AU620430B2

AU620430B2 - Checking of doughpiece weight in a bread manufacturing plant

Info

Publication number: AU620430B2
Application number: AU39726/89A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Keith Salter
Original assignee: APV Corp Ltd
Current assignee: SPX Flow Technology Crawley Ltd
Priority date: 1988-07-14
Filing date: 1989-07-10
Publication date: 1992-02-20
Anticipated expiration: 2009-07-10
Also published as: GB2228578A; AU3972689A; WO1990000447A1; EP0380629A1; GB9005392D0; ES2014790A6

Description

GRIFFITH HACK CO PATENT AN D TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS

MELBOURNE

SYDNEY PERTH r" I

I

OPI DATE 05/02/90 APPLN. ID 39726 89 6 DATE 22/03/90 PCT NUMBER PCT/GB89/00782 TIOIAL PLI TION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (51) International Patent Classification 5 (11) International Publication Number: WO 90/00447 B07C 5/32, 5/22, A21B 7/00 Al (43) International Publication Date: 25 January 1990 (25.01.90) (21) International Application Number: PCT/GB89/00782 (81) Designated States: AT (European patent), AU, BE (European patent), CH (European patent), DE (European pa- (22) International Filing Date: 10 July 1989 (10.07.89) tent), FR (European patent), GB, GB (European patent), IT (European patent), LU (European patent), NL (European patent), SE (European patent), US.

Priority data: 8816718.4 14 July 1988 (14.07.88)- GB 8901669.5 26 January 1989(26.01.89) GB Published With international search report.

(71) Applicant (for all designated States except US): APV COR- PORATION LIMITED [GB.GB]; Westfield Road, Peterborough, Hampshire PE3 6TA (GB).

(72) Inventor; and Inventor/Applicant (for US only) SALTER, Keith [GB/ GB]; 36 Helpston Road, Ailsworth, Peterborough, Hampshire PE3 7AE (GB).

(74) Agent: BOUTLAND. Barker, Brettell Duncan, Prudential Buildings, Room 24, 97-101 Above Bar Street, Southampton, Hampshire S09 4GT (GB).

(54)Title: CHECKING OF DOUGHPIECE WEIGHT IN A BREAD MANUFACTURING PLANT

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xi 7 Abstract Bread manufacturing plant (100) comprises a doughpiece prover (101), a doughpiece loader (102) for supplying dough- )ieces to the prover (101) and apparatus disposed between the doughpiece loader (102) and the doughpiece prover (101).

I* apparatus checks the weight of the doughpieces and then discharges any unwanted doughpieces. The doughpieces are eftrably supplied in batches and one apparatus provided for each doughpiece of a batch. The apparatus preferably optesto discharge the doughpieces in one of two opposite directions, depending on the weights of the individual doughpieces.

It 1 CHECKING OF DOUGHPIECE WEIGHT IN A BREAD MANUFACTURING PLANT BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION This invention relates to doughpiece checkweight apparatus and to bread manufacturing plants and is concerned with the checking of doughpiece weight.

As used herein, the term "bread" includes loaves, rolls, baps and other articles made from dough.

SUMMARIES OF THE INVENTION .7 According to the present invention there is provided a doughpiece checkweight apparatus comprising a stationary base structure, a doughpiece weighing platform pivotally mounted on the base structure so as to be movable in opposite directions about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for determining the weight of the doughpiece when disposed on the platform, the weight determining means being operable to tilt the platform to one of opposite sides of said axis if the doughpiece weight is correct, and to the other of said opposite sides if the doughpiece weight is incorrect.

V. The platform may be movable about one of a pair of substantially horizontal axes.

The weight determining means may comprise data S processing means, and the data processing means may comprise micro-processing means.

The weight determining means may further comprise load cell means. The weight determining means may also comprise a pair of actuators operable to tilt' the platform to one of opposite sides of said pair of axes.

