EP0383818A1 - Device for processing products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular foodstuffs. - Google Patents

Device for processing products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular foodstuffs.

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Publication number
EP0383818A1
EP0383818A1 EP88909772A EP88909772A EP0383818A1 EP 0383818 A1 EP0383818 A1 EP 0383818A1 EP 88909772 A EP88909772 A EP 88909772A EP 88909772 A EP88909772 A EP 88909772A EP 0383818 A1 EP0383818 A1 EP 0383818A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
zone
airlock
treatment device
box
product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP88909772A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0383818B1 (en
Inventor
Olivier Desjonqueres
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from FR8715251A external-priority patent/FR2622406B1/en
Priority claimed from FR8717373A external-priority patent/FR2624475B1/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to AT88909772T priority Critical patent/ATE78449T1/en
Publication of EP0383818A1 publication Critical patent/EP0383818A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0383818B1 publication Critical patent/EP0383818B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B25/00—Packaging other articles presenting special problems
    • B65B25/02—Packaging agricultural or horticultural products
    • B65B25/04—Packaging fruit or vegetables
    • B65B25/041—Packaging fruit or vegetables combined with their conservation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas

Definitions

  • the invention which relates to a device for treating products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular food products, relates more precisely to the inerting of the zone of production of said products as well as the particular means associated with it for the introduction of the product into the area and its extraction.
  • metabisulfite When metabisulfite is used in massive doses, it whitens the potato which is impregnated with it and which can then absorb oxygen which can eventually migrate through the wall of its packaging, which allows the use of a permeable packaging bag. oxygen, therefore thinner and less expensive.
  • metabisulfite treatment has the drawback of making the potato spongy when it comes to cooking, but also of releasing enzymes which affect the quality of the product consumed. It was therefore preferred to move towards a precooked refrigeration process which has the main advantage of blocking the process of release of enzymes mentioned above. But then the fried obtained becomes crumbly. And then, if the use of metabisulfite is limited by directives from the control services, we are then obliged to compensate for this by important precautions in the packaging of the product. product treated to prevent oxygen from acting on the product.
  • One of the merits of the invention lies precisely in that it makes it possible to very significantly limit the quantity of meta bis ulfite used before the treatment and packaging of the food product by the fact that it proposes to provide inerting. of the entire product development zone, zone towards which, in which, and leaving from which the product is treated continuously to obtain a final product, which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above.
  • An object of the present invention therefore consists in a device for treating products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular food products, comprising a plurality of machines or mechanisms capable of ensuring washing, mechanical treatment and the conditioning of the treated product, a device according to which inerting of the atmosphere enveloping the machines and the mechanisms for processing said product is ensured and maintained, in the zone of its preparation from its introduction into said zone until its extraction from the zone and in that means of the type of airlock are provided to allow the introduction of the product at the entrance to the production zone, and its extraction from said zone after its treatment.
  • a sealed box delimits a chamber filled with an inert atmosphere at low overpressure inside which is a succession of treatment and transfer stations, the box being provided with an airlock. 'introduction and an airlock.
  • the introductory airlock is an immersion airlock consisting of a tank filled with a rinsing liquid, placed both outside and inside the box, which it passes through an opening provided in one of its walls, said wall at the edge of this opening plunging into the liquid and forming a barrier between the outside air and the inerted chamber.
  • a bagging machine of a type known per se, is associated with a hopper tightly connected to one of the last transfer devices provided in the production zone, and constitutes an airlock. extraction of the product outside the production area.
  • a zone 1 for developing the product essentially comprises a sealed box 2 of parallelepipedal shape which rests on supports 3.
  • One end of the box, at its lower part, has an opening 4 in one of its side walls. This opening made it possible to position on the bottom of the box and inside thereof a tank 5 filled with a rinsing liquid 6.
  • the level of the liquid is such that the upper edge of the opening 4 on the wall side of the box, plunges into the liquid which then forms a barrier between the outside air, and the chamber 7, inside the box.
  • the container 5 on its longitudinal edges seals the lateral parts of the opening 4, for example using seals 8 (visible in FIG. 2) so that there is no communication between room 7 and the outside.
  • This tank 5 filled with liquid thus constitutes a submerged airlock at the entrance to the inerted zone formed by the box 2.
  • the bottom of the tank 5 has a pit 9 which serves as a housing for the lower end of a continuous belt elevator 10 returning to a lower drum 11 embedded in the liquid 6 and an upper drum 12 located inside and at the top 13 of the box 2 and driven by an external motor 15.
  • the strip 10 carries buckets or pallets 13 which can extract the potatoes which have been poured into the tank 5 outside the box, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 and which, washed by the liquid 6, will be oriented by the guide plate 13 towards the pit 9 to be taken up by said belt elevator 10.
