FR2788744A1 - Automated dosing of semi fluid material, such as uncooked meat into long moulds, giving regular filling of the entire length - Google Patents

Abstract

A semi-fluid material (M) is dosed into containers (1) from a piston (3), which can move up and down and back and forth.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing a dose of

  semi-fluid material in an elongated cell with a constant cross section,

or substantially constant.

  In the description and the claims which follow, the following definitions will be understood:

  - "semi-fluid material" a product neither solid nor liquid, capable of flowing, but with difficulty, or rather with difficulty; there may be mentioned for example a pasty and / or viscous product, a mixture having the consistency of a relatively firm soup, an agglomerate of soft bodies and having a certain elasticity and a certain viscosity, such as in particular pieces of meat, a material powdery or granular, the particles of which tend to adhere to each other, which makes it not very fluid; - "elongated cell" a container in the form of a pocket, with a horizontal bottom, the opening of which is directed upwards, and the dimensions of the cross section of which, that is to say the width and the height, are clearly smaller than its size

  longitudinal (length of the cell).

  The present invention has been developed for a particular application, namely the filling of cells formed in a plastic packaging film with pieces of raw meat; the meat thus conditioned is intended to be then cooked in its packaging, after covering and heat-sealing a sealing film on the cells, in order to constitute blocks or bars of cooked ham

  packaged in plastic packaging.

  However, it goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this application.

  specific, and can be directly transposed to other materials, food or not.

  To carry out this kind of operation, it is usually done manually. The operator assigned to this workstation places the pieces of meat in appropriate containers, to constitute the desired dose. The station is equipped with a scale, the dosage being by weight, each dose therefore having to correspond to a given weight.

  To fill each cell, the operator empties the container manually.

  We understand that this kind of work is tedious, and strikes so

  important the cost price of the product.

  In addition, it is a painful operation, when the volume of the alveoli

is important.

  In this regard, it will be noted that, in the above-mentioned application (dosing of pieces of meat, the mass of the doses is usually within a range which can range from 10 kg to about 25 kg. Finally, a weight dosage is not not suitable for certain products whose volume is not necessarily proportional to the weight; this is the case of heterogeneous materials and / or composed of relatively bulky elements, between which there may be

  empty spaces when agglomerated; this is the case with meat in pieces.

  Under these conditions, certain doses may imperfectly occupy, either excessively, or on the contrary insufficiently, the volume available inside the cell. There have also been proposed materials dispensing devices, known as

  "portioners", automatic or semi-automatic, which carry out a volumetric dosage

that matter.

  These known devices include a tubular body arranged vertically-

  and placed above the cell to be filled. The base of the distributor body is plumb with the central zone of the cell. The device is arranged to first of all fill the tubular body with a determined volume of material, which corresponds to the desired dose, then to expel this dose out of the tubular body; it is thus driven from the tubular body and falls by gravity in the middle of the cell; the material then flows, still by gravity, by spreading towards the two ends of

  the cell, so as to distribute it more or less regularly.

  We understand that this type of dispenser only works properly with

  cells of short length, unless the material is very fluid.

  If the material is viscous and relatively firm, as is the case with an agglomerate of pieces of meat, the material does not spread properly until

  two ends of the cell, and remains confined in the central area, forming a heap.

  In practice, it is not possible to implement this mode of

  distribution over cell lengths greater than approximately 25 or 30 cm.

  However, with regard to the application which has just been mentioned, the lengths

  usual cells are of the order of one meter or more.

  The present invention aims to solve these problems.

  For this, it offers an automatic distribution device which, while carrying out a volumetric metering of the semi-fluid material, achieves a regular deposition and

  homogeneous of this material inside the cell, over its entire length, even if it

  this is important and even if the material flows with difficulty.

  Another objective of the invention is to propose a simple and

  robust, easy to use and able to work at high speed.

