Conveying system and method implementing such a system

Abstract

Conveying system for elongated products, such as sausages, comprising a first conveyor having: - at least one conveyor belt (2) having an inner face and an outer face, and guide wheels for said at least one conveyor belt configured to engage with the inner face of said at least one conveyor belt, - at least one support (4), comprising a housing extending lengthwise configured for receiving an elongated product, - means for fixing said at least one support (4) to said at least one conveyor belt (2), ensuring the fixing of said at least one support, locally, in a direction transverse to said conveyor belt having gripping groove and gripping rib pairs (Na). Figure of the abstract: Figure 5

Description

Title of the invention: Conveying system and method implementing such a system

[0001] This disclosure relates to a conveying system for elongated products, such as sausages, comprising at least one conveyor belt, and one or more supports forming respectively one or more housings for elongated products, the housing or housings extending transversely in the direction of advance of said at least one conveyor belt.

[0002] The present disclosure relates more particularly to at least one such conveying system, which includes several groups of supports, namely at least a first group of first supports, and a second group of second supports, driven respectively by a first pair of conveyor belts, and a second pair of conveyor belts, the conveyor belts of the first pair and that of the second pair being able to be driven independently.

[0003] This disclosure has particular application in the food industry, where high levels of hygiene and cleanability are required. For example, elongated products such as sausages.

[0004] The present disclosure is further related to a method of conveying food products, implementing the conveying system according to the present disclosure, in particular serving as a buffer between an automated continuous flow line of elongated products, and an automated packaging station operating in batch mode, such as for example a thermoformer.

[0005] The present disclosure further relates to a method for cleaning a conveyor system according to the present disclosure. technical field

[0006] The present disclosure relates to the field of conveyor systems comprising one or more conveyor belts, and several housings for long products, extending parallel to one another with respect to the direction of advance of the conveyor in controlled positions on the conveyor belt(s), and which is typically known as a "piano conveyor" by those skilled in the art.

[0007] Such a conveyor makes it possible to control the positioning of the long products, according to the direction of advance of the conveying surface, the products being housed individually in the positions of the housings. Previous technique

[0008] A conveyor system is thus known from the prior art in which the different individual housings are formed by supports constituted as separate elements of conveyor belts, and which are fixed on external surfaces of the conveyor belts.

[0009] To do this, fastening elements, typically bolts, simultaneously pass through the support and the conveyor belts according to their thickness.

[0010] According to the inventors' findings, a first drawback of such a fastening solution is that the fastening elements, namely the bolts, when improperly mounted, can protrude from the inner guide face of the belt intended to engage with the guide wheels, and thus cause guidance disturbances. A second drawback of such a solution is that it requires drilling the conveyor belt, and thus creates gaps at the drilling points, namely between the bolt and the belt, gaps where moisture can be trapped and promote the growth of pathogens.

[0011] According to the inventors' findings, such a state of the art can be improved, particularly with regard to cleanability or hygiene and especially in applications in the food field. Summary

[0012] This disclosure improves the situation.

[0013] A conveying system for elongated products, such as sausages, is proposed according to a first aspect, comprising a first conveyor having: - at least one conveyor belt having an inner face and an outer face, and guide wheels for said at least one conveyor belt configured to engage with the inner face of said at least one conveyor belt, - at least one support, comprising a housing extending lengthwise configured for receiving an elongated product, - means for fixing said at least one support to said at least one conveyor belt, ensuring the fixing of said at least one support, oriented locally, in a direction transverse to said conveyor belt. According to this disclosure, said fastening means comprise: - a gripping groove in said at least one support having at least one open longitudinal end, extending longitudinally along the support, - a gripping rib, integral with the outer face of said at least one conveyor belt, extending transversely to the local direction of said at least one belt, allowing the attachment of said at least one support to said conveyor belt by inserting the gripping rib into said gripping groove through said open longitudinal end, and threading the rib to a position of locking the hook rib in the hook groove, ensuring the attachment of at least one support to said at least one strip. - stop means, ensuring that the gripping rib is locked in the gripping groove in the locking position by preventing the gripping rib from sliding along the gripping rib.

[0014] The features described in the following paragraphs may optionally be implemented independently of each other or in combination with each other.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the stop means are configured to be moved manually by an operator, from a position ensuring the locking of said at least one support on said at least one conveyor belt, and to an escape position of the stop means releasing the sliding, allowing the disengagement of said at least one support from said conveyor belt by sliding extraction of the hook rib from the hook groove.