  • a fixed lower plate 17 for collecting the rinsing liquid and returning it to the tank 5.
  • a drip conveyor 14 also consisting of an endless belt with continuous unwinding 16 which is obviously formed of flexible meshes allowing the flow of the rinsing liquid, as can be seen more precisely in FIG. 2.
  • This liquid is advantageously recycled to the rinsing bath 6.
  • the drip conveyor 14 pours the drained potatoes into an inlet chute 18 to a cutting machine 19.
  • the band 21 develops upwards inside a waterproof cover 27 which communicates with the box 2.
  • the strip 21 is driven by a motor 28 external to the box 2 (FIG. 2).
  • the cut potatoes are, during their movement on the strip 21 subjected to a new rinsing by a spraying device 22 which projects a mixture of water and metabisulfite, or any other antioxidant product, all skilfully dosed. Potatoes thus cut and treated are discharged at the top of the lifting strip 21 and poured into a hopper 23 which is tightly connected to the cover 27 just below the upper end of the strip 21. This hopper orients the cut potatoes towards a tube 24 at the bottom of which they are collected in a packaging bag 25.
  • a bagging machine 26 of a type known per se which also performs the role of an airlock as the plastic film constituting the packaging bag, reconstitutes, after sealing, and by its shape, a supply tube identical to the tube 24 and a minimal laminar slot between the tube and the outside is created.
  • an inert atmosphere for example nitrogen
  • This relative overpressure is established in the tube 24 and prevents air ambient to enter the sachet subjected to the same nitrogen pressure, the end of the sachet having been previously sealed.
  • This extraction station which constitutes a final airlock also aims to. keep the product isolated during its transfer from the manufacturing enclosure to its packaging bag, before it is sealed at its upper part by the machine 26.
  • the treatment of the product in question is carried out continuously inside an enclosure inerted 7.
  • the inerting of the box for example as was said by virtue of a nitrogen atmosphere with low overpressure, is conventionally provided by a source of inerting using inlet and outlet pipes. flow of fluids provided with suitable valves, not shown.
  • maintaining the inert atmosphere of chamber 7 at a rigorously controlled predetermined temperature is ensured by conventional means not described or shown.
  • a number of mechanisms are also provided outside of the sealed box 2. In the example of embodiment shown, in this case, the drive motors 15 and
  • the invention has been described on a preferred embodiment for the treatment of potatoes with a view to their freezing and refrigeration and / or their packaging. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this particular application, but also finds use for other products in the food sector and in particular for the treatment of food emulsions.
  • the product could be introduced into the inerted preparation zone using an entry airlock which would, for example, be placed upstream of a grinder.
  • An entry airlock for empty packaging as well as an exit airlock for filled packaging, that is to say pots or containers containing the product, would then be provided at the entry and exit from the zone d 'development which would contain, in addition to the crusher, the appropriate packaging machine.
  • the invention would also find use in fields other than the food industry, such as the chemical industry, pharmacy, cosmetology and for all applications which require continuous product treatment in an inert atmosphere, with airlock. 'entry and exit.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Agronomy & Crop Science (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
  • General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
  • Food Preservation Except Freezing, Refrigeration, And Drying (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR88/00529 Sec. 371 Date Jun. 25, 1990 Sec. 102(e) Date Jun. 25, 1990 PCT Filed Oct. 28, 1988 PCT Pub. No. WO89/04277 PCT Pub. Date May 18, 1989.A hermetically sealed case (2) delimits a chamber (7) with an inert atmosphere within which are located a series of product processing and transfer stations (10,14,19,21,22). A product washing means (5,6) forms an inlet lock to the chamber while a product packaging means (23,24,26,30) forms an exit lock from the chambrer.

Description

Dispositif de traitement de produits sous atmosphère et température contrôlées, notamment de produits alimentaires Device for treating products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular food products
L'invention qui a pour objet un dispositif de traitement de produits sous atmosphère et température contrôlées, notamment de produits alimentaires, concerne plus précisément l'inertage de la zone d'élaboration desdits produits ainsi que les moyens particuliers qui lui sont associés pour l'introduction du produit dans la zone et son extraction.The invention which relates to a device for treating products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular food products, relates more precisely to the inerting of the zone of production of said products as well as the particular means associated with it for the introduction of the product into the area and its extraction.
