Method and apparatus for coating food products with flowable materials

Abstract

The present application relates to a method of coating a food product with a flowable material, the method comprising: feeding a series of rows of products (Q) oriented in a direction transverse to an advancing direction (K) in the advancing direction (K); feeding a set of flowable material flows (F1); collecting the material of the set of material flows on the second conveying surface (II) in the first position (P1), thereby forming a substrate of the material (M) on the second conveying surface (II) in a position aligned with the plurality of reference axes (Yi); another material flow or another set of material flows (F2) is fed to a second location (P2) on the second conveying surface (II), the second location (P2) being downstream of the first location (P1) in the advancing direction (K). The present application also relates to an apparatus for coating a food product with a flowable material.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for coating food products, in particular confectionery products, with a flowable material. Background Art

[0002] In order to completely coat food products (for example confectionery products such as biscuits, pralines, wafers etc.) with a flowable material in industrial production, it is known to:

[0003] - providing a first conveyor for feeding a series of rows of products in a forward direction;

[0004] - generating a layer of flowable material on the conveying surface of the second conveyor and receiving the product on the layer of flowable material generated on the conveying surface of the second conveyor so as to coat the bottom side of the product with the flowable material;

[0005] - feeding the products received on the second conveyor in the forward direction; and

[0006] - feeding a flow of flowable material from above onto the conveying surface of the second conveyor in order to coat the upper side of the products fed in the advancing direction.

[0007] In order to implement this method, the solutions of the prior art generally include: a first device for supplying flowable material so as to form the above-mentioned material layer on the conveying surface of the conveyor, and the first device is generally arranged in the upstream area of the position where the product is received on the conveyor; and a second device for supplying flowable material so as to coat the upper side of the product, and the second device is arranged downstream of the above-mentioned position. Summary of the Invention

[0008] In this context, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved solution compared to the known solutions. In particular, the object of the present invention is to achieve one or more of the following objectives:

[0009] -Coating products with flowable materials in an efficient and complete manner;

[0010] - Maintaining proper alignment of the coated product before and after processing;

[0011] - Provide solutions that can reduce production line length; and

[0012] - To provide a solution that is simple both from a structural point of view and from the point of view of its operation.

[0013] In general, the present invention relates to a method according to claim 1 and an apparatus according to claim 7 .

[0014] The claims form an integral part of the teaching provided herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear from the ensuing description made with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example only, and in which:

[0016] - Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an example of the method described herein;

[0017] - Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of an apparatus described herein, according to a side view;

[0018] - Figure 3 Shown in front view Figure 2 device;

[0019] - Figure 4 Shown in plan view Figure 2 devices; and

[0020] - Figure 5 Shown in plan view Figures 2 to 4 components of the device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In the following description, various specific details are provided to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be obtained without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, or materials. In other cases, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail in order not to obscure aspects of the embodiments.

[0022] The references used herein are provided for convenience only and do not determine the scope or extent of the embodiments.

[0023] As noted above, the aspects described herein relate to methods and apparatus for coating a food product with a flowable material.

[0024] The food product may for example be a confectionery product such as biscuits, pralines, wafers or the like.

[0025] In general, it should be noted that the teachings provided herein can be applied to any kind of food product.

[0026] The flowable material may be a granular material, a liquid, a creamy or pasty material, or the like.

[0027] Generally, the methods described herein comprise the following steps (see Figure 1 ):

[0028] - feeding along the advancement direction a series of rows of products oriented in a direction transverse to the advancement direction, wherein the series of rows of products are also arranged along a plurality of reference axes parallel to the advancement direction (step A),

[0029] wherein the feeding step comprises transferring each row of products from a first conveying surface of a first conveyor to a second conveying surface of a second conveyor, the second conveying surface being arranged below the first conveying surface and downstream of the first conveying surface with respect to the advancement direction, the row of products being received on the second conveying surface in a first position along the advancement direction;

[0030] - feeding a set of material flows following feed paths along a material feed direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the series of rows of products, said feed paths being substantially parallel to one another and being in positions staggered relative to a plurality of reference axes in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement (step B),

[0031] wherein, in the course of progressing along said feed path, said stream of said group passes through the products of said row on either side of the products of the row itself;

[0032] - collecting, in said first position, material of said set of material flows on said second conveying surface on which a base of said material is formed in a position aligned with said plurality of reference axes (step C),

[0033] wherein said step of transferring rows of products from said first conveying surface to said second conveying surface comprises arranging said rows of products on said material substrate at said first location such that a bottom side of said products is coated with said material; and

[0034] - feeding another material flow or another group of material flows to a second position on the second conveying surface, which second position is located downstream of the first position along the forward direction, wherein the another material flow or the another group of material flows is arranged on the second conveying surface so as to coat the upper side of the products of the row advancing along the forward direction (step D).