The platform may be carried by a pair of shafts which rest on bearing surfaces, whereby when one shaft is lifted by one of said actuators, the other shaft is caused to pivot on its bearing surface and vice versa.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a bread manufacturing plant comprising 'yT °y O WO 90/00447 PCT/GB89/00782 3/4 -2 2 r doughpiece prover means, means for supplying doughpieces to the prover means and the doughpiece checkweight apparatus of the present invention operatively disposed between the doughpiece supply means and the doughpiece prover means, and operable to first check the weight of the doughpieces and then to discharge correct weight doughpieces to the prover means.

The checkweight apparatus may be operable so as to weigh the doughpieces statically.

The checkweight apparatus may be operable so as to weigh each and every doughpiece provided by the doughpiece supply means.

The bread manufacturing plant may be provided with a plurality of checkweight apparatus whereby batches of ,o correct weight doughpieces are supplied to the prover S* means.

The bread manufacturing plant may be provided with a single dough divider and a single dough moulder, from which the doughpieces pass to the doughpiece supply means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 00° An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a view, in perspective, of a checkweight apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is an end view of an apparatus of Figure 1, Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of a bread manufacturing plant, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of a bucket loader used by the plant of Figure 3.

0.I Wo 90/00447 PCT/GB89/00782 In the figures, like reference numerals refer to like components and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to Figures 3 and 4, a bread manufacturing plant 100 comprises doughpiece prover means 101, doughpiece loader means 102 for delivering, ie supplying, batches of (eight) doughpieces 2 o the prover means 101 and a plurality of checkweight apparatus 14 disposed between the doughpiece supply means 102 and the doughpiece prover means 101, one apparatus 1 for each doughpiece 2 of an eight-doughpiece batch. The apparatus 1 are operable to check the weight of each and every doughpiece 2 of a batch simultaneously and then to discharge doughpieces in one of two opposite directions, depending on the weight of the individual doughpieces. Unwanted doughpieces are put to one side.

The doughpiece prover means 10144& basically of the form disclosed by the APV Baker Leaflet No. 289 entitled "8000 First Prover", published by APV Baker, Peterborough, England, PE3 6TA, March 1989.

Briefly, the prover means 101 comprises a plurality of trays 103 mounted on a pair of endless conveyor chains (not shown) which convey the trays within a prover cabinet. Each tray 103 of this embodiment is provided with eight pockets 104 for receiving eight doughpieces 2.

The doughpieces 2 originate first from a single dough divider (not shown) and then from a single conical moulder (not shown) from which moulded doughpieces are transported to the doughpiece loader means 102 by way of an endless conveyor band 105. The doughpieces 2 are fed by the band 105 onto an endless conveyor-type bucket loader 106 comprising a plurality of trapdoor-like bucket members 107 pivotally mounted on a pair of endless chains 108.

The dough divider may be of the form disclosed by UK Patent No.

1,447,140 and the conical moulder of the form disclosed by UK Patent No. 5,068 of 1902.

WO 90/00447 PCT/GB89/007 8 2 The top run of the loader 106 comprises, in this cxample, eight bucket members 107, although a larger number of bucket memb-rs may be provided, if required. When eight doughpieces 2 are present at a tripping station on the top run, the eight bucket members 107 are tripped, causing the eight doughpieces to fall simultaneously onto the eight apparatus 1 below. Thereafter the members 107 of the bucket loader 106 continue in movement, and the tripping action is repeated when the next eight bucket members 107 with their doughpieces arrive at the tripping station.

With reference now to Figures 1 and 2, each of the apparatus 1 comprises a base structure 3, a doughpiece weighing platform 4 pivotally mounted on the base structure 3 so as to be movable about either one of a pair of substantially horizontal axes 5a, 5b and means 6 for determining the weight of the doughpiece 12 when disposed on the platform 4, the means 6 being operable to tilt the platform 4 to one of the opposite sides of said axes 5a, 5b according to the doughpiece weight. The axes 5a, 5b are laterally spaced, being disposed in substantially parallel array.

