Automatic mechanical loading device for loading food products

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic mechanical loading device (1) for loading bulk food products into a processing device. The device (1) according to the invention comprises a loading zone (3) and a regulating zone (4), a conveying assembly (5) including at least one belt conveyor (50, 51), said assembly passing through the loading zone (3) and the regulating zone (4), separation means (52) disposed in the loading zone (3) for separating the bulk into N portions, at least one spreading means (6) for spreading the portions disposed above the conveying assembly (5) in the regulating zone (4), and at least one flattening means (7) for flattening the portions, the flattening means (7) being disposed downstream of the spreading means (6). FIG. 1

Description

Title of the invention: AUTOMATIC LOADING DEVICE. Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention belongs to the technical field of devices for loading foodstuffs onto belt conveyors for feeding a food processing device such as cooking or cooling or freezing or deep-freezing devices.

[0002] The present invention relates more particularly to such devices in which the loading of the foodstuffs is automated. Technical background

[0003] Currently, the food loading devices used to feed cooking or cooling, or freezing, or deep-freezing devices are manual and therefore do not allow stabilized and regular rates (typically in a range of 500 to 1500 kg / h depending on the foodstuffs). The rates depend on the time required to cook the foodstuffs, the loading capacity at the entrance to the oven and the recovery capacity of the products at the exit from the oven. These devices, known to those skilled in the art, usually use belt conveyors to transport the foodstuffs to cooking or cooling, or freezing, or deep-freezing devices. To obtain uniform cooking, it is necessary to avoid the overlapping of products and also to avoid areas of the belt conveyor not being covered by products.

[0004] Consequently, in order to meet all of these requirements, the loading of the foodstuffs is usually done manually, because the methods known to those skilled in the art which allow the automatic loading of foodstuffs do not allow the loading of food products in bulk form, as is the case, for example, for food products based on minced meat (minced steaks, meatballs, etc.).

[0005] Furthermore, automation by robotic means is not feasible because it would require a large number of robots to automate loading, and would not allow the target rates to be achieved. Furthermore, automation by robotic means would not be easily adaptable to the loading of raw materials having different typologies (in particular in the form of fillets, thighs, whole thighs for products of meat origin) or of different origins (in particular vegetable or animal), or having or not having undergone prior treatment (marinades for meats for example making them slippery instead of sticky). Statement of the invention

[0006] In order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, the applicant has developed an automatic mechanical loading device making it possible to control the processing (in particular cooking, but also freezing) of foodstuffs (to guarantee the safety of these foodstuffs and the maintenance of their organoleptic qualities), thanks to the control of their loading in bulk form, in terms of distribution of the foodstuffs and repeatability of the rates.

[0007] More particularly, the applicant has developed an automatic mechanical loading device, allowing the loading of food products in bulk form into a processing device such as a cooking oven or a freezer, said device comprising:

[0008] - a loading zone and a regulation zone,

[0009] - a conveying assembly comprising at least one belt conveyor, the assembly conveyor crossing said loading area and said processing area,

[0010] - separation means arranged in said loading area to separate the bulk in N portions,

[0011] - at least one spreading means for spreading these portions, said at least one means spreading being arranged above said conveying assembly in the regulation zone, and

[0012] - at least one flattening means for flattening the portions, said at least one flattening means being arranged downstream of said at least one spreading means,

[0013] said device being characterized in that said at least one flattening means is a flattening roller or a press, or a tamper.

[0014] By regulation, is meant, within the meaning of the present invention, a distribution of the flow of food products in the automatic loading device according to the invention, in time (in terms of loading rate) and in space (over the entire conveyor system).

[0015] The automatic loading device according to the invention makes it possible to gradually start from a bulk of foodstuffs (for example initially stored in a food tray or container) to arrive at foodstuffs well positioned and spread out on a conveyor belt, while avoiding overlapping and superposition of the foodstuffs, which are detrimental to the homogeneous treatment of the foodstuffs (in particular during cooking) and to the maintenance of their organoleptic qualities, and above all to the hygiene and safety of the foodstuffs.

[0016] In particular, the presence, downstream of the spreading means, of at least one flattening means of the flattening roller, press, or tamper type has the effect of a re regulation of the height of the food on the conveyor belt which is thinner than the spreading means. Flattening using this type of means (flattening roller, press or tamper) allows the food to cover the entire surface of the conveyor belt, with control of the height of the food on the belt.

[0017] Thanks to the automatic loading device according to the invention, both the loading rate of the processing device with food products and their distribution in the conveyor assembly are controllable. In addition, the loading rates are repeatable.

[0018] As products or foodstuffs suitable for being loaded by the automatic loading device according to the invention, mention may in particular be made of raw materials of plant origin, pieces of meat such as, for example, pieces of poultry, and in particular thighs, whole legs, aiguillettes, or fillets, as well as pieces of fish, the food products being fresh or frozen, cooked or raw, marinated or not marinated. However, the automatic loading device according to the invention can be used for a wide variety of foodstuffs with different behaviors.

