HK1125334B - Process and device for casting products intended for human consumption - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a casting machine for the manufacture of a consumable product from a casting medium, in particular from a fat medium such as colada. Such casting machines (see, e.g., FR-A-1183748) have a tempered-pressure container for the casting medium, at least one nozzle in fluid connection with the container interior and a pressure source to generate an excess pressure in the container interior.

FR1183748 is a molten casting machine with several dosing chambers, where the mass to be poured, e.g. chocolate, is poured into molds by pressure pumping through tubes. The tubes can be made of elastic material.

Printed matter GB957996 shows a filling machine for fondant paste, which is pressurised from a paste container by a pressure-sensitive self-closing nozzle into a container.

In practice, the components of such casting machines consist of rigid metal parts. The tempered mass container is used to absorb the moldable mass. From its bottom, pipes lead away, each of which leads into one of a number of chambers, each of which is capable of moving a piston. Each of the chambers is connected to a nozzle.

In an intake hub, the respective valve opens the respective connection line between the mass container and the respective chamber, while blocking the respective connection line between the respective chamber and the respective nozzle.

In an exhaust manifold, the valve closes the connection line between the mass container and the chamber and opens the connection line between the chamber and the nozzle, the piston moves in the chamber to reduce the volume of the chamber and the mass is pumped out of the chamber and into the nozzle.

The mass coming out of the nozzle is then pressed or poured onto a substrate or into a hollow shape.

In some special forms of such casting machines, the valve function is coupled with the piston function. For this purpose, the piston is e.g. designed as essentially a cylindrical hub/spin piston, which in a cylinder chamber can perform a lifting movement along the axis of the chamber or piston and a rotation around the axis of the chamber or piston. A special arrangement of the entrances of the connecting pipes in the respective chamber wall and corresponding movements and/or exits in the respective piston can be used to complete a casting cycle (an + exclusion) by a sequence of lifting and rotating movements of the respective piston in one direction and one opposite second direction.

Although the latter, more compact forms of casting machines, have been able to reduce the number of moving parts by combining the piston and valve functions, such conventional casting machines still have a large number of moving parts.

In addition, in many cases, when pouring thin liquid masses at the end of the exhaust nozzle, a backflow from the nozzle cannot be prevented. In most applications where chocolate masses are poured, the casting takes place at such high temperatures that at least the crystalline modifications of the triglycerides that melt at lower temperatures have melted away, so that the chocolate masses are in a fairly thin state overall and a backflow occurs at the nozzles.

As the casting process is usually carried out in small quantities per casting cycle, almost all of the casting takes place in a transient (non-stationary) mode. In addition to the aforementioned afterflow and the dose deviations that this causes, the casting, which takes place mainly in the transient area, also leads to structural changes in the mass. This can lead to impairments in the quality of the cast chocolate masses.

Moreover, given the production output (clock frequency and dosage per clock), it is practically impossible to influence the flow rate of the flow resistance due to the flow characteristics (viscosity) of the chocolate mass to be poured and the geometric boundary conditions.

The absolute pressure acting from the nozzle side must be large enough to overcome the flow limit of the chocolate mass to be poured at the beginning of the pour. This causes this pressure to rise sharply at first. Once the flow begins, a much smaller pressure is required to maintain another constant flow. In addition, due to the now flowing laminar shear flow with a parabolic flow profile, a change in the viscosity of the chocolate mass is introduced, so that the viscosity decreases significantly. The shear has a diluent effect.

The purpose of the invention is therefore to provide a casting machine for the manufacture of a consumer product from a casting medium, in particular from a fat medium such as chocolate, in which the described disadvantages and deficiencies of casting can be avoided or at least reduced.

This task is performed by a casting machine according to claim 1.

This allows primarily to adjust the geometrical boundary conditions of the nozzle and secondarily to influence the flow characteristics of the casting material due to the material structure. By increasing the flow and/or opening cross-section of the nozzle at the beginning of the casting process and preferably reducing the flow and/or opening cross-section of the nozzle during the casting process, a comparative measurement of the pressure flow over an entire casting cycle can be achieved.

