EP1765086A1

EP1765086A1 - Installation for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products and moulding device for use therewith

Info

Publication number: EP1765086A1
Application number: EP05745764A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Piet De Jong
Original assignee: De Jong Engineering Elburg BV
Current assignee: Ch Strijkert
Priority date: 2004-05-11
Filing date: 2005-05-11
Publication date: 2007-03-28
Also published as: WO2005107482A1; NL1026159C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products, comprising a moulding member (3) which defines a number of mould cavities (31) and which is movable between a filling position, in which the mould cavities are connected to means (2) for supplying the raw material, and an ejecting position in which the mould cavities are connected to means (4) for discharging the moulded products (P) and controllable means for driving the moulding member. The - optionally plate-like - moulding member can be reciprocally slidable and the controllable drive means can comprise a servomotor (35), which is connected to the moulding member (3) via a right-angled transmission. The invention also relates to an installation for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products, comprising means (2) for supplying the raw material, a moulding device (3) as described above connected to the supply means, and means (4) connecting to the moulding device for discharging the moulded products.

Description

INSTALLATION FOR MOULDING A RAW MATERIAL SUPPLIED AS A MASS INTO SEPARATE PRODUCTS AND MOULDING DEVICE FOR USE THEREWITH

The invention relates to a device for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products. Such devices are already known in different variants and are for instance used to mould diverse (meat) products such as hamburgers, meat balls and other snacks from a meat mass or doug . Most devices used heretofore are relatively complex, voluminous and expensive. In addition, known devices are often not easy to keep clean, which is an important requirement in the food processing industry. The conventional devices further ^'often result in products displaying relatively great variation in weight and size, while the productivity in many cases leaves something to be desired. The invention therefore has for its object to provide an improved moulding device, wherein the stated drawbacks do not occur, or at least do so to a lesser extent. According to a first aspect of the invention, this is achieved by a moulding device which is provided with at least one moulding member which defines at least one mould cavity and which is movable between a filling position, in which the at least one mould cavity is connected to means for supplying the raw material, and an ejecting position in which the at least one mould cavity is connected to means for discharging the moulded products, and controllable means for driving the moulding member. The use of a movable moulding member enables a high productivity with a relatively simple construction, while the controllable drive means, which preferably comprise one or more servomotors, contribute toward an optimal filling of the mould cavity (or cavities) and simple and reliable emptying thereof. Furthermore, smooth running of the device is hereby ensured. A compact device is obtained when the moulding member is reciprocally movable and the servomotor is connected to the moulding member via a right-angled transmission. The servomotor can thus be placed outside the path of the moulding member.' In a structurally simple embodiment, the right-angled transmission is a rack and pinion transmission, the rack of which is connected to the moulding member and the pinion to the servomotor. So as to be able to make use of a relatively small and high-speed servomotor to drive the moulding member, the moulding device preferably has a reduction gear arranged between the pinion and the servomotor. This reduction gear can for instance be a planetary gearing. A structurally simple embodiment of the moulding device is obtained when the moulding member is plate-like and is mounted slidably in a frame. This has the advantage that the at least one mould cavity extends over the entire thickness of the moulding plate, and the moulding plate is mounted between two guide plates. The guide plates thus also function directly as seal for the mould cavity (or cavities) , while ejection of the products can take place in simple manner when the moulding plate protrudes outside the guide plates at the end of its movement. In order to ensure an optimal