EP2933199A1 - Procédé de contrôle de production d'un produit épicé et appareil correspondant - Google Patents

Procédé de contrôle de production d'un produit épicé et appareil correspondant Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2933199A1
EP2933199A1 EP14425045.3A EP14425045A EP2933199A1 EP 2933199 A1 EP2933199 A1 EP 2933199A1 EP 14425045 A EP14425045 A EP 14425045A EP 2933199 A1 EP2933199 A1 EP 2933199A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
value
packaging
fryer
fried
product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP14425045.3A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2933199B1 (fr
Inventor
Alberto Vitaloni
Daniele Miotti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pai Industriale SpA
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Pai Industriale SpA
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Publication date
Application filed by Pai Industriale SpA filed Critical Pai Industriale SpA
Priority to EP14425045.3A priority Critical patent/EP2933199B1/fr
Priority to ES14425045.3T priority patent/ES2608567T3/es
Publication of EP2933199A1 publication Critical patent/EP2933199A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2933199B1 publication Critical patent/EP2933199B1/fr
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B57/14—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
    • 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
    • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
    • B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
    • B65B5/064—Potato chips
    • 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
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of controlling production and packaging of savory snacks, particularly fried savory snacks.
  • the present invention also relates to an apparatus for production and packaging of savory snacks provided with a control system.
  • a continuous flow fryer In processes for producing savory edible products, particularly fried savory snacks, such as potato chips, corn snacks, rice snacks and others, a continuous flow fryer is usually employed, with the cooked products at the output thereof being placed in a conveyor connected to the fryer.
  • fried products are packed by introducing, or more generally by arranging, a given amount (in number or weight) of pieces in a package, such as a pillow bag.
  • the continuous-flow process for production and packaging of snacks is mainly governed by the output volume of fried products from the fryer, which in turn depends on the amount of products, by unit time, which may be fried in the fryer and conveyed through the fryer to the output thereof.
  • a possible solution to this problem consists in providing a temporary storage area for products at the output of the fryer, and upstream from the area in which they are conveyed to the next processing stations.
  • the storage area which may be implemented in various known forms, acts as a "buffer" for the products exiting the fryer, thereby allowing servicing to take place in the process stages affected by the problem, without the need to perform action directly on the fryer.
  • the Applicant noticed that the presence of a buffer for storage of cooked products adds bulk to the process line, and involves the additional drawback of exposing products to air for relatively long times, which will degrade their quality, especially in case of potato chips, before packaging, which typically occurs in a controlled environment. There may also be different air exposure times for products before bagging. This will introduce variations in moisture absorbed by products, thereby affecting product quality consistency.
  • savory snack packaging machines such as bagging machines
  • a given packaging rate which is defined as number of packages that come out of the machine per unit of time, corresponding to a nominal operation rate of the machine, optimal for the process.
  • the nominal packaging rate is selected to be compatible with the output volume of fried products exiting the continuous-flow fryer, considering the configuration of the production and packaging apparatus, for example depending on the number of the fried product conveyor lines that branch off the conveyor line for product removal from the fryer.
  • any deviation from the nominal packaging rate that exceeds tolerance levels indicates the occurrence of a problem, which may have taken place between the output of the fryer and the packaging machine, e.g. in the snack feeding flow into the packaging machine or in the packaging machine itself.
  • a problem occurring in any line causes process anomalies in the line farthest from the fryer and may thus affect the entire process flow.
  • a temporary storage station may be avoided in the process when a control is implemented on the output volume from a continuous-flow fryer according to the packaging rate of the feed line further downstream from the fryer and on the actual quantity of fried products conveyed from the output of the fryer to the plurality of feed lines.
  • savory snacks is intended to preferably define savory snacks with a bulk density ranging from 0.02 to 0.15 kg/liter.
  • the present invention relates to a method of controlling production and packaging of savory products as defined in claim 1, and to an apparatus for production and packaging of savory products as defined in claim 11.
  • Figure 1 schematically shows an apparatus for production and packaging of savory snacks in accordance with an embodiment consistent with the present invention. Without affecting the generality of the present invention, this detailed description will particularly refer to the production of potato chips to be packaged in pillow bags.
  • the apparatus comprises a continuous-flow fryer 11 having a product-removal output connected to a product-removal conveyor line 12, which is configured to continuously remove the potato chips exiting the fryer and to convey them to the next processing stations.
  • the product-removal conveyor line 12 is, for example, a motor-driven conveyor belt.
  • the fryer 11 may be a conventional machine that includes a conveyor system that receives slices of raw potatoes, controls immersion of the latter through an oil tank and ejects the slices of cooked potatoes from the fryer.
  • the product-removal conveyor line 12 conveys the fried products that come out of the fryer 11 to a distribution conveyor line 14, which is connected to the line 12 and extends in a distribution direction, longitudinally of the product feed direction. Therefore, the distribution conveyor line extends longitudinally from a proximal end to a distal end relative to the product-removal output of the fryer.
