Mobile installation for the mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products

Abstract

Mobile installation for the mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products. The invention relates to a mobile installation (2) for the mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products, comprising a chassis (4) mounted on casters (6) and carrying an electric drive motor, a fixed tank (16) mounted on the chassis, a drive shaft mounted inside the tank (16), coupled to the drive motor, and adapted to carry and drive in rotation a removable tool for the mechanical processing of products, a conical hopper (24) mounted on the tank in a tilting manner between a closed position of the tank and an open position of the tank, and a discharge conduit (34) for the processed products which is mounted vertically on the chassis and which contains a helical transfer screw driven in rotation by the drive motor and communicating with the interior of the tank.the discharge conduit terminating at one upper end with an outlet chute (38). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Mobile installation for the mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products, such as in particular agglomerated dried fruits, biscuits to be recycled, spices, dehydrated vegetables or any other food product to be recycled. Previous technique

[0002] In the food industry, it is known to use machines to mechanically process products that are to be recycled. These mechanical treatments most often consist of operations such as breaking up lumps, sifting, sieving or grinding powdery or pulverized food products that are then clumped or agglomerated.

[0003] Generally, one machine is planned per type of mechanical treatment that is to be applied to the food products to be recycled.

[0004] A known installation for recycling expired foodstuffs for animal consumption is also reported from publication EP 0,623,288. In this installation, a hopper receives the product to be recycled, which is then conveyed successively through a grinding device and then a separation device (by sieving or screening) via helical screws.

[0005] Although multi-tasking, the installation described in this publication is bulky and requires a motor for each operation (crushing and separation) and for transporting the product. Furthermore, the dismantling and cleaning time for this installation is particularly long.

[0006] A machine used for various powder grinding operations, such as grinding, particle size reduction, deagglomeration, pulverization, homogenization, calibration, crushing, etc., is also known from publication EP 4,019,140. This machine has the disadvantage that it does not allow other mechanical processing operations of the products, in particular granulation or sieving. Description of the invention

[0007] There is therefore a need to have a multi-tasking installation for the mechanical processing of products that is compact, mobile and easy to maintain.

[0008] In accordance with the invention, this goal is achieved by means of a mobile installation for the mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products, comprising: - a support chassis which is mounted on casters and which carries an electric drive motor; - a fixed cylindrical tank which is mounted on the chassis and which has a vertically arranged longitudinal axis; - a transmission shaft which is mounted on the chassis inside the tank, centered on its longitudinal axis, and which is coupled to the drive motor, said shaft being capable of carrying and rotating a removable tool for the mechanical processing of products; - a conical hopper mounted on one upper end of the tank in a tilting manner between a closed position and an open position; and - a discharge conduit for the treated products which is mounted vertically on the chassis and which contains a rotating transfer screw driven in rotation by the drive motor and communicating with the inside of the tank, the discharge conduit ending at an upper end with an outlet chute.

[0009] The installation according to the invention is remarkable in that it is versatile: it allows the use, in turn, of different removable tools for the mechanical processing of products, such as a grinding tool, a sieving tool, and a decatting / crumbling tool. In other words, the same installation is used for grinding, sieving, decatting, etc. Furthermore, these different tools, as well as the extraction screw, are driven by a single motor, which limits the possibility of breakdowns. In addition, the installation is compact, space-saving, and mobile thanks to its casters, which allows it to be easily moved between different production workshops. The presence of a tilting hopper is particularly advantageous for changing tools and for cleaning the tank, which reduces the physical strain and risks for the operators of the installation.

[0010] Advantageously, the installation further includes means for securely locking the hopper in the closed position of the tank.

[0011] The hopper may include a lid formed of two parts capable of pivoting around a horizontal axis for filling the tank with food products to be processed.

[0012] In this case, one of the two parts of the cover preferably opens onto a safety grid and the other part is coupled to an electrical cut-off system for the drive motor.

[0013] Advantageously, the installation also includes cylinders to assist in tilting the hopper and in holding it in the open position.

[0014] Preferably, the drive shaft and the transfer screw of the discharge conduit are coupled to the drive motor by a transmission belt.

[0015] The transmission shaft can further carry drive blades to transfer the processed products from the bottom of the tank to the transfer screw of the discharge chute.

[0016] Further advantageously, the outlet chute is able to pivot around a longitudinal axis of the evacuation conduit. Brief description of the drawings

[0017] [Fig.1] Fig.1 is a perspective view of a mobile installation according to the invention.

[0018] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a side view of the installation of the [Fig.1].

[0019] [Fig.3] Fig.3 is a side view of the installation of Fig.1 with the hopper in tank opening position.

[0020] [Fig.4] The [Fig.4] is a top view of the installation of the [Fig.3]. Description of the implementation methods

[0021] The installation according to the invention is a mobile machine for providing various mechanical treatments to agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products, such as, in particular, agglomerated dried fruits, recycled biscuits, spices, dehydrated vegetables, etc.

[0022] This installation is thus configurable according to the desired mechanical treatment, and in particular for grinding (i.e. reducing an agglomerated product to powder), for sieving (i.e. separating elements of a mixture) or for crumbling / clodding (i.e. breaking up the clods of agglomerated product by crushing them).

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the installation 2 according to the invention includes, in particular, a frame 4 forming a support which is mounted on casters 6, enabling the installation to be mobile and thus easily moved. For example, two fixed casters may be provided at the front and two swivel casters with brakes at the rear.

[0024] On the chassis 4 is mounted a box 8 which contains an electric drive motor 10 supplied from a power box 12. The box 8 may include removable inspection hatches 14 for working on the drive motor.

