GB2298404A

GB2298404A - Method and apparatus for folding and/or sorting sausages

Info

Publication number: GB2298404A
Application number: GB9603445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christof Stimpfl
Original assignee: Stimpfl and Gieseler GmbH
Current assignee: Stimpfl and Gieseler GmbH
Priority date: 1995-03-03
Filing date: 1996-02-19
Publication date: 1996-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2016-02-19
Also published as: DE19507443C2; GB2298404B; CZ63096A3; DE19507443A1; CZ282693B6; GB9603445D0

Description

2298404 1 Method and apparatus for folding and/or sorting sausages The

present invention relates to a method for folding and/or sorting sausages, as well as to an apparatus for accomplishing the method.

Sorting arrangements are commonly used on the market, but these sorting arrangements are not suitable for sorting pairs of sausages which have been cut to length. Hitherto, two sausages connected by a constriction were placed adjacent one another by hand or respectively sorted by hand.

This applies more especially to wiener sausages, hard, highly seasoned sausages, frying sausages, Saveloy sausages and the like, which are preferably folded in pairs, in order to be able to sell them better. Prepacked sausages are also preferably folded in pairs, before they are placed in paper bags or sealed in film. In such case, two interconnected sausages are also folded by hand.

In consequence, the conventional method is extremely labour and cost intensive, as very many 2 employees are needed in order, for example, to fold appropriately the pairs of sausages, which have been cut to length, on an assembly line and to sort them into a plurality of bundles.

Moreover, this mode of operation no longer satisfies today's hygiene requirements, so that these manual sorting and folding methods will have to be avoided in time.

The basic object of the present invention is to provide a method which is especially suitable for the folding and/or sorting, together with an apparatus for accomplishing the method, which does away with the abovementioned disadvantages and by means of which interconnected sausages can be folded and sorted at little cost and by the most simple means, the apparatus being universally usable and being connectable to the most diverse machines.

This object is achieved with a method for the folding and/or sorting of sausages, more especially pairs of sausages connected by constrictions, wherein 3 sausages, disposed one behind the other, are guided by a guide arrangement and transferred, via a conveyor belt around a drive roller, to a transporting belt which is reciprocatable in and in opposition to the x-direction, so that the sausages are placed upon the transporting belt adjacent one another.

In the present invention, a folding apparatus according to the invention is coupled to a severing device. The severing device can cut to length sausages which are interconnected by constrictions, for example in pairs, wherein it is also conceivable that individual sausages can be cut to length and brought from the severing device via a conveyor belt not shown here. On the other hand it is also conceivable that the folding apparatus according to the invention can be flange-mounted on other devices or respectively can be easily connected thereto.

The folding and sorting apparatus according to the invention comprises a conveying path, which is preferably horizontal and comprises a conveyor belt which is displaced by an adjusting roller via a drive 4 roller. The sausages travel via the conveying path from the adjusting roller to the drive roller, whereby the sausage enters a gap between the drive roller and a guide arrangement disposed adjacent thereto.

The diameter of the adjusting roller is preferably very small, in order to be able to be pushed against, or respectively flange-mounted on the severing device or the like as closely as possible. In consequence, the sausages can be transferred directly, without a large gap and without a great obstacle, from a severing device or the like to the conveying path. The diameter of the drive roller is relatively larger than a length of the sausage, so that the sausage can be guided around the drive roller.

The guide arrangement serves to guide the sausages, more especially pairs of sausages, along the drive roller, the guide arrangement having additional guide rollers therefor, which rollers are provided with guide recesses so that the sausage is prevented from sliding laterally during the guiding process.

Also, boundary walls are provided laterally of the drive roller and the conveying path, which walls guide the sausages and, at the same time, prevent any sliding movement.

The guide rollers are rotatably mounted on a carrier of the guide arrangement, whereby an upper end of the carrier engages pivotally in an elongate slot and is displaceable therein, so that a gap between guide arrangement and drive roller can be altered. In fact, it is precisely for sausages of different diameters that the gap can be set thereto according to the diameter of the sausages, in order to ensure a flexible use of the folding apparatus.

A lower end of the carrier is mounted on a deflection rod which is pivotally connected to a pull-push arrangement. By means of this pullpush arrangement, the guide arrangement can reciprocate about the upper pivot joint of the carrier, so that a lower end of the carrier is swung away from the drive roller when the pull-push arrangement is extended.

6 Furthermore, the carrier of the guide arrangement is provided with a sensor, which detects a,constriction between two sausages as well as the start or respectively the end of a sausage, and transmits appropriate signals to a computer, for example.

