Feeding and grinding device for a vacuum filling machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a comminution device (10) for a vacuum filling machine (2), in particular for a hopper (4) of a vacuum filling machine (2), with a feeder (12) rotating about a rotary axis (14), which is designed to convey filling material to the inlet of the conveying unit or pump (4), and a static support arm (28) which extends into the hopper (4). According to the invention, it is proposed that at least one stop or shearing element (22a-b) rotating with the feeder (12) is arranged on the feeder (12) and extends in the direction of the static support arm (28), and that at least one static stop or shearing element (30a-c) is arranged on the support arm (28) adjacent to the rotating stop or shearing element (22a-b), wherein the filling material is crushed by the rotation of the rotating stop or shearing element (22a-b) relative to the static stop or shearing element (30a-c).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a feeding and comminution device for a vacuum filling machine, in particular for a hopper of a vacuum filling machine, comprising a feeder rotating about a rotary axis, which is designed to convey filling material to an outlet of the hopper and thus to an inlet of the conveying system or a downstream pump, and a static support arm which extends into the hopper.

[0002] Vacuum filling machines are used for the precise portioning or uniform conveying and extrusion of various goods, such as pasty masses, but also firmer and lumpy products. This requires feeding the products evenly to the conveyor or pump. Lumpy products must be pre-ground to ensure uniform feeding and evacuation. Such a vacuum filling machine is described in US 2023 / 0040997 A1.

[0003] If the vacuum filling machine is to be used to process large, solid, and cold blocks of product, such as butter, fat, or cheese, then, using feeding systems known from the prior art, such blocks must be pre-crushed before they can be fed into the hopper of the vacuum filling machine. It is known from the prior art to use separate pre-crushing machines to pre-crush the large, solid blocks. After pre-crushing, the pre-crushed products are fed into the hopper of the vacuum filling machine and conveyed therein by means of the rotating feeder towards the hopper outlet and thus to the vacuum filling machine.

[0004] However, a disadvantage of this method is that a separate device, namely a pre-shredding machine, is always required, and furthermore, the product must be transferred to the hopper of the vacuum filling machine after pre-shredding. This additional shredding machine thus results in higher operating costs and also requires additional space.

[0005] It is therefore the object of the present invention to further develop a feeding and comminution device of the type described above in such a way as to eliminate the disadvantages found in the prior art as far as possible. In particular, a feeding and comminution device was to be provided which enables efficient pre-comminution of product blocks.

[0006] According to the invention, the problem is solved in a feeding and comminution device of the type mentioned at the outset by arranging at least one stop or shearing means rotating with the feeding means on the feeding means, which extends in the direction of the static support arm, and wherein at least one static stop or shearing means is arranged on the support arm adjacent to the co-rotating stop or shearing means, whereby the filling material is comminuted by the rotation of the stop or shearing means relative to the static stop or shearing means.

[0007] The invention is based on the understanding that the relative movement between at least one static stopping or shearing element and at least one rotating stopping or shearing element reduces the size of the incoming material by shearing and breaking. In this way, products fed in lumpy form can be pre-shredded in the hopper without the need for a separate pre-shredding machine. The products fed can be pasty products that have only been chilled, for example, to retain their shape, or frozen lumpy products or pressed products, such as blocks of butter, cheese, fat, frozen meat, or pressed fruit. Preferably, the products are not cut, but rather shredded by shearing and breaking.

[0008] According to one embodiment, the rotating and / or static stop or shear element is designed as a driver or crusher. In one embodiment, for example, the static stop or shear element can be designed as a crusher and the rotating stop or shear element as a driver. However, a further solution is also conceivable in which the static stop or shear element is designed as a driver and the rotating stop or shear element as a crusher. Thus, the function according to the invention can also be achieved if a rotating driver is attached to the feed system and a crusher or shredder is attached to the static stop. This can be a cutting element or simply a crusher.

[0009] Overall, the advantage is achieved that not only can an additional machine be dispensed with, but also the effort of transferring pre-shredded material into the hopper of the vacuum filling machine is eliminated, since the pre-shredding can now take place directly in the hopper of the vacuum filling machine.

[0010] According to an alternative preferred embodiment, the co-rotating stop or shear element is supported on the support arm, in particular wherein the support arm is arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation of the feed element. This allows for improved force distribution. In particular, supporting the co-rotating stop or shear element on the support arm ensures that it has a higher overall durability and remains securely guided even when crushing solid blocks of product, thus preventing plastic deformation of the co-rotating stop or shear element.

