Compact assembly for coating stick-shaped snack products

Abstract

FIELD: food industry.SUBSTANCE: group of inventions relates can be used for coating baked snack products in the form of sticks. The device includes a plurality of grippers (10) that grip a plurality of baked snack products in the form of sticks (2) arranged in a row and spaced apart from each other, mounted on a feeding station (1) in such a way as to hold them by one end. The transport equipment (30) receives opposite ends of a spindle (80) carrying each of the grippers (10) and supporting the grippers (10) so that they continuously move along a line at a given linear speed from the loading zone (A) next to the feed station (1) to the next entry zone (B). A container (22) comprising a liquid or semi-liquid coating liquid in which the snack product (2) is at least partially immersed to provide a coating (3) when aligned from above in the coating position of grippers (10) carrying the snack product (2) in a vertical position. The transport equipment (30) includes a return zone (E) which advances in such a way as to transport the covered (3) snack product (2) to the unloading station (5) next to the feeding station (1). The device comprises a hinge (70) attached to the transport equipment (30) and having a socket (72) into which a spindle (80) is inserted and adapted for rotation. The transport equipment (30) comprises a guide assembly (40) which is made adjacent to the transport equipment (30) at least in the return zone (E) and along which the spindle (80) is advanced, supported by the socket (72), when it passes into the return zone (E). The device comprises a manipulator (50) mounted in such a way as to protrude radially outward on the spindle (80), and a rotary element (60) secured next to the transport equipment (30) and during its movement rotating the spindle (80) by pressing on the manipulator (50) in such a way that the grippers (10) are facing downwards in the return zone. A method for producing a snack product is also proposed.EFFECT: application of a coating to a baked snack product in the form of sticks.8 cl, 3 dwg

Description

[0001] FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

[0002] The present invention relates to an assembly device for coating and a method for coating snack products baked in the form of sticks.

[0003] STATE OF THE ART

[0004] Baked goods made from dough are typically prepared according to a given recipe, forming a pliable dough. The products are obtained by mixing cereal flour, such as wheat or starch-based flour blends, and various auxiliary ingredients with water in specified weight ratios, and then processing them in various ways.

[0005] Baked snack sticks are typically produced by shaping dough according to a recipe into a stick shape and then baking or similarly heat-treating the product. Baked snack sticks are firm and crispy. Baked snack sticks are typically hard and crumbly. Baked snack sticks are arranged in rows on a conveyor and fed horizontally, spaced apart, into grippers with silicone grippers. The grippers grasp the spaced sticks at one end and hold them vertically with the free end down. The vertically positioned products are dipped into a coating liquid. The coating liquid, such as liquid chocolate, is typically contained in a container. The sticks are dipped into the coating liquid so that the free ends first enter, overcoming the surface tension of the coating liquid, and then exit again and are transported for cooling.

[0006] TR201208266 relates to a method for coating biscuits, sugar, chocolate, crackers, cakes, chewing gum, and similar stick-shaped products by dipping them into chocolate or similar liquid or viscous materials, and to a machine employing this method. Here, products conveyed from a product hopper onto a specially shaped elastic belt are pushed by a pushing device when they enter a line with automatic locking clamps, and in a horizontal position, they are gripped and held by the automatic locking clamps. The clamps, moving along a main line, move from a horizontal to a vertical position. When the clamps in the vertical position enter a line with a container containing a liquid or viscous coating material, the container, which can be moved up and down by a servo-driven lever, is raised, causing the products to be dipped into the coating material in the container.As the container moves downward, the products emerge coated with the coating material. As the products, coated at the ends of the clamps, move along the main line toward the cooling tunnel, excess coating material is shed by gravity. In the feeding and spraying zone, the coated products are sprayed with a flavoring agent, and then cooled in the cooling tunnel.

[0007] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a compact production line for coating a baked stick-shaped snack product.

[0009] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an assembled device for coating baked snack products in the form of sticks, comprising: a plurality of grippers cooperating with a plurality of prepared snack products in the form of sticks, arranged in a row and spaced apart from each other, fed to a feeding station, in order to hold them at one end; transport equipment receiving opposite ends of a spindle carrying each of the grippers, and supporting the grippers for their continuous movement along a line at a predetermined speed from a loading zone located near the feeding station, to the next entry zone; a container containing a liquid or semi-liquid coating liquid, in which the snack product is at least partially immersed for coating when aligned from above in the coating position of the grippers carrying the snack product in a vertical position.The specified snack coating assembly includes a return zone, where the transport equipment moves to transport the coated snack to an unloading station located adjacent to the infeed station. Because the return zone is located close to the infeed station, the open areas where the snack is infeed and unloaded are close together, limiting the inspection area and ensuring maximum hygiene compliance.