Dans le domaine de la fabrication de certains produits alimentaires, comme par exemple des emulsions de fruit ou encore des légumes divers, pommes de terre, céleris, etc.. qui doivent être traités et préparés en vue de leur surgélation ou leur conditionnement, il est absolument nécessaire de protéger le produit en question de son oxydation à l'air libre, qui entraîne son jaunissement, plus particulièrement pour les fruits comme la pomme ou l'avocat ou pour les pommes de terre. Pour ces dernières, précisément, qui sont très largement utilisées pour la fabrication de frites en surgelé ou en réfrigéré, il est habituel de les traiter à plusieurs stades de sa fabrication au métabi suifite qui est un antioxydant puissant et qui les protège du jaunissèment à l'air libre. Quand le métabisulfite est utilisé en dose massive, il blanchit la pomme de terre qui en est imprégnée et qui peut alors absorber l'oxygène pouvant éventuellement migrer à travers la paroi de son emballage, ce qui permet d'utiliser un sac de conditionnement perméable à l'oxygène, donc plus mince et moins coûteux. En contrepartie de cet avantage le traitement au métabisulfite présente l'inconvénient de rendre la pomme de terre spongieuse quand elle vient à la cuisson mais aussi de libérer des enzymes portant atteinte à la qualité guεtative du produit consommé. On a préféré alors s'orienter vers un procédé de réfrigération avec précuisson qui a le principal avantage de bloquer le processus de libération d'enzymes évoqué plus haut. Mais alors la frite obtenue devient friable. Et puis, si l'usage de métabisulfite est limité par des directives des services de contrôle, on est obligé alors de compenser cela par des précautions importantes du conditionnement dυ produit traité pour éviter que l'oxygène n'agisse sur le produit.In the field of the production of certain food products, such as for example fruit emulsions or else various vegetables, potatoes, celery, etc. which must be processed and prepared for freezing or packaging, it is absolutely necessary to protect the product in question from its oxidation in the open air, which causes its yellowing, more particularly for fruits such as apple or avocado or for potatoes. For the latter, precisely, which are very widely used for the production of frozen or refrigerated fries, it is usual to treat them at several stages of its manufacture with metabi suifite which is a powerful antioxidant and which protects them from yellowing when 'outdoors. When metabisulfite is used in massive doses, it whitens the potato which is impregnated with it and which can then absorb oxygen which can eventually migrate through the wall of its packaging, which allows the use of a permeable packaging bag. oxygen, therefore thinner and less expensive. In return for this advantage, metabisulfite treatment has the drawback of making the potato spongy when it comes to cooking, but also of releasing enzymes which affect the quality of the product consumed. It was therefore preferred to move towards a precooked refrigeration process which has the main advantage of blocking the process of release of enzymes mentioned above. But then the fried obtained becomes crumbly. And then, if the use of metabisulfite is limited by directives from the control services, we are then obliged to compensate for this by important precautions in the packaging of the product. product treated to prevent oxygen from acting on the product.
Un des mérites de l'invention réside justement en ce qu'elle permet de limiter de façon très importante la quantité de méta bis ulfite utilisé avant le traitement et le conditionnement du produit alimentaire par le fait qu'elle propose d'assurer l'inertage de toute la zone d'élaboration du produit, zone vers laquelle, dans laquelle, et en sortant de laquelle le produit est traité en continu pour obtenir un produit final, qui ne présente pas les inconvénients précédemment évoqués.One of the merits of the invention lies precisely in that it makes it possible to very significantly limit the quantity of meta bis ulfite used before the treatment and packaging of the food product by the fact that it proposes to provide inerting. of the entire product development zone, zone towards which, in which, and leaving from which the product is treated continuously to obtain a final product, which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above.
Aussi un objet de la présente invention consiste-t-il en un disp ositif de traitement de produits sous atmosphère et température contrôlées, notamment de pro duit s alimentaires, comportant une pluralité de machines ou mécanismes aptes a assurer le lavage, le traitement mécanique et le conditionnement du produit traité, dispositif selon lequel on assure et on maintient un inertage de l'atmosphère enveloppant les machines et les mécanismes de traitement dudit produit, dans la zone de son élaboration depuis son introduction dans ladite zone jusqu'à son extraction hors de la zone et en ce que des moyens du genre de sas sont prévus pour permettre l'introduction du produit à l'entrée de la zone d'élaboration, et son extraction de ladite zone après son traitement.An object of the present invention therefore consists in a device for treating products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular food products, comprising a plurality of machines or mechanisms capable of ensuring washing, mechanical treatment and the conditioning of the treated product, a device according to which inerting of the atmosphere enveloping the machines and the mechanisms for processing said product is ensured and maintained, in the zone of its preparation from its introduction into said zone until its extraction from the zone and in that means of the type of airlock are provided to allow the introduction of the product at the entrance to the production zone, and its extraction from said zone after its treatment.
