FR3057142A1 - MOLDING OF DELICATESSEN PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method for molding frozen jelly products consisting of a mixture of frozen food pieces and jelly juices, wherein - a conveying screw (10) conveys the pieces of food from a hopper to a mixing chamber (11); - Juice supply means bring juice from a juice storage element to the mixing chamber (11), - a hatch (18) opens and communicates the mixing chamber (11) with an outlet (20) towards a mold (7) receiving the mixture.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the food industry. More specifically, the invention relates to a system for molding deli meats in jelly.

Delicatessen jelly products consist of small pieces of food, usually pieces of meat cooked with small pieces of vegetables (eg carrots, pickles, etc.) and condiments, and molded into jelly.

Thus, deli meats in jelly are characterized by their heterogeneous structure, comprising solid components (essentially pieces of meat), although elastic, and a gel (food jelly). For example, it is head cheese or certain terrines.

Molding a cold meats product into a jelly consists of pouring a hot mixture of pieces of food and a juice into a mold container. On cooling, the juice freezes in jelly and the jellied charcuterie product then takes the form of the mold.

At present, the mixing of the cooked food pieces and the juice, as well as the filling of the molds, is done manually. In fact, the heterogeneous composition of a cold meats product in jelly has always represented an obstacle to the automation of its molding. Besides the fact that the product during its production is in the form of a mixture of pieces of food and juice, the elastic consistency of the pieces of food makes their handling difficult. In addition, the mixture must be balanced and similar between two molds.

The filling of the molds is therefore carried out by an operator, who must mix the pieces of food and the juice, and fill the molds with a ladle. It is a grueling and messy task, and, since it is performed manually, slow and imprecise in the dosing of the charcuterie product in jelly.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks at least in part and preferably all of them, by proposing an automatic molding system for jellied sausage products, which makes it possible to ensure a mixture of the pieces of food and the jelly and filling the molds in a precise, simple, automated and hygienic manner.

To this end, a system for molding cold meats into jellies is proposed, consisting of a mixture of pieces of food and juice forming jelly while cooling, characterized in that said system comprises:

- a hopper intended to contain the pieces of food,

- a mixing chamber, comprising an upper part and a lower part, the bottom of the upper part being open on the lower part,

- a conveyor screw comprising a helix and a cylindrical body and extending from the hopper to the upper part of the mixing chamber to convey the pieces of food from the hopper to the mixing chamber, the conveyor screw helix extending in the upper part of the mixing chamber above the lower part of the mixing chamber,

means for supplying a juice from a storage element to the mixing chamber,

- a hatch located under the lower part of the mixing chamber and delimiting the bottom thereof, and the opening of which connects the lower part of the mixing chamber with an outlet in the direction of a mold intended to receive the mixed.

The system is advantageously supplemented by the following characteristics, taken alone or in any of their technically possible combinations:

- the lower part defines a vacuum under the propeller of the conveyor screw below the upper part;

- The upper part of the mixing chamber is located in the cylindrical body of the conveyor screw and the lower part of the mixing chamber extends downward from the cylindrical body;

the lower part of the mixing chamber is defined by a cylindrical portion extending along a substantially vertical axis from the upper part of the mixing chamber to the hatch, the upper end of the cylindrical portion being open to the upper part and the lower end of the cylindrical portion which can be closed by the hatch;

- The conveyor screw is arranged along a predominantly horizontal axis, and the bottom of the hopper is open on the conveyor screw, said conveyor screw being disposed under the hopper;

- The upper part of the mixing chamber has an upper opening at which the means for supplying the juice bring the juice, said upper opening facing the lower part and the hatch;

- The hatch is arranged transversely to a passage between the lower part of the mixing chamber and a chute extending said lower part in the direction of the outlet;

- The system comprises a conveyor belt arranged under the outlet and adapted to convey molds under the outlet to fill them with mixture;

the means for supplying the juice comprise a metering pump for dosing the juice brought into the mixing chamber.

The invention also relates to a process for molding cold meats in jelly consisting of a mixture of pieces of food and jelly forming juice by cooling, by means of a system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps whereby:

- the conveyor screw transports the pieces of food from the hopper to the upper part of the mixing chamber, which fall into the lower part of the mixing chamber;

the means for supplying the juice supply juice from the storage element to the mixing chamber,

- The hatch opens and puts the lower part of the mixing chamber into communication with an outlet towards a mold receiving the mixture.

