Patent Publication Number: US-7210574-B2

Title: Pasta dryer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a pasta dryer with a conveyor belt for conveying and depositing dried pasta, as well as short goods and long goods. 
   Pasta dryers are adequately known for long as well as for short pastas as described, for example, in WO 85/00090 or WO 93/17583. Methods, suitable for drying and stabilizing pasta itself are also known (for example, WO 92/17074). 
   The WO 93/17583 also discloses a method and equipment for producing long pasta, especially lasagna. By these means, the dried lasagna is placed on an endless pocket conveyor belt and cut as it passes through continuously. From the lower strand of the conveyor belt, the cut lasagna reaches chutes and subsequently a packaging conveyor or a package. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the invention to construct a pasta dryer for pasta, by means of which the conveyor belt is operated more efficiently. 
   A depositing table is provided in the area of the sprocket the wheel underneath the upper strand of the conveyor belt, preferably an endless conveyor belt. A product collection dish or a drawer, which can be pulled out and into which the pasta on the conveyor belt can fall, preferably adjoins this depositing table. Contamination of the pasta, which is to be dried, or of the pasta dryer is avoided by these means. 
   With that, pasta, falling down from the upper strand, is collected selectively. The pasta in question has especially a small format. It falls on the depositing table and not into the conveyor belt, etc., and cannot contaminate the lower strand and contaminated pasta is also not carried along. Even pasta, falling onto the lower strand or located there reaches the depositing table in the course of the further movement of the conveyor belt. 
   The reinforcing elements, forming pockets, are constructed in such a manner that they are S-shaped or blade-shaped in order to ensure that the pasta is carried along reliably from the depositing table in to the drawer. 
   The invention is described in greater detail in an example by means of a drawing. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The single FIGURE shows the deflection region of an endless conveyor belt. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   After it has left the pasta press, which is not shown, short pasta is transferred to an endless conveyor belt  1 , so that it may be dried in the dryer. The conveyor belt  1  is guided between two sprocket wheels. The pasta, which is to be dried or conveyed, is deposited on the conveyor belt  1  in the area of a depositing table  6 . Due to the air flowing, it may happen that small parts fall through the air gap  9  between the conveyor belt  1  and, in the lower strand, during the deflection, circulate around the shaft of the sprocket wheels due to the reinforcing elements  3 . On the inside of the conveyor belt, the reinforcing elements  3  form the pockets  2 , which permit the product parts, lying in the interior, to be conveyed. 
   The endless conveyor belt  1  is deflected by the sprocket wheels and pasta, falling out of the pockets  2 , falls on the depositing table  6 , which is disposed below the upper strand  7 . Adjoining the depositing table  6 , there is a product collection dish  8 , which optionally can be pulled out. 
   The depositing table  8  is extended arc-shaped in the direction of the lower strand  4  and forms an arc of at least 90° in this region. The arc is to be extended at least so far, that pieces of pasta, forming out, reach the depositing table  6  reliably. The end of the arc is angled in the direction of the axis of rotation of the tensioning wheel  5  that is shown. The other end ( 6 ′) of the depositing table  6  is also angled in the direction of the lower strand  4  to such an extent, that the end protrudes into the drawer  8 . By these means, pasta can be discharged from the depositing table  6  into the product-collection dish  8 . Such pasta, which adheres to the reinforcing elements  3  or could be in the pockets of the lower strand  4 , also reaches the product collection dish  8  in this manner. 
   Alternatively, instead of the arc, the depositing table  6  could also be angled at right angles to the direction of the lower strand  4 . This has the advantage that the plane of the depositing table  6  can be placed as far as possible into the deflection region of the conveyor belt  1 . With that, product can be collected as early as possible. 
   The reinforcing elements  3  are bent S-shaped, the lower end being directed opposite to the conveying direction in order to avoid any interlocking or the like. The distance between the lower end of the reinforcing elements  3  and the depositing table  6  (including the arc) should be as small as possible, in order to ensure that the pasta is carried along completely. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               List of Reference Symbols 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
               1 
               conveyor belt 
             
             
                 
               2 
               pocket 
             
             
                 
               3 
               reinforcing element 
             
             
                 
               4 
               lower strand 
             
             
                 
               5 
               tensioning wheel 
             
             
                 
               6 
               depositing table 
             
             
                 
               6′ 
               end 
             
             
                 
               7 
               upper strand 
             
             
                 
               8 
               product-collection dish 
             
             
                 
               9 
               air gap