[0035] In one or more preferred embodiments, the aforementioned substrate is in the form of an accumulation of said material.

[0036] In one or more preferred embodiments, the method includes supplying a main material flow along a material supply direction and dividing the main material flow into the material flow of the above-mentioned group and the material flow of the above-mentioned other group, wherein the material flows of the above-mentioned group themselves are arranged in pairs on either side of each material flow of the other group of material flows.

[0037] In view of the foregoing, the method described herein is configured for supplying flowable material to coat the underside of a product moving in an advancing direction relative to the aforementioned first position starting from a region above a second conveyor.

[0038] The above-mentioned material is supplied in the form of multiple separate and different material flows, which flow in a direction opposite to the direction of advancement of the products and are able to pass through multiple rows of products on either side of each product in multiple rows themselves in order to reach the first position without interfering with the advancement of the products.

[0039] The material brought into this position is collected again to form a plurality of bases in a position aligned with the aforementioned reference axis so that a single row of products will rest on the aforementioned bases when they are received on the conveying surface of the second conveyor in the same position.

[0040] In view of the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the method described herein obviates the need for providing a means for supplying the flowable material, such as a hopper and a chute, upstream of the aforementioned first location (as in prior art solutions). Incidentally, it should be noted in this regard that the first conveyor is typically also present upstream of the first location, thus limiting the available space. In prior art solutions, to overcome this problem, the path of the second conveyor is lengthened so that it reaches an area of the production line where more space is available for installing the means for supplying the flowable material.

[0041] The method described herein thus makes it possible to provide a production line that is more flexible than known solutions.

[0042] Furthermore, the method described herein enables the material to be fed from a single hopper, thereby greatly simplifying the construction and operation of the apparatus for implementing the method itself.

[0043] According to the aforementioned preferred embodiment, the above-mentioned main material flow and the two material flows into which it is then divided can be fed through a single chute, which leads to further simplification of the device and further reduction of corresponding obstructions.

[0044] Finally, the method described herein enables coating of products in a complete and efficient manner while maintaining proper alignment of the products, which is beneficial for subsequent stations in the production line.

[0045] Reference below Figures 2 to 4 , these figures show examples of apparatuses described herein for implementing the above methods.

[0046] In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus described herein (indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in the drawings) comprises:

[0047] a first conveyor 1 defining a first conveying surface I for feeding products Q along an advancement direction K; and

[0048] a second conveyor 2 defining a conveying surface II for feeding the products Q in the advancement direction K and comprising a portion arranged below the conveyor 1 and another portion extending in the advancement direction K beyond the conveyor 1 .

[0049] The conveying surface II is arranged at a lower position than the conveying surface I, at least for a part of its extension.

[0050] During operation of the device, the products Q are arranged on the conveying surface I according to a series of rows oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement K.

[0051] Furthermore, the aforementioned rows of products Q are arranged along a plurality of reference axes Yi parallel to the direction of advancement K.

[0052] When rows of products Q successively reach the downstream end of conveyor 1 , they are transferred onto conveyor 2 due to a small jump from conveying surface I of conveyor 1 to conveying surface II of conveyor 2 , which is arranged at a lower height.

[0053] On the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 , rows of products are received in positions P1 .

[0054] The rows of products remain aligned on the surface in the same manner as described above.

[0055] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the device 10 comprises a supply system 100 for supplying flowable material to the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 .

[0056] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the conveying surface II has a slight upward extension in the advancement direction K in the region where the feed system 100 is arranged, so as to facilitate the retention of the material deposited thereon by the feed system 100 in the same region.

[0057] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown in the figures, the supply system 100 includes: a hopper 12 configured to accommodate flowable material to be supplied; and a belt conveyor 14 disposed below the hopper 12 for receiving the material conveyed from the hopper 12.

[0058] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the feeding system further comprises a chute 20 arranged for receiving the material fed by the conveyor 14 and for feeding the material itself in a feeding direction K′ opposite to the advancement direction K of the products.

[0059] By the way, it should be noted that the forward direction K and the supply direction K' here generally refer to the displacement direction of the product or flowable material according to the plan view (referring to the example shown, the forward direction K is to the left and the supply direction K' is to the right), regardless of whether the displacement of the product or material occurs in a horizontal plane or in an inclined plane.

