Process of enrobing food products and related equipment

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention entitled: “Process of enrobatura of food products and related apparatus”, by: SOREMARTEC SA - LUXEMBOURG, nationality Luxembourgish, 16, Route de Treves – L-2633 Senningerberg, Luxembourg Designated Inventors: MOLLO Marco; MENEGALDO Enrico; ARAGONE John; SANTUCCIONE Francesco Antonio; Filed on: September 27, 2024 **** DESCRIPTION TEXT Field of invention The present invention relates to a process of packaging of food products, such as products confectionery. The known enrobatura procedures include the creation of a vertical veil made from an ingredient of free-falling enrobatura, and the advancement of the products along a feeding path that passes through the veil vertical of the enrobatura ingredient, so that on each product deposits a continuous coating formed from the enrobatura ingredient. Subsequently, the products are passed through the above a vibrating device and below a air blowing device, the latter removing part of the enrobatura ingredient so as to leave on the produce a coating that is as homogeneous and heavy as possible default. In this context, the present invention aims to create a solution for product wrapping food that is improved, in particular that allows to improve the quality of the coating made on the products and that is simpler and more versatile. In general, the present invention relates to a enrobatura process according to claim 1 and a enrobing system according to claim 10. The claims form an integral part of the teaching provided here. Additional features and benefits of this invention will be evident from the following description with reference to the attached drawings, provided for information purposes only non-limiting example, where: - Figure 1 represents an embodiment of the procedure and apparatus described here. The following description illustrates various specific details aimed at an in-depth understanding the forms of implementation. The forms of implementation can be achieved without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components or materials etc. In other cases, material structures or Known operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the form of implementation. The references used here are for convenience only. and therefore do not define the scope of protection or the extent of the forms of implementation. With reference to figure 1, the procedure here described includes: - advance, in succession, a plurality of files of products 100 along a feed path K; and – form a vertical veil 2 with an ingredient of enrobation in free fall, e - invest with the vertical veil 2 the products 101 of each row of products 100 so as to form a continuous coating 102 with the enrobatura ingredient of the vertical veil that settles on them. In general, the enrobatura ingredient can be a any flowable ingredient that is susceptible to be transported by the effect of hydraulic pressure. Preferably, the enrobatura ingredient is a liquid, for example liquid chocolate. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the plurality of product rows 100 can be transported by a conveyor 10, such as a belt conveyor, along the K-feed path. The 101 products of each 100 product row are aligned along a common parallel reference axis Xi to a direction T transverse to the feed path K. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the phase of making the vertical veil 2 involves the use of at least one dispensing head 20 comprising a dispensing slot 22 having a width preferably not exceeding 250 microns. Correspondingly, the vertical veil 2 delivered by the dispensing head 20 has a thickness not exceeding at 250 microns. As we will see below, preferably the crack of delivery 22 also has a length – in the transverse direction T – limited to operate on a single product at a time; in general, the dispensing slot 22 could for example have a length between 20 mm and 50 mm, depending on the specifications requirements applications. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the system described here also includes a power supply duct 26 configured to power the enrobatura ingredient to the dispensing slot 22, and a pressure generating unit 27 configured for generate a given pressure inside the duct power supply 26; in other words, the ingredient of enrobatura transported by the supply duct 26 yes found at a given pressure due to the action of the pressure generating unit 27. The pressure generating unit 27 may be a pump of a known type capable of ensuring a precise flow rate and constant flow of the enrobatura ingredient. The enrobatura ingredient may be contained inside a tank 29 designed to feed the ingredient to the feed duct 26. In operation, the dispensing head 20 dispenses through the dispensing slot 22 a flow of the enrobatura ingredient that forms the veil vertical 2; the flow rate of the ingredient of enrobatura can be controlled via the unit pressure generator 27, varying the pressure generated inside the supply duct 26. In one or more preferred embodiments, the head of dispensing device 20 comprises a shutter organ 24, which is configured to engage the dispensing slot 22 and is linearly mobile, preferably along one direction vertical, between a closed position, in which the passage for the enrobatura ingredient through the slot of delivery 22 is closed by the shutter organ 24, and a open position, in which the aforementioned passage is instead open and the enrobatura ingredient can then be dispensed through the dispensing slot 22. Preferably, the shutter organ 24 is also configured to perform, as a result of its movement from the open position to closed position, an action mechanics of removing residues of the ingredient enrobatura from inside the dispensing slot 22. In one or more preferred embodiments, the organ shutter 24 has a laminar body which, in at least one its part, has a cross-section substantially corresponding, in shape and size, to the section internal transverse of the dispensing slot 22; with this part of its body, the shutter organ 24 can be inserted in the dispensing slot 22 to close the passage through the dispensing slot 22 to the ingredient of enrobatura and at the same time to remove any residues of the enrobatura ingredient left inside of the same crack. In one or more preferred embodiments (not illustrated), the shutter organ 24 can also be configured to vary a flow section of the passage for the enrobatura ingredient through the slot of delivery 22, depending on its position along its direction of movement. By controlling the position of the organ shutter 24 can then be adjusted the range of the flow of the enrobatura ingredient through the gap of delivery 22. For example, the body of the shutter organ 24 can have at least one conical portion