If a pair of sausages, which are connected by constrictions, passes into the gap between drive roller and guide arrangement, the first sausage encounters a transporting belt which is disposed beneath the drive roller and is spaced from the drive roller, whereby the transporting belt can travel in opposition to the x-direction until the sensor detects the constriction between the first and the second sausage, so that said sensor issues an appropriate signal, whereby the push-pull arrangement subsequently pivots the guide arrangement upwardly, so that the second sausage is placed adjacent the first sausage by a simultaneous change of direction of the transporting belt.

Subsequently, the guide arrangement is moved back to its original position by means of the M 7 push-pull arrangement, in order to enable a fresh pair of sausages to enter the gap.

In a further embodiment of the present invention it has been conceived to supply the pair of sausages, which have been placed together, to a sorting arrangement via the transporting belt, the sorting arrangement comprising a sorting belt. The movement of the sorting belt can be timed and controlled in such a manner that, for example, a plurality of sausages, which have been folded adjacent one another, can be placed upon the sorting belt adjacent one another, so that they form a block. There can be a space between individual blocks, for example by operating the sorting belt more rapidly, so that a space can be f ormed between two blocks. This space serves, for example, to provide a subsequently connected packaging device or the like with sufficient time to seal or package a block of sausages.

In a further embodiment of the present invention it has been conceived to dispose the transporting belt displaceably on a conveying system, 8 whereby said system is displaceable transversely relative to the conveying direction of the transporting belt. However, the drive roller, adjusting roller and guide arrangement, together with the push-pull arrangement, remain fixed to a machine frame not shown here, so that sausages, which are placed in folded manner upon the transporting belt, can be deposited adjacent one another on the transporting belt, which is preferably wider, by moving the transporting belt transversely relative to a direction of movement via the conveying system.

Here, the possibility also exists of depositing the folded sausages upon the transporting belt adjacent one another and equally of forming a block which comprises pairs of sausages disposed adjacent one another. By appropriately moving the transporting belt, a space can be provided between individual blocks so that the blocks which, for example, are supplied to a packaging device, can be appropriately processed further there.

9 It is also conceivable that a plurality of packaging devices can be started-up alternatingly by operating the conveying system so that a more rapid further'processing is possible.

In such case, it is also advantageous with the present invention that the folding and/or sorting apparatus can be connected to the most varied severing devices, assembly lines or other transporting systems.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are found in the following description of preferred embodiments as well as with reference to the drawings.

The present invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a schematic side elevational view of an apparatus according to the invention for folding sausages in the position of use; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevational view through the apparatus according to the invention for folding sausages in a different position of use; Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of the apparatus in the position of use; and Figure 5 is a plan view of a guide roller.

According to Figure 1, a folding apparatus R according to the invention comprises a relatively large drive roller 1 and a relatively small adjusting roller 2. The drive roller 1 and adjusting roller 2 are rotatably interconnected via a conveyor belt 3. In such case, the adjusting roller 2 is disposed so that there is a preferably horizontal conveying path 4 between said adjusting roller and the drive roller 1.

A transporting belt 5 is horizontally disposed beneath the drive roller 1 and is driven by a servomotor 6, so that the transporting belt 5 is reciprocatable in and in opposition to the direction of arrow x.

11 A guide arrangement 7 for the drive roller 1 is disposed on a frame, which is not shown here, so that there is a gap a between the drive roller 1 and guide arrangement 7, which gap is variable, depending on the required and desired spacing, by moving the guide arrangement 7.

The guide arrangement 7 comprises a curved carrier 8, on which preferably a plurality of guide rollers 9 are rotatably mounted. In Figure 5 a guide roller 9 is shown, by means of which sausages 15 are guided in a guide recess 19 formed therein, so that a lateral sliding of the sausages is prevented.

It also lies within the scope of the invention that the drive roller 1, together with the adjusting roller 2 and more especially the conveying path 4 lying therebetween, are provided with laterally configured guide means, not shown here, so that the sausages 15, which are transferred further from a severing device 16 or from a similar device, cannot slide laterally.

12 At an upper end of the carrier 8, the latter is preferably pivotably mounted in an elongate slot 11 via a pivot joint 10, whereby the pivot joint 10, and hence the guide arrangement 7, are displaceable in the elongate slot 11. In this way, the gap a can be varied and set to a sausage 15 of variable thickness.