[0060] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the chute 20 is provided facing the first conveyor 1 .

[0061] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the chute 20 includes a first portion 22 that receives material from the belt conveyor 14 and feeds the material according to the main flow F by gravity.

[0062] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the width of the main flow F in a direction transverse to the feed direction K′ is greater than the length of the row of products Q.

[0063] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the chute 20 further comprises a second portion 24 following the first portion 22 in the feeding direction K′ and performing the function of dividing the material flow F into two different groups of material flows F1 , F2 .

[0064] In particular, in one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the second portion 24 comprises a series of outlets 26 arranged at second positions P2 along the advancement direction K and aligned with a plurality of reference axes Yi.

[0065] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the outlet 26 is provided with a bottom opening 26A facing the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 .

[0066] The outlet 26 is arranged to define a feed path for the material in a vertical plane aligned with a plurality of reference axes Yi.

[0067] In operation, the outlet 26 generates a material flow F2 which is deposited from above on the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 so as to coat the upper sides of the products Q of each row of products as they are fed in the advancement direction K.

[0068] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the second portion 24 further comprises a series of channels 28 extending in the feed direction K′ and arranged two by two on either side of each outlet 26 .

[0069] The channels 28 extend in the feed direction K' beyond the series of outlets 26 in order to deliver the material to the position P1 on the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2. They define material feed paths in the feed direction K' which are arranged at positions staggered relative to the reference axis Yi in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement K.

[0070] In operation, the series of channels 28 determine a material flow F1 which passes through rows of products Q advancing in direction K, starting on either side of the products Q of these rows themselves, when they reach the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 .

[0071] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the supply system 100 further includes a barrier member 32 disposed on the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 for blocking the material flow F1 from the chute 20 and collecting the corresponding material at a position P1.

[0072] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the barrier means 32 are arranged for defining, on the conveying surface II, a series of housings 34 into which the material flow F1 is collected in the form of a substrate M, in particular an accumulation M.

[0073] The shell 34 can be arranged in the position P1 or slightly upstream thereof; in fact, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the movement of the conveying surface II serves to distribute the collected material along the forward direction K, so that the accumulation M will in any case extend from the shell 34 and therefore move to the position P1, even when the shell 34 is arranged slightly upstream of said position.

[0074] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, housing 34 is aligned with reference axis Yi.

[0075] Thus, the rows of products Q received successively on the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 in the position P1 rest directly on the accumulation of material M formed inside the housing 34 .

[0076] In order to direct the material fed by the flow F1 into the housing 34 , which, as previously described, follows feed paths staggered in the transverse direction relative to the housing 34 , the barrier member 32 comprises a series of deflector elements 36 .

[0077] The deflector element 36 is provided for defining an inlet 38 to the housings 34 and for directing material towards the interior of these housings.

[0078] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the series of deflector elements 36 includes two outer deflector elements 36A and two intermediate deflector elements 36B.

[0079] One deflector element 36A and its adjacent deflector element 36B define an inlet 38 to a first housing 34 in the series, and similarly another deflector element 36A and its adjacent deflector element 36B define an inlet 38 to a last housing 34 in the series.

[0080] On the other hand, each deflector element 36B cooperates with two adjacent deflector elements 36A and / or 36B to define the inlet 38 of two consecutive shells 34 in the series of shells.

[0081] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the deflector elements 36A have respective inclined surfaces 37 arranged to intercept the two outermost material flows F1 and direct them into two housings 34 respectively associated with the two deflector elements 36A.

[0082] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, the deflector elements 36B each have two inclined surfaces 38, 39 forming a wedge-shaped profile in plan view in order to divide the respective intermediate material flow F1 into two partial flows F1', F1".

[0083] The two partial flows F1 ′, F1 ″ are directed by the surfaces 38 , 39 themselves into the two housings 34 associated with a single deflector element 36B.

[0084] Preferably, the two inclined surfaces 38 , 39 intersect in the advancement direction K in a vertical plane aligned with the corresponding channel 28 of the chute 20 .

[0085] The operation of the above-described apparatus is to first load the hopper 12 with flowable material.

[0086] The material is transferred from the hopper 12 onto a conveyor 14 which in turn feeds it to a chute 20 .

[0087] The material fed to the chute 20 forms, by gravity, a main material flow F directed in a feed direction K′.

[0088] At the portion 24 of the chute 20, the flow F is divided into two flows F1, F2.

