EP4072949A1

EP4072949A1 - Apparatus and method for recovering food liquids from bricks by breaking up the brick to extract its contents

Info

Publication number: EP4072949A1
Application number: EP20845401.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michel Martin
Original assignee: Primarpack
Current assignee: Primarpack
Priority date: 2019-12-11
Filing date: 2020-12-09
Publication date: 2022-10-19
Also published as: WO2021116604A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus comprising: a cell (100) delimited by two sides (111, 112) facing one another and an abutment (113), movable so as to crush the brick (B) inside the cell (100), starting by crushing the end (E1) nearest the abutment (113) in order to compress and push its contents towards the other end (E2), and break it up, and a drive means (300) for the relative movement of the two sides (111, 112) and a movement means (400) for moving the cell (100).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Title: "INSTALLATION AND PROCEDURE FOR RECOVERING FOOD LIQUIDS FROM BRICKS BY BLASTING THE BRICK TO EXTRACT THE CONTENTS"

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for recovering food liquids from bricks by shattering the brick to extract its contents.

Cardboard food packaging is a packaging widely used in the food industry for the packaging of liquid or viscous foods, such as for example and without limitation third-party milk products (milk, cream, yogurts, etc.), fruit or vegetable juices, soups, soy drinks ...

Cardboard food packaging, more generally referred to as "brick", consists mainly of cardboard, generally with additive layers of aluminum and plastic to enhance its food preservation properties. The entire packaging is originally developed in the form of a sheet which will be formed and then welded to constitute the final packaging.

In general, the bricks concerned by the invention can be of different shapes, of different dimensions, of different contents, have a plug (or not), it being understood that the object of the invention is to treat all types of bricks existing on the market.

In production, during the filling and packaging of the bricks, samples and checks are carried out to check, among other things, the aseptic quality of the food that will be placed on the market, in general the result of the checks carried out is known when the totality bricks were filled and conditioned.

It may therefore happen that bricks have been filled and completely packaged (put into packs, and packaged in pallets ready for delivery), while the tests and checks carried out during production on the packaged food reveal anomalies, such as by example a bacterial contamination or a lack of decontamination, which will prevent the marketing of the bricks thus produced. In this case, the food contained in the bricks, if it is not marketable as it is, can be recovered to be reprocessed in a new heat treatment phase, such as a new pas teurization for example, in order to be conditioned again.

We must therefore be able to empty the incriminated bricks, to recover the food and recycle it.

STATE OF THE ART

There are known devices for emptying bricks of milk or cream, they consist in compressing or shredding the bricks, from worm or piston mechanisms, which press or shred the bricks, without special precautions, for them. to burst and extract the food contained, by pressing. There are also devices which consist in piercing the bricks from large hollow needles, to empty them of their food content.

One of the drawbacks which arise when using such devices is the greater or lesser contact of the food recovered with the external part of the crushed or pierced brick, the contact of the food with the external part of the brick causing contamination of the food with dust, inks or various materials composing the outer layer of the brick. This contamination of the feed then makes the feed unsuitable for recycling.

Another drawback observed, when one squeezes a brick to make it burst and empty it, is a completely random and uncontrolled bursting, the brick yielding under the pressure at one of its weakest parts according to its design. and its manufacture, the various points of weakness of a brick being the weld of the bottom, the hardness of the edges, the weld of the shoulder or the zone of attachment of the plug. This does not make it possible to consider bursting a brick at a given point to empty it, without preserving from the shattering the other points of weakness of the brick.

Faced with these risks of contamination, a common way of proceeding to empty a brick without risking contaminating the food is to employ operators to empty the brick by opening it with its own stopper, or by cutting it manually to empty it. taking care not to put the food in contact with the outer face of the brick. This is an operation that remains tedious, long and expensive to perform.

However, users want to be able to recover as much feed as possible when emptying, to avoid the loss of feed which may remain in the tank. level of the empty brick, especially when it comes to food with high added value, such as cream.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to develop means making it possible to empty bricks in order to recover the product, in particular a product of high added value without soiling or contaminating the product and for recycling it, in particular in the dairy industry such as, for example, for milk or cream packaged in bricks, and also generally in the food industries packaging products in bricks and which sometimes have to be recovered for repackaging.

The object of the invention is, in particular, to recover the products as much as possible and to avoid residues in the empty brick without, however, contaminating the products by contact with the external parts of the brick or the equipment which serves to recover them .

DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to an installation for recovering the fluid packaged in a brick by causing the brick to burst in its fragile part in order to make its contents flow, an installation characterized in that it comprises: a cell delimited by two sides face to face and deep, the depth of the cell from its opening defined by the end of the two sides facing each other, being less than the length of the brick between its bottom and its top, both sides of the cell are movable relative to each other to crush the brick engaged in the cell, by moving one side to the other, starting by crushing the end with the bottom by crushing the bottom to compress and push back its contents towards the other end, to burst this second end and to expel the contents therefrom, a drive means for controlling the relative movement of the two sides of the cell to open the cell to receive a brick and louse r gradually close the cell by crushing the brick. A movement means for transporting the cell between a brick receiving position, a position over a collection area, and emptying the brick and an emptying brick discharge position.

The subject of the invention is also a method for recovering the contents of a brick by shattering it, a method characterized in that the brick is clamped by its first end in order to crush it and block it while pushing the contents towards the other end of the brick, we turn the brick so that the second end is facing downwards, we compress the brick leaving its second end free in order to force the contents under pressure towards the second end and to burst this second end, the flowing contents of the thus compressed brick are collected and the compressed and emptied brick is discharged.

The installation and the method according to the invention have the advantage of putting the bottom of the brick out of reach of the contents put under pressure in the brick so that this pressure is no longer exerted on the bottom and not risk to make it burst. The installation and the process thus allow the brick to explode in a targeted manner in the chosen area of the brick, that is to say the top which is out of contact with the elements that hold and pinch the brick.

This progressive pinching of the first end with the bottom gradually reduces the area of the brick at this first end which is only exposed to the pressure to which the cone of the brick is gradually placed until this end is completely crushed and emptied of its contents completely pushed back towards the rest of the brick; and the pressure can then target the second end which is the other sensitive area of the brick to burst.

The progressive pinching allows the top weld to burst over its entire width, that is to say its transverse direction after having deployed the top jaws initially folded over the top of the brick. This deployment is done automatically by the arrival of the volume of content forced out of the brick and put under pressure. This deployment of the nozzles deploys the solder of the top of the brick which is thus weakened and yields, avoiding any risk of random bursting of the brick. The contents are then expelled naturally in a manner directed towards the top of the brick.

The risk of the brick bursting in another place, in particular at the bottom, is excluded because the crushing of the bottom creates transverse folds reinforcing the bottom while pushing back the product, which further reduces the risk of bursting. .

Particularly advantageously by its simplicity of production, the cell is formed by two sides forming a dihedral of edge of variable angle between an open position and a closed position, the open position being the position of reception of a brick, position in which the depth of the cell is delimited, the closed position being the crushing position of the brick between the two movable sides of the dihedral.

Advantageously, the depth of the cell is delimited by the stop carried by at least one of the sides and it is neutral with respect to the mobile side and only intervenes as a means of retaining the bottom of the brick in depth.

Alternatively, the depth of the cell is delimited by the angle of the dihedral formed by the two sides.

The cell comprises two sides respectively forming two diametrically opposed dihedrons and connected to the same rotary drive means.

In particular, the sides are integral with the respective axis element, coaxial with the axis of the dihedron and they are each rotated by a respective drive means, the operation of which is managed by a central unit which controls the movement. , that is to say, the speed and the variation in speed of each of the axis elements to carry out the different phases of recovery of the contents of a brick. The efficiency of the installation is thus increased by using the dead time of return of a cell to the loading position of a brick by symmetrically doubling the cell with respect to its axis of rotation.

According to another feature, the cell is formed of two halves combined with one another in the inverted position to form the four sides and the bottom of the cell, each half consisting of a lateral wall, one side and a stopper forming part of the underside of the cell, the side walls and the sides forming the variable contour of the cell, the bottom of which is formed by the juxtaposition of the two stops, having a width corresponding to a fraction of the width of the al veal, the stop of one half passing under the back of the other half and reci pro progressively.

This embodiment of the cells with two complementary parts of the same shape considerably simplifies the manufacture, all the more so as the shape and size of the cells depend on the bricks to be made. This makes it possible to have sets of cells which are installed. replaceable in the installation.

The rotary drive means are preferably geared motors.

The invention allows by its installation and its method to overcome the various drawbacks mentioned above, by crushing and bursting, bricks containing a liquid or viscous food, such as milk or cream bricks, for example, and ensuring that 'there is no possible contact between the food extracted from the brick and any external part of the brick. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of embodiments of an installation for recovering the contents of brick and its method of implementation shown diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings in which:

[fig. 1] basic diagram of a recovery installation according to the invention,

[fig. 2A]

[fig 2B]

[fig. 2C] its parts A, B, C represent the three stages of recovering the contents of a brick using the installation according to figure 1,

[fig. 3] diagram of an embodiment of a brick content recovery installation,

[fig. 3A] diagram of a variant of the embodiment of Figure 3.

