FR2722656A1 - Automatic slicing and spreading of food products - Google Patents

Abstract

Fruit or vegetables or other foods are sliced then dispensed and spread over the surface of an edible support (4). The whole products are placed in the slicer (3) and when required they are sliced (5), the cutter running for the length of time necessary to dispense the required amount. The sliced pieces are spread (17) over the desired area (16) of the support.

Description

 The invention relates, on the one hand, to a process for slicing, dosing and distributing on a given surface of a support, of the tray or tart shell type, of a food product, in particular of vegetables or fruit, and, on the other hand, to an installation for the implementation of this process.

 The invention will find its application in the field of the food industry.

 There are more and more ready-to-cook or ready-to-cook dishes on the market that are made by manufacturers on production lines, often requiring operator intervention because of the difficulties involved in handling certain products. food.

 Thus, in the context of the manufacture of products, such as pies and, more particularly pizzas, flambé pies and others, the intervention of the operator is essential to distribute on the support. that constitutes the base of pie, products such as vegetables, more particularly sliced onions, or mushrooms. Indeed, after cutting, the different slices of vegetables tend to adhere to each other because of the juice they contain. Thus, only the hand of an operator is able to take the desired quantity of sliced product from an appropriate container for, finally, depositing it and distributing it on the support, in particular the bottom of the pie. It is obvious that the dosing operation carried out by the operator, even if accompanied by a weighing operation, leads to variations in the quality of the final product obtained.

This is particularly inevitable due to the repetitive nature of the task of this operator.

 In fact, this way of operating consisting of pre-cutting vegetables or even fruits to store them in a container from which they are taken by the operator for their deposit on the support, has an innuence on the very quality of the products to divide. Thus, it is well known that sliced vegetables or fruits quickly deteriorate on contact with air, or even oxidize, and it is essential that the time between the slicing and depositing operations on the support, or even the following cooking or freezing, as short as possible.

 In fact, this condition is very difficult to meet since the quantity of sliced product must often suffice for production of a fixed duration, for example daily.

 Furthermore, for certain products, especially when it comes to juicy vegetables or fruits, the simple operation of storing the sliced product in a container from which they are collected by the operator, conditions the quality of the final product.

 In particular, the juice released by these vegetables or fruits during storage necessarily flows into the bottom of the container so that the vegetables or fruits taken from the surface are often not very juicy or even dried out while those arranged in the bottom are, necessarily, drowned in their juice so that the product, at the end of the production chain, necessarily presents a variable quality.

 The present invention proposes to provide a solution to this problem of slicing, metering and distributing products, such as vegetables or fruits, on a support of the tray or tart base type. it is, particularly through the process, but also the installation according to this invention, to allow the automation of these slicing, dosing and distribution operations. In addition, vegetables or fruit should be sliced "just in time".

that is to say, each time, only the slicing of the desired quantity of product which must be immediately distributed on a support. Consequently, all the phenomena of oxidation, liberation of juice, drying out or even bacteriological attack on contact with air are avoided.

To this end, the invention relates to a method for slicing, metering and distribution over a given surface of a support. of a food product, in particular vegetable or fruit, characterized in that
the products are introduced into a slicing unit
we proceed to the dosage of a given quantity of products to be deposited on the support by means of cutting means whose operation is controlled for a period of time corresponding to the quantity of products to be sliced
this given quantity of sliced product is deposited by gravity on the support while ensuring its distribution over a predetermined surface on the latter.

The present invention also relates to an installation for implementing this method, this installation comprising a slicing unit provided with cutting means driven by motor means, characterized by the fact
that the slicing unit extends above the manual or automatic supply means for support
that this slicing unit is associated with sequentially operating control means for controlling the start-up, for a given period of time corresponding to the quantity of products to be cut by cutting means
and that it comprises distribution means capable of dispersing a stream of sliced product at the outlet of the cutting means into a substantially uniform flow of sliced product whose cross section is proportional to the surface of the support to be covered.