[0019] For the purposes of the present invention, raw materials of plant origin are understood to mean raw materials entirely of plant origin, as well as plant materials combined with other materials such as cheese.

[0020] As regards the separation means arranged in the loading zone, the latter serve to separate said bulk into N portions, preferably separated by a space.

[0021] Advantageously, the separation means may consist of N deflectors arranged on the belt conveyor in the loading area or shovels for moving the raw materials onto the main conveyor.

[0022] By deflector (or deflector flap), is meant, within the meaning of the present invention, a device in the form of a flap capable of modifying the flow direction of the bulk in the conveying assembly.

[0023] As means for spreading the portions usable in the context of the present invention, it is advantageous to use an oscillating flap (acting by a front-back oscillating movement) or a mill with straight blades.

[0024] Preferably, an oscillating shutter adjustable in height, oscillation frequency and degree of opening relative to a reference angle will be used when this shutter is positioned perpendicular to the conveyor belt of the conveying assembly. The oscillating shutter can be actuated manually, or by a motor or by a jack, or even by a robot equipped with a gripping arm. This shutter allows, by its oscillating movement back and forth, to regulate the positioning of the foodstuffs food by providing a spreading effect. In the particular case of foodstuffs such as pieces of meat, or vegetable matrices, the oscillating shutter allows the treated material to be stretched well. Thus, in the particular case of poultry thighs, whole legs, fillets or aiguillettes, or vegetable analogues (which tend to curl up on themselves), the oscillating movement back and forth of the shutter allows the pieces to be spread.

[0025] As regards said at least one flattening means, it makes it possible to complete the spreading of the product by means of a more restrictive mechanical action than that carried out by the oscillating flap.

[0026] As flattening means usable within the framework of the present invention, a flattening roller or a press, or a tamper may be used.

[0027] Preferably, a flattening roller will be used, the height and speed of which are adjustable.

[0028] Advantageously, the device according to the invention may further comprise at least one regulating means for regulating the height of the N portions on the belt conveyor (51), said at least one regulating means being arranged vertically above said conveying assembly. Said at least one regulating means serves to regulate the height of the flow of foodstuffs in the regulating zone and may be located either upstream of said at least one spreading means or downstream in the regulating zone, but it is preferably arranged upstream of said at least one spreading means.

[0029] As regulating means usable within the framework of the present invention, it is possible to use a scraper or a passage hatch such as for example a guillotine type hatch.

[0030] Preferably, a passage hatch adjustable in height and angle (preferably between -20 and +20°) relative to a reference position constituted by a plane perpendicular to the conveyor belt will be used.

[0031] According to a first embodiment according to the invention, the conveying assembly consists of a single belt conveyor crossing the loading zone and the regulation zone.

[0032] According to a second embodiment according to the invention, the conveying assembly comprises a plurality of belt conveyors arranged in series and passing through the loading zone and the regulation zone, for example arranged with the following distribution: one belt conveyor in the loading zone and one belt conveyor in the regulation zone. In such an embodiment, two adjacent conveyors can be aligned with each other in the direction of transport of the food products (embodiment not shown in the figures) or be arranged transversely to each other, for example perpendicularly (as shown in [Fig.2]).

[0033] The present invention also relates to a method for automatically loading food products into a processing device, said method implementing an automatic loading device according to the invention as defined above, said method comprising the following steps:

[0034] - A) a step of loading the bulk onto said conveyor belt in said zone of loading;

[0035] - B) a regulation step comprising:

[0036] - a step of separating the bulk into N portions using the separation means (52) arranged in said loading area;

[0037] - spreading, in the regulation zone of the N portions using said at least one means of spreading; then

[0038] - flattening the N portions thus spread, using said at least one means flattening located downstream at least one spreading means.

[0039] Advantageously, the method according to the invention may further comprise adjusting the height of the portions in the conveying assembly using said at least one regulating means arranged in the regulating zone, and preferably prior to the spreading of said N portions.

[0040] Advantageously, this adjustment can be carried out by passing the portions under a passage hatch arranged in the regulation zone.

[0041] Other advantages and particularities of the present invention will result from the description which follows, given by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended figures and to the examples. Brief description of the figures

[0042] The following examples illustrate the invention, in conjunction with the figures commented on above, without however limiting its scope:

[0043] [Fig-1]: [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective representation of a first example of an automatic loading device according to the invention;

[0044] [Fig.2]: [Fig.2] is a sectional view of the automatic loading device re presented in [Fig.l];

[0045] [Fig.3]: [Fig.3] is a schematic perspective representation of a second example of an automatic loading device according to the invention; Detailed description of the invention

[0046] Figures 1 and 2 schematically illustrate a first example of an automatic loading device 1 according to the invention comprising:

[0047] - a loading zone 3 (see also [Fig.2]) for the products or foodstuffs comments,

[0048] - a zone 4 for regulating or treating these products, and a set of conveyor 5 intended to transport the foodstuffs in the automatic loading device 1 passing through the loading zone 3 and the regulation zone 4, the conveyor assembly 5 consisting of a first belt conveyor 50 in the loading zone 3 (see also [Fig. 3]) and a second belt conveyor 51 in the regulation zone 4 (see also [Fig. 1]).