[0016] In particular, and according to one embodiment: - said at least support comprises, at least one first support, or even first supports and at least one second support, or even second supports, or at least one third support, or even third supports - said at least one conveyor belt comprises: — a first pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the first support(s) by means of first gripping ribs, of the conveyor belts of the first pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove of the first support; — a second pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the second support(s) by means of second gripping ribs of the conveyor belts of the second pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove of the second support; — or even a third pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the third support(s) by means of third gripping ribs of the conveyor belts of the third pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove of the third support; and in which said first conveyor has a drive mechanism comprising: - the first guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts of the first pair of conveyor belts, - Second set of guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts of the second pair of conveyor belts, - or even, in the presence of the third pair of conveyor belts, of third guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts of the third pair of conveyor belts, and so that the drive mechanism is configured to selectively ensure a movement of the first support(s), independently of the second support(s), or a movement of the second support(s), independently of the first support(s), or, where applicable, in the presence of the third pair of conveyor belts, a movement of the third support(s), independently of the first support(s) and independently of the second support(s).

[0017] According to one embodiment, the stop means comprise: - for the first support(s), protruding stops on one face of the first support including the gripping groove, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts of the second pair of conveyor belts, or even belonging to the belts of the third pair of conveyor belts, - for the second support or each second support, protruding stops on one face of the second support including the gripping groove, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts of the first pair of conveyor belts, or even to the belts of the third pair of conveyor belts, - where appropriate, for the third support or each third support, protruding stops on one face of the third support including the hook groove, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one band belonging to the bands of the first pair of conveyor belts, or even to the bands of the second pair of conveyor belts.

[0018] Preferably the gripping groove has said longitudinal end open, the opposite longitudinal end of the gripping groove being a closed longitudinal end.

[0019] According to one embodiment, said at least one support comprises a base, a first wing and a second wing, extending outward from the base, said base extending in width along a local direction of said at least one conveyor belt, and in length transversely to said at least one conveyor belt, said gripping groove formed in said base longitudinally to said base opening onto a lower surface of the base, the first wing and the second wing projecting outward from the upper surface of the base so as to form a U-shaped section housing for the elongated product.

[0020] According to one embodiment, said at least one support comprising the base including the hook groove, the first wing and the second wing, in particular first support, second support, or even third support, is a single-piece element.

[0021] According to one embodiment, said at least one conveyor belt extends over a useful length between a product loading area in the housing(s) of said at least one support, and an unloading area, distant from the loading area, said at least one conveyor belt configured to ensure a movement of said at least one support from the loading area to the unloading area.

[0022] According to one embodiment, said at least one conveyor belt belongs to the first conveyor configured to ensure the movement of said at least one support in a first direction, and which said unloading zone includes an unloading device comprising a second conveyor configured to ensure the movement of the products in a second direction, transverse to the first direction, from the housing(s) of said at least one support to one or more channels, extending from said at least one support.

[0023] According to one embodiment, said at least one gripping rib, in particular the first gripping ribs, second gripping ribs, or even third gripping ribs, is attached to said at least one belt by welding or bonding, of the gripping rib to the outer face of said at least one conveyor belt. Preferably, said at least one gripping rib, in particular the first gripping ribs, second gripping ribs, or even third gripping ribs, is attached to said at least one conveyor belt without drilling through said at least one conveyor belt and said at least one support; in particular, said means of attaching said at least one support to said at least one conveyor belt are devoid of any fastener such as a screw passing through said at least one conveyor belt, said at least one rib, or said at least one support.

[0024] According to one embodiment, said at least one conveyor belt, in particular the first pair of conveyor belts, the second pair of conveyor belts, or even the third pair of conveyor belts of the system, and said gripping rib are made of polyurethane, without concavity, forming a water retention zone.

[0025] According to a second aspect, the present disclosure relates to a product conveying process, implementing a conveying system according to the present disclosure and in which the products are food products such as sausages.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the conveying process, implementing said conveying system comprising which is interposed between: - a conveyor line ensuring the arrival of elongated products, feeding the loading area of ​​the conveyor system continuously with said elongated products, on the one hand, and - an automated packaging station for long products, such as a thermoforming machine, operating discontinuously, on the other hand, and in which an automation of the conveying system ensures independent control of the first supports, second supports, or even third supports in order to ensure a discontinuous flow of long products from the unloading area to the automated packaging station, from the continuous flow of said conveying line supplying the loading area.