[0010] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transport device includes a ring-shaped carrier element that continuously moves at a constant speed and supports grippers arranged in a row and spaced apart. The ring-shaped design provides a compact, assembled covering device with a forward direction of travel and a reverse direction of travel, for example, with an unloading area at the bottom and a loading and entry area at the top.

[0011] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the transport equipment is designed as a chain. The chain ensures continuous, uninterrupted production, can bend in the opposite direction, and provides sufficient stability for elements such as grippers that may exert pressure on it. Alternatively, a flexible transport element made of a polymeric material can be used as the transport equipment for changing the direction of movement.

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a drive element directly connected to the transport equipment. The drive element directly drives the transport equipment and, together with the grippers mounted thereon, ensures the continuous advancement of the line. In one embodiment, the drive element is a wheel connected to a motor.

[0013] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor equipment has at least a two-tier structure, with the loading and entry zones forming the upper tier in the direction of travel, and the return and unloading zones forming the lower tier in the opposite direction. Thus, in a system in which the grippers extend downwards under the weight of the snack product, hygienic conditions are ensured within the conveyor equipment, as the products on the rows of grippers can move without touching each other or other elements. Compared to a conventional straight coating line, the space required is half that of a conventional straight coating line, resulting in a compact design.

[0014] A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a hinge mounted on a transport device and having a socket into which a spindle is rotatably inserted. The hinge allows the grippers to be suspended from the transport device via a pivot joint. This ensures that the chopsticks remain upright, especially when moving to the return area.

[0015] A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a guide assembly located adjacent to the transport equipment, at least in the return zone, and along which the spindle, supported by the seat, advances upon entering the return zone. This allows the guide assembly to form a rail structure between itself, the transmission element, and the spindle, forming a two-tier structure, for example, with an upper and lower tier in a ring-shaped rail structure.

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a manipulator mounted so as to protrude radially outward on the spindle, and a rotating member secured near the transport equipment and rotating the spindle so that the grippers face downward in the return zone by pressing on the manipulator during the spindle advancement in the return zone. Thus, the grippers are positioned in the guide in a downward-facing position when they are returned to the transport equipment.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor equipment includes a turning section where it returns in a second direction of travel, opposite to the first direction of travel from the loading zone to the entry zone, with a return zone following the turning section. Thus, the most compact structure is achieved by organizing the line in a circular motion mode.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle's pivoting section is U-shaped. The U-shape allows for acceleration to approach zero by gradually applying centrifugal force to the grippers and prevents breakage or displacement of snack products.

[0019] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a method for producing snack products using the coating assembly apparatus described above.The method includes the following process steps: feeding a plurality of snack products in the form of sticks to a feeding station; clamping the snack products at one end by opening grippers corresponding to the feeding station in the loading zone of continuously moving transport equipment; advancing the grippers in a vertical position in a first direction into the entry zone; in the coating application zone of the transport equipment, immersing a snack product protruding outward at the end of the grippers on the container into a container; moving the grippers with the coated snack product to the return zone by rotating them in a second direction opposite to the first, in a U-shaped turning section of the transport equipment; and unloading the snack products in the unloading zone by opening the grippers in the unloading zone adjacent to the loading zone, at the end of the return zone.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0021] Fig. 1 is a front view of a representative embodiment of the claimed two-tiered device assembled for coating baked snack products in the form of sticks.

[0022] Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of a gripper provided in the coating assembly and the transport equipment to which it is attached when the gripper is in a rotating position.

[0023] Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the assembled coating device shown in Fig. 2 when the gripper is released from the rotating position.

[0024] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0025] In the present detailed description, the improved subject matter of the invention is described with reference to examples for the purpose of merely better explaining the subject matter, without imposing any limitations.

