Method and device for providing portions of pasty food mass, in particular sausages

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for providing portions of pasty food mass provided in a casing, in particular sausage portions, in which a) portions (P) of pasty food mass contained in a casing are provided by means of a portioning device (4) with compartment belts (20, 22), which has a compartment belt drive (24) and a rotatable looper tube (16) which can be driven by a drive (18) and which can assume various orbital positions due to the rotation, b) the portions (P) are transferred by means of the looper tube (16) of the portioning device (4) to hooks (14) of a hanging machine (6), c) after portions (P) have been transferred, the hooks (14) are transported further. According to the invention, at least the drive (8) of the hanging machine (6) and / or the drive (18) of the looper tube (16) and / or a compartment belt drive (24) of the portioning device (4) are controlled by means of a controller (30) in such a way that a defined number (N) of portions (P) is transferred from the portioning device (4) by means of the looper tube (16) to a last hook (14) of the hanging machine (6) at the end of a production phase.

Description

The present invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1, i.e. a method for providing portions of pasty food mass provided in a casing, in particular sausage portions, in which a) portions of pasty food mass located in a casing are provided by means of a portioning device with dividing belts, which comprises a dividing belt drive and a looper tube drivable by a drive, which can assume different orbit positions by the rotation, b) the portions are transferred by means of the looper tube of the portioning device to hooks of a suspension machine, and c) the hooks are further transported after transferring portions.The invention further relates to an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 9, i.e. an apparatus for providing portions of pasty food mass provided in a casing, in particular sausage portions, a) a portioning device for providing portions of pasty food mass located in a casing, which comprises portion belts and a portion belt drive and a looper tube which can be driven by a drive and which can assume different orbit positions by the rotation and is designed to transfer a plurality of portions connected to one another by the casing to a suspension machine, b) a suspension machine for transporting a plurality of portions, which comprises a plurality of hooks for receiving a plurality of portions connected by the casing, wherein the hooks can be transported further by means of at least one rotating drive element which can be driven by a drive, and c) a controller for controlling components of the device.Such methods and apparatuses are provided in the prior art, for example, by the applicant VEMAG in the context of a production line for sausages in the form of sausage chains, wherein a sausage of the chain forms a portion. In such a sausage production line, the pasty sausage meat is supplied by a filling machine, filled into the casing of natural or artificial skin and divided into individual sausage portions by turns. A portioning device with dividing belts provides the sausage portions forming a sausage chain in desired lengths and weights and transports them further to a suspension machine, where the sausage chains are transferred and suspended grouped in different suspension patterns. For example, a certain number of sausages can be transferred to one (of several) hooks of the suspension machine, so that a loop of sausages then hangs down from the hook. After a complete sausage chain has been transferred within the scope of a production phase, the chain is then removed from the suspension machine, for example using a smoke bar, and can then be further processed, for example smokeed, cooked or the like.In certain applications, as known, for example, from EP 3 878 284 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,857, the sausages are transferred from the portioning device to the suspension machine at a transfer point by means of a looper or looper tube. The looper tube is rotated by means of a drive unit and protrudes at an angle relative to the rotation axis so that it can assume different orbit positions by rotation, and has an inner cavity through which the sausages of the sausage chain are transported toward the suspension machine. By means of variable control of the drive of the looper and also of the drives of the portioning device and / or of the suspension machine, the sausage chain can thus be transferred to hooks of the suspension machine with the aid of the looper and the number of sausages which are transferred to a hook can be varied in the process.Production with such a line takes place in several production phases. After preparation of the line, production begins, the drives start and a separate sausage chain with a plurality of sausages is filled, twisted, portioned and suspended. A production phase is defined in this respect in particular by a coherent casing made of a natural or artificial skin with a specific length. If a sausage chain has been produced in this respect, the production phase is ended. After interrupting and providing a new envelope, the next production phase can begin. During a production phase, substantially continuous filling, portioning and suspension takes place on the suspension machine.Particular attention in the operation of the apparatus or method in question