  These objectives are achieved, in accordance with the invention, thanks to the fact that the device comprises: - a tubular jacket extending horizontally above the cell to be filled, parallel to its longitudinal direction; - A piston, the head of which can slide in leaktight manner in the jacket, and the rod of which emerges coaxially from one of the ends, called the rear end, of the jacket; - Means for bringing material inside the liner, on the side of the piston head opposite the rod, in order to fill it; and that: a) the section of the internal wall of said jacket has an area substantially equal to that of the section of the cell; b) said jacket is provided, at its opposite end, called the front end, at that end by which the piston rod comes out, with a mouth pointing downwards; c) the piston is mounted fixed in the longitudinal direction, while on the contrary, the jacket can be moved in this direction in one direction or the other, this over a stroke corresponding to the length of the cell; d) it comprises means for moving said jacket previously filled with material in the direction of the piston rod, so as to expel the material which therein

  is contained and forcing it to flow through said mouth to deposit it progressively

  in the cell, substantially over its entire length.

  Furthermore, according to a certain number of possible additional characteristics, not limiting of the invention: - the assembly constituted by the jacket and the piston is movable in the vertical direction; - The sleeve / piston assembly can be lowered into a position in which the mouth enters the socket; - the shirt is suspended from a slide movable in translation along the

  longitudinal direction, via pneumatic cylinders arranged vertically-

  is lying; - There is provided a pair of jacks each carried by a carriage movable in translation on longitudinal guides; - The means for moving the jacket relative to the piston comprise a pneumatic conduit adapted to bring compressed air inside the jacket, on the side of the piston where its rod is located; - the jacket is filled using a pump which delivers the material under pressure; - The material is brought into the shirt by a vertical tube integral with its front end, and the lower part of which constitutes said mouth; - The device comprises a hollow plug mounted in said tubing, capable of selectively occupying either a position - called supply - in which it allows the supply of material into the shirt while closing the mouth, or a position - called distribution - in which it prevents the arrival of the material in the shirt, while allowing the expulsion of the material out of the shirt, through the mouth; - Said plug is a tubular member integral with the slide, mounted fixed in the vertical direction, and being able to slide coaxially inside said vertical pipe; - The plug is a tube closed at its lower end by a partition capable of closing said mouth, and has a lateral opening capable of coming opposite the front end of the shirt; - the shirt has a circular cross section; - The device is adapted to distribute material simultaneously in several identical cells arranged side by side, and it comprises for this purpose several identical sets piston / liner juxtaposed, each associated with a cell, and whose liners are supplied with material by a single conduit, via a bifurcation; - the material consists of pieces of meat; - Said cells are pockets made by thermoforming in a

plastic film.

  The invention also relates to an installation for dispensing a dose of semi-fluid material into elongated cells of constant cross section, which consist of bags produced by thermoforming in a plastic film and arranged at the tail leu leu; this installation is remarkable in that it comprises a device as described above, as well as means for driving the

  step-by-step strip, capable of successively bringing the cells below the em-

  closure, in synchronism with the operation of said device.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the

  description and attached drawings which represent, by way of example not

  limiting, a preferred embodiment.

  In these drawings: - Figures 1 and 2 are schematic views, respectively from the front and from above, of a packaging line for a semi-fluid material in cells produced in a plastic film; - Figures 3, 4 and 5 are cross sections, larger

  scale, of the packaging being made, these respective corresponding figures-

  ment to cross-sectional planes III-III, IV-IV and V-V; - Figure 6 is a schematic perspective view of a device according to the invention; - Figures 7 and 8 are diagrams showing the sections of a cell and, respectively, of the inner wall of one of the jackets constituting the device; - Figure 9 is a schematic front view, partially cut, of the device of Figure 9, inside which circulates a train of cells stamped in a plastic film; - Figures 10 and 11 are sectional views of the front end portion of a liner, the plug being shown therein, respectively, in the position for feeding the material into the liner, and for expelling the material in the socket; - Figures 12A to 12G are simplified diagrams, similar to the view of

  Figure 9, which illustrate the different stages of operation of the device.

  The installation shown in Figures 1 and 2 is an installation used to

  condition a semi-fluid material under plastic film.

  The cells are recesses made in a thermoplastic film

  , which comes from a film reel 100.

  Appropriate means are provided for unwinding this reel as symbolized by the arrow f1 in FIG. 1, and for moving the film step by step, as

symbolized by the arrow f2.

  The film 10 passes successively through a thermoforming station A, a station for filling the cells B, a station C for covering and closing the full cells, by means of a second plastic film 11, and a station D for cutting,

  intended to separate from one another the different packages.

  In the "meat" application, item C also generally performs a

  vacuum packaging.

  The products are then evacuated by a transporter E. The stations A, C, D and E, which are not really part of the invention,

are of known type.