filling of the mould cavity (or cavities) , a collecting space which can be connected to the supply means and extends over the active part of the moulding member is preferably formed in one of the guide plates. Likewise in respect of proper filling of the mould cavity (or cavities) , it is recommended that at least one venting aperture is formed in the guide plate remote from the supply means. In order in this case to prevent the release of material through the venting aperture (s), the at least one venting aperture preferably debouches in a chamber provided with means for feedback of raw material released during venting. A structurally simple and hygienic solution is achieved here when the feedback means comprise an overpressure source, which is separated from the at least one venting aperture by a membrane arranged in the chamber. The invention further relates to an improved installation for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products, which can incorporate a moulding device of the above described type. Such an installation thus comprises means for supplying the raw material, a moulding device connected to the supply means, and means connecting to the moulding device for discharging the moulded products . In order to ensure that the formed products are practically identical, it is recommended that the supply means are adapted for metered supply of the raw material . This can be achieved in structurally simple manner when the supply means comprise at least one metering pump, the suction side of which is connected to a feed conduit for the raw material and the delivery side of which is connected to the at least one mould cavity. The metering pump can advantageously be a vane pump. It is further recommended that the supply means are adapted to divide the raw material over the active part of a moulding member of the moulding device, whereby the uniformity of the products is improved still further. For this purpose the supply means can for instance comprise a dividing member which connects to the feed conduit and which is formed by a housing in which a number of metering pumps are accommodated adjacently of each other, wherein the housing has a central, flared inlet and a number of outlets corresponding to the number of metering pumps . In order to release the formed products from the mould cavity (or cavities) in rapid and reliable manner, the discharge means preferably comprise at least one ejecting member co-acting with at least one mould cavity of the moulding device. In order to minimize the risk of material being left behind in the mould cavity (or cavities) , the ejecting member, when the mould cavity is defined in a moulding plate, can be movable substantially transversely of the moulding plate and have a cross-section corresponding with the mould cavity. So as to prevent the ejecting member here coming into contact with the moulding plate, the ejecting member can, in the case that the moulding plate is slidable, preferably be adjusted transversely of the sliding direction. It can thus be placed in precise register with the relevant mould cavity. A correct positioning of the ejecting member in the sliding direction can be achieved by adjusting the stroke of the moulding plate. In order to simplify cleaning of the moulding installation, the supply means and/or the discharge means are preferably connected releasably or movably to the moulding device. The different components can thus be taken apart or moved apart, thereby becoming readily accessible. Finally, the moulding installation is preferably provided with means for controlling the supply means, the moulding device and the discharge means. A controlled progression of the moulding process can hereby be ensured. For ergonomic reasons the control means can be accommodated in a casing movably connected to the moulding device. The invention is now elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a moulding installation according to the invention in combination with a portioning device connected upstream thereof, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the moulding installation from a different side, wherein a part of the supply means and the discharge means is moved to a cleaning position, Fig. 3 is a side view of the moulding installation according to the invention, Fig. 4 is a top view of the moulding device, wherein a part of the supply means is also shown, Fig. 5 is a side view on enlarged scale of a part of the moulding device and the supply and discharge means connected thereto, Fig. 6 is a front view according to arrow VI in fig.

