Method for operating grinding machine in production process

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for grinding food materials in a grinding machine, in which the food materials are provided to the grinding machine through a hopper and conveyed by a feed worm to a rotating processing worm, the processing worm conveys the food materials to a cutting assembly, the cutting assembly grinds the food materials, and in which the feed worm initially rotates in a first direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for grinding ingredients such as meat, at least partially meat, meat substitutes, vegetarian food, vegetables, cheese, butter or pet food in a grinder, wherein the ingredients are fed to the grinder via a hopper and conveyed by a feed worm to a rotating processing worm that conveys the ingredients to a cutting assembly that grinds the ingredients, and wherein the feed worm initially rotates in a first direction. Background Technology

[0002] Such grinders are known in the prior art and are used, for example, for the production of minced meat. However, the operation of such grinders needs continuous improvement, for example, in terms of operating time, capacity maintenance and / or energy consumption, maintenance and / or the quality of the final product. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method that does not have the defects of the prior art.

[0004] This is achieved through a first method of grinding frozen and / or fresh ingredients in a grinder. The method aims to automatically detect easily processed ingredients, such as fresh ingredients, from difficult-to-process ingredients, such as frozen ingredients, by measuring the power consumption of the feed worm. Ingredients are fed to the grinder via a hopper, and a motor-driven rotating feed worm conveys the ingredients to a motor-driven rotating processing worm, which in turn conveys the ingredients to a cutting assembly that grinds the ingredients. The feed worm rotates, preferably at a constant speed, and a control system controls the rotational speed of the feed worm and / or the processing worm. During production, - The power consumption of the feed worm motor is measured and compared with a power consumption setpoint. If the power consumption of the feed worm motor is lower than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the machining worm is increased after a delay time. If the power consumption of the feed worm motor is higher than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the machining worm is decreased at least with virtually no delay time, and / or - If fresh ingredients are in the grinder and frozen ingredients are fed into the hopper, the rotational speed of the processing worm is reduced at least with virtually no delay, and if frozen ingredients are in the grinder and fresh ingredients are fed into the hopper, the rotational speed of the processing worm is increased with a delay, preferably after the grinding of the frozen food has ceased.

[0005] The solution is also achieved through a second method of grinding difficult-to-process ingredients, such as frozen ingredients, in a grinder. This method aims to optimize the feeding of the processing worm, thereby optimizing the food product output of the grinder. Ingredients are fed to the grinder via a hopper, and a motor-driven rotating feed worm conveys the ingredients to a motor-driven rotating processing worm. The processing worm preferably rotates at a constant speed and feeds the ingredients to a cutting assembly that grinds the ingredients. A control system controls the rotational speed of the feed worm, wherein during production, the power consumption of the processing worm motor is measured and compared with a power consumption setpoint. If the power consumption of the processing worm motor is lower than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the feed worm is increased after a delay time; and if the power consumption of the processing worm motor is higher than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the feed worm is decreased after a delay time.

[0006] This invention relates to a method for grinding food ingredients in a grinder. The food ingredients can be meat, at least partially meat, meat substitutes, vegetarian food, cheese, butter, vegetables, pet food, etc. The food ingredients can be fresh, frozen, or a combination of fresh and frozen ingredients. The grinder includes a hopper that conveys the food ingredients to be ground. A feed worm is disposed at the bottom of the hopper and rotates about its central axis. Additionally, a rotating processing worm, part of the grinder, conveys the food ingredients to a cutting assembly that cuts the food ingredients into pieces, resulting in a final product such as minced meat. The cutting assembly includes at least a perforated disc and rotating blades, which are typically driven by the processing worm. Preferably, the grinder includes a stationary, non-rotating pre-cutter.

