AU2002238448B2 - Method and device for dosing composite viscous food products - Google Patents

Description

-1- METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DOSING COMPOSITE VISCOUS FOODSTUFFS Field of the Invention The invention relates to a method and to a device for metering (dosing) composite viscous foodstuffs into containers.

00 The invention relates more specifically to the combined metering of at least two foodstuffs of different natures 00 10 into packaging containers. These foodstuffs are intended, C- in particular, to be stored and distributed in a refrigerated circuit. In this field, it is particularly advantageous to produce, at a high rate, composite foodstuffs which are packaged in groups in multiple cavities or I"multipacks". It would be desirable to be able to meter composite foodstuffs which differ from one another into multipacks, for example in a superposed, coaxial and collateral fashion, from one and the same metering head which is both compact and versatile. It would also be desirable for the metered foodstuffs to be able to contain bits.

Background of the Invention Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered as an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

FR-A-2 708 563 discloses a method and a device for filling pots with liquid and/or pasty products which are coextruded coaxially, one of the products constituting a centre of cylindrical shape and the other a cylindrical sleeve surrounding the said centre. The products are metered under pressure from flexible supply ducts via diaphragm valves to a moving metering device which is moved up and down.

In its most compact embodiment depicted in Figure 6, that device comprises a product distribution plate, supplied with a first product, the central product, through an 2 elbowed lateral duct and with a second product, the C peripheral product, through a vertical central duct.

A multiple nozzle is housed in the distribution plate, the said nozzle having an annular cavity connected by radial ducts of smaller cross section to a blind central ejection duct for the central product, and longitudinal ejection ducts of smaller cross section arranged around the central

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ejection duct and passing right through the nozzle body.

OO 10 The supply of the second product from the central supply Mduct to the peripheral longitudinal ejection ducts is 9 controlled by a diaphragm of annular shape in direct Ccontact with the upper face of the nozzle.

The known device has certain drawbacks: the metered weights are irregular, undoubtedly due to the annular diaphragm, the annular configuration of the diaphragm allows the use of the nozzle only in the coaxial format, it is not possible to meter products containing bits.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

The method and the device according to a preferred form of the present invention may ameliorate some of the drawbacks of the previously known device.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for the combined dosing of at least two viscous food products of different kinds into packaging containers, wherein dosing of identical or different composite products into cells is carried out simultaneously from a plurality of detachable and interchangeable ejecting nozzles which are inserted in a distributing plate, without direct contact with diaphragm-type valves, the said composite products having specific quantities of at least 3 two viscous products which are co-dosed separately into the O cells in accordance with a concomitant, in particular Cl coaxial or collateral, mode, from the same supply of each of the said viscous products.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a device for the combined dosing of at least two viscous food products of different kinds into packaging 00 containers, said device comprising: S 10 a plate for distributing the

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00 M product which is supplied with first product via a y lateral duct and with second product via a vertical Scentral duct; means for the separate opening and closing of the supply of first product and second product, which means are constituted by pneumatically activated diaphragm-type valves; and wherein said device comprises: a plurality of detachable and interchangeable nozzles for ejecting the identical or different co-dosed products, which nozzles are inserted in the distributing plate, communicate with the supply ducts and permit simultaneous dosing from the same supply of each of the said viscous products; and in that the nozzles are not in direct contact with the diaphragms.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided composite viscous food product which is in the form of a multi-pack packaging, wherein the same multi-pack has a number of packaging containers, the said containers containing composite products having specific quantities of at least two viscous products of a different kind and of different, in particular coaxial or collateral, configurations.

4 The method according to the invention is characterized in C that identical or different composite foodstuffs are CI metered simultaneously or sequentially into cavities, the said composite foodstuffs comprising determined quantities of at least two viscous foodstuffs co-metered separately into the cavities either concomitantly or sequentially, from one and the same supply of each of the said viscous foodstuffs.

00 10 The device according to the invention is characterized in 00 Mthat it comprises: CI a foodstuff distribution plate supplied with a first Sfoodstuff by a lateral duct and with a second foodstuff by a vertical central duct, separate means of opening and closing the supply of the first and of the second foodstuff, these means consisting of pneumatically operated diaphragm valves, and removable and interchangeable nozzles for ejecting the co-metered foodstuffs, which can be inserted into the distribution plate, communicating with the supply ducts and configured to allow simultaneous or sequential metering, and in that the nozzles are not in direct contact with the diaphragms.

In the context of the invention, foodstuffs can be metered in different ways depending on the configuration of the nozzles and nozzle holes. Thus, the nozzles and nozzle holes may, when metering is simultaneous, delimit coaxial or collateral streams of foodstuffs or they define zones representing more complex figures. In the case of sequential metering, the foodstuffs may have superposed zones or layers.

The metered foodstuffs may be foodstuffs of the dessert type, creams, sweet or savoury mousses, fermented dairy products, particularly of the yogurt and fromage frais variety. One of the foodstuffs may, for example, be a fromage frais and the other may be a mousse or a preparation based on fruit, vegetables or meat. The two foodstuffs may, for example, be fromage frais with different flavours and/or different colours.