The flow and/or opening cross-section of the nozzle is controllable by pressure, using the absolute pressure in the mass container interior.

In addition to this active influence on the nozzle cross section, the nozzle can also have a purely passive behaviour towards flows.

A particularly advantageous design of the moulding machine according to the invention is characterised by the nozzle having at least in the nozzle opening a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomer material, which allows at least a part of the nozzle to automatically adapt to the pressure and flow conditions during a moulding cycle (passive compensation). By stretching the elastomer material at the beginning of the moulding cycle, the pressure peak at the beginning of the moulding cycle can be significantly reduced, while after the flow limit is exceeded the elastomer material contracts, thus maintaining the flow rate and thus the shear rate in the flow, which, for example, leads to a high shear rate in a low vacuum discharge.

The advantage of the nozzle is that it has an elastic element that closes the nozzle opening at rest, preventing any backflow at the end of the casting cycle.

The nozzle preferably has an elastic element with a cavity, which is connected to a fluid source with variable fluid pressure. This allows the elastic element to be filled with a fluid and inflated more or less strongly by means of the fluid pressure. During a casting cycle, a targeted active adjustment of the nozzle cross-section and/or the nozzle channel geometry can therefore be made (active balancing). The fluid pressure in the cavity of the elastic element allows the elasticity and thus its flexibility to be adjusted specifically or to the fluid properties of the mass to be cast.

The pressure source of the casting machine may be a displacement body, in particular a stamp or a membrane, which can be moved into the mass container interior. Alternatively, a pressure vessel filled with compressed gas, in particular compressed air, which can be connected to the mass container interior via a valve in fluid connection, may be used as the pressure source of the casting machine, allowing the necessary pressure to be built up through the flow of all nozzles in the mass container to push the mass through the respective nozzles.

The mass container of the casting machine should preferably contain a degassing opening to expel compressed gas, in particular compressed air, from the mass container interior, preferably with a degassing valve, which can lower the pressure in the mass container downstream of all nozzles in order to slow down and eventually stop the pressing of the mass through the respective nozzles.

It is also advantageous if the wall of the bulk tank is at least partially made of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomer material, which allows the pressure in the bulk tank interior to be controlled by the volume of the bulk tank interior.

The entire nozzle can also be made of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomer material. As explained above, this allows a comparative reduction of the pressure flow during a casting cycle (passive balancing). Preferably, the nozzle is mounted directly on the wall of the mass container, i.e. a connection line between the mass container and the nozzle is not necessary. This simplifies the construction of the molding machine of the invention. In particular, it eliminates the time-consuming heating of such connection lines.

The flexible nozzle may have a slit area, a bulgically folded area, an extendable area, a glove-finger-like retractable area or a combination thereof.

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The nozzle is conveniently assigned a reception area for the mass that can be poured through the nozzle. This can be simply a press surface, conveyor belt, etc. In particular, the reception area can be a hollow shape into which the mass is poured by the nozzle. Preferably, this reception area is tempered to achieve optimal solidification of the cast mass.

The reception area may also be a container filled with a reception fluid. A basin filled with liquid and/or a gas whirlpool bed are particularly suitable. The basin filled with liquid can be used to cool the poured mass units, e.g. by water, or to coat the poured mass units, e.g. with a specially coloured coating mass with a special flavour.

Preferably each nozzle shall have at least one pressure sensor to detect the pressure inside it.

This allows a casting process to be carried out, characterised by pressure changes in the container interior and in the nozzle and by nozzle shapes, whereby the nozzle flexibility, determined by the shape and elasticity of the nozzle, and the pressure in the container and nozzle interact.

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The invention also provides a method according to claim 20 to solve the problem.

Preferably, at least during the nozzle pressurization of the mass, the pressure of the mass pressurized by the nozzle shall be recorded, the recorded pressure of the mass being used as a basis for controlling the flow or opening cross-section of the nozzle.

The change in the flow and/or aperture cross-section of the nozzle is done either by passive or active balancing or by a combination of passive and active balancing.

