A channel closure system for use in grouping food products

Abstract

The invention relates to a channel closure system (20) in a grouping machine (10) for grouping food products, movable on a first axis (III) to be displaced between a first position (I) allowing passage of food products through at least one channel (16) and a second position (II) limiting passage of products through said channel (17). The novelty of the invention is characterized in that said channel closure system (20) is connected to at least one lifting arm (14) configured to be displaced in the first axis (III) on the grouping machine (10) for displacement between the first position (I) and the second position (II) by means of at least one lock cylinder (22) therebetween, and that said lock cylinder (22) comprises at least one body (23) and at least one arm (24) which can be fixed and released together in accordance with the first position (I) and the second position (II).

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION A CHANNEL CLOSURE SYSTEM FOR USE IN GROUPING FOOD PRODUCTS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to a channel closure system in a grouping machine for grouping food products, movable on a first axis to be displaced between a first position allowing passage of food products through at least one channel and a second position limiting passage of products through said channel.

[0004] PRIOR ART

[0005] Food products are grouped and packaged in predetermined numbers. This enables the retail sale of food products in portioned packages. Grouping machines available in the market use 2 different methods. The first one is to close the channel by pressing the sides of the product with a gripper having a mechanical or pneumatic system placed at the outlet of the flow channel. The second method consists of a system that allows the position of the plunger part to stay down with a spring and an electromagnet in a fixed position placed on the plunger part.

[0006] Application No. US2022097885A1 , known in the literature, relates to an apparatus for grouping and packaging products. The said apparatus can be applied in the food industry for grouping or separating individual batches of snacks and biscuits. However, it is also used in other industrial sectors where it is necessary to separate a large number of individual products into a single package or to group separate product groups. Application No. EP1304303A1 , known in the literature, is a machine for volumetric portioning of products in batches. It is described in the present art that this machine groups products by clustering them in certain numbers.

[0007] When the grouping systems known in the present art are examined, it is found that they have a number of disadvantages. These are as follows:

[0008] In the side gripping process used in the existing systems, there are situations such as damaging the product group being gripped (breaking, shredding, etc.), If the positioning is not timed correctly in the side gripping process, the number of the grouped products changes, which disrupts the grouping precision, In the system with a spring and a fixed magnet on the plunger, the grouping homogeneity is disturbed due to the change in the position of the plunger because of a continuous spring tension,

[0009] Loss of sensitivity due to heating of the electromagnet during prolonged channel closure processes and subsequent product loss in the channel closure position,

[0010] - Mechanical vibration as a result of the continuously tensioned spring and loss of precise channel closure capability,

[0011] Deformation of the fasteners of the equipment due to the force applied to the plunger drive because of the spring installation and continuous maintenance inputs.

[0012] As a result, all the above-mentioned problems have made it necessary to introduce an innovation in the relevant technical field.

[0013] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention relates to a channel closure system for eliminating the aforementioned disadvantages and providing new advantages to the relevant technical field.

[0015] One object of the invention is to provide a channel closure system, in particular for use in grouping food products with a predetermined number.

[0016] In order to achieve all the objects mentioned above and those that will become apparent from the detailed description below, the present invention is a channel closure system in a grouping machine for grouping food products, movable on a first axis to be displaced between a first position allowing passage of food products through at least one channel and a second position limiting passage of products through said channel. Accordingly, the novelty is that said channel closure system is connected to at least one lifting arm configured to be displaced in the first axis on the grouping machine for displacement between the first position and the second position by means of at least one lock cylinder therebetween, and that said lock cylinder comprises at least one body and at least one arm which can be fixed and released together in accordance with the first position and the second position. Thus, the packaging of the food product is ensured by automatically closing / opening the channel according to the need. A possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one plunger element for at least partially covering the channel. Thus, the channel is covered and the progress of food products in the channel is stopped.

[0017] A further possible embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it comprises at least one movement module and at least one drive element to which the lifting arm is connected for actuation. Thus, the up and down movement of the channel closure system is ensured.

[0018] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0019] Fig. 1 shows a representative perspective view of the grouping machine on which the channel closure system according to the invention is located.

[0020] Fig. 2 shows a representative first position view of the channel closure system according to the invention.

[0021] Fig. 3 shows a representative second position view of the channel closure system according to the invention.

[0022] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] In this detailed description, the subject matter of the invention is described only by way of examples for a better understanding of the subject matter, without any limiting effect.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a representative perspective view of the grouping machine (10) on which the channel closure system (20) according to the invention is located. The grouping machine (10) on which the channel closure system (20) according to the invention is located is used for grouping food products with a predetermined number. The channel closure system (20) used in the grouping machine (10) is used to at least partially close the channel (16) through which the food products are advanced. The food product mentioned in the invention can be snack biscuits, wafers, etc. The grouping machine (10) has at least one frame (11 ). The said frame (11 ) is preferably provided with a plurality of channel closure systems (20). The frame (11 ) has at least one carrier (21 ). There is a slide (12) between the said carrier (21) and the frame (1 1 ). Said slide (12) allows the carrier (21 ) to be moved on the frame (11 ) on a first axis (II). In order to move the carrier (21) on the frame (11 ), the frame (11) may be provided with at least one movement module (13) and at least one drive element (15) in connection with the carrier (21). By means of said drive element (15), the movement module (13) moves at least one lifting arm (14) and, by means of said lifting arm (14), the carrier (21 ). In a possible embodiment of the invention, the movement module (13) may be positioned oppositely on the frame (11). The lifting arm (14) is moved on the first axis (II) by connecting with the movement modules (13) from opposite sides.

