Patent ID: 7618251
Filing Date: 2009-11-17
Classification: A23G

Abstract:
1. A device for processing a consumable in the form of a viscous to pasty mass ( 1 ), in particular a consumable based on fat, such as chocolate, or a consumable based on water, such as ice cream, with a metering unit ( 2 ) for the metered supply of a specific volume of the mass ( 1 ) to molding units ( 13 ), wherein the metering unit ( 2 ) exhibits a chamber ( 3 ) with a sealable inlet opening ( 4 ) and a sealable outlet opening ( 5 ) for the mass ( 1 ) to be metered, as well as a sealed displacement body ( 6 ) that extends into the chamber ( 3 ) and can move around therein, which can move between a first setting, at which the outlet opening ( 5 ) is closed and the inlet opening ( 4 ) is open, and the cavity volume defined between the displacement body ( 6 ) and the chamber ( 3 ) has its greatest value, and a second setting, at which the inlet opening ( 4 ) is closed and the outlet opening ( 5 ) is open, and the cavity volume defined between the displacement body ( 6 ) and the chamber ( 3 ) has its smallest value, wherein the inlet opening ( 4 ) and the outlet opening ( 5 ) can be sealed by means of an inlet valve ( 4 , 6 ) or an outlet valve ( 5 , 6 ), wherein the inlet valve ( 7 ) and the outlet valve ( 8 ) are each formed by a partial area of the displacement body, which only blocks the outlet opening in the first setting, and only blocks the inlet opening in the second setting, and that, in the device, the motion of the displacement body ( 6 ) that determines the metering volume is effected by a servo drive ( 9 ), while the inlet valve ( 7 ) and the outlet valve ( 8 ) are each closed and opened via a pneumatic drive.