[0027] The present disclosure also relates, according to a third aspect, to a method of cleaning a conveyor system according to the present disclosure comprising: - a tool-free dismantling of said at least one support, by manual movement of the stop means in said escape position and disengagement of said at least one support from said at least one conveyor belt by sliding extraction of the hook rib from the hook groove, - a cleaning of said at least one support and of said at least one conveyor belt in the disassembled state of said at least one support and of said at least one conveyor belt. Brief description of the drawings

[0028] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent from reading the detailed description below and from analyzing the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1

[0029] [Fig.1] is seen in perspective of a conveying system according to the present disclosure, comprising a first conveyor and a second conveyor arranged at the level of an unloading area of ​​the first conveyor, the first conveyor and the second conveyor being entirely covered by two casings. Fig. 2

[0030] [Fig.2] is seen in perspective of the conveying system according to [Fig.1], seen according to From another angle, with the casing of the first conveyor and the casing of the second conveyor removed, the view illustrates a parallel flow of elongated products at the unloading area. The second conveyor, a belt conveyor, is positioned above, oriented in a second direction. The second conveyor straddles the loading area of ​​the first conveyor. Product guide channels extend transversely to the first conveyor, aligned with the support housings of the first conveyor. The loading area of ​​the first conveyor is located away from the unloading area. The first conveyor is configured to transfer the products contained in the support housings of the first conveyor to the area of unloading, by moving the supports along a first direction of the first conveyor, perpendicular to the second direction. Fig. 3A

[0031] [Fig.3A] is a cross-sectional view passing through a vertical plane extending along the first direction, illustrating the parallel conveyor belts in the form of closed loops, and the guide wheels engaging with an internal surface of the conveyor belts to ensure the guidance and drive of the conveyor belts, the upper strand of the belts supporting a plurality of supports forming respectively individual housings for the elongated products. Fig. 3B

[0032] [Fig.3B] is a perspective view of the parallel conveyor belts, of which there are six, a first pair of conveyor belts supporting a first group of supports, called first supports, a second pair of conveyor belts supporting a second group of supports, called second supports, a third pair of conveyor belts supporting a third group of supports, called third supports. Fig. 4

[0033] [Fig.4] is a view of the different supports of the three different groups, arranged parallel to each other, the different supports each having a base, a gripping groove opening through a groove entry on an underside face of the base, and two wings, namely a first wing and a second wing projecting from the base to the upper face of said base. Fig. 5

[0034] [Fig.5] is a bottom view of [Fig.4], illustrating for each of the different supports of the first group, second group, and third group, in a notable way: - the gripping groove, - the different positions of the two gripping ribs inside the gripping groove, namely respectively for the first supports of the first group, the second supports of the second group, and the third supports of the third group, - the positions of the protruding stops, under the lower face of the support, configured to prevent the sliding of the gripping ribs along the gripping grooves. Fig. 6

[0035] [Fig.6] is a perspective view of the conveyor belts and supports, some of the supports of the first group, second group and third group being hidden in order to illustrate the different positions: - the first ribs joined to a third and sixth band to secure the first supports, - the second ribs attached to a second and fifth band to secure the second supports, - third ribs attached to a first and fourth band to secure the third supports, and in which [Fig.6] illustrates an additional detailed view of the first supports. Fig. 6A

[0036] [Fig.6A] is a detail view of [Fig.6]. Fig. 7A

[0037] [Fig.7A] illustrates a cross-sectional view showing the cooperation of the projecting stops with the edges of the fifth band, as well as the first ribs joined to the third and sixth bands. FIG. 7AA

[0038] [Fig.7AA] a detailed view of the underside of the first support. Fig. 7B

[0039] [Fig.7B] illustrates a cross-sectional view showing the cooperation of the projecting stops with the edges of the sixth band, as well as the second ribs attached to the second and fifth bands. FIG. 7BA

[0040] [Fig.7BA] is a detail view of the underside of the second support. Fig. 7C

[0041] [Fig.7C] illustrates a cross-sectional view showing the cooperation of the projecting stops with the edges of the sixth band, as well as the third ribs attached to the first and fourth bands. FIG. 7CA

[0042] [Fig.7CA] is a detail view of the underside of the third support. Description of the implementation methods

[0043] This disclosure relates to a conveying system 1 for elongated products, such as sausages, comprising at least one first conveyor having: - at least one conveyor belt 2 having an inner face and an outer face, and guide wheels 3 for said at least one conveyor belt configured to engage with the inner face of said at least one conveyor belt, - at least one support 4, comprising a housing extending lengthwise configured to receive a long, thin product, - means of fixing said at least one support 4 to said at least one conveyor belt 2, ensuring the fixing of said at least one support, oriented locally, in a direction transverse to said conveyor belt.

[0044] Generally, said at least one conveyor belt may form a closed-section loop. All or part of the guide wheels may be motorized to drive said conveyor belt 2. For this purpose, at least one motorized wheel or wheels may have one or more teeth DT configured to mesh with one or more teeth on the inner face of said at least one conveyor belt.

