Metering and dispensing machine for bulk products

Abstract

A metering and dispensing machine for bulk products, designed for filling containers on a conveyor line, comprising metering means for filling individual containers with bulk products in a vertical direction, which containers are designed to be conveyed in a horizontal direction in synchronisation with the metering means. Control means are provided for the sequential control of a first and second feed channel, which are in data communication with weighing means located in a first hopper and a second hopper, such that the quantity of product supplied into individual containers is determined by a weight value entered into the control means. This machine allows for the optimisation of the metering and packaging of small-sized bulk products, such as nuts, dried fruit and fresh fruit, ensuring efficiency and precision on the production lines.

Description

[0001] Bulk product dosing and dispensing machine - DESCRIPTIVE MEMORANDUM

[0002] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention proposes the development of a machine for the automated dosing and dispensing of bulk products that falls within the fruit and vegetable sector, and more specifically in the field of logistics and automation of food product packaging processes.

[0004] In particular, the invention addresses solutions to optimize the dosing and packaging of small-sized bulk products, such as nuts and fresh fruit, ensuring efficiency and precision in production lines.

[0005] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In the fruit and vegetable industry, bulk product packaging is a critical process that requires devices capable of ensuring accurate dosing, reducing both operating time and product losses. Currently, dosing systems available on the market have limitations in weighing accuracy, especially when adjusting final weights to exact values.

[0007] Among the known packaging devices are, for example, sequential hopper feeders that use vertically arranged hoppers to gravity-feed product into containers or molds. However, these systems often lack a precise weight adjustment mechanism, resulting in overweight or underweight in the dispensed units. Another common device uses conventional vibrating trays to move and pour product into weighing hoppers. However, their main disadvantage is the difficulty in precisely adjusting the product flow, especially when fine-tuning the target weight is required.

[0008] Also known in the technique are combined weighing and pouring systems that include fine adjustment mechanisms, but they do not achieve optimal integration between weight adjustment and cycle time efficiency, which affects the overall performance of the production line.

[0009] Therefore, there is still a need to optimize the packaging process times of different food products in production lines with a low economic cost for food products, especially for the fruit and vegetable sector.

[0010] DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention has been developed in order to provide a dosing machine that is configured as a novelty within the field of application and solves the aforementioned drawbacks, also providing other additional advantages that will be evident from the description that follows.

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dosing and dispensing machine for bulk products, intended for filling containers on a conveyor line, of the type comprising dosing means for vertically filling bulk products into individual containers, such as trays, cases, boxes or equivalents, intended to be conveyed horizontally in a manner synchronized with the dosing means.

[0013] In particular, the invention is characterized by the fact that the dosing means comprise:

[0014] - A first feeding channel with a product storage capacity, configured for gravity pouring of the product;

[0015] - a second feed channel running parallel to the first channel which has a lower product storage capacity than the first channel, configured for gravity pouring of the product;

[0016] - a first hopper arranged downstream of the first channel, configured to receive the product falling by gravity from the first feed channel, said first hopper being provided with weighing means configured for the constant weighing of the product accumulating inside the first hopper during a filling stage; and

[0017] - a second hopper arranged downstream of the first hopper configured to receive by gravity the product from the first hopper and the second feed channel, having weighing means and said second hopper being provided with an outlet located above the individual containers to be filled,

[0018] Furthermore, it includes control means for the sequential control of the first and second feed channels, being in real-time data communication with the weighing means, such that the quantity of product supplied in the individual containers is a function of a weight value entered into the control means.

[0019] With this distribution of dosing elements in a vertical arrangement, cycle times are optimized, since the first feed channel pours product into the first hopper, so that when it has practically 90% of the final weight of product that has been previously established, it automatically pours its contents into the second hopper which receives, in a short period of time, approximately the amount of weight that has been pre-established, the remaining amount to obtain the determined weight being provided by the second feed channel that allows pouring of an individual or per unit of product until the total weight of product that each container that circulates through the lower part of the dispensing machine must have is obtained.

[0020] Thanks to these features, a dosing machine is provided that offers the following advantages:

[0021] - Increased efficiency in production lines by reducing cycle times.

[0022] - High precision in weight adjustment, ensuring compliance with pre-programmed target weights.

[0023] - Preservation of the integrity of fragile products, reducing losses.

[0024] - Flexibility in device configuration to adapt to different products and packaging requirements.