The weighing platform 4 comprises a flat-sided, internally-coated, pan of frusto-pyramidal form. Doughpieces 2 are fed to the platform 4 by gravity, using the bucket loader 106 which travels above the apparatus 1.

The doughpiece weight determining means 6 comprises a load cell carrying a movable sensing pad 13 on its upper end, and supported by spacer blocks 17, 18 disposed on a support surface 11 of the base structure 3, and a base plate 12 which bears upon the sensing pad of the load cell 10, and which carries the weighing platform 4 (Figure The weighing platform 4 is provided with support structure 14 comprising a pair of angular plates 15 mounted aajacent the ends of a pair of laterally spaced, substantially parallel shafts 16a, 16b, the axes of which are common with axes 5a and respectively. f NWO 90/00447 PCT/GB89/00782 The ends of the shafts 16a, 16b rest in bearing surfaces defined by "V"-like slots 19 formed in bearing blocks 20 carried by the base plate 12. Opposite sides of the plate 12 have downwardly extending flanges 12a.

The doughpiece weight determining means 6 further comprise a pair of fluid-operated actuators* 21a, 21b, a programmable controller 22 incorporating data processing means in the form of a microprocessor, and solenoid-operated valve units 28a, 28b for operating the actuators 21a, 21b. The units 28a, 28b are under the control of the controller 22 by way of signal lines 36a, 36b. The valve units 28a, 28b are supplied with compressed air from a conventional factory air line (not shown). A signal line 27 connects the load cell 10 with the controller 22.

The actuators 21a, 21b are of the air-operated piston and cylinder type, having piston rods and cylinders. The cylinders have air inlet/outlet lines (not shown) connected to air inlet/outlet lines (not shown) of the valve units 28a, 28b. The actuators 21a, 21b are mounted on upright supports 25 and are pivotally attached thereto by brackets 29a, 29b (Figure 2) so as to be movable about substantially horizontal axes 26a, 26b.

The piston rods of the actuators 21a, 21b are pivotally attached to the shafts 16a, 16b.

Downwardly-extending doughpiece guide plates 30, 31 are disposed on opposite sides of the weighing platform 4, and adjacent flanges 12a of the base plate 12.

The pan 36 of the platform 4, which is of part spherical form, is of meshed plastics material. Alternatively, it may be of woven cloth.

In operation, a doughpiece 2 is deposited on the platform 4 by way of the bucket loader 106 (Figure The weight of the doughpiece 2 is then sensed by the controller 22 through the load cell 10. The S. ;I r U~ c r~ i WO 90/00447 PCT/GB89/00782 weight data is processed by the microprocessor of the controller 22 which then, through one of the valve units 28a, 28b, causes the actuators 21a, 21b to tilt the platform 4 to one side or the other of the axis 5a or 5b. This is done by lifting one shaft 16a or 16b out of its slots 19 so that the platform 4 then pivots about the axis 5a or 5b of the other shaft, through approximately 90° in the desired direction. In this example, if the doughpiece 2 is of incorrect weight, the platform 4 is tilted to the left or near side, as seen in Figure 1, by the piston rod of the actuator 21b being extended so that the right-hand or far-side shaft 16b is lifted upwardly, out of its slot 19, and the platform support structure 14, rotated, on the associated bearing surface slot 19, about the axis of the near-side shaft 16a. The unwanted doughpiece 2 is thus tipped out onto the guide plate 30 to pass to a rejection bin 109 (Figure On the other hand, if the doughpiece 2 is of the correct weight, the platform support structure 14 is tilted to the right or far side, as seen in Figure 1 and the doughpiece 2 tipped out of the platform 4 to travel down the guide plate 31 to an acceptance station (ie a prover pocket 104) (Figure 3).