5, in which the ejecting members of the discharge means are shown, and Fig. 7 is a schematic perspective view with exploded parts of the venting in an alternative embodiment of the moulding device. An installation 1 for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products P, for instance forming of hamburgers from a mass of ground meat, comprises means 2 for supplying the raw material, a moulding device 3 connected to supply means 2, and means 4 for discharging the moulded products connected to moulding device 3 (fig. 1) . Supply means 2 comprise a feed conduit 5 which can be connected to a separate portioning device 7 by means of a flange coupling 6. This portioning device 7, which does not form part of the invention, comprises a feed hopper 8 into which a mobile supply container 10 with meat can be emptied by means of a tiltable lifting arm 9. Portioning device 7 further has a housing 11 in which the usual components are accommodated, such as a pump housing with rotor for portioning the meat dough to be supplied, and a drive for the rotor for transporting the meat dough in portions to the outlet of portioning device 7. Supply means 12 further comprise a dividing member 12 which is provided with a housing with a central, flared inlet 13, and in which a number of metering pumps 14, here five, are arranged adjacently of each other (fig. 4) . These metering pumps 14 are embodied here as vane pumps and are each provided with a rotor 15 which is arranged eccentrically in a pump housing 16 and in which vanes (not shown here) are slidably arranged (fig. 3) . The adjacent pumps 14 are aligned and mutually connected such that they operate as a single pump in the manner as described in the international patent application PCT/NL03/00040 of applicant. The suction side or inlet 17 of each metering pump 14 is here thus connected to the joint inlet 13, while each pump 14 has on the delivery side a separate outlet 18 which is connected to moulding device 3. Moulding device 3 has a frame 20 which is provided with wheels 21, whereby it is mobile. The frame further has two screw spindles 22 with which it is height-adjustable, and wheels 21 can be lifted from the ground in order to fix the moulding device 3. Frame 20 has four uprights 23 which are connected at the top by two longitudinal girders 24. Fixed between these longitudinal girders 24 is a lower block 25 of the actual moulding device. This lower block 25 is provided with a number of openings 66 to which the outlets 18 of pumps 14 connect (fig. 5) . These openings 66 debouch in a collecting space 27 which extends over practically the entire width of the moulding device. In the shown embodiment the lower block 25 is manufactured from a light metal such as aluminium, and a guide plate 26 of a more wear-resistant material, such as stainless steel, is therefore attached to this lower block 25. This guide plate 26 has an opening corresponding with collecting space 27. A second guide plate 28 is arranged between longitudinal girders 24 at some distance above guide plate 26, which upper guide plate is likewise manufactured from a wear-resistant material. A pressure plate 29 of light metal rests in turn on this upper guide plate 28. The plate-like moulding member 30 is received in reciprocally slidable manner between guide plates 26, 28. This moulding plate 30 is provided with a number of mould cavities 31, in the shown embodiment three, which determine the final shape of products P. Mould cavities 31 are here aligned, whereby the design of discharge means 2 is simplified, as will be elucidated hereinbelow. The upper guide plate 28 is provided with a large number of relatively small venting apertures 50, while the pressure plate 29 resting thereon has a central venting aperture (not shown here) to which a discharge hose can be connected. In order to prevent material from escaping along this route during filling of mould cavities 31, which is undesirable from a hygiene viewpoint, in an alternative embodiment (fig. 7) these venting apertures 50 debouch in a closed chamber which is bounded by a peripheral edge 51 and a cover 52. This chamber is then furthermore provided with means for feeding back material entrained during the venting. The feedback means are formed here by a membrane 53 tensioned in the chamber and a source of overpressure, for instance a compressed-air line 54, connected to cover 52. The plate-like moulding member 30 is moved reciprocally by controllable drive means 67. For this purpose moulding plate 30 is mounted at one end on a gear rack 32, which is driven by a pinion 33 (fig. 4, 5) . This pinion 33 is in turn connected to the driven shaft of a servomotor 35 via a reduction gear, for instance a planetary gearing, which is not shown in detail here. Together with (a part of) the associated control electronics and pneumatic systems for driving the different components, this servomotor 35 is accommodated in a casing 36 fixed between two of the uprights 23 (fig. 3) . Discharge means 4 comprise a number of ejecting members 37 corresponding to the number of mould cavities 31, which members are suspended from a beam 38 (fig. 6) . The form and dimensions of ejecting members 37, which are also aligned on the straight beam 38, correspond precisely to those of mould cavities 31. Beam 38 is movable transversely of the direction of movement of moulding plate 30, therefore vertically here, by means of a pneumatic actuator 39 which is mounted on a bridge 40 arranged between longitudinal girders 24. Beam 38 is further provided with two guides 41, which protrude on either side of actuator 39 through openings 42 in bridge 40, and via compression springs 43 are connected at their top to an upper plate 44 carried by actuator 39. In order to align ejecting members 37 precisely with