Such foodstuffs may, for example, although not exclusively, be of the type described in patent EP-B-0 358 983 or in patent application PCT/EP00/07121 filed on 24.07.2000. As a preference, the foodstuffs have contrasting flavours and colours and similar textures.

00 10 Whether they are in the form of a gel, of curds, of an 00 M emulsion or of a dispersion, one thing all the foodstuffs (Ni that can be metered by the method and the device of the invention have in common is that their viscosity is between 5000 and 15000 mPa.s measured with a Brookfield viscosity meter at 10 0 C, 50 rpm/disk Either one of the foodstuffs or both may contain bits, for example bits of vegetables, spices in a savoury version or, in a sweetened version, bits of fresh, dried, candied or pureed fruit, or bits of confectionery such as chocolate.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of a unit for metering and distributing two viscous foodstuffs using a removable ejection nozzle of a first type for coaxial metering, Figure 2 is a detail view in axial section of a multiple metering head with adjacent nozzles for coaxial metering, Figure 3 is a detail view in elevation of a multiple distribution plate with nozzles for coaxial metering, Figure 4 is a detail view in axial section of a multiple metering head with a second configuration of removable ejection nozzles lying adjacent to each other for collateral metering, 6 O Figure 5 is a view in elevation of a multiple distribution CI plate with nozzles for collateral metering, and Figure 6 is a schematic view of two nozzles of different configurations on one and the same metering head with a removable securing means.

00 0 In a preferred embodiment of the method according to the ]0 invention which is shown in Figure i, two masses of M fermented dairy products of the "petit-suisse" cream cheese C' variety or one "petit-suisse" and one fruit compote of plastic consistency A and B are conveyed, for example by a single or double Archimedian screw or by positivedisplacement pumps to hoppers, which may be pressurized, and which have not been depicted.

Regulated valves, not depicted, allow the metering cylinders, not depicted, to be supplied with masses of foodstuff, and the masses are conveyed by passageways 1 and 2 to the metering head 3. The metering head 3 comprises a vertical nozzle 4 via which the masses A and B are metered into pots 5 carried by an endless conveyor 6 passing step by step under the nozzles 4.

In the case of Figure I, the filling of a pot is concentric and consists of a central portion of mass of type A, surrounded by an annular portion B, both of which are metered by a volume-control mechanism.

This mechanism preferably comprises a passageway 1 upstream of the nozzle through which the mass B is conveyed to the nozzle and the passageway 1 may be closed and opened by means of the elastic diaphragm 7 controlled pneumatically by air from the duct 8. In the same way, the passageway 2 upstream of the nozzle serves to convey the mass A and the passageway 2 can be closed or opened via the elastic diaphragm 10 controlled pneumatically by air from the duct 11.

7 The volumetric metering chambers, not depicted, consist of O metering pistons and the passageway portions 1 and 2 CI located upstream of the diaphragms. The passages comprising the passageway portions 1 and 2 downstream of the diaphragms and the passages 12 and 13 are preferably optimized so as to produce symmetric streams for the masses A and B so as to improve the preciseness of the metering, and are designed to occupy the minimum possible amount of

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0 space and give the metering head a compact configuration.

oo 00 M As a preference, the metering pistons are operated A individually so as to allow the metering rate to be Cadjusted, for example by means of a variator varying the speed of the motor controlling the stroke of the pistons.

That may allow the metering of one of the masses to be offset slightly with respect to the other when their respective viscosities are not exactly the same.

The pots arrive under the metering head. For correct filling, without the formation of air pockets, the metering head is preferably mounted on a raising and lowering device embodied by the double-headed arrow 14, by means of which device the nozzles are lowered into the pots when the pots arrive under the metering machine, down to a level near to the bottom, and fill them as they are being raised.

Thus, the connecting tubes between the metering cylinders and the nozzles are flexible. The pots are stationary during filling. They advance by one step once they have been filled.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, coaxial metering may be achieved by means of a distribution plate for filling 12 pots with a configuration of adjacent nozzles in opposition. In this case, the conveyor advances by two steps for each metering of two lots of six pots.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, collateral metering may be achieved by means of a distribution plate for filling 12 pots with a configuration of adjacent nozzles in 8 opposition. In this case, the conveyor advances by two C steps for each metering of two lots of six pots.

One considerable advantage of the filling device of the invention is the fact that the nozzles are not in direct contact with the diaphragms, which makes them removable and interchangeable.

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00 Another advantage is that the configuration of the metering 10 plates allow nozzles of one type, for example for coaxial 00 Mmetering, to be inserted easily for example in the same A metering head with nozzles of a different type, for example Sfor collateral metering, thus allowing foodstuffs to be metered with varying configurations into multipacks.

As is apparent from Figure 6, the nozzles for coaxial metering and those for collateral metering can easily be inserted from the bottom upwards into the corresponding housings 15 of the distribution plates and can be held in place by the U-shaped wedges 16 which are inserted laterally into the grooves 17.