Selon une autre caractéristique principale de l'invention un caisson étanche délimite une chambre remplie d'atmosphère inerte à faible surpression à l'intérieur de laquelle se trouve une succession de postes de traitement et de transfert, le caisson étant pourvu d'un sas d'introduction et d'un sas d'extraction.According to another main characteristic of the invention, a sealed box delimits a chamber filled with an inert atmosphere at low overpressure inside which is a succession of treatment and transfer stations, the box being provided with an airlock. 'introduction and an airlock.
Selon une disposition avantageuse de l'invention, le sas d'introduction est un sas à immersion constitué d'un bac rempli d'un liquide de rinçage, disposé à la fois à l'extérieur et a l'intérieur du caisson, qu'il traverse par une ouverture prévue dans une de ses parois, ladite paroi au bord de cette ouverture plongeant dans le liquide et formant une barrière entre l'air extérieur et la chambre inertée.According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the introductory airlock is an immersion airlock consisting of a tank filled with a rinsing liquid, placed both outside and inside the box, which it passes through an opening provided in one of its walls, said wall at the edge of this opening plunging into the liquid and forming a barrier between the outside air and the inerted chamber.
Selon encore une autre caractéristique intéressante de l'invention, une machine ensacheuse, de type connu en soi, est associée à une trémie raccordée de façon étanche à un des derniers dispositifs de transfert prévu dans la zone d'élaboration, et constitue un sas d'extraction du produit hors de la zone d'élaboration. D'autres caractéristiques particulières ainsi que les avantages de l'invention ressortiront de la description qui va suivre d'une réalisation particulière dans laquelle on se réfère aux dessins annexés qui représentent :According to yet another advantageous characteristic of the invention, a bagging machine, of a type known per se, is associated with a hopper tightly connected to one of the last transfer devices provided in the production zone, and constitutes an airlock. extraction of the product outside the production area. Other particular characteristics as well as the advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows of a particular embodiment in which reference is made to the appended drawings which represent:
- figure 1, une vue schématique en élévation d'une machine de traitement ;- Figure 1, a schematic elevational view of a processing machine;
- figure 2, une vue du dessus de la machine selon la figure 1.- Figure 2, a top view of the machine according to Figure 1.
On a représenté sur les figures une machine de traitement et de conditionnement de pommes de terre frites qui doit être considérée comme un exemple particulier et non limitatif de réalisation, dans laquelle des modifications pourront être apportées sans sortir du cadre de l'invention. Une zone 1 d'élaboration du produit comporte essentiellement un caisson étanche 2 de forme parallélipipédique qui repose sur des supports 3. Une extrémité du caisson, à sa partie inférieure, dispose d'une ouverture 4 dans une de ses parois latérales. Cette ouverture a permis de positionner sur le fond du caisson et à l'intérieur de celui-ci un bac 5 rempli d'un liquide de rinçage 6. Le niveau du liquide est tel que le bord supérieur de l'ouverture 4 sur la paroi latérale du caisson, plonge dans le liquide qui forme alors une barrière entre l'air extérieur, et la chambre 7, intérieure au caisson. Il est évident que le bac 5, sur ses bords longitudinaux ferme de façon étanche les parties latérales de l'ouverture 4, par exemple à l'aide de joints 8 (visibles à la figure 2) pour qu'il n'y ait pas communication entre la chambre 7 et l'extérieur. Ce bac 5 rempli de liquide constitue ainsi un sas à immersion s l'entrée de la zone inertée que forme le caisson 2. Le fond du bac 5 présente une fosse 9 qui sert de logement à l'extrémité inférieure d'un élévateur continu a bande 10 faisant retour sur un tambour inférieur 11 noyé dans le liquide 6 et un tambour supérieur 12 localisé à l'intérieur et à 13 partie supérieure du caisson 2 et entraîné par un moteur extérieur 15. La bande 10 porte des godets ou palettes 13 qui peuvent extraire les pommes de terre qui auront été déversées dans le bac 5 à l'extérieur du caisson, comme le montre la flèche de la figure 1 et qui, lavées par le liquide 6, seront orientées par la plaque de guidage 13 vers la fosse 9 pour être reprises par ledit élévateur à bande 10.There is shown in the figures a machine for processing and packaging fried potatoes which should be considered as a particular and non-limiting example of embodiment, in which modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. A zone 1 for developing the product essentially comprises a sealed box 2 of parallelepipedal shape which rests on supports 3. One end of the box, at its lower part, has an opening 4 in one of its side walls. This opening made it possible to position on the bottom of the box and inside thereof a tank 5 filled with a rinsing liquid 6. The level of the liquid is such that the upper edge of the opening 4 on the wall side of the box, plunges into the liquid which then forms a barrier between the outside air, and the chamber 7, inside the box. It is obvious that the container 5, on its longitudinal edges seals the lateral parts of the opening 4, for example using seals 8 (visible in FIG. 2) so that there is no communication between room 7 and the outside. This tank 5 filled with liquid thus constitutes a submerged airlock at the entrance to the inerted zone formed by the box 2. The bottom of the tank 5 has a pit 9 which serves as a housing for the lower end of a continuous belt elevator 10 returning to a lower drum 11 embedded in the liquid 6 and an upper drum 12 located inside and at the top 13 of the box 2 and driven by an external motor 15. The strip 10 carries buckets or pallets 13 which can extract the potatoes which have been poured into the tank 5 outside the box, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 and which, washed by the liquid 6, will be oriented by the guide plate 13 towards the pit 9 to be taken up by said belt elevator 10.
