GB2194820A

GB2194820A - Food transfer method and apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2194820A
Application number: GB08714195A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Norris
Original assignee: DC Norris and Co Engineering Ltd
Current assignee: DC Norris and Co Engineering Ltd
Priority date: 1986-07-31
Filing date: 1987-06-17
Publication date: 1988-03-16
Also published as: GB8714195D0

Abstract

Flowable food product is drawn from a kettle 1 into a holding tank 2 under vacuum and is expelled therefrom by pressurised gas. A valve 17 through which the food product is discharged into receptacles on a conveyor 8 includes a silicon rubber tube which is alternatively nipped and released by jaws (Fig. 6) or by a peristaltic type device (Fig. 7A). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Food transfer method and apparatus In conventional food processing, flowable food products are pumped through a pipeline from one container to another. A disadvantage of this transfer arrangement is that the pump tends to break down the food product and reduce its quality. The present proposal avoids this disadvantage by using a source of vacuum or air under pressure to displace the product. Conventionally, the food product is metered into trays travelling along a filling line using a metering device in the form of a piston and cylinder unit. The cylinder has to be refilled at intervals, and this apparatus may also have a damaging effect on the food product.These disadvantages are avoided in accordance with other, independent, aspects of the invention which make use of a flexible tube through which the food product flows under air pressure and which is nipped to control the flow.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectioned elevation of one embodiment of apparatus showing one stage of a food product transfer method Figure 2 shows a second stage, Figure 3 shows a third stage, Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of apparatus, Figure 5 shows a third embodiment of apparatus, Figure 6 is a vertical section through the outlet valve shown in Figure 5, and Figures 7A and 7B show an alternative valve in two stages of operation.

Referring to Figure 1, a cooked food product, for example, braised beef is contained in a steam jacketed kettle 1 in which the product may be cooked. A mobile holding tank 2 is brought into a filling station close to the kettle and the kettle outlet 3 connected by a flexible pipeline 4 to a first port 5 of the tank 2. A source of vacuum S.is connected to a second port 6 of the tank 2. A valve 7 in the kettle outlet is opened, and the food product is drawn into the tank 2 without being broken down as happens in the conventional pumping operation.

Following filling, the line 4 is disconnected and the tank 2 is moved to a discharge station depicted in Figure 2, adjacent to a filling line 8, conventionally including a belt conveyor. Hoppers 9 are mounted above the conveyor and serve to deliver the food product into containers which travel along the line.

The hoppers are supplied with food product through a pipeline 10; the flow of food product into each hopper being controlled by a float operated device 11. A suitable metering device is provided at the bottom of each hopper.

On arrival at the discharge station, an outlet 12 from the tank 2 is connected by flexible pipeline 4 to the pipeline 10. A source A of sterile air or inert gas (also referred to herein as air) is connected to the second port 6 and to an air powered agitator 15 located in a third port 14. When the level control devices in the hoppers open the valves controlling the pipeline 10, the food product is expelled from the tank 2 into the hoppers as and when required. The agitator 15 serves to promote discharge without breaking down the product.

When the tank 2 is empty, the pipeline 10 is disconnected and the tank either returned to the filling station or removed to a cleaning station (Figure 3) at which the agitator is removed and a cleaning device 16 having a sprayhead is inserted and used to discharge a cleaning fluid into the tank, the fluid (together with remains of the food product) discharging through the outlet 1 2.

Each of the ports 5,6 and 14 is closed with a Hansen (Trade Mark) plug into which the various pipelines and the agitator may be plugged as required, or is otherwise provided with a valve which can be closed to prevent the surrounding air entering the tank following removal of the pipelines. Similarly blanking plates may be used to close the ends of the outlets when the valves controlling them are closed.

In the second embodiment shown in Figure 4, the holding tank 2 is fixed in position above the filling line and is in the form of a hopper. A mobile supply unit 18 provides a source of vacuum and sterile air under pressure and is connected to the port 6 of the tank 2. The outlet of the tank is controlled by a valve 20 and feeds a known piston type filler device 17. The inlet to the tank 2 is controlled by a valve 19 and may be connected by a flexible hose 4 to a trolley 1 in which food product is brought up to the filling station. In operation, vacuum is applied to the port 6 to reduce the pressure in the tank 2.

Valve 19 is opened and food product drawn into the tank. Valve 19 is re-closed and valve 20 opened, and sterile air supplied under pressure to the tank to discharge the food product through the filling device.

The embodiment shown in Figure 5 includes a holding tank 2 which is semi-permanently connected to a kettle 1 by a pipeline 3, a line 10 leading from the tank 2 to a filling device 17 and vacuum/pressure unit 18. Operation takes place as described above.

The filling device of the Figure 5 embodiment is arranged to take advantage of the fact that the food product is supplied to the device under pressure. As shown in more detail in Figure 6, a nozzle 21 is secured to the end of the line 10. A head 22 secured on the body of the nozzle carries a piston-operated jaw arrangement 23 through which passes a silicon rubber tube sleeved over the nozzle. The jaws are arranged to grip the tube at a short dis tance from it end, which is held open by a ring 25. The jaws alternatively nip and release the tube in order to close and open an orifice through which metered quantities of food product are discharged to the trays. The operation of the piston is controlled by a timer.

In the modified filling device shown in Figure 7, the silicone rubber food supply tube 24 extends through an arc of a circle and is supported by a rigid former 26. One or two of a group of four rollers supported on a wheel 28 bear against the tube as the wheel rotates. As the roller 27a shown nipping the end of the tube against the former moves out of contact with the tube and allows the tube to open, the roller 27b nipping the other end of the tube travels along it, promoting discharge of the product. Further food product enters under pressure and fills the portion of the tube upstream of the roller 27b. The wheel halts when the roller 27b reaches the end of the tube following discharge of a metered quantity of food product, at which time a third roller (not shown) occupies the original position of the roller 27b. The conveyor 8 is arranged to advance the recepacles either continuously or in steps, such that the tube 24 of either valve is nipped closed while one receptacle is replaced by another below the outlet from the tube.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a food product, comprising connecting to a holding tank a food product supply line and a source of vacuum under pressure; using the vacuum to draw food product through the supply line into the holding tank; connecting to the holding tank a food product discharge line and a source of air under pressure; and using the pressurised air to expel the food product through the discharge line.

2. A method of transferring a food product from a supply vessel to a receptacle, comprising drawing the product under vacuum into a holding tank, and pressurising the holding tank using a source of air under pressure to discharge the food product into a receptacle.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the food product is supplied from the holding tank to receptacles through a flexible tube which is alternatively nipped and released.

4. A food product holding tank having ports for connection of supply and discharge lines and for the connection of sources of vacuum and pressurised air.

5. A discharge valve for food product, including a flexible tube to which food product is supplied under pressure and means for nipping and releasing the tube alternatively to prevent and permit the flow of food product through the tube.

6. A discharge valve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the tube extends through an arc and the means for nipping the tube includes at least two rollers supported for rotation about the axis of said arc.