ITVI20110044A1 - DEVICE FOR SUPPORTING AND HANDLING FOOD PASTA IN A PLANT FOR THE PRODUCTION OF OVEN PRODUCTS - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Field of application of the invention

The present invention is generally applicable in the food industry, and particularly relates to a device for supporting and handling pasta in a plant for the production of bakery products.

State of the art

It is known that the so-called bakery products, such as bread, rusks or similar, are generally produced starting from one or more portions of suitably processed pasta, which are first made to rise, then cooked in special ovens and finally packaged. .

Naturally, the times and methods of the leavening and cooking phases, as well as the basic dough for producing the portions of pasta, will vary according to the product to be obtained.

Normally, in plants for the continuous production of bakery products, the pasta is placed in special devices which, once connected to an adequate transport apparatus, for example a chain, first bring the pasta itself inside the section. leavening for a first operating time and then inside the cooking section for a second operating time.

In FIG. 1 illustrates a device of this type, known per se, which comprises a plurality of metal containers C and an external support frame F. The containers C are first coupled to the frame F and then anchored thereto, so as to prevent them from decoupling from frame F during their journey through the leavening and baking sections.

The anchoring takes place by means of special brackets B kept in position by a screw T blocked by a nut.

In practice, this known device has shown some recognized drawbacks.

First of all, the presence of assembly paste or similar, necessary to allow the possible disassembly of the bolted connections, could contaminate the pasta present in the trays, especially in light of the high temperatures reached in the cooking ovens.

Then, when replacing the trays, it is necessary to stop the whole system, as it will be necessary to unscrew and remove the fixing brackets from the frame. As can be guessed, these dead times negatively affect the productivity of the entire plant.

In addition, the bolts can come loose causing the container to leak in the event of the frame being turned over for cleaning. Moreover, this loss could damage the entire transport system.

This problem is also accentuated by the fact that the metal trays require very frequent maintenance and / or replacement, in particular due to the sudden deterioration of the internal surface layer of the same which is suitable for detaching the pasta.

Presentation of the invention

The purpose of the present invention is to at least partially overcome the drawbacks encountered above, by providing a device for supporting and handling the pasta in a plant for the production of bakery products of maximum efficiency and relative cheapness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which allows to maximize the productivity of the plant in which it is mounted.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which allows simple and rapid maintenance and / or replacement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device which allows to minimize the risk of contamination of the transported pasta.

These purposes, as well as others which will appear more clearly in the following, are achieved by the device for supporting and handling the pasta in a plant for the production of bakery products having one or more of the characteristics described and / or illustrated herein.

The device may include at least one container, which may define a first longitudinal axis, suitable for accommodating at least a portion of pasta.

The device may also include a frame for supporting at least one container. This frame may have an elongated shape to define a second longitudinal axis, and may include two opposite ends that can be connected to an apparatus for transporting the same through the plant, for example a chain.

The at least one container and the frame can be coupled together in any way. Furthermore, they can be made in one piece.

Advantageously, and regardless of whether or not the at least one container includes means for quick coupling / uncoupling to / from the support frame, for example those described below, the support frame may have means for quick connection / disconnection to the ™ / from the transport apparatus.

For example, the support frame may include at least one pin placed at one of the two ends which can be mounted inside a seat to move smoothly between an extended working position, in which the frame and the transport apparatus they are mutually connected, and a retracted rest position, in which the frame can be freely disconnected from the transport apparatus.

Advantageously, elastic contrast means acting on at least one pin to force it into the working position can be placed inside the seat.

Conveniently, alternatively to or in combination with the elastic contrast means, removable locking means may be provided which act on the pin to keep it in the working position. Said removable locking means may include a dowel or a stop pin, which can be removably coupled to the pin when it is in the working position and can be uncoupled from this to bring the pin to its rest position and disconnect the frame. .

In this way, an operator, in order to disconnect the frame from the transport apparatus, will first manually act on at least one pin to bring it to the rest position and then disconnect the frame simply and quickly.