mould cavities 31 in transverse direction, bridge 40 or beam 38 can be adjusted in horizontal direction transversely of the direction of movement of moulding plate 30. The stroke of moulding plate 30 can moreover be controlled such that ejecting members 37 are also precisely aligned with mould cavities 31 in longitudinal direction. Discharge means 4 further comprise a discharge conveyor 45 which is arranged under ejecting members 37 and which is formed by a sub-frame 46 having thereon a guide plate 47 and an endless conveyor grate 48 which is movable around two reversing rollers 49. Discharge conveyor 45 is provided with two legs 58 which are received in brackets 59, which are in turn mounted on a rotating arm 60. This arm 60 is mounted pivotally on frame 20 by means of a hinge 61 so that discharge conveyor 45 can be rotated away from its operational position and into a cleaning position (fig. 2), in which the different components of the moulding installation are readily accessible. Arm 60 can be locked by means of a locking pin 62 in both the operational position (fig. 1) and the cleaning position. In similar manner the dividing member 12 of supply means 2 is carried by two arms 63, which are in turn mounted on a rotating arm 6 . This arm 64 is likewise connected pivotally to frame 20 via a hinge 65. The dividing member can also be fixed in both the operational position (fig. 1) and the cleaning position (fig. 2) by means of a locking pin (not shown) . Dividing member 12 is also further provided with pivotable side walls 68 (fig. 4), whereby the interior of pumps 14 can be cleaned. Finally, moulding installation 1 is also provided with control means for regulating the operation of the different components. These control means are at least partly accommodated in a casing 55, which has, among other things, a control panel 56. This casing 55 is carried by an arm 57 for pivoting via a bearing 69, this arm in turn also being pivotally mounted in frame 20 (fig. 1, 3) . The operation of the moulding installation is now as follows. The raw material is prepared in portioning device 7 and divided into portions corresponding to the total content of the different mould cavities 31. Each such measured portion is then transported via feed conduit 5 to dividing member 12, where it is divided over the width of moulding plate 30 in the flared inlet 13. The ^"five vane pumps 14 press the mass of raw material through outlets 18 into collecting space 27, which is thus filled uniformly over its whole length - the width of moulding plate 30. At the moment that the mass of raw material reaches collecting space 27, moulding plate 30 has taken up its filling position under the influence of the control means, i.e. gear rack 32 is fully retracted by the controllable drive means 67. In this filling position the mould cavities 31 are connected to collecting space 27 so that the raw material can flow into mould cavities 31. So much pressure is here built up by pumps 14 that mould cavities 31 are filled completely. The air which was present in mould cavities 31 escapes via venting apertures 50. In the embodiment of fig. 7 the membrane 53 is herein pressed upward. Gear rack 32 is then moved again in the opposite direction by servomotor 35, whereby moulding plate 30 is moved in the direction of discharge means 4. The connection between collecting space 27 and mould cavities 31 is first broken here, so that mould cavities 31 are completely closed by the edges thereof on the one hand and the two guide plates 26, 28 on the other. Guide plates 26, 28 are so short that moulding plate 30 quickly reaches its ejecting position where mould cavities 31 are fully open at the location of discharge means 4. A further advantage of these short guide plates 26, 28 is that the spread along these plates 26, 28 of the material in mould cavities 31 remains limited. The beam 38 with ejecting members 37 is then moved downward, wherein the ejecting members enter mould cavities 31 in close-fitting manner. The formed products P are hereby knocked out of mould cavities 31 and drop onto conveyor grate 48, which discharges them. The direction of movement of servomotor 35 is then reversed again so that moulding plate 30 is retracted to its filling position. In the embodiment of fig. 7, pressure is then built up under cover 52 via compressed-air line 54 so that membrane 53 is pressed downward, and material residues possibly remaining in the chamber are fed back to mould cavities 31 through venting apertures 50 and there used again in a subsequent processing stroke. The controllable drive means 67 make it possible to adjust the progression of the movement of moulding plate 30 precisely to the demands of the moulding process. In the filling position and in the ejecting position a pause can as it were be introduced so that filling of mould cavities 31 with raw material and release of products P therefrom can take place optimally. Moulding plate 30 can also be gradually accelerated and decelerated, whereby both the loads on installation 1 and the noise production remain limited. Although the invention is elucidated above on the basis of an embodiment, it will be apparent that it is not limited thereto but can be varied in numerous ways. The moulding member could thus have more or fewer mould cavities, which could moreover be embodied and positioned differently. The embodiment of the moulding member itself and its manner of moving could also be chosen differently. Alternative solutions could also be envisaged for the motor used, the transmissions and the disposition of the drive relative to the moulding member. Finally, it is also possible to envisage different embodiments of supply and discharge means. The scope of the invention is therefore defined solely by the now following claims .

