FR2963781A1 - System for distributing products e.g. food, has mixing unit that is arranged with feed screw such that rotational movement of feed screw actuates mixing unit, and distribution channel that is supplied by main distributing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (1) has a distribution channel (2) that is supplied by a main distributing device that distributes a product i.e. primary food. An auxiliary distribution device (4) distributes another product i.e. food supplement. A connection unit (43) connects the auxiliary distribution device and the distribution channel to transversely and radially emerge a flow passage (400) in the distribution channel at a level of helical rolling of a feed screw (3). A mixing unit (5) is arranged with the feed screw such that rotational movement of the feed screw actuates the mixing unit.

Description

The present invention relates generally to the dispensing of products.

The invention more particularly relates to a product dispensing installation, such as food and food supplements, said installation comprising: - at least one dispensing line adapted to be fed by a said main dispensing device, with a first product such that a so-called basic food, preferably in the form of granules, io - a screw, said advance screw, extending axially inside the distribution pipe and being coupled to means of driving in rotation about its axis, said screw comprising a winding of helical turns having an active surface of thrust allowing the advancement of products along the distribution line as the screw rotates, least a device for dispensing, said auxiliary, a second product, such as a food supplement in the form of granules, said device comprising a gravity flow passage of said second product and connection means between the auxiliary dispensing device and said dispensing line for causing said flow passage in the distribution line to flow transversely, preferably radially, the helical winding of the feed screw.

The invention also relates to an auxiliary distribution device 25 for forming such an installation.

In food distribution plants known in the state of the art, food supplements in the form of granules tend to obstruct the flow passage of the auxiliary dispensing device which opens into the dispensing line. As a result, the flow of the food supplement is rapidly interrupted in said flow passage. Said dietary supplement can not be integrated into the staple food which circulates along the distribution line.

The object of the present invention is to propose a device for dispensing a product, in particular food supplements, and a corresponding installation, for which the risk of clogging the flow passage of the device is reduced and for which the dispensing of the product can be regulated, without increasing the number of motorization or energy source of the installation. To this end, the object of the invention is a product dispensing installation, such as food and food supplements, said installation comprising: at least one dispensing line able to be fed by a main dispensing device with a first product such as a so-called basic food, preferably in the form of granules, - a screw, called a feed screw, extending axially inside the distribution pipe and being coupled to means for driving in rotation about its axis, said screw comprising a winding of helical turns 20 having an active pushing surface allowing the advancement of products along the distribution line as the rotation of the at least one auxiliary dispensing device of a second product, such as a food supplement in the form of granules, said device comprising a gravity flow passage of said second product and connection means between the auxiliary dispensing device and said dispensing line for transversely, preferably radially, opening said flow passage in the dispensing line at the level of the helical winding of the feed screw, characterized in that said installation comprises means for stirring said second product contained in the auxiliary dispensing device, said stirring means being arranged with the feed screw in such a way that the rotational movement of the feed screw actuates said stirring means.

Such a design of the installation according to the invention makes it possible to integrate a product such as a food supplement in the form of granules into a product such as a staple feed reliably without requiring an additional source of energy other than the one used to turn the feed screw. Indeed, the mechanical energy of the feed screw resulting from the driving in rotation of the feed screw by said drive means, for example an electric motor, is transmitted to the rod so that said rod is moved in a reciprocating motion which agitates the food supplement present in the flow passage of the auxiliary dispensing device for a reliable flow of the food supplement. Such a configuration of the stirring means also makes it possible to regulate said flow in combination with the system for adjusting the opening of the passage section as detailed hereinafter.

The stirring means makes it possible to vibrate the granules and thus, in cooperation with the system for adjusting the opening of the flow passage, to lower the granules into the distribution pipe in a reliable and regular manner, that is, substantially continuously, without the granules obstructing the flow passage section. The descent rate of the food supplement depends on the setting of the flow passage opening and also the amplitude and frequency of the vibrations which depend on the speed of rotation of the feed screw.

