FR2700923A1 - Device for spreading a food-grade paste over a hot flat plate - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for spreading a food-grade paste over a hot flat plate, after measuring it out, in order to make crêpes, galettes, blinis, pancakes, sheets for making "bricks" (fine flaky pastry) or derivatives thereof. The spreader device given a rotational movement is a planar spreader of curved shape, the shape and direction of rotation of which are designed to distribute the paste from the centre outwards. Apart from its spreading function, this automated device describes a cycle which allows it to adapt itself particularly to the horizontal, circular or straight-line movement of the plates of a carousel. The paste is measured out from a positive-displacement pump, with controlled valves, of the solenoid valve type.

Description

 The present invention relates to the spreading of food dough or not on a hot tile, intended to ensure cooking.

More particularly, the invention finds its field of application in the biscuit factory and the manufacture of pancakes, galeftes, sheets of bricks, blinis, panniers or derived products, or it is a question of then dosing or spreading or distributing a thin thickness, a predetermined quantity of dough, for baking on a flat tile. However, the dosing and spreading process can very well be used for ingredients other than food ingredients.

More particularly, to spread out a dose of pancake batter, or
pancakes, if licking processes on two heating drums
are well used, the display solutions on a hot tile
flat, horizontal have not been successful. However, we can cite
that the processes implemented exploit for the most part, a
straight squeegee moving above the tile and causing the
liquid or paste in front of the rotary movement of said squeegee.

 The pulp supply is then central (French patent N "1284089).

For others, the scraper is a rotating spoon which
pours on the surface, there is no equalization of the dough on
the tile (French patent N "2485340).

For others, a scraping device can move
radially from the center outwards, with movement
tile rotation correspondent (European patent 0311728).

For others, we sought the spraying projection1 of the
paste on the tile, as well as spreading by air jet
compressed from the center to the peripllery.

 All of these solutions have led to the same problems of defining the thickness of the film, its homogeneity and its speed of execution.

 There is therefore a need to have a metering and spreading device on a flat tile more particularly when it is a question of dosing and spreading on successive tiles of a circular carousel for baking dough pancakes or pancakes. The carousel then has a continuous rotary movement of the tiles, one of the points A of which is (Fig a) a laying / display poultry, the cooking being carried out from point A to point B, the peeling point of the tile for approximately one minute. . Zone G then serving, for the reconditioning of the surface of the tile: Cleaning, lubrication, elimination of the stuck particles. The invention thus adapts to a merry-go-round with continuous circular movement but also applies to a discontinuous circular movement, or to a movement of the linear tiles, continuous or discontinuous.

 The dough stored, in a container placed at altitude, descends by gravity to the metering pump, volumetric, the operation of which (Fig two) uses two solenoid valves, one of suction (1), the other of exhaust (2), whose openings are triggered by a signal determined by the passage of a slot (3), rotating with the piston pump rod, in front of an optoelectronic sensor (4). the opening of the supply solenoid valve (1), that of the exhaust (2) being closed, as well as the displacement of the piston from top dead center to bottom dead center. The filling volume is then determined by the adjustable stroke of the connecting rod on the drive plate of the pump.

When the bottom dead center is reached, the slot having done. also uu half turn, passes a second sensor (5) causing the closing of the intake solenoid valve and the opening of the exhaust solenoid valve. The return of the piston from the PMS to the TDC causes the expulsion of the dosing
This pump does not have a valve, but solenoid valves in order to avoid the phenomena of sticking of the latter1 as well as to destroy the quality of the dough, by its passage through small orifices (the laminated dough is then "broken"
In addition, in order to obtain direct passages, the solenoid valves are actually pneumatic valves with compression of the flexible, internal pipe, it is the pneumatic pressure which closes the neoprene pipe; This pneumatic pressure being sent by a receiving distributor the "signal" informsltion of sensors four and five. The paste thus arrives at the particular drainage orifice (Fig 3) on the tile, by two parallel pipes (Fig 6), the diameter of which has been determined so that the tension the surface of the dough in the tubes is sufficient to avoid dripping.