Claims

1. Device for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products, comprising at least one moulding member which defines at least one mould cavity and which is movable between a filling position, in which the at least one mould cavity is connected to means for supplying the raw material, and an ejecting position in which the at least one mould cavity is connected to means for discharging the moulded products, and controllable means for driving the moulding member.

2. Moulding device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the controllable drive means comprise at least one servomotor.

3. Moulding device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the moulding member is reciprocally movable and the servomotor is connected to the moulding member via a right-angled transmission.

4. Moulding device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the right-angled transmission is a rack and pinion transmission, the rack of which is connected to the moulding member and the pinion to the servomotor.

5. Moulding device as claimed in claim 4, characterized by a reduction gear arranged between the pinion and the servomotor.

6. Moulding device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the reduction gear is a planetary gearing.

7. Moulding device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the moulding member is platelike and is mounted slidably in a frame.

8. Moulding device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the at least one mould cavity extends over the entire thickness of the moulding plate, and the moulding plate is mounted between two guide plates .

9. Moulding device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a collecting space which can be connected to the supply means and extends over the active part of the moulding member is formed in one of the guide plates .

10. Moulding device as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that at least one venting aperture is formed in the guide plate remote from the supply means.

11. Moulding device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the at least one venting aperture debouches in a chamber provided with means for feedback of raw material released during venting.

12. Moulding device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the feedback means comprise an overpressure source, which is separated from the at least one venting aperture by a membrane arranged in the chamber .

13. Installation for moulding a raw material supplied as a mass into separate products, comprising means for supplying the raw material, a moulding device connected to the supply means, and means connecting to the moulding device for discharging the moulded products.

14. Moulding installation as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the supply means are adapted for metered supply of the raw material .

15. Moulding installation as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that the supply means comprise at least one metering pump, the suction side of which is connected to a feed conduit for the raw material and the delivery side of which is connected to the at least one mould cavity.

16. Moulding installation as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the metering pump is a vane pump.

17. Moulding installation as claimed in any of the claims 13-16, characterized in that the supply means are adapted to divide the raw material over the active part of a moulding member of the moulding device.

18. Moulding installation as claimed in claims 15 and

17, characterized in that the supply means comprise a dividing member which connects to the feed conduit and which is formed by a housing in which a number of metering pumps are accommodated adjacently of each other, wherein the housing has a central, flared inlet and a number of outlets corresponding to the number of metering pumps .

19. Moulding installation as claimed in any of the claims 13-18, characterized in that the discharge means comprise at least one ejecting member co-acting with at least one mould cavity of the moulding device.

20. Moulding installation as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the mould cavity is defined in a moulding plate and the ejecting member is movable substantially transversely of the moulding plate and has a cross-section corresponding with the mould cavity.

21. Moulding installation as claimed in claim 20, characterized in that the moulding plate is slidable and the ejecting member is adjustable transversely of the sliding direction.

22. Moulding installation as claimed in any of the claims 13-21, characterized in that the supply means and/or the discharge means are connected releasably or movably to the moulding device .

23. Moulding installation as claimed in any of the claims 13-22, characterized by means for controlling the supply means, the moulding device and the discharge means.

24. Moulding installation as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the control means are accommodated in a casing connected movably to the moulding device.