Patent ID: 6511309
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: A21C

Abstract:
A die and cutter assembly for an extruder for producing an extruded food piece containing a filling, said extruder including a first pressure exerting means for maintaining a mash of the food under pressure, a second pressure exerting means for maintaining the filling under pressure, and first and second manifolds in fluid communication with the first and second pressure exerting means, respectively, said die and cutter assembly being attachable in fluid communication with the first and second manifolds, and comprising:an elongated annular extrusion member with an extrusion wall formed on a first end thereof; a closed extrusion end formed adjacent said extrusion wall, said closed extrusion end being stationary relative to said elongated annular extrusion member; an opened feed end formed on a second, opposite end of said elongated annular extrusion member, said opened feed end being attachable in fluid communication with the first manifold of the extruder; a filling tube extending into said elongated annular extrusion member, said filling tube being attachable to the second manifold of the extruder; an extension formed on said elongated annular extrusion member substantially at a right angle thereto; a tube extension formed on said filling tube substantially at a right angle thereto and located within said extension of said elongated annular extrusion member; an extrusion die formed on said extension of said elongated annular extrusion member; and a cutter member having an opened driveable end, an elongated cutter wall, and an opened cutter end with a cutting surface for cutting extrudate to a desired length as the extrudate exits the die, said cutter member being disposed at least partially over and reciprocally slideable on the extrusion wall and operably connectable at the driveable end to a drive device of the extruder for reciprocatably sliding the cutting surface of the cutter member over and away from the extrusion die.