A ce dernier est associée une plaque inférieure fixe 17 pour le recueil du liquide de rinçage et son renvoi vers le bac 5.To the latter is associated a fixed lower plate 17 for collecting the rinsing liquid and returning it to the tank 5.
Toujours à l'intérieur de la chambre inertée 7, les pommes de terre qui échappent à l'élévateur au niveau du tambour supérieur sont recueillies par un convoyeur d'égouttage 14, constitué également d'une bande sans fin à déroulement continu 16 qui est évidemment formée de mailles souples permettant l'écoulement du liquide de rinçage, comme on le voit plus précisément à la figure 2. Ce liquide est avantageusement recyclé vers le bain de rinçage 6.Still inside the inerted chamber 7, the potatoes which escape the elevator at the level of the upper drum are collected by a drip conveyor 14, also consisting of an endless belt with continuous unwinding 16 which is obviously formed of flexible meshes allowing the flow of the rinsing liquid, as can be seen more precisely in FIG. 2. This liquid is advantageously recycled to the rinsing bath 6.
Le convoyeur d'égouttage 14 déverse les pommes de terre égouttées dans une goulotte d'admission 18 à une machine de coupe 19. Les pommes de terre coupées par cette machine aux formes ou dimensions recherchées, et cela toujours dans l'atmosphère inerte de la chambre fermée 7, sortent sur un nouveau tapis d'évacuation 20 qui les transfère sur une autre bande sans fin élévatrice 21, de conception analogue à la bande 10. On notera que la bande 21 se développe vers le haut à l'intérieur d'un capot étanche 27 qui communique avec le caisson 2. Ainsi la totalité de la bande 21 se trouve aussi dans une chambre inertée comme la chambre 7. La bande 21 est entraînée par un moteur 28 extérieur au caisson 2 (figure 2).The drip conveyor 14 pours the drained potatoes into an inlet chute 18 to a cutting machine 19. The potatoes cut by this machine to the desired shapes or dimensions, and this always into the inert atmosphere of the closed chamber 7, exit onto a new evacuation conveyor 20 which transfers them to another endless elevating belt 21, of a design similar to band 10. It will be noted that the band 21 develops upwards inside a waterproof cover 27 which communicates with the box 2. Thus the whole of the strip 21 is also located in an inerted chamber like the chamber 7. The strip 21 is driven by a motor 28 external to the box 2 (FIG. 2).