According to a first advantageous characteristic of the invention, the stirring means comprise a rod which extends along the flow passage of the auxiliary distribution device and one end of which projects inside the distribution pipe. such that, during the rotation of the winding of turns, said rod end has at least one configuration in which it is in abutment with the active push surface of a turn and at least one configuration in which it escapes said turn.

Such a configuration of the stirring means with the feed screw makes it possible to transmit the thrust force of the feed screw to the rod and thus to move the rod until it escapes the turn, this which generates a stirring motion that is transmitted to the food contained in the auxiliary dispensing device.

In other words, the rod opens into the distribution pipe in a position facing a turn for which, during the rotation of the turn, the end of the rod is in the applied position against the active surface of thrust of the turn being moved by the turn to escape it.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the rod is equipped with an at least partial sealing element of the passage section of the flow passage of the auxiliary distribution device. Said shutter member is configured so that the reciprocating movement of the rod by rotating the feed screw also causes the shutter member to move back and forth in such a way that agitating said second product contained in the circulation passage of the dispensing device and flowing along said flow passage.

The presence of such a sealing member which also functions to transmit stirring of the rod to the product contained in the auxiliary dispensing device enables the flow of said product to be regulated in the flow passage.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises means for biasing the stirring means in a direction opposite to the direction of the thrust force of said turn against the rod.

Thus, the rotation of the feed screw, which pushes the rod in a direction corresponding to the direction of advance of the material in the distribution line while said rod is biased in the opposite direction of said thrust force, makes it possible to oscillate the rod, which causes stirring of the product contained in the dispensing device and allows it to flow continuously without clogging the flow passage.

The return position of the rod corresponds to a position of application of the end of the rod against the active surface of a turn of the coil so that the rod has not escaped from said turn.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said biasing means comprise a helical spring arranged in such a way that the longitudinal axis of the helical spring forms a non-zero angle with the axis of the distribution pipe.

Such an arrangement of the helical spring makes it possible to increase the amplitude of the movement back and forth of the rod.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said installation comprises means for adjusting the passage section of the flow passage of said auxiliary distribution device.

Preferably, said adjusting means comprise a plate 25 having a through orifice, displaceable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flow passage of the auxiliary distribution device, so as to be able to vary the size of the through orifice of the plate which extends into the flow passage of said auxiliary dispensing device. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the auxiliary distribution device comprises a hopper formed of two funnel-type parts, namely a part called said main funnel and an auxiliary part forming a gearbox in which is fitted the outlet opening of the main funnel.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the auxiliary distribution device and the connection means are interconnected by a transparent tube.

The invention also relates to an auxiliary dispensing device for a so-called second product, such as a food supplement in the form of granules, said auxiliary dispensing device comprising a gravity flow passage of said second product. product intended to be connected to a distribution line of a product distribution installation, said installation comprising a screw, called a feed screw, extending axially inside the distribution pipe and being coupled to rotation drive means about its axis, said screw comprising a winding of helical turns having an active thrust surface for advancing products along the distribution line as the screw rotates, Characterized in that the auxiliary dispensing device comprises means for agitating said second product, said means for acting tation being able to be arranged with the feed screw so as to form a distribution installation.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of the installation according to the invention in the position of applying end of the rod agitating means against a turn of the feed screw; FIG. 2 is a view of the installation of FIG. 1 during the rotation of the feed screw in a configuration according to which the end of the rod is pushed by the turn against the means of recall of said stirring means; FIG. 3 is a view of the installation of FIG. 2 during the continued rotation of the feed screw in a configuration in which the end of the rod, recalled by the return means, has escaped said turn; FIG. 4 is a view from above of the auxiliary distribution device of the installation according to the invention in which the rod has not been shown to highlight the return means, the guide means of the rod and the means for adjusting the opening of the passage section of the auxiliary distribution device.

With reference to the figures and as recalled above, the invention relates to a product dispensing installation 1. The installation will be described hereinafter as part of a distribution of foods and food supplements 15 but may apply to the distribution of any type of products.

Said installation 1 comprises at least one distribution pipe 2 adapted to be fed by a so-called main dispensing device, with a first food, said staple food, preferably in the form of granules. The main dispensing device (not shown) usually comprises a feed hopper containing said first feed and opening into the distribution line 2.

