Method of controlling a process in which the particle size of a material is reduced, a machine for reducing the particle size of a material and a method of calibrating such a machine
In a method of controlling a process in which the particle size of a material is reduced by passing the material through a nip between rollers at least one operational figure, such as the motor current, of at least one motor associated with at least one roller is continuously measured and the nip is adjusted by controlling the operational figure so as to match a target operational figure. A machine for reducing the particle size of a material by passing the material through a nip between rollers has a device for measuring at least one operational figure, such as the motor current, of at least one motor associated with at least one roller and a device for adjusting the nip on the basis of the measured operational figure matching a target operational figure. A method of calibrating a machine for reducing the particle size of a material by passing the material through a nip between the rollers has the step of measuring at least one operational figure, such as the motor current, associated with a desired particle size and/or mass consistency and the step of setting the operational figure associated with a desired particle size and/or mass consistency as a target operational figure.
1. A method of controlling a process in which the particle size of a material is reduced by passing the material through a nip between rollers, the method comprising:
setting a target operational figure of at least one motor associated with at least one roller, the target operational figure of the at least one motor being a target motor current value selected to provide a desired particle size and/or mass consistency;
continuously measuring actual motor current value of the least one motor associated with the at least one roller as the material passes through a nip between the rollers; and
adjusting the nip between the rollers in response to a determination that the actual motor current value of the at least one motor deviates from the target motor current value to return the actual motor current value of the at least one motor to the target motor current value.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the material is a powder and/or a semi-liquid.
3. The method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the process for reducing the particle size is a pre-refining process in a process for making a confectionery mass.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the process for making a confectionery mass is a chocolate making process.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target operational figure of at the least one motor further comprises a target power value taken up by the motor selected to provide the desired particle size and/or mass consistency.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target operational figure of at the least one motor further comprises a target torque provided by the motor selected to provide the desired particle size and/or mass consistency.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target operational figure of the at least one motor further comprises a target number of revolutions per unit time of the motor selected to provide the desired particle size and/or mass consistency.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting that the actual motor current value of the at least one motor deviates from the target motor current value.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the target operational figure of the at least one motor associated with the at least one roller is a target motor current value selected to provide a desired throughput in kg/hr.
10. A machine for reducing the particle size of a material by passing the material through a nip between rollers, the machine comprising a device configured to measure an actual motor current value of at least one motor associated with at least one roller, and a device configured to adjust the nip between the rollers in response to a determination that the actual motor current value of the at least one motor deviates from a target motor current value of the at least one motor, the target motor current value being selected to provide a desired particle size and/or mass consistency, wherein adjustment of the nip between the rollers is effective to return the actual motor current value of the at least one motor to the target motor current value of the at least one motor.
11. The machine in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the machine is a pre-refiner in a machine for making a confectionery mass.
12. The machine of claim 11 , wherein the machine for making a confectionery is a chocolate making machine.
13. A chocolate making machine comprising at least one mixer, at least one machine in accordance with claim 10 , at least one refiner and at least one device for conching and/or homogenization.
14. The machine of claim 10 , wherein the device configured to measure the actual motor current value of the at least one motor associated with at least one roller is further configured to detect that the actual motor current value of the at least one motor deviates from the target motor current value.
15. The machine in accordance with claim 10 , wherein the target motor current value of the at least one motor is selected to provide a desired throughput in kg/hr.
16. A method of calibrating a machine for reducing the particle size of a material by passing the material through a nip between rollers, the method comprising:
measuring actual motor current value of at least one motor associated with at least one roller to determine an actual motor current value that provides a desired particle size and/or mass consistency; and
setting the actual motor current value determined to provide a desired particle size and/or mass consistency as a target operational figure of the at least one motor.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the motor current of the at least one motor is measured continuously.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising measuring actual power taken up by the motor to determine an actual power value that provides a desired particle size and/or mass consistency; and setting the actual power value determined to provide a desired particle size and/or mass consistency as a second target operational figure of the at least one motor.
19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising measuring actual torque provided by the motor to determine an actual torque value that provides a desired particle size and/or mass consistency; and setting the actual torque value determined to provide a desired particle size and/or mass consistency as a second target operational figure of the at least one motor.
20. The method of claim 16 , further comprising measuring actual number of revolutions per unit time of the motor to determine an actual number of revolutions per unit time that provides a desired particle size and/or mass consistency; and setting the actual number of revolutions per unit time determined to provide a desired particle size and/or mass consistency as a second target operational figure of the at least one motor.
21. The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting that the actual motor current value of the at least one motor deviates from the target operational figure.
22. The method of claim 16 , further comprising setting the actual motor current value determined to provide a desired throughput in kg/hr.