[0089] When the products Q are fed in the advancing direction K, the flow F2 falls from above through the outlet 26 onto the rows of products Q moved to the position P2. In this way, the material flow F2 begins to coat the upper side of the products Q.

[0090] Instead, flow F1 flows along channel 28 and reaches position P1 on transfer surface II and barrier member 32. In passing from channel 28 to position P1, flow F1 passes through rows of products Q on either side of each product Q of the row itself.

[0091] In one or more preferred embodiments as shown, channel 28 terminates at a distance from position P1 , in which case flow F1 reaches that position due to momentum collected by flow F1 as it descends chute 20 .

[0092] At the position P1 , the material of the flow F1 collects inside the housing 34 so as to form a corresponding accumulation of material M.

[0093] The rows of products Q transferred from the conveying surface I of the conveyor 1 to the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2 are deposited directly on the accumulations of material M. In this way, the material of these accumulations coats the bottom sides of the products Q.

[0094] In view of the foregoing, the supply system 100 is capable of supplying material for coating the product Q so as to coat both the bottom and top sides of the product Q, even though it is provided with its own supply means (specifically, the hopper 12, the conveyor 14, and the chute 20) downstream of the conveyor 1 and above the conveyor 2. The above-described system advantageously occupies a limited space along the direction of advancement K of the product Q and envisages an operation capable of obtaining optimal production quality while enabling the product Q to be properly aligned to facilitate subsequent stations of the production line.

[0095] It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment, the methods and apparatus described herein can be configured to coat the upper side of the product Q not by means of the above-mentioned material flow F2 supplied side by side with the material flow F1 along the supply direction K', but rather by means of a single material flow or a group of material flows supplied in the opposite direction (i.e., along the forward direction K).

[0096] According to the above-mentioned alternative embodiment (not shown), the feeding system can, for example, envisage another belt conveyor and a second chute below the hopper 12, wherein the other belt conveyor is configured to feed a portion of the material transferred by the hopper along the forward direction K, and the second chute is configured to receive the material from the above-mentioned belt conveyor and feed the material flow or multiple material flows along the forward direction K to the conveying surface II of the conveyor 2.

[0097] In a similar manner as described above with reference to flow F2, the material flow or flows are dropped from above onto the rows of products Q, thus beginning to coat the upper sides of the products Q.

[0098] Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and of the embodiments may vary even considerably with respect to what is presented herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method of coating a food product with a flowable material, the method comprising: - feeding along the advancement direction (K) a series of rows of products (Q) oriented in a direction transverse to the advancement direction (K), wherein said series of rows of products are also arranged along a plurality of reference axes (Yi) parallel to the advancement direction, wherein the feeding step comprises transferring the rows of products from a first conveying surface (I) of a first conveyor (1) to a second conveying surface (II) of a second conveyor (2), said second conveying surface being arranged below said first conveying surface (I) and downstream thereof with respect to said advancement direction (K), said rows of products being received on said second conveying surface (II) in a first position (P1) along said advancement direction, - feeding a set of flowable material flows (F1) following feed paths along a feed direction (K') opposite to the direction of advancement (K) of the rows of products, said feed paths being parallel to one another and being in a staggered position relative to said plurality of reference axes (Yi) in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement, wherein, in the process of advancing along the feed path, the group material flow (F1) passes through the series of rows of products (Q) on either side of each product of the series of rows itself; - collecting, in said first position (P1), on said second conveying surface (II) the material of said set of material flows, thereby forming a base of said material (M) on said second conveying surface (II) in a position aligned with said plurality of reference axes (Yi), wherein the step of transferring the rows of products from the first conveying surface (I) to the second conveying surface (II) comprises arranging the rows of products on the substrate of material (M) in the first position (P1) so that the bottom side of the products will be coated by the material; and - feeding another material flow or another group of material flows (F2) to a second position (P2) on the second conveying surface (II), the second position (P2) being located downstream of the first position (P1) along the advancement direction (K), wherein the another material flow or the another group of material flows (F2) is deposited on the second conveying surface (II) so as to coat the upper side of the series of rows of products fed along the advancement direction (K).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: A main material flow (F) is supplied along a material supply direction (K') and is divided into the group material flow (F1) and the further group material flow (F2), wherein the flows of the group material flow (F1) are arranged two by two on either side of each material flow of the further group material flow (F2).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: The step of collecting the material of the group material flow (F1) on the second conveying surface (II) at the first position (P1) comprises collecting the material by means of a barrier member (32) arranged on the second conveying surface (II) of the second conveyor (2) so as to block the group material flow (F1) at the first position (P1).

