Chocolate molding machine RD600

Overview
A roller depositor that forms symmetrical solid chocolate lentils and dragee centers between two glycol-cooled cavity drums. Operates after chocolate conditioning and before sugar-shell panning. The formed piece is a center (not the finished sugar-shelled product). Configuration is determined by required throughput, cavity geometry engraved on the drums, and drum length. Filled products and belt-deposited drops require different forming architectures.

Process suitability — eliminate the RD600 if

• The finished piece is the formed part itself — RD600 produces the center and requires downstream panning for a sugar shell.
• The product is a flat-bottomed drop, chip, or button deposited on a belt — that requires a chocolate drop line.
• The piece must carry a filling — RD600 forms solid pieces and does not co-extrude two products.
• On-site product-size or capacity changeover is required — cavity geometry, drum length, and forming-pair count are fixed at manufacture.

Fixed configuration decisions (chosen before manufacture)

• Throughput → number of forming-pair frames (1, 2 or 3 pairs mounted on the same chassis).
• Product shape and weight → cavity geometry engraved on the drums (6 mm, 12 mm, or custom profile).
• Per-pair throughput and machine width → drum length (400 mm or 600 mm) selects per-pair capacity and machine width.

Forming-pair frame capacity (per pair)

• 1 pair — 400 mm ≈ 130 kg/h ; 600 mm ≈ 200 kg/h ; Machine power 1.5 kW — eliminate if required throughput is above this capacity.
• 2 pairs — 400 mm ≈ 260 kg/h ; 600 mm ≈ 400 kg/h ; Machine power 2.25 kW — eliminate if throughput is ≤ 1-pair ceiling or > 2-pair ceiling.
• 3 pairs — 400 mm ≈ 400 kg/h ; 600 mm ≈ 600 kg/h ; Machine power 3 kW — eliminate if throughput is ≤ 2-pair ceiling or > 3-pair ceiling.

*Machine power excludes required external glycol chiller.

Cavity geometry
Cavity geometry is engraved on the forming drums and selected at quotation: 6 mm for small dragee centers, 12 mm for standard dragee centers feeding a coating pan, or custom cavities sized to piece weight and geometry. Drum length (400 or 600 mm) is selected at order and scales per-pair throughput proportionally. RD600 denotes the 600 mm drum-length variant.

What the RD600 forms — and what it doesn’t
The RD600 forms symmetrical solid chocolate centers (lentils, dragees, custom buttons) by matching cavities on two drums to produce a symmetrical solid piece. Out of scope: flat-bottomed loose drops/chips/buttons on a belt (use a chocolate drop line) and filled centers (use a one-shot molding line or other molding solutions).

Position in the production line
Upstream: storage tank and industrial tempering machine feed a level-controlled forming hopper. For non-temperable compound, feed at controlled working temperature. Downstream: formed centers pass to a coating pan for sugar-shell panning. An appropriately sized external glycol chiller (quoted separately) is required for the forming drums and de-webbing section; an undersized circuit causes sticking and weight variation.

Forming and de-webbing
Chocolate exits the cavity drums as a continuous thin web carrying the formed pieces. The de-webbing section separates the symmetrical pieces from the connecting web and collects web and flash in trays. Scrap is not returned automatically to the feed system. Drum-temperature stability, drum-rotation synchronization, and de-webbing cooling together control piece weight, edge cleanliness, and surface finish; drift results in smearing, sticking, or weight variation.

Model summary
RD600 — roller depositor for symmetrical chocolate lentils and dragee centers. Options fixed at order: forming-pair count (1–3), drum length (400 mm or 600 mm), and cavity geometry (6 mm, 12 mm, or custom). Electrical supply and motor power scale with pair count. Warranty: 1 year; lead time typically 3–4 months due to fixed manufacturing choices.

Technical specifications

• Model: RD600 (600 mm drum-length variant; 400 mm available at quotation).
• Role: forms shaped chocolate centers — lentils, dragees, custom shapes for downstream panning.
• Forming-pair frames: 1, 2, or 3 pairs mounted on a single chassis; pair count fixed at order.
• Per-pair production capacity (approx.): 400 mm ≈ 130 kg/h per pair; 600 mm ≈ 200 kg/h per pair (actual varies with cavity, speed and chocolate viscosity).
• Machine power (excluding external chiller): 1 pair = 1.5 kW; 2 pairs = 2.25 kW; 3 pairs = 3 kW; 380 V three-phase supply.
• Materials: AISI 304 and AISI 420 stainless steel construction.
• Forming drums: glycol-cooled (water-jacketed) cavity drums; cavity geometry engraved on drums (6 mm, 12 mm, or custom).
• De-webbing unit: rubber-insulated; shares common glycol circuit with forming drums.
• Feeding: level sensors on forming hopper for chocolate feed control.
• Auxiliary requirements: required external glycol chiller quoted separately; undersized chiller degrades performance.
• Accessories: web/crust collection trays for scrap, adjustable rotation speeds for forming drums and de-webbing.
• Production notes: the formed output is a center intended for downstream panning; machine does not produce filled centers nor belt-deposited flat-bottom drops.
• Warranty & lead time: 1 year warranty; lead time typically 3–4 months.
• Price: quoted on request.