Patent ID: 9433231
Filing Date: 2016-09-06
CPC Classification: A23G,B29C

Claim Text:
1. A device for a low temperature extrusion process for energy optimized, viscosity adapted micro-structuring of frozen aerated masses, the device comprising: at least one extruder screw that comprises a screw flight and rotates within an extruder screw channel formed by an inner barrel wall, the extruder screw channel having an inner diameter and a length, the length of the extruder screw channel divided into at least three zones comprising an inlet zone (I), middle zone (II), and a final third (III), the device configured to perform a mechanical treatment of a partially frozen, aerated mass over the length of the extruder screw channel with respect to its local viscosity, performed such that, in each of a subsequent zone there is a dispersing of air bubbles/air cells and at the same time temperature decrease and related increase of the frozen water fraction is achieved, the device having a variable screw geometry along the length of the extruder screw channel locally adjusted in each of the at least three zones according to a local viscosity with respect to efficient progressive dispersing, simultaneous progressive temperature reduction and related freezing of water, the extruder screw comprising a screw flight height adjusted along the length of the extruder screw channel for mass viscosity wherein, in the inlet zone (I) of the extruder screw channel, the ratio of the screw flight height to the outer screw diameter is adjusted to between 0.03 and 0.07; in the middle zone (II) of the extruder screw channel, the ratio of the screw flight height to the outer screw diameter is adjusted to between 0.1 and 0.15; and in the final third (III) of the extruder screw channel, the ratio of the screw flight height to the outer screw diameter is adjusted to between 0.1 and 0.25.