to an inlet line connected to the container.

It has been shown that the flour-based dough as the material prepared in this way forms a cohesive mass at least at the same viscosity as the yeast or bread dough, which does not adhere to the container but can be removed from the container or dropped from the container substantially completely as a dough piece. At least the inner wall of the container is made of a plastic for foodstuffs, of aluminum, preferably stainless steel.

The components of the starting components which form the homogeneous or continuous phase of the mass preferably comprise at least one polymer, preferably a natural polymer, such as starch, in particular flour, for example made of grains or corn, preferably with proteins, in particular vegetable proteins, such as gluten, and at least one further component, wherein at least one of the polymer and the further component is in the liquid state. The further component may for example be water and/or fat which is liquid at the temperature conditions at which the process is carried out, for example at a temperature of from 5 to 90 ℃ or above.

The polymer may optionally be in the form of a natural or synthetic monomer or oligomer, which may optionally be polymerisable, preferably included in or formed from a mixture with added polymerisation initiators and/or cross-linking agents, or may be a natural or synthetic polymer, which may optionally be cross-linkable and/or thermoplastic, for example a synthetic material polymer. The starting components with synthetically produced natural monomers and oligomers may, for example, be mixtures of sugars and/or sugar alcohols, proteins and/or starches with water and/or fats, which can be solidified by heating. The polymer as thermoplastic polymer preferably has a temperature above its softening temperature and is liquid. Preferably, the initial ingredients in combination with the synthetic monomers (which are optionally polymerizable monomers and/or crosslinkable polymers) further comprise or are formed from inert fillers, processing aids, pigments, polymerization initiators and accelerators and/or second flowable synthetic or natural polymers, each optionally in powder form or liquid state. The material thus prepared may be a curable or self-curing synthetic material mixture, for example, the initial components which cure to epoxy resins or polyurethanes.

The natural polymer is preferably a starch, for example a flour made of grains, maize, beans or roots, which flour comprises vegetable proteins (for example natural constituents of the proteins in the flour or added proteins, for example gluten, proteins isolated for example from beans), animal proteins (for example whey proteins), or which natural polymer is a protein-free or gluten-free flour to which proteins isolated from beans and/or animal proteins are added, or which natural polymer is formed from a mixture of at least two of the above-mentioned components or from the above-mentioned components.

The homogeneous continuous phase of the mass preferably has a viscosity of at least 10Pas, preferably at least 50Pas or at least 100Pas or at least 300Pas or at least 1000Pas, for example a viscosity of up to 10000Pas, measured in a rotational or rotary viscometer at a shear rate of 1/s at 20 ℃.

It has been shown that with the method a homogeneous continuous phase is prepared in a short time from a natural polymer, which may be in powder form, and a liquid starting component (e.g. water or a starting component consisting of two liquids), which completely penetrates and/or constitutes the material, which optionally contains fragments and/or gas bubbles dispersed in the continuous phase. The homogeneous phase here preferably has a higher viscosity than the individual components of the starting composition.

Alternatively, the container can be closed after the initial components have been dosed and can be charged with pressurized gas, for example by means of an inlet line for pressurized gas, which is connected to the container and to a source of pressurized gas. The source of pressurized gas may be placed directly on the container, for example in the inlet line by means of a valve, in order to avoid movement of the inlet line of pressurized gas.

Example 1: preparation of Yeast or leavened dough

As initial components, 2kg of baking mix for yeast dough (97 wt.% wheat flour, dry yeast, salt) as polymer and 0.2kg of water as second component and 0.1kg of vegetable oil were each dosed at room temperature into a cylindrical container made of stainless steel with an inner volume of 5L. The container was moved in a reciprocating motion at a frequency of 6.8Hz over a distance of 12cm along a first axis and at a frequency of 6.15Hz over the same distance of 12cm along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis for 30 s. The cross section of the cylindrical container is parallel to the horizontal plane, and the cross section of the terminal is closed. After the time of the reciprocating movement has expired, the homogeneous dough is prepared as a mass which can be easily removed from the container. Substantially no adhering dough residue is observed on the container walls, e.g. at most 10% or at most 5% to at most 2% of dough residue. The dough has a temperature of about 8 c higher than the initial ingredients. The dough is baked during and after the fermentation phase in which the yeast forms bubbles.