The distribution pipe 2 houses a screw 3, called the advance screw. Said screw 3 extends axially inside the distribution pipe and is coupled to means for driving in rotation about its axis A3. Said screw 3 comprises a winding of helical coils 30 having an active pushing surface allowing the advancement of products along the distribution pipe 2 as the screw 3 is rotated. Thus, the screw 30 of FIG. advance is intended to be driven in rotation about its axis, in the manner of a worm. Said rotary drive means (not shown) are formed for example by an electric motor. The installation also comprises at least one dispensing device 4, called auxiliary, of a second food, such as a food supplement, in the form of granules. In the example illustrated in the figures, said first food is a staple food and said second food is a food supplement in the form of granules for incorporation into the staple food. Alternatively, it can be provided that said first and second foods are other foods. Said auxiliary distribution device 4 extends above the distribution pipe 2 and comprises a flow passage 400 by gravity of said food supplement and connection means 43 between the auxiliary distribution device 4 and said distribution pipe 2 allowing said flow passage 400 to radially open into the distribution line 2 at the helical winding of the feed screw 3.

The auxiliary dispensing device 4 is located downstream of the main dispensing device with reference to the feed direction in the dispensing line.

Characteristically to the invention, said installation comprises means 5 for agitating said second food contained in the auxiliary dispensing device 4. Said stirring means 5 are arranged with the feed screw 3 so that the rotational movement of the feed screw 3 actuates said stirring means 5.

During rotation of the feed screw, the movement of a turn located opposite the stirring means moves said stirring means into contact with the turn until said stirring means escape said turn. The turn which continues to rotate is repositioned behind the stirring means to push again said stirring means, which generates a reciprocating movement of the stirring means and thus a stirring of the food contained in the auxiliary distribution device.

In other words, the stirring means transmit the movement of the feed screw to the food supplement contained in the auxiliary distribution device to allow its descent by gravity along the auxiliary dispensing device so that said food supplement integrates with the feed. feed that advances the feed screw and that comes from the main feed device. Thus, the energy source used to actuate the stirring means is formed by the means for rotating said feed screw. Such a design of the installation according to the invention makes it possible not to have to use an additional source of energy to agitate the food supplement contained in the auxiliary distribution device. Indeed, the agitation of the food contained in the auxiliary distribution device is obtained by transmitting the movement of one of the turns of the feed screw to the stirring means.

Said connection means 43 have a generally inverted T shape on a cut top of the distribution pipe 2.

The horizontal bar of the T is formed by a half tube, corresponding to an axially cut tube, which caps a cut top of the distribution line 2. Clamps are used to secure the ends of the horizontal bar of the tube. T to the distribution pipe 2 thus capped. The leg of the T forms a vertical communication duct with the auxiliary dispensing device 4, so that the food supplement descending along the flow passage 400 of the dispensing device 4 opens via said communication conduit means of the dispensing device 4. connection 43 in the distribution line 2 to be integrated with the feedstock conveyed by the feed screw 3. 2963781 i0 For a distribution installation comprising a plurality of distribution lines, for example arranged in parallel and spaced apart others to feed a corresponding number of rows of animal cages, it is possible to provide an auxiliary distribution device on each distribution line.

The or each distribution line 2 runs along a row of animal cages and is equipped with a feed outlet at each cage that said conduit serves. The dietary supplement falls by gravity along the flow passage 400 of the auxiliary distribution device 4 and integrates into the basic feed that advances the endless screw 3 along the distribution line. The mixture obtained from the staple food and the food supplement is thus pushed along the dispensing line 2 using the feed screw 3 and is delivered into the various animal cages using corresponding outlets along the distribution line.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, the stirring means 5 comprise a rod 50 which extends along the flow passage 400 of the auxiliary distribution device 4 and whose end 51 projects. inside the distribution pipe 2 extending, with reference to the longitudinal axis A3 of the feed screw 3, facing a turn 30 so that, during the rotation of the turn, said rod end 25 has at least one configuration in which it bears against the active pushing surface of said turn and at least one configuration in which it escapes said turn.