[0011] The static stopping or shearing element can be designed as a stop or breaking element. It is preferably mounted on the support arm in a rotationally fixed manner, and thus also on the hopper as a whole. In other words, the at least one stopping or shearing element is a stationary stopping or breaking element. These elements can be oriented so that the product is directed towards the inlet of the conveyor. Because the support arm is arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation of the feeder, the support can be implemented particularly easily.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the static stopping or shearing means is a first static stopping or shearing means, wherein at least a second static stopping or shearing means is arranged on the support arm at a distance from the first static stopping or shearing means, and wherein the co-rotating stopping or shearing means extends to between the static stopping or shearing means, in particular being supported between the static stopping or shearing means on the support arm.

[0013] According to one embodiment, a total of three spaced-apart static stop or shearing elements are provided. These are spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of the support arm.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the co-rotating or static stop or shearing element has a cutting edge that extends in the direction of rotation of the feed element. The cutting edge preferably points in the direction of rotation or deviates slightly from it. In this way, the cutting edge can be effectively used to crush solid blocks of product.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the at least one or several static stopping or shearing means have a cutting edge which is oriented, in particular, substantially parallel to the cutting edge of the co-rotating stopping or shearing means. This allows the product blocks to be crushed by the relative movement between the rotating cutting means and the stationary cutting means.

[0016] According to one embodiment, a wire or rope can also be used for shredding.

[0017] According to one embodiment, a lightweight sheet is arranged on at least one or more static or rotating stop or shear elements, extending radially outwards from the static stop or shear element. The guide plates displace the material to be shredded downwards in the hopper towards the filling machine, thus reducing the remaining quantity of material in the hopper. Preferably, the guide plate(s) are arranged at an angle relative to the axis of rotation on the stop element. This ensures that the material in the hopper is displaced downwards.

[0018] According to one embodiment, a retaining element is arranged on the feed element, with the co-rotating stop or shearing element being arranged on the retaining element. The retaining element preferably has a cylindrical diameter. According to one embodiment, the retaining element extends substantially parallel to the hopper wall. This simplifies assembly and disassembly and facilitates cleaning of the shredding unit.

[0019] According to one embodiment, the co-rotating stop or shearing element is a first co-rotating stop or shearing element, wherein the comminution device has a second co-rotating stop or shearing element, which is arranged adjacent to the first co-rotating stop or shearing element on the holding element and extends substantially parallel to the first co-rotating stop or shearing element in the direction of the support arm. Preferably, the cutting elements are arranged such that each cutting element is located adjacent to two stop elements. In the case where two cutting elements are provided, preferably a total of three stop elements are provided, so that each cutting element is encompassed by two stop elements. This achieves particularly efficient comminution of the product blocks.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the rotating feed element is designed as a feed curve. Such a feed curve serves the purpose of conveying the material towards the hopper outlet. According to another embodiment, the support arm has at least one attachment section designed to fasten the support arm to the hopper, particularly to the top of the hopper. In this way, the support arm can be easily replaced or removed from the hopper for cleaning.

[0021] According to one embodiment, a scraping device is arranged on the rotating feed element, particularly on the feed curve. The scraping device is preferably guided parallel to the hopper wall and configured to scrape material from the hopper onto its inner surface. This prevents material from accumulating on the inside of the hopper.

[0022] The invention was described above with reference to a feeding and comminution device. In a further aspect, the invention relates to the use of a feeding and comminution device. The invention solves the problem described above with regard to use by employing a feeding and comminution device according to one of the preceding embodiments for a vacuum filling machine, in particular for a hopper of a vacuum filling machine.

[0023] The application takes advantage of the same benefits and preferred embodiments as the feeding and comminution device, and vice versa. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above submission, and its content is hereby incorporated.

[0024] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a funnel arrangement for a vacuum filling machine, comprising a funnel and a feeding and comminution device arranged in the funnel. The invention solves the problem described above with regard to the funnel arrangement by designing the feeding and comminution device according to one of the preceding embodiments.

[0025] According to one embodiment, the hopper has a central axis, with the axis of rotation of the rotating feed element being arranged coaxially to the central axis. Furthermore, the hopper arrangement utilizes the same advantages and preferred embodiments as the feeding and comminution device and the use according to the invention, and vice versa. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above submissions, and their content is hereby incorporated.

[0026] In a further aspect, the invention relates to a vacuum filling machine with a hopper and a feeding and comminution device arranged therein. The invention solves the problem described above with regard to the feeding and comminution device by designing the feeding and comminution device according to one of the preceding embodiments. The vacuum filling machine also benefits from the same advantages and preferred embodiments as the feeding and comminution device, the use, and the hopper arrangement according to the invention, and vice versa. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the above submissions, and their content is hereby incorporated.

