Casing for food applications

Abstract

Casing (10) of a support assembly for food applications suitable for being mounted on the frame of a machinery, the casing (10) being made of composite material and comprising a body (15), in turn provided with: - a housing portion (20) having a through seat (25) within which a bearing unit is received, - a flange portion (30) for fixing the casing to a machine, having a base surface (35) and at least two through holes (32) for housing fixing elements of the casing (10) to the machinery - at least two metal bushings (40) stably housed inside respective through holes (32) and coaxial with respect to them, the casing (10) further comprising a shaped plate (50), in stainless steel, positioned in correspondence with the base surface (35) of the flange portion (30) and configured to raise the body (15) of the casing (10) with respect to the frame of the machinery.

Description

[0001] 202500021

[0002] CASI NG FOR FOOD APPLI CATI ONS

[0003] D ESCRI PTI ON

[0004] Technical field of the Invention

[0005] The present invention relates to a casing for food applications and more particularly for the bread and bottling industry.

[0006] Prior Art

[0007] In the food and beverage (F&B) industry there is increasing focus on the development of new machines and machine designs aimed at improving the safety and quality of food.

[0008] One component typically used for these applications is a support assembly for rotary shafts. The support assembly comprises a casing made of food-grade polymer. The casing is provided with a spherical seat inside which is housed a bearing unit which in turn allows a rotary machine shaft to rotate with respect to the casing. The casing is, however, a fixed component and is clamped to the frame of a machine. The casing comprises a base or flange portion, one of the surfaces of which is in contact with the frame of the machine and has multiple cavities which extend from the contact surface towards the interior of the flange portion. In these cavities is overmolded a shaped gasket made of elastomer, also food-grade, which ensures sealing between the casing and the frame of the machine in such a way as to prevent any water and bacteria that get in from being hidden behind the base of the supports. A hidden colony of bacteria which cannot be cleaned is obviously a major problem in the F&B industry.

[0009] In some F&B applications, in particular in the bread and bakery goods industry, and in the bottling industry, it is not necessary to seal the base of the casing and the user of the machine prefers to use stand-out casings.

[0010] These solutions have a specific shape whereby most of the base of the casing is at a distance from the frame of the machine such that the component202500021

[0011] is cleaned simply using a jet of pressurized air. To be specific, in these applications for bakery goods, the standard cleaning procedure is not followed since the units do not get dirty and the user can clean the production line just with a jet of air. For this reason, there is no need for a seal at the base of the casing in these applications and, therefore, the shaped gasket applied at the base of the casing in other F&B applications is not required in applications for bakery goods.

[0012] A known type of casing for the abovementioned applications involves the production of special casings, without the shaped gasket but with integrated supports which allow most of the base surface of the casing to be separate from the frame of the machine. These solutions require the creation of more complex molds, with the consequent increase in production costs.

[0013] Summary of the Invention

[0014] To substantially solve the technical problems described above, the present invention defines a casing of a support assembly for food applications, in particular bread, bakery goods and bottling, provided with a body and a plate made of stainless steel, wherein the plate allows the body of the casing to be raised, and the support assembly to be centered, and also provides ample space for maneuver for cleaning and dismantling.

[0015] According to another aspect, the present invention defines a kit comprising at least one casing of a support assembly for food applications and / or a plate made of stainless steel.

[0016] Therefore, the present invention provides a casing of a support assembly for food applications having the features set out in the independent claim.

[0017] Further embodiments of the invention, which are preferred and / or particularly advantageous, are described according to the features set out in the attached dependent claims.202500021

[0018] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0019] The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which show a non- limiting example of an embodiment of the invention, in which:

[0020] - figure 1 is a top view of a casing for food applications, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

[0021] - figure 2 is a cross section through the casing in figure 1 ,

[0022] - figure 3 is a bottom view of the casing in figure 1 , and

[0023] - figure 4 shows a detail of the casing in figure 1 .

[0024] Detailed Description

[0025] With reference to figures 1 and 2, a casing 10 of a support assembly for food applications is made of polymer, and comprises a body 15, in turn provided with :

[0026] - a housing portion 20, annular, having a through seat 25 within which a bearing unit is stably received in a known manner, and

[0027] - a flange portion 30 for fixing the casing 10 to the machine, having, in the non-limiting example shown in figure 1 , a square shape with an axis X of longitudinal symmetry and an axis Y of transverse symmetry. The flange portion 30 further has a base surface 35 and at least two through holes 32, four in the example shown in figures 1 and 2, for housing, in a manner which is known (and therefore not shown), attachment elements, for example bolts, for attaching the casing 10 to a frame of the machine. Depending on the type of casing, the number of through holes 32 may thus be equal to two, three or four or even more where this is required for more complex shapes. A gasket 36 made of elastomeric material, a base surface 36a of which protrudes slightly more with respect to the base surface 35 of the flange portion, is overmolded on the flange portion 30, in particular along its base surface.

