Moulding composition

Abstract

In a food processing line, the equipment which is likely to fragment on breakage contains magnetically susceptible particles which are separated from the food by a magnetic separation stage. When the equipment is a starch carrying tray, the moulding mix contains 5-50% of magnetic filler, such as magnetite. Reinforcement with glass fibre and jute fibre modifies the compositions for moulding the trays. Moulding mixes based on polypropylene and thermosetting resins are described. A processing line using starch trays has a conveyor for food items and a conveyor for the starch in which the food items are moulded. Both have magnetic separators.

1 . A plastic moulding composition inter alia for equipment in a food processing line, comprising a moulding mix and one or more fillers, one of which renders breakage fragments of equipment manufactured from the mix, separable by a magnet from material which is not separable by a magnetic field. 
   
   
       2 . A moulding composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic filler includes a magnetisable metal, its alloy, its ferrites, or its oxides in particulate form. 
   
   
       3 . A moulding composition as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising magnetisable filler 5-50%, moulding polymer 15-35% and fibro reinforcement 15-35%. 
   
   
       4 . A moulding composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic filler is magnetite. 
   
   
       5 . A moulding composition as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the concentration of magnetite is 220-550 g/l. 
   
   
       6 . A moulding composition as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the mean particle size 20-50μ. 
   
   
       7 . A moulding composition as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the fibre is mineral or vegetable fibre. 
   
   
       8 . Manufactured articles when moulded from a moulding composition as claimed in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       9 . A manufactured article as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the article is a starch tray for confectionery items. 
   
   
       10 . A manufactured article as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the article is a conveyor bucket, conveyor roller, equipment housing, or conveyor guide. 
   
   
       11 . A plastic moulding composition, comprising magnetic particles in amount 5-50% by weight of said composition, and wherein mean particle size of said magnetic particle is 20-50μ, and wherein equipment from a food processing line may comprise the plastic moulding composition so that breakage fragments from said equipment can be removed from food products by exposing food contaminated with said breakage fragments to a magnetic separator stage and recovering food free of contamination by the removal of the fragments with the magnetic separator. 
   
   
       12 . The plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles are ferrites or its oxides in particulate form. 
   
   
       13 . The plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles are magnetite. 
   
   
       14 . The plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the magnetic particles have a mean particle size of 20-50μ. 
   
   
       15 . The plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the plastic moulding composition comprises of magnetic mineral particles in an amount of 5-50% by weight. 
   
   
       16 . The plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 , further comprising plastic polymeric materials, additives and reinforcements for the moulding. 
   
   
       17 . A manufactured article comprising the plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 , wherein the article is a starch tray for confectionery items. 
   
   
       18 . A manufactured article, comprising the plastic moulding composition according to  claim 11 .