[0049] Figures 1 and 2 also show that N deflectors 52 are arranged on the first belt conveyor 50 of the loading zone 3. [Fig. 2] shows in particular that these deflectors make it possible to separate the bulk of foodstuffs into N regularly spaced portions. An oscillating flap 6 is arranged above the second belt conveyor of the regulation zone 4. [Fig. 1] also shows the presence, in the regulation zone 4, of a passage hatch 8 arranged vertically above the second belt conveyor of the regulation zone 4, upstream of the oscillating flap 6.

[0050] Finally, the figures show a flattening roller 7 arranged downstream of the oscillating flap 6 and intended to flatten the portions.

[0051] For the automatic loading of food products into an oven, the procedure is as follows using the device according to the invention 1 as shown in Figures 1 and 2:

[0052] - in loading zone 3, loading of a bulk of foodstuffs onto the first conveyor belt 50, then separation into N portions using the arranged on the first conveyor belt 50;

[0053] - in said regulation zone 4, regulation of the bulk by adjusting the height of the portions by passing under a guillotine trapdoor 13 arranged downstream of the N deflectors 52, then spreading of the N portions using the oscillating flap 6 acting by a front-back oscillating movement, and finally flattening of the N portions thus spread, by passing under the flattening roller 7 downstream of the oscillating flap 6.

[0054] Figure 3 schematically illustrates a second example of automatic loading device 1 according to the invention, which differs from the device shown in Figures 1 and 2 (first example) in that the first and second belt conveyors 50, 51 are combined into a single belt conveyor 51. References

[0055] 1. Automatic loading device

[0056] 2. Loading area

[0057] 3. Regulation zone

[0058] 4. Conveyor assembly

[0059] 50, 51. Belt conveyor

[0060] 52. N deflectors

[0061]

[0062]

[0063] 5. Oscillating shutter 6. Flattening roller 7. Guillotine hatch

Claims

Claims

1. Automatic loading device (1) by mechanical means, allowing the loading of food products in bulk form, into a processing device, said device (1) comprising: - a loading zone (3) and a regulation zone (4), - a conveying assembly (5) comprising at least one belt conveyor (50, 51), said assembly passing through said loading zone (3) and said regulation zone (4) - separation means (52) arranged in said loading zone (3) for separating the bulk into N portions, - at least one spreading means (6) for spreading said portions, said at least one spreading means (6) being arranged above said conveying assembly (5) in said regulation zone (4), and - at least one flattening means (7) for flattening said portions, said at least one flattening means (7) being arranged downstream of said at least one spreading means (6),said device being characterized in that said at least one flattening means (7) is a flattening roller or a press, or a tamper.,

2. Device according to claim 1, according to which said separation means (52) consist of N deflectors arranged on said at least one belt conveyor (50) or shovels.

3. Device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein said at least one spreading means (6) is an oscillating flap (6) or a straight blade mill.

4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising, in said regulating zone (4), at least one regulating means (8) for regulating the height of said N portions on said belt conveyor (51), said at least one regulating means (8) being arranged vertically above said conveying assembly (5).

5. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 54, wherein said at least one regulating means (8) is a scraper or a passage hatch.

6. Device according to any one of claims 4 and 5, according to which said at least one regulating means (8) is located upstream of said at least one spreading means (6).

7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said at least one flattening means (7) is a flattening roller (7).

8. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, according to which said conveying assembly (5) comprises a plurality of belt conveyors (50, 51) arranged in series and passing through the loading zone and the regulation zone

9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said food products are pieces of meat, pieces of fish, or raw materials of vegetable origin, said food products being fresh or frozen, cooked or raw, marinated or unmarinated.

10. Method for automatically loading (1) food products into a processing device implementing an automatic loading device (1) as defined according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said method comprising the following steps: - A) a step of loading said bulk onto said conveyor belt (50) in said loading zone (3); - B) a regulation step comprising: - a step of separating the bulk into N portions using separation means (52) arranged in said loading zone (3); - spreading, in said regulation zone (4) said N portions using said at least one spreading means (6); then - flattening said N portions thus spread using said at least one flattening means (7) located downstream of at least one spreading means (6).

11. A method according to claim 10, further comprising adjusting the height of the portions in said conveying assembly (5) using said at least one regulating means (8) disposed in said regulating zone (4).

12. Method according to claim 11, according to which the adjustment of the height of the portions is carried out prior to the spreading of said N portions.

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