Wheels 35 (Figure 3) are fitted to the base structure 3 in order to make the apparatus 1 portable, whereby it may be wheeled in or out of line. Preferably four apparatus 1 are interconnected, on the same base structure 3, so that all four can be transported as a single unit, on the wheels 35, together with a front shield 110, after lifting a hinged cover 111.

The apparatus 1 operate to weigh the individual doughpieces 2 statically, as distinct from "live" or continuous checkweighing apparatus which employ continuously running endless belts and which check the weight of articles being transported by the belts.

The arrangement allows a ready interchange of checkweight apparatus 1 without the need to stop the plant 100 for more than a minute or two. Or, if production is allowed to continue without stopping the plant, allowing at least some of the doughpieces to be processed 1 WO 90/00447 PCT/GB89/00782 without weight checking. When an apparatus 1 is not expected to be in situ for a substantial period, the apparatus can be replaced by a chute which directs the doughpieces 2 into the pockets 107, by way of plate 31.

EmPi0o6A'AeA_-A f Vie (Ae Inenton Mr r ke Th: inventi:n izAparticularly suitable for use in a high-speed bread processing plant, typically a plant processing not less than 4,000 doughpieces per hour and including and exceeding production rates of 8,000 bread doughpieces per hour. At 8,000 doughpieces per hour, using eight apparatus 1, each doughpiece has 3.6 seconds to be weighed, discharged or rejected, an adequate period.

The plant 100 ensures that all doughpieces 2 being processed are weight checked. Any doubles present are rejected before they can enter the prover means 101.

A single apparatus 1 can be used to check the mean weight setting for a dough divider and can reject any light weights which it weighs.

Alternatively, one apparatus 1 can be sited in one of a plurality of positions to check the individual pockets of a divider.

f T.^o f it 1

Claims

1. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus comprising a stationary base structure, a doughpiece weighing platform pivotally mounted on the base structure so as to be movable in opposite directions about a substantially horizontal axis, and means for determining the weight of the doughpiece when disposed on the platform, the weight determining means being operable to tilt the platform to one of opposite sides of said axis if the doughpiece weight is correct, and to the other of said opposite sides if the doughpiece weight is incorrect.

S2. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus as claimed in 9 Claim 1, wherein the platform is movable about one of a Spair of substantially horizontal axes.

3. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2 wherein the weight determining means comprise data processing means.

4. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the data processing means comprise micro-processing means.

Doughpiece checkweight apparatus as claimed in either Claim 3 or 4 wherein the weight determining means further comprise load cell means.

6. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the weight determining means further comprise a pair of actuators operable to tilt the platform to one of opposite sides of said pair of axes.

7. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the platform is carried by a pair of shafts which rest on bearing surfaces, whereby when one shaft is lifted by one of said actuators, the other shaft is caused I 4j to pivot on its bearing surface and vice versa.

8. Bread manufacturing plant comprising doughpiece prover means, means for supplying doughpieces to the prover means and doughpiece checkweight apparatus, as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 operatively disposed between the doughpiece supply means and the doughpiece prover means, and operable to first check the weight of the doughpieces and then to discharge correct weight doughpieces to the prover means.

9. Bread manufacturing plant is claimed in Claim 8, wherein the checkweight apparatus is operable so as to weigh the doughpieces statically.

10. Bread manufacturing plant as claimed in either Claim 8 or 9, wherein the checkweight apparatus is operable so as to weigh each and every doughpiece provided by the doughpiece'supply means.

11. Bread manufacturing plant as claimed in any one of Claims 8, 9 or 10, provided with a plurality of checkweight apparatus whereby batches of correct weight doughpieces are supplied to the prover means.

12. Bread manufacturing plant as claimed in any one of Claims 8, 9 or 10, provided with a single dough divider and a single dough moulder, from which the doughpieces pass to the doughpiece supply means.

13. Bread manufacturing plant substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. 1 "t 10

14. Doughpiece checkweight apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 11TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 1991. APV CORPORATION LIMITED By Its Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia. *«1 L J: