The present invention relates to a conditioner, in particular for the production of conditioned foodstuffs or animal foods.
Conditioners are used individually as processors or in conjunction with pressing or expander plants in the preparation of animal foodstuffs or foodstuffs. These are generally mixers, in which a product for processing is processed over a certain period thermally or hydrothermally. This processing serves to render the products hygienic, and to improve the nutritional value and/or the product structure.
Such mixers are known for example from EP-B-231764 and EP-B-610789. In this example a dosing device is connected upstream of such a mixer and a compression mould or an expander is supplied from the mixer. The mixer is provided with a heating mantle and contains a rotating shaft, which is equipped with mixing and conveying elements.
Such units are either tailored to use in pressing or expander plants, or can be used stand-alone only, since the expense of adapting them is high.
According to EP-B-610789, for warming the product-guiding parts and units, an air cycle is provided with a ventilator, a connecting line, an air heater, a lower air connection arranged on the side of the product output channel with an air inlet channel, an air input channel with an upper air connection arranged on the side of the product supply channel, whereby the air is guided from the product output channel via the compression mould, the product supply channel, the feeder and mixer to the products input channel.
Solutions to energy recovery are also known in processors, in which for example the waste heat of an expander plant is utilized.