At a lower end of the guide arrangement 7, a deflection rod 12 is secured to the carrier 8, said rod being connected via a pivot joint 14 to a pushpull arrangement 13. In such case, the push-pull arrangement 13 is connected via a further pivot joint 14 to a machine frame.

The schematically illustrated drive roller 1, adjusting roller 2 and conveyor belt 3 form, together with the guide arrangement 7 and the transporting belt 5, a unit serving as folding apparatus R or respectively as a sorting apparatus which can be used, for example, on the severing device 16 or the like.

It is essential, in the present invention, that sausages 15, which emerge preferably in pairs 13 from a severing device 16 or from similar devices, are conveyed along the conveying path 4 of the conveyor belt 3 and are guided around the drive roller 1 and into the gap between guide arrangement 7 and drive roller 1, while the drive roller 1 is moved in the direction of arrow y. In such case, the diameter of the drive roller 1 is preferably configured to be larger than a length of a sausage 15.

A constriction 18 between two sausages 15 can be detected by a sensor 17, disposed on the carrier 8, at a quite specific position between the drive roller 1 and the guide arrangement 7. This sensor 17 serves to control the transporting belt 5 or respectively to transmit appropriate signals to a computer.

The mode of operation of the present invention is as follows:

The sausages 15 are transferred to the conveying path 4 of the conveyor belt 3 from a severing device 16, tranporting belts or other sausage cutting or sorting systems or the like, and guided 14 into the gap.9 along the drive roller 1, the guide arrangement 7 supporting and also guiding the sausages 15.

The first sausage 15.1 encounters theb-a=wting belt 5 which is travelling in opposition to the x-direction. Thetraisporting belt 5 conveys the first sausage 15.1 some way in opposition to the x-direction until the sensor 17 detects the constriction 18 between the two sausages 15.1 and 15.2. The sensor 17 then transmits a signal to the transporting belt 5 and to the push-pull arrangement 13, and this causes the transporting belt 5 to be changed-over to the x-direction and, at the same time, the guide arrangement 7 is rotated about the pivot joint 10 in the direction of arrow z by the push-pull arrangement, as shown in Figure 2, so that the second sausage 15.2 is placed upon the transporting belt 5 parallel to and adjacent the first sausage, and the pair of sausages 15.1 and 15.2 is subsequently transported away in the X-direction. Subsequently, the guide arrangement 7 is returned again to its original position by the push-pull arrangement 13, while a fresh pair of sausages 15.1 and 15.2 is supplied to the gap a.

The speed of the transporting belt 5 is preferably controlled in such a manner that the belt travels substantially more rapidly in the xdirection, so that an appropriate spacing A, as shown in Figure 3, is produced between the individual pairs of sausages 15 disposed on the transporting belt 5..

The transporting belt 5 encounters a sorting arrangement 20 which extends transversely relative thereto and is adapted to the speed of the transporting belt 5 and to the spacing A between the sausages 15, and hence to the folding apparatus R, Rl. Consequently, the sorting arrangement 20, comprising a sorting belt 21, can be driven in the udirection at various timings and speeds, so that the pairs of 16 sausages 15 coming from the transporting belt 5 can be placed on the sorting belt 21 in pairs adjacent one another in desired numbers to form a block 22, a spacing B being formed between the block 22 and the preceding block 23 by an appropriate control arrangement as a result of the sorting belt 21 travelling appropriately more rapidly in the U- direction. Subsequent to the sorting arrangement 20 a packaging device 24 may be added, wherein the appropriate pairs of sausages 15 or respectively blocks 22 and 23, which are held together by the constriction 18, can be sealed in films or packaged.

In this way, the number of pairs of sausages inside a block 22 and the spacing B can be varied according to requirements and can be variably adjusted.

However, it is also within the scope of the invention that, instead of the sorting arrangement 20, a container is associated with the transporting belt 5, into which container the sausages can be appropriately packed. It is also conceivable to connect a dosing device or the like to the sorting arrangement 20.

17 In another embodiment of the present invention, according to Figure 4, the transporting belt 5, which is displaceable in and in opposition to the x-direction illustrated, is associated with a conveying system 25, whereby the transporting belt 5 is reciprocatable in the v-direction along this conveying system 25. In such case, drive roller 1, adjusting roller 2 as well as the conveyor belt 3 and the guide arrangement 7, not shown here, which component parts are connected in this arrangement to a frame of the folding apparatus, not shown, are not varied in their position relative to the direction of movement of the transporting belt in the V-direction.