The other end of the frame may include a second pin, which may or may not be configured as described above.

Conveniently, and regardless of whether or not the frame includes the means for quick connection / disconnection to / from the transport apparatus described above, means for quick coupling / uncoupling of the at least one container to / from the support frame.

Thanks to this configuration, the device will allow to maximize the productivity of the plant in which it is mounted, as the downtime during production due to the change of containers will be eliminated.

The quick coupling / unhooking means, in fact, will allow an extremely fast change, even in motion. Therefore, there will no longer be the need to stop the system for long periods. An area can also be set up to allow rapid replacement of the containers during the normal work cycle.

The device, then, allows a simple and quick maintenance of the containers.

Furthermore, the absence of bolts allows to avoid assembly paste and the like, in order to minimize the risk of contamination of the transported pasta.

Advantageously, the at least one container and the frame can be mutually coupled / uncoupled so that when they are coupled the first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to each other.

Advantageously, the at least one container can be made of food grade polymeric material.

Preferably, this polymeric material can be resistant to a temperature of at least 200 ° C, and even more preferably of at least 250 ° C.

Thanks to this feature, the productivity of the plant will be maximized even more, since the need to change the containers during production will be minimized.

Conveniently, the quick coupling / release means may include at least one male element made on one of the frame and the at least one container that can be engaged with / disengaged from a respective at least one female element made on the other between the frame and the At least one container to hook / unhook the at least one container to / from the support frame.

The male and female elements can be configured to allow the hooking / unhooking of the at least one container to / from the frame by mutual sliding along the first and / or second axis once they are mutually coupled.

Thanks to this feature, the productivity of the plant will be maximized even more, since the reciprocal anchoring of the container to the frame is extremely simple and rapid.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the quick coupling / release means may include at least one pair of male elements made on opposite parts of one between the frame and the at least one container and at least one pair of female elements made on corresponding opposite parts of the other between the frame and at least one container.

This configuration, in addition to ensuring a safe connection between the container and the frame, will also allow this connection regardless of the direction of coupling between the container and the frame.

Advantageously, the quick coupling / release means may also include a safety element movable between a working position in which it interacts with the at least one container to prevent its release from the frame and a rest position, in which the at least one container can be freely hooked / unhooked to / from the frame, being provided with elastic contrast means acting on the safety element to force it normally into the working position.

Thanks to this feature, the safety of the anchoring between the container and the frame increases.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in accordance with the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident in the light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a device for supporting and handling pasta in a plant for the production of bakery products according to the invention. , illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the joined drawing tables in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a device for the production of bakery products in accordance with the state of the art;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an example of embodiment of the device 10;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the frame 20, with in FIG. 3a some enlarged details;

FIG.4 is an isometric view of a container 30;

FIG. 5 is a view of the container of FIG. 4 sectioned along a plane of trace V - V, with some enlarged details in FIG.5a;

FIG.6 is a partially sectioned view of a frame 20 and of a container 30 in the phase of mutual coupling, with some enlarged details in FIG.6a; FIG. 7 is a partially sectioned view of the frame 20 and of the container 30 of FIG. 6, mutually coupled and in the reciprocal coupling phase, with some enlarged details in Figure 7a;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned view of the frame 20 and of the container 30 of FIG. 7, mutually coupled, with in FIGS. 8a and 8b some enlarged details;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a leavening section L and a baking section K of a plant for the production of bakery products, with in FIG. 9a some enlarged details;

FIGS. 10a and 10b are enlarged views of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the frame 20, in which the pin 23 'is respectively in the working and rest positions.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the aforementioned figures, a device 10 is described for supporting and handling pasta in a plant for the preferably continuous production of bakery products, such as for example bread or rusks.

In a known way, a plant of this type may include a section for preparing the pasta, in which the basic ingredients of the bakery product to be produced are mixed together to form a dough, a leavening section, a section of cooking which includes one or more ovens and a packaging section for the final product.