Les pommes de terre coupées sont, au cours de leur déplacement sur la bande 21 soumises à un nouveau rinçage par un dispositif de pulvérisation 22 qui projette un mélange d'eau et de métabisulfite, ou de tout autre produit antioxydant, le tout savamment dosé. Les pommes de terre ainsi coupées et traitées sont évacuées en haut de la bande élévatrice 21 et déversées dans une trémie 23 qui est raccordée de façon étanche au capot 27 juste au-dessous de l'extrémité supérieure de la bande 21. Cette trémie oriente les pommes de terre coupées vers un tube 24 au bas duquel elles sont recueillies dans un sachet de conditionnement 25. Le scellage du sachet est assuré par une machine ensacheuse 26, de type connu en soi qui assure aussi un rôle de sas d'extraction du fait que le film plastique constituant le sachet de conditionnement, reconstitue, après scellage, et de par sa forme, un tube d'amenée identique au tube 24 et une fente laminaire minime entre le tube et l'extérieur est créée. A partir du capot 27, dans lequel est maintenu comme dans la chambre 7 une atmosphère inerte, par exemple d'azote, à une pression légèrement supérieure à la pression atmosphérique, cette relative surpression s'établit dans le tube 24 et empêche l'air ambiant de s'introduire dans le sachet soumis à la même pression d'azote, l'extrémité du sachet ayant été scellée préalablement. Ce poste d'extraction qui constitue un dernier sas a aussi pour objectif de. qarder isolé le produit durant son transfert de l'enceinte de fabrication à son sachet de conditionnement, avant qu'il ne soit scellé à sa partie supérieure par la machine 26.The cut potatoes are, during their movement on the strip 21 subjected to a new rinsing by a spraying device 22 which projects a mixture of water and metabisulfite, or any other antioxidant product, all skilfully dosed. Potatoes thus cut and treated are discharged at the top of the lifting strip 21 and poured into a hopper 23 which is tightly connected to the cover 27 just below the upper end of the strip 21. This hopper orients the cut potatoes towards a tube 24 at the bottom of which they are collected in a packaging bag 25. The sealing of the bag is ensured by a bagging machine 26, of a type known per se which also performs the role of an airlock as the plastic film constituting the packaging bag, reconstitutes, after sealing, and by its shape, a supply tube identical to the tube 24 and a minimal laminar slot between the tube and the outside is created. From the cover 27, in which an inert atmosphere, for example nitrogen, is maintained as in chamber 7, at a pressure slightly higher than atmospheric pressure, this relative overpressure is established in the tube 24 and prevents air ambient to enter the sachet subjected to the same nitrogen pressure, the end of the sachet having been previously sealed. This extraction station which constitutes a final airlock also aims to. keep the product isolated during its transfer from the manufacturing enclosure to its packaging bag, before it is sealed at its upper part by the machine 26.
Depuis le sas à immersion (5,6) prévu à l'entrée du caisson jusqu'à la machine ensacheuse 26 qui constitue un sas d'extraction, le traitement du produit en question est assuré en continu à l'intérieur d'une enceinte inertée 7. L'inertage du caisson 2, par exemple comme on l'a dit grâce à une atmosphère d'azote à faible surpression est assuré de façon classique par une source d'inertage à l'aide de conduits d'arrivée et de départ de fluides munis de vannes appropriées, non représentés. De même le maintien de l'atmosphère inerte de la chambre 7 à une température prédéterminée rigoureusement contrôlée est assuré par des moyens classiques non décrits ni représentés. Un certain nombre de mécanismes sont par ailleurs prévus à l'extérieur du caisson étanche 2. Dans l'exemple de réalisation représenté, il s'agit en l'occurence des moteurs d'entraînement 15 etFrom the immersion airlock (5,6) provided at the entry of the box to the bagging machine 26 which constitutes an extraction airlock, the treatment of the product in question is carried out continuously inside an enclosure inerted 7. The inerting of the box 2, for example as was said by virtue of a nitrogen atmosphere with low overpressure, is conventionally provided by a source of inerting using inlet and outlet pipes. flow of fluids provided with suitable valves, not shown. Likewise, maintaining the inert atmosphere of chamber 7 at a rigorously controlled predetermined temperature is ensured by conventional means not described or shown. A number of mechanisms are also provided outside of the sealed box 2. In the example of embodiment shown, in this case, the drive motors 15 and
28 dont on a parlé précédemment mais aussi du mécanisme moteur 29 de la machine de coupe 19 et de son tapis d'évacuation 20, ainsi que du mécanisme 30 associé à la manoeuvre de la machine ensacheuse 26. Les organes de transmission de mouvement et les divers conduits devant relier le mécanisme28 which was mentioned previously but also the motor mechanism 29 of the cutting machine 19 and its discharge belt 20, as well as the mechanism 30 associated with the operation of the bagging machine 26. The movement transmission members and the various conduits to connect the mechanism
29 et la machine 19 traversant bien entendu de façon étanche le caisson 2.29 and the machine 19 of course passing through the box 2 in a sealed manner.
Des variantes de réalisation peuvent être prévues sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention.Alternative embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the present invention.