[0028] The body 15 comprises at least two metal bushings 40, which are202500021

[0029] cylindrical and stably housed inside respective through holes 32. The bushing 40 is coaxial with the respective through hole 32, with which it shares the same axis of symmetry Z, and is capable of withstanding the tension transmitted by the attachment elements. Thus, the polymer of the flange portion 30 does not have to withstand the compressive load transmitted by the bolts. The bushings 40 are stably fixed inside the through holes 32 by mating a first corrugated cylindrical surface 33, which defines the through hole 32, with a second outer corrugated cylindrical surface 43 of the bushings 40.

[0030] With reference also to figures 3 and 4, according to the present invention, the casing 10 is provided with a shaped plate 50, made of stainless steel, to be positioned in correspondence with the base surface 35 of the flange portion 30 of the casing 10 and which serves, therefore, to raise the body 15 of the casing 10, converting the entire support assembly to which the casing 10 belongs from a unit sealed with respect to the frame of the machine into a raised unit. The body 15 of the casing 10 and the plate 50 may be supplied already assembled together or separately as a kit to be subsequently assembled.

[0031] The plate 50 has:

[0032] - a base portion 51 , comprising (see figure 4) a cylindrical portion 51 ’ and a truncated conical portion 51”. In an alternative embodiment, which has not been shown, the base portion 51 could have an intermediate cylindrical portion and two end truncated conical portions,

[0033] - at least two appendages 52 (four in the configuration shown in the figures), integrally connected to the base portion and radially external to it. Each appendage 52 is provided with a through hole 53, and

[0034] - a centering portion 54, of hollow cylindrical shape adapted to be inserted into a corresponding cylindrical seat 37 of the flange portion 30 of the body 15.

[0035] The base portion 51 is provided with at least one radially external truncated conical surface 51 a, which in the example in the figures belongs to the202500021

[0036] truncated conical portion 51 ”, in such a way as to promote the drainage of cleaning fluid.

[0037] The centering portion 54 of the plate 50, during the assembly process, is inserted and blocked in the seat 37 of the flange portion 30 of the body 15 by slight interference. The centering portion 54 therefore achieves two objectives: it integrally connects the body 15 and the plate 50 and facilitates the assembly process, by centering the plate with respect to the body of the casing.

[0038] The plate 50 made of stainless steel is designed with various key features to improve its functionality :

[0039] - raises more effectively: the plate has a specific raised configuration so as to ensure that the casing is distinct from the frame of the machine, preventing the build-up of material in the gaps which could harbor the growth of bacteria. This raised configuration also improves the circulation of air and facilitates cleaning;

[0040] - easy dismantling: the plate includes features for easy removal, such as smooth edges and, advantageously, integrated grip elements or tabs. This allows operators to remove the plate quickly and safely without the need for specialized tools;

[0041] - advantageously, and again for the purpose of assisting assembly and removal, the plate is designed to allow the use of quick release mechanisms or standard connectors for secure fixing and easy removal. This design ensures that the plate can be assembled and dismantled without excessive force or complicated procedures;

[0042] - because it is made of stainless steel, the plate has a long lifespan, is resistant to corrosion and meets hygiene standards. It is robust, allowing it to withstand frequent cleaning and handling, making it ideal for the food and beverage industry.

[0043] The fact that there is a single plate and not, for example, four spacers in202500021

[0044] correspondence with the through holes 32, further facilitates the assembly process: it is sufficient to insert, moreover manually, the plate in the body of the casing coupling the housing portion 54 with the seat 37 of the body 15, thus keeping the body and the plate integrally connected, making the casing 10 a one-piece unit. In the example referred to, using four spacers, the assembly process would take much longer and be much more complicated owing to the need to align all the spacers with the frame.

[0045] Another important feature is that the use of the plate 50 made of stainless steel, as defined above, ensures perfect alignment of the through holes 32 of the body 15 with the through holes 53 of the plate 50. This is fundamental in that the frame, plate and bushings 40 of the body 15 have to be in contact so as to ensure that all of the load is transferred from the bushings to the frame through the metal plate and not through the plastic material of the body of the casing. To be specific, composite material cannot withstand compressive loads and it is therefore essential that the bushings and plate are fully and perfectly in contact with the frame.

[0046] Advantageously, the centering portion 54 has a portion, or truncated conical edge 54” defined by means of a radially external truncated conical surface 54a.