extending along the its direction of movement, which delimits a passage for the enrobatura ingredient together with the internal walls of the dispensing slot 22, and which determines a variation of the flow section of the aforementioned passage as a result of a change in the position of the organ shutter 24 along its direction of movement. In view of the above, it will be clear to the expert of the sector which, thanks to the characteristics indicated above, the enrobatura system described here is capable of apply the enrobatura ingredient on products 101 through a very thin veil 2 and characterized by a predetermined flow rate. This allows the system to realize on the products enrobatura coverings having thickness and weight defaults; therefore, the next stage of removing part of the commonly made enrobatura ingredient in the known technical solutions (which have been mentioned at the beginning) – through a vibrational device and a air blowing device - no longer exists necessary. In operation, the delivery of the vertical veil 2 from part of the dispensing head 20 occurs simultaneously with the advancement of the products 101 along the path of advancement K by conveyor 10, in so that the vertical veil 2 invests the respective product 101 in motion and a continuous coating is formed 102 consisting of the enrobatura ingredient at least on the side superior product. In other words, the forward movement of the products 101 along the feed path K is used to determine a relative movement between the heads of dispensing 20 of the products, which allows for the distribution the enrobatura ingredient on the top side of these. Eventually, depending on the needs of the specific applications the dispensing head 20 can however also be subject to a movement of tracking along the supply path K for chasing products 101, in any case always determining a relative movement between the dispensing heads 20 and the products 101 as indicated above. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the system described here comprises a plurality of 20 dispensing heads, all of which have a structure identical to the one described above, and which are distinguished between them, in the figure, through the references 20(I), 20(II), 20(III) and 20 (IV). Dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) they are arranged mutually spaced along the direction transverse T and each includes a slot of delivery 22 which extends longitudinally along the transverse direction T for a limited length so that the vertical veil 2 provided by it only affects one respective product 101 of product row 100. In a alternative embodiment, the vertical veil 2 delivered from each dispensing head 20 can also invest a part of an adjacent product in product row 100, as will be explained in more detail below. Furthermore, in one or more preferred embodiments, as illustrated, the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are arranged according to a reciprocal misaligned condition with reference to a direction parallel to the transverse direction T, which is such that each dispensing head is located in a position along the power path K which differs from the position where the dispensing head is located, or are located, it adjacent, or the dispensing heads adjacent to it, of the aforementioned plurality of dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20 (IV). In the example illustrated, the dispensing head 20(II) is moved in the direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the products, compared to the two heads of delivery 20(I), 20(III) adjacent to it, and, similarly, the dispensing head 20(IV) is moved in the same direction with respect to the dispensing head adjacent 20(III); on the other hand, the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(III) and the dispensing heads 20(II), 20(IV) are instead arranged, two by two, mutually aligned along a direction parallel to the transverse direction T. In an alternative embodiment, the heads of delivery can instead all be misaligned between them with reference to a direction parallel to the transverse direction T. In view of the above, it will therefore be understood that the misaligned condition of the dispensing heads 20 yes refers only to the mutual disposition between heads of adjacent delivery (along a direction parallel to the transverse direction T), while, inside the overall formation of the dispensing heads, is also it is possible to provide dispensing heads mutually aligned (along a direction parallel to the direction transversal T), this depends on the needs of the specific applications. The arrangement according to the misaligned condition here described allows to compact the formation of the heads of delivery 20 laterally, along the direction transversal T, with the consequence that also the products 101 of each row of products can be arranged, on the conveyor 10, close to each other along the same direction. As we will see below, this also allows the implementation of embodiments in which the veils vertical 2 dispensed by two adjacent dispensing heads yes partially overlap along a direction parallel to the feed path K, so that both two plies invest a portion of each of their respective products adjacent to product row 100. Moreover, it will be understood that due to the aforementioned misaligned arrangement, in operation the veils vertical 2 dispensed by the plurality of dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) will invest their respective products of the same row of products 100 in instants different. With particular reference to the illustrated example, the vertical veils dispensed by the dispensing heads 20(II), 20(IV) will invest the respective products 101 of a row of produced 100 in advance of the vertical veils delivered from the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(III). It can now be observed that, unlike the solutions of prior art where a hopper makes a single vertical veil configured to invest simultaneously all products in one row, the solution described here advantageously uses the plurality of heads disbursement 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) to realize a number of vertical veils corresponding to the number of row products; each vertical veil is very thin and is characterized by a predetermined flow rate, so that coatings are made on the products in the row homogeneous among themselves, and having a predefined thickness and weight. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are configured to create vertical veils in degree, due to their width along the direction transversal T, to cover with the enrobatura ingredient only a part of the respective 101 products of the row of 100 products, leaving a part of them uncovered instead adjacent. In the example illustrated, the vertical veils 2 cover half of the 101 products, leaving the other half uncovered. Advantageously, in one or more forms of implementation Preferred dispensing heads, like the one illustrated, 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are arranged so that the coatings 102 made by them on the products 101 adjacent of a row of products 100 are in positions mutually facing each other and, even more preferably, are substantially symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry parallel to the K power path. In the example illustrated, the 102 coverings made from the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II) on the first pair of products 101 on the left (facing the direction of product advancement) are symmetrical with respect to a axis of symmetry parallel to the power path K, and the same goes for the second pair of products 101 a right, whose 102 coverings are made by the heads of delivery 20(III), 20(IV). This provision offers the advantage of providing that the parts of the products intended to be coated are facing each other, and that the parts of the products intended instead, those who remain without the covering are kept on the outside of the dispensing heads; in this way way, the risk of the latter being soiled is significantly reduced, and this even where, in some cases applications, the products 101 of row 100 are arranged very close to each other (along one direction parallel to the transverse direction T). As already mentioned above, eventually the heads of disbursement 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) can be mutually arranged, two by two, at a distance along a direction parallel to the transverse direction T, such so that the respective vertical veils 2 overlap in part along a direction parallel to the path of K power supply, and both invest a part circumscribed of each of the respective products 101 adjacent to product row 100. This allows you to deposit double the amount of the enrobatura ingredient on the above mentioned part limited range of products 101, for example for purposes aesthetics. In some applications, the aforementioned part circumscribed may include a side edge of the products, in order to compensate for the loss of material that may occur at such an edge due to gravity. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are subjected to an oscillation movement W along a direction parallel to the transverse direction T, so that the vertical veils 2 deposit the ingredient of enrobatura on the respective products 101 forming on these a continuous coating 102 characterized by an edge perimeter 102A with wavy profile, which extends parallel to the supply path K and which delimits the coated part of the product 101 with respect to the part adjacent without cladding. The wavy profile of the 102 cladding thus obtained constitutes a decorative motif capable of making even more more appreciable the products made through the process described here, by consumers. On the contrary, it can be noted that such a result aesthetic can in no way be achieved through a enrobatura process according to the known technique, from since, in a known process, the vertical veil is dispensed from a hopper that does not allow any type of control over the storage of the enrobatura ingredient, and furthermore the subsequent phase of removal of part of the enrobatura ingredient through a device blowing of air, would clearly have the effect of erase any previously existing ornamental motif done. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are carried by a common mobile trolley on a guide (not illustrated) along a direction parallel to the transverse direction T, which is moved, in the operation, according to an alternating rectilinear motion for subject the dispensing heads to the aforementioned movement oscillation. The dispensing heads 20 can be brought from the the above mentioned trolley together with its respective components, that is, the supply duct 26, the generating unit of pressure 27 and the tank 29; alternatively, for each dispensing head 20, the tank 29 and the unit pressure generator 27 can instead be arranged on a stationary structure, and the dispensing head can be connected to these via a conduit power supply 26 capable of allowing relative movement between the head and the other two components. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as that illustrated, the mutual distance D along the path of K power supply, between each dispensing head and the respective delivery head adjacent to it which is located in a misaligned position (with respect to one direction parallel to the transverse direction T), is in a given correlation with an amplitude of the oscillation movement W indicated above, which is such that, despite the veils vertical 2 dispensed by the two dispensing heads invest the respective products 101 of the product row 100 in different moments, the perimeter edges 102A of the 102 coatings formed on such products by the two heads of delivery are mutually aligned and in phase with each other or in phase opposition to each other. In particular, in one or more forms of implementation, such as the one illustrated, in which the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are designed to create two two, symmetrical 102 coatings on adjacent 101 products of the product row 100, the above correlation data is such that the perimeter edges 102A of the coverings 102 formats on each pair of adjacent products are mutually aligned and in phase opposition to each other. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) where, on the contrary, the dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV) are designed to create coatings 102 with a given orientation on all products 101 of the product row 100, the above correlation data is such whereby the perimeter edges 102A of the coverings 102 of all the products in the row are aligned with each other and in phase with each other. In both of the two forms of implementation, all the 102 coatings made on the 100 product row have identical wavy edges 102A, both with reference to the way in which they develop with progression wavy both with reference to their starting point and to the their end point. This ability to produce enrobed products characterized by a decorative motif and all identical between their makes the solution described here very appreciable by the point of view of the wide possibility it offers in terms of production variety, as well as from the point of view of in view of the quality of production that it is at the same time in able to guarantee. Naturally, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of its construction and the forms implementation may vary, even significantly, compared to what is illustrated here purely as an example non-limiting, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims annexes.