  At station A, cells 1 in the film 10 are formed by thermoforming, using a punch and a die. In the example illustrated, a film is formed simultaneously in

  pair of cells la, lb arranged side by side.

  The alveoli are pockets open upwards; as shown in Figure 3, the cells have a substantially square cross section; their dimension

  transverse (width and height) is much smaller than their length.

  As an indication, the cells have a section of 10 x 10 cm and a length

of the order of 1 m.

  Station B includes the device which is the subject of the present invention, and which will be described in detail below. It is crossed by the "train" of cells which are there

  present successively in pairs, to be fulfilled.

  The device is supplied with semi-liquid material by a pump for discharging material P. The material is for example an agglomerate of pieces of raw meat, intended to constitute bars of ham, after cooking in their packaging.

plastic.

  Station C is fitted with a reel 110 containing a thermoplastic film

  11, which is unwound from the reel as symbolized by the arrow f3.

  The film 11 is unwound to cover the film 10 and its cells before-

  filled at station B, and is sealed tightly and generally under vacuum,

  known manner, by heat sealing, on the full cells.

  The cutting station D includes longitudinal cutting tools such as knives with rotary blades D1, the rotation of which is symbolized by the arrows

  f4, and a guillotine type shears D2.

  The cutting tools Dl divide the films 10, 11 longitudinally to separate the two cells la, lb, and to cut their edges 13, which are

  designated 13 'after cutting on the left of Figure 2.

  The transverse tools D2 separate a pair of cells from the next pair. The conveyor E, for example in the form of an endless belt, the direction of circulation of the upper strand is symbolized by the arrow f5, evacuates each conditioned product 14 to a subsequent treatment station, for example to a cooking cell. The drive of the strip step by step in this installation can be done in any known manner, for example using gripper chains which grip the longitudinal edges 13 of the film 10. In addition, a horizontal sliding sole is advantageously provided to support the train of cells during its journey. Such a sole, referenced S is

  shown in strong phantom in Figure 9.

  In one possible embodiment, this support could be provided by a longitudinal sliding bar placed between the two rows of cells 1a, 1b, and

  serving as a support for the middle zone 12 of the film.

  In the figures, the semi-liquid material has been designated by the reference M, by

  example pieces of raw meat.

  These pieces have, for information only, a mass of between one hundred

  of grams and about 2 kilograms.

  With reference to FIGS. 6 and 9, we will now describe the structure of a possible embodiment of the invention, which is found at the item B mentioned

upper.

  The device has a symmetrical configuration with respect to a median longitudinal vertical plane. It includes a fixed metal frame 2 with four legs

  vertical 20 linked in pairs by horizontal transverse cross members 21.

  The longitudinal axis of the device, which corresponds to the direction of

  displacement of the film carrying the cells la, lb to be filled, is referenced X X '.

  The two end elements 20-21 of the chassis are connected by horizontal cylindrical bars (or tubes) 22, extending longitudinally, parallel to XX '

  These bars 22 are fixed in the corners of the elements 20, 21.

  As will be seen below, the bars 22 serve for guiding in longitudinal translation of a slide made up of a pair of carriages 5, 6. These have a transverse arrangement, and their end portions have the form of sleeves

  sliding, crossed by said bars 22.

  The device comprises a metering device 3 preferably made of stainless steel. In the embodiment described, which allows the distribution of the material in a pair of neighboring cells 1a, 1b, it is a double metering device; this one includes

  two cylindrical tubular bodies - or jackets - 30a, 30b, which are juxtaposed side by side

  side, symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the device.

  Conventionally, it will be considered that the front of the device is located to the left of FIG. 6, and the rear to the right, the front corresponding to the direction of advance of the cells in the device. On the front side, each shirt 30a, 30b opens into a sleeve

  vertical cylindrical tubular 3 la, respectively, 31 b.

  As seen more precisely in Figure 9, each of the sleeves 31 has a mouth 310 projecting slightly downward relative to the

shirt 30.

  In each sleeve 31a, 31b, is mounted a tubular plug 8a, respectively 8b, with the possibility of relative translation in vertical direction relative to the sleeve in which it is housed. This sliding is done in a sealed manner, by means

  suitable seals (not shown).

  The plugs 8a, 8b, for example made of stainless steel, are integral with the

front carriage 5.