[0025] According to another aspect of the invention, the outlet of the second feed channel includes sensor means configured to detect the presence of each unit falling into the second hopper, the sensor means being connected to control means for the sequential control of the first and second feed channels, being in data communication with the weighing means present in the first and second hopper, the control means being provided with software configured for counting the units falling from the second feed channel and establishing a ratio of the number of units falling from the second feed channel to the weight in the second hopper in each work cycle.

[0026] Preferably, these sensor means may consist of an optical type sensor or a capacitive type sensor.

[0027] The dispensing machine described thus represents an innovative structure with structural and constitutive characteristics unknown until now for the purpose for which it is intended, reasons which together with its practical utility, give it sufficient grounds to obtain the exclusive privilege that is requested.

[0028] Other features and advantages of the dispensing machine that is the subject of the present invention will become evident from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Figure 1.- It is a schematic view of the dosing means that form part of the machine according to the present invention;

[0031] Figure 2.- It is a schematic view of an embodiment of the dosing and dispensing machine according to the invention;

[0032] Figure 3.- It is a schematic perspective view of the plate that forms the first and second feed channels;

[0033] Figure 4.- This is a schematic view of the connection between the main parts of the machine;

[0034] Figure 5.- This is a partial view of the top of the dispensing machine in an operating position;

[0035] Figure 6.- This is a partial view of the top of the dispensing machine in a second operating position;

[0036] Figure 7.- Shows a schematic view of the dosing means that are part of a second embodiment of the machine according to the present invention;

[0037] Figure 8.- Shows a schematic view of the second embodiment of the dosing and dispensing machine according to the invention;

[0038] Figure 9 shows a schematic view of the connection between the main parts of the machine depicted in Figure 8; Figure 10 shows a partial view of the top of the second embodiment of the dispensing machine in an operating position; and

[0039] Figure 11.- Shows a partial view of the top of the second embodiment of the dispensing machine in a second operating position.

[0040] DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0041] In view of the aforementioned figures and in accordance with the numbering adopted, a couple of examples of preferred embodiments of the invention can be observed in them, which comprise the parts and elements that are indicated and described in detail below.

[0042] As shown schematically in Figures 1 to 6 in a general description, a first embodiment of the bulk product dosing and dispensing machine, being intended for filling containers on a transport line, comprises three parallel working lines (100), each of which has dosing means for filling bulk products in a vertical direction into individual containers intended to be transported horizontally in a synchronized manner with the dosing means.

[0043] Going into more detail on the dosing means (according to figures 1 and 2) of each of the working lines (100), they comprise in the upper part a first feed channel (1) with a product storage capacity, configured for pouring the product by gravity and a second feed channel (2) that runs parallel to the first channel which has a lower product storage capacity than the first channel, configured for pouring the product by gravity.

[0044] It should be mentioned that the second feed channel (2) has a lower transverse dimension with respect to the transverse dimension of the first feed channel.

[0045] Next, a first hopper (3) is provided downstream of the first channel (1) configured to receive the product falling by gravity from the first feed channel (1). This first hopper (3) is equipped with means for weighing the product that accumulates inside it. A second hopper (4) is also provided downstream of the first hopper, configured to receive by gravity the product from the first hopper (3) and / or the second feed channel (4), and is also equipped with weighing means. Therefore, the width of the first hopper (3) is approximately equal to the transverse dimension of the first feed channel (1).

[0046] The first hoppers (3) perform a 90-degree oscillating movement, thus adopting two operating positions. This oscillating movement is achieved by a piston cylinder (10) coupled at one end to a section of the body that forms the first hopper (3). As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the first hoppers (3) are laterally articulated to vertical profiles (13) by means of a pivot axis (30).

[0047] The second hopper (4) is provided with an outlet (5) located above the individual containers (6) to be filled, which are moved by a conveyor belt (7) arranged in a horizontal plane and mounted on a main frame (12), the direction of advance of the conveyor belt (7) being perpendicular to the direction of advance of the product to be dosed that moves through the first and second feed channel (1), (2).

[0048] In Figure 3, it can be seen how the first and second feed channels are formed from a plate (11) with two lateral folds (111) that act as a side wall, and a third fold (112) in the shape of an inverted V, displaced with respect to the longitudinal center of the plate, which acts as a dividing wall defining two independent and parallel housings that each define the first and second feed channels.

