WO1998025843A1 - Dosing unit - Google Patents

Dosing unit Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998025843A1
WO1998025843A1 PCT/NL1997/000675 NL9700675W WO9825843A1 WO 1998025843 A1 WO1998025843 A1 WO 1998025843A1 NL 9700675 W NL9700675 W NL 9700675W WO 9825843 A1 WO9825843 A1 WO 9825843A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
coiled wire
outlet opening
metering unit
foodstuff
diameter
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL1997/000675
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul Lodewijk Arie Hamm
Original Assignee
Hoverdale N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hoverdale N.V. filed Critical Hoverdale N.V.
Publication of WO1998025843A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998025843A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
    • G07F17/0064—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for processing of food articles
    • G07F17/0078—Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J37/00—Baking; Roasting; Grilling; Frying
    • A47J37/12—Deep fat fryers, e.g. for frying fish or chips
    • A47J37/1228—Automatic machines for frying and dispensing metered amounts of food
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D88/00—Large containers
    • B65D88/54—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying
    • B65D88/64—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation
    • B65D88/68—Large containers characterised by means facilitating filling or emptying preventing bridge formation using rotating devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G65/00—Loading or unloading
    • B65G65/30—Methods or devices for filling or emptying bunkers, hoppers, tanks, or like containers, of interest apart from their use in particular chemical or physical processes or their application in particular machines, e.g. not covered by a single other subclass
    • B65G65/34—Emptying devices
    • B65G65/40—Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top
    • B65G65/46—Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top using screw conveyors
    • B65G65/463—Devices for emptying otherwise than from the top using screw conveyors arranged vertically or substantially vertically within the container
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/02—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines
    • G07F11/44—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from non-movable magazines in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/02—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume
    • G07F13/025—Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume wherein the volume is determined during delivery
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/10—Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
    • G07F9/105—Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a metering unit for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnel-shaped holder for the foodstuff, provided at its bottom side with an outlet opening which is adjustable by means of a metering unit .
  • a metering unit of this kind is intended for the dispensation of the foodstuff to a further processing unit which, in the processing direction, is placed after the metering unit.
  • the metering unit is used in, for instance, an apparatus for finishing a deep-frozen foodstuff, as described in applicant's Netherlands patent application of the same date, entitled "Apparatus for finishing ready- portioned deep-frozen foodstuff".
  • a known prior art metering unit used for the metered supply to an automaton for finishing french fries comprises a conveyor belt having carriers, which belt is loaded with french fries that are weighed out.
  • Another known metering unit comprises a vibrator and a flap unit, wherein between the flap and the vibrator a space is kept free to allow passage of the foodstuff.
  • a serious disadvantage proved to be the sensitivity with regard to the type and dimension of the french fries to be metered.
  • the known metering unit may even block due to the fries arching.
  • EP-A-0 451 302 discloses an apparatus for dispens- ing cooked food, wherein the foodstuffs are admitted in a funnel-shaped holder and which at its bottom side debouches into a dispensation opening provided with a driven dispensation organ.
  • Said known apparatus serves for holding and releasing cooked potatoes.
  • the metering unit is executed as a rotatable cylinder which in the vicinity of the circumference is provided with a recess, able to accommodate a portion of the cooked potatoes. Rotation of said dispensation organ conveys the respective portion into a space from which the potatoes are made available to the user of the apparatus.
  • the objective of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable metering unit, which makes it possible to accurately meter out brittle foodstuffs of this kind, and which is not very susceptible to fouling and is cheap to produce .