Passive compensation is achieved by automatically adjusting the flexible nozzle, at least in parts, to the flow and pressure conditions during casting.

Active compensation is achieved by controlling at least parts of the flexible nozzle to adapt to the flow and pressure conditions during casting, preferably by controlling the flexible nozzle to change its elasticity and/or shape and thus its flexibility.

Further advantages, features and applications of the invention are shown by the following non-exhaustive description of preferred versions of the casting machine and nozzles according to the invention: Fig. 1 shows the schematic layout of a conventional casting machine in a partially cut view;Fig. 2 shows the schematic layout of a casting machine in accordance with the invention in a partially cut view;Fig. 3 shows the schematic layout of a first example of the casting machine in accordance with the invention in a partially cut view;Fig. 4 shows the schematic layout of a second example of the casting machine in accordance with the invention in a partially cut view;Fig. 5 shows the schematic layout of a first version of the nozzle of the casting machine in accordance with the invention in a first version of the nozzle in a first version of the nozzle;Fig. 6 shows the schematic layout of a casting machine in a first version of the nozzle in a second version of the nozzle.Figure 7 shows the schematic design of a second version of the nozzle of the moulding machine of the invention in a cross-sectional view in a first operating state (dotted) and a second operating state (lined);Figure 8 shows the schematic design of a third version of the nozzle of the moulding machine of the invention in a cross-sectional view;Figure 9 shows the time pressure flow during a moulding process in a conventional moulding machine (with rigid nozzle) and in a moulding machine of the invention (with flexible nozzle); andFigure 10 shows the temporal flow flow of the moulding machine during a moulding process in a stationary moulding machine (with fixed nozzle) and in a moulding machine of the invention (with flexible nozzle).

Fig. 1 shows the schematic design of a conventional casting machine in a partially cut view. The casting machine consists of a mass container 2 to accommodate a moldable mass M, such as chocolate mass, a nozzle 4 with a nozzle opening 4a at the bottom of the nozzle and a pressure source formed by a drive 7a, a piston rod 7b and a piston 7c. The nozzle 7c is placed in a sliding position in an upper area 4b of the nozzle 4. Below the nozzle 4 is a form 16 with a variety of alveoli or recesses 1.6a. All components in contact with the mass to be cast are components 2, 4, 7b, 7c of this casting machine.

In operation, the drive 7a moves the unit consisting of piston rod 7b and piston 7c downwards to push the mass M in nozzle 4 through nozzle opening 4a, and a quantity of mass M corresponding to the piston stroke in nozzle 4 is introduced into each of the alveoli 16a below nozzle 4.

When melted chocolate dough is poured with such a conventional moulding machine, a drop or afterflow of chocolate dough from nozzle 4 after the actual moulding process cannot be excluded, which may affect the dosage accuracy and appearance of the chocolate articles cast.

Fig. 2 shows the basic structure of a foundry 1 according to the invention in a partially cut view. The foundry 1 consists of a mass container 2 for the reception of a moldable mass M, such as chocolate mass, a nozzle 4 with a nozzle opening 4a at the bottom of the nozzle and a pressure valve 6 connected to a (not shown) pressure source. Preferably, the pressure medium is compressed air, which is generated in a (not shown) compressor and stored in a (also not shown) pressure air container connected to the fluid with the pressure l 6 .

Unlike the conventional casting machine shown in Fig. 1 in the diagram, the casting machine 1 according to the invention shown in Fig. 2 does not have all the components in contact with the mass M to be cast as rigid parts. Rather, at the lower end of the nozzle 4 there is a membrane 4c of an elastomeric material, placed in the nozzle opening 4a. This membrane has one or more slits 4d. The casting mass M is held in the closed membrane, i.e. in the non-spread slot, inside the nozzle 4. In addition, the surface tension of the mass M, its slit boundary and its port on the inside of the nozzle 4 are also supported.

In operation, compressed air or another gas or gas mixture is introduced into the chamber 3 of the mass container 2 via the pressure valve 6 and increases the pressure inside the mass container 2 and this pressure increase pushes the mass M downwards from the mass container 2 and the inside of the nozzle 4, stretching the membrane 4c elastically and spreading one or more slits 4d over the membrane 4c.