 As already specified above, the advantages resulting from this invention consist, essentially, in that only the necessary quantity of product is sliced at the very moment when it is intended to be used.

Consequently, all the phenomena of oxidation or of liberation of juice, drying out or even bacteriological attack of this product are avoided, not to mention that this manner of operating makes it possible to obtain a precise dosage of the amount of product to be distributed on a support such as a tray or a pie shell.

 In addition, by placing the installation above the support supply chain, we can work by gravity. that is to say, it is under this single force of gravity that it is possible for the sliced product to fall directly on these supports, so that the bonding phenomena that are encountered are systematically avoided , for this type of product constituted by vegetables or fruits and, in particular, when these are more or less juicy.

 Obviously, other advantages are linked to this automation of the dosing, slicing and product distribution operations. such as vegetables or fruit, on a support. In particular, we can. now.

ask a machine to perform tasks often considered ungrateful for an operator. In addition, it is no longer useful to use product storage containers whose washing is also one of the current concerns in the field, since the health status of the product contained depends on it. In all cases, it is obvious that through the present invention, many risks of contamination of food products are reduced.

 Other objects and advantages of the present invention will emerge during the description which follows, relating to an embodiment which is given only by way of indicative and nonlimiting example.

The understanding of this description will be facilitated by referring to the attached drawings and in which
Figure 1 is a schematic view of an installation according to the invention
Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view and more detailed of this installation
FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic section view of the installation as shown in FIG. 2.

 The present invention relates to a method for slicing, dosing and distribution, on a given surface of a support. of a food product, in particular of vegetables or fruits. The invention also relates to an installation 1 allowing the implementation of this method and which has been more particularly shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

 As recalled above, in the context of the presentation of the prior art, the handling of products, such as vegetables or fruits, once sliced, posed a certain number of difficulties insofar as it required manual intervention and that it had an influence on the quality of the product, ultimately obtained.

 In order to facilitate understanding of the description which follows, we have assumed that the support 4 on which the sliced product is to be deposited, consists of a tart base previously prepared and spread.

Thus, it is advisable to garnish this base of pie with a certain number of products and, in particular, sliced products such as vegetables of the tomato, onion or other type or even fruits. In reality, the process as well as the installation allowing its implementation, conforms to the invention, find their utility, very particularly, when it comes to making products in series. Also, it is assumed, as shown in Figure 1, that the supports 4, here pie crusts, are routed towards the installation 1 via an automatic conveyor 2. However, manual feeding can be considered without departing, however, from the spirit of the present invention.

 In this regard, the method according to the invention consists in introducing the products, of the vegetable or fruit type, into a slicing unit 3 by means of which the quantity of product to be sliced and deposited is measured. on a support 4, this by intervening in the operating time of the cutting means 5 of this slicing unit 3.

 According to this process. this determined quantity of sliced product is then removed by gravity from said cutting means 5. In addition, during this fall. this determined quantity of products is then dispersed so that once it has fallen onto the support 4 it is distributed homogeneously over a predetermined surface on the latter.

 I1 is obvious that through this process, according to the invention, it overcomes the various intermediate storage operations of sliced products or a possible weighing step. The dosage is carried out, indeed. by precisely controlling the cutting time of the product. This results in a finished product of constant quality, not to mention that this quality is often obtained through a substantial saving of product insofar as its distribution is controlled and, consequently, the possible risks of overflow unlike what happens in the context of manual intervention. In addition, the workstation being, therefore. cleaner. once again, the risk of bacteriological contamination has been fully identified. Of course. As already mentioned several times, the immediate treatment of the sliced product is also the guarantee of a better quality of finished product.

 With reference. now. more particularly, in Figures 1 to 3 of the attached drawings illustrating the installation 1 allowing the implementation of this method, it can be seen that the slicing unit 3 with which it is equipped extends above the supports 4 on which the sliced product should be distributed and, therefore, above the support supply means 4.

 This slicing unit 5 comprises means 6 for supplying product to be sliced in the form of at least one hopper at the outlet 7 from which the latter communicates with the cutting means 5 which are, here, represented in the form of a cutting disc 9, provided with one or more blades 10 and capable of being driven in rotation by means of suitable motor means 11.

