Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C11—ANIMAL OR VEGETABLE OILS, FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES OR WAXES; FATTY ACIDS THEREFROM; DETERGENTS; CANDLES
  • C11B—PRODUCING, e.g. BY PRESSING RAW MATERIALS OR BY EXTRACTION FROM WASTE MATERIALS, REFINING OR PRESERVING FATS, FATTY SUBSTANCES, e.g. LANOLIN, FATTY OILS OR WAXES; ESSENTIAL OILS; PERFUMES
  • C11B1/00—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials
  • C11B1/10—Production of fats or fatty oils from raw materials by extracting
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
  • B01D—SEPARATION
  • B01D41/00—Regeneration of the filtering material or filter elements outside the filter for liquid or gaseous fluids
  • B01D41/04—Regeneration of the filtering material or filter elements outside the filter for liquid or gaseous fluids of rigid self-supporting filtering material
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
  • B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
  • B07B1/00—Sieving, screening, sifting, or sorting solid materials using networks, gratings, grids, or the like
  • B07B1/46—Constructional details of screens in general; Cleaning or heating of screens
  • B07B1/50—Cleaning
  • B07B1/55—Cleaning with fluid jets
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B08—CLEANING
  • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
  • B08B3/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam
  • B08B3/02—Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays

Definitions

• An extraction device provided with an overturning and washing system, and relative machine
• the present invention generally relates to technologies for machines and devices used by the oil-producing industry, in order to process the olive drupes and to extract optimum quality oil, those technologies aiming in the first place at preserving - during the processing - the features of the aromatic substances contained in the olives.
• the present invention concerns a system for overturning/tilting and cleaning an oil extraction device based on a percolation principle like the extraction device described for instance in the patent "Macchina di estrazione delPolio da una pasta di olive e di altri frutti oleosi" of the same Applicant, filed on July, 31, 2002 (RM2002A000406).
• the invention relates in the first place to an improvement to already known oil extraction devices operating according to the percolation principle (reference being made to the patent RM2002A000406 for any clarification of details not directly relevant to the present innovation), and secondly, it relates also to a machine including this improved extraction device together with other devices/components which are already known and are assembled in a specific manner.
• the abovementioned patent RM2002A000406 discloses an oil extraction device with a housing or frame into which the olive paste/slurry is loaded, this housing having a plurality of apertures which are periodically crossed to the inside and outside by the extraction blades. Moreover, an equipped shaft is also provided, which is rotatably mounted inside the housing and which supports a respective comb used to clean the blades. As compared with another known extraction device operating according to the same principle of oil percolation, the patent RM2002A000406 proposes an improvement allowing to enhance the oil extraction efficiency.
• the extraction device still contains a paste with still a certain oil percentage, and for this reason these extraction devices of the percolation kind are equipped with a discharge screw (unloading auger) for discharging the residual oily paste, whereby the latter is passed to a water-dilution tank in order to facilitate a later further processing inside a separator, or inside a horizontal centrifuge, etc.
• a discharge screw unloading auger
• the known extraction device is fixedly mounted on a machine bed or machine structure, so that during routine maintenance or cleaning operations of the extraction device an operator has problems in reaching the most hidden and hardly accessible points.
• the consequences for example with respect to hygienic aspects which are of utmost importance for the food product industry, were that the extraction device could not be adequately cleaned and/or could not insure a sufficiently high quality of the final product.
• manpower costs also increase as a consequence.
• known extraction devices also have another problem.
• the automatic washing set of known extraction devices is moved by a plurality of linkages, including cranks and connecting rods, which are actuated by a ratio-motor fixed to the stationary support structure or machine bed of the extractor.
• This system would however hinder the movements of the extraction set (extraction assembly), by the very fact that it is fixed to the stationary structural part of the machine, and for this reason nobody has ever thought, till now, to realise a "non-stationary" extraction device.
• An object of the present invention is to provide an extraction device overcoming the abovementioned disadvantages.
• a further object of the present invention is to provide a machine with modular structure, comprising at least one extraction device of the kind suggested by the present invention.
• an oil extraction device for extracting oil by the percolation principle, the extraction device being mounted on a support structure and having a longitudinal axis (X-X), wherein, the characterising feature is that means are provided to permit a rotation of the extraction device relative to the support structure, around said longitudinal axis (X-X), and a first actuation system is also provided in order to rotate the extraction device relative to the support structure.
• said longitudinal axis (X-X) is the central longitudinal axis (X-X) of the extraction device and it coincides with the geometric rotation axis of the equipped shaft of the extraction device.
