Supervisory machine intelligence controls for production of meat substitutes

US11812765B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• ABB Schweiz AG · CH
• Planted Foods AG · CH
• ETH ZËRICH · CH

Inventors

• Chau-Hon Ho · Glückstadt, DE
• Vedrana Spudic · Zürich, CH
• Kim Listmann · Darmstadt, DE
• Sandro Schoenborn · Basel, CH
• Elsi-Mari Borrelli · Wettingen, CH
• Philipp Sommer · Zürich, CH
• Mehmet Mercangoez · Obersaxen-Miraniga, CH
• Erich Windhab · Hemishofen, CH
• Eric Stirnemann · Zürich, CH
• Lukas Böni · Zürich, CH
• Patrick Rühs · Zürich, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 22, 2021
• Grant date: Nov 14, 2023
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B29C2948/92314
• WIPO field: Other special machines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A system includes a wet extrusion process machine configured to receive, mix, and convey a plurality of ingredients to an extrusion die, the plurality of ingredients include a protein powder, an oil, and water. The system includes an electronic process control system (EPCS) configured to control the wet extrusion machine using a plurality of process settings effective to produce an extrusion die mixture which is forced into, passes through, and is output from the extrusion die. The system further includes a supervisory machine intelligence control system (SMICS) operatively coupled with at least one of a direct fibrosity measurement (DFM) subsystem configured to directly measure one or more physical fibrosity parameters of the extrusion die mixture, and an indirect fibrosity measurement (IFM) subsystem configured to measure one or more extrusion process parameters associated with the extrusion die mixture. The SMICS is configured to modify one or more of the plurality process settings in response to at least one of the one or more physical fibrosity parameters, and the one or more extrusion process parameters, effective to modify the extrusion die mixture.