[0025] The chassis 4 also supports a fixed stainless steel cylindrical tank 16 whose longitudinal axis XX is arranged vertically. This tank 16 contains a transmission shaft 18 which is centered on the longitudinal axis XX of the tank.

[0026] As shown in [Fig. 3], this transmission shaft 18 is coupled to the motor drive 10 via a pulley and a transmission belt 20.

[0027] Furthermore, the drive shaft 18 is suitable for carrying and rotating a removable tool for mechanical processing of products. In the example shown in the figure, this is a grinding tool 22. Of course, depending on the intended use, it is possible to mount other tools on the drive shaft, for example a clod-breaking tool.

[0028] The installation 2 according to the invention also includes a hopper 24 also made of stainless steel and of conical shape which is mounted on an upper end of the tank 16.

[0029] The hopper 24 is mounted so as to be able to switch between a closed tank position ([Fig.2]) and an open tank position ([Fig.3]). The closed tank position corresponds to an operating position of the installation, while the open position corresponds to a position for cleaning the tank or changing the mechanical processing tool for the products.

[0030] To facilitate the tilting of the hopper 24 from one position to another, assist cylinders 26 are provided. These cylinders 26 also ensure that the hopper is held securely in the open position. Similarly, means 28 are provided for securely locking the hopper onto the tank 16 when it is in the tank's closed position.

[0031] The hopper 24 is fitted with a lid 30 which is advantageously formed of two parts 30a, 30b adapted to pivot around a horizontal axis YY. The opening of the lid 30 allows the tank to be filled with food products to be processed.

[0032] More specifically, as shown in [Fig.4], one of the two parts 30a of the cover opens into the inside of the tank 16 through a safety grid 32 preventing the operator from injuring himself with the grinding tool 22.

[0033] As for the other part 30b of the cover, it is not equipped with a safety grid but is coupled to an electrical cut-off system for the drive motor (not shown) to automatically stop the grinding tool if the cover is opened.

[0034] Depending on the products to be treated, the operator will open one or the other part of the lid to supply the tank with products to be treated.

[0035] The installation 2 according to the invention further comprises a vertical conduit 34 for the evacuation of the treated products. This evacuation conduit 34 is mounted vertically on the chassis of the installation and contains inside a helical transfer screw 36 which is driven in rotation by the drive motor 10.

[0036] In its lower part, the transfer screw 36 communicates with an opening made in the bottom of the tank 16 in order to collect the treated products and the convey vertically to an outlet chute 38 mounted at the upper end of the exhaust duct 34.

[0037] For this purpose, the transmission shaft 18 also carries drive blades 40 to help transfer the treated products from the bottom of the tank to the transfer screw 36 of the discharge chute.

[0038] It should be noted that the transfer screw 36 is coupled to the drive motor 10 via a pulley (not shown) and the same transmission belt 20 as that used to drive the transmission shaft 18 in rotation.

[0039] It should also be noted that the outlet chute 38 is advantageously adapted to pivot about a longitudinal axis ZZ of the discharge conduit 34 so as to direct the discharge of the treated products. As shown in [Fig. 4], the outlet of the discharge chute can be protected by a grid 42.

[0040] It should also be noted that a liquid evacuation branch 44 (see [Fig.2]) can be provided in the lower part of the evacuation conduit 34 in order to facilitate its cleaning.

[0041] Similarly, also in order to facilitate cleaning and maintenance, the tank 16 is advantageously equipped with a de-icing hatch 46 ([Fig.2]).

Claims

Demands

1. Mobile installation (2) for the mechanical processing of agglomerated powdered or pulverized food products, comprising: - a frame (4) forming a support which is mounted on casters (6) and which carries an electric drive motor (10); - a fixed cylindrical tank (16) which is mounted on the frame and which has a vertically arranged longitudinal axis (XX); - a drive shaft (18) which is mounted on the frame inside the tank (16) centered on the longitudinal axis (XX) thereof and which is coupled to the drive motor (10), said shaft being adapted to carry and drive in rotation a removable tool (22) for the mechanical processing of products; - a conical hopper (24) mounted on an upper end of the tank (16) in a tilting manner between a closed position of the tank and an open position of the tank;and - an evacuation conduit (34) for the treated products which is mounted vertically on the chassis and which contains a helical transfer screw (36) driven in rotation by the drive motor and communicating with the interior of the tank, the evacuation conduit terminating at an upper end by an outlet chute (38).;

2. Installation according to claim 1, further comprising means (28) for securely locking the hopper (24) in the closed position of the tank.

3. Installation according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the hopper (24) comprises a cover (30) formed of two parts (30a, 30b) capable of pivoting about a horizontal axis (YY) for filling the tank (16) with food products to be processed.

4. Installation according to claim 3, wherein one of the two parts (30a) of the hopper cover (30) opens onto a safety grid (32) and the other part (30b) is coupled to an electrical cut-off system for the drive motor.

5. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising cylinders (26) for assisting the tilting of the hopper (24) and to keep it in the open position.

6. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the drive shaft (18) and the transfer screw (36) of the discharge duct (34) are coupled to the drive motor (10) by a drive belt (20).

7. An installation according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive shaft (18) further carries drive blades (40) for transferring the treated products from the bottom of the tank (16) to the transfer screw (36) of the discharge chute.

8. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the outlet chute (38) of the evacuation duct is able to pivot about a longitudinal axis (ZZ) of the evacuation duct.

9. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the tank (16) is provided with a clearing hatch (46).

10. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the removable mechanical product processing tool is one of the tools selected from: a grinding tool, a sieving tool, a decatting / crumbling tool.

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