Patent ID: 6086351
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: A23L,A23P,B29C

Abstract:
An apparatus for conveying a gellable product, comprising:sources of chemically reacting components that are capable of chemically reacting to form a gel;a mixer receiving and forming a liquid mixture of said components;pumps for transferring said chemically reacting components from said sources to said mixer;an outlet channel from said mixer;an extrusion die comprised of a conveyance channel for receiving said liquid mixture from said outlet channel and conveying an extruded gelled product formed from the liquid mixture, the conveyance channel having a length extending from a die inlet to a die outlet,the dimensions of the extrusion die being fixed so that the back pressure in the mixer is sufficiently high to cause the mixture to be transported from the mixer through the outlet channel into the extrusion die at a speed of conveyance while the mixture remains in the liquid phase, andthe length of the conveyance channel being sufficient to permit the liquid mixture moving at the speed of conveyance to form a gel in the conveyance channel during conveyance through the die;the conveyance channel having porous internal surfaces to form flow surfaces for conveyance of the product through the conveyance channel; anda fluid flow path communicating with the porous internal surfaces to continuously flow a fluid through the porous internal surfaces and apply a film of the fluid over the flow surfaces as the liquid mixture is conveyed through the conveyance channel so that the liquid mixture is conveyed as a first phase within the conveyance channel surrounded by the film acting as a second phase to separate the first phase from the internal surfaces;the extrusion die and the fluid flow path having a configuration permitting the gel formed in the conveyance channel to be conveyed through, and to egress from, the conveyance channel without encountering degrading shear forces that cause the loss of integrity of the gel.