[fig. 4] another embodiment of the installation in the form of an angular jaw press receiving a brick,

[fig. 5] press of figure 4 in closed position,

[fig. 6] element of the press of figure 4,

[fig. 7] another element of the press of figure 4,

[fig. 8] assembly of the press elements according to Figures 6 and 7 with a brick,

[fig. 9] view of the press at the end of compression of a brick,

[fig. 10] installation comprising a press according to this embodiment.

[fig. 11] perspective view of half of a cell,

[fig. 1 IA] top view of half of the alveolus,

[fig. 12A] view of a cell composed of its two halves,

[fig. 12B] perspective view of the closed cell,

[fig. 13A] plan view of the open cell,

[fig. 13B] intermediate position of the socket,

[fig. 13C] closed / compressed position of the socket.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The subject of the invention is an installation and a method for recovering the contents of a brick B. This content is liquid or pasty; this is, for example, a food product that needs to be repackaged.

According to FIG. 1, brick B is an example of a widely used container for packaging liquids and more or less liquid, or even pasty, products in the food industry. The example of brick B shown has the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with a bottom F, a body C and a top D provided with a stopper or pleats PL forming spouts BV when cut. The bottom, sides and top are welded parts of the sheet of complex in which the brick is made. The SD weld from above extends into the two BV side jaws and the PL fold of the BV jaws following the ridge on each side considerably strengthens the weld.

The same is true of the non-detailed slats of the bottom F which are folded against the underside of the bottom.

There are also bricks whose bottom and top have a hard transverse sou between folded shutters without slats.

To pour the contents of the brick, some users cut off one of the top BV spouts to effectively form a spout instead of the spout closed by the AB stopper.

By definition, the bottom F is part of the first end El and the top D is part of the second end E2 of the brick B.

Bottom F and top D with their respective welds are the weakest assembled parts of brick B.

Brick B has a height H which is measured between its bottom F and its top D.

The installation according to the invention for recovering the contents of bricks B schematically consists of a cell 100 delimited by two sides 111, 112 and a stop 113 forming the bottom of the cell; the sides 111, 112 face each other and are movable relative to each other to move closer or apart and thus modify the volume of the cell 100.

The length L of the cell 100 is adjustable by the position of the stop 113 (adjustment in direction d).

The length L of the cell 100 can also be defined by the angle a of the dihedron formed by the two sides 111, 112 in the open position for receiving a brick. This initial angle or loading angle depends on the dimensions of the brick, that is to say on the width of the bottom F of the brick; the brick is thus fixed by the virtual length L of the cell to always be less than the height H of the brick B so that in the initial position of reception of the brick in the cell, the cell is stuck but remains always overtaking from above. This Virtual stopper has the advantage of being very simply and thus easier to adjust than the mechanical adjustment of a hardware stop 113.

To simplify the presentation of the installation shown in FIG. 1, the relative mobility of one of the sides 111, 112 with respect to the other side 112, 111 will be that of the second side 112 with respect to the first side 111. L The cell 100 is generally mobile, independently of the relative movement of the two sides 111, 112.

The length L of the cell 100 is adjusted to be less than the height H of the bricks B so that the second end E2 clearly protrudes from the opening of the cell 100. The two sides are left free from the cell. so that under the thrust of the contents, the BV nozzles can receive liquid and "inflate" and deploy, thus deploying the SD weld on the D side of the brick B.

The length L is adjusted by moving the stop 113.

The stop 113, carried by one 111 of the sides, is neutral with respect to the approaching movement of the other side 112.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, the cell 100 is delimited by its two sides 111, 112 forming a dihedral of variable opening (angle a) between the open position and a compression position with an angle aq very weak, or even complete overwriting.

The alveolus 100 itself is mobile, as illustrated by the angle b if this mobility occurs around an axis 200, for example, that of the edge of the dihedron 111, 112.

The relative movement of the two sides 111, 112 is controlled by an actuator 300 for the side 111 and an actuator 350 for the side 112.

The operation of the recovery installation will be described using parts A, B, C of Figure 2 showing three states 100A, 100B, 100C of the cell 100.

The open cell 100A, the sides 111, 112 of which are open according to the loading angle amax, receives the brick B resting against the stop 113 forming the bottom; this stop was adjusted so that the height of the brick B protrudes from the cell 100. This position of the cell 100 and its state 100A is the loading position, for example, downstream of a conveyor belt not shown.