[0027] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the attached claims and the following description, in which exemplary embodiments are explained in detail with reference to schematic drawings.

[0028] Specifically, we show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a vacuum filling machine according to the invention in a side view; Fig. 2 an embodiment of a funnel arrangement with a feeding and comminution device according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 3 the embodiment of the funnel arrangement according to the invention Fig. 2 in a top view; Fig. 4 an embodiment of the feeding and comminution device according to the invention Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in a side view; and Fig. 5 the embodiment of the feeding and comminution device according to the invention Fig. 4 in another side view.

[0029] Fig. Figure 1 shows a vacuum filling machine 2. The vacuum filling machine 2 has a hopper 4. A comminution device 10 is arranged in the hopper 4, which is located in the Fig. 2 to 5 is detailed. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the funnel 4 has a central axis 6.

[0030] The Fig. 2 and Fig. Figure 3 shows the hopper 4 with the comminution device 10 arranged therein. In the Fig. 4 and Fig. Figure 5 shows the comminution device 10 without the hopper 4. Referring to the Fig. 2-5 The comminution device 10 has a feed element 12 rotating about a rotary axis 14. The rotating feed element 12 is designed to convey material to an outlet 9 of the hopper 4. The comminution device 10 also has a static support arm 28. As shown in the Fig. 2 and Fig.As shown in Figure 3, the static support arm 28 extends into the funnel 4. Two co-rotating shear elements 22a, 22b, which are also referred to as drivers, are arranged on the feed element 12.

[0031] The shear elements 22a, 22b extend in the direction of the static support arm 28 and, in the embodiment shown in the figures, are supported on the support arm 28. Three stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c, also referred to as breakers, are arranged on the support arm 28 adjacent to the shear elements 22a, 22b. The stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c are designed to inhibit or stop the movement of the material being fed, in particular in a direction of rotation D of the feeder 12. The rotation of the shear elements 22a, 22b relative to the stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c cuts and shears the material being fed into the hopper 4. The support arm 28 is arranged coaxially with the axis of rotation 14 of the feeder 12. The stopping means 30a, 30b, 30c are spaced apart from each other on the static support arm 28, such that two stopping means 30a, 30b, 30c are arranged adjacent to one of the shear means 22a, 22b.This ensures that each shear element 22a, 22b is encompassed by two stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c, with each shear element 22a, 22b being supported between two stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c on the support arm.

[0032] The shearing elements 22a, 22b each have a cutting edge 24a, 24b. The cutting edges 24a, 24b extend in the direction of rotation of the feed element 12. The cutting edges 24a, 24b each have a longitudinal axis, which in particular forms an angle of 80° to 100° with the axis of rotation 14. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the cutting edges 24a, 24b are arranged orthogonally to the axis of rotation 14. The stopping elements 30a, 30b, 30c each have a cutting edge 32a, 32b, 32c. The cutting edges 32a, 32b, 32c of the stopping elements 30a, 30b, 30c are aligned parallel to the cutting edges 24a, 24b of the shearing elements 22a, 22b. Each of the stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c is equipped with a guide plate 34a, 34b, 34c. The guide plates 34a, 34b, 34c extend radially outwards from the respective stop element 30a, 30b, 30c. The guide plates 34a, 34b, 34c are inclined relative to a plane E and orthogonal to the axis of rotation 14 at the respective stop element 30a, 30b, 30c.This ensures that the material is conveyed towards the hopper outlet 9. A holding element 20 is arranged on the feeder 12. The shear elements 22a and 22b are spaced apart from each other on the holding element 20. The rotation of the feeder 12 with the attached holding element 20 also sets the shear elements 22a and 22b into rotation. The first shear element 22a extends essentially parallel to the second shear element 22b. The shear elements 22a and 22b are spaced apart from each other.

[0033] The rotating feed element 12 is designed as a feed cam 18, which is driven by a drive ring 16. The feed cam 18 guides the material received in the hopper 4 to the outlet 9 of the hopper 4. The support arm 28 also has a mounting section 36. The mounting section 36 is designed to attach the support arm 28 to the hopper 4, in particular to an upper surface of the hopper 4. For this purpose, the mounting section 36 has a mounting arm 38, which is reversibly attached to an upper region of the hopper 4 by means of fastening elements 40.

[0034] A scraping device 26 is also arranged on the rotating feed element 12. The scraping device 26 is guided parallel to a wall of the hopper 4 and is designed to scrape material from the hopper 4 onto an inner surface 8 of the hopper.