In contrast to the nozzle 4a with a fixed cross-section Q of the conventional casting machine in Fig. 1, the casting machine 1 of the invention has a nozzle 4 with a variable cross-section Q formed by the flexible slit membrane 4c of elastically stretchable material.

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The upper area 4b of nozzle 4 which is required for the nozzle 7c's dosing hoist (Fig. 1) in the conventional casting machine can also be omitted in the nozzle 1 (Fig. 2) of the invention, resulting in a very short nozzle 4 in the bottom of the mass container 2. In the extreme case, the actual nozzle 4 can also be formed without vertical length, i.e. the nozzle opening 4a is an opening in the floor wall of the mass container 2 and the flexible slit membrane 4c is located in this opening. This allows a very compact nozzle 1 to be provided.

Fig. 3 shows the construction of a first embodiment of the foundry 1 according to the invention in a partially cut view. The mass container 2 has a relatively large floor area and ceiling area, while it has a relatively low height. In the floor wall 2a of the mass container 2 a large number of nozzles 4 of short construction are mounted, each having a nozzle opening 4a with, for example, a slit membrane 4c or an otherwise perforated membrane, such as a sieve membrane. In the ceiling 2b of the mass container 2 a pressure valve 6 and a discharge tank 9 with a discharge opening are arranged. The pressure tank 6a is mounted in a sub-maser of 16 holes, each with a discharge valve. The mass container can be arranged in a flexible shape, similar to that of a gas tank, with a discharge valve 16 or 16 holes. The mass is arranged in a way similar to that of a gas tank, with a discharge valve 16 or 16 holes. The mass can be arranged in a flexible way, such as a gas tank with 4 or 16 holes. The discharge valve can be mounted in a position between the two masses of the gas tank and the gas tank.

In addition, the moulding machine 1 of the invention has an intake valve 8 of an intake port 8a in the ceiling wall 2b. This intake port 8a fills liquid chocolate into the mass container 2 via an intake port 8d. This port 8a also has a valve function to prevent compressed air or other gas or gas mixture from entering the supply port 8d from the interior of the mass container 2 3. The valve used for this purpose may also be similar to the nozzle 4, i.e. it may have a flexible membrane 8c with slits and holes in the intake port 8a.

The mass container 2 has side walls 2c, 2d with a relatively low height. It is important that there are uniform pressure ratios and a uniform state of mass M over the entire floor area of the mass container 2. This is achieved by placing the mass M to be cast in a practically quasi-stationary state and only small flow rates due to casting occur in the mass M in the mass container 2. On the other hand, the quasi-stationary mass M in the mass container 2 is uniformly conditioned over the entire floor area of the mass container 2.The tool 21 may be a lattice, a perforated plate, a wire mesh or the like. It is connected by vertical connecting rods 20 which extend through sealed through-holes 2e, 2f through the ceiling wall 2b of the mass container 2 and by a vibrating unit which has a base frame 17, a source of vibration 18 and several springs 19. This vibrating unit allows the tool 21 to be moved up and down in mass M. This allows shear and tension to be introduced into the melting mass to be poured.

In addition to this mechanical conditioning (squeezing, stretching of the mass), thermal conditioning (tamping) of mass M can also be performed. For this purpose, 2 heating devices (not shown) are provided in or on the walls, preferably in or under the floor wall 2a, of the mass container to heat the walls of the container. Alternatively or additionally, the tool 21 is heated so that thermal conditioning is carried out uniformly over the entire base of the mass container 2.

Fig. 4 shows the schematic arrangement of a second example of the moulding machine 1 according to the invention in a partially cut view. This moulding machine 1 consists of two moulding machines 1a and 1b according to the invention, arranged side by side, each identical or similar in construction to the moulding machine 1a and 1b according to the invention shown in Fig. 3. For the sake of clarity, in Fig. 4 the tool 21 and the vibration unit 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 (see Fig. 3) of the respective moulding machines 1a and 1b have been omitted. One of the moulding machines 1a, 1b, etc. can be arranged in such a way that different moulding machines can be processed into different articles.

The method of the invention can be performed by the moulding machine 1 according to the invention shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4.

The mass in the mass container 2 is thermally and mechanically conditioned, for which the tool 21 (see Figure 3) is moved up and down in the mass container. The movement of the tool 21 can be adjusted as required, adjusting the amplitude and frequency of the tool on the one hand and the frequency on the other. For the processing of chocolate mass, the temperature of the mass in the mass container 2 is set to about 30°C to 32°C, while the vibration of the tool 21 is set to an amplitude of 1 to 20 and a frequency of 1 Hz to 200 mm. This allows a selection of defined concentrations for the mass to be cast.

To initiate the casting process, an excess pressure is generated in the mass container interior 3 and the pressure valve 6 is opened to allow compressed air or another compressed gas or gas mixture to flow from the pressure source 5 into the mass container interior 3 and this excess pressure is applied to push the mass M evenly through the flexible nozzles 4 into the alveoli 16a.

Instead of the pressure valve 6 which is mounted at a point on the ceiling wall 2b of the mass container 2, two pressure lines (not shown) may also be provided, evenly distributed over the entire ceiling wall 2b, which enter the interior of the mass container 3.

Instead of one or more pressure valves 6 a large gas-tight membrane (not shown) may be provided in one or more walls of the mass vessel 2 and preferably in the ceiling wall 2b of the mass vessel 2 pressing this membrane inwards can then create an overpressure in the mass vessel 2 causing the mass M to be squeezed through the nozzles 4 and the membrane must then be moved backwards, creating a downward pressure in the mass vessel 2 which is compensated by suitable inlet valves (not shown).

The membrane is preferably an elastic membrane, which, when released, automatically recedes and the resulting pressure is sucked into the mass container by means of the above-mentioned inlet valves.

It is particularly advantageous if the elastic membrane in the ceiling wall 2b of the mass container 2 is porous, so that, with an existing pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the membrane, only a relatively slow pressure compensation is achieved by the flow of gas molecules through it. By pushing in such an elastic and porous membrane, a stagnant pressure is first formed inside the mass container 2 due to the flow resistance of the porous membrane. This overpressure, however, persists long enough to push through each of the identical flexible nozzles 4 an identical amount of mass within a few seconds.

During the retrograde movement of the membrane, a small pressure is created in the mass container 2 which, together with the flexible nozzle 4, helps to prevent the mass M from backflowing or dripping after it has been cast through the nozzles 4.

The vibration of the tool 21 (see Fig. 3) not only contributes to the conditioning, i.e. adjustment of the rheological properties, of the mass M, but also promotes a degassing of the mass M, i.e. the escape of air bubbles or other gas bubbles from the mass M.

According to the invention, during the pressing of mass M, a nozzle 4 in fluid connection with the mass container 2 changes the flow and/or opening cross-section Q of nozzles 4 according to the invention. This change of opening cross-section Q can be actively or passively effected.

Preferably, at least during the process of pressurization of the mass M by the nozzle 4, the pressure of the mass pressurized by the nozzle is recorded. The recorded pressure of the mass is then used, for example, as a basis for controlling the flow or opening cross section Q of the nozzle 4. Alternatively or additionally, the pressure recorded in the nozzle 4 can also be used to control the pressure exerted in the mass container 2. In particular, the opening of the pressure valve 6 or the pushing in of the porous elastic membrane based on this recorded pressure is indicated.

Fig. 5 shows the schematic design of a first version of nozzle 4 of the foundry 1 according to the invention in an interface view in a first operating state (non-flowing resting state, closed nozzle). The nozzle 4 shown here has a flexible area 10 of a rubber-like elastomer material This flexible area 10 has a cavity 10a and is located at the bottom of the nozzle. In the present case, the flexible area 10 is formed by an unformed resting tortuous element of an elastomer, the choice of the elastic material (hardness of the rubber) and the design of the geometric shape (radius of the tube, radius of the gate, torus of the gate) allows a fluid to flow through a small stream of compressed water. A fluid such as a gas or a liquid can also be used as a compressible fluid or a fluid whose compressible resistance can be adjusted to exceed the compressible resistance of the gas or other fluid, or the fluid can be used as a gas or a fluid whose compressible resistance can be adjusted to exceed the compressible resistance of the gas or other fluid.