[0045] The inner face of said at least one conveyor belt 2 may include a guide rib NG, projecting longitudinally from said at least one conveyor belt 2, configured to engage a guide groove peripheral to the guide wheel. The interaction between the guide rib and the guide groove ensures lateral support and guidance of said at least one belt on the guide wheel.

[0046] Said at least one conveyor belt may comprise a single conveyor belt (not shown in this embodiment), and said at least one support 4 may typically comprise several supports 4 attached to said single conveyor belt. The various slots in the supports 4 extend parallel to each other and typically form individual slots for elongated products. The single conveyor belt forms a closed loop and is guided in several positions by the guide wheels 3. At least some of the guide wheels are motorized and have the aforementioned teeth.

[0047] According to another embodiment (illustrated), said at least one conveyor belt 2 may comprise several parallel conveyor belts 21 to 26. The various supports 4 may be attached respectively to different conveyor belts 21 to 26 so as to form several groups of supports Gl, G2, G3, which are movable independently of each other. To this end, the conveyor belts 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 associated with the different groups of supports Gl may be driven independently of each other by motorized guide wheels.

[0048] According to this disclosure, said fastening means include: - a gripping groove Ra of said at least one support 4 having at least one open longitudinal end EO, extending longitudinally to the support, - a gripping rib Na, integral with the external face of said at least one conveyor belt 2, extending transversely to the local (longitudinal) direction of said at least one belt.

[0049] The gripping rib Na allows the attachment of said at least one support 4 to said conveyor belt by inserting the gripping rib into said gripping groove Ra through said open longitudinal end EO, and by threading the rib from the Na hooking position to a locking position of the hooking rib in the hooking groove ensuring the fixing of at least one support on said at least one strip.

[0050] By gripping rib Na and gripping groove Ra, we mean a gripping rib / gripping groove pair, of profiles such that once threaded into the gripping groove, the gripping rib cannot be extracted through the inlet of the gripping groove, longitudinal to said gripping groove; namely that the gripping rib can only be extracted through the open longitudinal end EO, by sliding the rib along the groove.

[0051] As illustrated in the figures, the gripping rib / gripping groove assembly may have a dovetail configuration: the gripping rib may have a trapezoidal profile comprising a small base of the trapezoid integral with the outer face of said strip, and a large base of the trapezoid forming a free end of the rib. The gripping groove may then comprise a complementary trapezoidal profile.

[0052] Other grip rib / grip groove profiles can be considered, such as a T-section, prohibiting extraction through the groove entry, longitudinal to the grip groove Ra.

[0053] The conveying system preferably further comprises stop means BT, ensuring that the gripping rib Na is locked in the gripping groove Ra in the locked position, preventing the gripping rib Na from sliding along the gripping rib Ra. This ensures that said at least one support 4 is locked to said at least one conveyor belt 2, which cannot be extracted through the open longitudinal end EO of the groove Ra.

[0054] The BT stop means can preferably be moved manually by an operator from a typically stable position ensuring the locking of said at least one support 4, to an escape position of the stop means releasing the sliding, allowing the removal of said at least one support 4 from the gripping rib Na. By displacement of the stop means, we mean a relative displacement of the stop means with respect to a part engaging with the stop means; such as said at least one strip, namely that the operator can act either on the stop means or on the part such as the strip to obtain the escape position.

[0055] According to this disclosure, said at least one gripping rib Na is fixed to said at least one conveyor belt, without drilling through said at least one conveyor belt 2 and said at least one support 4.

[0056] In particular, said means of fixing said at least one support 4 to said at least one conveyor belt 2 is devoid of a fixing element such as a screw crossing said at least one conveyor belt 2, said at least one rib Na, or said at least one support 4.

[0057] According to one embodiment (not illustrated), the longitudinal end opposite the open longitudinal end EO can be a second open end, or alternatively a closed longitudinal end EF (illustrated embodiment). Having a closed longitudinal end EF can be advantageous to avoid assembly errors when the support 4 has a specific mounting direction.

[0058] According to one embodiment, said at least one support 4 may comprise a base 40, a first wing 44 and a second wing 45, extending outward from the base.

[0059] Said base 40 extends in width along the local direction of said at least one conveyor belt 2, and in length transversely to said at least one conveyor belt 2, said gripping groove Ra formed in said base longitudinally to said base opening onto a lower surface of the base, the first wing 44 and the second wing 45 projecting from the upper surface of the base so as to form the U-shaped section housing for the elongated product.

[0060] The internal side walls of the first wing 44 and the second wing 45 may diverge over a first section of the length of the support 4, and in order to ensure guidance of the products in the housing, when the product is inserted through an open end of the housing.

