Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for operating a conching device

US5156867A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
2References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 6, 1991
Grant dateOct 20, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 6, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S366/601
  • WIPO fieldFood chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In a conching device (1) at least one rotor (2, or 3, respectively) is driven by an electric motor (9). The driving motor (9) is controlled by means of a motor control unit (8). To establish the amount of energy introduced into the conching device (1), at least one motor-operation parameter is detected and evaluated. To shorten the conching time of a conching process to the necessary extent, it is provided to establish the amount of energy introduced into the conching device at least during the viscous-plastic phase of the chocolate mass and to control the conching process in dependency upon the summation value of energy attained. Since the amount of energy introduced during the viscous-plastic phase determines the properties and the quality of the chocolate, a high reproducibility will be ensured.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.