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Fig. 6 shows the schematic arrangement of the first nozzle of the foundry according to the invention in a cross-sectional view in a second operating state (drifted casting state, open nozzle). The pressure transmitted through the mass container 2 (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4) has deformed the mass M in the flexible area 10 and opened the initially closed nozzle 4. The opening cross section Q and the associated flow through the nozzle 4 are obtained by the pressure of the mass M and the nozzle (passive nozzle) or, if necessary, the nozzle controlled or regulated during the casting (active nozzle). A defined structure and a dosage quantity of the nozzle can be poured in the Alveole 16a of the nozzle.

Fig. 7 shows the schematic arrangement of a second version of the nozzle of the foundry according to the invention in a cross-sectional view in a first operating state (dotted) and a second operating state (stretched lines). In the first operating state (non-drained state), this nozzle 12 is closed at its lower end by the mass pressure, which is telescopic. In the second operating state (drained state), this nozzle 12 is in a downward-stretched state due to the pressure of the mass. The lower area 12a of the nozzle is slightly narrower than the upper area 12b. This teleoptic nozzle is a passive after-treatment.

Fig. 8 shows the structure of a third version of the nozzle of the foundry according to the invention in a cross-sectional view. Only the expanded, mass-permeated state of the nozzle 14 is shown. Similar to the telescopic nozzle shown in Fig. 7, this special telescopic nozzle 14 consists of an upper area 14b and a lower area 14a. While the upper area 14b is mainly longitudinally, i.e. vertically bent to reach the upper formed state, the upper area 14a extends globally to a spherical shape. Between the upper area 14a and the lower area 14a there is a single hole, which is slightly less or not evenly dilated.

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This telescopic stamping nozzle 14 allows a process similar to cold stamping or cold pressing to produce chocolate shells. Instead of stamping, a form 16 cooling with 16a alveoli is used (see Fig. 2, Fig. 3, Fig. 4). This allows the classic cold stamping to be made more flexible.

Fig. 9 shows the time pressure flow during a casting process in a conventional casting machine (with rigid nozzle) and in a casting machine 1 with flexible nozzle according to the invention 4. While in the conventional rigid nozzle during the casting or pressing of the mass by the nozzle a strong pressure peak is produced in the nozzle (thin line), during the casting or pressing of the mass by the flexible nozzle 4 according to the invention no pressure peak (line along the greasy points) is produced in total. Rather, a much lower pressure flow at a relatively low level is obtained.

Figure 10 shows the time course of the mass flow during a casting process in a conventional casting machine (with rigid nozzle) and in a casting machine 1 with flexible nozzle according to the invention 4. It can be seen that in the conventional casting machine with rigid nozzle after casting there is a strong afterflow or afterdrop (thin line, after the time at about 5 seconds), while in the casting machine 1 with flexible nozzle according to the invention 4 there is practically no afterflow or afterdrop (line along the fat points, after the time at about 5 seconds).

The present invention is not limited to the examples shown herein, for example flexible nozzles with two or more concentric channels could be used, which makes the classic one-shot procedure more flexible.

List of reference marks

1	Giessmaschine	8c	Membran
1a	Giessmaschine	8d	Zufuhrleitung
1b	Giessmaschine	9	Entgasungsventil
2	Massebehälter	10	flexibler Bereich
2a	Bodenwand	10a	Hohlraum
2b	Deckenwand	12	Düse
2c	Seitenwand	12a	unterer Bereich
2d	Seitenwand	12b	oberer Bereich
2e	Durchtritt	14	Düse
2f	Durchtritt	14a	unterer Bereich
3	Innenraum	14b	oberer Bereich
4	Düse	14c	Einschnürung
4a	Düsenöffnung	14d	Loch
4b	oberer Bereich	16	Form
4c	Membran	16a	Alveole
4d	Schlitz	17	Grundgestell
5	Druckbehälter	18	Schwingungsquelle
6	Druckventil	19	Feder
7a	Antrieb	20	Verbindungsstange
7b	Kolbenstange	21	Werkzeug
7c	Kolben
8	Zufuhrventil	M	Masse
8a	Zufuhröffnung	Q	Querschnitt