[0047] The two truncated conical portions, the truncated conical edge 54” and the truncated conical portion 51 ” of the base portion 51 , perform various functions:

[0048] - they help to direct fluids away from the surfaces, preventing the accumulation of liquids which could give rise to corrosion or contamination. This is particularly important in environments where hygiene is crucial, such as the food and beverage industry;

[0049] - they facilitate cleaning of the surfaces, since there are fewer narrow corners where dust and dirt can accumulate. This helps maintain higher202500021

[0050] standards of cleanliness and reduces the risk of growth of bacteria;

[0051] - they reduce the concentration of tensile stresses, distributing them more evenly across the material, reducing the likelihood of cracks or fractures. This improves the durability and longevity of the component;

[0052] - they enhance assembly of the plate in the body of the casing by simplifying the alignment of the parts during assembly. In particular, the truncated conical edge 54” guides the components into position, reducing the risk of misalignment and making the assembly process more efficient;

[0053] - they enhance the aesthetics of the plate 50, giving it a more refined and professional appearance. This can be important in applications in which the appearance of the product is a factor to be considered,

[0054] - lastly, they make it possible to do away with sharp edges, reducing the risk of injury during handling and assembly of the component. This makes the components safer to use and can improve safety in the workplace more generally.

[0055] To sum up, the present invention therefore makes it possible to define a casing which is “raised” with respect to the frame of the machine on which it is to be mounted, and which is particularly suitable for the bread, bakery goods and bottling industries.

[0056] The solution is also achieved with a kit of components that is simple and easy to pre-assemble.

[0057] Furthermore, use of the gasket made of elastomeric material guarantees sealing between the frame of the machine and the casing, when it is used without the plate, and for the same reason also guarantees sealing between the plate and the body of the casing.

[0058] Lastly, the present solution makes it possible to reuse all existing components used in other applications with a non-raised casing.

[0059] In addition to the embodiment of the invention as described above, it will202500021

[0060] be appreciated that there are numerous other variants. It will also be appreciated that said embodiments are merely examples and do not limit the scope of the invention, its applications, or its possible configurations. On the contrary, although the above description enables those skilled in the art to apply the present invention according to at least one example of an embodiment, it will be appreciated that numerous variations of the components described are possible, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, interpreted literally and / or according to their legal equivalents.

Claims

202500021CLAI MS1. Casing (10) of a support assembly for food applications suitable for being mounted on the frame of a machinery, the casing (10) being made of composite material and comprising a body (15), in turn provided with:- a housing portion (20) having a through seat (25) within which a bearing unit is received,- a flange portion (30) for fixing the casing to a machine, having a base surface (35), at least two through holes (32) for housing fixing elements of the casing (10) to the machinery and a gasket (36) in elastomeric material, on the base surface (35),- at least two metal bushings (40), in a number equal to that of the through holes (32), stably housed inside respective through holes (32) and coaxial with respect to them,the casing (10) being characterized by the fact that it comprises a shaped plate (50), in stainless steel, positioned in correspondence with the base surface (35) of the flange portion (30) and configured to raise the body (15) of the casing (10) with respect to the frame of the machinery.

2. Casing (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the plate (50) comprises: - a base portion (51 )- at least two appendages (52), integrally connected to the base portion and radially external to it, each appendage (52) being provided with a through hole (53), and- a centering portion (54), of hollow cylindrical shape configured to be inserted and blocked by interference into a corresponding cylindrical seat (37) of the flange portion (30) of the body (15).2025000213. Casing (10) according to claim 2, wherein the base portion (51 ) comprises a cylindrical portion (51 ’) and a truncated conical portion (51 ”).

4. Casing (10) according to claim 3, wherein the truncated conical portion (51 ”) is defined by a radially external truncated conical surface (51 a).

5. Casing (10) according to claim 2, wherein the base portion (51 ) comprises an intermediate cylindrical portion and two truncated conical end portions.

6. Casing (10) according to anyone of claims 2 to 5, wherein the centering portion (54) has a truncated conical edge (54”) defined by means of a radially external truncated conical surface (54a).

7. Kit comprising at least one of the following components, as defined in anyone of the preceding claims, of a support assembly for food applications: a) a body (15) provided with:- a housing portion (20) having a through seat (25) within which a bearing unit is received,- a flange portion (30) for fixing the casing to a machine, having a base surface (35), at least two through holes (32) for housing fixing elements of the casing (10) to the machinery and a gasket (36) in elastomeric material, overmolded along the base surface (35),- at least two metal bushings (40) stably housed inside respective through holes (32) and coaxial with respect to them,b) a shaped plate (50), in stainless steel, positioned in correspondence with the base surface (35) of the flange portion (30) and configured to raise the body

Images