C'est ainsi que l'on peut envisager de placer également le poste de coupe à l'intérieur du bain de rinçage 6, mais dans la chambre inertée 7, ce qui évite alors d'avoir deux mécanismes de transfert à bande dans ladite chambre. De même ces élévateurs à bandes pourraient être remplacés par d'autres organes de transfert, sans sortir du cadre de la présente invention.This is how we can also consider placing the cutting station inside the rinsing bath 6, but in the inerted chamber 7, which then avoids having two belt transfer mechanisms in said chamber. . Likewise, these belt elevators could be replaced by other transfer members, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
L'invention a été décrite sur un exemple préférentiel de réalisation pour le traitement des pommes de terre en vue de leur surgélation et réfrigération et/ou leur conditionnement. Il va de soi que l'invention ne se limite pas à cette application particulière, mais trouve aussi usage pour d'autres produits dans le domaine alimentaire et notamment pour le traitement des emulsions alimentaires. Dans ce cas on pourrait introduire le produit dans la zone inertée d'élaboration à l'aide d'un sas d'entrée qui serait par exemple placé en amont d'un broyeur. Un sas d'entrée d'emballages vides ainsi qu'un sas de sortie des emballages remplis, c'est-à-dire des pots ou récipients renfermant le produit, seraient alors prévus à l'entrée et à la sortie de la zone d'élaboration qui renfermerait, outre le broyeur, la machine d'emballage appropriée. Plus généralement l'invention trouverait aussi usage dans d'autres domaines que l'industrie alimentaire, tels que l'industrie chimique, la pharmacie, la cosmétologie et pour toutes applications qui nécessitent un traitement de produit en continu en atmosphère inertée, avec sas d'entrée et de sortie. The invention has been described on a preferred embodiment for the treatment of potatoes with a view to their freezing and refrigeration and / or their packaging. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this particular application, but also finds use for other products in the food sector and in particular for the treatment of food emulsions. In this case, the product could be introduced into the inerted preparation zone using an entry airlock which would, for example, be placed upstream of a grinder. An entry airlock for empty packaging as well as an exit airlock for filled packaging, that is to say pots or containers containing the product, would then be provided at the entry and exit from the zone d 'development which would contain, in addition to the crusher, the appropriate packaging machine. More generally, the invention would also find use in fields other than the food industry, such as the chemical industry, pharmacy, cosmetology and for all applications which require continuous product treatment in an inert atmosphere, with airlock. 'entry and exit.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1. Dispositif de traitement de produits sous atmosphère et température contrôlées, notamment de produits alimentaires, comportant une pluralité de machines ou mécanismes aptes à assurer le lavage, le traitement mécanique et le conditionnement du produit traité, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à assurer et maintenir un inertage de l'atmosphère enveloppant les machines et les mécanismes de traitement dudit produit, dans la zone 1 de son élaboration depuis son introduction dans ladite zone jusqu'à son extraction hors de la zone et en ce que des moyens (5, 6, 24, 26) du genre sas sont prévus pour permettre l'introduction du produit à l'entrée de la zone 1 d'élaboration, et son extraction de ladite zone a p r è s s o n tr a i teme n t .1. Device for treating products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular food products, comprising a plurality of machines or mechanisms capable of washing, mechanical treatment and packaging of the treated product, characterized in that it consists in ensuring and maintain inerting of the atmosphere enveloping the machines and the mechanisms for processing said product, in zone 1 of its preparation from its introduction into said zone until its extraction outside the zone and in that means (5, 6, 24, 26) of the airlock type are provided to allow the introduction of the product at the entrance to zone 1 of production, and its extraction from said zone after its very completion.
2. Dispositif de traitement selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que un caisson étanche (2) délimite une chambre (7) remplie d'atmosphère inerte à faible surpression à l'intérieur de laquelle se trouve une succession de postes de traitement et de transfert (10, 14, 19, 21, 22), le caisson étant pourvu d'un sas d'introduction (5, 6) et d'un sas d'extraction (23, 24).2. Treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealed box (2) delimits a chamber (7) filled with inert atmosphere at low overpressure inside which is a succession of treatment stations and transfer (10, 14, 19, 21, 22), the box being provided with an introduction airlock (5, 6) and an extraction airlock (23, 24).
3. Dispositif de traitement selon les revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que le sas d'introduction est un sas à immersion constitué d'un bac (5) rempli d'un liquide de rinçage (6), disposé à la fois à l'extérieur et à l'intérieur du caisson (2), qu'il traverse par une ouverture (4) prévue dans une de ses parois et en ce que ladite paroi au bord de cette ouverture plonge dans le liquide et forme une barrière entre l'air extérieur et la chambre inertée (7).3. Treatment device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the introduction airlock is an immersion airlock consisting of a tank (5) filled with a rinsing liquid (6), disposed both at outside and inside the box (2), which it crosses through an opening (4) provided in one of its walls and in that said wall at the edge of this opening plunges into the liquid and forms a barrier between the outside air and the inerted chamber (7).
4. Dispositif de traitement selon les revendications 2 et 3, caractérisé en ce que un élévateur continu à bande (10) plonge dans le liquide (6) du bac (5) à l'entrée de la zone inertée et fait retour sur un tambour supérieur (12) localisé à la partie supérieure du caisson (2).4. Treatment device according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that a continuous belt elevator (10) plunges into the liquid (6) of the tank (5) at the entrance to the inerted zone and returns to a drum upper (12) located at the upper part of the box (2).