The spreading device comprises three combined parts:
~ The rotary spreader and its position on the tile
- monitoring the curvilinear movement of the tile during the display operation.

 - The installation of the spreader on the oil and the lifting to return finally to the initial point.

 The rotary spreader (7) is constituted by a scraper piece in S (Fig 4) of studied shape so that the central feeding of the dough can authorize the distribution on the tile by counterclockwise rotation of the S (a concentrated hourly rotation dough). The squeegee then comes into position, above the tile at a distance compatible with the thickness of the pancake or pancake. The flatness of the tile is necessary and the guide in rotation of the squeegee is entrusted to ball bearings (8) allowing the passage of the dough through the double pipe (6) in the central parity.

 The squeegee (7) is formed, in Teflon (non-adhesion) by introduction into a groove belonging to the movable plate (9). The counter-clockwise movement of the movable plate is ensured by a toothed belt (10) and an electric motor-variator (it) so that the display operation is done in a very short time. The position of the squeegee relative to the The plane of the tile is defined by the adjustment of the three centralizing shoes (12) which bear on the edge of the tile. A shock absorber cylinder (13) by shoe, ensures a smooth descent of the movable assembly of FIG three as well as the precision of the position of the squeegee relative to the tile by adjustment, using the threaded end of these cylinder rods (13).

 This mobile assembly has therefore been placed on the tile (14) which, during the display, has a curvilinear trajectory due to the movement of the merry-go-round. This mobile assembly thus deposited follows the movement of the tile but causes the upper stirrup ( 15) who deposited it and who also has two movements: one linear horizontal, obtained by sliding the stirrup on two rails (16) placed at the top of the machine, this movement is practically tangent to the circle described by the tiles on the merry-go-round. It will be the mobile team which will contact, by the pads (17), the stirrup in its horizontal movement. A vertical movement of the stirrup, by a pneumatic cylinder is intended to cause 14 stirrup ascent ar ascent of the moving part, knowing that the descent causes the moving part to land on the plane of the tile. The stirrup stroke is greater than that of the moving part so that the latter , come down, be good n resting on the plane of the tile.

 The return of the whole stirrup / mobile assembly to the start of cycle position is obtained by a jack (19) parallel to the axis of the guide rails of the horizontal movement of the stirrup.

 The length of the rails (16) and of the return cylinder (19) will naturally be greater than the necessary stroke, observed by the rotation of the carousel, in order to adapt to other carousels, linear movements of the tiles.

Claims (7)

 1) Device for spreading food dough on a tile, characterized by the rotation of a scraper (7) above the tile (14) of bi-circular shape, in S, the whole of which constitutes a movable assembly which can be deposited on the tile, then spreading the dough by rotation of the scraper, while being driven in horizontal displacement by the continuous rotational movement of the tile, then after rising above the tile, to return to the initial position of the start of the cycle.  2) Device according to claim N 1) characterized in that the curvilinear S-shaped scraper rotates parallel to the tile in an anti-clockwise direction, or in a clockwise direction for a symmetrical shape.  3) Device according to claims N01 and N "2, characterized by the  makes the feeding of the dough central to the scraper  4) Device according to claim NGl, characterized in that  the height of the scraper with respect to the tile is adjustable by three centralizers (12).  5) A device according to claim N "1, characterized in that a movable assembly consisting of the scraper, its drive means, and the three centralizers, describes a rectangular work cycle ensuring:  - the damped descent of the mobile crew on the tile  - monitoring of the horizontal movement of the mobile equipment placed on the tile which in turn moves, in the case of a multi-station carousel.  - return to the initial position at the start of the cycle  - ascent to high position  6) Device according to claim N "1 and N" 5, characterized in that the centralizers (12) are adjustable in height.  7) Device according to claim NG3, characterized in that the supply of the dough is metered by a positive displacement pump, with piston y whose valves are replaced by controlled solenoid valves (1 and 2).