GB2267247A

GB2267247A - Implanting a shape of one material into a shaped hole in another.

Info

Publication number: GB2267247A
Application number: GB9209877A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martyn Gregory Alan Paradise
Original assignee: ROBOTEC Ltd
Current assignee: ROBOTEC Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-07
Filing date: 1992-05-07
Publication date: 1993-12-01
Also published as: GB9209877D0

Abstract

An implantation device to enable a shaped slug 8 of one substance to be cut 6a from a strip of material 2 transported and inserted into a strip of another material 1 having different characteristics whilst sequentially the slug 12 of material 1 is cut, transported and ejected. Subsequent processes which could include cooking, curing or brazing may be utilized to retain said slug into a product of different characteristics in order to fully utilize the process. <IMAGE>

Description

DEVICE FOR IMPLANTATION OF MATERIAL WITE POTENTIAL FOR VARIABLE ^ R4QUERISnICS.

This invention relates to a device for the implantation of a shape having one set of characteristics into a matching shape in a layer of material with different characteristics.

There is a need in the food processing and probably other industries to provide a product which contains contrasting or different properties in part of that product. For example, in the potato crisp or similar industry a product is made from potato flour dough into flat strips, subsequently cut into crisp sized and like sections before cooking, but it has long been considered that such product would be enhanced by inserting a section e.g. a star shape of different colour/ flavour into the base material. Such variations could be a pink star of prawn flavour into a natural coloured plain crisp. Similarly, the technique could be adapted for use with pasta or biscuit type doughs in strip form.

Such variations would increase custoner appeal and aid marketing and brand recognition, etc. However, such insertion/implantation techniques could have more serious uses, for example, a strip rubber belt could have inserted sections containing magnetic particles which when cured would provide a homogenous strip for counting or distance measuring/ recognition etc.

according to the present invention there is provided a prime product transport system, a shape cutting and removal system; interacting with a secondary product transport system with matching shape cutting and insertion system, together with means for removing and expelling a shaped section of prime product, and insertion of a matching shaped section of secondary product into a layer/strip of prime product in a continous manner.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows in perspective strips on material at progressise stages of production.

Fig. 2 shows an end view of device with twin cutting and removal insertion heads.

Fig. 3 shows a side view as Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows a plan view as wig. 2 Fig. 5 shows end view of device with single cutter.

Ref erring to the drawings, in operation a strip of primary product 1 is caused to move in unison and proximity with a strip of secondary product 2 under a cutter/removal system 3 having identical cutting heads 4 which are caused to lower a distance b by means of a lifting system 5 such that each layer of product 1 and 2 is pierced with a shape 6/6a matching the cutting head 4 shape. Upon lifting said cutting head 4 said distance D a matching shape 6/6a of both primary and secondary product is removed and carried in the cutting head 4, then by means of a sideways transporter system 7 said cutting head is caused to move sideways a distance T equalling the centre distance of strip materials 1 and 2 so that the pierced shape 8 of secondary material is immediately above the shaped aperture in said primary material 1. Upon lowering the cutting head 4 a suitable distance, said pierced shape 8 of secondary material may by any one of a number of means be inserted into the matching aperture 6 in said primary material strip 1, and at the same time the pierced shape 9 of primary material may be eected/discarded from said cutting head 4 whereupon said cutter/remover system 4 is caused to move by means of said sideways transporter system 7 said distance T in reverse direction for said cutting heads 4 to return to their start position in order to begin the operation cycle again. It follows that if the movement up, down nd,side- ways occur in timed sequence with the transportatiDn of said strip materials 1 and 2 the aforementioned cycle of operations may be caused to occur as a continuous manufacturing process.

It should be noted that pierc-ng of said material strips 1 and 2 could be by a shaped cutter 4 akin to a pastry cutter as indicated or by any of a number of other methods not indicated, including a shaped punch travelling through the material strip and. 2 and equipped with a vacuum or similar unit to enable shapes 8 and 9 to.be transported as required, or a laser cutter and separated transport means for said shapes 8 and 9.

Alternatively a form of the device may be as shown in Fig. 5 wherein a simple cutter head 4a is caused to pierce a hole in primary strip 1 and discard the slug shape 9 on its downward stroke D and pierce the secondary strip 2a immediately above 1 on its upward or reciprocal travel. At the same time, during the downward motion D secondary slug shape 8 is caused to travel within the hollow cutter 4a into place in the matching aperture in said primary material strip 1 and so on in continuous manner.

Claims

1. A device for implanting a segment of cne material into another material having different characteristics, said device comprising a primary product transport system, a shape cuttin::- and removal system, arranged to interact with a secondary product transport system wlth matching shape cutting aan insertion systems, such that in operation a strp of prftary material is transported into the zone of operation of said cutter removal system whilst sinultaneousl a strip of secondary material is passed into the zone of operation of said cutting and insertion system, whereupon the shape to be cut (slug) of primary material is cut, elevated, transported and elected at the same time as matching slug of secondary product is cut, elevated, transported and inserted into the matching space left in said primary material strip In readiness for further process if required.

2. A device for implanting as in Claim 1 wherein said transport system may be arranged one above the other in order that a common hollow cutting/insertion tool may be utilised, to travel in a straight line, one way to pierce and remove a slug cf primary product, and sequentially in the opposite direction to pierce the secondary product strip whilst permitting the cut slug of primary product temporarily residing in said hollow cutter tcol to be ejected to insert said slug into said strip cf secondary material and to discard the spare slug of secondary material.

3. A device for implanting as in Claims 1 or 2 whe---'ein a multiplicity of transport systems may be associated with a matching number of cutting/inserting, implanting systems in order to produce a continuous multi-headed unit.

4. A device for implanting as described in Claims 1-3 in which 2.

other processes e.g. cooking, curing or brazing etc. tnay be utilized in order to retain said slug of one substance into a matching shape aperture in a different substance.

5. A device for implanting as described in Claims 1-4 and in the accompanying drawings and specification.