MXPA97008046A - Better mass separator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dough separator (30, 120) that includes: a frame (32, 180) located adjacent to a mixing bowl (11, 110) of a dough mixer (10, 100); secondary or housing (190) of a first cylinder (192) mounted in a hob in the frame (180) for movement between a first and a second portion: a reciprocating sleeve (196) mounted on or on guide means in or on the secondary frame or housing (190), or mounted on the first cylinder (192), a first reciprocating piston (189) on the sleeve or tube (196), a divider body (123) on the frame, extendable in at least one portion of the mixing bowl (110), having a curved face (129) engageable with the dough in the mixing bowl (110); a second cylinder (129) in the dividing body (123) connected to the curved face (129) ), and a second reciprocating piston (131) in the second cylinder (129), arranged so that: in the first position of the sec frame the housing (190) or the first cylinder (192) the first piston (198) and the sleeve or tube (196) are retracted and the first cylinder (192) and / or the sleeve or tube (146) receives a charge of mass of the curved face (129) of the dividing body (123) as the mixing bowl (110) rotates, the sleeve or tube (146) is advanced to cut to cut the mass load of the rest of the mass in the mixing bowl (110), the secondary frame or housing (190) of the first cylinder (192) moves to the second position and the load of the table is transferred to the second cylinder (129) advancing the first piston (198); pre-set amount of mass remains in the second cylinder (129) as the secondary frame or housing (190) returns to its first position, and the pre-set amount of mass is ejected from the second cylinder (123) advanced the second piston (13)

Description

IMPROVED MASS SEPARATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to an improved mass separator. The dough separator may be provided as an accessory of, or an attachment to, an existing dough mixer or may be provided integrally with the dough mixer. 2. Prior art In medium to large bakeries, bread dough is produced by the following methods: (A) The dough is mixed in a dough mixer, usually of the spiral blender type, where the dough is removed either by hand taking it out of the bowl; or by removing the bowl, raising the bowl several meters and inverting it to deposit the mixed dough in a duct or a feeder of an automatic dough separator, where the dough is divided into portions. In some cases, the total mixer is raised and inverted to allow dough to enter the separator feeder. The separator works by means of a square or round piston in a half that extracts the mass in a cavity by suction, the mass is then trapped in the cavity by sliding the blade. The trapped mass, which could weigh approximately two kilograms, is highly compressed and inserted into another cavity so that as much air as possible moves from the mass. This bag then moves away from the piston by cutting an established mass volume and, therefore, because most of the air has dissipated, the mass is at a set weight. (B) In some cases, a large pre-weighed portion of the dough is displaced in a large cavity, whereby the dough is compressed by raising the platform on which it is placed and the dough is then divided by means of a honeycomb arrangement of knives, cutting the dough in established portions. The machine is compact and relatively inexpensive, the dough will still be manually removed from the mixer before dividing it and the separator will only produce mass pieces weighing 200-900 grams. Since bread rolls require pieces that weigh from 40 grams to 120 grams, a separate separator is required for the rolls. Normally, an automatic separator of the type discussed in (A) above, costs $ AU39,000, while the mass separator of method (B) will normally cost approximately $ AU12000. COMPENDIUM OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a separator system in the dough mixer, so that portions of dough are formed in the mixing bowl. It is a preferred objective to provide a separating system that avoids the need to invert the bowl (or mixer) and avoids the need to manually remove the dough from the bowl. It is still a preferred additional objective to provide a separating system where the weight of the dough can be set for different pastry products, eg, loaves, rolls, bread rolls, etc. Other preferred objectives will be apparent from the following description. In a first aspect, the present invention resides in a dough separator that includes: a frame, located adjacent to a mixing bowl of a dough mixer; a first cylinder mounted awkwardly in the frame, for movement between a first position and a second position; a sleeve or reciprocal tube in the first cylinder; a first reciprocal piston in the sleeve or tube; a separator body in the frame, extendable in at least a portion of the mixer bowl, having a curved face engageable with dough in the mixing bowl; a second cylinder in the separator body, operably connected to the curved face; and a second reciprocal piston in the second cylinder, arranged in such a way that: in the first position, the first piston and the sleeve or tube are retracted and the first cylinder and / or the sleeve or tube receives a mass load from the face curve of the separator body as the mixing bowl rotates; the sleeve or tube is advanced to cut the load or mass of the rest of the dough in the mixing bowl; the secondary frame or housing moves to the second position and the load of the mass is transferred to the second cylinder advancing the first piston; a pre-set amount of mass remains in the second cylinder as the secondary frame or housing returns to its first position; and The present mass amount is ejected from the second cylinder advancing the second piston. The guide means may comprise rods, washers, rails, tracks, a first cylinder or the like to guide the sleeve or tube as it advances and retracts (in relation to the separator body). In the third and fourth aspects, the present invention resides in a dough mixer incorporating the dough separator described above in the first and second aspects, respectively.

