Abstract: Apparatus for mixing material in a twin screw extruder by longitudinally advancing material by the interengaging threads of two screws in the housing of a twin screw extruder such that a plurality of separate streams of material are advanced by the threads of the screws, combining the separate streams of material in a thread-free zone of the screws in which the passage area for the streams of material undergoes uniform reduction and lateral displacement around one of the screws, and thereafter dividing the combined stream back into separate streams downstream of the thread-free zone. In the thread-free zone, a baffle element is mounted on the shaft of one of the screws, the baffle element being of conical shape and increasing uniformly in diameter in the direction of advance of the product.

Abstract: A degassification device for a screw extruder which processes plastic material in which the extruder has a hollow housing and an extruder screw rotatable in the housing, the degassification device having a pair of degassification screws disposed adjacent to the extruder screw for rotation about axes parallel to the axes of rotation of the extruder screw. A housing headpiece accommodates the degassification screws and is in communication with the extruder housing such that gas and vapor produced in the extruder housing can flow radially therefrom into the housing headpiece for discharge therefrom. The degassification screws have threads which interengage one another and they are driven in the same direction of rotation. The housing headpiece has adjacent longitudinal bores which overlap one another and respectively receive the degassification screws therein with their threads interengaged with one another.

Abstract: An extruder for the extrusion of a material composed of a mixture of substances in which an extruder screw is rotatably mounted in a feed channel of a housing for advancing the material to an outlet, of the channel whereat a screw tip is coaxially mounted on the extruder screw and is disposed with clearance in a distributor channel extending in prolongation of the feed channel to receive the material from the extruder screw and feed the material to a discharge outlet of the distributor channel. The screw tip has a discharge surface at an end thereof remote from the extruder screw, which includes a plurality of surface portions ascending generally helically in the direction of flow of the material. The surface portions can be flat or form a continuous discharge surface.

Abstract: A throttling device for a twin-shaft screw-type extruder, the housing of which is provided with bores parallel to one another and passing through one another forming saddles, has a transfer channel in each bore-defining wall, which channels are in a staggered arrangement relative to one another in the conveying direction. Retaining plates having cylindrical outer surfaces are arranged on the shaft mounted in each bore, which retaining plates can be arranged to overlap with the transfer channels so that no throttling action occurs. On the other hand, they can be brought partly to fully into axial overlapping with the wall of the respective cylindrical bores, whereby flow restricting gaps are formed between the cylindrical outer surface and each wall, the throttling effect of these gaps depending on the degree of overlapping. An operationally reliable throttling device having a linear characteristic is created by this development.

Abstract: In a method of preparing a chocolate mixture in a continuous mode of operation with a high throughput, raw cocoa-bean fragments are supplied to a first housing zone of an extruder and after passing through a steam lock, are acted upon by high-pressure steam and, following thereon, the first zone is connected to a vacuum pump, the mixture being subjected in this manner to a mixing, kneading and degassing operation in the first zone. The mixture is then supplied to a second housing zone following on the first housing zone and is then supplied from the second housing zone directly to a comminuting device such as a hammer mill and, after being processed in the comminuting device, the mixture is immediately supplied to a third housing zone which follows directly on the second housing zone of the same extruder and which is likewise connected to a vacuum pump.

Abstract: A cooling device for plastic granulate which is formed by cutting plastic strands emerging from a nozzle plate of an extruder and is fed to a stream of cooling water which adjoins the nozzle plate in the region of a cutting device. A pipe conducts the stream of cooling water containing the granulate to a granulate-water separator. In order to obtain a well-defined, infinitely adjustable dwell time of the granulate in the stream of cooling water, the pipe is essentially developed as a vertically arranged riser having a larger cross section passage area than that of the pipe itself. The upper outlet end of the riser is connected to the suction side of a feed pump, which serves as a section pump, and to a suction pipe which has an end connected to ambient atmosphere. A regulating valve is connected in the suction pipe. The delivery side of the feed pump communicates with the granulate-water separator.

Abstract: A dough-rounding apparatus in which first and second groups of elements undergo relative revolving movements to round pieces of dough. The elements of one group have chambers for receiving the pieces of dough, the elements of the other group being formed by circular recesses in a working surface which are opposite the chambers. The working surface has a limited region immediately adjacent to and surrounding each circular recess which is of broken, irregular formation to achieve a roughening of the working surface different from the circular recess. The limited region can be circular and concentric with the associated circular recess, the limited region having a diameter between 1.6 and 2.2 times the diameter of the circular recess.