The first end El of brick B bears against the stop 113. According to the variant not detailed in FIG. 1, the angle (a) of the sides 111,

112 for the reception of the brick is closed so that the brick gets stuck in this angle or dihedral; the stop 113 is thus replaced by a virtual stop which makes it possible to adapt the length L very quickly and simply to different brick dimensions by simply adjusting the opening angle a (angle of this dihedron) without having to intervene on the stop 113.

In the second phase, the side 112 of the cell is gradually brought closer to its side 111 so as to first crush the bottom F, that is to say the first end El of the brick B, to push back and evacuate the contents of the bottom and protect the bottom against the increase in pressure of the contents of the brick B, reinforcing it by the crushing and the formation of folds with the material of the brick. This reinforces the bottom weld to prevent it shattering or even premature shattering.

The bottom F being locally emptied of its contents, it is no longer subjected to the pressure of the contents forced towards the other end of the brick B in the region of the top, that is to say from the second end E2.

This compression of the contents is shown schematically by a deformation of the shape of the brick B, inflated in its free part, beyond the opening of the cell (state 100B) and by the deployment of the folded corners of the top of the brick.

Brick B also inflates laterally by its sides other than those in contact with the sides 111, 112.

This phase of compression of the brick B started by the compression of the bottom F, on the one hand, blocks the bottom and thus retains the brick B in the cell 100 and on the other hand, protects the bottom and prevents it from bursting. . It is combined with a tilting movement of the cell 100 (100A) to reverse the position of the brick B so that its second end E2 is turned downwards before the end of the compression and crushing phase of the brick. brick B then the bursting of its second end E2 for its emptying.

The cell 100 is driven in its position 100B above a receptacle collecting the contents of the bricks. This phase ends with the end of the recovery phase with the prior bursting of the top D of the brick then evacuation of the emptied brick.

In this inverted position, the liquid or viscous contents flow by gravity and by the thrust resulting from the compression from the sides. 111, 112 and at the end of emptying by the possible centrifugal force evacuating the last drops of content.

The shape of the sides 111, 112 of the dihedron constituting the cell is such that, at the end of compression, the sides possibly mounted partially floating can completely crush the brick to expel as much as possible all the contents.

This emptying operation prevents the contents of brick B from coming into contact with the sides 111, 112 of the cell 1 or the exterior of the brick and risks being polluted by such contact.

The implementation of the installation comprising such a cell 100 is a method according to which a) the brick 100 is clamped by its first end E 1 with the bottom F to push the content towards the other end E2 of the brick, while by retaining the brick and protecting the bottom F against shattering. b) the brick 100 is turned over so that the second end E2 is facing downwards, c) the brick 100 is continued to be compressed in order to force the content and put it under pressure towards the second end and to burst this second end E2, d ) the flowing content of brick 1 is collected and crushed and e) the brick is evacuated, emptied.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of an installation equipped with a cell 100 such as that described with the aid of Figures 1 and 2.

The cell 100 is mounted to rotate about an axis 200 passing through the edge of the dihedron formed by the sides 111, 112. The different phases A, B, C 100 described above in FIG. 2 are the different positions. 100A, 100B, 100C of the cell 100 completed by the evacuation position of the emptied brick 100D.

According to the embodiment shown, the side 111 is integral with an axis element 210 coaxial with the edge 200 of the dihedron; likewise, the side 112 is integral with an axis element 220, also coaxial with the edge 200 of the dihedron. Each of these two axis elements 210, 220 is connected to a respective actuator 300, 350 in the form of a controlled geared motor, to combine the relative movements of the sides 111, 112 and reproduce the phases described above. and which are carried out, preferably in continuous kinematics:

- The loading phase 100A in which the side 112 is slowed down relative to the side 111 so as to open the cell 100, - The compression phase 100B by accelerating the speed of side 112 relative to that of side 111 with an evolution of the difference in speeds so that the second end E2 is crushed and held against the stop 113 during the reversal of brick B,

- The bursting and emptying phase 100C of the brick B in the inverted position above the receptacle 105 for collecting the contents, by a higher speed on the side 112 to crush the brick,

- The 100D evacuation phase of the emptied brick, by a negative speed difference for the opening of the cell and the evacuation of the emptied brick.

The control of the rotational speed by the actuators 300, 350 also varies to adapt the rotational speed of the cell 100 to each phase, depending on the duration of the respective operation:

- loading of brick B into slot 1,

- compression of the bottom F (first end El) of the brick B,

- reversal of the position of brick B,

- bursting of the top D (second end E2) and emptying of the brick,

- evacuation of the emptied brick.