• the first actuation system is automatic.
• the first actuation system is manual.
• the first actuation system may be a linear actuator. This insures a simple structure of the actuation system that is easy to construct. Obviously, an end of the linear actuator will be fixed to the (stationary) support structure, while the opposite end of the linear actuator will be connected to the extraction device.
• the rotation of the extraction device may occur with both positive and negative rotational angles measured with respect to the rest position of the extraction device, in which position the end-of-cycle discharge screw of the extraction device assumes its lowest position.
• the first actuation system is adjustable, to allow the adjustment of the tilt angle of the extraction device with respect to the rest position of this extraction device, in which its discharge screw assumes it lowest position.
• a liquid-jet washing system is provided for washing a lower part of the extraction device, which washing system is entirely mounted on the extraction device in order to not hinder the overturning/tilting movement of the extraction device generated by said first actuation system; said liquid-jet washing system including a second actuation system for the movable washing means, which is also entirely mounted on the extraction device.
• said liquid-jet washing system of the extraction device includes a second actuation system which is of an automatic kind.
• the liquid-jet washing system of the extraction device comprises a second actuation system which is manually operable.
• the liquid-jet washing system is actuated by said second actuation system in such a way to impart a preferably continuous, rotational movement, to its liquid-jet washing means, around said lower part of the extraction device.
• the second actuation system is a linear actuator.
• a modular machine which includes at least a support structure and one or more extraction devices according to the present invention.
• the extraction devices are arranged in parallel positions.
• the homogenisation basins or tanks will be mounted on the upper side of the support structure, above one or more extraction devices.
• the dilution basins will be disposed at the base of the support structure.
• the installation room allows a compact configuration of the machine, the latter may have a substantially vertical extension, with lateral uprights that enclose all machine components (extraction device, oil collection basin for collecting already extracted oil, tank etc.) with the exception of the homogenisation basins and the dilution basins.
• FIGURE 1 schematically shows a possible embodiment of a machine according to the invention, in two orthogonal views;
• FIGURE 2 shows only the support frame/structure of the machine of Fig. 1, according to two views analogous to those of Fig. 1 ;
• FIGURES 3a to 3c illustrate the rotation of the only extraction device, around a substantially horizontal axis (longitudinal central axis of the extraction device), effected by means of the extraction device rotation system in accordance with the present invention
• FIGURES 4a and 4b are schematic views of an automatic washing system of the invention, which is mounted completely on the movable extraction device, these views being taken in a plane orthogonal and respectively longitudinal with respect to the longitudinal axis of the extraction device;
• FIGURE 5 shows again a possible embodiment of a machine of the present invention
• FIGURES 6a to 6e relate to some details of the extraction device rotation, the support means realising the connection to the fixed structure and allowing this rotation, and the linear actuator used to perform this rotation around the central longitudinal axis of the extraction device;
• FIGURE 7 illustrates the "modularity aspect" of a machine according to the present invention, for an embodiment including two extractors according to the invention, which are mounted in parallel arrangement and receive the olive paste from a single set of upperly mounted homogenisation basins (malaxers).
• malaxers homogenisation basins
• the crucial point of the present invention is an oil extraction device extracting oil from an olive paste, which is provided with a manually operable or an automatically actuated (overturning) system, and preferably also with an automatic washing set which is mounted on the extraction device so as to be driven/dragged in rotation during the rotational, overturning movement of the extraction device itself, and so that it does not hinder the movements of the extraction device. Therefore, to facilitate maintenance and cleaning operations (of the device interior), the extraction device can be tilted/overturned by a predetermined angle, without interfering with a possible automatic washing set which - according to the invention - is mounted totally on the extractor itself.
• An extractor extraction device
• An extractor can be mounted alone, or together with other extraction devices, in a machine for use in an olive processing plant.
• Fig. 1 of the machine according to the present invention essentially comprises six basic elements, that is:
• the systems or sets of points (3) and (4) will be described in detail later.
• the homogenisation basins 2, 2 ⁇ etc. already known to a skilled person, supply the olive paste (which has been processed and prepared by them for the following extraction process) to the interior of an extractor 1.
• the dilution basins 3 serve to dilute - by adding water thereto - the olive paste remaining in the extractor 1 at the end of the extraction cycle (and which is discharged out of the extractor), in order to facilitate a later extraction of an additional amount of oil inside horizontal centrifuges and/or inside oil separators.
• the dilution basins or tanks 3 are already known to a skilled person, so that their constructional details will not be given.
• the support structure of the machine is illustrated in Fig. 2.