  The pump P, schematically represented in the figures, feeds each of the bushels 8a, 8b, via a flexible pipe 82, which opens into a bifurcation tube 81, which feeds each bushel 8a, 8b by

  the intermediate of a conduit 80a, respectively 80b.

  The two sub-assemblies 30a-31a and 30b-31b are integral with one of

  the other; they are connected by spacers 34,34 ', which consist of horizontal plates

  the transverses, welded respectively to the front part of the dispenser, between the sleeves

  31, and at the rear part, between the rear end portions of the liners 30.

  At the front of the dispenser, towards the outside of the vertical sleeves 31, are welded plates 32a, 32b, located in the same plane as the plate forming

spacer 34.

  The front carriage 5 located at the front is equipped, on each of its lateral sides, with a guide block 50a, respectively 50b, in which is guided in

  translation a vertical rod 33a, respectively 33b.

  The lower end of the rod 33a, respectively 33b is fixed to the

plate 32a, respectively 32b.

  Likewise, the rear carriage 6 has lateral guide blocks 61 which receive a vertical rod 33 secured to a lateral extension in the form of a plate 32 ′ which is fixed to the outside of each jacket 30, substantially at

same level as the 34 'spacer.

  The metering device 3 is therefore movable in vertical translation relative to the pair of carriages 5, 6, which can themselves slide in longitudinal translation on the horizontal rods 22. The two carriages 5, 6 constitute a slide movable in translation,

to which the dispenser 3 hangs.

  Each of the carriages 5, 6 comprises a pair of transverse elongated flat rods, connected in the central part by a spacer 51, respectively 60 deposited

longitudinally.

  On said spacers are fixed the bodies 7, respectively 7 ', of a vertical pneumatic cylinder, whose rod directed downwards, is fixed at its end to

  the spacer 34, respectively 34 ', mentioned above.

  These are, for example, double-acting pneumatic cylinders.

  The two jacks 7, 7 'are controlled simultaneously, either in the direction of their extension - which causes the lowering of the metering device 3 relative to the slide -6 -, or in the direction of their retraction - which, on the contrary, order their

recovery -.

  The device comprises a pair of pistons, each associated with one of the

shirts 30.

  Two juxtaposed parallel pistons are therefore provided, whose rods are referenced 4a, 4b, and whose heads 43 (one of which is visible in FIG. 9) slide from

  sealingly, each inside a tubular jacket 30.

  Appropriate seals of known type are provided around the piston heads

  43 to ensure this seal.

  A suitable annular seal 35 seals the guide in

  translation of the rod 4 in the rear end wall 34 of the jacket 30.

  The two piston rods 4a, 4b are connected at their rear end by a transverse plate 40. Preferably this connection is made by means of a ball joint 44 in order to limit the risks of jamming linked to possible misalignments liable to intervene during operation, in particular if the strokes of the two jacks 7, 7 'are not exactly identical and synchronous. The plate carries two plates 41 directed horizontally forward, one of which only,

  referenced 41b, is visible in FIG. 6.

  On the cross member 21 of the rear chassis element are fixed two guide blocks 23a, 23b, in which two rods 42a can slide in vertical translation,

  42b, the lower ends of which are fixed to the plates 41a, 41b respectively.

  Thanks to this arrangement, the piston rods 4a, 4b are immobilized in axial translation, along XX '; on the other hand, they can move in translation in the vertical direction, to follow the movement of the shirts 30 when the

cylinders 7, 7 'are stressed.

  As can be seen in FIG. 9, and also, in more detail, in FIGS. 10 and 11, the hollow plug 8 is a vertical tube which is blocked at its lower end by a partition 83, and which has just above this partition, a lateral opening 84; each jacket 30a, 30b has a cylindrical shape, and therefore a

  inner wall of circular section.

  The opening 84 has a circular section of the same diameter.

  The plug 8 is fixed in the vertical direction, because it is integral with the carriage 5.

  When the metering device is in the high position, the opening 84 is opposite the interior space of the shirt 30; on the other hand, the mouth 310 is closed by the partition 83. This

  last has a thickness equal, or very slightly less, to the height of the embo-

hatch 310.

  In this situation which is illustrated in FIG. 10, it is possible to bring the semi-fluid material into the jacket, via the interior of the plug 8 and the opening 84, as symbolized by the arrows F. When the dispenser is in the low position, the opening 84 is located opposite the tubular wall of the upper part of the sleeve 31, and the plug is by

therefore closed.