Abstract: In a method of extruding a food product wherein starting products and water are fed to an extruder and mixed in a mixing zone and wherein the mixture is heated and plastified by the supply of shearing energy and, after passing through a nozzle, is foamed, in order to achieve a product quality which remains constant independently of alterations in the properties of the starting products and external disturbing factors, it is provided that, with a constant speed of rotation of the shaft or shafts of the extruder, the drive power (N) applied to the shaft or shafts by the drive motor is measured, that the bulk throughput (m) of the starting products supplied is measured, that the quotient (s) of these quantities (N,m) is formed in a computing device and that this specific energy (s) thus determined is fed, as a controlled quantity, to a controller which keeps it constant in accordance with a preset desired value (s.sub.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing the number of longitudinal rows of bakery articles which are being advanced on an oven conveyor belt in longitudinal and transverse rows according to which there are formed a number n of identical groups of directly adjacent longitudinal rows corresponding to the number of additional longitudinal rows, n being a whole number equal to the number of longitudinal rows initially present divided by the number of groups. From each of the longitudinal rows initially present, one article is removed for every n+1 transverse rows. The articles taken from each group are then arranged to form one additional longitudinal row and the additional longitudinal rows are added to the initially present longitudinal rows. The articles are removed by an oblique suction conveyor belt which is provided with suction cups above a conveyor belt for the articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of controlling the dividing of a paste composition from the dispensing cavities in a carrier in which floatable pistons in the cavities regulate the amount of paste composition which is discharged from the respective dispensing cavities. The stroke of each piston in its respective cavity is controlled in an operative state to regulate the amount of paste composition discharged from each cavity and each piston is selectively locked in its respective cavity in an inoperative state to prevent discharge of paste composition from the respective cavity.

Abstract: A perforated plate construction for the underwater granulating of plastic strands comprising a base member with a melt distribution channel and a plurality of inlet channels connected to the melt distribution channel and to extruder nozzles of a cutting plate. The base plate is heated in the region of the inlet channels. Between the base member and the cutting plate is an insulating layer through which the extruder nozzles extend. In order to permit compensation for thermal expansion in the cutting plate without damage to the cutting plate and the insulating layer, the latter is formed as an air gap which is substantially coextensive with the cutting plate in the transverse direction of the extruder nozzles. The cutting plate is supported on the base plate by a plurality of tubular support elements which are separate from each other and freely extended through the air gap.

Abstract: An extractor for removing worm elements which are fastened for rotation on the worm shaft of a worm extruder wherein a frame formed of longitudinal and cross members has a locking device in one of the cross members for holding the worm elements and an opposed, displaceable, pneumatic piston-cylinder unit on another cross member. The piston-cylinder unit has a pressure piston which is extendable axially towards the worm shaft. Between the worm shaft and the piston-cylinder unit is a slide which is displaceable longitudinally and can be engaged by the piston of the piston-cylinder unit. The slide carries an impact device which is pneumatically actuatable and includes an impact shaft for engaging the worm shaft. The locking device includes two clamp jaws which are axially aligned with the impact shaft and the piston and engage the worm profile with an inner profile surface of identical type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the continuous refining of rolling stock as the starting product for chocolate, in which thin-layer-roasted cocoa mass is employed as the basis for the formulations in addition to water, carbohydrates and a milk component, wherein the carbohydrate and milk are up to 20% by dry weight. The rolling stock is introduced into an open, heatable system, in which it is degassed under vacuum and is intimately mixed with supplied gas and/or supplied air at temperatures of between 80.degree. and 120.degree. C. and is then plasticized, the plasticized rolling stock is thereupon introduced into a closed system, in which it is homogenized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for rearranging a plurality of baking articles which are transported in successive transverse rows on a first conveyor onto a second conveyor extending at an angle to the first conveyor in which successive transverse rows of the articles are lifted from the first conveyor by suction cups on an endless suction belt and conveyed above the second conveyor where the transverse rows of articles form longitudinal rows above the second conveyor. The suction applied to the articles is interrupted when the articles are positioned above the second conveyor so that the articles are deposited onto the second conveyor and are transported thereby so that the articles previously arranged in the transverse rows on the first conveyor are transported in longitudinal rows on the second conveyor.