  • a sensor 13 is provided for detecting the amount of product that comes out of the fryer 11.
  • the apparatus 10 further comprises a plurality of feed conveyor lines 15, 16, 17 and 18, each extending in a direction transverse to the distribution direction, in such position as to be able to receive material from the distribution conveyor line 14.
  • the distribution conveyor line 14 has a plurality of material transfer points, arranged in the distribution direction, for transferring material to the respective plurality of feed conveyor lines. It is to be understood that the number of feed conveyor lines is purely indicative and that, as used in the present disclosure and claims, the term plurality of conveyor lines shall be intended as at least two conveyor lines.
  • the sensor 13 for detecting the amount of potato chips that come out of the fryer is configured to detect the amount of material being fed through a detection area 24, which is indicated in the figure with a broken line.
  • the detection area 24 is arranged along the distribution direction upstream from the first material transfer point, i.e. the transfer point closest to the product-removal conveyor line 12.
  • the product amount detection sensor 13 detects the actual amount of savory snacks exiting the fryer.
  • the distribution conveyor line 14 comprises a first vibrating table 14a connected to the product-removal conveyor line 12 and provided with two lateral retaining walls 25a and 25b for lateral retention of products.
  • the sensor 13 is located at the first vibrating table 14a, which means that the detection area 14 is within the length of the first table.
  • the distribution conveyor line 14 is a modular vibrating conveyor belt which comprises a plurality of longitudinally-extending vibrating tables 14a, 14b, 14c and 14d, arranged along the distribution conveyor line.
  • the vibrating tables are connected in pairs in the distribution direction.
  • each vibrating table has two sidewalls for lateral retention of the products as they are being fed.
  • the number of vibrating tables will preferably match the number of feed conveyor lines.
  • connection between adjacent tables is such that, in a first operating position, the two tables are in mutually abutting or partially overlapping relationship in the distribution direction, for material to be transferred from the upstream table to the downstream table, with respect to the distribution direction and, in a second operating position, the two adjacent tables are moved away from each other in the distribution direction, thereby creating an opening for the products to fall on a respective feed conveyor line.
  • the feed conveyor lines are placed below the distribution conveyor line.
  • the opening between two adjacent tables is the transfer point whereat products are transferred to the feed lines and connects the distribution line to the underlying feed line.
  • opening of adjacent tables can be actuated by a material distribution control system, to convey respective amounts of material to one or more feed conveyor lines.
  • opening mechanism can be selectively actuated to form openings to the feed conveyor lines 15-18, including the case in which openings to all feed conveyor lines 15-18 may be actuated.
  • Figure 1 shows an exemplary operating state, in which the distribution conveyor line conveys fried snacks to the last feed line 18 only.
  • the sensor 13 is a level sensor which is configured to measure the level of fried snacks in the detection area 24, i.e. the fried snacks moving along the first vibrating table 14a.
  • an ultrasound sensor may be used for this purpose, to detect the distance between the upper surface of the fried snacks as they are being fed through the detection area and the detection surface of the sensor.
  • the sensor may be placed upstream from the connection between the distribution line 14 and the first feed conveyor line 15.
  • Each feed conveyor line is preferably a conveyor belt that is driven for longitudinally feeding the material that has been transferred from the distribution conveyor line to a respective packaging machine 20, 21, 22 and 23 for packaging of the fried product by introducing a given amount (number or weight) of pieces in a package, such as a pillow bag.
  • a package such as a pillow bag.
  • bagging machines are typically sealed bags that contain the savory snacks in a preferably inert atmosphere, adapted for food property preservation.
  • the process for production and packaging of savory snacks may comprise a surface treatment step of the snacks.
  • this treatment step comprises a step of flavoring the savory snacks by using a food flavoring machine, known per se, which is adapted to distribute flavors on the snacks, e.g. by spray-drying of flavoring agents.
  • a respective flavoring machine 19a, 19b, 19c and 19d, through which the savory snacks pass and exit flavored is arranged on each feed conveyor lines 15, 16, 17 and 18.
  • Each flavoring machine is located between the connection of the respective feed line with the distribution line 14 and the bagging machine of such line.
  • each of the bagging machines 20-23 may be connected by a conveyor belt to a respective case packing machine, which is placed downstream from the bagging machine and is designed to introduce a plurality of pillow bags into a carton.
  • a continuous-flow fryer is generally designed to produce a given amount of potato chips in a unit of time, wherein such value may be expressed as an output volume or mass per unit of time, hereinafter referred to as production rate of fried snacks (coming out of the fryer).
  • the production rate is electronically controlled by controlling operating parameters of the machine, such as the flow of incoming products (i.e. slices of raw potatoes or, optionally, unsliced raw potatoes if the fryer has a slicer at its input), oil bath temperature, and product feed rate through the oil bath.
  • the fryer is equipped with a control station which provides, as output data, the production rate of fried products at the output of the machine, i.e. to the product-removal conveyor line.
  • the fryer is designed to accept a tolerance on the nominal production rate value of fried snacks, which means that the fryer may operate within a range of values centered about the nominal value, which ensures both efficient operation of the machine and satisfactory quality of the output fried product. For example, an acceptable deviation is ⁇ 10%. More generally, assuming that R n is the nominal value of fried snack production rate and ⁇ R n is the tolerance range, an acceptable production rate for the process is a value R f that falls in the range (R n - ⁇ R n , R n + ⁇ R n ).