In other words, the end 51 of the rod 5 opens into the distribution pipe in front of a turn 30 with reference to the direction of advance of the material in the distribution pipe 2 and in a position relative to said turn 30 in which said rod 50 is able to be pushed by said turn 30 during the course of the screw rotation 3. Thus, the rotational movement of the feed screw causes the rotational movement of the turn, opposite which is located the end of the rod, against said end of the rod. The rod is thus pushed by said turn following its profile, until said rod end escapes from the turn and passes behind said turn.

Advantageously, the end of the rod penetrates into the helical winding of the feed screw over a limited height, that is to say, remaining away from the axis of the feed screw so as to allow its Exhaust relative to the turn, in particular to be able to escape the radius of curvature of the coil beyond a given position of the turn.

The rod is made of composite material and provided with a steel tip. In particular, said rod is a solid rod. In the example illustrated in the figures, said rod extends between two turns 30.

The rod 50 is equipped with an at least partial sealing element 52 of the passage section of the flow passage 400 of the auxiliary distribution device 4. Said closure member 52 is configured so that the reciprocating movement of the rod 50 by rotating the feed screw 3 also causes the reciprocating member to move back and forth. shutter 52 to agitate the food supplement contained in the circulation passage 400 of the dispensing device 4 and to flow it along said flow passage 400 so as to be integrated in the staple food which is circulating in the distribution line 2.

In the example illustrated in the figures, said shutter member 52 is formed by an annular piece of rubber threaded onto the rod 50.

The installation 1 comprises return means 53 of the stirring means 5 in a direction opposite to the direction of the thrust force of said turn 30 against the rod 50.

The end 51 of the rod 5 is thus biased in a position against the thrust direction of the coil against the end of the rod, so that the repetition of the movement of the rod by the coil in a direction followed the escapement of the convoluted turn in the opposite direction, causes the oscillation of the rod 50 and thus the agitation of the food supplement present in the auxiliary distribution device 4.

The feed screw is rotated in the manner of a worm, it is always the same turn that moves the rod until it escapes said turn, after which said turn comes to reposition behind the rod, to start a new cycle of rotation to push the rod again.

Said biasing means 53 serve to recall the rod 50 of the stirring means 5 in abutment against the turn 30, as long as the end of the rod has not escaped the turn. Said return means tend to recall the end of the rod in a direction opposite to the direction of thrust of the turns, that is to say in the feed direction in the distribution line.

In the example illustrated in the figures, said return means 53 comprise a helical spring arranged such that the longitudinal axis A53 of the helical spring 53 forms a non-zero angle with the axis A2 of the distribution pipe 2, in projection in a so-called horizontal plane, corresponding to a plane transverse to the axis of the flow passage 400 of the auxiliary distribution device 4. Said spring 53 is fixed on the one hand to the funnel 40 (see below) by means of fixing means 530 and, secondly, to the rod 50.

The auxiliary distribution device 4 is also equipped with means 54 for guiding and guiding the rod 50 along the flow passage 400.

Said guide and support means 54 form a pivot point of the rod.

The auxiliary distribution device 4 comprises a hopper 40, 41 formed of two parts of the funnel type, namely a so-called main funnel portion 40 and an auxiliary portion 41 forming a gearbox in which is fitted the outlet opening of the main funnel 40 .

The hopper 40, 41 of the auxiliary dispensing device 2 and the connecting means 43 are interconnected by a transparent tube 42. Said transparent tube 42 makes it possible to visualize the flow of the food supplement from the auxiliary dispensing device 4 and thus detecting a possible closure of the flow passage 400.

The rod 50 is also equipped with a spacer system 55 providing spacing between a stop member 56 intended to be applied against the guide means 54 of the rod integral with the hopper 40, 41, and the element shutter 52 detailed above.

Said installation 1 comprises adjustment means 6 for the passage section of the flow passage 400 of said auxiliary distribution device 4. In the example illustrated in the figures, said adjustment means 6 are located at the outlet portion of the funnel 40.

