Abstract: An apparatus (1) comprising hardware equipment (3) having hardware components (10) enclosed by a chassis (2) having a front side (2A) and a rear side (2B), and auxiliary equipment (5) movable within the chassis (2) along at least one transportation rail (7) with a non-linear trajectory extending in horizontal plane between a first position at the front side (2A) of the chassis (2) and a second position behind the hardware equipment (3) at the rear side (2B) of the chassis (2), wherein a part of the hardware components (10) is at least temporarily removable from the chassis (2) or movable within the chassis (2) to provide space (11) for moving the auxiliary equipment (5) within the chassis (2) along the at least one transportation rail (7) between the first and second position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting machine for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable material, in particular a fat material such as chocolate, for example, having a heatable material container for receiving the castable material; at least one nozzle which is in fluid connection with the material container interior, and a pressure source for generating an overpressure in the material container interior. According to the invention, the nozzle has a nozzle orifice or a nozzle constriction, the open cross section or flow cross section of which is flexible. A process according to the invention for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable material has the following steps: providing a heated castable material in a material container; generating an overpressure in the material container interior; forcing the material through a nozzle in fluid connection with the material container with simultaneous changing of the flow and/or open cross section of the nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for producing a consumable shell-shaped article from a fatty material, in particular from the material containing cacao or a chocolate-type material by cold moulding with the aid of a honeycomb cell (2) and a coolable upper plunger (4) which can be lowered into the cell (2). According to said invention, the edge (2a) of the cell and/or the edge (4a) of the upper plunger is provided with a deformable sealing element (8, 10) which closes a moulding cavity (6) in a tight manner with respect to the outside when said element is pressed against the edge (4a) of the upper plunger or against the edge (2a) of the cell when the upper plunger (4) is lowered therein. When the upper plunger (4) is introduced into the fluid fatty material at an appropriate temperature in the honeycomb cell (2), a pressure fluid cushion (6a) is produced on the edge of the cell and/or on the edge of the upper plunger.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing an edible product in the form a viscous to pasty mass (1), especially an edible product based on a fat mass, such as chocolate, or based on water, such as ice cream. Said device comprises a dosing unit (2) for the dosed delivery of a specific volume of the mass (1) to shaping units (13). The movement of the displacement element (6) determining the dosage volume is performed via servo drive (9) while an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) are closed and opened via servo drive or pneumatic drive, respectively. Preferably, the displacement element is embodied as a combined lifting/rotating plunger (6) which can perform a linear movement for a suctioning lift and a dosing lift while being able to perform a rotary movement for opening and closing the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), i.e. a valve function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a casting machine for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable material, in particular a fat material such as chocolate, for example, having a heatable material container for receiving the castable material; at least one nozzle which is in fluid connection with the material container interior, and a pressure source for generating an overpressure in the material container interior. According to the invention, the nozzle has a nozzle orifice or a nozzle constriction, the open cross section or flow cross section of which is flexible. A process according to the invention for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable material has the following steps: providing a heated castable material in a material container; generating an overpressure in the material container interior, forcing the material through a nozzle in fluid connection with the material container with simultaneous changing of the flow and/or open cross section of the nozzle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for processing an edible product in the form a viscous to pasty mass (1), especially an edible product based on a fat mass, such as chocolate, or based on water, such as ice cream. Said device comprises a dosing unit (2) for the dosed delivery of a specific volume of the mass (1) to shaping units (13). The movement of the displacement element (6) determining the dosage volume is performed via servo drive (9) while an inlet (4) and an outlet (5) are closed and opened via servo drive or pneumatic drive, respectively. Preferably, the displacement element is embodied as a combined lifting/rotating plunger (6) which can perform a linear movement for a suctioning lift and a dosing lift while being able to perform a rotary movement for opening and closing the inlet (4) and the outlet (5), i.e. a valve function.

Abstract: The invention relates to a plant for the production of optionally decorated confectionery from at least one liquid to viscous starting mass, said plant comprising a dosing unit, for the dosed introduction of mass to a dosing location, a positioning means, for carrying out a relative positioning between the dosing unit and the dosing position and a transport means for the removal of the dosed masses in the dosing location. According to the invention, the plant further comprises a data processing system with input means, display means and a memory, a comparator, a method parameter calculating means which designates process parameters of the production method and/or machine parameters of the plant according to a given calculated schema, for the product parameters inputted via the input means and a control system comprising actuators.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a pneumatic tire comprising a composite tread band disposed radially about a tire carcass; the composite tread band comprising a unitary semibase portion coextruded with at least one cap portion; the unitary semibase portion at its radially innermost extent axially spanning the composite tread band; the unitary semibase portion comprising at least one non-ground contacting zone, and at least one ground-contacting zone extending over from about 20 to about 80 percent of the axial span of the tread band;the at least one cap portion being ground-contacting and overlaying the at least one non-ground contacting zone of the unitary semibase portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for producing a consumable shell-shaped article from a fatty material, in particular from the material containing cacao or a chocolate-type material by cold moulding with the aid of a honeycomb cell (2) and a coolable upper plunger (4) which can be lowered into the cell (2). According to said invention, the edge (2a) of the cell and/or the edge (4a) of the upper plunger is provided with a deformable sealing element (8, 10) which closes a moulding cavity (6) in a tight manner with respect to the outside when said element is pressed against the edge (4a) of the upper plunger or against the edge (2a) of the cell when the upper plunger (4) is lowered therein. When the upper plunger (4) is introduced into the fluid fatty material at an appropriate temperature in the honeycomb cell (2), a pressure fluid cushion (6a) is produced on the edge of the cell and/or on the edge of the upper plunger.