[0061] Said at least one support comprising the base 40, including the gripping groove Ra, the first wing 44 and the second wing 45, in particular the first support, second support, or even third support, may be a single-piece element. The support may be manufactured by molding, for example from a plastic material.

[0062] According to one embodiment, the various supports 4 can comprise several groups Gl, G2, G3 of supports, independently movable, relative to each other.

[0063] Thus, said at least support 4 may include, at least one first support 41, or even several first supports 41 and at least one second support 4, or even several second supports 42, or at least one third support 43, or even several third supports 43.

[0064] Said at least one conveyor belt may comprise: — a first pair of conveyor belts on which the first support 41 is fixed by the first gripping ribs NI of the conveyor belts 23, 26 of the first pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove Ra of the first support 41 - a second pair of conveyor belts on which the second support 42 is fixed by second N2 belt grip ribs conveyor 22, 25 of the second pair of belts, threaded into the hook groove Ra of the second support 42, - or even a third pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the or (each) third support 43, by third hook ribs N3 of the conveyor belts 21, 24 of the third pair of belts, threaded into the hook groove Ra of the third support 43.

[0065] According to one embodiment, the first group G1 comprises several first supports 41, for example eight (8) first supports 41, the second group G2 comprises several second supports 42, for example eight (8) second supports 42, and the third group G3 comprises several third supports 43, for example eight (8) third supports 43.

[0066] Said at least one conveyor belt 2 then comprises six conveyor belts in parallel, namely respectively a first conveyor belt 21, a second conveyor belt 22, a third conveyor belt 23, a fourth conveyor belt 24, a fifth conveyor belt 25 and a sixth conveyor belt 26.

[0067] Each first support 41 is hooked onto two first ribs 41, attached respectively to two of the conveyor belts, for example to the third conveyor belt 23 and the sixth conveyor belt 26 (see [Fig.7A]).

[0068] Each second support 42 is hooked onto two second ribs 42, attached respectively to two of the conveyor belts, for example to the second belt 22 and to the fifth belt 25 (See [Fig.7B]).

[0069] Each third support 43 is hooked onto two third ribs 43, attached respectively to two of the conveyor belts, for example to the second belt 42, for example to the first belt 21 and to the fourth belt 24 (See [Fig.7B]).

[0070] Said conveying system may include a drive mechanism comprising: - the first guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts 23, 26 of the first pair of conveyor belts, - second guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts 22, 25 of the second pair of conveyor belts, - or even, in the presence of the third pair of conveyor belts, of third guide wheels configured for the guidance and driving of the conveyor belts of the third pair of conveyor belts.

[0071] The drive mechanism is configured to selectively ensure a displacement of the first support(s) 41, independently of the second support(s) (or even independently of the third support(s) 43 if present), or a displacement of the second support(s) 42, independently of the or of the first supports (or even of the third support(s) if present), or where appropriate in the presence of the third pair of conveyor belts, a movement of the third support(s) 43, independently of the first or second supports.

[0072] According to one embodiment, the BT stop means may include: - for the first support 41, protruding stops on one face of the first support 41 including the grip groove Ra, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts 22, 25 of the second pair of conveyor belts, or even belonging to the belts 21, 24 of the third pair of conveyor belts, - for the second support 42, protruding stops on one face of the second support including the gripping groove, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts of the first pair of conveyor belts, or even to the belts of the third pair of conveyor belts, - for the third support 43, protruding stops on one face of the third support including the hook groove, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one band belonging to the bands of the first pair of conveyor bands, or even to the bands of the second pair of conveyor bands.

[0073] For example, in [Fig.7A], the stop means of the first supports 41 comprise two protruding stops on the lower base surface which respectively come into contact with the two longitudinal edges of the fifth band 25.

[0074] In [Fig.7B], the stop means of the second supports 42 comprise two stops projecting on the inner surface of the base which respectively come into contact with the two longitudinal edges of the sixth band 26.

[0075] In [Fig.7C], the means for stopping the third supports 43 comprise two protruding stops on the inner surface of the base which respectively come into contact with the two longitudinal edges of the sixth band 26.

[0076] When attaching a support, i.e., during assembly, an operator simply needs to thread the two gripping ribs Na of the conveyor belt pair into the gripping groove of the support 4 to be attached (in particular, the first support 41, second support 42, or third support 43) by inserting the ribs through the open longitudinal end EO, and slide the ribs into the locking position. This is achieved by slightly pressing down on the conveyor belt (or belts) intended to come into contact with the protruding stops to secure the support in position. The pressure is then released so that the belt edges lock onto the protruding stops of the support. During disassembly, the process is reversed. Applying pressure to the conveyor belt in contact with the protruding stops disengages them from the edges of the conveyor belt, allowing the support to slide until it can be removed by extracting the gripping ribs from the gripping groove. Mounting and dismounting the supports 4 on at least one conveyor belt 2 can be carried out quickly and easily, advantageously without tools.

