System and method for efficient pellet manufacturing
A method for separating a trim section from a body of comestible structure includes forming a trim score line in the body of the comestible structure to define the trim section in the body of comestible structure and actively applying a force to the trim section via a force generating device to separate the trim section from the body of comestible structure along said trim score line.
1 . A method for separating a trim section from a continuous body of comestible structure, the method comprising:
moving said continuous body of said comestible structure along a direction of travel;
forming a trim score line in said continuous body of said comestible structure to define said trim section in said body of said comestible structure, said trim section being arranged between said trim score line and an outer periphery of said continuous body of said comestible structure;
after forming said trim score line to define said trim section, engaging said trim section of said continuous body of said comestible structure with at least a portion of at least one force generating device, said force generating device comprising a roller;
exerting, via said roller, a force on said trim section along a direction of breaking, said direction of breaking being arranged at an angle relative to said direction of travel of said continuous body of said comestible structure;
said force separating said trim section from the said continuous body of said comestible structure along said trim score line,
wherein said forming said trim score line in said continuous body of said comestible structure is via at least one scoring or cutting device, said at least one scoring or cutting device comprising a spiral protrusion which engages a portion of said trim section and moves said trim section laterally out or laterally outwardly from the body of said comestible structure as it moves in said direction of travel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said force exerted to said trim section includes applying a tensile force to said trim section.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising forming a comestible mass into the body of comestible structure via a forming system upstream from said forming said trim score line.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein said forming said comestible mass into the body of comestible structure and said forming said trim score line occur simultaneously.
5 . A method for separating a trim section from a continuous body of comestible structure along a trim score line, the method comprising:
forming said trim score line in said continuous body of said comestible structure to define said trim section, said trim section being arranged between said trim score line and an outer periphery of said continuous body of said comestible structure;
after forming said trim score line to define said trim section, engaging said trim section with a force generating device, said force generating device including a roller;
wherein said roller exerts a force to a web of said trim score lines, said force being applied in a plane parallel to a surface of said continuous body of said comestible structure; and
rupturing the web via said force to separate said trim section from said continuous body of said comestible structure,
wherein said forming said trim score line in said continuous body of said comestible structure is via at least one scoring or cutting device, said at least one scoring or cutting device comprising a spiral protrusion which engages a portion of said trim section and moves said trim section laterally out or laterally outwardly from the body of said comestible structure as it moves in said direction of travel.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said body of comestible structure is movable in a direction of travel and wherein said force applied to said web includes a first component and a second component and said first component extends in a direction transverse to said direction of travel of the body of comestible structure.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said first component of said force is smaller than said second component of said force.
8 . The method of claim 6 , wherein said second component of said force extends perpendicularly to said direction of travel of the body of comestible structure.
9 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising forming a comestible mass into the body of comestible structure via a forming system upstream from said forming said trim score line.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said direction of breaking and said direction of travel lie in a plane parallel to a surface of said continuous body of said comestible structure.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said roller rotates about an axis of rotation at an angle relative to said direction of travel.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said force generating device operates outwardly beyond said trim score line.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said angle relative to said direction of travel is an angle extending outwardly relative to the body of said comestible structure as it moves in said direction of travel.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said force generating device comprises a first force generating device and a second force generating device, said first force generating device arranged adjacent a first edge of said continuous body of said comestible structure, and said second force generating device arranged adjacent a second edge of said continuous body of said comestible structure, said first edge being opposite to said second edge of said continuous body of said comestible structure.
15 . A method for separating a trim section from a continuous body of comestible structure, the method comprising:
moving said continuous body of said comestible structure along a direction of travel;
forming a trim score line in said continuous body of said comestible structure to define said trim section in said body of said comestible structure, said trim section being arranged between said trim score line and an outer periphery of said body of said comestible structure, said trim section extending along said direction of travel of said continuous body of said comestible structure;
applying compressed air to a surface of said trim section via at least one force generating device comprising a compressed air delivery unit;
wherein said compressed air exerts a force on said surface of said trim section along a direction of breaking;
wherein said force separates said trim section from said continuous body of said comestible structure along said trim score line,
wherein said forming said trim score line in said continuous body of said comestible structure is via at least one scoring or cutting device, said at least one scoring or cutting device comprising a spiral protrusion which engages a portion of said trim section and moves said trim section laterally out or laterally outwardly from the body of said comestible structure as it moves in said direction of travel.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said force is a shearing force applied by said compressed air delivery unit in a perpendicular direction to said surface of said trim section.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said force is applied to said surface of said trim section along a direction of breaking, said direction of breaking being arranged at an angle relative to said direction of travel of said continuous body of said comestible structure.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein said force generating device comprises a first force generating device and a second force generating device, said first force generating device arranged adjacent a first edge of said continuous body of said comestible structure, and said second force generating device arranged adjacent a second edge of said continuous body of said comestible structure, said first edge being opposite to said second edge of said continuous body of said comestible structure.