Indexing system for frozen foods

Abstract

The present invention relates to an indexing system for frozen foods, comprising a layered band, further comprising a hopper system, a product positioning system, a quality control system, a discharge system, and a control unit, wherein the band is arranged for periodic linear movement and displacement of the surface of the band, the band incorporates a pusher whose shape conforms to the normal shape of the frozen product, the pusher is arranged on the surface of the band, and thus the pusher is integral with the periodic linear movement of the surface of the band, and the pusher allows the product to move integrally with the movement of the band.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] Object of the invention The object of this application is to register an indexing system for frozen foods which incorporates significant innovations and advantages over previously used techniques.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention proposes the development of an indexing system for frozen foods that, in a specific arrangement, allows specific frozen foods to be stacked together, dropped, or sorted according to specific quality control before proceeding to further processing or its preparation, and all this can be done without human contact with said frozen foods. [Background technology]

[0003] In the food sector, and in particular in the state of the art of cooking and packaging pre-frozen foods, equipment is known for arranging and packaging many foods intended for distribution, such as hamburgers that are cooked and quickly cooled, and which are then packaged and transported to a point of sale where they are finished.

[0004] Before packaging or preparation operations of these foods, certain quality controls must be carried out to separate usable and unusable hamburgers according to certain quality parameters before the hamburgers can continue their distribution procedure, packaging or preparation.

[0005] Furthermore, such quality control operations for frozen hamburgers can be particularly delicate when performed manually by operators on the hamburger processing line itself.

[0006] Due to the work carried out in food processing and freezing facilities, the working conditions can be extreme, because on the one hand it involves working at low temperatures and on the other hand prolonged handling of rapidly cooled products, which can cause the operators to feel extremely cold, despite being protected against the above-mentioned conditions by various PPE such as gloves, gowns, etc.

[0007] For this reason, these types of work are particularly important in the sector, and so their optimization is sought, in a sense optimizing production in general, eliminating manual work that does not add value, and reducing work under difficult conditions from a purely ergonomic point of view.

[0008] The present invention contributes to solving this problem by allowing specific frozen foods to be stacked together, dropped, and sorted for specific quality control before proceeding to further processing or preparation, all without human contact with said frozen foods.

[0009] Description of the invention The present invention has been developed to provide a system for indexing frozen foods, the system mainly comprising a layered band, further comprising a hopper system, a product positioning system, a quality control system, a discharge system, and a control unit, the band being arranged to allow periodic linear movement and displacement of the band surface, the band incorporating pushers whose shape conforms to the general shape of the frozen products, the pushers being arranged on the surface of the band and distributed one after the other along at least one row, the row being parallel to the direction of the periodic linear movement of the band surface, so that the pushers are integral with the periodic linear movement of the band surface, the pushers being individually adaptable to each frozen product, so that the movement of the frozen products is integral with the movement of the band, and being located in a position suitable for the products on the band, the hopper system being capable of inserting and stacking the products onto the pushers at the beginning of the periodic linear path of the pushers on the band, the positioning system then being configured to push the products onto the pushers. The pushers are arranged along the linear path of the pushers, and are capable of positioning products placed on them, and frozen products stacked on the pushers are removed so that one product is placed on each pusher. A quality control system is then arranged along the linear path of the pushers, and a discharge system is arranged at the end of the pusher path, both of which are linked in data communication by a control unit having control over both. The quality control system is capable of measuring and / or detecting specific parameters in the frozen products placed on specific pushers in accordance with pre-established quality standards and communicating these to the control unit. At the same time, the discharge system is capable of ejecting the products placed on the pushers at the end of the pusher path, and is also capable of removing the products on the pushers under the control of the control unit in accordance with the specific parameters measured and / or detected by the quality control system, and the removal is performed before the products placed on the pushers are ejected at the end of the pusher path.

[0010] Preferably, in the indexing system for frozen foods, the frozen product is a frozen hamburger.

[0011] Preferably, in the indexing system for frozen foods, the hopper system incorporates rails that fit at the beginning of each linear path of the pusher, so that frozen products stacked at that position can be distributed to each linear parallel path of the pusher at that beginning.