FIG. 3A shows an installation with two cells 100a, 100b made from the installation of FIG. 3 and combined in diametrically opposed positions, the homologous sides of the two cells of which are in the continuation of one another . The figure shows the movement on a semicircle of path to operate two alveoli 100a, 100b successively on the same circular path and with the same rotational drive mechanisms. The return of an empty cell from the evacuation position 100D to the loading position 100A is done while the other cell 100a processes a brick B on the lower part of the circular path showing the brick in the emptying position , just before its final phase of compression with the shattering of its end E2 and the end of the emptying, then the evacuation of the crushed and emptied brick very schematically between the hour positions 8 and 4.

The loading position 100A is preferably inclined upwards so that the loading takes place by the ramp 107, by gravity, the brick B arriving in the open cell 100a, 100b, to the bottom against the stop 113 or against the virtual stopper formed by the angle (a) between the two sides 111, 112ab of the open cell 100ab; thus the second end E2 protrudes from the entrance of the socket 100.

The discharge position is preferably diametrically opposed and again oriented downwards so that any drops of residual product fall and do not contaminate the cell. This position is beyond the collection tank 105 to avoid these last possible drops; then the cell opens and releases the fall of the empty crushed brick B out of the cell 100.

The distribution of the different steps of the example described above of the installation I with a single cell 100, here requires an adaptation of the movement of the two cells 100a, b combined on the same axis 200 and which are formed by a single dihedral with sides 11 la, b, 112a, b dividing the two sides of the axis 200. This means that the two al veal lOOan, 100b have in common a single side 111 divided into two parts 11 la, 11 lb on each side and the other of the axis 200. It is the same for the other side 112 divided into two parts 112a, 112b on either side of the axis 200.

The cells are driven by the common motors 300, 350 not shown here, which means that the opening movement of the cell 100a in the loading position is simultaneous with the opening of the cell 100b for the evacuation of the brick emptied in position 100D.

The intermediate phases of compressing the brick by bringing the sides 111a, 112a together do not have any particular constraints since the diametrically opposed positions of the sides 111b, 112b are those of the empty cell 100b.

Figures 4-10 show an embodiment III of the installation with two combined cells, driven by two motors M1, M2 around the same axis. The recovery installation is called for this variant "press with angular jaws" constituting the cells whose sides are the angular jaws 1a, 2a treating a brick B similar to that treated in installations I and II

The device III, according to the invention (Fig.4) is a press with angular jaws 1a and 2a for crushing the brick B. The press allows in its angular closing movement articulated around the axis 3, to clamp first the bottom of brick B, thus preserving the bottom of brick B from bursting at its bottom weld. The press by accentuating its closure amplifies the pinching of brick B on the lower part of brick B, pressing and pushing the food towards the upper part of brick B, thus concentrating the pressure generated by the thrust in the upper part of brick B until the weld which closes brick B on its upper part is shattered (Fig. 5). The stops le and 2c make it possible to position brick B in height in the press, so that in the crushed position, the top of brick B is not in position. contact with the end of the jaws 1a and 2a in order to avoid any contact of the food with the jaws.

To empty the brick B without putting the food in contact with the brick and with the jaws 1a, 2a, the same allows in its rotation to turn the brick B again, to place it in the "upside down" position so that the food can flow out when brick B bursts without touching its outer walls.

To be able to properly empty brick B, the press device is designed and sized so that in its fully closed position, the press has its jaws 1a, 2a in a parallel and contiguous position (Fig. 5), thus allowing rapid emptying. and completely of the bricks containing for example a more viscous food such as for example cream, thus completely crushing over its entire surface the brick B.

Thus for the purpose of optimization, the parts are in one piece according to Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig.6 shows the arm composed at its center of a pin 3, and at its ends of two jaws la, lb, and two stops le, ld.

Fig. 7 shows the arm 2 composed at its center of an axis 3, and at its ends of two jaws 2a, 2b, and two stops 2c, 2d. The jaws 1a, 2a make up a press or cell, and the jaws lb, 2b make up the second press or cell operating in opposition around their common articulation axis 3.

It is possible to make the arms 1, 2 in several elements, and mainly to make the stops le, 2c and the stops ld, 2d adjustable, to adjust the positioning height of the brick B in the press. The height adjustment is particularly useful for processing bricks of different heights.