is paid to the beginning and the end of a production phase. At the beginning, after appropriate filling and portioning and transfer by means of the looper, the sausage chain is transferred to the first hook of the respective production phase. As regards the last hook of a production phase, it has been observed in practice that frequently too many or too few sausage portions are transferred to the last hook (of a production phase) of the suspension machine. If too many sausages are transferred to the last hook, it may undesirably occur that the turns previously generated by the portioning device turn out again at a turning point between two portions, while they hang down from the last hook. This is associated with the fact that a certain restoring torque can act at the twisting point on account of the elasticity of the intestine. Such a (back) twist interferes with the production process and can lead to the interruption of the production phase. If too few sausages are transferred to the last hook, these can fall off the hook, especially since the force of gravity does not lead to a sufficiently strong pulling down of the suspended sausage chain in the case of too few sausages. Sausage portions can then fall onto the ground and become unusable. Here too, the production process, the respective production phase, is interrupted in an undesirable manner. Sometimes operators of the line attempt to catch first portions with the hand, which, however, is associated with a certain risk and is not necessarily reliable.It is the object of the present invention to specify a method and a device for providing, in particular, sausage portions in a casing, in which the described disadvantages are largely avoided and, in particular, a production phase can be reliably ended.The invention achieves the object in a method of the type mentioned at the beginning in that at least the drive of the suspension machine and / or drive of the looper tube and / or a dividing belt drive of the portioning device are controlled by means of a controller in such a way that a defined number of portions is transferred from the portioning device by means of the looper tube to a last hook of the suspension machine at the end of a production phase.The invention also achieves the object in an apparatus of the type mentioned at the beginning in that the controller is designed and configured such that at least the drive of the suspension machine and / or drive of the looper tube and / or a dividing belt drive of the portioning device are controlled by means of the controller such that a defined number of portions is transferred from the portioning device by means of the looper tube to a last hook of the suspension machine at the end of a production phase.By means of the apparatus or method according to the invention, it is achieved by appropriate means of the control system that the drives of the suspension machine and / or of the looper and / or of the portioning belt of the portioning device are controlled in a targeted manner such that a defined number of (sausage) portions is transferred to a last hook at the end of a production phase. For this purpose, the controller is correspondingly set up, namely set up and implemented on the software side in such a way that the desired defined number of portions can be transferred to the last hook; it is particularly preferred here for 2 portions to be transferred to the last hook. According to the invention, this ensures that not too many or too few portions are transferred to the last hook of a promotion phase. This can ensure that sufficient portions, preferably 2 portions, are suspended from the last hook with a required weight, so that no undesired twisting out takes place, but also a dropping of excessively few suspended sausages from the last hook is prevented. The invention consequently achieves the result that a production phase takes place by reliable transfer of a defined desired portion to the last hook of a production phase and thus no difficulties arise in this respect and the production phase can be terminated reliably.According to a preferred embodiment, it is proposed that the controller is designed and configured such that the calculation of the speed of the compartmented belts in relation to the looper orbit position and in dependence on the portion length and the path is adapted by the controller such that 2 portions are transferred to the last hook (14) at the end of a production phase. By appropriate means of the control, it can be ensured that the respectively desired defined number of in particular 2-3, particularly preferably 2 portions is transferred to the last hook of a production phase. By inputting parameters, the control can thus be changed and set individually by an operator accordingly.It is also particularly preferred that the controller is designed and configured such that the calculation of the speed of the compartmented belts in relation to the looper orbit position and in dependence on the portion length and the path is adapted by the controller such that 2 portions are transferred to the last hook at the end of a production phase. From the looper orbit position, it is found how many sausages are to be hung up to the coming hook. The ratio of these two values to one another then determines the belt speed of the portioning device, so that the looper and the continuous chain of the suspension machine can continue to travel at a constant tempo. According to the invention, it is preferred that the controller is configured such that the