Filling machine and method hereof

Abstract

The invention relates to a filling machine for the filling of an amount of edible ice into a container. The machine includes: space for containing said edible ice, filling unit, which contains a piston and a volume with at least one inlet and at least one outlet, where these create connections respectively to the space and container for the filling unit, and at least one valve. The at least one valve is an integrated part of the filling unit. The invention also relates to a method for the filling of an amount of edible ice into a container with a filling machine, and the use hereof.

Description

TECHNICAL FEELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a filling machine for the filling of an amount of edible ice or an amount of a mixture which contains edible ice into a container, a method and use hereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART [0002] It is known to measure out a predetermined amount of edible ice in connection with transfer to a cup, ice boats, cone, freezing pockets or other similar containers. [0003] Existing techniques for the measuring out and distribution of edible ice contains e.g. a piston and a cylinder for driving the mass forwards, and subsequent valves for opening and closing in the transfer of the edible ice, where the opening time and frequency of the valve determine respectively the volume of the edible ice which is distributed and containers which can be filled. [0004] The independent functions make it complicated to get the individual components to work together, which makes this a troublesome and expensive process to establish. Mor...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] The invention creates a filling machine for edible ice which does not involve the problems for the above-mentioned known technique. The invention especially creates a filling machine with a simple and efficient construction. The invention also creates an operationally reliable filling machine which doses the edible ice quickly and precisely into cups, ice boats, cone, freezing pockets and other similar containers.

[0007] The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems with the known technique by providing a filling machine for edible ice which has integrated filling / pumping and valve mechanism in one unit. It is hereby possible to create a filling machine with a simple and efficient construction.

[0009] With one embodiment, at least a part of the piston has a circular cross-section and at least one longitudinal narrowing-down in the shape of the piston such as a notch or a groove in relation to the circular cross-section. Hereby opens possibility of defining a passage between the volume and the inlet or outlet when the piston moves in the volume, and herewith creating an advantageous, integrated filling / pumping and valve mechanism.

Problems solved by technology

The independent functions make it complicated to get the individual components to work together, which makes this a troublesome and expensive process to establish.

Moreover, several independent movable parts give rise to a greater uncertainty in the amount of edible ice which is measured and distributed in each case, which is undesirable when the demand is for many portions of sizes corresponding to one another.

Also, a frequent cleaning of the components is necessary in order to ensure operational reliability, which is troublesome and delays the process.

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