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a front view of an assembled device for coating with chocolate according to the present invention for a cracker snack product in the form of sticks (2) made from baked dough. Snack products (2) in the form of sticks, obtained from cracker dough and baked in an oven (not shown), are fed in a horizontal position from a feeding station (1) having a conveyor, into a slot (12), which is accessible through an open mouth of a gripper (10). When the mouth of the grippers (10) is closed, the snack products (2) are clamped in the slot. The spindle (80) is transversely located on the transport device (30), forming a line in a ring structure. Several grippers (2), hingedly fixed on the upper end of the spindle (80), grip the snack products (2) by their upper end, creating a pre-stress by means of their spring-loaded structure.Each gripper (10) clamps one of several products (2) at its upper end, maintaining their parallelism and distance from each other. This process occurs in the loading zone (A), located at the feed station (1) on the line.

[0027] Further down the line, in the entry area (B), the gripper (10) in the horizontal position rotates on the transport equipment (30) about the axis of the spindle (80), taking a vertical position under the action of the weight of the snack products (2). Thus, the spindle (80), attached at its opposite ends to the transport equipment (30) on the line and extending transversely, moves forward, guiding straight along the line. From here, each gripper (10) passes into the coating area (C) on the line, where a coating station (20) is provided. The coating station (20), as described in specification PCT / TR2022 / 051080, incorporated herein by reference, includes a container (22), a vertically moving lifting device (23) below it and a rectilinear guide cradle (24) supporting them on a horizontal axis. In this case, the coating liquid is molten chocolate.Alternatively, melted praline or other liquid, semi-liquid and viscous sauce can be used. The top opening of the container (22) is open, and when each of the grippers (10) is in a horizontal position relative to the container (22), the lifting device (23) lifts the container (22) toward the grippers (10) and dips the snack product (2) into the hot chocolate, starting from the free end, forming a glaze (3). In this case, the grippers (10) continue to move at a constant speed along the transport device (30). To adapt to this advancement, the cradle (24) pushes the container (22) forward at the same advance speed as the grippers (10), and the lifting device (23) is lowered to release the snack product (2), on which the glaze (3) is formed. The glaze (3) hardens on the snack product when the hot chocolate is exposed to the surrounding air and begins to cool.At the end of the enrobing zone (C), the transport equipment (30) turns back on a U-shaped turning section (D). The U-shape results in a two-tong line. On the turning section (D), the gripper (10), secured to the transport equipment (30), rotates in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the line (in this case counterclockwise), so that the snack product (2) at its lower end comes to a vertical position. For this purpose, at the lower end of the turning section (D), adjacent to the transport equipment, a guide assembly (40) is provided, on which a manipulator (50) is secured. After the turning section (D), the return gripper (10) moves rectilinearly along the return zone (E) to the unloading zone (F), adjacent to the loading zone (A). When viewed from the front, the grippers (10) in the return zone (E) move in the opposite direction and at a lower level than the grippers (10) in the coating zone (C).All this bidirectional movement is carried out by applying torque to the drive element (4), which has a wheel attached to the transport equipment.

[0028] The transport device assembly (30) has a closed chain structure, and the guide device assembly (40) is a rod in the form of a wide ring, embracing the chain from the outside and forming a rail, between which the spindle (80) moves. Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show the rail structure in an enlarged view. Fig. 2 shows a gripper (10) in the central part of the rotary section (D), wherein the snack product (2) is located horizontally to the floor and faces the loading zone (A). The spindle (80), on which the gripper (10) is fixed, is mounted so as to rotate in a joint (70) of a wedge structure with a crescent (72). The joint (70) with its base enters the inner side (32) of the transport device (30), facing the guide device assembly (40). The spindle (80) is limited by the inner side (42) of the guide device assembly (40), preventing it from exiting the socket (72) in the cavity of the rail.On the spindle (80) a rotating element (60) is fixed in the form of a rod, which crosswise extends to the opposite outer sides (44) of the transport equipment (30) and the guide device assembly (40). At the end of the rotating section (D) on the lower end of the guide device assembly (40) a manipulator element (50) in the form of a wheel is fixed. The manipulator element (50) is located on the lower end of the rotating element (60) coaxially with the end facing the guide device assembly (40). Thus, when the spindle (80), installed in (72) the socket of the hinge (70), fixed on the inner side (32) of the vehicle (30), reaches the lower end, the manipulator element (50) is pushed away from the support wall (62), causing the gripper (10) to rotate toward the ground plane, as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, when the gripper (10) reaches the return zone (E), the snack product (2) takes a position perpendicular to the ground, and the cover (3) remains below.Similar elements of the manipulator (50) are located in the unloading zone (F) and in the entry zone (B), where the rotation occurs. This ensures that the grippers (10) are perpendicular to the ground plane as it moves along the rail.