[0012] Preferably, in the indexing system for frozen food products, the band is arranged so that a periodic linear movement and displacement of the surface of the band is possible by a roller system mounted on a frame.

[0013] Preferably, in the indexing system for frozen food products, the pusher has a semicircular or crescent shape.

[0014] Alternatively, in an indexing system for frozen foods, the beginning of the pusher path corresponding to the hopper system is located at a lower height than the remainder of the pusher path, so that the pusher path above the band is uphill before reaching the positioning system.

[0015] Additionally, in the indexing system for frozen foods, the quality control system comprises a detection bridge capable of detecting metal particles in the products placed on each pusher, and also comprises at least one artificial vision camera.

[0016] Preferably, in an indexing system for frozen foods, the artificial vision camera is capable of establishing the presence or absence of products on each pusher, and / or is capable of establishing the specific shape of the products placed on each pusher, and / or is capable of establishing the presence or absence of irregularities and / or foreign objects on the surface of the products placed on each pusher.

[0017] Additionally, in an indexing system for frozen food products, the discharge system comprises a conveying means arranged at the outlet of said products from the pusher.

[0018] In addition, the indexing system for frozen foods incorporates a product accumulation system, which is arranged after the discharge system and is capable of positioning the products and stacking them in a predetermined number of units.

[0019] Preferably, in an indexing system for frozen food products, the accumulation system is in the form of a single conveyor or roller, capable of moving stacks of products vertically by means of a pushing means.

[0020] Additionally, in the indexing system for frozen foods, the control unit may incorporate a quality control algorithm or program and, based on data communicated from the quality control system, be able to identify and indicate products on the pusher (3) that do not meet pre-established quality standards.

[0021] The present invention achieves stacking, dropping, and sorting of specific frozen foods through specific quality control before proceeding to further processing or preparation thereof, all without human contact with said frozen foods.

[0022] Other features and advantages of the indexing system for frozen food products will become apparent from the description of preferred but non-exclusive embodiments shown as non-limiting examples in the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of an indexing system for frozen food products of the present invention; FIG. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a pusher of a preferred embodiment of the indexing system for frozen food of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3]2 is a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of the indexing system for frozen food products of the present invention from a different perspective; FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of the indexing system for frozen food products of the present invention from a different perspective; FIG. [Figure 5] 2 is a schematic view of another preferred embodiment of the indexing system for frozen food products of the present invention from a different perspective; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the indexing system for frozen foods mainly comprises a layered band (1) arranged such that the surface of the band (1) can be subjected to periodic linear movement as indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1 by a roller system (2) (shown in close proximity) mounted on a frame (21).

[0025] The band (1) incorporates a pusher (3) whose shape matches the normal shape of the product.

[0026] In this preferred embodiment, the frozen product is a frozen hamburger (31), as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

[0027] The above-mentioned pushers (3) are arranged on the surface of the band (1) and are distributed one after the other along rows parallel to the direction of the periodic linear movement of the surface of the band (1), as can be seen in FIG.

[0028] Therefore, the above-mentioned pusher (3) is integral in its movement with the periodic linear movement of the surface of the band (1), as can also be seen in FIG.

[0029] In addition to this, the pusher (3) can be individually adapted to each hamburger (31), as can be seen in particular in Figure 2. This therefore also suggests a movement of the hamburger (31) that is integrated with the movement of the band (1), and also suggests a position suitable for the above-mentioned products on the band (1), as can also be seen in Figure 1.

[0030] Said pusher (3) must be specifically adapted in shape to the usual particular shape of the frozen food to be processed, in this case frozen hamburgers (31), as can be seen in Figure 2. To do this, in this preferred embodiment, the pusher (3) has a semicircular or crescent shape, adapted to the circular shape of the hamburgers (31), thereby ensuring proper movement of said hamburgers (31) on the band (1).

[0031] The indexing system for frozen foods of the present invention further comprises a hopper system (4), a product positioning system (5), a quality control system (6), a discharge system (7) and a control unit which are not shown in the drawings.

[0032] The hopper system (4) allows the insertion and stacking of hamburgers (31) onto the pusher (3) at the beginning of the pusher's (3) cyclical linear path over the band (1).

