VORRICHTUNG ZUM KONTINUIERLICHEN KOCHEN UNTER DRUCK, EXTRUDIEREN UND AUSFORMEN VON LEBENSMITTEL-FORMKOERPERN.

摘要

A seal plate drive assembly for use with apparatus for pressure cooking a farinaceous product is disclosed, in which said apparatus includes a pressure feeder assembly, a seal plate and seal plate drive assembly for compacting and regulating the flow of product mix in a terminal portion of the pressure feeder assembly and a pressure cooker assembly. The seal plate drive assembly is comprised of a rotatable and axially translatable seal plate shaft that enters into a feeder housing providing communication between the pressure feeder assembly and the pressure cooker assembly and supports the seal plate therein, a circumscribing tubular drive shaft telescopically receiving the seal plate drive shaft and arranged to be mounted externally of the feeder housing, bearings to support the tubular drive shaft, a coupling interconnecting the two shafts to permit co-rotation while allowing axial translation of the seal plate shaft, means to drive the tubular drive shaft in rotation and means to impart axial translation to the seal plate shaft. Also included are a first seal means disposed between the seal plate shaft and the tubular drive shaft at a location adjacent the feeder housing to prevent ingress of product mix and superatmospheric steam between the shafts and a second seal means cooperatively associated with the feeder housing and the tubular drive shaft to prevent egress of product mix and superatmospheric steam from the feeder housing and along the outer periphery of the tubular drive shaft.