Because of this arrangement, this folding apparatus R3 enables a simultaneous folding and sorting process to be effected parallel to and adjacent one another on the transporting belt 5. In such case, by moving the transporting belt 5 in the x-direction, a first pair of sausages 15 can be deposited on the transporting belt 5. Subsequently, the transporting belt 5 is reciprocated via the conveying system 25 in the vdirection and thereafter 18 in the x-direction, so that a second pair and additional pairs of sausages 15 can be deposited directly adjacent the first pair of sausages 15, these together forming in turn a block 221. By moving the transporting belt 5 in the x-direction, it is possible to produce also a spacing B' between the block 22 and a preceding block 23'.

If, for example, the block 23'has reached the end of the transporting belt 5, this transporting belt can be driven via the conveying system 25 to the packaging device 24 or to a container, so that the pairs of sausages 15, arranged to form the block 23, can be bagged, sealed or packaged.

However, it is also within the scope of the invention that other packaging devices 24, such as dosing devices, for example, can be connected there to the transporting belt 5. It is also conceivable that two packaging devices 24, for example, which are possibly conveyed alternately over the conveying system 25 by the transporting belt 5, may be disposed adjacent each other.

19

Claims

1. A method for the folding and/or sorting of sausages, more especially pairs of sausages which are connected by a constriction, wherein sausages, disposed one behind the other, are guided by a guide arrangement via a conveyor belt around a drive roller and transferred to a transporting belt which is reciprocatable in and in opposition to the x-direction, so that the sausages are placed upon the transporting belt adjacent one another.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which pairs of attached or individual sausages are guided along a conveying path into a variable gap between the guide arrangement and the drive roller.

3. A method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which the constriction or a space between two sausages is detected by a sensor.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which, upon encountering the transporting belt, a first sausage is displaced in opposition to the xdirection until it lies partially on the transporting belt, and in that the direction of movement of the transporting belt is reversed after a signal from the sensor, so that the second sausage is placed adjacent the first sausage.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the is guide arrangement is opened at least partially in the zdirection in response to the signal from the sensor.

6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the transporting belt transports individual sausages and/or pairs of folded sausages to a sorting belt and places them there upon the sorting belt in a block-like manner to form blocks formed of at least two sausages and/or pairs of sausages, a spacing being created between individual blocks by operating the sorting belt at a high speed in the u-direction.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the transporting belt is reciprocated in the Vdirection at right angles to the x-direction, so that individual sausages or folded pairs of sausages are disposed adjacent one another on the transporting belt.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the individual and/or pairs of folded sausages are disposed adjacent one another on the transporting belt, thereby forming a block of a plurality of sausages or pairs of sausages.

9. Apparatus for the folding and/or sorting of sausages, more especially pairs of sausages, having an arrangement for supplying them to a transporting arrangement, which is reciprocatable.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which a conveying path for the sausages is formed by a conveyor 21 belt between an adjusting roller and a drive roller.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which a diameter of the adjusting roller is configured to be substantially smaller than a diameter of the drive roller.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, in which the transporting belt is displaceable in and in opposition to an x-direction by a servomotor.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, in which the arrangement comprises a guide arrangement having a curved carrier, which is disposed at one end via a pivot joint in an elongate slot so as to be reciprocatable therein.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the carrier is connected at the other end to a deflection rod, which is connected via a pivot joint to a push-pull arrangement.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 14, in which the guide arrangement, which is pivotable via the pivot joint, is pivotable in and in opposition to a z-direction via the push-pull arrangement.

16. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, in which at least one rotatable guide roller is associated with the carrier, said roller being provided with a guide recess.

17. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 22 16, in which the drive roller and the guide arrangement together form a gap, which gap is variable.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, in which a sensor is associated with the guide arrangement and more especially with the carrier, said sensor sending signals to a control unit at the start of a sausage or at the end of a sausage or respectively at the constriction lying between two sausages.

19. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 18, in which the transporting belt encounters a sorting arrangement, which extends transversely relative thereto, a sorting belt being displaceable relative to the sorting arrangement in and in opposition to a udirection.

20. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 18, in which a conveyor system is associated with the transporting belt, on which system the transporting belt is reciprocatable in the V-direction transversely relative to the x-direction, while the drive roller, adjusting roller and guide arrangement are stationary.

21. Apparatus as claimed in claims 19 or 20, characterised in that the transporting belt and/or the sorting belt communicate/communicates with at least one packaging device or at least one container.

22. A method for the folding and/or sorting of sausages substantially as hereinbefore described with 23 reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. Apparatus for the folding and/or sorting of sausages constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings of Figures 1, 2 and 3 or 1, 2 and 4.