In a fifth embodiment, the mass separator has its frame mounted on a wall and the mixing bowl is transported (eg, on a pulley) to a location adjacent to the frame, the mixing bowl being driven via, v. gr., friction drive means by a drive motor provided adjacent to the frame. Pads or locating bolts and receptacles or complementary guides in the frame and pulley locate the mixing bowl in relation to the frame (and drive motor).

Preferably, the frame is mounted in the mixing bowl and can be lifted vertically; swing on one side of the bowl; or swing up and back of the bowl. Preferably, as the first cylinder returns to the first position, an additional mass load is removed in the first cylinder by retraction of the first piston and the sleeve or tube. Preferably, when the first cylinder is in the first position, the rotation of the mixer is stopped. Preferably, in the second position, the first cylinder will be aligned with the second cylinder and the advance of the first piston will transfer a quantity of mass from the first cylinder to the second cylinder causing the second piston to be retracted in the second cylinder. Preferably, the further advancement of the first piston will cause the mass in the second cylinder to be compressed in order to remove air or other gases. Preferably, as the first cylinder swings down from the second position, a peripheral cutting edge, e.g., of neoprene or other resilient material, in the sleeve, will cut the mass remaining in the first cylinder of the sleeve. pre-set amount of mass in the second cylinder and the piston can be advanced to eject this remaining mass from the first cylinder into the mixing bowl. Preferably, when the second piston is advanced to eject the pre-set amount of mass from the second cylinder, the mass is ejected into a lifting tray mounted on the top of the first cylinder. Preferably, the lifting tray is connected to the first cylinder by a curved plate passing in the front of the second cylinder as the first cylinder moves from the second position to the first position. The pistons and the sleeve are preferably advanced and retracted hydraulically or pneumatically, although mechanical links may be used if preferred. Preferably, a hydraulic or pneumatic ram moves the first cylinder between the first and second positions. Preferably, the guide means within the mixing bowl, preferably suspended from the frame, direct the mass toward the curved face of the separator body. Preferably, the sensing means, in the rack, monitor the amount of mass in the bowl of the mixer. In a modified embodiment, two or more of the first and second cylinder pairs can be provided to respectively divide the mass in the mixing bowl to prefix quantities. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to allow the invention to be fully understood, the preferred embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of the dough separator for use with a mixing bowl mounted on a pulley; Figure 2 is a rear elevation view of a second embodiment of the mass separator mounted on a dough mixer (the parts being omitted for clarity); Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the separator of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a plan view showing a portion of the dough separator and the mixing bowl; Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the mass separator on the side opposite to Figure 3, taken on line 5-5 in Figure 4: Figures 6 and 7 are schematic side section views showing step 1 of the sequence of operation of the separator; Figures 8 and 9 are similar views showing steps 2 and 3 of the operation sequence; Figures 10 and 11 are similar views showing steps 4 and 5 of the operation sequence; Figures 12 to 14 are similar views showing steps 6 to 8, respectively, of the operation sequence; Figure 15 is a table showing the respective movement of rammers for the pendulum assembly, the knife piston and compression in steps 1 to 8, respectively in the operation sequence; Figure 16 is a schematic circuit diagram of the hydraulic system of the separator; and Figure 17 is an elevation view of the control panel for the dough separator and dough mixer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES PREFERRED With reference to Figure 1, the mixer 10 has a mixing bowl 11 hinged on an axle (not shown) on a post 12 on a pulley supported by a wheel 13. An electric drive motor 14 has a gearbox (wherein the output shaft 16, supported by a bearing 17, has a drive roller 18, with a friction liner for operably engaging and rotating the mixing bowl 11. The locating pins 19 operably couple the receptacles 20 in the pulley 12 for accurately locating the mixing bowl 11 in drive coupling with the drive roller 18. The mass separator 