 It should be noted that means of transport of the worm or other type can ensure the routing of the products to be sliced contained in the hopper 6 in the direction of the cutting disc 9. However, so as to prevent these products from being damaged before slicing, this routing is carried out. preferably by gravity.

 Likewise. the quantity of sliced product is removed from the cutting means 5. preferentially, freely by gravity and, this. so as to prevent this sliced product from sticking to the walls of a possible discharge chute. Also, the cutting means 5 preferably act horizontally on the products to be sliced routed vertically at the outlet 7 of the hopper 6. Thus, in the context of a cutting disc 9, the latter is mounted on an axis of rotation vertical 12 at outlet 7 of the hopper 6.

 Advantageously, this slicing unit 3 is associated with means for controlling the sequential operation of the cutting means 5. In fact. it is, by means of these sequential operation control means, of operating said cutting means 5 only during sequences of a determined duration so as to cut only the quantity of products desired and which must to be.

finally, distributed on a support 4. Consequently, by means of these sequential operating control means comprising, very particularly, means for adjusting the duration, of the operating sequence of the cutting means 5, i'on can perfectly adjust this amount of sliced product.

 Incidentally. the installation 1 can receive a system of synchronization of the sequential operation of the conveyor 2 and of the cutting means 5 so that from the moment a support 4, conveyed by the conveyor 2, comes under 1 installation 1, one slice the desired amount of product. Then. once these cutting means 5 stopped and the sliced product actually distributed on said support 4, the latter is evacuated by the conveyor 2 which has a new support 4 under the installation 1 and so on.

 Regarding this distribution of a quantity of product sliced on a given surface of the support 4, it can be carried out through a specific configuration of the cutting means 7 and a particular supply of the latter with product to be sliced. . Thus, said distribution means 14 can be formed. on the one hand, by a cutting disc 9 of section adjusted to the section of a circular surface 16 of the support 4 to be covered. Furthermore. on the periphery of this cutting disc 9 are distributed several blades 10 which, individually or in combination, extend radially. noticeably. from the center of this cutting disc 9 to its periphery. Finally, the latter is also fed.

distributed over the surface of the cutting disc 9.

 In reality, it is this last condition which is the most difficult to fulfill, in particular. when there is only one feed hopper 6. In addition, arriving on the cutting means 5, the vegetables or the fruits must, as far as possible, be blocked in rotation, otherwise the slicing will not not perform in good conditions and induces errors in the quantity of sliced products. Thus, in the context of the embodiment shown in the drawings, the hopper 6 comprises at its outlet 7 a radial deflector 7A precisely blocking the vegetables or the fruits in rotation during the cutting operation.

We have, too. imagined distribution means 14 which are capable of dispersing a stream of sliced product leaving the cutting means 5 in a regular and uniform flow proportional to the section of the surface 16 to be covered on the support 4
Such distribution means 14 are, substantially, constituted, according to a preferred embodiment, by a propeller 17 disposed under the cutting means, this propeller 17 being driven in rotation about a vertical axis 12 so that its blades 18 are able to entrain all or part of the stream of sliced product falling from the cutting means 5 in a horizontal plane defined by this propeller 17 and, consequently, proportional to the surface 16 of the support 4 to be covered.

 In the context of the cutting means in the form of a cutting disc 9. a better distribution is obtained when the propeller 17 is subjected to a higher speed of rotation than that of this cutting disc 9 when they both rotate in the same way. In fact, the results are particularly surprising by giving this propeller 17 an opposite rotation to the cutting disc 9.

 In this regard and according to a preferred embodiment, the shaft 19 for driving the cutting disc 9 is of the tubular type and contains, concentrically, the drive shaft 20 for the propeller 17. Furthermore, at their upper extremities. respectively 21, 22, an inverter 23 is arranged allowing them to be driven in rotation by means of common motor means 11.