[0007] The grinding mill includes a control system that controls the rotational speed of the feed worm and / or the machining worm. This control system may have an input device, such as a keyboard, for inputting information into the control system, particularly the power setpoints of the feed worm and / or the machining worm, or selecting specific recipes. The control system may have a storage device for storing data, such as the power setpoints of the feed worm and / or the machining worm, the delay times of the feed worm and / or the machining worm, / or different speed levels of the feed worm and / or the machining worm, or recipes containing the power setpoints of the feed worm and / or the machining worm and / or other stored data as described in this paragraph. The storage device may also store the rotational speeds of the feed worm and / or the machining worm and / or the power consumption data of one or both worms. The control system may be connected to the Internet and / or an intranet, for example, for storing and / or retrieving data, such as the power setpoints of the feed worm and / or the machining worm, or for transmitting machine operation data to the cloud. The control system may exchange data with other grinding mill control systems connected to an intranet and / or the Internet. The control system can be a self-learning control system, for example, which can automatically adjust the power consumption setpoint of the feed worm and / or machining worm based on previously acquired data and / or delay time and / or speed level.

[0008] The motor driving the feed worm and / or the machining worm is preferably an electric motor, more preferably an electric motor equipped with a transmitter that continuously or periodically provides data on the actual rotational speed of the respective motor. This motor is, for example, a servo motor. The motor can be controlled by variable speed control, for example, a frequency converter. The motors for the feed worm and the machining worm are preferably controlled separately. The rotational speed of the feed worm is preferably different from that of the machining worm. The feed worm and the machining worm preferably rotate in the same direction.

[0009] The preferred power consumption of the motor is the electrical energy supplied to the motor.

[0010] According to a first embodiment of the invention, the rotational speed of the feed worm is preferably maintained at a constant rpm, preferably maintained by a control system, and preferably maintained at a preset level. During production, the power consumption of the feed worm motor is continuously or intermittently measured and compared with a power consumption setpoint. If the power consumption of the feed worm motor is lower than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the machining worm is increased after a delay time; and if the power consumption of the feed worm motor is higher than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the machining worm is decreased at least substantially without a delay time. During the delay time, the power consumption of the machining worm is preferably maintained at a level lower than the power consumption setpoint.

[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the specific application relates to the change from frozen to fresh ingredients, and vice versa. During the operation of the grinder, the hopper can be filled with frozen ingredients after fresh ingredients have been processed, and vice versa. If fresh ingredients are in the grinder and frozen ingredients enter the hopper, the rotational speed of the processing worm is reduced at least substantially without delay, and if frozen ingredients are in the grinder and fresh ingredients enter the hopper, the rotational speed of the processing worm is increased with a delay, preferably after the grinding of the frozen ingredients has ceased and only fresh ingredients remain in the grinder.

[0012] The motors for the feed worm and / or the machining worm are preferably operated at a preset speed. The speeds for the feed worm and the machining worm are preferably different. According to two embodiments of the above method, the rotational speed of the machining worm varies between high and low speeds.

[0013] The solution is also achieved through another method of grinding frozen and fresh ingredients in a grinder, wherein the ingredients are fed to the grinder via a hopper and fed by a motor-driven rotating feed worm to a motor-driven rotating processing worm, which preferably rotates at a constant speed and feeds the ingredients to a cutting assembly that grinds the ingredients. A control system controls the rotational speed of the feed worm and / or the processing worm. During production, the power consumption of the processing worm motor is measured and compared with a power consumption setpoint. If the power consumption of the processing worm motor is lower than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the feed worm is increased after a delay time; if the power consumption of the processing worm motor is higher than the power consumption setpoint, the rotational speed of the feed worm is decreased after a delay time. Preferably, the rotational speed of the feed worm is changed in steps; more preferably, there is a delay time between two consecutive steps.

[0014] Preferably, during production under normal conditions, the feed worm and the processing worm each rotate around their respective central axes in the same direction. This direction is the first rotation direction of the feed worm.

[0015] Preferably, the rotational speed of the feed worm and / or the machining worm increases or decreases along the ramp.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the grinder, such as the hopper, includes a sensor that measures at least one parameter of the food ingredient and / or inputs this parameter into the grinder's control unit, using the parameter to determine the rotation mode of the feed worm. This parameter may be the type of food ingredient, its temperature, mechanical parameters of the food ingredient such as tenderness, its fat content, and / or the particle size of the final product.