The sections can all be linked together. In particular, as visible in FIG. 9, the leavening sections L and cooking K can be connected to each other by means of a special transport apparatus, for example a chain T. A plurality of devices 10 can be operationally connected to the latter, which will support the pasta P and will move it through the leavening and baking sections. Preferably, the movement of the devices 10 inside the plant can take place continuously, without ever stopping.

For example, to make rusks, pasta P can remain for about an hour in the leavening section L and about 30 minutes in the cooking section K, at a temperature of about 180 ° C.

After the first firing, the semi-finished product can be removed from container 30 and cured for about 10-12 hours. Subsequently, this semi-finished product can be cut and toasted in a second oven, where it will remain for about 7-8 minutes at a temperature of about 210-220 ° C, so as to make the finished product.

As particularly visible in FIG. 2, the device 10 may include a frame 20 adapted to support one or more containers 30 for the pasta.

Each container 30, which may have a generally elongated shape to define a first longitudinal axis X, may include a first upper peripheral edge 31 and a concave portion 32 which extends below the edge 31 to accommodate one or more portions of pasta inside. .

Advantageously, the containers 30 can be made of metal or polymeric material of food grade, preferably resistant to a temperature of at least 200 ° C.

In this text, the term â € œpolymeric material resistant to a temperature of at least 200 ° Câ € or derivatives means a polymeric material capable of resisting continuously at a temperature of 200 ° C for at least 30 minutes without visible macroscopic alterations.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, the containers can be made of Ticona® LCP Vectra® plastic material.

The frame 20, which may also have an elongated shape to define a second longitudinal axis Y, may include a second upper peripheral edge 21 and a second concave portion 22, which extends downwards from the edge 21 to accommodate inside it one or more containers 30. To maximize the heat exchange between the pasta inside the containers 30 and the external environment, as well as to lighten the structure, the portion 22 of the frame 20 can have a plurality of openings 25.

Furthermore, the frame 20 may include a pair of pins 23, 23â € ™ at the opposite ends 24, 24â € ™ for the operative connection of the device 10 to the chain T.

In use, the containers 30 can be coupled to the frame 20 so that the second axis Y of the frame is substantially parallel, respectively coinciding, with the first X axes of the containers 30 themselves.

Conveniently, then, the coupling between the containers 30 and the frame 20 can take place so that the lower surface 33 of the peripheral edge 31 remains at least partially facing the upper surface 26 of the peripheral edge 21.

Once the coupling has taken place, the containers 30 can be anchored to the frame 20 in order to prevent them from decoupling from the latter during their journey through the leavening sections L and cooking C.

Periodically, for cleaning or maintenance, the containers 30 can be uncoupled from the frame 20. For this purpose, it will be necessary to first detach the containers 30 from the frame 20 and then uncouple them.

In order to make these operations easier, means for quick coupling / uncoupling of the containers 30 to / from the frame 20 may be provided.

Conveniently, these quick coupling / release means may include two pairs of male elements 34, made on opposite parts 31â € ™, 31â € ™ â € ™ of the peripheral edge 31 of each container 30, engageable with / disengageable by two pairs of respective female elements 27, made on corresponding opposite parts 21â € ™, 21â € ™ â € ™ of the peripheral edge 21 of the frame 20.

The female elements 27 may include, respectively consist of, respective slots passing through the peripheral edge 21, while the male elements 34, 34â € ™ may include, respectively consist of, respective hook elements which can be inserted in the slots 27.

Advantageously, each slot 27 can be made on the peripheral edge 21 so as to define an axis Z substantially perpendicular to the second axis Y defined by the frame 20.

On the other hand, each hook element 34 may include an elongated body 35 and a pair of appendages 36, 36â € ™. The latter will extend outwards from opposite parts of the elongated body 35, so as to allow the coupling / unhooking of the containers 30 to / from the frame 20 regardless of the direction of coupling of the same.