[0029] Upon arrival at the end of the return zone (E), the gripper (10) opens at the unloading station (5) and allows the snacks (2) with coating (3) to be placed. After this, the gripper (10), having returned to the loading zone (A), continues the cycle, gripping another stick of uncoated snack product (2) from the infeed station (1) in the open position.

[0030]

Claims

1. An assembly for coating a baked snack product in the form of sticks, comprising: a plurality of grippers (10) gripping a plurality of baked snack products in the form of sticks (2) arranged in a row and spaced apart from each other, mounted at a feed station (1) so as to hold them at one end; transport equipment (30) receiving opposite ends of a spindle (80) carrying each of the grippers (10) and supporting the grippers (10) so that they are continuously advanced along a line at a predetermined linear speed from a loading zone (A) near the feed station (1) to a next entry zone (B);a container (22) containing a liquid or semi-liquid coating liquid in which the snack product (2) is at least partially immersed to provide a coating (3) when aligned from above in the coating position of grippers (10) carrying the snack product (2) in a vertical position, and the transport equipment (30) includes a return zone (E) that is advanced so as to transport the coated (3) snack product (2) to an unloading station (5) near the feed station (1), characterized in that said coating assembly comprises a hinge (70) attached to the transport equipment (30) and having a socket (72) into which a spindle (80) is rotatably inserted;said transport equipment (30) comprises a guide assembly (40) which is made adjacent to the transport equipment (30) at least in the return zone (E) and along which a spindle (80) supported by a socket (72) moves when it passes into the return zone (E); and said coating assembly comprises a manipulator (50) mounted in such a way as to protrude radially outward on the spindle (80), and a rotating element (60) fixed near the transport equipment (30) and, during its movement near the spindle (80), rotating the spindle (80) by pressing on the manipulator (50) in such a way that the grippers (10) are facing downwards in the return zone.

2. An assembled device for covering according to paragraph 1, characterized in that the transport equipment (30) includes a supporting element in the form of a ring, continuously moving at a constant speed and carrying on itself grippers (10) arranged in a row and spaced apart from each other.

3. An assembled device for coating according to paragraph 2, characterized in that the transport equipment (30) is made in the form of a chain.

4. An assembled device for coating according to paragraph 2 or 3, characterized in that it includes a drive element (4) that is directly connected to the transport equipment (30).

5. An assembled device for covering according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport equipment (30) has at least a two-tier structure, wherein the loading zone (A) and the entry zone (B) form the upper tier in the direction of advancement, and the return zone (E) forms the lower tier in the opposite direction of return.

6. An assembled covering device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transport equipment (30) includes a turning section (D), where it turns in a second direction of movement, opposite to the first direction of movement, from the loading zone (A) to the entry zone (B), the turning section is followed by a return zone (E).

7. An assembled device for covering according to item 6, characterized in that the rotating part (D) of the transport equipment (30) has a U-shape.

8. A method for producing a snack product using a coating assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following process steps: feeding a snack product (2) in the form of a plurality of sticks to a feeding station (1); clamping the snack products (2) at one end by opening grippers (10) corresponding to the feeding station (1) in the loading zone (A) of a continuously moving transport equipment (30); advancing the grippers (10) in a vertical position in a first direction into the entry zone (B); immersing in a container in the coating zone (C) of the transport equipment (30), wherein the snack product (2) protrudes outward at the end of the grippers (10) on the container (22); moving the grippers (10) with the coated (3) snack product (2) to the return zone (E) by turning in a second direction opposite to the first, in a U-shaped turning section (D) of the transport equipment (30);and releasing the coated (3) snack product (2) to the unloading station (5) by opening the grippers (10) in the unloading zone (F) adjacent to the loading zone (A) at the end of the return zone (E), characterized in that for rotating the grippers (10) with the snack products (2), a hinge (70) is attached to the transport equipment (30), having a socket (72), into which the opposite end of the spindle (80) carrying the grippers (10) is inserted with the possibility of rotation; the guide device assembly (40) is made adjacent to the transport equipment (30), along which the spindle (80) carrying the grippers (10) moves, the manipulator (50) is mounted on the guide device assembly (40) and a rotating element (60) is provided, which interacts with the manipulator (50), ensuring rotation of the grippers (10) with the snack product (2).;

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