  • the metering unit according to the invention is equipped with a driven, coiled wire placed in the holder and extending into the outlet opening, and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet opening upward, which coiled wire is provided near the outlet opening with a seal, covering approximately 30-80% of a complete spiral turn.
  • these very simple means have shown to provide a metering unit which makes it possible to accurately and reliably meter out foodstuffs, in particular deep-frozen french fries, without breaking the product to be metered out .
  • the metering unit according to the invention is of a very simple construction so that it is cheap to manufacture, and it is quite impervious to fouling or other kinds of disrupting influences on the metering accuracy.
  • the metering unit according to the invention has proved to be very suitable for providing measured portions of the foodstuff.
  • US-A-4, 821, 782 discloses a substantially funnel-shaped holder which at its bottom side debouches into an outlet opening, wherein the holder is provided with a driven coiled wire whose diameter increases from the outlet opening upward. Said apparatus serves for the dispensation of powdery materials and is therefore not suitable for the dispensation of foodstuffs and french fries in particular.
  • FR-A-2 , 702 , 746 discloses a system wherein the holder is not funnel-shaped but cylindrical. At the base of the cylinder an outlet opening is provided for the powdery materials held in the cylinder. This appa- ratus, too, is unsuitable for use with foodstuffs such as french fries .
  • the coiled wire has a diameter which increases from the opening upward achieves that the entire store of foodstuff present in the holder is involved in the dispensation.
  • the increase in diameter of the coiled wire from the opening upward not be greater than the increase in distance of the walls from the funnel-shaped holder.
  • the dispensation organ constituted by the coiled wire functions so well because it forms a guide for the foodstuff which is drawn into the centre of the wire coil, while the foodstuff's tendency to arching prevents the product from falling through the coil gaps when its rotation is interrupted.
  • the diameter of the coiled wire in the outlet opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the outlet opening. This prevents foodstuff, in particular french fries, from getting between the wire and the wall of the outlet opening, which could give rise to breakage.
  • the seal provided in the coiled wire serves to provide an accurate interruption of the dispensation when the rotation of the coiled wire stops.
  • control unit for the excitation of the drive, and a pulse counter coupled with the control unit and the coiled wire or the drive for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire.
  • the control unit may then be adjusted case by case for the simple adaptation of the amount of foodstuff to be metered.
  • the coiled wire is rotated in the same direction as the lead of the wire .
  • FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic side view of the metering unit according to the invention.
  • Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic front view of the metering unit according to the invention.
  • the metering unit 1 shown in Fig . 1 and Fig . 2 comprises a holder 2 for the foodstuff and a dispensation organ 3 coupled with the holder 2. At its under side the holder 2 is provided with an outlet opening 4. A coiled wire 5 is placed into the holder 2 , extending at least partly into said outlet opening 4. As is clearly shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, the holder 2 is substantially funnel- shaped, and the coiled wire 5 has a diameter which increases from the outlet opening 4 upward. Said increase in diameter of the coiled wire 5 is not greater than the horizontal distance from the walls of the funnel-shaped holder 2. Another aspect of the diameter of the coiled wire 5 is that said diameter is slightly smaller in the outlet opening 4 than the diameter of the outlet opening 4 itself.
  • the coiled wire 5 may have a constant diameter, so that there is no upward widening of the coil.
  • the coiled wire 5 Near the outlet opening 4 the coiled wire 5 is provided with a seal 6, which preferably covers approximately 30- 80% of a complete spiral turn. In the case shown, said seal covers approximately half of one complete turn of the coiled wire 5.
  • the wire 5 is at its top coupled with a motor drive 7. Also, it is possible to provide a control unit (not shown) for the excitation of the motor drive 7, and a pulse counter coupled with the con- trol unit and the coiled wire 5 or the motor drive 7 for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire.
  • the motor drive 7 has to also impart a right-hand turn to the coiled wire 5 dur- ing excitation, so that said wire, through rotation, seemingly disappears into the outlet opening.
  • the holder 2 containing the coiled wire 5 has a temperature of approximately -10°C.