  The arrival of the material in the shirt is not possible.

  On the other hand, the partition 83 is located above the open front end of the jacket 30, so that the material contained therein can escape forward and downward (by gravity) through the '' mouth 310, to flow and settle in the cell which it overhangs, as symbolized by

the arrows G in FIG. 11.

  The stroke of the jacks 7, 7 ′ is chosen so that the relative extreme positions of the plug 8 and of the assembly 30-31 correspond to the two positions illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11. The rear part of each of the liners 30 is supplied with compressed air from an AC source, via a solenoid valve 90 and a flexible pipe 9. The plastic film in which the cells to be filled are formed passes into the device by sliding on the floor S. When the film is stopped, each

  alveolus of a pair sits directly above a mouth 310.

  As shown in Figure 11, when the dispenser is in the low position,

  this mouth partially penetrates inside the cell.

  As can easily be understood from the observation of FIG. 9, when introducing compressed air through the conduit 9 at the rear of the piston 43, the air pressure

  compressed causes the jacket 30 to recede along X X '.

  At the start of the filling operation, the mouth 310 is located opposite the front zone of the cell 1 to be filled. In this FIG. 9, the reference 3 10 ′ has been designated, and shown in dashed broken lines, the mouth 310 when it is in an extreme recoil position. In this position, it is level with the area

back of the socket.

  Indeed, the stroke of the movable sleeve 30 on the fixed piston, referenced 1

  in Figure 9, is chosen to correspond to the length of the cell.

  This means that said stroke is a little shorter than the length of

  the socket, to take into account the diameter of the mouth 310.

  In FIG. 9, the arrow j represents the direction of advance of a train

of successive cells 1, 1 ', 1 ".

  We also see, on the left side, a cell filled with material

  M, who has just left the distribution system.

  The pump P which delivers the material into the device can be of any known type. In the application considered (pieces of meat), an example of a pump which will be perfectly suitable will be cited. It is a pump with two twin pistons working under vacuum, marketed by the American company

MARLEN, of the "OPTI 280" type.

  According to an important characteristic of the present invention, the cross section of the cell 1 and the cross section 300 of the inner wall of the jacket 30 have equal areas, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. By cross section of the cell, we

  of course hears its useful cross section.

  In the example illustrated, it is provided that the cell must be filled over all

his height.

  If, in a particular application, the cell must only be partially filled, its useful section will be equal to a fraction of its total section, and the jacket

  metering 30 will have a diameter reduced proportionally accordingly.

  For example, if the cell has a square cross section of cm x 10 cm, and must be filled to the brim, its useful section will be 100 cm2. The Ray

  of the internal section of the shirt will therefore be chosen equal to vîh 7, or approximately 5.64 cm.

  We will now describe the operation of the device, with particular reference to Figures 12A to 12G. The operating cycle of the device is controlled by a microprocessor or a programmable controller, not shown. This in particular controls the starting of the pump P, the opening or closing of the solenoid valve 90 which supplies the rear chamber of the jacket 30 with compressed air, or on the contrary its setting to atmospheric pressure, both pneumatic cylinders 7 and 7 ', to extend or retract them, as well as the step-by-step advance of the train of cells.

  The means for supplying and exhausting the compressed air in the pistons 7 and 7 ′ are of known type, and have not been shown in the drawings, so as not to

not weigh them down unnecessarily.

  The different commands are done sequentially, and automatically,

as shown below.

  At the start of the cycle, the device is in the position illustrated in FIG. 12A. The jacket 30 was previously filled with a volumetric dose of

  well-defined material M, corresponding to the displacement of the jacket.

  The two jacks 7, 7 'are in extension, so that the metering device is in the low position, the mouth 310 penetrating slightly inside the cell 1 that

one must fill.

  The jacket 30 is in its maximum advance position, with

  the mouth 310 directly above the front area of the socket.

  The shutter partition 83 is located above the outlet of the

the shirt 30.

  The material distribution and cell 1 filling operation

can then begin.

  This operation is illustrated in FIG. 12B.

  The solenoid valve 90 having been opened, pressurized air is supplied by the

  line 9 in the rear chamber of the jacket 30.

  The pressure used is sufficient to move the movable sleeve

  backwards, as symbolized by the arrows g.

