FR2966436A1 - Device for transporting and distributing viscous fluids i.e. food products, in e.g. hospital, has delivery nozzle comprising inclined portion located upstream of end portion to form positive acute angle relative to flexible conduit - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (1) has a peristaltic-type pump (2) provided with a flexible conduit (3) and a body (8). A delivery nozzle (4) is formed by a continuous conduit. The delivery nozzle comprises an end portion (6) for delivering fluid, and an inclined portion (7). The inclined portion is located upstream of the end portion to form a positive acute angle relative to the flexible conduit, where the positive acute angle ranges between 20 degrees. A rotary disk (10) comprises multiple rollers (11). The flexible conduit extends around the disk on an arc about 180 degrees.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for transporting and dispensing viscous or charged fluids, in particular food products. In particular, this device is suitable for the large-scale distribution of dishes cooked in containers such as bowls, plates, trays or the like, especially for catering in communities such as hospitals or retirement homes. It is known to distribute manually cooked dishes, the filling of the containers being carried out by operators. This type of filling has the disadvantage of being relatively slow, occupy a large staff and generate musculoskeletal disorders among operators performing this task repeatedly during their lifetime. It is also known to use food dispensing machines to automate the filling operations of the containers. Such conventional machines have two major disadvantages: - their complex structure requires a thorough cleaning between the distribution of two dishes, not only not to mix dishes but especially to avoid the development of microbes or bacteria in the distribution pipes and so, to avoid any contamination of consumers; - If they are relatively well suited to the distribution of food in liquid form, viscous or pasty, they are however not suitable for the distribution of liquids containing pieces, commonly called "loaded products". Indeed, these conventional machines generally include blade pumps for feeding food, which have the effect of grinding the pieces contained in the liquid, and valve dosing nozzles that may hang during the distribution of food. The dosing nozzles are also relatively complex to clean and the speed of movement of the food through them is relatively large, so that the food is subjected to high shear rates. Thus, loaded products are likely to not retain their shape but to be ground and be more or less converted into a slurry. The present invention aims to remedy all of these disadvantages. For this purpose, the device it concerns comprises: - at least one pump peristaltic type, that is to say consisting of at least one flexible conduit and at least one organ driven by a movement of va and-or-come or rotation for exerting a nip of the flexible conduit, progressing along a portion of this conduit to move a viscous fluid or loaded inside said conduit; at least one delivery cannula, formed by a continuous duct, without baffle or valve, comprising: an end portion for delivering the fluid, comprising an end bent part through which said fluid is intended to escape, and a portion inclined located upstream of said end portion, forming a positive acute angle relative to said flexible conduit, that is to say rising relative to the latter.

The invention thus consists in using in combination a peristaltic pump, generating alternative cycles of advancement of the fluid contained in the flexible conduit and at least one delivery cannula of this product, devoid of baffle or valve; the inclination of said upstream sloped portion has the function of balancing the flow of the product from the point of view of gravity, that is to say of interrupting this flow between two reciprocating advanced cycles. fluid contained in the flexible conduit. This cyclic interruption is used to evacuate a filled container and place an empty container under said delivery terminal portion. Given the absence of connection pieces or baffles in the device for transporting and distributing viscous fluids according to the invention, it is thus possible to distribute different types of fluids successively, by simply cleaning the device, between the distribution of each of these fluids, by means of a flow of water inside the device and in particular through the flexible conduit and the delivery cannula.

The mere fact of using a peristaltic pump type would not remedy all the disadvantages of the prior art, particularly because of the presence of dosing nozzles, which require special maintenance to prevent the development of bacteria , and may turn products loaded into products in the form of porridge.