As a preference, the wedges are made of a material which has undergone a surface hardening treatment, for example "kolsterizing" (Hardiff method) which allows them to slide in the grooves 17 formed in the metal of the nozzle holder distribution plate without oxidizing while at the same time maintaining a seal. Of course, any equivalent mechanical means of removable attachment could be used, for example a snap-fastening means.

The pots may be of any shape and size, for example, square, rectangular, frustoconical, cylindrical with circular or oval cross section or, for example, in the shape of a stylized heart.

They may be opaque or preferably transparent to show the contrasting layers of the different masses. The fill volume may preferably be from 20 to 200 cm 3 As a preference, the 9 pots are multipacks and are thermoformed, filled and sealed with lids continuously using form-fill-seal equipment.

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Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', S'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not 00 limited to".

00 Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples it will be appreciated by those skilled C- in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims (10)

1. A method for the combined dosing of at least two viscous food products of different kinds into packaging containers, wherein dosing of identical or different composite products into cells is carried out simultaneously from a plurality of detachable and interchangeable ejecting nozzles which are inserted 00 in a distributing plate, without direct contact with f diaphragm-type valves, the said composite products 00 S 10 having specific quantities of at least two viscous c-i products which are co-dosed separately into the cells Sin accordance with a concomitant, in particular coaxial or collateral, mode, from the same supply of each of the said viscous products.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein composite products disposed coaxially and products disposed collaterally in a forming/filling/sealing apparatus of the form/fill/seal type are dosed simultaneously into multiple cells.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein one or other of the viscous products, or even both of them, contain pieces, in particular of vegetables, of spices in a culinary version or, in a sweetened version, of fresh fruits, dried fruits, candied fruits or pureed fruits, or of confectionery mass such as chocolate.

4. A device for the combined dosing of at least two viscous food products of different kinds into packaging containers, said device comprising: a plate for distributing the product which is supplied with first product via a lateral duct and with second product via a vertical central duct; means for the separate opening and closing of the supply of first product and second product, which means are constituted by pneumatically activated diaphragm-type valves; and wherein said device comprises: a plurality of detachable and interchangeable nozzles for ejecting the identical or 00 different co-dosed products, which nozzles are y inserted in the distributing plate, communicate with 00 S 10 the supply ducts and permit simultaneous dosing from c-i the same supply of each of the said viscous products; Sand wherein the nozzles are not in direct contact with the diaphragms. A device according to claim 4, wherein the configuration of the passages for the products makes it possible for one or other of the viscous products, or even both of them, to contain pieces, in particular of vegetables, of spices in a culinary version or, in a sweetened version, of fresh fruits, dried fruits, candied fruits or pureed fruits, or of confectionery mass such as chocolate.

6. A device according to claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the dosing takes place in volumetric dosing chambers constituted by cylinders closed by dosing pistons and those portions of conduits which are situated upstream of the diaphragms.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein the passages comprising the portions of conduits downstream of the diaphragms and the passages in the body of the nozzles are optimised in such a way as to obtain symmetrical flows for the masses in order to improve the accuracy of the dosing operation, and that they are designed to occupy the smallest possible amount 12 of space and to ensure a compact configuration amount of space and to ensure a compact configuration of the dosing head.

8. A device according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the _dosing pistons are activated individually in order to permit an adjustment of the dosing speed which OO provides slightly deferred filling with one of the I- masses in relation to the other in such a way as to 00 S 10 be able to effect collateral filling with masses whose viscosity is not exactly the same.

9. A device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein, for suitable filling of pots without the formation of pockets of air, the filling head is mounted on a rising and descending device by means of which the nozzles descend into the pots as far as a level close to the bottom and the pots are filled while the nozzles are rising again. device according to any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the nozzles for coaxial dosing and those for collateral dosing are easily inserted, from bottom to top, in corresponding housings in the distribution plates, and that said nozzles can be held in position by means of elements which are inserted in the corresponding housings.

11.A device according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the nozzles are held in position by U-shaped pins which are inserted laterally into grooves, and that the pins are made of a material which has undergone a surface-hardening treatment which enables them to slide in the grooves arranged in the metal of the nozzle-carrying distributing plate without undergoing oxidation but while at the same time ensuring sealing. 13 S12. Composite viscous food product which is in the form CI of a multi-pack packaging, wherein the same multi- pack has a number of packaging containers, the said containers containing composite products having O specific quantities of at least two viscous products of a different kind and of different, in particular 00 coaxial or collateral, configurations. 00 Mc, 10 13. A method for the combined dosing of at least two C- viscous food products of different kinds into packaging containers, said method substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples.

14. A device for the combined dosing of at least two viscous food products of different kinds into packaging containers, said device substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. Composite viscous food product which is in the form of a multi-pack packaging, said composite viscous food product substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and/or examples. Dated this 9 th day of May 2007 Shelston IP Attorneys for: Societe Des Produits Nestle S.A.