[0077] Assembly and disassembly operations are particularly easy, preferably achieved without tools.

[0078] According to one embodiment, said at least one conveyor belt extends over a useful length between a loading zone ZC, of ​​products in the housing(s) of said at least one support, and a distant unloading zone ZD, said at least one conveyor belt 2 configured to ensure a movement of said at least one support 4 from the loading zone ZC to the unloading zone ZD.

[0079] Generally, and as illustrated, the loading zone ZC extends over a first section of length of said at least one conveyor belt 2, at the level of a first end of the first conveyor, and while the unloading zone ZD extends, over a second section of length of the conveyor belt 2, at the level of a second end of said at least one conveyor belt 2.

[0080] Said at least one conveyor belt 2, including where applicable the various conveyor belts 21 to 26, belongs to a first conveyor Cl configured to ensure the movement of said at least support in a first direction DI.

[0081] According to one embodiment, said unloading zone ZD includes a loading device comprising a second conveyor C2 configured to ensure the movement of the long products P along a second direction D2 transverse to the first direction D1, from the housing(s) of said at least one support 4 to one or more channels in extension.

[0082] Guides incorporating channels are provided laterally to the unloading zone ZC to ensure the individual guidance of the elongated products parallel to one another. The second conveyor C2 can be a belt conveyor, oriented along the second direction D2, positioned above and straddling the unloading zone ZD of the first conveyor Cl and the channels ensuring the guidance of the elongated products.

[0083] The conveyor belts of the second conveyor C2 are spaced according to the spacing of the guide channels, and come into contact with the upper surfaces of the long products to ensure the transport of the long products, resting in the housings of the different supports 4 and up to channels respectively in extension of the housings of the different supports 4 of the first conveyor, the channels aligned with the housings of the supports.

[0084] During loading, the various supports 4 being loaded belonging to the same group (for example, from the first group G1, or the second group, or even the third group) are typically moved step by step, following the spacing between two consecutive supports, in order to be typically loaded individually, one after the other, as long products from a continuous stream of long products. The supports 4 of another group (for example, from the second group G2), having previously been loaded, can be moved to the unloading zone ZD while the first supports 41 of the first group G1 are being loaded.

[0085] The supports of yet another group (for example, the third group G3) can be unloaded at the unloading zone ZD, and before being moved again to the loading zone ZC, during the loading process. The second conveyor C2 can unload the supports of the group simultaneously, thanks to its different conveyor belts.

[0086] Preferably, said at least one gripping rib Na, in particular each of the first gripping ribs NI, the second gripping ribs N2, or even the third gripping ribs Na), is fixed to said at least one belt 2 by welding or gluing the gripping rib Na to the external face of said at least one conveyor belt.

[0087] Preferably, said at least one gripping rib Na, in particular each of the first gripping ribs NI, the second gripping ribs N2, or even the third gripping ribs, is fixed to said at least one conveyor belt, without drilling through said at least one conveyor belt 2 and said at least one support. Industrial application

[0088] The conveying system, by its method of fixing said at least one support 4 to said at least conveyor belt 2, advantageously allows the support(s) 4 to be fixed to the belt(s) 2, preferably without drilling the latter, in particular by means of fixing devices.

[0089] Cleaning of the supports 4 and the strips is facilitated and hygiene is improved compared to the technical state presented, which has perforations in the strip giving rise to interstices likely to trap moisture.

[0090] Preferably, the placement of the supports 4 on the strips 21 to 26 can, at least according to one embodiment, be carried out without tools, facilitating assembly and disassembly operations.

[0091] The present disclosure further relates to a product conveying method, implementing a conveying system according to the present disclosure in which the products are food products such as sausages.

[0092] According to one embodiment of the process, said conveying system may be interposed between: - a conveyor line ensuring the arrival of long products feeding the loading area of ​​the conveyor system, preferably said long products in continuous flow, in a line one after the other, on the one hand, and - an automated packaging station for the long products, operating in discontinuous mode, such as a thermoforming machine, on the other hand.

[0093] Advantageously, an automation of the conveyor system makes it possible to ensure control of the first supports 41, the second supports 42, or even the third supports independently, in order to ensure a supply of the automated packaging station, in discontinuous flow of long-lined products from the unloading area, from the continuous flow of said conveyor line arriving at the loading area.