current orbit position of the looper tube can be determined at a specific time or a plurality of times, and that a loop between the next to last hook and the last hook of the production phase is reduced by means of the controller.According to a preferred development, it is proposed that the number is determined as a function of the path (W) from a dispensing pipe of a filling machine for providing the food mass up to the closest hook of the suspension machine relative to the looper pipe. It has been found that this path from the product pipe outlet, i.e. the discharge pipe of the filling machine, to the hook groove of the most dense hook can be implemented and determined by software. The path yields the number of portions to be produced before the looper begins its rotation. This time delay preferably allows the desired set number of portions to be fed upwardly out of the outlet of the looper when the looper is positioned vertically to hang it on the hook at the desired input number. Accordingly, a certain number of portions are obtained computationally depending on the said path.According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the controller controls the drive of the looper tube as a function of the path and the number of portions produced by the portioning device, such that a specific number of portions is transferred from the looper tube to a hook of the suspension machine.It is particularly preferably provided that the controller is further configured such that the portioning device produces a number of portions connected by means of the sleeve and transfers them to the looper tube such that the number of portions is held there and the number of portions is transferred while the looper tube points downward substantially in a vertical position, and that then the predetermined number of portions is transferred from the looper tube to a hook, in particular a first hook of a production phase, by the looper tube, in order to suspend the defined number of portions to this hook.It is expediently provided that the controller has at least one processor, memory, software, an operating device and a display, and the controller is configured such that the parameter number of portions for a hook, in particular the last hook, is input into the stored software of the controller by an operator by means of the operating device or via an electrical interface.The effects and advantages described relate both to the method according to the invention and to the device according to the invention. The apparatus is advantageously further developed in that the portioning device has two encircling, spaced-apart dividing belts and a dividing belt drive and can be transferred to the portioning device by a filling machine connected upstream of the portioning device and having a dispensing tube, and in that the looper tube is arranged at the outlet region of the portioning device in order to be able to transfer portions to the looper tube at a desired number per unit time and with a desired target weight, and in that, on the outlet side behind the looper tube, the hooks of the suspension machine can be moved in such a way that a desired number of portions can be transferred from the looper tube to hooks of the suspension machine.The controller is preferably designed such that the residual catch operating mode for the last hook can be activated by an operator by means of the operating device (36) or via an electrical interface, such that the calculation of the speed of the compartmented belts in relation to the looper orbit position and depending on the portion length and the path is adapted by the controller such that 2 portions are transferred to the last hook at the end of a production phase.The invention is described below with reference to preferred exemplary embodiments of the apparatus and the method with reference to the figures, in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic overview of an apparatus according to the invention for providing sausage portions with filling machine, portioning device and suspension machine in a schematic view from the side; FIG. 2 is a top view of parts of the filling machine, portioning device, looper and suspension machine; FIG. 3 is a top view of parts of the filling machine, portioning device, looper and suspension machine, in an enlarged manner, with a path path from the end of the dispensing tube to the hook groove; FIG. 4 is a top view of parts of the filling machine, portioning device, looper and suspension machine; FIG. 5 is a side view of parts of the filling machine, the portioning device, a looper and the suspension machine in an enlarged manner; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of parts of the filling machine, the portioning device, the looper in a certain orbital position and the suspension machine; and FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of the control and drives of the essential components and for illustrating the method according to the invention.The device 1 shown in the figures serves for providing portions of pasty food mass provided in a casing, here sausage portions P in a sausage chain. The apparatus 1 is designed to carry out a method which is described further below and is part of a production line for producing sausage portions P, but other foods could also be processed into products.A filling machine 2 with a conventional hopper for receiving pasty food mass, here sausage meat, has a pump, control and a discharge tube 464, not shown, for discharging the food mass into a