  • each bagging machine is equipped with a control station configured to control the product input process and the bagging process and provides, as output data, the product bagging rate, which may be expressed as a number of bags, or more generally of packages, that come out of the machine per unit of time.
  • Bagging machines operate with a nominal bagging rate.
  • the Applicant noticed that, if a problem occurs in the product distribution line, which has a plurality of product transfer points along its length, to a respective plurality of lines for feeding products to packaging machines, such problem will be found in the last feed line, i.e. the most downstream line in the process flow, with respect to the fryer.
  • the apparatus comprises a control system for controlling and, when needed, adjusting the savory snack production rate according to the detected values of amount of fried products that come out of the fryer, and of the packaging rate of the packaging machine in the last feed conveyor line.
  • FIG. 2 is a block diagram of this control system.
  • the sensor 13 is electronically connected, via a control line 31, to a control unit 30 which is adapted to receive control signals from the sensor, which are representative of the detected amount of material, and hence of the amount of products conveyed from the fryer into the distribution line 14.
  • the control unit 30 is also electronically connected to the control station of the fryer 11 via a control line 32.
  • the control unit 30 is configured to acquire, as is usually done by exchanging electronic control signals, the actual value of the amount of material as detected at the output of the fryer by the sensor and the actual value of the packaging rate of the bagging machine of the last feed line and to adjust the fried snack production rate value at the output from the control station of the fryer as a function of the input data.
  • a nominal value of material level is stored in the control unit, and is preferably associated with a nominal value of fried product production rate, R n .
  • the control unit 30 is configured to carry out a control method, which comprises:
  • the increase or decrease of the production rate value of the fryer in steps (d) and (e) is temporary, which means that the fryer is operated at a value that is decreased or increased by a predetermined amount for a given interval of time, which will be referred to hereinafter as an adjustment time interval.
  • the increase or decrease of the production rate value is applied for an adjustment time of from 30 seconds to 3 minutes, preferably of one minute.
  • steps (a) and (b) of the method are repeated to check whether the conditions of steps (c), (d) and (e) still exist.
  • step (b) and (c) If, as a result of steps (b) and (c), the detected level value is determined to be lower than the threshold level value and the acquired packaging rate value is determined to be equal to the nominal packaging rate value, then the control unit does not instruct the control station of the fryer to take actions, and the steps (a) and (b) of the process are repeated to check whether the conditions of step (c) still exist and, if the acquired product amount value differs from the nominal value, then the method will proceed with checking the conditions of steps (d) and (e).
  • step (b) and (c) If, as a result of steps (b) and (c), the detected level value is determined to be higher than the threshold level value and the acquired packaging rate value is determined to be lower than the nominal packaging rate, then the control unit does not instruct the control station of the fryer to take actions, and the steps (a) and (b) of the process are repeated to check whether the conditions of step (c) still exist and, if the acquired product amount value differs from the nominal value, then the method will proceed with verifying the conditions of steps (d) and (e).
  • step (b) If the result of step (b) is that the detected level value is equal to the nominal level value, then the control unit repeats the step (a) of the process.
  • control unit is configured to execute a decision process based on the input data, namely the amount of products detected at the output of the fryer and the current packaging rate.
  • the first and second predetermined amounts in the production rate adjustment steps (d) and (e) are equal.
  • the predetermined amount for adjustment of the production rate of the fryer is lower than the tolerance ⁇ R n .
  • the first and second predetermined amounts have equal absolute values of from 0.5% to 3%, and are preferably of 1%.
  • the adjustment time interval is the same for the increase and the decrease of the production rate of the fryer and is of one minute.
  • the control unit determines whether such value deviates from the nominal level value by a deviation value higher (in terms of absolute value) than a predetermined threshold deviation value associated with the operating tolerance range ⁇ R n for the machine operation about the nominal operation value R n .
  • a deviation value higher than the threshold deviation value is indicative of the operation of the fryer in conditions that may not guarantee the quality of the output products.
  • the step (b) of the control method further comprises determining whether the level deviation value as detected by the sensor has a higher absolute value than the threshold deviation value and, in the positive, providing as output an indication that the threshold deviation has been exceeded.
  • This output indication may be implemented in various forms, e.g. by displaying the information on a screen, which can be seen by an operator, or by triggering an alarm sound signal. If the level deviation value as detected by the sensor has an absolute value lower than or equal to the threshold deviation value, then the production rate control system will proceed with executing step (c).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
  • Frying-Pans Or Fryers (AREA)
EP14425045.3A 2014-04-16 2014-04-16 Procédé de contrôle de production d'un produit épicé et appareil correspondant Active EP2933199B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14425045.3A EP2933199B1 (fr) 2014-04-16 2014-04-16 Procédé de contrôle de production d'un produit épicé et appareil correspondant
ES14425045.3T ES2608567T3 (es) 2014-04-16 2014-04-16 Método para controlar la producción de envases de productos sabrosos y aparato para la misma