The elongated body 35 may extend below the peripheral edge 31 to define an axis Zâ € ™ substantially perpendicular to the first axis X defined by each container 30. Upon coupling / uncoupling the containers 30 with the / from the frame 20, the Zâ € ™ and Z axes may substantially coincide.

The elongated appendages 36, 36â € ™ can be made at the free end 37 of the elongated body 35, and can define an axis Zâ € ™ â € ™ substantially parallel to the first X axis defined by each container 30 and, consequently , substantially perpendicular to the Z axis defined by each slot 27.

As particularly visible in FIGS. 6 and 6a, when coupling / uncoupling the containers 30 with / from the frame 20, the end 37 of the elongated body 35, and with it the appendages 36, 36â € ™, will pass through the slots 27 , so that the appendages 36, 36â € ™ remain facing the peripheral edge 21 of the frame 20. More specifically, the upper surfaces 38, 38â € ™ of the appendages 36, 36â € ™ will remain facing the lower surface 28 of the peripheral edge 21 of frame 20.

In order to hook the containers 30 to the frame 20, it will be necessary to mutually engage the hook elements 34 in the slots 27. For this purpose, as particularly visible in FIGS. 7 and 7a, once the containers 30 and the frame 20 are mutually coupled, to hook the first to the second it will be sufficient to slide the containers along the X axis.

In this way, as particularly visible in FIGS. 8 and 8a, so that the external edge 35â € ™ of the elongated body 35 of each hook element 34 abuts against the internal surface 27â € ™ of the respective slot 27. The appendices 36, 36â € ™ will also slide along the X axis integrally with the elongated body 35.

Thus, if the device 10 during its journey through the leavening sections L and cooking K undergoes a jolt or overturns, the impact of the upper surface 38 of the appendix 36 against the lower surface 28 of the slot 27 will prevent the decoupling of the container 30 from the frame 20.

Conveniently, the quick coupling / release means may also include a safety element 29, which can rotate around the Zâ € ™ â € ™ â € ™ axis between a working position, illustrated in FIG. 9, in which it interacts with the edge 31 of the container 30, and a rest position, illustrated in FIG. 7, in which it and the container are mutually released.

In the working position, the safety element 29 can act on the hook elements 34 to force them against the respective slots 27, so as to prevent the release of the container 30 from the frame 20. In particular, as visible in FIG.

8b, the safety element 29 in the working position will act as a mechanical stop for the outer edge 35 'of the elongated body 35 of each hook element 34, in order to keep the container 30 in the operating position and prevent it from detaching from the frame 20.

Vice versa, when the safety element 20 is in the rest position, it will be possible to release the hook elements 34 from the slots 27, so that the container 30 can be released freely from the frame 20.

Advantageously, the safety element 29 may include elastic contrast means, for example a spring 29 ', acting thereon to keep it normally in the working position. This increases the safety of the anchoring between the container 30 and the frame 20.

To allow coupling / uncoupling and coupling / uncoupling of the container 30 to / from the frame 20, therefore, it will be necessary to press the safety element 29 to take it from the working position, in which it remains in the absence of external stresses, to the rest position, as shown in FIG. 7.

By releasing the pressure, the safety element 29 will automatically move to the working position, preventing the container 30 from being released from the frame 20.

In a preferred but not exclusive embodiment, regardless of the presence or absence of the quick coupling / release means 34, 27, 29 of the container 30 to / from the support frame 20 and of the mutual coupling mode of the same, one of the pins 23 , 23 ', or both pins, can be mounted inside a seat 40 to move smoothly between an extended working position, illustrated in FIG. 10a, and a retracted rest position, illustrated in FIG. 10b.

In the working position the pin 23, 23â € ™ can be connected, in any way, to the transport apparatus T, while in the rest position it will be freely disconnectable from the transport apparatus T.

Conveniently, a stop dowel 41 acting on the respective pin 23â € ™ can be provided to keep it locked in the working position.

In order to bring the pin 23â € ™ in the rest position, the operator can remove the grain 41 from its respective seat and, by acting on the gripping means 42, manually slide the pin 23â € ™ along the Y axis until to bring it to the rest position.