[0017] If the level sensor detects that the material level in the hopper is low, and if the power consumption of the feeding worm is lower than the set point, the speed of the processing worm will not increase, but will remain at the same speed until the material level in the hopper is sufficient.

[0018] The feed worm is preferably positioned above the processing worm, and both are preferably located at the bottom of the hopper. The central axes of the two worms are preferably in one or two vertical planes, with the two worms preferably arranged in parallel. Preferably, the feed worm and the processing worm convey the food material in the same direction.

[0019] The central axis can also be located in two vertical planes, which are preferably at a 90° angle to each other, in which the food is conveyed along an inclined direction.

[0020] As the rotational speed of the feed worm decreases, the volumetric pressure of the food material between the feed worm and the processing worm decreases. This can be detected by sensors such as pressure sensors and / or the power consumption of the feed worm and / or the processing worm. Once the volumetric density between the worms has reached the desired value, the rotational speed of the feed worm can be increased again. Attached Figure Description

[0021] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. These descriptions do not limit the scope of protection and are equally applicable to all embodiments of the invention.

[0022] Figure 1 A grinding machine for carrying out the method of the present invention is shown.

[0023] Figure 2 The first embodiment of the method of the present invention is shown.

[0024] Figure 3 A second embodiment of the method of the present invention is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Figure 1 A grinder is shown that can implement the method of the present invention. The grinder includes a hopper 5 that holds food to be processed, such as frozen meat chunks. A feed worm 2 is disposed at the bottom of the hopper 5, which is driven by a motor and rotates about its longitudinal axis in a first direction during processing. Additionally, a processing worm 3 is disposed below the feed worm 2, which feeds the food to a cutting assembly 4, and the processing worm 3 also includes a device for compressing the food. The cutting assembly includes at least a perforated plate and a blade, which is driven by the processing worm and rotates relative to the perforated plate. Due to the synergistic effect of the perforated plate and the blade, a product such as minced meat is produced. During normal processing conditions, the feed worm and the processing worm feed the food in the same direction, from right to left. The grinder can process fresh or frozen food.

[0026] according to Figure 2 The first embodiment aims to automatically detect easily processed ingredients, such as fresh ingredients, from difficult-to-process ingredients, such as frozen ingredients, by measuring the power consumption of the feed worm gear. Figure 2The diagram shows the rotational speeds of the machining worm PW and the feed worm FW over time, as well as the power consumption setpoint and actual power consumption of the feed worm FW over time. Time progresses from left to right. After the machine starts operating, the rotational speed of the feed worm FW increases to a certain speed and remains constant over time. The desired power consumption setpoint is set to the first level (low level). It can be seen that after startup, the actual measured power consumption of the feed worm exceeds the low-level setpoint, but then drops below it. Once the actual power consumption drops below the low-level setpoint, a timer is triggered, and after a certain set time delay, the rotational speed of the machining worm PW increases from a low speed of, for example, 150 rpm to a high speed of, for example, 240 rpm. The time delay is, for example, 5-30 seconds, preferably 7-23 seconds. Optionally or additionally, the power consumption setpoint of the feed worm can also be increased from a low setpoint, for example, <6kW, to a high setpoint, for example, >12kW, after a delay time. This delay time can be the same as, but not necessarily the same as, the delay time for increasing the rotational speed of the worm. Furthermore, the case where the actual power consumption exceeds the power consumption setpoint is shown in the timeline. The rotational speed of the worm decreases from the high setpoint to the low setpoint with essentially no delay. Preferably, the power consumption setpoint of the feed worm also decreases from the high setpoint to the low setpoint.

