Abstract: The invention relates to a method for processing contaminated polycondensate materials, especially polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The inventive method is characterized by removing a surface layer of the polycondensate material to be processed before the material is melted and filtered in the melt. Optionally, said method may be followed by a step for increasing the intrinsic viscosity by melt phase or solid phase polycondensation.

Abstract: A metallic conveyor belt arrangement for transporting bulk material comprises a metallic conveyor belt closed in itself and extending along a longitudinal axis. The metallic conveyor belt forms at least two ends, such as a slack end and a tight end, and at least a first and a second deflector loop connecting said ends. The metallic conveyor belt has first and second surfaces, each on one side thereof, of which one surface serves for loading the bulk material to be conveyed on it. A tensioning device for said metallic conveyor belt is arranged in the range of a second loop. At least one V-belt is secured to the engagement surface of the metallic belt. A roller-shaped drive wheel subdivided into at least two adjacent parts is secured to the drive shaft. The parts form a circumferential groove between them for receiving the V-belt. An axial tightening device is on the drive shaft for tightening the parts together in the direction of the shaft axis.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase has at least two parts (1, 4) which can be driven with the aid of at least one drive and caused to rotate relative to one another, form a processing gap (6, g1, g2, g1′, g2′) between one another and are mounted relative to one another by means of at least one rotary bearing (2 or 3). One part is in the form of processing container (1) having at least one feed orifice (9) and at least one outflow orifice (11). The other part (4) is arranged essentially concentrically with the first part (1) and with the axis of rotation (A). At least one of the two parts (1 or 4) is provided with shearing tools (7, 8) on the surfaces (12, 16) facing one another. The processing container (1) is essentially conical, the cone having its smaller end face on the side of the feed orifice (9).

Abstract: An apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase has at least two parts (1, 4) which can be driven with the aid of at least one drive and caused to rotate relative to one another, form a processing gap (6, g1, g2, g1′, g2′) between one another and are mounted relative to one another by means of at least one rotary bearing (2 or 3). One part is in the form of processing container (1) having at least one feed orifice (9) and at least one outflow orifice (11). The other part (4) is arranged essentially concentrically with the first part (1) and with the axis of rotation (A). At least one of the two parts (1 or 4) is provided with shearing tools (7, 8) on the surfaces (12, 16) facing one another. The processing container (1) is essentially conical, the cone having its smaller end face on the side of the feed orifice (9).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to making the mixing and refining of chocolate masses more cost effective by increasing the flow of energy through the material to be treated.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing (for example, mixing or refining) a chocolate mass, having partially cylindrical walls which form a conching vessel. At least one coaxial part extends within the vessel. The walls and the coaxial part perform a relative rotational motion due to a drive that drives either one or both. In this way, the walls are swept by shearing tools. For an increased heat dissipation, and to enable a higher input of energy, at least two tempering arrangements can be provided. Furthermore, a channel exposed to air can communicate with the vessel, and comprises a cleaning tool. Mixing tools and shearing tools can be located in close vicinity so that chocolate mass is fed from one tool to the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing (for example, mixing or refining) a chocolate mass, having partially cylindrical walls which form a conching vessel. At least one coaxial part extends within the vessel. The walls and the coaxial part perform a relative rotational motion due to a drive that drives either one or both. In this way, the walls are swept by shearing tools. For an increased heat dissipation, and to enable a higher input of energy, at least two tempering arrangements can be provided. Furthermore, a channel exposed to air can communicate with the vessel, and comprises a cleaning tool. Mixing tools and shearing tools can be located in close vicinity so that chocolate mass is fed from one tool to the other.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing dispersions of solids in a fatty phase has at least two parts (1, 4) which can be driven with the aid of at least one drive and caused to rotate relative to one another, form a processing gap (6, g1, g2, g1', g2') between one another and are mounted relative to one another by means of at least one rotary bearing (2 or 3). One part is in the form of processing container (1) having at least one feed orifice (9) and at least one outflow orifice (11). The other part (4) is arranged essentially concentrically with the first part (1) and with the axis of rotation (A). At least one of the two parts (1 or 4) is provided with shearing tools (7, 8) on the surfaces (12, 16) facing one another. The processing container (1) is essentially conical, the cone having its smaller end face on the side of the feed orifice (9).

Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for refining chocolate mass within a trough, the trough contains at least one trough compartment wherein the chocolate mass is treated or conched. After entering the trough and after begin of operation of the machine, at least one additive, such as fat (cocoa butter), is added at a certain moment. Addition of the at least one additive is done into one compartment of the continuously operated conching machine. The composition of the chocolate mass is monitored after adding the additives by means of a spectrometer. An output signal of the spectrometer is used to control the added amount of the respective additive.

Abstract: An apparatus for shearing and mixing a product in an at least partially cylindrical trough has a shaft which is rotatably and concentrically supported in the trough. At least one support extends radially from the shaft and supports a tool which forms a rotor together with said shaft. The tool includes a shearing throwshovel which extends in circumferential direction of the rotor along a longitudinal axis and has a sickle tip on one end and a spoon-like formation on its opposite end. This shearing throwshovel forms a first angle by being bent, when seen in cross-section, from its sickle tip towards the opposite end, so as to deviate from the direction of the longitudinal axis; a second angle between a tangent to said inner surface of said trough and a tangent to said circumferential direction so as to have an increasing distance to the inner surface of the trough from said sickle tip towards the opposite end; and a third angle between said longitudinal axis and said shaft axis.

Abstract: A conching device comprising at least one rotor shaft (4) having conching tools (5) is subdivided by partition walls (10, 11, 12) into compartments (13-16), so that in these compartments (13-16) different formulations can be conched simultaneously. The through holes for the rotor shaft (17) across the partition walls (10, 11, 12) between the compartments (13-16) are sealed by means of Belleville spring washers (18) such that no transport of chocolate paste can take place from one compartment (13-16) to another. Since the conching device comprises only one driving mechanism 8 and only two bearing units (6, 7) for each rotor shaft (4), there results a cost- and space-saving device, which can be employed in a manifold way. Thus, different formulations can be conched in the different compartments, which formulations can be processed parallely or at different times, by way of example.

Abstract: Machine for treating chocolate masses in which solid matter can be fed in and comminuted if so desired. The arrangement is designed such that in addition to a mixing and kneading device, at least one feeding screw is employed, with which a cutting procedure is carried out, preferably in simultaneous operation. The feeding screw can be made up of different individual screw elements, which are convenient for the material to be treated. This treatment is particularly suited for producing crumb.

Abstract: A continuously operating conching machine (1) according to the invention is divided into a plurality of compartments (10-12) divided by at least one partition wall (8), transfer of the material from one compartment (10-12) to the next being effected via at least one opening (e.g. 16) in the particular partition wall. However, with a conching machine continuously processing the chocolate paste, it is possible expediently to carry out a method according to the invention, in which additives are added only batchwise to the essentially continuously processed chocolate paste, in order to permit more accurate metering.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for operating a conching device with a trough (1) in which at least one rotor, driven by at least one electric motor (9), is arranged. This rotor is fitted with refining tools spaced apart in axial distances to one another around its periphery. The driving motor is controlled by means of a motor control unit in dependency upon a difference signal of a performance-regulating circuit (22), gained by comparison (6) between a desired nominal value (7) and an actual value (5) of at least one motor performance parameter (22).To perform the conching process in the minimum possible time, it is provided that the difference signal of the performance-regulating circuit (5-8) remains ignored during at least a time interval. Thus, the driving motor (9) can take a maximum motor current, and it runs up to the speed required within a very short time.