[0033] To achieve this, in this preferred embodiment, as can be seen in Figure 1, the hopper system (4) is positioned at the beginning of the linear paths of the pusher (3) and incorporates rails (41) that fit at the beginning of each linear path of the pusher (3), meaning that hamburgers (31) dropped at that position are distributed to each linear parallel path of the pusher (3) at that beginning.

[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the beginning of the path of the pusher (3) corresponding to the hopper system (4) is located at a lower height than the remainder of the path of the pusher (3).

[0035] As can also be seen in Figure 1, the positioning system (5) is then positioned in the linear path of the pusher (3), so that the path of the pusher (3) on the band (1) is uphill before reaching the positioning system (5).

[0036] The positioning system (5) makes it possible to properly position the hamburgers (31) on the pusher (3) after the ascending section, and in particular to remove hamburgers (31) that have been previously stacked on the rails (41) and therefore end up on top of other hamburgers (31) on the pusher (3).

[0037] Thus, the positioning system (5) ensures that one hamburger (31) is placed on each pusher (3) in the next path after said positioning system (5).

[0038] Also, a quality control system (6) is next positioned in the linear path of the pusher (3) after the positioning system (5).

[0039] In addition, a discharge system (7) is placed at the end of the path of the pusher (3).

[0040] Thus, the quality control system (6) is capable of measuring and / or detecting certain parameters in the hamburgers (31) placed on a particular pusher (3) according to pre-established quality standards, so for example the quality control system (6) may be capable of detecting metals with an indication system or the like.

[0041] At the same time, the ejection system (7) is able to eject the hamburgers (31) placed on the pusher (3) at the end of the path of the pusher (3), and the ejection system (7) is also able to remove the hamburgers (31) from the pusher (3) according to certain parameters measured and / or detected by the quality control system (6), before ejecting the hamburgers (31).

[0042] For this purpose, both the quality control system (6) and the discharge system (7) are linked in data communication by a control unit (not shown) that has control over both.

[0043] The control unit described above has a built-in quality control algorithm or program that is used to determine and indicate hamburgers (31) on the pusher (3) that do not meet pre-established quality standards, based on data and parameters measured and / or detected by and communicated from the quality control system (6).

[0044] Therefore, the identification data of the positioning of the hamburger (31) on the pusher (3) placed on the surface of the band (1) that has not passed the quality control established and implemented using the quality control system (6) is communicated by the control unit to the ejection system (7), which removes the hamburger (31) before it is ejected at the end of the linear path of the pusher (3).

[0045] In a preferred embodiment of the indexing system for frozen foods of the present invention, represented in Figures 3 and 4, the quality control system (6) comprises a detection bridge (61) capable of detecting metal particles in the hamburgers (31) placed on each pusher (3).

[0046] The quality control system (6) may also be equipped with an artificial vision camera (62) for performing quality control of different fully customizable parameters, such as, for example, the shape or perimeter of the hamburger units (31) placed on each pusher (3), the presence or absence of irregularities and / or foreign objects on the surface of the hamburger (31), or the actual presence or absence of a product unit on each pusher (3).

[0047] The discharge system (7) may comprise conveying means arranged at the outlet of the hamburgers (31) from the pusher (3).

[0048] Similarly, in this preferred embodiment shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the indexing system for frozen food products of the present invention may incorporate a product accumulation system (8) arranged after the discharge system (7), which allows for the positioning of the products or hamburgers (31) and the stacking (9) of the products or hamburgers (31) in a predetermined number of units.

[0049] The product accumulation system (8) described above may be in the form of a single conveyor (81) or roller and may have the ability to move the stack of products (9) vertically by means of a pushing means (82).

[0050] By definition of the description, the indexing system for frozen food products of the present invention is capable of separating usable hamburgers from unusable hamburgers according to specific quality parameters and pre-sorting frozen hamburgers that do not pass specific quality controls before continuing, without human contact, with their stacking and packaging or any other procedure, packaging or conditioning that constitutes the distribution of the hamburgers.