  The piston rod 4 is held fixed by the vertical rod 42 of which it is integral, which is engaged in the guide block 23, itself integral with the chassis 2, and

therefore fixed.

  The mobile carriage made up of two carriages 5, 6, which support the jacks 7 and 7 'respectively, moves in a block along g, at the same time as the metering device 3.

  During this longitudinal displacement, the piston head 43 progressively drives back

  the material M contained in the shirt to expel it and force it to flow out

  through the mouth 310, so that it is deposited inside the cell 1.

  This deposition phase is done while the dispenser is held in position

  low, the dispensing mouthpiece 310 remaining partially engaged in the cell.

  There is thus obtained a progressive, uniform and regular deposition of the material,

  along the entire length of the cell.

  Because the section of the inner wall of the jacket has an area equal to that of the section of the cell, the latter is suitably filled over its whole

length.

  FIG. 12C represents the extreme recoil position of the metering device, in

  which the mouth 310 is directly above the rear zone of the cell 1.

  In this position, the piston head 43 is located just at the front end of the jacket 30, its front face being positioned very slightly back from the orifice of

out of that shirt.

  Due to the elastic, viscous and sticky consistency of the material, a certain residual part of this material is still present in the mouthpiece.

310, adhering to its internal wall.

  The cylinders 7, 7 'are then retracted to move the metering device upwards, as symbolized in FIG. 12D by the arrows h. Because the plug 8 is fixed in a vertical direction, the partition 83 penetrates into the mouth 310 and drives out these residues R, which are consequently discharged

  also in the rear area of cell 1.

  The partition 83 of the plug therefore has a "cut-off" function.

drop".

  The filling of the cell 1 is thus completed.

  It will be noted that the hollow plug 8 contains a certain volume of material M0o; indeed, from the pump P to the plug 8, all of the conduits 82, 81,

  b are permanently filled with material.

  In FIG. 12E the metering device 3 is shown in the high position.

  By means of the solenoid valve, the rear chamber of the jacket 30 is then brought to atmospheric pressure PA, while the pump P is started, as

illustrated in Figure 12F.

  The pump delivers the material, as symbolized by the arrow Q, inside the hollow plug 8. The lateral opening 84 of the plug being opposite the front opening of the jacket 30, the material is pushed back into the shirt under a certain pressure, which has the effect of advancing the metering device 3 and the slide 5-6 which

  supports it. This advance movement is symbolized by the arrows i in FIG. 12F.

  Simultaneously, the train of cells is advanced by one step, as symbolized

  by arrow J, so that the empty cell 1 'takes the place of cell 1.

  Then proceed to the extension of the cylinders 7, 7 'to lower the

* dispenser 3 filled with material, as symbolized by the arrows k in FIG. 12G.

  During this movement, the pieces of meat which extend, if necessary, from the inside of the bushel towards the inside of the liner are cut by shearing between the lower portion of the edge of the opening 84 and the portion superior

  of the folder outlet. For this purpose these portions have sharp angles.

  The mouth 310 then comes to be positioned directly above the front zone of the cell 1 ′, partially penetrating the latter, in order to regain the position

Figure 12A.

  The cycle is thus completed, and the operation of filling the cell 1 ′ can

  be carried out in the same way as that which has just been described.

  As already said at the beginning of this description, a device of this

  genre can find various applications.

  The deposit of the material is not necessarily done in cells

  formed from plastic.

  It can be placed in various types of containers, for example in multiple mold units of the type described in documents FR-A-2 601 653, FR-A-2 672 270 or FR-A-2 745 984; in this case the alveoli are chutes

metal juxtaposed.

  For this type of application, the multiple trunking units are used

  place and removed from the device by appropriate transport means.

  The dispenser is not necessarily movable in the vertical direction.

  For some applications, it may be sufficient to provide a movement

  longitudinal of the jacket relative to the piston.

  The plug could be of the rotary type.

  The retraction of the shirt could be achieved by separate means (and not

  by pneumatic action in the jacket chamber, piston rod side).

  The receptor cells can have any cross section of any shape, and

  not necessarily rectangular or square as shown in Figure 7.

  They can in particular have a section in "U", as it is often

  this is particularly the case for multi-mold units.

  The dimensions of this section can be very different from those

  indicated in the example described above (10 cm x 10 cm).