Claims (23)

1. Casting machine (1) for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable substance (M), in particular a fatty substance, such as, for example, chocolate, having:

   - a mass container (2) for accommodating of the castable substance (M);

   - a multiplicity of nozzles (4), which are in fluid connection with the interior (3) of the mass container;

   - a pressure source (5) for creating an excess pressure in the interior (3) of the mass container; the nozzles (4) having a nozzle opening, or a nozzle constriction, the opening cross section or the flow cross section of which is flexible, and the nozzles having, at least in the region of the nozzle opening, a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material, characterized in that the cross section of the nozzle opening is controllable by the absolute pressure in the interior of the mass container.
2. Casting machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure which controls the nozzle opening is transmitted via the castable substance which is contained in the interior of the mass container and is in contact with the inner wall of the nozzle opening.
3. Casting machine according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the nozzle has a valve function.
4. Casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the nozzle has an elastic element which closes the nozzle opening in the rest state.
5. Casting machine according to Claim 4, characterized in that the elastic element is an annular element which extends around the nozzle opening.
6. Casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the nozzle has an elastic element having a hollow cavity which is in fluid connection with a fluid source having a variable fluid pressure.
7. Casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the pressure source is a displacement body, in particular a ram or a membrane, which can be displaced into the interior of the mass container.
8. Casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the pressure source is a pressure vessel filled with compressed gas, in particular compressed air, which can be switched, via a valve, into fluid connection with the interior of the mass container.
9. Casting machine according to Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the mass container has a degassing opening in order to expel compressed gas, in particular compressed air, from the interior of the mass container.
10. Casting machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the degassing opening of the mass container is a degassing valve.
11. Casting machine according to Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the wall of the mass container, at least in part-regions, consists of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material.
12. Casting machine according to Claim 11, characterized in that the pressure in the interior of the mass container is controllable by way of the volume of the interior of the mass container.
13. Casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the entire nozzle consists of a flexible elastic material, in particular an elastomeric material.
14. Casting machine according to Claim 13, characterized in that the nozzle has a region which is slitted, folded in the fashion of a bellows, is eversible in the fashion of the fingers of a glove, or has combinations thereof.
15. Casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the nozzle is assigned a receiving area for the substance which is castable by way of the nozzle.
16. Casting machine according to Claim 15, characterized in that the receiving area is a hollow mould.
17. Casting machine according to Claim 16, characterized in that the receiving area is a container filled with a receiving fluid, in particular a liquid-filled reservoir or a gas-fluidized bed.
18. Casting machine according to Claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the nozzle, for sensing the pressure in its interior, has at least one pressure sensor.
19. Casting machine according to Claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the mass container, for sensing the pressure in its interior, has at least one pressure sensor.
20. Method for producing a product intended for human consumption from a castable substance, in particular a fatty substance, such as, for example, chocolate, using a casting machine according to one of Claims 1 to 19, having the following steps:

    - providing a temperature-controlled castable substance in a mass container;

    - creating an excess pressure in the interior of the mass container;

    - pressing the substance through a multiplicity of nozzles, which are in fluid connection with the mass container, while simultaneously varying the flow cross section and/or the opening cross section of the nozzles, the cross section of the nozzle opening being controlled by pressure; characterized in that the absolute pressure in the interior of the mass container is used.
21. Method according to Claim 20, characterized in that, at least while the substance is being pressed through the nozzle, the pressure of the substance being pressed through the nozzle is sensed.
22. Method according to Claim 21, characterized in that the sensed pressure of the substance is used as the basis for controlling the flow cross section or the opening cross section of the nozzle.
23. Method according to either of Claims 21 and 22, characterized in that the sensed pressure of the substance is used as the basis for controlling the application of pressure in the mass container.