• This structure is preferably made of stainless steel.
• the structure confers rigidity to the entire machine in all of its operative conditions, including the lifting and transportation steps, as well as the step of its installation inside apposite rooms.
• the support structure (like the whole machine) is of a modular kind, that is, its parts may be assembled so as to assume, e.g., two possible final configurations: in one of these configurations, lateral support components 4 are present and are mounted for plants requiring the homogenisation basins 2 to be arranged above the machine; in another configuration, lateral support components 4 are not provided (since in this case the homogenisation basins or tanks 2 are mounted instead e.g. on the ground and the olive paste is supplied to the extractor 1 by means of appropriate pumps ).
• the main components of the support structure are:
• the extractor 1 of the present machine is substantially identical to that described in the patent RM2002A000406, being practically unchanged with regard to its internal functionality and constituent parts.
• the innovation, with respect to this repeatedly cited patent, consists above all in the manner in which this extraction device, or extractor 1, is connected to the support structure.
• the extractor 1 is mounted at its two ends (only one of which is shown in Fig. 6c) to the coupling flanges 8, which in turn are bolted to the support structure (not shown in Fig. 6c).
• the extractor 1 has a respective cylindrical sleeve 9 rigidly connected to it but rotatably inserted into the corresponding coupling flange 8.
• This type of connection allows the extractor 1 - and all parts connected thereto (see also the following description) - to rotate around its central longitudinal rotation axis X-X, which is clearly indicated in Fig. 6b.
• the arrows of Fig. 6a indicate the rotational/ overturning motion performed by the extractor 1.
• Reference number 10 generally indicates the assembly of the "extraction lamellae" while reference 11 denotes the seat of the screw (auger) for the extraction of the olive paste remaining at the cycle end (to be passed to the dilution tanks 3).
• the rotation and support means 8-9 could possibly include any kind of bearing (ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings, etc. ) according to the state of the art, or they could be replaced by any other means (for instance a shaft and a cylindrical seat) having the same function of allowing the rotation of the extractor (under reduced friction) in accordance with prescribed static and dynamic loads.
• a description will be given of the true overturning/tilting system, that is, of the actual actuation means permitting to overturn/rotate the extractor 1 around its central longitudinal axis X-X, in the coupling flanges 8 of the support structure (or possibly on these flanges if the configuration 8-9 is inverted).
• the extraction device 1 is rotated by an adequately sized linear actuator 12.
• the actuator 12 is linked at one end 13 to a support 14, which is rigidly connected to the extractor 1 but is omitted from figures 6c and 6d, while at the opposite end, it is fixed to the machine structure (see Fig. 6d). It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to any particular kind of linear actuator.
• any other kind of actuation system could be used, provided it gives rise to a rotation, for instance a reducer, a reducer with a transmission chain, a manual system provided with a reducer-crank and a transmission chain, a pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric system, an oil-dynamic system, etc., and generally any type of actuation system, either manual or automatic, already known in the art, or equivalent, one part of which is connected to the fixed structure and the other to the extractor 1.
• FIGs. 6e and 3a to 3c are schematic, kinematical illustrations of the motion and of the respective covered angles/arcs.
• the two improvements are not, therefore, necessarily bound up with each other, since it would be possible to use another washing system of the outside of the extractor, possibly even a manual washing. Nevertheless, the preferred embodiment of extractor according to the present invention will include both these systems (the overturning or tilting system and the automatic washing system) in order to optimise the results/benefits obtainable from a combination of these systems.
• the automatic washing system forms a set or "kit” rigidly connected with the extractor 1. It is schematically shown in Figs. 4a and 4b and comprises two support collars 15 - one for each side or end of the extraction device 1 - which cooperate to support an assembly 16 of washing tubes located outside the extractor 1; this assembly 16 comprises a plurality of longitudinal tubes (that are parallel to each other and to the central longitudinal axis X- X of the extractor), which tubes, at their ends, are fixed and connected to each other by way of a respective arcuate tube 23, which is concentric with the corresponding collar 15 and is rigidly connected to the latter by means of spokes 21. Each of the arcuate tubes 23 has a corresponding internal cavity in fluid communication with all longitudinal tubes belonging to the assembly 16 of washing tubes.
• the collars 15 are mounted on the extraction device 1 in such a way that they can rotate around the same axis X-X of the extraction device 1, but since they are rigidly connected to the extraction device 1 by means of a further linear actuator 17 (see Fig. 4a), they rotate integrally with the extraction device 1 during the latter' s rotation.