On the other hand, the inventors have surprisingly found that when such a pump is associated with a delivery cannula as aforesaid, it then becomes very easy to repeatedly distribute different cooked dishes, successively, and perfectly. hygienic. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a programmable controller controlling the operation of the peristaltic type pump so as to circulate a predetermined quantity of fluid in said flexible conduit at a predetermined frequency. Thus, in the case of the distribution of ready meals, different dispensing cycles can be programmed according to the number of dishes to be dispensed, the amount of food to be dispensed for each portion and the speed of distribution. When the PLC operates the peristaltic type pump, a predetermined amount of food moves into the flexible conduit and escapes through the delivery portion of the device. On the other hand, at the very moment when the fluid distribution has to be stopped, the food ceases to flow through the delivery cannula, thanks to the angle formed by the inclined portion that it comprises with the flexible conduit. . In order to stop the flow instantly when the fluid distribution has to be stopped, the PLC preferably acts on the operation of the peristaltic pump so that it is slightly driven in the opposite direction of the fluid distribution cycle. in order to empty said end portion of any fluid by repressing the latter. This drive of the peristaltic type pump in the opposite direction of the dispensing cycle thus makes it possible to avoid the presence of valve dosing nozzles in the dispensing device, and thus to avoid the conversion of products loaded into products in the form of a slurry. . Advantageously, said positive acute angle formed by the portion inclined relative to said flexible conduit is between 10 and 30 °. Advantageously, said positive acute angle formed by the portion inclined relative to said flexible conduit is 20 °. The peristaltic-type pump that comprises the device according to the invention could be linear, that is to say it could comprise at least two, and preferably three, rotary rollers arranged along said duct, at a distance from each other. another, and locally compressing said conduit to move the fluid when these rollers are rotated. However, said peristaltic-type pump used is preferably circular and comprises a rotating disc having at least two, and preferably three, rollers rotatably mounted and projecting radially outwardly of the disc, the flexible conduit extending around of this disc on an arc of substantially 180 °, said rollers being regularly distributed over the circumference of the disc and realizing in turn, during the rotation of the disc, a local compression of the flexible duct progressing along the elbow formed by it , so as to move the fluid in this conduit. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, said peristaltic pump is actuated by a stepper motor or by an asynchronous motor geared motor driven by an electronic variator. The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages thereof will appear, with reference to the attached schematic drawing, showing, by way of non-limiting example, two possible embodiments of the transport and distribution device that 'it relates to.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the device for transporting and dispensing fluids according to a first embodiment of the invention, the peristaltic type pump comprising it being of circular type, and FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the device for transporting and dispensing fluids according to a second embodiment of the invention, the peristaltic type pump it comprises being of linear type. FIGS. 1 and 2 show a device 1 for conveying and dispensing viscous or charged fluids, in particular a mixture 100 of loaded food products, comprising a pump 2 of the peristaltic type, a flexible duct 3 made of silicone, and a cannula of issue 4.

The delivery cannula 4 is formed by a continuous duct without baffle or valve. This continuous duct comprises an end portion 6 of delivery of the mixture 100, in particular made of stainless steel, and an inclined portion 7 located upstream of the end portion 6, made of silicone, these portions being connected to one another by a coupling ring 8.

A first end 3a of the flexible conduit 3 is immersed in a container 101 containing the mixture 100 to be transported and distributed, the second end 3b of the flexible conduit 3 being connected to the delivery cannula 4 at the inclined portion 7. The terminal portion 6 comprises an end-angled portion through which the mixture 100 is intended to escape, forming a 30 ° elbow or of the order of 30 °. This end bent part stops immediately beyond this elbow and is therefore devoid of vertical end portion. The inclined portion 7 forms a positive acute angle of 20 ° relative to the flexible conduit 3. The mixture 100 can be moved in the flexible conduit 3, in a direction from the container 101 to the delivery cannula 4, by means a set of members 8 that includes the peristaltic pump 2. This set of members 8, mu of a rotational movement, moves along a portion 3c of the duct 3 and thus exerts a pinching of the duct flexible 3 to move the mixture 100 inside thereof. With reference to FIG. 1 and according to a first embodiment of the invention, the pump 2 is circular and the set of members 8 that it comprises consists of a rotary disc 10 comprising two rollers 11 mounted movably in diametrically opposite rotation and protruding radially outwardly of the disc 10. The portion 3c of the flexible conduit 3 forms a bend of substantially 180 ° around the disc 10. The rollers 11 rotatably mounted rotate and realize in turn, when the rotation of the disc 10 in the direction of the arrow A, a compression of the portion 3c of the flexible conduit 3 progressing along the bend formed by it, so as to move the mixture 100 in the conduit 3. The disc 10 can in particular be rotated by a stepper motor. With reference to FIG. 2 and according to a second embodiment of the invention, the pump 2 is linear and the set of members 8 that it comprises consists of three rotary rollers 12 arranged along the portion 3c of the conduit 3 and compressing the portion 3c so as to move the mixture 100 in the conduit 3 when the rollers 12 are rotated in the direction of the arrows B. The rollers 12 may in particular be connected to each other by chains or toothed belts (Not shown), being evenly distributed over the length thereof, these chains or toothed belts being rotated by a stepper motor or by an asynchronous motor geared motor driven by an electronic drive (not shown). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a treadmill 200 on which a plurality of bowls 201 are disposed is arranged below the delivery cannula 4. The device 1 further comprises a programmable controller (not shown) controlling the operation of the pump 2 so as to circulate a quantity of mixture 100 corresponding substantially to the volume of an empty bowl 202 in the flexible conduit 3 according to the traveling frequency of the treadmill 200. In order to stop instantly the mixture flow 100 when the treadmill 200 moves to bring an empty container 202 below the inclined portion 7 of the delivery cannula 4, the programmable controller acts on the operation of the pump 2 so that it is slightly driven in the opposite direction of the dispensing cycle so as to empty the end portion 6 of any mixture 100, by repressing the latter. In practice, in order to use the device 1 in combination with a conveyor belt 200 on which a plurality of bowls 201 are arranged in order to automate the filling operations of these bowls 201, the programmable automaton instructs the conveyor belt 200 to move so that an empty bowl 202 is brought below the end portion 6 of the delivery cannula 4. The presence of an empty bowl 202 below the end portion 6 may in particular be controlled by a presence sensor or a camera.