30, which will be described in more detail with reference to Figures 2 to 16, is mounted on two pairs of arms parallel 31, in turn mounted on a support frame 32 fixed to a wall 33 of the bakery A hydraulic ram 34 is connected to a foot 35 in the frame one of the arms 31, to selectively raise and lower the mass separator 30 inside and outside of the mixing bowl 11. Referring now to the second embodiment of Figures 2 to 5, the mixer 100 has a mixing bowl 110 with a peripheral wall 111, an annular floor 112 and a central die 113. Mixing bowl 110 is normally rotated in the direction of arrow 114 (see Figure 4) and the dough was mixed with a funnel blender 115 of the ram. The dough separator 120 has a base frame 180 mounted on the mixer 110 and two pairs of parallel arms 181 supports a main frame 182, wherein said rails 183 have detents 184 coupled by the rollers 185 on the mixer 100. A conveyor outlet 186 is mounted on the main frame 182 and has a continuous conveyor belt 187, passing around the rollers 188, 189, to receive and transport the divided dough pieces of the dough separator 120. A handle 190 operates a screw 191 that allows that the height of the output conveyor belt 186 is adjusted. The dough pieces are transported between the bottom tamper of the web 187 and a spring loaded plate 192, the plate 192 supporting the dough pieces as they are transported to a point of discharge. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, a spacer body 123 has a curved face 124 inclined upward provided with the scraping edges 125, 126 and 127 which guide the mass 115 in the mouth of the separator body 23. A slight rotation of the Mixing bowl 110 during the decrease of separator body 123 in the bowl will help to settle scraping edges 125, 126, 127 and perforation through mass 116 by separator body 123.

A graduation die 128 has a cylinder 129 extending rearwardly of the separator body 123 and its mouth 130 connected to the curved face 124. A piston 131 is reciprocally mounted on the cylinder 129 and advanced by a drawbar 132 which will be described later. A pendulum housing 140 (see Figures 5 to 14) is mounted in an awkward manner via the hose shafts 141 in the bushings 138 in the side plates 122 in the main frame 182. A hydraulic ram 200 can be operated to move the pendulum assembly 140 between the first position shown in Figure 6, through an intermediate position shown in Figure 8, to the second position shown in Figure 10. Proximity switches A1, A2, A3, connected by a finger 202, monitor and controls the ram 200. A cylinder 142 is provided in the housing 140 and has a semi-cylindrical extension 143 on which a curved plate 144 and a lifting tray 146 are mounted. A cylindrical blade sleeve 146 is reciprocally mounted on the cylinder 142 and It has a bevelled cutting edge and its front end. A hydraulic ram 220 is mounted in the pendulum housing 140 to selectively advance and retract the blade sleeve 146 via an oscillator arm 241 and the piston rod 242. The operation of the separator 120 is lowered to the mixing bowl 110 with the edges scraping 125, 126 and 127 in the separator body 123 in engagement with the die 113, annular floor 123 and peripheral wall 111 of the mixing bowl 110. The pendulum assembly 140 is initially moved by the plunger of the pendulum 200 so that the cylinder 142 is in the first position shown in Figures 6 and 7 - the finger 202 engaging the proximity switch A1 - both with the sleeve of the blade 146 and the piston 148 that are retracted. As the mixing bowl 110 is slowly rotated in the direction of the arrow 114, the mass 116 will tend to move towards the curved face 124 of the divider body 123, ie, in the route indicated by the arrow 116a in Figures 4 and 5. In the first step of the sequence (Figures 6 and 7) the sleeve of the blade 146 is advanced by the ram 220 (until it engages a proximity switch K2) to cause a mass load to be cut from the body of the blade. the mass 116 in the mixing bowl 110. In the second step (see Figures 8 and 9), the plunger of the pendulum 200 partially retracts, until the finger 202 engages the proximity switch A2 and the pendulum assembly 140 now It is in an intermediate position. In step 3, the piston ram 240 advances the piston 148 to compress the mass load in the knife sleeve 146. If the finger 223 in the oscillator 222 releases the proximity switch P2 before the hydraulic pressure in the line to the tamper 240 operate a pressure switch, this indicates that the load of raisin in the knife sleeve 146 is below a pre-set minimum weight, e.g., 700 gr. As shown in Figure 15, the ram 200 is retracted, the mixing bowl 110 is rotated to supply additional mass to the blade sleeve 146, and the piston ram 240 is then operated to test the size of