Method and device for dehydrating co-extruded food products

1. A method for at least partially dehydrating a casing of co-extruded food products, comprising the steps of:

supplying an aqueous salt solution to an exterior of a co-extruded food product;

collecting the aqueous salt solution supplied to the exterior of the co-extruded food product, wherein the collected aqueous salt solution has an increased measure of contamination relative to the supplied aqueous salt solution;

monitoring the measure of contamination of the collected aqueous salt solution during the collecting step, and prior to any additional processing; and

activating a control valve by a control unit based upon the measure of contamination such that one of a plurality of circuits are opened;

wherein the plurality of circuits include a reprocessing circuit and a return circuit, the return circuit recycling the collected aqueous salt solution without any additional processing;

wherein a reprocessed aqueous salt solution from the reprocessing circuit is mixed with the collected aqueous salt solution from the return circuit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein one of a plurality of control valves are activated by the intelligent control unit.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the collected aqueous salt solution is recycled through the return line when the measured contamination does not exceed a minimum level.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least a part of the collected aqueous salt solution is treated by the reprocessing circuit and then recycled when the measured contamination exceeds a minimum level.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the collected aqueous salt solution is monitored by a sensor placed in an outlet of a collection tray.

6. A method for at least partially dehydrating a casing of coextruded food products, comprising the steps of:

supplying an aqueous salt solution to an exterior of a co-extruded food product, wherein the exterior of the co-extruded food product is provided with a viscous material, said aqueous salt solution at least partially dehydrating the viscous material on the exterior of the co-extruded food product by removing water from the viscous material;

collecting the aqueous salt solution supplied to the exterior of the co-extruded food product, wherein the collected aqueous salt solution includes at least excess water removed from the exterior of the co-extruded food product;

monitoring a measure of contamination of the collected aqueous salt solution, the measure of contamination including at least a relative concentration of the excess water in the collected aqueous salt solution; and

activating a control valve by a control unit based upon the measure of contamination such that the collected aqueous salt solution is conveyed to a reprocessing unit and reconditioned by at least forced evaporation of the excess water;

wherein a portion of the collected aqueous salt solution is conveyed to a return line without additional conditioning and subsequently mixed with the reconditioned aqueous salt solution from the reprocessing unit.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the collected aqueous salt solution is monitored by a sensor placed in an outlet of a collection tray.