The programmable controller then starts the advance cycle of the mixture 100. The pump 2 is thus driven in the direction of rotation represented by the arrows A and B in FIGS. 1 and 2. When a desired quantity of mixture 100 has been poured into the empty bowl 202, the pump 2 is then slightly driven in the opposite direction of the mixture distribution cycle 100 so as to empty the end portion 6 of any mixture 100. The inclination of the inclined portion 7 has the function of equilibrium, from the point of view of gravity, the flow of the mixture 100, that is to say, to interrupt this flow between two reciprocating cycles of advance of the mixture 100 contained in the flexible conduit 3. This cyclical interruption is used to operate the treadmill 200 in order to evacuate a filled bowl 203 and to place another empty bowl 202 under the end portion 6 of the delivery cannula 4. The various bow movement cycles 201 and distributi Mixture 100 is repeated as many times as necessary until all bowls 201 are filled. The desired quantity of mixture 100 can be determined by a delay acting on the drive of the disk 10 or chains or toothed belts to which the rollers 12 are connected. Alternatively, it can be done by detecting the mass of the mixture poured. in a bowl by means of a programmable balance placed below the endless band on which the bowls 203 are placed. Given the absence of connecting pieces or baffles in the device 1, it is thus possible to distribute different types of food products successively, by simply cleaning the device 1, between the distribution of each of these food products, means of a flow of water inside the device 1 and in particular through the flexible conduit 3 and the delivery cannula 4.

As can be seen from the foregoing, the invention provides a device 1 for conveying and dispensing viscous or laden fluids, in particular food products, having the decisive advantage of automating the distribution of food, of avoiding musculoskeletal disorders. skeletons in the operators in charge of this distribution, to avoid the development of bacteria in the distribution pipes, and to avoid the transformation of products loaded into products in the form of slurry. It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of example but that it extends to all the embodiments covered by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS1 - Device (1) for transporting and dispensing viscous or charged fluids (100), especially food products, characterized in that it comprises: - at least one pump (2) peristaltic type, that is to say it consists of at least one flexible duct (3) and at least one member (8; 10; 11; 12) which is reciprocated or rotated so as to exert a nip flexible duct (3), progressing along a portion (3c) of this duct (3) in order to move a viscous or charged fluid (100) inside said duct (3); - At least one delivery cannula (4), formed by a continuous duct, without baffle or valve, comprising: - an end portion (6) for delivering the fluid, comprising a terminal bent portion through which said fluid is intended for s' escape, and - an inclined portion (7) located upstream of said end portion (6), forming a positive acute angle with respect to said flexible duct (3), that is to say rising relative to said . 2 - Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a programmable controller controlling the operation of the pump (2) peristaltic type so as to circulate a predetermined amount of fluid (100) in said flexible conduit (3) according to a predetermined frequency. 3 - Device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the programmable controller acts on the operation of the pump (2) peristaltic type when the fluid distribution (100) must be stopped so that said pump is slightly driven in the opposite direction of the fluid distribution cycle (100) so as to empty said end portion (6) of any fluid (100), by repressing the latter. 4 - Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said positive acute angle that forms the inclined portion (7) relative to said flexible conduit (3) is between 10 and 30 °. 5 - Device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that said acute acute angle formed by the inclined portion (7) relative to said flexible conduit (3) is 20 °. 6 - Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (2) peristaltic type it comprises is circular and comprises a rotary disc (10) having at least two, and preferably three, rollers (11) rotatably mounted and projecting radially outwardly of the disc (10), the flexible conduit (3) extending around the disc over an arc of substantially 180 °, said rollers (11) being regularly distributed around the circumference of the disk (10) and performing in turn, during the rotation of the disk (10), a local compression of the flexible duct (3) progressing along the elbow formed by the latter, so as to move the fluid (100) in this conduit (3). 7 - Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the pump (2) peristaltic type it comprises is linear, that is to say it comprises a plurality of rollers rotary members (12) arranged along said duct (3), spaced apart from each other, and locally compressing said duct (3) to move the fluid (100) when said rollers (12) are rotated. 8 - Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (2) of peristaltic type that it comprises is actuated by a stepper motor or a geared motor with asynchronous motor managed by an electronic variator . 9 - Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said end bent portion forms a bend of 30 ° or about 30 ° and stops immediately beyond this bend. 10 - Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a programmable balance placed below the endless belt on which the bowls (203) are placed, this scale detecting the mass of the mixture poured in a bowl (203).