the new mass charge. . However, in normal operation, piston ram 240 will come to a full operating pressure before finger 223 reaches proximity switch P2 and thus the mass load on blade sleeve 146 is equal to, or exceeds, the pre-established minimum limit. In step 4 (see Figures 10 and 11), the pendulum ram 200 retracts to cause the finger 202 to release the proximity switch A3 and the pendulum assembly 140 to move to the second position so that the blade sleeve 146 is aligned with the graduation die cylinder 129. In step 5, the piston ram 240 is advanced to advance the piston 148 toward the graduation die 128 to push all (or most) of the mass load in the die The graduation die piston 131 is pushed back on the cylinder 129 until a pawl 250 on the pull rod 132 engages an adjustable retainer 251. The position of the adjustable retainer (see Figure 5) is controlled by a screw arrow of thread 252, engaged in a bearing block 253 and rotatable by a handle 254. By increasing the distance at which the graduation piston 131 can be retracted into the graduation forming die cylinder 129, the volume (and therefore the weight) of the mass that will be divided. In step 6 (see Figure 12), the pendulum ram 200 extends to release the proximity switch A3, and the pendulum assembly 140 moves to the intermediate position. It will be noted that the pre-set volume of the dough is contained in the graduation die 128 while any excess is cut by the "cleaning action" of the knife sleeve 146 on the curved face 124. In step 7 (see Figure 13) both the knife tamper 220 and the piston ram 240 are retracted to retract the knife sleeve 146 and the piston 148 respectively. In step 8 (see Figure 14), the pendulum ram 200 is further extended to move the pendulum assembly 140 to the first position to receive a fresh charge of mass as the mixing bowl 110 is rotated. As repeated In step 1 (see Figures 6 and 7), the graduation die piston 131 is advanced by the pull rod 132 to deposit the divided mass load in the lifting tray 145 to supply it to the output conveyor 186 when the set of pendulum 140 moves to the second apposition in step 4 (Figures 10 and 11). The pull rod 132 is advanced to cause the graduation die piston 131 to eject the mass of the graduation die 128 by engaging a ratchet 255 on the pull rod 132 by a roller 256 in a bell crane 257, operably connected to link 222, which connects blade sleeve 146 to oscillator arm 221 (and blade ram 220) via a connecting plate 258 in blade sleeve 146. As described above, the separator system need not be restricted to a single combination of pendulum assembly 140 / graduation die 128, but may extend, eg, up to six of said combinations. In an alternative embodiment (not shown) the knife sleeve 146 can be slidably mounted in a plurality (eg, 2 or 3) parallel guide rails or rods in the pendulum housing 140. In the first position, the advance of the sleeve 146 will cut the dough load of the dough in mixing bowl 110 and the operation will be as described previously illustrated. Referring to Figure 16, a computer unit 300 can control the sequential operation of the tampers 200, 220 and 240 and the ram 34 raising or lowering the mass separator 20, 120, relative to the mixing bowl 11, 110 The hydraulic oil is circulated via a pump 310 (with tank and filter units) through a pressure relief valve 311 to a manifold 312, where valves 313 to 316 respectively control the flow of hydraulic fluid to, or from, the tampers 34, 200, 220, 240. The computer is connected to the proximity switches and the pressure switch for a tamper 240, in order to make sure that it performs the correct operation sequence. As shown in Figure 17, a screen and control panel 400 allows to monitor the operation of the separator, and if necessary, adjust to suit the desired conditions. An Indian 401 reading that the current step in the sequence of operation of the separator. When the weight of the load of the paste is tested in step 3 and is not found to meet the preset limit, the mixing bowl 110 can be set to mix at a higher speed in order to supply additional mass to the splitter 120. After step 7, the piston 148 can be advanced briefly to expel any dough that is still inside the sleeve of the blade 146 when the latter retracts. Not all types of mixers require the raised center matrix in the center of the bowl. Some mixers have no matrix, while others use arrays or raised portions of different shapes and dimensions in the center of the bowl. Many types of mixers use a widely recognized component such as a kneading rod and this can have a variety of shapes and consist of vertical columns fixed to the mixer frame and does not rotate with the bowl but remains stationary in the locations around the center of the bowl .

The present invention can be incorporated in all these types of mixer designs and does not necessarily require a raised central matrix 13 as shown in the drawings. The separator has the considerable advantage that a blender does not have to lift heavy plates of mass from the mixing bowl to a separation machine but the mass is divided as it is removed from the mixer. Various other changes and modifications may be made to the embodiments described and illustrated without departing from the present invention.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS 1. A mass separator comprising: a frame located adjacent to a mixing bowl of a dough mixer; a first cylinder, mounted loosely in the frame, for movement between a first position and a second position; a sleeve or reciprocal tube in the first cylinder; a first reciprocating piston in the sleeve or tube a dividing body in the frame, extendable in at least a portion of the mixing bowl, having a curved face engageable with the mass in the mixing bowl; a second cylinder in the separator body, operably connected to the curved face and a second reciprocal piston in the second cylinder, arranged such that: in the first position, the first piston and the sleeve or tube are retracted and the first cylinder and / or the sleeve or tube receives a mass load from the curved face of the separator body as the mixing bowl rotates the sleeve or tube is advanced to cut the mass load of the remainder of the mass in the mixing bowl; the first cylinder moves to the second position and the mass load is transferred to the second cylinder advancing the first piston; a pre-set amount of mass remains in the second cylinder as the first cylinder returns to its first position; and the pre-set amount of mass is expelled from the second cylinder advancing the second piston.
2. 2. A dough separator comprising: a locatable rack adjacent to a mixing bowl of a dough mixer; a secondary frame or housing mounted in a hob in the frame for movement between a first position and a second apposition; a reciprocating sleeve or tube mounted in or on guide means or on the secondary frame or housing; a first reciprocal piston in the sleeve or tube; a spacer body in the frame, extendable in at least a portion of the mixing bowl, having a curved face engageable with the mass in the mixing bowl; a second cylinder in the dividing body, connected to the curve and a second reciprocal piston in the second cylinder, arranged such that: in the first position of the secondary frame or housing, the first piston and the sleeve or tube are retracted and the Tube sleeve receives a mass load from the curved face of the separator body as the mixing bowl rotates; the sleeve or tube is advanced to cut the mass load of the rest of the dough in the mixing bowl; the secondary frame or housing moves to the second position and the mass load is transferred to the second cylinder advancing the first piston a pre-set amount of mass remains in the second cylinder as the secondary frame or housing returns to its first position; and the pre-set amount of mass is expelled from the second cylinder advancing the second piston.
3. A raisin separator according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein: the guiding means comprises rods, rods, rails, tracks, a first cylinder or the like to guide the sleeve or tube as it is advanced and retracted ( in relation to the dividing body).
4. 4. A dough separator according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein: the frame is mounted above the mixing bowl is raised vertically; swinging to the side of the mixing bowl swinging up and back of the mixing bowl.
5. A mass separator according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein: as the first cylinder returns to the first position, an additional mass charge is removed in the first cylinder by the retraction of the first piston and the sleeve or tube.
6. 6. A mass separator according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein: in the second position, the first cylinder will be aligned with the second cylinder and the advance of the first piston will transfer a quantity of mass from the first cylinder to the second cylinder causing the second piston to retract in the second cylinder; and the additional advance of the first piston will cause the mass in the second cylinder to be compressed to remove any air or other gases.
7. 7. A mass separator according to claim 6 wherein: as the first cylinder swings down from the second position, a peripheral cutting edge in the sleeve will cut the mass remaining in the first cylinder from the amount pre-established mass in the second cylinder and the first piston is advanced to eject this remaining mass from the first cylinder in the mixing bowl.
8. A mass separator according to claim 7, wherein: when the second piston is advanced to eject the pre-set amount of mass from the second cylinder, the mass is ejected into a lifting tray mounted on the top of the first cylinder , the lifting tray being connected to the first cylinder by a curved plate passing in front of the second cylinder as the first cylinder moves from the second position to the first position.
9. A mass divider according to any of claims 1 8 wherein: the pistons and the sleeve are advanced and hydraulically retracted, pre-pneumatically and / or mechanically, a hydraulic or pneumatic rammer moving the first cylinder between the first and second positions .
10. A mass separator according to any of claims 1 to 9 wherein: the guide means within the mixing bowl, suspended from the frame, direct the mass toward the curved face of the dividing body, and the sensing means in the rack, monitor the amount of dough mixing bowl. eleven .
11. A dough separator according to any of claims 1 to 10 wherein: two or more of the first and second cylinder pairs are provided to respectively divide the dough into the mixing bowl in the preset amounts.
12. 12. A dough separator according to any of claims 1 to 1 wherein: the first cylinder can be moved to an intermediate position between the first and second positions and the first piston is advanced to compress the dough load, in where a preset minimum mass weight in the mass load is indicated by a pressure switch that measures a pre-set pressure in the first piston before the first piston engages a proximity switch. A mass separator according to any of claims 1 to 12 wherein: the trajectory of the second piston in the second cylinder controls the weight of the divided mass, the trajectory being adjusted to allow the weight of the divided mass to vary .