According to FIG. 10, the installation III comprises a frame 4 and a movable press device with angular jaws. The device is mainly composed of arms 1, 2. The arms 1, 2 rotating around their articulation axis 3 (Fig.8), (Fig.9), are each fixed separately in their middle on their own. motor M1 for arm 1 and M2 for arm). The motors M1, M2 are controlled separately, thus allowing the arms 1, 2 to perform complete and continuous rotations of 360 ° around the axis of rotation 3. The motors M1, M2 are fixed by plates; the plate 61 for the motor M1 and the plate 62 for the motor M2; the plates 61, 62 are bolted to the frame (4). The mobile press device rotates in the anti-clockwise direction of rotation.

The separate motorization of the arms 1, 2 makes it possible to independently rotate the arms 1, 2 thus making up the press or cell. Motor M1 rotates arm 1, and motor M2 rotates arm 2.

The independent motorization of the two arms 1, 2 makes it possible to rotate the arms at different speeds according to the principle described below.

Each arm 1, 2 has at its two ends a clamping jaw. For the first arm 1 the clamping jaws 1a, lb are on the rear faces of the arm 1 (Fig. 6) and for the second arm 2 the clamping jaws 2a, 2b are on the front faces of the arm 2 (Fig. 7). Thus, when the device is in rotation, the jaws 1a, 2a are facing each other; the jaws lb, 2b facing each other thus form two sets of presses with angular jaws or alveoli; these sets of presses are positioned by design in 180 ° opposition, relative to the axis (3) (Fig. 8, 9).

The separate motorization of the two arms 1, 2 makes it possible to adjust the speed of the arm 2 in relation to the relative speed of the arm 1; the acceleration of the arm 2, relative to the arm 1, generates the closing movement of the two presses; the slowing of the arm 2 relative to the arm 1 generates the opening of the presses.

In general, by separately adjusting the speeds of the arms 1, 2, a law of motion of the arms 1, 2 is defined, which makes it possible to optimize the closing and opening movement of the mobile device for pressing with angular jaws. , such as for example reversing the direction of rotation of the arm (1), to accentuate the closing movement of the movable press device with angular jaws.

According to one embodiment, the device comprises four workstations, arranged on the frame 4 around the mobile device for press with rotating angular jaws:

The loading station for the brick to be emptied B in the device is positioned on the upper part of the frame 4 at approximately 1 hOO (according to Fig.8); the brick B is loaded by gravity between the jaws 1a, 2a or the jaws 1b, 2b.

The loading station is made up of a set of slides and guides not described simply guiding the brick (B) during of its introduction by gravity into the mobile press device. The loading station can be fed either manually or by a conveyor belt for the bricks to be emptied, to optimize the throughput rate.

The emptying station is in the lower part of frame 4 at around 7:00 a.m. (Fig. 9), because it is the brick breaking station (B). The emptying station is equipped with a container to collect the food coming out of the brick B.

The ejection station is on the lower part of frame 4 at around 5:00 a.m. (Fig. 8) and 180 ° opposite the loading station. The ejection station discharges empty brick B to an empty brick removal system such as a conveyor.

The neutral station is on the upper part of the frame 4 at approximately lhOO (Fig. 9) and in opposition of 180 ° with respect to the emptying station, the neutral station is a station without function. The press device being closed at the neutral station, as there is no brick, it can be equipped with a cleaning device, for example to spray a cleaning liquid, to maintain the good state of cleanliness during operation.

It is important to note that all the time indications for positioning the different stations relative to the frame 4 are given for purely explanatory purposes, since the position of each station is adjustable and depends on the relative position of the arm 1 by relative to the arm 2. The adjustment of the position of the loading station and the operation of the arms 1, 2 at the level of the loading station thereby freeze the position of the ejection station, and the operation of the arms 1, 2 at the level of the loading station. ejection station level.

Likewise, the adjustment of the position of the emptying station and the operation of the arms 1, 2 at the emptying station freezes the position of the neutral station, and the operation of the arms 1, 2 at the neutral station.

Advantageously, the following layout and adjustment principles have been retained:

The position of the loading station is defined to take into account the desired loading height of the bricks 5 in the device of the invention. The adjustment of the speeds of the arms 1, 2 fixes this position and allows a stopping time, or a sufficient slowing down for the loading of the brick 5 in the device with angular jaws. Of this position, and from these adjustments derive the position of the ejection station and the speeds of the arms 1, 2 at the ejection station, which fixes the stopping time or the slowing down at the ejection station of empty brick B ( Fig. 8).