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP14425045.3A EP2933199B1 (fr) 2014-04-16 2014-04-16 Procédé de contrôle de production d'un produit épicé et appareil correspondant

Publications (2)

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EP2933199A1 true EP2933199A1 (fr) 2015-10-21
EP2933199B1 EP2933199B1 (fr) 2016-10-19

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EP (1) EP2933199B1 (fr)
ES (1) ES2608567T3 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020052889A1 (fr) * 2018-09-13 2020-03-19 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif d'emballage et procédé d'emballage d'articles

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001027568A1 (fr) * 1999-10-13 2001-04-19 Recot, Inc. Porte d'arret pour transporteur de produits
WO2002060791A1 (fr) * 2001-01-31 2002-08-08 Recot, Inc. Systeme d'entree de regulation pour chute de produit de convoyeurs vibratoires
DE202009016645U1 (de) * 2009-12-08 2011-04-21 Hastamat Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Dosieren von flachen Erzeugnissen

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2001027568A1 (fr) * 1999-10-13 2001-04-19 Recot, Inc. Porte d'arret pour transporteur de produits
WO2002060791A1 (fr) * 2001-01-31 2002-08-08 Recot, Inc. Systeme d'entree de regulation pour chute de produit de convoyeurs vibratoires
DE202009016645U1 (de) * 2009-12-08 2011-04-21 Hastamat Verpackungstechnik Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Dosieren von flachen Erzeugnissen

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2020052889A1 (fr) * 2018-09-13 2020-03-19 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Dispositif d'emballage et procédé d'emballage d'articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2933199B1 (fr) 2016-10-19
ES2608567T3 (es) 2017-04-12

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