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein: The material is collected in the form of a substrate in a housing (34) defined by the barrier element (32) on the second conveying surface (II) and aligned with the plurality of reference axes (Yi).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein: The group material flow (F1) is deflected into the housing (34) by a deflector element (36) arranged on the barrier component (32).

6. The method according to claim 2, wherein: Feeding a main material flow (F) along a material feeding direction (K') comprises feeding said material to a chute (20) positioned above said second conveying surface (II) of said second conveyor (2) and arranged to feed said material along said feeding direction (K') by gravity, wherein dividing the main material flow (F) into said group of material flows (F1) and said further group of material flows (F2) comprises: - feeding a portion of the material of the main material flow (F) to a series of outlets (26) of the chute (20), the outlets (26) being arranged at the second position (P2) and aligned with the plurality of reference axes (Yi), the material fed through the outlets (26) constituting the further material flow (F2); and - feeding the other part of the main material flow (F) to a series of channels (28) arranged two by two at opposite ends of the series of outlets (26), the material fed through the channels (28) constituting the group material flow (F1).

7. A device (10) for coating a food product with a flowable material, the device comprising: - a conveyor system (1, 2) for supplying, along a direction of advancement (K), a series of rows of products (Q) oriented in a direction transverse to the direction of advancement (K), wherein the series of rows of products are arranged along a plurality of reference axes (Yi) parallel to the direction of advancement (K), wherein the conveying system comprises a first conveyor (1) defining a first conveying surface (I) and a second conveyor (2) defining a second conveying surface (II), the second conveying surface (II) being arranged downstream of the first conveying surface (I) with reference to the advancement direction (K) and below the first conveying surface (I), and wherein each row of products (Q) is transferred from the first conveying surface (I) to the second conveying surface (II) and is received on the second conveying surface (II) in a first position (P1) along the advancement direction (K); and - a supply system (100) for supplying a flowable material, said supply system (100) being configured to: - feeding a set of material flows (F1) following feeding paths along a feeding direction (K') opposite to the advancement direction (K) of the series of rows of products, said feeding paths being parallel to one another and being staggered relative to a plurality of reference axes (Yi) in a direction transverse to the advancement direction; - collecting the material of said set of material flows on said second conveying surface (II) in said first position (P1) so as to form a base of said material on said second conveying surface (II) in a position aligned with said plurality of reference axes (Yi) so as to coat the bottom sides of the products of the plurality of rows of products deposited on said base (M) when the products are received on said second conveying surface (II) in said first position (P1); and - feeding another material flow or another group of material flows (F2) to a second position (P2) on the second conveying surface (II), the second position (P2) being located downstream of the first position (P1) along the advancement direction (K) so as to coat the upper sides of the products (Q) in the multiple rows of products arriving at the second position (P2) as the products (Q) advance along the advancement direction (K).

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein: The feeding system (100) comprises a chute (20) positioned above the second conveying surface (II) of the second conveyor (2) and arranged to feed the material along the feeding direction (K') by gravity, The chute (20) includes a distribution portion (24), wherein the distribution portion includes: a series of outlets (26) arranged on said second conveying surface (II) in said second position (P2) and aligned with said plurality of reference axes (Yi), and a series of channels (28) arranged two by two on either side of each outlet (26) in the series of outlets and arranged to feed the material to the first position (P1) on the second conveying surface (II) of the second conveyor (2).

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein: The supply system (100) comprises a barrier component (32) arranged on the second conveying surface (II) for blocking the group of material flows (F1) at the first position (P1) so as to collect the corresponding materials in the first position (P1).

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein: The barrier member (32) is arranged to define, in the first position (P1), on the second conveying surface (II) a series of housings (34) aligned with the plurality of reference axes (Yi), the material being collected in the form of a matrix (M) within the housings (34).

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein: The barrier member (32) comprises a series of deflector elements (36) arranged to define an inlet (38) to the housing (34) and to direct material of the set of material flows (F1) towards the interior of the housing (34).

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: The series of deflector elements (36) comprises: - two outer deflector elements (36A) having respective inclined surfaces (37) arranged to intercept two outer material flows of the set of material flows (F1) and to direct them respectively into two outer housings (34) of the series of housings; - intermediate deflector elements (36B), each of which has a wedge-shaped profile in plan view, for dividing a respective material flow (F1) of the group of material flows into two partial flows (F1', F1"), the two partial flows (F1', F1") being directed by means of the deflector elements into two consecutive shells (34) in the series of shells (34).

13. An apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 12, arranged to carry out a method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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