casing. The filling machine 2 is followed by a portioning device 4, with which the filled casing can be turned at turning points in order to thus produce individual sausage portions P of defined length L and with a defined target weight G, which form a sausage chain.The portioning device 4 has two compartmented belts 20, 22 which are arranged parallel to one another and are shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, and a compartmented belt drive 24, which is shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 7, and a looper tube 16 or looper 16 which can be driven by means of a drive 18 which is likewise shown in FIG. 7. The angularly protruding looper tube 16 travels with its open end section along a circular path for dispensing the portions P and is configured in a manner known per se to transfer a plurality of portions P connected to one another by the casing to a suspension machine 6. Due to the rotation and angular arrangement of the looper 16, the looper also passes through orbital positions revolving with its end section, so that sausage portions P can be transferred from the open end section of the looper tube 16 to hooks 14 of the hanger machine 6.The suspension machine 6 shown in Figs. 1-6 for transporting a plurality of portions P has a plurality of hooks 14 for receiving a plurality of portions P connected by the casing by suspending a sausage chain at a twist-off point between 2 portions P in the groove of a hook 14. The hooks 14 can be moved by means of at least one revolving drive element 10 that can be driven by a drive 26 (FIG. 7 ) in order to be able to transport the sausage chain. The drive element 10 is designed as a revolving chain 12, compare in particular FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The portioning device 4 in the example has two revolving compartment belts 20, 22 arranged at a distance from one another and a compartment belt drive 24, compare FIGS. 1, 2, 7.As FIGS. 1-6 show, during operation and course of the method, food mass is conveyed from the filling machine 2 upstream of the portioning device 4 through the discharge pipe 44 and transferred to the portioning device 4. There, by means of a twist-off unit, not shown here, known to the skilled person, a twist-off and thus portioning into individual portions P, which form a sausage chain, takes place. At the exit area of the portioning device 4 there is arranged the rotatable, hollow looper tube 16 which can pass through different orbital positions and from which portions P can be transferred to the suspension machine 6 in a desired length L, number per unit time and with a desired target weight G. For this purpose, portioning apparatus 4 with the looper tube 16 and the suspension machine are arranged relative to one another in such a way that, on the outlet side behind the looper tube 16, the hooks 14 of the suspension machine 6 can be moved in such a way that a desired number N of portions P can be transferred from the looper tube 16 to hooks 14 of the suspension machine 6.FIG. 7 schematically illustrates, on the basis of a block diagram, an electrical controller 30 for controlling components of the apparatus 1. the controller 30 has at least one processor 32, memory 34, an operator device 36 and a display 38, and software which can process incoming signals, inputs from the operators and transmit control signals to the drives of the components.The controller 30 is designed and configured in hardware and software such that at least the drive 26 (FIG. 7 ) of the suspension machine 6 and / or the drive 18 of the looper tube 16 and / or a compartment belt drive 24 or optionally two respective drives 24 (FIG. 7 ) of the portioning device 4 are controlled by the controller 30 such that a defined number N of portions P is transferred from the portioning device 4 by means of the looper tube 16 to a first hook 14 of the suspension machine 6 at the beginning of a production phase. The controller 30 is furthermore configured such that the parameter number N of portions P for a hook 14, in particular first hook 14, can be input into the stored software of the controller 30 by an operator by means of the operating device 36 or via an electrical interface.The controller 30 is configured in particular by software such that a specific number of portions P can be transferred to a last hook 14 of a production phase, in particular 2-3 portions, particularly preferably 2 portions, can be transferred to a last hook 14 of a production phase.During operation of the device, the following method is carried out:The portions P are provided by means of the portioning device 4 with the portioning belts 20, 22. The portions P connected in a sausage chain are transferred by means of the looper tube 16 to the hooks 14 of the suspension machine 6. By means of the controller 30, at least the drive 26 of the suspension machine 6 and / or the drive 18 of the looper tube 16 and / or a dividing belt drive 24 of the portioning device 4 is controlled such that a variable, defined number N of portions P is transferred by the portioning device 4 by means of the looper tube 16 to a first hook 14 of the suspension machine 6 at the beginning of a production phase. The controller 30 is configured such that the defined number N of portions P can be changed and set by intervention in the controller 30. It is possible that the number N is set depending on the weight G of one portion P or a plurality of portions P.The controller 30 is designed and configured, in particular with regard to the last hook 