Claims

1. Process of enrobing food products including: - provide a coating ingredient and form a vertical veil (2) with the falling enrobatura ingredient free; - advance, in succession, a plurality of files of products (100) along a feed path (K), in where the products of each product row are mutually aligned along the same axis of reference (Xi) parallel to a transverse direction (T) to the power path (K); - invest the products (101) of each row of products (100) with the vertical veil (2) so as to form a continuous coating (102) with the ingredient of enrobatura that is deposited on them; the said procedure being characterised by the fact that said stage of forming a vertical veil (2) includes: - dispense the enrobatura ingredient through a dispensing slot (22) of a dispensing head (20), And - feed the enrobatura ingredient to the slot of delivery (22) via a supply duct (26) within which the enrobatura ingredient is maintained at a predetermined pressure by a unit pressure generating (27), so that a flow of the enrobatura ingredient of a given dish comes dispensed through said dispensing slot (22).

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein said dispensing slot (22) defines a section of flow having a width not exceeding 250 microns.

3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, wherein invest the products (101) of each product row (100) with the vertical veil (2) includes doing it at the same time advance the row of products along the path of power supply (K) so as to distribute the ingredient of enrobatura on products along the supply path (K), thus forming the so-called continuous coating (102).

4. Proceeding according to any of the above claims, wherein said stage of forming a veil vertical (2) includes providing a plurality of heads disbursement (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) equal to the number of products of each product row (100), where the dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) of said plurality are arranged reciprocally spaced along the transverse direction (T) to the path power supply (K) and each includes a slot for delivery that extends longitudinally along the transverse direction (T) for a limited stretch so that the vertical veil (2) dispensed by the single head of disbursement only affects one respective product of the row of products and, possibly, a product adjacent to it of the product line, 5. Process according to claim 4, wherein this phase of investing the products of each row of products with vertical veil (2) includes: - through said plurality of dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) provide a plurality of veils vertical (2) equal to the number of products in each row of products (100) and configured to cover, as a result of the their width along the transverse direction (T) to the path power supply (K), the upper sides of the products (101) only in part or not completely; and - subject said plurality of dispensing heads 20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) to a movement of oscillation (W) along the transverse direction (T) to the feed path (K), so as to form, on each product (101) of each row of products (100), a continuous coating (102) characterized by an edge perimeter (102A) with wavy profile that extends parallel to the feed path (K) and that delimits a part of the product (101) covered by the continuous coating (102) of the enrobatura ingredient, compared to an adjacent part without cladding.

6. Process according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) of said plurality of dispensing heads are mutually arranged according to a misaligned condition with reference to a direction parallel to the transverse direction (T), which is such that each dispensing head is located in a position along the feed path (K) that differs from the position in which at least one head is located of delivery adjacent to it of the plurality of heads of delivery, so that the vertical veil (2) delivered by each dispensing head invests a respective product of the product line at a different time than the vertical veil (2) dispensed by at least one head of supply adjacent to it.

