EP0383818B1 - 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 Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0383818B1
EP0383818B1 EP88909772A EP88909772A EP0383818B1 EP 0383818 B1 EP0383818 B1 EP 0383818B1 EP 88909772 A EP88909772 A EP 88909772A EP 88909772 A EP88909772 A EP 88909772A EP 0383818 B1 EP0383818 B1 EP 0383818B1
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Prior art keywords
processing device
inert atmosphere
enclosure
lock
chamber
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EP88909772A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0383818A1 (en
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Olivier Desjonquères
Zsuzsanna Erdös
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Priority claimed from FR8715251A external-priority patent/FR2622406B1/en
Priority claimed from FR8717373A external-priority patent/FR2624475B1/en
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Priority to AT88909772T priority Critical patent/ATE78449T1/en
Publication of EP0383818A1 publication Critical patent/EP0383818A1/en
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    • 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 taste quality of the product consumed.
  • One of the merits of the invention lies precisely in that it makes it possible to very significantly limit the quantity of metabisulfite used before the treatment and packaging of the food product by the fact that it proposes to ensure the inerting of any the 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.
  • the device according to Swiss patent CH-A-331 721 relates to the processing and packaging of coffee under an inert atmosphere in several successive boxes. No temperature control is planned.
  • the device of the invention differs from this patent in that it treats non-fluid products, under controlled temperature and in a single box whose introduction lock forms a washing mechanism.
  • German patent DE-C-522,736 it allows the packaging under an inert atmosphere of solid or liquid products in a box having an introductory airlock forming a mechanism for washing the packaging containers arranged on a conveyor belt.
  • the device according to this German patent does not, however, provide for treatment or washing of the product to be packaged and does not include a temperature control.
  • the object of the present invention therefore consists of a device for treating non-fluid products under an inert atmosphere and controlled temperature, in particular food products such as potatoes, comprising a plurality of mechanisms capable of ensuring continuous washing, mechanical treatment and packaging of the treated product, in which the inerting takes place in an interior chamber of a single sealed box having an airlock formed by the washing mechanism and an airlock for extracting the box , the box containing at least the mechanisms capable of providing mechanical treatment.
  • a sealed box delimits a chamber filled with an inert atmosphere with low overpressure inside which there 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 through an opening provided in one of the 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 parallelepiped 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 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 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.
  • To this latter is associated 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 acts as an airlock because 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 has the objective of keeping 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 certain number of mechanisms are also provided outside of the sealed box 2.
  • the drive motors 15 and 28 which have been 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 which must connect the mechanism 29 and the machine 19 of course passing through the box 2 in a sealed manner.
  • the invention has been described on a preferred embodiment for the treatment of potatoes with a view to their freezing or refrigeration and 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.

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  • 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)
  • Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
  • Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (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

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 émulsions 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 métabisulfite qui est un antioxydant puissant et qui les protège du jaunissement 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 gustative du produit consommé.In the field of the manufacture of certain food products, such as for example fruit emulsions or 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 like apple or avocado or for potatoes. For the latter, specifically, which are very widely used for the manufacture of frozen or refrigerated fries, it is usual to treat them at several stages of its manufacture with metabisulfite 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 taste quality of the product consumed.

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 du produit traité pour éviter que l'oxygène n'agisse sur le produit.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 friable. 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 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 métabisulfite 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 metabisulfite used before the treatment and packaging of the food product by the fact that it proposes to ensure the inerting of any the 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.

Les données de la technique antérieure font apparaître que des dispositifs d'inertage ont fait l'objet de dépôts de brevets dont la présente invention se différencie.The data of the prior art show that inerting devices have been the subject of patent applications from which the present invention differs.

En effet, le dispositif selon le brevet suisse CH-A-331 721 concerne le traitement et le conditionnement du café sous atmosphère inerte dans plusieurs caissons successifs. Aucun contrôle de température n'y est prévu. Le dispositif de l'invention diffère de ce brevet par le fait qu'il traite des produits non fluides, sous température contrôlée et dans un caisson unique dont le sas d'introduction forme un mécanisme de lavage.Indeed, the device according to Swiss patent CH-A-331 721 relates to the processing and packaging of coffee under an inert atmosphere in several successive boxes. No temperature control is planned. The device of the invention differs from this patent in that it treats non-fluid products, under controlled temperature and in a single box whose introduction lock forms a washing mechanism.

Quant au dispositif selon le brevet allemand DE-C-522 736, il permet le conditionnement sous atmosphère inerte de produits solides ou liquides dans un caisson ayant un sas d'introduction formant mécanisme de lavage des récipients d'emballage disposés sur une bande transporteuse. Le dispositif selon ce brevet allemand ne prévoit toutefois ni traitement ni lavage du produit à emballer et ne comporte pas de contrôle de température.As for the device according to German patent DE-C-522,736, it allows the packaging under an inert atmosphere of solid or liquid products in a box having an introductory airlock forming a mechanism for washing the packaging containers arranged on a conveyor belt. The device according to this German patent does not, however, provide for treatment or washing of the product to be packaged and does not include a temperature control.