In the example illustrated in the figures, said adjusting means 6 comprise a plate 60 having a through orifice 600. Said plate is movable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flow passage 400 of the auxiliary distribution device 4, so as to be able to varying the size of the through hole 600 of the plate 60 which extends into the flow passage 400 of said auxiliary dispensing device 4 to vary the cross section of the flow passage 400 of said auxiliary dispensing device 4. Said size of the through hole 600 of the plate 60 which extends into the flow passage 400 is a function of the position of said plate 60 through the flow passage.

Said plate 60 extends orthogonally to the axis of the hopper 40 through two diametrically opposite slots relative to the axis of the hopper and formed in the wall of said hopper. The plate is also supported by a bracket 64 fixed outside the peripheral wall of the hopper 40. Said bracket 64 comprises a support arm of said plate adapted to cooperate with a screwing system 61 so as to lock the position of the plate 60 corresponding to the desired position of adjusting the opening of the flow passage. The opening of said flow passage corresponds to the dimension of the orifice 600 of the plate which extends in the flow passage 400. In fact, the plate 60 closes the section of the flow passage 400 to the except for the portion of the through hole 600 which extends into said flow passage. The through orifice 600 also comprises a portion 601 adapted to the passage of the rod so that, in the closed position of the opening of the flow passage through the plate 60, the portion 601 of the through orifice 600 remains present. in the flow passage 400 to allow said rod 50 to extend through the flow passage 400.

The spacer system 55 allows the pressed state of the rod 50 on the guide means 54 through said stop member 56, to maintain the shutter member 52 above the passage port 600 formed in the plate 60 of the adjustment system 6 of the opening of the flow passage 400, that is to say on the side of the filling opening of the hopper 40, 41 to allow good regulation of the descent granules along the flow passage.

The shutter member 52 described above at least partially closes the through hole 600 formed in the plate 60 of the adjusting system 6 of the passage section of the auxiliary dispensing device 4. Said closure member 52 s' extends above said through hole 600, that is to say on the side of the supply opening of the hopper 40 of the dispensing device 4.

In top view of the auxiliary dispensing device 4, the closure element 52 at least partly closes the passage opening 600 of the section adjustment system 6, so that the gravity flow of the food along the passage 400, in a substantially axial direction of said flow passage, is impeded by said closure member 52.

During the stirring of the rod, the shutter member is agitated by being moved back and forth by the oscillation of the rod, which allows to agitate the granules of the food supplement and the let pass through the defined space, during the agitation, between said shutter member 52 and the plate 60 of the adjustment system 6, to pass through the passage opening 600 of the plate 60. Thus, the granules do not flow directly in the axial direction of the passage orifice 600 of the adjustment system, but arrive at said orifice 600 in a direction substantially radial to said orifice by infiltrating through the peripheral opening defined between said element d shutter 52 and the plate 60 of the adjusting system 6 before being able to pass through said passage opening 600 of the adjustment system.

Thus, the presence of such a closure member 52 prevents the food from flowing directly in one go through the passage section of the dispensing device and also that said food that is in form granules do not obstruct the passage section by preventing any flow of said granules. Such a shutter member subjected to agitation of the rod during the rotation of the feed screw thus makes it possible to regulate the flow of food contained in the auxiliary distribution device.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the stirring means are arranged outside the flow passage, against the outer wall of the hopper. According to this embodiment, said guide means are formed by a rod coupled with the feed screw as described above. The rod is equipped with a so-called vibrating member which extends transversely to the rod being biased in abutment against the outer wall of the hopper so that the rotation of the screw generates a swinging movement of the rod and therefore the vibrating member that hits the wall of the hopper. Said vibrations are transmitted to the food contained in the flow passage of the hopper, which allows to cause the flow of said food.

One can also imagine that the rod is not in direct connection with a turn of the feed screw, but in indirect connection via an intermediate system of motion transmission, such as a toothed wheel, in mesh with the feed screw so that the rotation of the screw rotates the toothed wheel. The end of the rod can then be brought into a position at the teeth of the toothed wheel so that the rotation of the gear wheel moves the end of the rod which is biased to a position in the opposite direction to make oscillate said rod.

