Abstract: Apparatus for mounting and removing screws of an extrusion machine comprising two screws (10a, 10b) driven in rotation and guided at each of their ends by a bearing (1, 2). The screw-bearing assembly is placed on a work table (20) provided with adjustable devices (25, 26, 28) for supporting the screws, removing the bearings (1, 2) are removed and the sections (12) are successively extracted by means of suitable tooling and a section-hoisting device with respect to each screw separately. By means of a double section-hoisting device, a new section (12) is then simultaneously mounted on each splined shaft (11a, 11b) and the operation is repeated for each pair of new sections, placing back in position the bearing (1, 2) corresponding to each end of the shafts (11a, 11b) and lastly remounting the screw-bearing assembly in the extrusion machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for extracting fat from an animal material in which according to the invention, the fat is continuously melted and then extracted by passing the animal material through two successive zones, namely a melting zone (B) and an extraction zone (C), of a single housing in the form of an elongate sleeve (1) equipped, in the melting zone (B), with heating means (13) and, in the extraction zone (C), with filtering walls (16) for the passage of the melted fat, the sleeve (1) encasing two overlapping conveyor screws (2) driven in rotation.

Abstract: The process for continuously preparing a food product constituted by a thin paste based on a plant product contributing starch includes the steps of introducing at the upstream end of a screw conveyor the plant product with a liquid phase, kneading and grinding, cooking the mix at a temperature between 80.degree. C. and 110.degree. C. with kneading, introducing eggs, fatty substances and products of animal or plant origin essentially containing proteins, homogenization and fine grinding of the mix, and extruding the mix through a die placed at the downstream end of the screw conveyor.

Abstract: Process for the pre-isomerization of hops, in particular for preparing a beer or like beverage obtained from solely malt or from malt and at least one substitution cereal in a preparation line comprising an operation for obtaining a sugared wort and an operation for fermenting said wort in the presence of yeasts. The pre-isomerization is effected by cooking and extrusion of the hops at a temperature lower than 120.degree. C. by a continuous passage of the hops, which are previously dried and pressed in a cooker-extruder having at least two screws, with a quantity of water less than 50% by weight, the extruded hops being then mixed with the sugared wort in the beverage-preparing line.

Abstract: Method for mounting and removing screws of an extrusion machine comprising two screws (10a, 10b) driven in rotation and guided at each of their ends by a bearing (1, 2). The screw-bearing assembly is placed on a work table (20) provided with adjustable devices (25, 26, 28) for supporting the screws, removing the bearings (1, 2) are removed and the sections (12) are successively extracted by means of suitable tooling and a section-hoisting device with respect to each screw separately. By means of a double section-hoisting device, a new section (12) is then simultaneously mounted on each splined shaft (11a, 11b) and the operation is repeated for each pair of new sections, placing back in position the bearing (1, 2) corresponding to each end of the shafts (11a, 11b) and lastly remounting the screw-bearing assembly in the extrusion machine.

Abstract: Process for preparing almond paste from whole almonds in a continuous sequence of stages involving cooking-extrusion within a screw conveyor having a plurality of regions with threads of different pitch. The temperatures are controlled at each stage so as to effect not only physical transformations, but also to produce a Maillard reaction for a predetermined part of the process.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for extracting fat from an animal material in which the fat is continuously melted and then extracted by passing the animal material through two successive zones, namely a melting zone (B) and an extraction zone (C), of a single housing in the form of an elongate sleeve (1) equipped, in the melting zone (B), with heating means (13) and, in the extraction zone (C), with filtering walls (16) for the passage of the melted fat, the sleeve (1) encasing two overlapping conveyor screws (2) driven in rotation.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of chocolate paste is disclosed wherein various ingredients such as cocoa and powdered sugar are subjected to grinding and powdered sugar are subject to operations grinding to a predetermined degree of particle size, fluidification by dispersion of the particles of sugar and cocoa into a continuous fatty phase and of degassing for the removal of water and undesirable volatile compounds. At least one portion of the treatment is carried out in a conveyor with several screws provided with means for regulating the temperature of the entrained material. According to the invention, after a preliminary grinding of the ingredients to obtain a refined paste having the desired degree of particle size in the screw conveyor a dry-conching treatment of the refined paste is carried out and then the liquefaction of the paste is obtained by the incorporation of adjuvants.

Abstract: Apparatus for preparing a chocolate paste in which the various ingredients comprising at least cocoa and powdered sugar are subject to operations of grinding to a predetermined degree of particle size, of fluidification by dispersion of the particles of sugar and of cocoa into a continuous fatty phase and of degasification for the removal of water and undesirable volatile compounds. At least part of the treatment is carried out in a conveyor with several screws and an arrangement for regulating the temperature of the entrained material. After preliminary grinding of the ingredients to obtain a refined paste having the desired degree of particle size in the screw conveyor, dry-conching of the refined paste is carried out and then the liquefaction of the paste is obtained by the incorporation of additives in accordance with the receipe.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of a sweet wort from a cereal, in which previously mashed cereal flour is mixed with a hydrolyzing substance introducing enzymes to undergo a saccharification treatment. Before mashing, the cereal flour is subjected to a cooking-extrusion at a temperature above 100.degree. C., by passage continuously in a screw-extrusion machine provided with heating means. The amount of water can be limited to that necessary for the bursting of the starch grain. The extruded cereal is then mashed and mixed with the hydrolyzing substance to undergo saccharification, and the latter can then be effected by infusion. The invention is especially applicable to the preparation of beer or of alcoholic beverages by fermentation of the sweet wort obtained.

Abstract: A screw element for use in a material-processing machine comprising at least one screw formed by a central driving shaft (2) on which are mounted a plurality of hollow elements (12, 13 . . . ) provided on their inner wall with grooves (31) engaging with corresponding splines (21) of the central shaft (2). A cylindrical inner collar (3) made from a product resistant to the mechanical driving stresses and on the inner wall (32) of which are formed the grooves (31) corresponding to the splines (21) of the shaft, and an outer collar (4) made from a product resistant to the abrasion of the processed material and on which are formed, within the body of the outer collar, helical threads (42) or other peripheral material-processing means, the outer collar (4) being mounted without clearance on the inner collar (3) and being connected to the inner collar for rotation therewith. The invention is applicable in particular to the construction of extruding machines.

Abstract: The material-processing machine comprises at least a screw (11) driven in rotation inside a sleeve (1) and constituted by a central driving shaft (2) on which are mounted a plurality of screw elements (3) forming a stack of adjoining elements clamped between an abutment and clamping means placed respectively at the two ends of the shaft (2). The clamping means (4, 5) are arranged in such manner as to exert on the stack of screw elements (3) a prestressing force capable of opposing the separation of the screw elements (3) from each other in operation of the machine. The invention is especially applicable to the construction of screw extruders.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-lobe composite casing, the inner wall of said casing being constituted by several adjacent cylindrical sectors, each enveloping a screw over the portion of the latter outside the penetration zone. According to the invention the hardest metal layer deposited on the inner wall of the body is applied in the form of a powder containing the desired constituents. This powder is welded to the metallic inner base wall by means of a plasma torch operating on the principle of a transferred arc or a semi-transferred arc. The invention is applied to machines with several overlapping screws of the extruder type.

Abstract: The automatic purger has an intermediate chamber (11) one of the walls of which is formed by an elastic diaphragm (10), termed front diaphragm, whereas the other wall is formed by a second elastic diaphragm (12), termed rear diaphragm. This chamber is connected to a purger (20) formed by a body (21) defining a small internal enclosure (22) in which an element (25), which is highly permeable to the gas, is disposed. The invention is applicable to a hydraulically controlled or actuated pump of the reciprocating or displacement type.