[0025] Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the channel closure system (20) according to the invention is positioned in at least one first position (I) and at least one second position (II). Accordingly, the carrier (21 ) is configured to be displaced between at least one first position (I) and at least one second position (II). Said first position (I) is the position in which the carrier (21 ) is raised on the first axis (III) to advance the food product freely in a channel (16). Said second position (II) is the position in which the carrier (21 ) is approached to the channel (16) on the first axis (III) to cover the channel (16). Thus, it is possible to close and open the channel (16) when desired.

[0026] The channel closure system (20) comprises at least one lock cylinder (22) for positioning the carrier (21 ) between the first position (I) and the second position (II). Said lock cylinder (22) is connected to the carrier (21) on one side and to the lifting arm (14) on the other side. The lock cylinder (22) is a pneumatic movement element that can be positioned in different sizes. The lock cylinder (22) has a locking system that allows free movement and locked positioning between the body (23) and arm (24) parts. At least one plunger element (25) is provided on the side of the carrier (21 ) facing the channel (16). Said plunger element (25) completely covers the channel (16) when the carrier (21 ) is moved to the second position (II), thus preventing the food product from advancing.

[0027] In a possible use of the invention, the following steps are followed:

[0028] - As the food products are advanced through the channel (16), the carrier (21) is approached towards the channel (16) on the first axis (II). In this approaching process, the lifting arm (14) is approached towards the channel (16) by the movement module (13) and air is supplied to the lock of the lock cylinder (22), allowing the arm (24) to move freely relative to the body (23). Thus, the carrier (21 ) is moved away from the channel (16) on the first axis (II), but the channel (16) remains closed by means of the plunger element (25). While keeping the channel (16) closed in the second position (II), the gravitational force of the carrier (21 ) is utilized and a magnetic lock can also be used.

[0029] - When it is desired to move the channel closure system (20) to the second position (II) after grouping, the carrier (21 ) is approached to the channel (16) again and the lock on the lock cylinder (22) is closed. This ensures that the arm (24) and the body (23) are fixed to each other. With this fixing, the carrier (21 ) raises the plunger element (25) from the channel (16), moving it to the second position (II).

[0030] With this entire embodiment:

[0031] In the opening-closing process of the channel (16), by means of the plunger element (25) closing the channel (16), the possibility of damage to the product due to contact is eliminated by providing abutment from the front surface of the product,

[0032] - The rigidity of the mechanical equipment in the utilized system ensures a homogeneous and precise situation for all channels (16) during opening and closing of the channel (16),

[0033] Problems in grouping the products gripped during channel (16) opening are eliminated,

[0034] - As a result of the usual movement in the channel (16) closing process, the loss of position in the products is prevented,

[0035] As a result of the removal of the mechanical system with springs on the carrier (21 ), stresses are eliminated, reducing part deformations and maintenance costs.

[0036] The scope of protection of the invention is set out in the appended claims and shall in no way be limited to what is described in this detailed description for illustrative purposes. Indeed, it is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with similar embodiments in light of the foregoing description without departing from the main theme of the invention. REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWING

[0037] 10 Grouping Machine

[0038] 11 Frame

[0039] 12 Slide

[0040] 13 Movement Module

[0041] 14 Lifting arm

[0042] 15 Drive Element

[0043] 16 Channel

[0044] 20 Channel Closure System

[0045] 21 Carrier

[0046] 22 Lock Cylinder

[0047] 23 Body

[0048] 24 Arm

[0049] 25 Plunger Element

[0050] (I) First Position

[0051] (II) Second Position

[0052] (III) First Axis

Claims

CLAIMS1 . A channel closure system (20) in a grouping machine (10) for grouping food products, movable on a first axis (III) to be displaced between a first position (I) allowing passage of food products through at least one channel (16) and a second position (II) limiting passage of products through said channel (17), characterized in that said channel closure system (20) is connected to at least one lifting arm (14) configured to be displaced in the first axis (III) on the grouping machine (10) for displacement between the first position (I) and the second position (II) by means of at least one lock cylinder (22) therebetween, and that said lock cylinder (22) comprises at least one body (23) and at least one arm (24) which can be fixed and released together in accordance with the first position (I) and the second position (II).

2. A channel closure system (20) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one plunger element (25) for at least partially covering the channel (16).

3. A channel closure system (20) according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises at least one movement module (13) and at least one drive element (15) to which the lifting arm (14) is connected for actuation.

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