[0051] The details, shapes, dimensions and other secondary elements as well as the materials used in the manufacture of the indexing system for frozen foods of the present invention may be suitably substituted by other technically equivalents without departing from the essential nature of the present invention and its scope as defined by the claims contained below.

Claims

1. 1. An indexing system for frozen food products, the indexing system comprising: It mainly comprises a layered band (1), The system further comprises a hopper system (4), a product positioning system (5), a quality control system (6), a discharge system (7), and a control unit; The band (1) is arranged so that the surface of the band (1) can be periodically moved linearly and displaced, the band (1) has built-in pushers (3) whose shape matches the general shape of the frozen products, the pushers (3) are arranged on the surface of the band (1) and are arranged one after another along at least one row, the row being parallel to the direction of the periodic linear movement of the surface of the band (1), so that the pushers (3) are integral with the periodic linear movement of the surface of the band (1), and the pushers (3) are arranged to push each frozen product. The hopper system (4) is adapted to fit the frozen products individually, thus allowing the movement of the frozen products to be integrated with the movement of the band (1) and is in a position suitable for the frozen products on the band (1), the hopper system (4) is capable of inserting and stacking the frozen products onto the pusher (3) at the beginning of the cyclical linear path of the pusher (3) on the band (1), and the product positioning system (5) is then arranged in the linear path of the pusher (3) and is capable of positioning the frozen products placed on the pusher (3). The frozen products piled on the pushers (3) are then placed on the linear path of the pushers (3), and the ejection system (7) is placed at the end of the path of the pushers (3), both of which are linked in data communication by the control unit having control over both of them. The quality control system (6) is capable of measuring and / or detecting specific parameters of the frozen products placed on a specific pusher (3) in accordance with pre-established quality standards and communicating them to the control unit. At the same time, the ejection system (7) is capable of discharging the frozen products placed on the pushers (3) at the end of the path of the pushers (3), and is also capable of removing the frozen products on the pushers (3) under the control of the control unit in accordance with the specific parameters measured and / or detected by the quality control system (6), and removing the frozen products at the end of the path of the pushers (3).An indexing system for the frozen products placed on the pusher (3) before they are released.

2. 2. The indexing system of claim 1, wherein the frozen product is a frozen hamburger (31).

3. 3. The indexing system according to claim 1, wherein the hopper system (4) incorporates rails (41) adapted to the beginning of each linear path of the pusher (3), so that the frozen products stacked at that position can be sorted at that beginning into each linear parallel path of the pusher (3).

4. 3. An indexing system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the band (1) is arranged so that a periodic linear movement and displacement of the surface of the band (1) is possible by means of a roller system (2) mounted on a frame (21).

5. An indexing system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the pusher (3) has a semicircular or crescent shape.

6. 3. An indexing system according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the beginning of the path of the pusher (3) corresponding to the hopper system (4) is located at a lower height than the remaining part of the path of the pusher (3), so that the path of the pusher (3) above the band (1) is uphill before reaching the product positioning system (5).

7. 3. The indexing system according to claim 1, wherein the quality control system (6) comprises a detection bridge (61) arranged on each pusher (3) capable of detecting metal particles in the frozen products, and also comprises at least one artificial vision camera (62).

8. 8. The indexing system of claim 7, wherein the artificial vision camera (62) is capable of determining the presence or absence of the frozen products on each pusher (3), and / or the specific shape of the frozen products placed on each pusher (3), and / or the presence or absence of irregularities and / or foreign objects on the surface of the frozen products placed on each pusher (3).

9. 8. An indexing system according to claim 7, wherein the discharge system (7) comprises conveying means arranged at the outlet of the frozen products from the pusher (3).

10. 3. The indexing system according to claim 1, further comprising a product accumulation system (8) arranged after the discharge system (7) and capable of positioning the frozen products and stacking them (9) in a predetermined number of units.

11. 11. The indexing system of claim 10, wherein the product accumulation system is in the form of a single conveyor (81) or roller, capable of vertically moving the stacks (9) of frozen products by means of pushing means (92).

12. 3. The indexing system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit has a built-in quality control algorithm or program and is able to determine and indicate frozen products on the pusher (3) that do not meet pre-established quality standards using data communicated from the quality control system (6).

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