 Of course, this reversal of rotation between the cutting disc 9 and the propeller 17 can also be obtained by other drive means which are within the reach of the skilled person.

 In particular, on the axis of the drive shaft 19 of the cutting disc 9 and under the latter can be mounted a roller disc, the latter being sandwiched between said cutting disc 9 and an annular race track secured to the propeller 17. Thus, under the influence of the rotation of the cutting disc 9. the rollers are driven in rotation which act on the annular raceway secured to the propeller 17 by driving the latter in the direction of reverse rotation.

 As shown in the attached figures and drawings, the blades 18 of the propeller 1; can take a very simplified configuration in the form of radially extending rods. In reality, these blades 18 can take many other forms. these being a function of the nature of the distribution to be obtained and are within the reach of those skilled in the art.

 In this regard, if the cutting disc 9 preferably comprises a section 15 substantially equal to the surface 16 of the support 4 to be covered with sliced product, the same applies to the propeller 17. However, the latter may have a centrifuging action of the sliced products so that it can be of smaller diameter compared to the section of the flow of dispersed product which results therefrom, and therefore of the surface 16 to be covered. This advantage is passed on. directly, on the section of the cutting disc 9, the section 15 of which may, under these conditions, not only be less than that of said surface 16 but also smaller than the diameter of the propeller 17.

 It should be noted that such distribution means 14 can also be produced in the form of a ducted air flow capable of dispersing the flow of sliced product coming from the cutting disc 9, this in proportion to the surface 16 to be covered. on the support 4.

 I1 may be advantageous to prevent access to an operator to the cutting means 5 or, again. avoid possible projections around.

For this purpose, under the outlet 7 of the hopper 6 extends, vertically, a tubular deflector 24 containing, at least. the cutting means 5.

 So as to prevent the sliced products projected against the internal wall 25 of this deflector 24. either by the cutting means 5 or, again. the distribution means 1 w, the propeller 17, constituting the latter, carries, on the periphery. very particularly at the end of certain blades 18. at least one scraper 26. It will be observed that this or these scrapers 26 are substantially inclined so as to repel the sliced product adhering to this internal wall 25 of the tubular deflector 24 in the direction of the lower end -; of the latter under the influence of the rotation of the propeller 1 ;. Therefore. the direction of inclination of the scrapers 26 is dependent on the direction of rotation of said propeller 17.

 I1 is obvious, under these conditions, that the sliced product discharged by these scrapers 26 falls on the support 1. substantially in the extension of this lower end 27 of the tubular deflector 24. Also, the latter has an internal section equal to the section from the surface 16 of a support 4 to be covered with sliced product.

 It will be observed that such a deflector 24 can easily channel an air flow which> would be injected horizontally to disperse and, ultimately, ensure the distribution of the sliced products falling on a support 4.

 If, in the context of the drawings which accompany the preceding description, a circular shape has been shown in relation to the surface 16 of the support 4 on which a given quantity of sliced product is distributed, it should be observed that by communicating during the operations slicing, dosing and distribution, a displacement relative to the support 4 under the installation 1, using the conveyor 2, this surface 16 can perfectly be of oblong shape. One can. still, imagine conferring on the installation 1 and this by means of suitable drive means, a unidirectional or bidirectional movement in a horizontal plane so that the surface 16 capable of being covered with sliced product can be arbitrary. I1 is the same if the means of transport of a support 4 are able to communicate to the latter a movement in a horizontal plane under a fixed installation 1, or even in the case of a combination of the two solutions which come from 'be exposed. Ultimately. the means 14 for distributing the sliced product on the surface 16 of the support 4 may be in the form of such a unidirectional or bidirectional relative movement of the support 4 under the slicing unit 3, this by means of appropriate means.

 The numerous advantages to which reference has been made in the description above and which flow from the present invention mean that it represents a clear progress in the field under consideration. In particular, we will remember. apart from the fact that it is the origin of an automation of a repetitive task hitherto entrusted to an operator, that it guarantees an improvement in the quality of the product ultimately obtained, whether from a health or taste point of view .

 Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it is possible to make various modifications to it in forms, materials and combinations of these various elements, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (10)

 1. Method for slicing, dosing and distributing on a given surface a support (4), a food product, in particular vegetable or fruit, characterized in that  the products are introduced into a slicing unit (3)  l we proceed to the metering of a given quantity of product to be deposited on the support (4) by means of cutting means (5) whose operation is controlled for a period of time corresponding to the quantity of product to be sliced  this given quantity of sliced product is deposited by gravity on the support (4) while ensuring its distribution over a predetermined surface (16) on the latter.  2. Installation allowing the implementation of the method according to claim 1, comprising a slicing unit (3) provided with cutting means (5) driven by motor means, characterized in that  - that the slicing unit (3) extends above the manual or automatic supply means (9) for support (4)  - to this slicing unit (3) are associated control means with sequential operation for controlling the switching on, for a given period of time corresponding to the quantity of product to be sliced, of cutting means (5),  - And that it includes distribution means (14) capable of dispersing the flow of slice product. at the output of the cutting means (5), in a substantially uniform flow of sliced product, the section of which is proportional to the surface (16) of the support (4) to be covered.  3. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises supply means (6) of product to be cut in the form of at least one hopper at the outlet (7) of which the latter communicates with the cutting means (5), the products to be sliced, contained in this hopper (6) progressing by gravity towards the outlet (7), therefore cutting means (5).  4. Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the cutting means (5) are constituted by a cutting disc (9) mounted on a vertical axis of rotation (12) at the outlet of the hopper (6).  5. Installation according to claims 2 and 4, characterized in that the distribution means (14) consist, on the one hand, by a cutting disc (9) of section adjusted to the section of a circular surface ( 16) of the support (1) to be covered and, on the other hand, by a radial distribution and around the periphery of this cutting disc (9) of blades (10), supply means (6), such as hoppers ensuring, moreover, the supply of this cutting disc (9) in a distributed manner above the surface of the latter.  6. Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 5. characterized in that the distribution means (14) consist of a propeller (17) arranged under the cutting means (5) and driven in rotation about a vertical axis (12), so that its blades (18 ) are able to entrain all or part of the product flow falling from the cutting means (5) in a horizontal plane defined by this propeller (17) and proportional to the surface (16) of the support (4) to be covered.  Installation according to claims 4 and 6, characterized in that the propeller (17) is subjected to a rotation in opposite direction to the cutting disc (9)  8 Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the distribution means (14) are constituted by means capable of imparting a relative movement, unidirectional or bidirectional of the support (4) under the unit slicing (3).  9. Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the distribution means (14) are in the form of a flow of air ducted capable of dispersing the flow of sliced product from cutting means (5), this in proportion to the surface (16) to be covered on the support (4).  10. Installation according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that it comprises a tubular deflector (24) extending under the outlet (;) of the hopper (6) and containing at least means for cutting (5).  11. Installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the cutting means 5. in the form of a cutting disc (9) or also the distribution means (14) in the form of a propeller (17), comprise , on the periphery, scrapers (26), capable of ensuring the evacuation of sliced products adhering to the internal wall (25) of the tubular deflector (24).  12. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises, as cutting means. a cutting disc (9) with vertical axis of rotation disposed at the outlet (,) of a hopper (6) supplying the product to be cut. at this outlet (7) of the hopper (6) being provided a radial deflector (74) blocking in rotation the products to be cut during the cutting operation; under this cutting disc (9) and in the same axial extension being implanted the distribution means (14) in the form of a propeller (1;) rotated in opposite direction relative to the cutting disc (9) and section adjusted to the circular section of the surface (16) of the support (4) to be covered with sliced product; under the outlet (7) of the hopper (6) extending. in addition, a tubular deflector (24), of circular shape whose internal section is adjusted to the circular section of said surface (16). at least one scraper (26) fitted to the end of a blade (18) of the propeller (17) to ensure the evacuation of sliced product adhering to the internal walls (25) of the tubular deflector (24).