The position of the emptying station is defined and given by adjusting the speeds of arms 1, 2 at the emptying station, the speed adjustments are made to determine the bursting position of brick 5, and to define the time for emptying the brick 5 above the receptacle. To allow emptying a brick containing a viscous product such as cream, for example, it is possible to slow down or stop arms 1, 2, to allow time for the brick (B) to empty properly. From this position and from these adjustments derive the position of the neutral station and the speeds of the arms 1, 2 at the neutral station.

In conclusion and in summary, the mechanical press device of installation III for popping and emptying a food brick B containing a liquid or viscous product is a press alveolus with angular jaws, composed of two arms 1, 2 or sides 1, 2 having at their ends a clamping jaw. For the first arm 1, the clamping jaws 1a, lb are on the rear faces (Figure 6) and for the second arm 2, the clamping jaws 2a, 2b are on the front faces (Figure 7). In rotation, these arrangements make it possible to have the jaws 1a, 2a, lb, 2b facing each other; the jaws thus forming a set of presses positioned by design, in 180 ° opposition to axis 3 (Figures 8 and 9).

The two pairs of clamping jaws 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b have this common axis 3 and these pairs are in contiguous position when the clamping jaws are completely closed.

Each arm 1, 2 is driven in rotation by its own motor M 1 for the arm 1 and the motor M2 for the arm 2; this thus allows the two arms 1, 2 to be independently rotated around axis 3. The arms make complete revolutions of 360 ° around their articulation axis 3 (figure 10).

Motorizations M1, M2 are independently controlled in speed according to an acceleration and deceleration law specific to each arm. This thus makes it possible to combine in a single movement of rotation around axis 3 the opening and closing functions of the arms 1, 2 to activate the presses or the cells and the 360 ° rotation of the arms 1, 2 to position the cells at the desired positions (loading the brick, emptying the brick, ejecting the brick (figure 10). Figures 11 to 13C show an embodiment of a cell 150 composed of two identical halves 150a, b, combined with each other in the inverted position and movable relative to each other to open the cell, receive a brick then move closer to crush it and finally burst the brick until the final compression.

In the description of Figures 11-13C, the references of the elements of the cell 150 will bear the suffixes a, b only when this is necessary for the understanding of the description.

Each half 150 a, b is connected to a lateral support carried by the axis or more precisely by one of the elements 210, 220 of the axis 200 so as to separately control the movement of each half.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a half 150 a, b composed of a wall 151, a side 152 and a stopper 153. These three sheet metal parts are welded together.

The wall 151 corresponds to a rectangle or a circular crown sector with attachment points 161, only two of which appear in the figure. These points are used for fixing the half 150 a, b to the side support. The top of the wall 151 has an oblong opening, this opening makes it possible to detect the presence of a brick in the cell and to start the operation of the machine. If there is no brick, the machine will not start and wait for loading. This die cut also has the advantage of lightening the part and, if necessary, accessing the interior of the cell. This opening also forms an outlet for carrying the half 150 a, b which is removable and replaceable depending on the size that the cell 150 must have.

The side 152 perpendicular to the wall 151 has a width corresponding to the transverse dimension of the cell.

The stopper 153 is a curved or slightly bent part to have a curved shape. Its width is preferably substantially equal to half the width of the cell (in the transverse direction) so that the two stops 153a, b of the two halves 150 a, b together form the bottom of the cell.

The stopper 153 passes under the lower edge 152-1 of the side 152 so that the side of the other half 150a, b assembled, can pass over this stopper and vice versa.

FIG. 12A shows the cell 150 formed by its two halves 150a, b assembled, each carried by a lateral support 160a, 160b. The side supports 160a, b are recessed to reduce their weight. The removable assembly of the two halves 150 a, b to the supports 160a, b is made by bolts 161.

This figure 12A shows the passage of the side 152b above the stop 153a and the coming of the free edge 152-1 of the side 152b on the inner face of the wall 151a and vice versa by the side 152a passing over the stop 153b and coming from against the inner face of the wall 151b.

Figure 12A shows the initial open state of the socket 150 and Figure 12B shows the closed state of the socket.

The sides 152a, 152b are pressed against each other or almost by compressing the brick not shown and the passage of half of the side 152b on the stop 153a.

This figure 12B also shows the reciprocal pivoting of the halves 150a, b and of their respective support 160a, b.

Figures 13A, 13B, 13C show in plan different relative positions of the two halves 150a, b making up the cell 150 without the brick.

To simplify the presentation, one of the halves has been shaded.

Figure 13A shows the initial, open position of the socket 150.

Figure 13B shows an intermediate closed position of the alveolus.

Figure 13C shows the final position of maximum compression when the two sides 152a, b are brought together as much as possible by compressing the brick.