  So, for example, for multiple mold units, the sections

  usual are of the order of 18 cm x 13 cm.

  Likewise, the shirts do not necessarily have a circular section.

  It is only essential that the section of the internal wall of the jacket has an area substantially equal to that of the useful section of the cell, and that the displacement travel of the jacket relative to the fixed piston corresponds to the length of

the socket.

Claims (9)

  1. Device for dispensing a dose of semi-fluid material in an elongated cell of constant cross section, characterized in that it comprises: - a tubular jacket (30) extending horizontally above the cell (1) to be filled, parallel to its longitudinal direction (XX '); - A piston, the head (43) of which can slide in leaktight manner in the jacket (30), and the rod (4) of which emerges coaxially from one (34) of the ends, called the rear end, of the shirt; - means (P; 82; 81; 8) for supplying material (M) inside the jacket (30), on the side of the piston head (43) opposite the rod (4), so to fill it; and that: a) the section of the internal wall (300) of said jacket (30) has an area (s) substantially equal to that of the section of the cell (1); b) said jacket (30) is provided, at its opposite end, called the front end, at that end (34) by which the piston rod (4) comes out, with a mouth (310) directed downwards; c) the piston (4; 43) is mounted fixed in the longitudinal direction (XX '), while on the contrary, the jacket (30) can be moved in this direction in one direction (g) or the other ( i), this over a stroke corresponding to the length of the cell; d) it comprises means (AC; 90, 9) for moving said jacket (30) previously filled with material (M) in the direction of the piston rod (4), so as to   expel the material (M) contained therein and force it to flow through said nozzle   chure (310) for gradually depositing it in the cell (1), substantially over its entire length.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the assembly   constituted by the jacket (30) and the piston (4,43) is movable in the vertical direction.   3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the jacket / piston assembly can be lowered into a position in which the mouthpiece (310) enters the socket (1).   4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the jacket (30) is suspended from a slide (5, 6) movable in translation in the longitudinal direction (XX '), by means of pneumatic cylinders ( 7, 7 ') arranged vertically. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that there is provided a pair of jacks (7, 7 ') each carried by a carriage (5, 6) movable in translation on longitudinal guides (22).   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that   that the means for moving the jacket relative to the piston comprise a pneumatic conduit (9) adapted to bring compressed air inside the jacket (30),   side of the piston (43) where its rod (4) is located.   7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that   that the filling of the jacket (30) is ensured from a pump (P) which delivers the material (M) under pressure.   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   that the material (M) is brought into the jacket (30) by a vertical tube (31)   integral with its front end, and the lower part of which constitutes said mouth (310).   9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that it comprises a hollow plug (8) mounted in said tube (31), capable of selectively occupying either a position - called supply - in which it allows the supply material (M) in the shirt while closing the mouth (310), a position - called distribution in which it prevents the arrival of the material (M) in the shirt (30),   while authorizing the expulsion of the material out of the jacket (30), through the em- mouth (310).   1 0. Device according to claims 4 and 9 taken in combination,   characterized by the fact that said plug (8) is a tubular member integral with the slide (5, 6), mounted fixed in a vertical direction, and capable of sliding coaxially inside said vertical tube (31).   1 1. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the plug (8) is a tube closed at its lower end by a partition (83) capable of closing said mouth (310), and has a lateral opening (84 ) susceptible to   come opposite the front end of the shirt (30).   1 2. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that   that the jacket (30) has a circular cross section.   1 3. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that   that it is suitable for simultaneously distributing material (M) in several cells   identical (la, lb) arranged side by side, and that it comprises for this purpose several sets   identical piston / liner juxtaposed, each associated with a cell, and whose liners (30a, 30b) are supplied with material (M) by a single conduit (82), via a bifurcation (81).   1 4. Application of the device according to one of the preceding claims,   for dispensing a material (M) consisting of pieces of meat.   15. Application of the device according to one of the preceding claims,   for distributing the material (M) in cells (1) consisting of pockets produced by   thermoforming in a plastic film (10).   1 6. Installation for dispensing a dose of semi-fluid material into elongated cells of constant cross section, which consist of bags made by thermoforming in a plastic film (10) and arranged at the tail leu leu, characterized by the fact that it includes a device conforming to one of the   previous claims, as well as means for driving the belt step by step,   able to successively bring the cells (1) below the mouth (310),   synchronism with the operation of said device.