[0049] It should be mentioned that the conveyor belt (7) acts in a synchronized manner with the data received by the control unit (8), so this conveyor belt is also connected to the control unit (8).

[0050] No further detail will be given to the explanation of the conveyor belt (7) since it can be of any type known and available on the market.

[0051] It should be noted that the multiple outlets (5) of the different work lines (100) are mounted on a frame (90) that moves vertically, so that they all move together. It should also be noted that the first and second feed channels (1), (2) comprise electromechanical means (not shown in the drawings) enabled to provide a vibratory movement that facilitates the movement of the products to be dosed.

[0052] Furthermore, control means (8) comprising a microprocessor are provided for the sequential control of the first and second feed channel (2), being in data communication with the weighing means, such that the quantity of product supplied in the individual containers is a function of a weight value previously entered into the control means.

[0053] With this vertical arrangement of hoppers (3), (4), it is possible to optimize cycle times during the operation of the dispensing and dosing machine, since the first feed channel (1) pours product into the first hopper (3), so that when it has practically 90% of the final weight of product desired or programmed by the control means, it automatically pours its contents into the second hopper (4), which will have a lower weight in relation to the weight of product present in the first hopper (3), which receives in a short space of time, the almost final weight and this weight is adjusted by the second feed channel (2), which can practically pour unit by unit of product.

[0054] The aforementioned weighing means consist of gravity weighing sensors (9) (shown schematically in the drawings).

[0055] It is worth noting that the dosing and dispensing machine is designed so that there is not much vertical distance between the different main components mentioned above, so the poured product does not fall and travel great vertical distances, thus providing little impact on the loss of unit integrity of each product unit, which is particularly relevant with perishable and relatively ripe food products such as cherry tomatoes, blueberries, grapes, etc., where the visual appearance of the product is relevant for its marketing.

[0056] The following will explain an operating cycle for supplying a volume of product to be placed in individual containers using the dosing machine described above: In a first stage, bulk product is supplied into the first and second feed channels from a supply point (not shown), which may be a conveyor belt located upstream of the machine.

[0057] Subsequently, in a second stage, the product falls by gravity from the first feed channel (1) into the first hopper (3) at the same time as product falls into the second hopper (4) from the second feed channel (2) (see Figure 5), where the product is weighed until it reaches the weight set by the control system. In this way, the weight data from the weighing systems are linked together, reducing the time of each filling cycle for the individual containers.

[0058] In a third stage, the first hopper (3) rotates 90 degrees (see figure 6) so that it deposits the product by gravity into the second hopper, while product from the second feed channel (2) falls directly into the second hopper (4) until the desired weight value is reached.

[0059] In a fourth stage, the product present in the second hopper (4) is supplied to the individual containers through the outlet mouth which was previously blocked to prevent the product from falling unintentionally before the arrangement of the individual containers together below the outlet mouth (5).

[0060] A second embodiment of the dosing and dispensing machine is described below, as shown in Figures 7 to 11.

[0061] As shown schematically in Figures 7 to 11 in a general description, the fruit dosing and dispensing machine, intended for filling containers on a transport line, comprises three parallel working lines (100'), each of which has dosing means for filling fruit products in a vertical direction into individual containers intended to be transported horizontally in a synchronized manner with the dosing means.

[0062] Going into more detail on the dosing means (according to figures 7 to 9) of each of the working lines (100'), they comprise in the upper part a first feed channel (T) with a product storage capacity, configured for pouring the product by gravity and a second feed channel (2') that runs parallel to the first channel which has a lower product storage capacity than the first channel, configured for pouring the product by gravity.

[0063] It should be mentioned that the second feed channel (2') has a lower transverse dimension with respect to the transverse dimension of the first feed channel.

[0064] Next, a first hopper (3') is provided downstream of the first channel (1) which is configured to receive the product that falls by gravity from the first feed channel (T), said first hopper (3') being provided with means for weighing the product that accumulates inside the first hopper (3'); and a second hopper (4') is provided downstream of the first hopper configured to receive by gravity the product from the first hopper (3') and / or the second feed channel (4'), which is also provided with weighing means.

[0065] Therefore, the width of the first hopper (3') is approximately equal to the transverse dimension of the first feed channel (1').

[0066] The first hoppers (3') perform a 90-degree oscillating movement so that they adopt two operating positions, the oscillating movement being carried out by the presence of a piston cylinder (10') coupled at one of its ends to a section of the body that forms the first hopper (3').