5. Dispositif de traitement selon la revendication (4), caractérisé en ce que le tambour inférieur (11) de l'élévateur à bande (10) est placé dans une fosse (9) prévue sur le fond du bac (5).5. Treatment device according to claim (4), characterized in that the lower drum (11) of the belt elevator (10) is placed in a pit (9) provided on the bottom of the tank (5).
6. Dispositif de traitement selon les revendications 1 et 4, caractérisé en ce que un convoyeur d'égouttage (14) fait suite à l'élévateur continu à bande (10) à l'intérieur de la chambre inertée (7).6. Treatment device according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that a drip conveyor (14) follows the continuous belt elevator (10) inside the inerted chamber (7).
7. Dispositif de traitement selon les revendications 1 et 6, caractérisé en ce que une machine de coupe (19) reçoit les produits du convoyeur d'égouttage (14) et les coupe puis les distribue par un tapis d'évacuation (20) vers une bande élévatrice (21), à l'intérieur de la chambre inertée (7).7. Treatment device according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that a cutting machine (19) receives the products from the drip conveyor (14) and cuts them and then distributes them by a conveyor belt (20) to a lifting strip (21), inside the inerted chamber (7).
8. Dispositif de traitement selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce qu'un dispositif de pulvérisation (22) est associé à la bande élévatrice (21).8. Treatment device according to claim 7, characterized in that a spraying device (22) is associated with the lifting strip (21).
9 . Dispo sitif de tr aitement s elon la rev endic ation 7 , caractérisé en ce que la bande él évat r ice ( 21 ) s e développe vers le haut à l ' intérieur d ' un capo t ét anche ( 27 ) qui communique avec lecaisson (2) et se trouve inerte comme la chambre 7.9. Processing device according to re v endic ation 7, characterized in that the evat r ice strip (21) develops upwards inside a hood (27) which communicates with the box ( 2) and is inert like room 7.
10. Dispositif de traitement selon les revendications 1 et 9, caractérisé en ce qu'une machine ensacheuse (26) de type connu en soi, est associée à une trémie (23) raccordée de façon étanche au capot (27) et constitue un sas d'extraction du produit hors de la zone d'élaboration (1).10. A processing device according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that a bagging machine (26) of a type known per se, is associated with a hopper (23) tightly connected to the cover (27) and constitutes an airlock extraction of the product outside the production area (1).
11. Dispositif de traitement selon la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que la surpression de la zone d'élaboration (1) s'exerce dans le sachet de conditionnement (25) de la machine ensacheuse (26) avant qu'il ne soit scellé. 11. Treatment device according to claim 10, characterized in that the overpressure of the processing zone (1) is exerted in the packaging bag (25) of the bagging machine (26) before it is sealed .
EP88909772A 1987-10-30 1988-10-28 Device for processing products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular foodstuffs Expired - Lifetime EP0383818B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT88909772T ATE78449T1 (en) 1987-10-30 1988-10-28 DEVICE FOR TREATMENT OF PRODUCTS SUCH AS FOOD UNDER CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURE.

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8715251A FR2622406B1 (en) 1987-10-30 1987-10-30 DEVICE FOR PROCESSING CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY FOOD EMULSIONS
FR8715251 1987-10-30
FR8717373 1987-12-09
FR8717373A FR2624475B1 (en) 1987-12-09 1987-12-09 DEVICE FOR PROCESSING, IN AN INTERRUPTED CYCLE, CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY FOOD EMULSIONS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0383818A1 true EP0383818A1 (en) 1990-08-29
EP0383818B1 EP0383818B1 (en) 1992-07-22

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EP88909772A Expired - Lifetime EP0383818B1 (en) 1987-10-30 1988-10-28 Device for processing products under controlled atmosphere and temperature, in particular foodstuffs

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US (1) US5074104A (en)
EP (1) EP0383818B1 (en)
JP (1) JPH03500762A (en)
AT (1) ATE78449T1 (en)
AU (1) AU633806B2 (en)
DE (1) DE3873092T2 (en)
DK (1) DK100790A (en)
HU (1) HUT63106A (en)
WO (1) WO1989004277A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1989004277A1 (en) 1989-05-18
JPH03500762A (en) 1991-02-21
DK100790D0 (en) 1990-04-24
HUT63106A (en) 1993-07-28
ATE78449T1 (en) 1992-08-15
DK100790A (en) 1990-04-24
US5074104A (en) 1991-12-24
EP0383818B1 (en) 1992-07-22
HU886701D0 (en) 1991-02-28
AU2629688A (en) 1989-06-01
DE3873092D1 (en) 1992-08-27
DE3873092T2 (en) 1993-03-25
AU633806B2 (en) 1993-02-11

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