[0035] The comminution device 10 according to the invention, in which the shearing elements 22a, 22b are supported on the support arm 28 and, as described, interact with the stop elements 30a, 30b, 30c, now makes it possible to pre-comminate solid product blocks in the hopper 4 without the need for a separate pre-comminution machine. Reference symbol list 2 vacuum filling machines 4 funnels 6 Central axis of the funnel 8 Funnel inside 9 Funnel outlet 10 Shredding device 12 supply means 14 axis of rotation 16 Drive ring 18 Approach curve 20 retaining elements 22a-b Shearing device (driver) 24a-b cutting edge 26 Scraper device 28 static support arm 30a-c Stopping agent (breaker) 32a-c cutting edge 34a-c guide plate 36 Fastening section 38 Mounting arm 40 Fastening element D Direction of rotation of the feeder Level E

Claims

[1] Feeding and comminution device (10) for a vacuum filling machine (2), in particular for a hopper (4) of a vacuum filling machine (2), with - a feeder (12) rotating about a rotary axis (14), which is designed to convey filling material to an outlet (9) of the hopper (4), - and a static support arm (28) which extends into the funnel (4), characterized by , that at least one stop or shear element (22a-b) rotating with the feed element (12) is arranged on the feed element (12) and extends in the direction of the static support arm (28), and wherein at least one static stop or shearing element (30a-c) is arranged on the support arm (28) adjacent to the co-rotating stop or shearing element (22a-b), wherein the filling material is crushed by the rotation of the co-rotating stop or shearing element (22a-b) relative to the static stop or shearing element (30a-c). [2] Feeding and comminution device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the co-rotating stop or shear element (22a-b) is designed as a driver and the static stop or shear element (30a-c) as a breaker, or wherein the co-rotating stop or shearing element (22a-b) is designed as a breaker and the static stop or shearing element (30a-c) as a driver. [3] Feeding and comminuting device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a-b) is supported on the support arm (28), in particular wherein the support arm (28) is arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation (14) of the feed means (12). [4] Feeding and comminution device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the static stop or shearing means (30a-c) is a first static stop or shearing means (30a), wherein at least one second static stop or shearing means (30b, 30c) is arranged on the support arm (28) spaced apart from the first static stop or shearing means (30a), and wherein the co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a, 22b) extends to between the static stop or shearing means (30a-c), in particular is supported between the static stop or shearing means (30a-c) on the support arm (28). [5] Feeding and comminution device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a-b) has a cutting edge (24a-b) which extends in the direction of rotation of the feed means (12). [6] Feeding and comminuting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one or the several static stop or shear means (30a-c) have a cutting edge (32a-c) which is in particular oriented substantially parallel to the cutting edge (24a-b) of the co-rotating stop or shear means (22a-b). [7] Feeding and comminution device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a guide plate (34a-c) is arranged on the at least one or the several static or co-rotating stop or shearing means (30a-c), which extends radially outwards from the static stop or shearing means (30a-c). [8] Feeding and comminution device (10) according to claim 7, wherein the guide plate (34a-c) is arranged inclined relative to the axis of rotation (14) on the static stop or shearing means (30a-c). [9] Feeding and comminuting device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a holding element (20) is arranged on the feed means (12), and wherein the co-rotating stop or shear means (22a-b) is arranged on the holding element (20). [10] Feeding and comminuting device (10) according to claim 9, wherein the co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a) is a first co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a), and wherein the comminuting device (10) has a second co-rotating stop or shearing means (22b) which is arranged adjacent to the first co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a) on the holding element (20) and extends substantially parallel to the first co-rotating stop or shearing means (22a) in the direction of the support arm (28). [11] Feeding and comminution device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotating feed means (12) is designed as a feed curve (18) and / or wherein the support arm (28) has at least one fastening section (36) which is configured to fasten the support arm (28) to the funnel (4), in particular to a top surface of the funnel (4), and / or wherein a scraping device (26) is arranged on the rotating feeder (12), which is guided parallel to the funnel wall and scrapes the filling material from the funnel (4) on an inner side (8) of the funnel. [12] Use of a feeding and comminution device (10) according to one of the preceding claims for a vacuum filling machine (2), in particular for a hopper (4) of a vacuum filling machine (2). [13] Funnel arrangement for a vacuum filling machine (2), comprising a funnel (4) and a feeding and comminution device (10) arranged in the funnel (4), wherein the feeding and comminution device (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims. [14] Funnel arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the funnel (4) has a central axis (6) and wherein the axis of rotation (14) of the rotating feeder (12) is arranged coaxially to the central axis (6). [15] Vacuum filling machine (2) with a hopper (4) and a feeding and comminution device (10) arranged therein, wherein the feeding and comminution device (10) is designed according to one of the preceding claims.

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