[0067] The second hopper (4') is provided with an outlet (5) located above the individual containers (6'), which are moved by a conveyor belt (7') arranged in a horizontal plane and mounted on a main frame (12'), the direction of advance of the conveyor belt (7) being perpendicular to the direction of advance of the product to be dosed that moves through the first and second feed channel (1'), (2').

[0068] The first and second feed channels can be formed from a plate with two lateral folds that act as a side wall, and a third fold in the shape of an inverted V, displaced with respect to the longitudinal center of the plate, which acts as a dividing wall defining two independent and parallel housings that each define the first and second feed channels. It should be mentioned that the multiple outlets (5') of the different work lines (100') are mounted on a frame (90') that moves vertically, so that they all move in a solid way with each other.

[0069] It should be mentioned that the first and second feed channel (T), (2') comprise electromechanical means enabled to provide a vibratory movement that facilitates the displacement of the products to be dosed.

[0070] Furthermore, control means (8') comprising a microprocessor are provided for the sequential control of the first and second feed channel (2'), being in data communication with the weighing means, such that the quantity of product supplied in the individual containers is a function of a weight value previously entered into the control means.

[0071] The outlet of the second feed channel (2') includes sensor means configured to detect the presence of each unit that falls into the second hopper, the sensor means being connected to the control means (8') for the sequential control of the first and second feed channel, being in data communication with the weighing means present in the first and second hopper (3'), (4').

[0072] As can be seen in this represented example, the sensing means consist of an optical-type sensor (13') arranged above the second feed channel (2') and fixed to an elongated tubular profile (14') (corresponding to the positioning and guiding means) located on the support structure (15') situated at the top of the frame (12'), so that the sensor (13') can be placed at any point along the length of the elongated tubular profile (14') as required.

[0073] It should be mentioned that the software incorporated into the control means is also configured to count the units that fall from the second feed channel (2') and establish a relationship between the number of units that fall from the second feed channel (2') and the weight in the second hopper (4') in each work cycle, so that it can estimate the additional number of units that have to fall from the second feed channel (2').

[0074] With this vertical arrangement of hoppers (3'), (4'), cycle times can be optimized during machine operation, since the first feed channel (1') pours product into the first hopper (3'), so that when it has practically 90% of the final product weight desired or programmed by the control means, it automatically pours its contents into the second hopper (4'), which will have a lower weight in relation to the weight of product present in the first hopper (3'). The first hopper (3') receives the almost final weight in a short time, and this weight is adjusted by the second feed channel (2'), which can practically pour product unit by unit.

[0075] With regard to the aforementioned weighing means, they consist of gravity weighing sensors (9') (indicated schematically in drawings 7 11).

[0076] It is worth noting that the dosing machine is designed so that there is not much vertical distance between the different main components mentioned above, so that the poured product does not fall and travel great vertical distances, thus providing little impact on the loss of unit integrity of each product unit, which is particularly relevant in perishable and relatively ripe food products such as cherry tomatoes, blueberries, grapes, etc., where the visual appearance of the product is relevant for its marketing.

[0077] The following will explain an operating cycle for supplying a volume of product to be placed in individual containers using the dosing machine described above:

[0078] In the first stage, units of the fruit product to be handled are supplied in the first and second feed channel from a supply point (not shown), which may be a conveyor belt located upstream of the machine.

[0079] Next, in a second stage, the product falls by gravity from the first feed channel (1') into the first hopper (3') at the same time as product falls into the second hopper (4') from the second feed channel (2') (see Figure 10) in a controlled manner detected by the sensor (13'), where the product is weighed until it reaches the weight previously set in the control system. In this way, the weight data from the weighing systems are linked and the time of each filling cycle for the individual containers is reduced. Subsequently, the first hopper (3') tilts 90 degrees (see Figure 11) so that it deposits the product by gravity into the second hopper (4'), while product from the second feed channel (2') falls directly into the second hopper (4') until the desired weight is reached.

[0080] Finally, the product present in the second hopper (4') is supplied to the individual containers through the outlet mouth which was previously blocked to prevent the product from falling unintentionally before the arrangement of the individual containers together below the outlet mouth (5'), whose containers will subsequently be closed in a later stage with the help of operators or mechanized means.

[0081] The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements used in the manufacture of the single-use applicator assembly of the invention may be conveniently replaced by others that do not depart from the scope defined by the claims included below.

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