[0094] This disclosure further relates to a method for cleaning a conveyor system according to this disclosure, comprising: - dismantling without tools of said at least one support 4 (in particular the first supports, the second supports, and the third supports), by manually moving the stop means in said escape position and detaching said at least one support 4 from said at least one conveyor belt 2 by sliding the gripping rib Na from the gripping groove Ra - a cleaning of said at least one support 4 ((in particular of the first supports, second supports, and third supports), and of said at least one conveyor belt 2 in the disassembled state of said at least one support 4 and of said at least one conveyor belt 2.

[0095] Said at least one conveyor belt 2, in particular the first pair of conveyor belts, the second pair of conveyor belts, or even the third pair of conveyor belts of the system, and said gripping rib Na may be made of polyurethane, without concavity, forming a water retention zone.

[0096] At regular intervals, after each production campaign, the conveying system according to this disclosure can be disassembled to ensure a high degree of cleaning, and easily, advantageously without tools. List of reference signs

[0097] - 1: Conveying system, - Cl first conveyor, - DI. First direction (first conveyor) - 2. At least one conveyor belt, - 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26. First, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth conveyor belts - 3. Guide wheel, - DT. Teeth (belonging to the guide wheel or the inner face of said conveyor belt), - 4. At least one support, - 40. Base, - 44, 45. First wing and second wing, - Gl. First group (of supports) - 41. First supports (belonging to the first group), - G2. Second group (of supports), - 42. Second supports (belonging to the second group), - G3. Third group (of supports) - 43. Third supports (belonging to the third group), - Ra. Grip grooves, - EO, EF. Respectively open longitudinal end and closed longitudinal end - Na. Gripping ribs, -NI. First gripping ribs (attached to the belts of the first pair of conveyor belts and ensuring the fixing of the first supports), - N2. Second gripping ribs (attached to the belts of the second pair of conveyor belts and ensuring the fixing of the second supports), - N3. Third gripping ribs (attached to the belts of the third pair of conveyor belts, - ZC. Loading area, - ZD. Unloading zone, - C2. Second conveyor.

Claims

Demands

1. Conveying system (1) for elongated products, such as sausages, comprising a first conveyor (Cl) having: - at least one conveyor belt (2) having an inner face and an outer face, and guide wheels (3) for said at least one conveyor belt configured to engage with the inner face of said at least one conveyor belt, - at least one support (4), comprising a housing extending lengthwise configured for receiving an elongated product, - means for attaching said at least one support (4) to said at least one conveyor belt (2), ensuring the attachment of said at least one support, oriented locally, in a direction transverse to said conveyor belt, characterized in that said attachment means comprise: - a gripping groove (Ra) of said at least one support having at least one open longitudinal end (EO), extending longitudinally to the support, - a gripping rib (Na),attached to the outer face of said at least one conveyor belt (2), extending transversely to the local direction of said at least one belt, allowing the attachment of said at least one support to said conveyor belt by inserting the gripping rib into said gripping groove through said open longitudinal end, and threading the rib into a locking position of the gripping rib in the gripping groove ensuring the attachment of at least one support to said at least one belt, - stop means (BT), ensuring a locking of the gripping rib in the gripping groove in the locking position by preventing the sliding of the gripping rib along the gripping rib.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the stop means (BT) are configured to be manually moved by an operator from a position ensuring the locking of said at least one support (4) on said at least one conveyor belt (2), to an escape position of the stop means releasing the sliding, allowing the disengagement of said at least one support (4) from said conveyor belt by extraction. sliding of the gripping rib (Na) of the gripping groove (Ra).

3. Conveying system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein: - said at least one support (4) comprises, at least one first support (41), or even first supports (41) and at least one second support (42), or even second supports (42), or even at least one third support (43), or even third supports (43) - said at least one conveyor belt comprises: — a first pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the first support or each of the first supports (41), by first gripping ribs (NI) of the conveyor belts (23, 26) of the first pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove (RI) of the first support (41) — a second pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the second support or each of the second supports (42) by second gripping ribs (N2) of the conveyor belts (22, 25) of the second pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove (Ra) of the second support (42),— or even a third pair of conveyor belts on which is fixed the third support (43) by third gripping ribs (N3) of the conveyor belts (21, 24) of the third pair of belts, threaded into the gripping groove (Ra) of the third support (43), and in which said first conveyor (Cl) has a drive mechanism comprising: - first guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts (23, 26) of the first pair of conveyor belts, - second guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts (22, 25) of the second pair of conveyor belts, - or even, in the presence of the third pair of conveyor belts, third guide wheels configured for guiding and driving the conveyor belts of the third pair of conveyor belts,and so that the drive mechanism is configured to selectively ensure a displacement of the first support(s) (41), independently of the second support(s) (42), or alternatively, movement of the second support(s) (42), independently of the first supports (41), or, where applicable, in the presence of the third pair of conveyor belts, a movement of the third support(s) (43), independently of the first support(s) (41) and independently of the second support(s) (42)