• an end (or support) 18 of this second linear actuator 17 is fixed to the body of the extraction device 1, while its other end 19 is fixed to an arm 20 forming an extension of the respective collar 15; thus, the entire assembly 16 of washing tubes will cover the path of a circular arc 22 (or part of it) at the time of actuation of the second linear actuator 17.
• the washing tubes 16 have nozzles 25 pointing towards the lower outer part of the extractor 1.
• the various nozzles 25 are equidistantly distributed along each of the longitudinal washing tubes.
• the relative movement caused by the actuator 17, between the components 15-20- 21-24-23-16-25 of the automatic washing system, on the one hand, and the extractor 1 , on the other, allows to wash and to clean - by means of the nozzles 25 - the whole lower (outer) side of the extractor 1.
• washing system has been described with regard to its preferred embodiment, which includes a linear actuator 17, it may be understood that another actuation/drive system, or rotation system, employing any kind of known technical means, could be advantageously used to attain the same objects (compare the preceding analogous considerations in the description of the actuation system used for tilting/overturning the extractor 1).
• the rotation of the washing tube assembly 16 could be performed manually.
• the actuation system for moving the washing tubes assembly 16 could include adjustment means for setting the rotational angle of the washing tubes assembly 16.
• the homogenisation basins or tanks ("malaxers") 2, 2' and the dilution basins or tanks 3 are components already known in this technical field, so that it is useless to dwell on their details.
• the addition of water to the dilution basins 3 is necessary, since in the previous step (loading of the olive paste/slurry into the extraction device 1) some of the liquid phase (oil and water) has been removed from the olive paste or slurry, and for this reason this olive paste would be too dense for the following processing to be carried out inside a so-called “decanter” (horizontal centrifuge).
• these types of basins/tanks may be arranged in a way different from the embodiment of Fig. 1 (e.g. the homogenisation basins may be installed on the ground, instead of on the upper part of the machine, and in that case the lateral supports 4 are not required); in any case, a possible change of position, with respect to the machine embodiment schematically shown in Fig. 1 , does not imply at all a modification of the function performed by these basins 2, 3 in the production process.
• the aspect of the invention which relates to the modularity of the machine may be best illustrated by referring - for instance - to Fig. 7.
• This aspect of the inventive concept of the present invention consists in the possibility to satisfy various needs with regard to the size of the plants (output per hour) and to the rooms where to install the machine.
• the machine of the invention can be used in different configurations, that is, as a single-type machine or in the "double configuration".
• Fig. 7 shows only one among several examples of "doubled or duplicated" machine.
• the functions of the machine, in its doubled/duplicated configurations remain the same as before, and all that has been previously described for the machine of the single type holds also for the doubled machine, the only difference being that the doubled machine will insure a greater productivity provided the size of the single modules is unchanged.
• the machine of Fig. 7 comprises - as can be immediately recognised - two parallel extractors 1, 1' which receive the olive paste or slurry from a single, common assembly of homogenisation basins 2.
• the assembly of homogenisation basins 2 is supported by both sections of the support structure and is arranged in a "bridge-like arrangement" between these two distinct support structures, each of which includes the lateral supports 4. It can be seen that essentially the machine is formed by the same modules, or elemental components, though disposed in a different manner than in Fig. 1. In general, the machine may be formed by a number of "n" extractors, mounted in an array and united by apposite basins/tanks, which may be appropriately constructed and adapted.
• the extractor assembly can rotate around its own symmetry axis X-X, and this motion can be achieved either manually, with adequate linkages, or automatically, by means of a linear actuator or the like;
• the washing system - all parts of the washing system are fixed/connected to the extractor, and as actuation system the latter utilises preferably a linear actuator; since the washing system is integral with the extractor and not with the support structure of the extractor, or of the machine, during any motion of the extraction device the washing system will be simply dragged, that is, rotated integrally with the latter; moreover, the operation/control of the actuation system (linear actuator) of the washing system generates relative movements between the extraction device and the washing means (longitudinal tubes with nozzles).

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Oil, Petroleum & Natural Gas (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Extraction Or Liquid Replacement (AREA)
• Harvesting Machines For Root Crops (AREA)
• Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
• Cleaning By Liquid Or Steam (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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ID=39730844

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Family Cites Families (6)

• 2007
  • 2007-03-28 IT ITRM20070164 patent/ITRM20070164A1/it unknown
• 2008
  • 2008-03-12 WO PCT/IT2008/000165 patent/WO2008117325A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2008-03-12 EP EP08751504A patent/EP2137285A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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