14 of a production phase, such that at least the drive 26 of the suspension machine 6 and / or the drive 18 of the looper tube 16 and / or a compartment belt drive 24 of the portioning device 4 are controlled by the controller 30 such that a defined number N of preferably 2 portions P is transferred from the portioning device 4 by means of the looper tube 16 to a last hook 14 of the suspension machine 6 at the end of a production phase.The controller is further configured such that the stored software of the controller 30 can be used by an operator by means of the operating device (36) or via an electrical interface to activate the "residual pick" operating mode for the last hook, such that the calculation of the speed of the compartmented belts in relation to the looper orbit position and in dependence on the portion length and the path is adapted by the controller such that 2 portions are transferred to the last hook 14 at the end of a production phase.As FIG. 3 illustrates, the number N is determined as a function of the distance W from the delivery pipe 46 of the filling machine 2 to the closest hook 14 of the suspension machine 6 relative to the looper pipe 16. The current orbit position of the looper tube 16 may be determined at a certain time or a plurality of times. A loop between the next to last hook 14 of the production phase can be reduced by means of the control.FIG. 6 shows how the looper tube 16 is in a certain orbital position.The number of portions is equal to the distance divided by the length of the sausages (P=W / L). W and L are shown in FIG. 3.The controller 30 generally controls the drive of the looper tube 16 in dependence on the path W and the number of portions P produced by the portioning device 4 in such a way that a specific number of portions P is transferred from the looper tube 16 to a hook 14 of the suspension machine 6.In particular, the method is carried out and the controller 30 is configured such that the portioning device 4 produces a number of portions P connected by means of the casing and transfers them to the looper tube 16 such that the number of portions P is held there and the number of portions P is transferred while the looper tube 16 points downward substantially in a vertical position. Then, the predetermined number N of portions P is transferred from the looper tube 16 from the looper tube 16 to a hook 14, in particular a first hook 14, of a production phase in order to hang the defined number N of portions P on this hook 14. After transferring portions P, the hooks 14 are transported further by the suspension machine 4. As required, the parameter number N of portions P for a hook 14, in particular first hook 14, is input into the controller 30 by an operator by means of the operator device 36 or via an electrical interface. The controller 30 further processes the input data and controls the drives accordingly. Variations of the procedure are readily possible.As described above, the method is carried out and the device is designed, in particular the controller 30, such that the last hook 14 of a production phase is acted upon by a few, preferably two portions, which then hang down as an end as a loop and form the end of the sausage chain. The production phase is then complete. A further position phase can then begin at a desired point in timeList of reference characters1 Device for providing portions 2 Filling machine 4 Portioning device 6 Suspension machine 8 Drive 10 Drive element 12 Chain 14 Hook 16 Looper tube 18 Looper tube drive 20 Sectioning belt 22 Sectioning belt 24 Sectioning belt drive 26 Suspension machine drive 30 Controller 32 Processor 34 Memory 36 Operating device 38 Display 40 Control line 42 Control line 44 Control line 46 Dispensing tube of the filling machine P Portion L Length N Number D Number of turns G Weight of the portion W PathReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedEP 3 878 284 A1

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,857

[0004]

Claims

Method for providing portions of pasty food mass provided in a casing, in particular sausage portions, in which a) portions (P) of pasty food mass located in a casing are provided by means of a portioning device (4) with dividing belts (20, 22), said portions having a dividing belt drive (24) and a rotatable looper tube (16) which can be driven by means of a drive (18) and can assume different orbit positions as a result of the rotation, b) the portions (P) are transferred by means of the looper tube (16) of the portioning device (4) to hooks (14) of a suspension machine (6), c) after transferring portions (P), the hooks (14) being transported further, characterized in that, d) at least the drive (8) of the suspension machine (6) and / or the drive (18) of the looper tube (16) and / or a compartment belt drive (24) of the portioning device (4) are controlled by means of a controller (30) such that a defined number (N) of portions (P) is transferred from the portioning device (4) by means of the looper tube (16) to a last hook (14) of the suspension machine (6) at the end of a production phase.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the controller (30) is designed and arranged such that the calculation of the speed of the compartmented belts in relation to the looper orbit position and in dependence on the portion length and the path is adjusted by the controller such that 2 portions are transferred to the last hook (14) at the end of a production phase.Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the controller (30) is configured such that the current orbit position of the looper tube (16) can be determined at a specific time or a plurality of times, and that a loop between the next to last and last hooks of the production phase is reduced by means of the controller.Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the number (N) is determined as a function of the path (W) from a dispensing pipe (46) of a filling machine (2) for providing the food mass up to the closest hook (14) of the suspension machine (6) relative to the looper pipe (16).Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the speed of the dividing belts (20, 22) of the portioning device (4) defined by the drive is calculated as a function of the orbit position of the looper tube (16) and / or as a function of said path (W), preferably in such a way that the drive of the looper tube (16) and the drive of the suspension machine (6) can continue to be operated constantly.Method according to Claim 4 and / or 5, characterized in that the controller (30) controls the drive of the looper tube (16) as a function of the path (W) and the number of portions (P) produced by the portioning device (4) in such a way that a specific number of portions (P) is transferred from the looper tube (16) to a hook (14) of the suspension machine (6).Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (30) is configured in such a way that - the portioning device (4) produces a number of portions (P) connected by means of the casing and transfers them to the looper tube (16) in such a way that the number of portions (P) is held there and the number of portions (P) is transferred while the looper tube (16) points downwards substantially in a vertical position, - and that then subsequently the predetermined number (N) of portions (P) is transferred from the looper tube (16) to a hook (14), in particular a last hook (14), of a production phase in order to suspend the defined number (N) of portions (P) to this hook (14).Method according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller (30) has at least one processor (32), memory (34), software, an operating device (36) and display (38), and the controller (30) is set up such that the stored software of the controller (30) is entered by an operator by means of the operating device (36) or via an electrical interface of the parameter number (N) of portions (P) for a last hook (14) (parameter "residual").Apparatus for providing portions of pasty food mass provided in a casing, in particular sausage portions, and for carrying out a method according to at least one of the preceding claims, having a) a portioning device (4) for providing portions (P) of pasty food mass provided in a casing, which comprises portioning belts and a portioning belt drive (24) and a rotatable looper tube (16) which can be driven by means of a drive (18) and can assume different orbit positions and is designed to transfer a plurality of portions (P) connected to one another by the casing to a suspension machine (6), b) a suspension machine (6) for transporting a plurality of portions (P), the plurality of hooks (14) for receiving a plurality of portions (P) connected by the casing, wherein the hooks (14) can be transported further by means of at least one revolving drive element (10) drivable by means of a drive (26), c) of a controller (30) for controlling components of the apparatus (1), characterized in that the controller (30) is designed and configured such that at least the drive (8) of the suspension machine (6) and / or the drive (18) of the looper tube (16) and / or a compartment belt drive (24) of the portioning device (4) are controlled by means of the controller (30) such that a defined number (N) of portions (P) is transferred from the portioning device (4) by means of the looper tube (16) to a last hook (14) of the suspension machine (6) at the end of a production phase.Apparatus according to claim 9, characterised in that the controller (30) has at least one processor (32), memory (34), an operating device (36) and display (38), and the controller (30) is set up such that the stored software of the controller (30) can be used by an operator by means of the operating device (36) or via an electrical interface to activate the residual catch operating mode for the last hook, such that the calculation of the speed of the compartment belts in relation to the looper orbit position and in dependence on the portion length and the path is adapted by the controller such that 2 portions are transferred to the last hook (14) at the end of a production phase.Apparatus according to one of Claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the portioning device (4) has two encircling, spaced-apart dividing belts (20, 22) and a dividing-belt drive (24), and it is possible for food mass located in a casing to be transferred to the portioning device (4) from a filling machine (2) which is connected upstream of the portioning device (4) and has a dispensing tube (44), and in that the looper tube (16) is arranged at the outlet region of the portioning device (4) in order to be able to transfer portions (P) to the looper tube (16) in a desired number per unit time and with a desired target weight, and in that, on the outlet side, the hooks (14) of the suspension machine (6) can be moved behind the looper tube (16), a desired number (N) of portions (P) can be transferred from the looper tube (16) onto hooks (14) of the suspension machine (6).

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