4. Conveying system according to claims 2 and 3, wherein the stop means (BT) comprise: - for the first support (41), stops projecting from one face of the first support (41) including the grip groove (Ra), the stops projecting configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts (22, 25) of the second pair of conveyor belts, or even belonging to the belts (21, 24) of the third pair of conveyor belts, - for the second support (42), stops projecting from one face of the second support including the grip groove, the stops projecting configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts of the first pair of conveyor belts, or even to the belts of the third pair of conveyor belts, - where applicable, for the third support (43),of protruding stops on one face of the third support including the gripping groove, the protruding stops configured to engage with the longitudinal edges of at least one belt belonging to the belts of the first pair of conveyor belts, or even to the belts of the second pair of conveyor belts.

5. Conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the hook groove (Ra) has said open longitudinal end (EO), the opposite longitudinal end of the hook groove being a closed longitudinal end (EF).

6. A conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said at least one support (4) comprises a base (40), a first wing (44) and a second wing (45), projecting from the base, said base (40) extending in width along the local direction of said at least one conveyor belt (2), and in length transversely to said at least one conveyor belt (2), said gripping groove (Ra) formed in said base longitudinally to said base opening onto a lower surface of the base, the first wing (44) and the second wing (45) projecting from the surface upper part of the base so as to form a U-shaped section housing for the product.

7. System according to claim 6, wherein said at least one support comprising the base (40) including the grip groove (Ra), the first wing (44) and the second wing (45) in particular first support, second support, or even third support, is a single-piece element.

8. Conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said at least one conveyor belt extends over a useful length between a loading zone (ZC), of products in the housing(s) of said at least one support, and a remote unloading zone (ZD), said at least one conveyor belt (2) configured to ensure movement of said at least one support (4) from the loading zone (ZC) to the unloading zone (ZD).

9. Conveying system according to claim 8, wherein said at least one conveyor belt (2) belongs to the first conveyor (Cl) configured to ensure the movement of said at least one support in a first direction (Dl), and wherein said unloading zone comprises an unloading device comprising a second conveyor (C2) configured to ensure the movement of products in a second direction (D2) transverse to the first direction (Dl), from the housing(s) of said at least one support to one or more channels, extending from said at least one support (4).

10. Conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein said at least one gripping rib (Na), in particular the first gripping ribs (NI), second gripping ribs (N2), or even third gripping ribs (N3), is fixed to said at least one belt (2) by welding or gluing, of the gripping rib (Na) to the external face of said at least one conveyor belt.

11. Conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, said at least one gripping rib (Na), in particular the first gripping ribs (NI), second gripping ribs (N2), or even third gripping ribs, is fixed to said at least one conveyor belt, without drilling through said at least one conveyor belt (2) and said at least one support (4), in particular said means for fixing said at least one support (4) to said at least a conveyor belt (2) is devoid of a fastening element such as a screw passing through said at least one conveyor belt (2), said at least one rib (Na), or said at least one support (4).

12. System according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said at least one conveyor belt (2), in particular the first pair of conveyor belts, the second pair of conveyor belts, or even the third pair of conveyor belts of the system according to claim 2, and said gripping rib (Na) are made of polyurethane, devoid of concavity, forming a water retention zone.

13. A product conveying method, implementing a conveying system according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the products are food products such as sausages.

14. A method according to claim 13, implementing said conveying system according to the combination of claims 3 or 4 and 8 which is interposed between: - a conveying line ensuring an arrival of elongated products supplying the loading area of ​​the conveying system continuously with said elongated products, on the one hand, and - an automated packaging station for the elongated products, such as a thermoforming machine, operating discontinuously, on the other hand, and in which an automation of the conveying system ensures control of the first supports (41), second supports (42), or even third supports (43) independently in order to ensure a supply to the automated packaging station, in discontinuous flow of elongated products from the exit of the unloading area (ZD) from the continuous flow of said conveying line supplying the loading area (ZC).

15. A method for cleaning a conveyor system according to claim 2 or 4 comprising: - a tool-free dismantling of said at least one support (4), by manually moving the stop means into said escape position and separating said at least one support (4) from said at least one conveyor belt (2) by sliding extraction of the grip rib (Na) from the grip groove (Ra) - a cleaning of said at least one support (4) and of said at least one conveyor belt (2) in the disassembled state of said at least one support (4) and of said at least one conveyor belt (2).

Images