[0027] Figure 3This illustration shows another embodiment of the invention, which aims to optimize the feeding of the machining worm, thereby optimizing the product output of the grinding machine. The figure shows the rotational speed of the machining worm PW and the feed worm FW over time, as well as the power consumption setpoint of the feed worm FW and the actual power consumption of the feed worm over time. Time progresses from left to right. After the machine starts operating, the rotational speed of the machining worm PW increases to a certain speed, and this speed remains constant over time. In this example, the power consumption setpoint of the machining worm PW also remains constant. Once the actual power consumption of the machining worm PW exceeds the advanced setpoint (upper dashed line), a delay time is triggered, and after it passes, the speed of the feed worm decreases by a certain amount, preferably a preset amount. This decrease triggers another delay time, and after it passes, the rotational speed decreases again, preferably by the same amount. This runs / repeates until the actual power consumption of the machining worm is below the advanced setpoint. The speed of the feed worm can also be reduced to zero or even reversed within a set time period, and then restarted. If the actual power consumption of the machining worm is lower than the high-level setpoint before the delay time has elapsed, the reduction in the feed worm's speed will not occur. In this example, there is also a low power consumption setpoint. Once the actual power consumption of the machining worm PW exceeds the low-level setpoint (dashed line below), a delay time is triggered, and after it has elapsed, the feed worm's speed increases by a certain amount, preferably a preset amount. This reduction triggers another delay time, and after it has elapsed, the speed increases again, preferably by the same amount. This runs / repeates until the actual power consumption of the machining worm is higher than the low-level setpoint. If the actual power consumption of the machining worm is higher than the high-level setpoint before the delay time has elapsed, the reduction in the feed worm's speed will not occur.

[0028] Figure label: 1. Grinding machine 2 Feed worm gear 3. Machining the worm gear 4 Cutting components 5 hoppers 6. Volume between the feed worm and the machining worm PW machining worm gear FW feed worm gear

Claims

1. A method for grinding frozen and / or fresh ingredients in a grinder (1), wherein ingredients are supplied to the grinder via a hopper (5), and a feed worm (2) driven by a motor to rotate feeds the ingredients to a processing worm (3) driven by a motor, the processing worm (3) feeding the ingredients to a cutting assembly (4) grinding the ingredients, wherein the feed worm (2) rotates, preferably at a constant speed, and wherein a control system controls the rotational speed of the feed worm (2) and / or the processing worm (3), characterized in that, During the processing, - The power consumption of the motor of the feed worm (2) is measured and compared with the power consumption setpoint. If the power consumption of the motor of the feed worm (2) is lower than the power consumption setpoint, the speed of the machining worm (3) is increased after a delay time. If the power consumption of the motor of the feed worm (2) is higher than the power consumption setpoint, the speed of the machining worm (3) is decreased at least substantially without delay time. - If fresh ingredients are in the grinder and frozen ingredients are entering the hopper, the rotational speed of the processing worm (3) is reduced at least with virtually no delay, and if frozen ingredients are in the grinder and fresh ingredients are entering the hopper, the rotational speed of the processing worm (3) is increased with a delay, preferably after the grinding of the frozen ingredients has ended.

2. A method for grinding frozen and / or fresh ingredients in a grinder (1), wherein ingredients are supplied to the grinder via a hopper (5), and a feed worm (2) driven by a motor to rotate feeds the ingredients to a processing worm (3) driven by a motor, the processing worm (3) preferably rotating at a constant speed, and the processing worm feeds the ingredients to a cutting assembly (4), the cutting assembly (4) grinding the ingredients, and wherein a control system controls the rotational speed of the feed worm (2) and / or the processing worm (3), characterized in that, During the processing, the power consumption of the motor of the processing worm (3) is measured and compared with the power consumption set point. If the power consumption of the motor of the processing worm (3) is lower than the power consumption set point, the speed of the feed worm (2) is increased after a delay time. If the power consumption of the motor of the processing worm (3) is higher than the power consumption set point, the speed of the feed worm (3) is decreased after a delay time.

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotational speed of the feed worm increases or decreases in a stepwise manner.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The rotational speed of the feed worm or the processing worm increases or decreases along the slope.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The feeding worm (2) and the processing worm (3) convey the food ingredients in the same direction.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The power consumption setpoint is part of the recipe.

7. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that, Recipes can be entered into the control unit or downloaded from the data storage device.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The grinder (1) and / or the hopper include sensors that measure at least one parameter of the food ingredient to be processed.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The ingredients are at least partially meat.

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