NOMENCLATURE OF THE MAIN ELEMENTS

I, II, III Installations

B Brick

BV Pouring spout

C Body

D Top

E 1 First end of the brick

E2 Second end of the brick

F Bottom

H Brick height

L Cell length

SD Welding

100 Cell

100a, 100b Combined cells 100a, b, c, d Cell positions

105 Collection bin

106 Emptying the empty brick

107 Arrival of the bricks

111 Dihedral side

11 a, b Combined sides

112 Dihedral side

112a, b Combined sides

113 Stopper

113a, b Combination stops

150 Cell

150a, b Half of alveolus

151 a, b Side wall

152a, b Side

153a, b Stopper

160a, b Side support

161 Fixing point / bolt

200 Axis

210 Axis element

220 Axis element

300 Actuator / geared motor

350 Actuator / geared motor

400 Management unit

1 Arm Clamping jaw lb Clamping jaw

1 c Stopper

1 d Stopper

2 arms

2a Clamping jaw 2b Clamping jaw

2c Stopper

2d Stopper

3 Rotation axis 4 Frame

61 Plate 62 Plate M1 Motor / gearmotor M2 Motor / gearmotor

Claims

1. Installation for recovering the fluid conditioned in a brick by bursting the brick in its fragile part to make its contents flow, installation characterized in that it comprises:

A. a cell (100) delimited by two sides (111, 112) facing each other and of depth (L),

- the depth (L) of the cell from its opening defined by the end of the two sides facing each other, being less than the length (H) of the brick (B) between its bottom (F) and its top (D),

- the two sides (111, 112) of the cell (100) are movable with respect to one another to crush the brick (B) engaged in the cell (100), by bringing together a side (112) with respect to the other (111) starting by crushing the end (El) with the bottom (F) by crushing the bottom (F) to compress and push its contents towards the other end (E2 ), burst this second end and expel its content,

B. drive means (300) for controlling the relative movement of the two sides (111, 112) of the cell (100) to open the cell to receive a brick (B) and to gradually close the cell (100) by crushing the brick (B).

C. a means of movement (400) to transport the socket (100) between

- a reception position (100A) of the brick (B),

- a position (100B) above a collection area, and emptying (100C) of the brick and

- an evacuation position (100D) of the emptied brick.

2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the cell is formed by two sides (111, 112) forming an edge dihedron (200) of angle (a) variable between an open position and a closed position,

- the open position (100A) being the receiving position of a brick (B), position in which the depth (L) of the cell (100) is delimited

- the closed position being the crushing position of the brick (B) between the two mobile sides (111, 112) of the dihedron.

3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the depth of the cell is delimited by

- stopper (113) carried by at least one of the sides (111) and it is neutral with respect to the movable side (112) and acts only as a means of retaining the bottom (F) of the brick in depth.

4. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the depth (L) of the cell is delimited by the angle (a) of the dihedron formed by the two sides (111, 112).

5. Installation according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the sides (111, 112) are integral with an axis element (210, 220) respective, coaxial with the axis (200) of the dihedron and driven in rotation each by a respective drive means (300, 350) the operation of which is managed by a management unit (400) which controls the movement of each of the axis elements (210, 220) to perform the different recovery phases of the content of a brick (B)

6. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises two sides (11 lab, 112ab) respectively forming two dihedrons (100a, 100b) diametrically opposed and connected to the same drive means. rotating (300, 350).

7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that the rotary drive means (300, 350) are gear motors.

8. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the cell (150) is formed two halves (150a, b) combined with each other in the inverted position to form the four sides and the bottom of the socket (150), each half (150a, b) consisting of a side wall (15 la, b), one side (152a, b) and a stopper (153a, b) forming part of the bottom of the cell, the side walls (15 la, b) and the sides (152a, b) forming the variable contour of the cell (150), the bottom of which is formed by the juxtaposition of the two stops (153a, b) , having a width corresponding to a fraction of the width of the cell,

- the stopper (153a,) of one half (150a) passing under the back (152b) of the other half (150b) and vice versa.

9. A method of recovering the contents of a brick by making it burst, characterized in that a) the brick is clamped by its first end (B1) to crush it and block it while pushing the contents towards the other end (B2) of the brick (B), b) we turn the brick (B) so that the second end (B2) is facing downwards, c) we compress the brick (B) leaving its second end free in order to force the contents under pressure towards the second end (E2) and to burst this second end (E2), d) the flowing contents of the thus compressed brick are collected and e) the compressed and emptied brick is evacuated.