7. Process according to claim 6, when this depends on claim 5, where the heads of disbursement (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) of the said multiple dispensing heads move in concert according to the said oscillation movement, and in which the distance reciprocal (D) along the feed path (K), between each dispensing head and the at least one dispensing head provision adjacent to it of the plurality of heads of delivery, is in a given correlation with an amplitude of said oscillation movement, which is such that, despite the vertical veil provided by each head of disbursement invests a respective product of the row of produced at a different time than the vertical veil dispensed from at least one dispensing head to it adjacent, the perimeter edges (102A) with wavy profile of the coatings (102) formed on the products of each row of products (100) are mutually aligned and in phase between them or in phase opposition with each other.

8. Proceeding according to any of the above claims, wherein said dispensing head (20) comprises a movable shutter organ (24) configured for vary a flow section of a passage for the enrobatura ingredient through said slit of delivery (22), and wherein said phase of forming the veil vertical includes, preferably, adjust the flow rate of the flow of the enrobatura ingredient delivered through the dispensing slot (22) through said organ shutter (24).

9. Food products covered with an ingredient of enrobatura through a procedure according to any of the previous claims.

10. Enrobatura system to implement a enrobatura process according to any of the claims 1 to 8, said system comprising: - a conveyor (10) to advance, in succession, a plurality of rows of products (100) along a feeding path (K), in which the products (101) of each row of products (100) are aligned along a same reference axis (Xi) parallel to a direction transverse (T) to the feed path (K); - at least one dispensing head (20) comprising a dispensing slot (22) configured to dispense a enrobatura ingredient in the form of a vertical veil (2) in free fall, which affects the products of each row of products (100) advanced by the conveyor (10) along the power path (K), - a supply duct (26) configured for feed the enrobatura ingredient to the slot dispensing (22) of the dispensing head (20); and - a pressure generating unit (27) configured to maintain the ingredient at a predetermined pressure of enrobatura inside said supply duct (26), so that a flow of the enrobatura ingredient of a given flow rate is delivered through said slot of delivery (22).

11. System according to claim 10, wherein said at least one dispensing head comprises a plurality of dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) which they are arranged mutually spaced along the direction transverse (T) to the feed path (K), and each one comprises a dispensing slot (22) which is extends longitudinally along the transverse direction (T) for a limited stretch so that the vertical veil (2) dispensed by the single dispensing head only invests one respective product of the product row (100) and, possibly, a product adjacent to it in the row of products.

12. System according to claim 11, wherein the dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) of said plurality of dispensing heads are mutually arranged according to a misaligned condition with reference to a direction parallel to the transverse direction (T), which is such that each dispensing head is located in a position along the feed path (K) that differs from the position in which at least one head is located of delivery adjacent to it of the plurality of heads of delivery, so that the vertical veil (2) delivered by each dispensing head invests a respective product of the product line at a different time than the vertical veil (2) dispensed by at least one head of supply adjacent to it.

13. System according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) of said plurality of dispensing heads are movable according to an oscillating motion (W) along the direction transverse (T) to the feed path (K) so as to form, on each product of each row of products (100), a continuous coating (102) characterized by a perimeter edge (102A) with wavy profile that extends parallel to the feed path (K) and that delimits a part of the product (101) covered by the continuous coating (102) of the enrobatura ingredient, compared to an adjacent part without cladding.

14. System according to claim 12, wherein the dispensing heads (20(I), 20(II), 20(III), 20(IV)) of said plurality of dispensing heads are configured for move in solidarity according to the said movement of oscillation (W), and in which the mutual distance (D) along the feed path (K), between each head of dispensing and the at least one dispensing head attached to it adjacent of the plurality of dispensing heads, is in a given correlation with an amplitude of said movement of oscillation (W), which is such that, despite the veil vertical dispensed by each dispensing head invests a respective product of the product row at a time different from the vertical veil provided by at least a dispensing head adjacent to it, the edges perimeter (102A) with wavy profile of the coverings (102) formats on the products of each product row (100) are mutually aligned and in phase with each other or in phase opposition between them.

15. System according to any of the claims from 10 to 14, wherein at least one dispensing head (20) is provided comprises a shutter organ (24) which is configured to engage the dispensing slot (22) and it is movable linearly, preferably along a vertical direction, between a closed position, in which the passage for the enrobatura ingredient through the crack of delivery (22) is closed by the shutter organ (24), and an opening position, in which the aforementioned passage it is instead open and the enrobatura ingredient can then be dispensed through the dispensing slot (22), and wherein, preferably, said shutter organ (24) It is also configured to vary a flow section of said passage for the enrobatura ingredient through the dispensing slot (22) depending on the position of the shutter organ along its direction of movement.