Aussi l'objet de la présente invention consiste-t-il en un dispositif de traitement de produits non fluides sous atmosphère inerte et température contrôlée, notamment de produit alimentaires tels que les pommes de terre, comportant une pluralité de mécanismes aptes à assurer en continu le lavage, le traitement mécanique et le conditionnement du produit traité, dans lequel l'inertage se fait dans une chambre intérieure d'un caisson unique étanche présentant un sas d'introduction formé par le mécanisme de lavage et un sas d'extraction du caisson, le caisson renfermant au moins les mécanismes aptes à assurer le traitement mécanique.The object of the present invention therefore consists of a device for treating non-fluid products under an inert atmosphere and controlled temperature, in particular food products such as potatoes, comprising a plurality of mechanisms capable of ensuring continuous washing, mechanical treatment and packaging of the treated product, in which the inerting takes place in an interior chamber of a single sealed box having an airlock formed by the washing mechanism and an airlock for extracting the box , the box containing at least the mechanisms capable of providing mechanical 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 with low overpressure inside which there 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 à l'intérieur du caisson, qu'il traverse par une ouverture prévue dans une des 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 through an opening provided in one of the 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.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.

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 :

  • figure 1, une vue schématique en élévation d'une machine de traitement ;
  • figure 2, une vue du dessus de la machine selon la figure 1.
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, a schematic elevational view of a processing machine;
  • 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 à l'entrée de la zone inertée que forme le caisson 2.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 parallelepiped 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 an immersion airlock at the entrance to the inerted zone formed by the box 2.

Le fond du bac 5 présente une fosse 9 qui sert de logement à l'extrémité inférieure d'un élévateur continu à 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 la 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. A ce dernier est associée une plaque inférieure fixe 17 pour le recueil du liquide de rinçage et son renvoi vers le bac 5.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 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. To this 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 garder 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 acts as an airlock because 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 has the objective of keeping 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 et 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 mécanisme 29 et la machine 19 traversant bien entendu de façon étanche le caisson 2.From 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 certain number of mechanisms are also provided outside of the sealed box 2. In the embodiment shown, in this case, the drive motors 15 and 28 which have been 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 which must connect the mechanism 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. 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.Alternative embodiments can be provided without departing from the scope of the present 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. . Similarly, 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 ou réfrigération et 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 émulsions 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 or refrigeration and 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 (10)

1. Device for processing non-fluid products in an inert atmosphere and at a controlled temperature, particularly food products such as potatoes, comprising a plurality of mechanisms adapted for continuously providing washing, mechanical processing and packing of the processed product, wherein the inert atmosphere is provided in an inner chamber (7) of a single sealed enclosure (2) having an inlet lock (5, 6) formed by the washing mechanism and a lock (24, 26) for removal from the enclosure (2), the enclosure containing at least the mechanisms adapted for providing the mechanical processing.
2. Processing device according to claim 1, wherein the inlet lock is an immersion lock formed of a tank filled with a rinsing liquid in which a wall of the enclosure plunges, characterized in that a continuous belt elevator (10) provided for removal of the product washed in the tank (5) plunges into the liquid (6) of the tank at the inlet to the inert atmosphere zone and returns over an upper drum (12) located in the upper part of the enclosure (2).
3. Processing device according to claim 2 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).
4. Processing device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that a drainage conveyor (14) follows the continuous belt elevator (10) inside the inert atmosphere chamber (7).
5. Processing device according to claims 1 and 4, characterized in that a cutting machine (19) receives the products from the drainage conveyor (14) and cuts them then distributes them by means of a discharge belt (20) towards an elevator belt (21) inside the inert atmosphere chamber (7).
6. Processing device according to claim 4, characterized in that the elevator belt (21) moves upwards inside a sealed cover (27) forming a constituent part of the enclosure (2) and has an inert atmosphere like the chamber (7).
7. Processing device according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that a bagging machine (26), of a type known per se, is associated with a hopper (23) sealingly connected to the cover (27) and forms a look for removing the product from the preparation zone (1).
8. Processing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the overpressure in the preparation zone (1) is exerted in the packing bag (25) of the bagging machine before it is sealed.
9. Processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that a cutting machine is disposed inside the inlet lock formed of at least the washing mechanism.
10. Processing device according to claim 1, characterized in that several locks such as an inlet lock for the empty packs and an outlet lock for the filled packs are provided at the inlet and the outlet of the preparation zone.
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
FR8715251 1987-10-30
FR8715251A FR2622406B1 (en) 1987-10-30 1987-10-30 DEVICE FOR PROCESSING CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY FOOD EMULSIONS
FR8717373A FR2624475B1 (en) 1987-12-09 1987-12-09 DEVICE FOR PROCESSING, IN AN INTERRUPTED CYCLE, CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURE PRODUCTS, ESPECIALLY FOOD EMULSIONS
FR8717373 1987-12-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0383818A1 EP0383818A1 (en) 1990-08-29
EP0383818B1 true 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) DK100790D0 (en)
HU (1) HUT63106A (en)
WO (1) WO1989004277A1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK100790A (en) 1990-04-24
DE3873092T2 (en) 1993-03-25
EP0383818A1 (en) 1990-08-29
US5074104A (en) 1991-12-24
HU886701D0 (en) 1991-02-28
DK100790D0 (en) 1990-04-24
ATE78449T1 (en) 1992-08-15
JPH03500762A (en) 1991-02-21
AU633806B2 (en) 1993-02-11
HUT63106A (en) 1993-07-28
AU2629688A (en) 1989-06-01
DE3873092D1 (en) 1992-08-27
WO1989004277A1 (en) 1989-05-18

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