It is also possible that the funnel 40 is equipped with a sloping plate 44 for modifying the slope on the inside of the funnel, as illustrated in FIG.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown, but the skilled person will be able to make any variant within his mind.

Claims (10)

REVENDICATIONS1. Installation (1) for distributing products, such as food and food supplements, said installation (1) comprising: - at least one distribution line (2) able to be fed by a so-called main dispensing device, with a first product such as a basic food, preferably in the form of granules, - a screw (3), said advance screw, extending axially inside the distribution pipe and being coupled to rotation drive means about its axis (A3), said screw (3) comprising a coil winding (30) helical having an active push surface for the advancement of products along the distribution line (2). ) as the screw (3) rotates, - at least one auxiliary dispensing device (4) of a second product, such as a food supplement in the form of granules, said device comprising a step gravity flow (400) by said second product and connection means (43) between the auxiliary distribution device (4) and said distribution duct (2) making it possible to open said passageway transversely, preferably radially. flow path (400) in the distribution line (2) at the helical winding of the feed screw (3), characterized in that said installation comprises stirring means (5) of said second product contained in the auxiliary dispensing device (4), said stirring means (5) being arranged with the feed screw (3) so that the rotational movement of the feed screw (3) actuates said means stirring (5). 2. Installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the stirring means (5) comprise a rod (50) which extends along the flow passage (400) of the auxiliary distribution device ( 4) and one end (51) of which projects into the distribution line (2) so that, during the rotation of the winding of turns (30), said end (51) ) of rod (50) has at least one configuration in which it bears against the active push surface of a turn (30) and at least one configuration in which it escapes said turn (30). s 3. Installation (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the rod (50) is equipped with a closure member (52) at least partially the passage section of the flow passage (400) of the device auxiliary dispensing means (4), said shutter member (52) being configured such that reciprocating movement of the spindle (50) by rotation of the feed screw (3) also causes said shutter member (52) to reciprocate (52) to agitate said second product contained in the circulation passage (400) of the dispensing device (4) and to cause it to flow along said flow passage (400). 15 4. Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the installation (1) comprises biasing means (53) of the stirring means (5) in a direction opposite to the direction of the effort pushing said turn (30) against the rod (50). 5. Installation (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said biasing means (53) comprises a helical spring arranged so that the axis (A53) of the longitudinal coil spring (53) forms a non-zero angle with the axis (A2) of the distribution pipe (2). 6. Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said installation (1) comprises means (6) for adjusting the passage section of the flow passage (400) of said auxiliary distribution device ( 4). 7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that said adjusting means (6) comprise a plate (60) having a through orifice (600), movable transversely to the longitudinal axis of the flow passage (400) of the device auxiliary distribution device (4), so as to be able to vary the dimension of the through-orifice (600) of the plate (60) which extends in the flow passage (400) of said auxiliary distribution device (4) . 8. Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the auxiliary distribution device (4) comprises a hopper (40, 41) formed of two funnel-type parts, namely a part called main funnel ( 40) and an auxiliary portion (41) forming a reducer in which is fitted the outlet opening of the main funnel (40). 9. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the auxiliary distribution device (2) and the connecting means (43) are interconnected by a transparent tube (42). 10. Dispensing device (4), said auxiliary, a product said second product, such as a food supplement in the form of granules, said auxiliary dispensing device (4) comprising a flow passage (400). ) by gravity of said second product intended to be connected to a distribution line (2) of a product dispensing installation (1), said installation (1) comprising a screw (3), referred to as a feed screw, extending axially inside the distribution pipe (2) and being coupled to means for driving in rotation about its axis (A3), said screw (3) comprising a winding of helical coils (30) having a active thrust surface for advancing products along the distribution line (2) as the screw (3) rotates, characterized in that the auxiliary dispensing device (4) comprises means agitating (5) of said second product, said stirring means (5) being able to be arranged with the feed screw (3) so as to form a dispensing installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims.