MXPA99006573A - Foodstuff collating system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A foodstuff collating apparatus (16), having a plurality of discrete channels (34) within which foodstuffs are collated. The apparatus is elevated at one end to provide a slide for the foodstuff with the channels converving from one end (30) of the apparatus to the other (32). As the foodstuff slides down a channel, the former is oriented from a random position to an ordered vertical disposition.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ALTERATION OF FOOD PRODUCTS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an elevation apparatus for lifting loose items and more particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting and / or lifting articles in an orderly array without mixing and, a method for employing the apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many different ways of raising arrangements or arrangements are known in the art and one of the major disadvantages of those existing arrangements is realized with the degree of work intensity. Generally speaking, several people are involved in the handling of items that are eventually packaged and this often results in difficulties in terms of damaged items, as well as complications with respect to sanitation standards. Additional limitations revolve around the fact that additional staff increases labor costs for the overall process. It would be desirable if there were a method to lift loose items in an orderly array which is significantly lower in labor intensity and which reduces contact between the product and the personnel packing the product. The present invention is directed to solving the difficulties as set forth herein.

Industrial Application The present invention has utility in the food handling art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for lifting loose items in an orderly array. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for orienting articles having opposite edges and generally rounded ends, comprising: a plurality of continuous channels for slidably transporting articles having each channel a receiving end for receiving the articles and one end of discharge to unload the articles, each channel having a width dimension, a diagonal wall, an opposite wall and an upper edge, each channel having a generally sawtooth configuration adjacent to the receiving end with the widthwise dimension decreasing progressively from the receiving end towards the discharge end, each channel having substantially vertical and parallel walls adjacent to the discharge end and a reduced width relative to the receiving end, the receiving end being at a higher elevation than the discharge end; and | relocation means at the upper edge of each channel to reposition an article that is in contact with the edge in a respective channel, whereby when the articles are received in a relatively random manner at the receiving end and are slidably transported by gravity towards the discharge end, the channels and the repositioning means orient the articles from a relatively disorderly manner with respect to each other towards a raised arrangement, ordered, with respect to one another.

Any number of channels can be used in the arrangement or arrangement and this will depend on the volume of items that are packaged among other factors. The channel can be formed of any suitable material having a low coefficient of friction, in order to ensure the rapid transportation of the product from the receiving end of the apparatus to a discharge end. For this purpose, the receiving end will be elevated relative to the discharge end in order to provide a "ramp effect", and thus facilitate the sliding of the article down the channel. Suitable materials for the construction of the channels include aluminum, suitable Teflon® plastics, or other suitable materials acceptable to the food industry and which also provide the necessary degree of friction. As an additional feature, you can control the temperature of the channels (heated, cooled), depending on the type of product to be raised. A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for distributing and packing articles, comprising, in combination: means of transport for transporting articles; a plurality of continuous channels for slidably transporting the articles, each channel having a receiving end for receiving the articles and a discharge end for unloading the articles, each channel having a width dimension, a diagonal wall, an opposite wall, and a upper edge, each channel having a generally sawtooth configuration adjacent to the receiving end with the widthwise dimension decreasing progressively from the receiving end toward the discharge end, each channel having substantially vertical and parallel walls adjacent to the discharge end and a reduced width relative to the receiving end, the receiving end being at a higher elevation than the discharge end; relocation means at the upper edge of each channel to reposition an article that is in contact with the edge towards a respective channel; and packaging means to pack an array of oriented items. The channels may include spikes, cams, or some additional element on the upper edges in order to reposition, for example a potato cake, from a generally horizontal position relative to the channel to a position where the cake is vertically oriented within the channel. This can also be achieved by providing a texture on the upper edge of the channels or simply by having different material on the adjacent upper edges to provide a different coefficient of friction. This will ensure that any aliatoriness in the orientation of the product is eliminated by the lateral advance for the repositioning of the article. In this way, the channels provide a self-alignment feature for the articles that are in contact with them. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of lifting loose items from a relatively unordered state, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of channels for slidably receiving articles, channels tapering widthwise from a receiving end towards a discharge end and having a substantially sawtooth configuration adjacent to the receiving end and a parallel vertical wall configuration adjacent to the discharge end, the receiving end being raised relative to the discharge end, the channels being continuous and uninterrupted between the receiving end and the unloading end; enter the articles at the receiving end in any orientation in relation to the channels; sliding the articles, by gravity, down a respective channel to lift the articles at the discharge end; and download the articles in a raised, ordered arrangement.

Having thus described the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a general schematic illustration showing a distribution, storing and packing process; Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus according to the embodiment; Figure 3 is a sectional view along line 3-3 of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a section along line 4-4 of Figure 2. Similar numbers in the Figures denote similar elements.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 broadly illustrates a distribution, storage and packaging system in schematic form. The articles, in this example, cupcakes, may be in the form of an obolo, or rectangular, are typically discharged to a freezing tunnel conveyor, from previous processing operations (not shown). The freezing tunnel is widely denoted by the number 10. From the freezing tunnel 10, the articles are passed over a dispensing conveyor 12, which orientates the cupcakes from the travel arrangement widthwise to a longitudinal arrangement. Inspectors 14, on the transportation line 12, typically examine the pastry for purposes of quality assurance and remove any broken or inferior pastries in another way. The pastries are then passed over an up-lift device, widely denoted by the number 16, which is discussed in more detail below. From the lifting apparatus 16 the pastry pieces are then transported by the conveyor 18 to a packaging machine 20 which receives trays 22 in a synchronized sequence in order to load a tray 22 with cakes. The loaded trays 24 are then passed over, for example, a shrink wrap machine 26. Having thus generally described the general sequence of the process, reference will now be made in greater detail to the lifting apparatus 16 best shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4. Figure 2 illustrates a top plan view of the lifting apparatus 16 with parts removed for clarity. As illustrated, the lifting apparatus includes a receiving end 30 and a discharge end opposite thereto and denoted by the number 32. The lifting apparatus 16 includes a plurality of discrete channels 34 spaced apart from one another and extending from the receiving end 30 to the discharge end 32. Each of the channels 34 have a width dimension widely denoted by the number 36 in Figure 2, whose width dimension decreases progressively from the receiving end 30 towards the discharge end 32, such that the apparatus in general converges from the receiving end towards the discharge end. In this convergent pattern, the width dimension within any channel remains constant in relation to an adjacent channel. Figure 3 illustrates a section along line 3-3 of Figure 2, which illustrates channels 34 in a generally sawtooth formation. As illustrated, each channel includes a first substantially vertical wall 38 and a diagonally oriented wall 40, the orientation being relative to the vertical wall 38. The diagonal wall 40 terminates in a substantially horizontal base wall segment 42 and further includes, a second vertical wall 44, which is at approximately 90 ° relative to the partial wall 42 and in a parallel and separate relationship with the wall 38. In this way, at least at the receiving end and a little separated from it, the channels begin with a straight wall 38/44 and an inclined wall 40. The spacing between the channels 34 is less than the length of the pastry P but greater than the width of the pastry P. The generally proximal end 42, and the inclined wall 40 in each channel 34 it is substantially vertical. This is illustrated in Figure 4. The transition from an angular wall 40 to its substantially vertical orientation is progressive along the length of the channel 16 as illustrated in Figure 2. In this way, the pastelillo P moves along of the lifting apparatus 16, it is moved from a generally inclined shape towards a vertically oriented arrangement. This facilitates the arrangement of the pastry P in an array arranged at the end 32 for the rear loading on a tray 22 as broadly illustrated in Figure 1. In order to achieve this, the lifting apparatus 16 and more particularly, the end 30, it is slightly elevated relative to the end 32. The elevation may be from about 20 ° to about 40 ° or greater relative to the horizontal. By providing the lift, this facilitates the sliding of the pastries P down the channels from end 30 to 32. In operation, the pastry pieces P generally enter the receiving end of the apparatus 16 in various orientations in relation to one another. This is typically random and is illustrated in Figure 2, where one pastry is between the channels 34 while the other is arranged in a transverse channel shape. By providing the arrangement of the channels 34 as illustrated in Figure 3, this arrangement is solved at random simply by dropping the pastry P on the channel 34. This is then automatically flipped on its side by virtue of the configuration of channel 34 to as it travels downwardly from the inclined apparatus 16. In order to ensure that the pastries crossed in the channel are positively oriented on one side such as that shown in Figure 3, small pegs 46 may be employed on the ridge or the joint the walls 38 and 40. By providing the pins 46, if the article is crossed in the channel or riding on the crests, the pins ensure reorientation or repositioning to the shape shown in figure 3., ie, the cake is on an edge within the channel 34. It is clearly contemplated that the absence of the pegs 46, the upper edges of the channels 34 may be composed of materials having different coefficients in order to induce the proper arrangement of the pastelillo P in the channel 34. Other forms of location can be used, such as means for vibrating the channels 34, internal surfaces with cams between them. Figure 3 shows in a chain line, the gradual change in the altitude of the pastry P as it travels the course of the channel 34. The present invention thus alleviates the superfluous need of personnel in the packaging process and also avoids excessive handling by the staff of the product that is packed. It will be appreciated by those experts that although the potato cakes have been indicated to be the item, the apparatus and the methodology are subject to any item that can be packed. Although embodiments of the invention have been described above, they are not limited thereto and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications form part of the present invention as long as they do not depart from the spirit, nature and scope of the claimed invention. and described.

Claims (15)

1. An apparatus for orienting articles having opposite edges and generally rounded ends, comprising: a plurality of continuous channels for slidably transporting said articles, each channel having a receiving end for receiving said articles and a discharge end for unloading the articles, each channel having a width dimension, a diagonal wall, an opposite wall and an upper edge, each channel having a generally sawtooth configuration adjacent to the receiving end with the widthwise dimension decreasing progressively from the receiving end towards the discharge end each channel having substantially vertical and parallel walls adjacent to the discharge end and a reduced width relative to the receiving end, the receiving end being at a higher elevation than the discharge end; and | relocation means at the upper edge of each channel to reposition an article that is in contact with the edge in a respective channel, whereby when the articles are received in a relatively random manner at the receiving end and are slidably transported by gravity towards the discharge end, the channels and the repositioning means orient the articles from a relatively disorderly manner with respect to each other towards a raised arrangement, ordered, with respect to one another.

2. The apparatus as characterized in claim 1, wherein said channel means comprises a low friction material.

3. The apparatus as characterized in claim 1, wherein the low friction material comprises a material selected from stainless steel, Teflon®, plastic and aluminum.

4. - The apparatus as characterized in claim 1, wherein the repositioning means comprises at least a part of the edge having a different coefficient of friction than said channel.

5. The apparatus as characterized in claim 1, wherein the repositioning means comprises pins connected to said edge to reposition an article in said channel.

6 - The apparatus as characterized in claim 1, wherein each channel is continuous, and interrupted from the receiving end to the discharge end.

7. An apparatus for distributing and packing articles, comprising, in combination: a conveyor means for transporting said articles; a plurality of continuous channels for slidably transporting said articles, each channel having a receiving end for receiving said articles and a discharge end for unloading said articles, each channel having a width dimension, a diagonal wall, an opposite wall and an edge upper, each channel having a generally sawtooth configuration adjacent to the receiving end with said widthwise dimension decreasing progressively from the receiving end towards the discharge end, each channel having substantially vertical and parallel walls adjacent to the discharge end and a reduced width in relation to said receiving end, the receiving end being at a higher elevation than the discharge end; relocation means at the upper edge of each channel to reposition an article that is in contact with the edge towards a respective channel; and packaging means to pack an array of oriented items.

8. - The apparatus as characterized in claim 7, wherein said sawtooth configuration of each channel includes a diagonal wall, a horizontal base and a substantially vertical wall.

9. The apparatus as characterized in claim 8, wherein said diagonal wall is inclined from about 25 ° to about 85 ° relative to said base.

10. The apparatus as characterized in claim 7, wherein the juxtaposed channels share a common vertical wall.

11. The apparatus as characterized in claim 7, wherein the repositioning means comprises at least a part of said edge having a different coefficient of friction than said channel.

12. The apparatus as characterized in claim 7, wherein said repositioning means comprises pins connected to said edge to reposition an article in said channel.

13. A method for lifting loose items from a relatively disordered state, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of channels for slidably receiving articles, said channels tapering widthwise from a receiving end to a discharge end and having a substantially sawtooth configuration adjacent to the receiving end and a parallel vertical wall configuration adjacent to the discharge end, the receiving end being raised relative to said discharge end, the continuous and uninterrupted channels being between the receiving end and the extreme download; inserting said articles at the receiving end in any orientation with respect to the channels; sliding the articles, by gravity, down a respective channel to progressively lift said articles at the discharge end; and downloading said articles from a raised, ordered arrangement.

14. The method as characterized in claim 13, further including the step of progressively changing the altitude of the article from a generally horizontal altitude to a substantially vertical altitude at the discharge end.

15. The method as characterized in claim 14, further including the step of packing said articles.