PRESENTATION OF THE FIGURES

The invention will be better understood from the following description, which relates to embodiments and variants according to the present invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which ;

- Figure 1 shows schematically an overview of a molding system of jellied sausage products according to a possible embodiment of the invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 schematically show views respectively in three-quarters and in side section of details of a system for molding frozen jelly products according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the appended figures, a system for molding deli meats in jelly comprises a hopper 1 intended to contain the pieces of food. As explained above, during molding, the deli jelly product is in the form of a mixture of pieces of food and juice. The pieces of food are here typically of the order of a centimeter or more, and have the elastic consistency of the meat. The juice, hot or lukewarm, has the consistency of a viscous fluid which will turn into jelly as it cools.

The hopper 1 has a shape which is generally flared upwards, and preferably of circular section, as illustrated in FIG. 1. It can be equipped with an agitator and / or a booster screw 9, driven by a motor 3 The hopper 1 has an upper opening 4 through which it can be fed with pieces of food, for example by means of a carriage 5 mounted by a carriage elevator. The pieces of food can thus be stored in the hopper while waiting to be transformed into deli meats in jelly. In order to keep them at an adequate temperature, the hopper 1 may comprise a double envelope welded around the tank containing the pieces, and be equipped, for regulating the temperature of its contents, with temperature measurement means and thermal regulation means. , such as a refrigeration circuit.

A conveyor belt 6 is placed under the hopper and adapted to convey molds 7 under the outlet of the mixture to fill them with mixture. The molds 7 can be of various shapes and sizes, for example with a capacity of 0.1 to 7 L. The conveyance of the molds 7 by the belt 6 can be done, for example, continuously, step by step, or in back and forth. In particular, in the case of large molds 7, the belt 6, after having brought a mold 7 under the outlet, can make back and forth movements along the length of the mold in order to ensure proper filling of the mold 7.

Conveying and mixing means 8 are arranged under the hopper. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, these mixture conveying means 8 comprise a conveying screw 10 extending from the hopper 1 to a mixing chamber 11 for conveying the pieces of food from the hopper 1 to the mixing chamber

11. The conveyor screw 10 is arranged along a predominantly horizontal axis.

The conveyor screw 10 comprises a propeller 12 and a cylindrical body 13 housing the propeller 12. The propeller 12 of the conveyor screw 10 is rotated by a motor 16, here arranged in alignment with said conveyor screw 10. The cylindrical body 13 has an upper opening 14 provided with a flange 15 adapted to be fixed on a lower opening of the hopper, so that the bottom of the hopper is open on the propeller 12 of the conveying screw 10 when said conveying screw 10 is disposed under the hopper 1. The opening of the bottom of the hopper on the conveying screw 10 is preferably free from any control means such as a hatch.

The mixing chamber 11 is arranged at the end of the conveying screw 10. The mixing chamber 11 comprises an upper part 11a and a lower part 11b, the bottom of the upper part 11a being open on the lower part 11b. The propeller 12 of the conveyor screw 10 extends in the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11. However, the propeller 12 of the conveyor screw 10 is interrupted inside the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11, preferably substantially in the middle thereof.

The lower part 11b defines a vacuum under the propeller 12 of the conveying screw 10 below the upper part 11a. The upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11 is located in the cylindrical body 13 of the conveying screw 10. The cylindrical body 13 accommodating the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11 is open at the bottom, and the lower part 11 b of the mixing chamber 11 extends downwards from the cylindrical body 13.

A hatch 18 is arranged under the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11 and delimits the bottom of the latter. When the hatch 18 is closed, the hatch 18 constitutes the bottom of the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11. When the hatch 18 is open, it brings the lower part 11b into communication with the mixing chamber 11 with an outlet 20 in direction of a mold 7 intended to receive the mixture.

The lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11 is defined by a cylindrical portion extending along a substantially vertical axis from the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11 to the hatch 18, the upper end of the cylindrical portion being open on the upper part 11a and the lower end of the cylindrical portion which can be closed by the hatch 18. The hatch 18 has a flat upper face constituting the bottom of the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11. Preferably, The hatch 18 is arranged transversely to a passage between the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11 and a chute 22 extending said lower part in the direction of the outlet.

The outlet 20 therefore faces the conveyor belt 6 on which the molds are disposed 7. A chute 22 connects the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11 to the outlet 20. The hatch 18 is arranged transversely between the mixing chamber 11 and the chute 22. An actuator 23 makes it possible to control the opening and closing of the hatch 18. For example, the hatch 18 can move by sliding or pivoting in a plane transverse to the axis connecting the mixing chamber 11 and outlet 20, through which the mixture passes. Other variants can be envisaged, such as for example a hatch 18 opening in two parts or in other directions.

The mixing chamber 11 is therefore located at one end of the conveying screw 10, in the cylindrical body 13 and is extended towards the outlet by a discharge portion 24 closed by the hatch 18.

The system also includes means for supplying the juice from a storage element to the mixing chamber. The storage element 2 is therefore intended to contain a juice, which on cooling will form jelly. The storage element 2 can for example be a trolley, as illustrated in FIG. 1, but can just as easily be a tank or any other container.

The upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11 has an upper opening 30 at the level of which the means for supplying the juice supply the juice, said upper opening 30 being facing the lower part 11b and the hatch 18. The opening upper 30 is substantially located in the middle of the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11. Preferably, the propeller 12 of the conveyor screw is interrupted in the middle of the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11, so that the upper opening 30 opens above the end of the propeller

12.

The means for supplying the juice comprise a metering pump 31 for metering the juice brought into the mixing chamber 11. The metering pump 31 is driven by an electric motor without sliding contact, that is to say without brushes ( brushless in English), and allows great precision and good repeatability. A first line 32 connects the storage element to the metering pump 31, and a second line 33 connects the metering pump to the mixing chamber 11.

an additional juice supply pipe can also be provided from the metering pump and opening not into the mixing chamber 11, but directly into the outlet 20 or into an independent outlet giving onto the molds 7 arranged on the belt 6. This additional juice supply line can then be used to carry out a glazing operation consisting in spreading the juice either at the bottom of the mold 7, before it is filled with the mixture, or on the charcuterie product once molded, and optionally cooked. .

A control member makes it possible to control the operation of the elements of the system, and comprises a man-machine interface comprising a display screen and information input means, such as buttons, a keyboard or even a touch screen. An operator can then set different operating parameters, and in particular:

- the volume of each dose of pieces of food,

- the amount of juice,

- the number of doses per mold 7,

- the positioning or the back-and-forth of a mold 7 during its filling.

We will now describe the operation of this system during the molding of deli meats in jelly consisting of a mixture of pieces of food and jelly. Hopper 1 is supplied with pieces of feed, mainly pieces of meat. The agitator can optionally mix these pieces of food, and the agitator or the feeding screw 9 can be used to ensure the proper descent of the pieces of food to the bottom of the hopper 1. As the bottom of the hopper 1 is open on the conveyor screw 10, at least by gravity, the pieces of food in the hopper 1 are in contact with the propeller 12 of the conveyor screw 10. This is the adjustable advance of the conveyor screw 10 which allows to adjust the dose of pieces, precisely.

The storage element 2 supplied with juice is made available to the means for supplying the juice, for example by bringing a carriage filled with juice and by plunging the first pipe 32 therein.

The operator then enters the settings of the control unit using the man-machine interface. These settings may in particular depend on the types of deli meats in jelly, pieces of food, juice, mold, or even the desired rate. Once the settings have been made, the molding process is started.

The motor 16 actuates the rotation of the conveyor screw 10, which transports the pieces of food from the hopper to the mixing chamber 11, therefore from right to left in FIG. 3. The pieces of food are therefore first moved vertically, in the hopper 1 and from the hopper 1 to the conveying screw 10 located under the hopper, then horizontally along the axis of the conveying screw 10. The pieces of food are therefore conveyed by means of the propeller 12 towards the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11. When the pieces reach the upper part 11a, the propeller 12 is above the vacuum formed by the lower part 11b, and the pieces then fall in this lower part 11b.

This displacement of the pieces of food by the conveyor screw 10 allows a simple and precise dosage thereof, and is not altered by the particular structure of the pieces of food. The quantity transported per unit of time depends in particular on the section of the conveyor screw 10, the pitch of its propeller and its speed of rotation. The transport of pieces of food stops when a time corresponding to the dose of pieces of food has passed. The conveyor screw 10 is then stopped.

At the same time or thereafter, the juice supply means supply juice from the storage element 2 to the mixing chamber 11. More precisely, the metering pump 31 pumps the juice required for the storage element 2 a dose by means of the first line 32, and discharges said juice into the second line 33 which opens through the upper opening 30 in the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11. The juice is therefore poured into the upper part 11a, and falls in the lower part 11b, causing any pieces still present in the upper part 11a. The dosing pump 31 stops when it has pumped the quantity of juice corresponding to a dose programmed in the settings. The mixing between the pieces of food and the juice is then carried out in the mixing chamber 11.

At this stage, the hatch 18 has remained closed, so that the mixture of pieces of food and juice is confined by the hatch 18 in the mixing chamber 11, which then contains a dose of mixture. An empty mold 7 having been placed under the outlet of the chute 22 by the movement of the belt 6, the actuator 23 moves the hatch 18 to put the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11 into communication with the outlet 20 in the direction of the mold 7. The passage of the mixture through the lower part 11b of the mixing chamber 11 and the chute 22 is then released and the mold 7 receives the mixture which falls from the lower part 11b. The mixture, consisting of pieces of food and juice, is therefore moved essentially vertically. The vertical movement allows the exclusive use of gravity, without mechanical stress, which, due to the nature of the mixture, would be difficult to implement.

The fact of mixing already dosed quantities of pieces of food and of juice makes it possible to ensure the good composition of the mixture, allowing in particular the uniformity of the moldings. In addition, as the only movement of the mixture consists in dropping it, there is no problem of transporting this mixture. It is therefore particularly advantageous to provide the mixing chamber 11 at one end of the conveying screw 10. The fact that the conveying screw 10 extends in the upper part 11a of the mixing chamber 11 above the vacuum of the lower part 11b makes it possible to ensure the precision of the dose supplied: there is no problem of stuffing or sticking of pieces. As the juice is brought from the top of the mixing chamber 11, it interferes in the interstices between the pieces of food, and makes it possible to obtain a good impregnation of the pieces of food by the juice.

If the mold 7 which has received the mixture should only receive a dose, it is entrained by the mat 6 to make room for an empty mold 7. If the mold 7 which has received the mixture must receive several doses, the mold remains positioned under the outlet 20, possibly with a repositioning to receive the mixture in another part of the mold 7, and receives another dose as explained above. In particular, in the case of large molds 7, the belt 6 can make back and forth movements over the length of the mold 7 in order to ensure proper filling of the mold 7.

When the mold 7 has received the quantity of mixture which was intended for it, it is evacuated by the belt 6, and can then undergo the following treatment for the manufacture of the sausage product. For example, if the mixture needs to be cooked, the mold 7 goes to cooking. Finally, when the mold 7 and the mixture it contains cools, the juice freezes and gives jelly. We then obtain a jellied charcuterie product.

A step-by-step operation has been described here by way of illustration and without limitation. As indicated above, it is also possible to envisage other filling methods, with for example a continuous scrolling of the molds 7 or back and forth thereof.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the appended figures 5. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (10)

Claims 1. System for molding cold meats in jelly consisting of a mixture of pieces of food and juice forming jelly while cooling, characterized in that said system comprises: - a hopper (1) intended to contain the pieces of food, a mixing chamber (11), comprising an upper part (11a) and a lower part (11b), the bottom of the upper part (11a) being open on the lower part (11b), - a conveying screw (10) comprising a propeller (12) and a cylindrical body (13) and extending from the hopper (1) to the upper part (11a) of the mixing chamber (11) for conveying pieces of food from the hopper (1) to the mixing chamber (11), the propeller (12) of the conveyor screw (10) extending in the upper part (11a) of the mixing chamber mixing (11) above the lower part (11b) of the mixing chamber (11), means for supplying (31, 32, 33) of a juice from a storage element (2) to the mixing chamber (11), - a hatch (18) disposed under the lower part (11b) of the mixing chamber (11) and delimiting the bottom thereof, and the opening of which connects the lower part (11b) to the mixing chamber ( 11) with an outlet (20) in the direction of a mold (7) intended to receive the mixture. 2. System according to claim 1, wherein the lower part (11b) defines a vacuum under the propeller (12) of the conveying screw (10) below the upper part (11a). 3. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the upper part (11a) of the mixing chamber (11) is located in the cylindrical body (13) of the conveying screw (10) and the lower part (11b ) of the mixing chamber (11) extends downward from the cylindrical body (13). 4. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lower part (11b) of the mixing chamber (11) is defined by a cylindrical portion extending along a substantially vertical axis from the upper part (11a) of the mixing chamber (11) up to the hatch (18), the upper end of the cylindrical portion being open on the upper part (11a) and the lower end of the cylindrical portion can be closed by the hatch (18) . 5. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the conveying screw (10) is arranged along a predominantly horizontal axis, and the bottom of the hopper (1) is open on the conveying screw (10), said screw conveyor (10) being disposed under the hopper (1). 6. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper part (11a) of the mixing chamber (11) has an upper opening (30) at which the means for supplying the juice supply the juice, said upper opening facing the lower part (11b) and the hatch (18). 7. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the hatch (18) is arranged transversely to a passage between the lower part (11b) of the mixing chamber (11) and a chute (22) extending said lower part in exit direction. 8. System according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a conveyor belt (6) disposed under the outlet (20) and adapted to convey molds (7) under the outlet (20) to fill them with mixture. 9. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the means for supplying the juice comprise a metering pump (31) for metering the juice supplied into the mixing chamber (11). 10. A method of molding cold meats in jelly consisting of a mixture of pieces of food and jelly forming juice by cooling, by means of a system according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps according to which: - the conveyor screw (10) transports the pieces of food from the hopper (1) to the upper part (11a) of the mixing chamber (11), which fall into the lower part (11b) of the chamber mixing (11); the juice supply means supply juice from the storage element (2) to the mixing chamber (11), - The hatch (18) opens and connects the lower part (11b) of the mixing chamber (11) with an outlet (20) in the direction of a mold (7) receiving the mixture. 1/2