From what has been described above, it is evident that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects.

The invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept expressed in the attached claims. All the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different according to the requirements, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (13)

CLAIMS 1. A device operably connectable to a chain-type or similar transport apparatus (T) for supporting and handling pasta (P) through a plant for the production of bakery products, the device comprising: - at least one container (30) for at least a portion of pasta (P), said container (30) defining a first longitudinal axis (X); - a frame (20) for supporting said at least one container (30), said frame (20) having an elongated shape to define a second longitudinal axis (Y) and including two opposite ends (24, 24â € ™) operatively connectable to the € ™ transport apparatus (T). 2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one container (30) and said frame (20) can be mutually coupled / uncoupled so that when they are coupled said first longitudinal axis (X) and said second longitudinal axis (Y ) are substantially parallel to each other. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising means for quick coupling / uncoupling (34, 27, 29) of said at least one container (30) to / from said support frame (20). 4. Device according to claim 3, wherein said quick coupling / unhooking means (34, 27, 29) include at least one male element (34) engageable with / disengageable from a respective at least one female element (27), one of said frame (20) and said at least one container (30) including said at least one male element (34), the other between said frame (20) and said at least one container (30) comprising said at least one female element (27). 5. Device according to claim 4, wherein said quick coupling / release means (34, 27, 29) include at least a pair of male elements (34) made on opposite parts (31â € ™, 31â € ™ â € ™) of said one between said frame (20) and said at least one container (30), said quick coupling / release means (34, 27, 29) further including at least one pair of female elements (27) made on corresponding opposite parts (21â € ™, 21â € ™ â € ™) of the other between said frame (20) and said at least one container (30). 6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said quick coupling / uncoupling means (34, 27, 29) are configured to allow the coupling / uncoupling of said at least one container (30) to / from said frame (20) by reciprocal sliding along said first axis (X) and / or said second axis (Y) once they are mutually coupled. 7. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said quick coupling / release means (34, 27, 29) further include a safety element (29) movable between a working position in which it is capable of interacting with said at least one container (30) to prevent its release from said frame (20) and a rest position in which said at least one container (30) can be freely hooked / unhooked to / from said frame (20), elastic means being provided contrast (29â € ™) acting on said safety element (29) to force it normally into said working position. 8. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one container (30) comprises a first peripheral edge (31) and a concave portion (32) to accommodate the pasta (P), said frame ( 20) including a second peripheral edge (21), said first peripheral edge (31) including a lower surface (33) capable of remaining at least partially facing the upper surface (26) of said second peripheral edge (21) of said frame (20 ) once said at least one container (30) is paired with the same. 9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each female element (27) includes a through slot, each male element (34) comprising a respective hook element, said second peripheral edge (21) of said frame ( 20) including said through slot (27), said first peripheral edge (31) of said at least one container (30) including said hook element (34). 10. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said hook element (34) includes an elongated body (35) which extends inferiorly from said first peripheral edge (31) of said at least one container (30) having a free end (37) which includes at least one appendix (36, 36 ') capable of passing through the respective slot (27) when coupling / uncoupling said at least one container (30) in / from said frame (20) and to abut against said second peripheral edge (21) once said at least one container (30) is coupled to said frame (20) for mutual coupling of the same. 11. Device according to the preceding claim, wherein said elongated body (35) includes a pair of appendages (36, 36â € ™) which extend outwards from opposite sides thereof to allow to hook / unhook said at least one container (30) to / from said frame (20) regardless of their coupling direction. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one container (30) is made of food grade polymeric material resistant to a temperature of at least 200 ° C. 13. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said support frame (20) includes at least one pin (23, 23â € ™) placed at one of said ends (24, 24â € ™) mounted inside a seat to move smoothly between a working position distal from the relative end (24, 24 ') and a resting position proximal to said end (24, 24') to allow a quick connection / disconnection of said support frame ( 20) from / to the transport apparatus (T).