Abstract

The invention relates to a metering unit (1) for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnel-shaped holder (2) for the foodstuff, provided at its bottom side with an outlet opening (4) which is adjustable by means of a metering unit, characterized in that it is equipped with a driven, coiled wire (5) placed in the holder (2) and extending into the outlet opening (4), and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet upward, which coiled wire is provided near outlet opening with a seal (6), covering approximately 30-80 % of a complete spiral turn.

Description

Dosing unit
The invention relates to a metering unit for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnel-shaped holder for the foodstuff, provided at its bottom side with an outlet opening which is adjustable by means of a metering unit .
A metering unit of this kind is intended for the dispensation of the foodstuff to a further processing unit which, in the processing direction, is placed after the metering unit. The metering unit is used in, for instance, an apparatus for finishing a deep-frozen foodstuff, as described in applicant's Netherlands patent application of the same date, entitled "Apparatus for finishing ready- portioned deep-frozen foodstuff". A known prior art metering unit used for the metered supply to an automaton for finishing french fries, comprises a conveyor belt having carriers, which belt is loaded with french fries that are weighed out. Another known metering unit comprises a vibrator and a flap unit, wherein between the flap and the vibrator a space is kept free to allow passage of the foodstuff. However, a serious disadvantage proved to be the sensitivity with regard to the type and dimension of the french fries to be metered. The known metering unit may even block due to the fries arching.
EP-A-0 451 302 discloses an apparatus for dispens- ing cooked food, wherein the foodstuffs are admitted in a funnel-shaped holder and which at its bottom side debouches into a dispensation opening provided with a driven dispensation organ. Said known apparatus serves for holding and releasing cooked potatoes. Correspondingly, the metering unit is executed as a rotatable cylinder which in the vicinity of the circumference is provided with a recess, able to accommodate a portion of the cooked potatoes. Rotation of said dispensation organ conveys the respective portion into a space from which the potatoes are made available to the user of the apparatus.
When using the known metering unit for deep-frozen french fries, the danger exists that the foodstuff, which under the conditions is rather brittle, will break. This is undesirable.
The objective of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable metering unit, which makes it possible to accurately meter out brittle foodstuffs of this kind, and which is not very susceptible to fouling and is cheap to produce .
To this end the metering unit according to the invention is equipped with a driven, coiled wire placed in the holder and extending into the outlet opening, and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet opening upward, which coiled wire is provided near the outlet opening with a seal, covering approximately 30-80% of a complete spiral turn. Surprisingly, these very simple means have shown to provide a metering unit which makes it possible to accurately and reliably meter out foodstuffs, in particular deep-frozen french fries, without breaking the product to be metered out . In addition, the metering unit according to the invention is of a very simple construction so that it is cheap to manufacture, and it is quite impervious to fouling or other kinds of disrupting influences on the metering accuracy. The metering unit according to the invention has proved to be very suitable for providing measured portions of the foodstuff.
It should be noted that US-A-4, 821, 782 discloses a substantially funnel-shaped holder which at its bottom side debouches into an outlet opening, wherein the holder is provided with a driven coiled wire whose diameter increases from the outlet opening upward. Said apparatus serves for the dispensation of powdery materials and is therefore not suitable for the dispensation of foodstuffs and french fries in particular. It should further be noted that in correspondence to US-A-4, 821,782, FR-A-2 , 702 , 746 discloses a system wherein the holder is not funnel-shaped but cylindrical. At the base of the cylinder an outlet opening is provided for the powdery materials held in the cylinder. This appa- ratus, too, is unsuitable for use with foodstuffs such as french fries .
The fact that the coiled wire has a diameter which increases from the opening upward achieves that the entire store of foodstuff present in the holder is involved in the dispensation. In order to prevent the outlet opening from becoming blocked due to too much foodstuff being supplied, it is advisable that the increase in diameter of the coiled wire from the opening upward not be greater than the increase in distance of the walls from the funnel-shaped holder.
Probably the dispensation organ constituted by the coiled wire functions so well because it forms a guide for the foodstuff which is drawn into the centre of the wire coil, while the foodstuff's tendency to arching prevents the product from falling through the coil gaps when its rotation is interrupted.
Preferably the diameter of the coiled wire in the outlet opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the outlet opening. This prevents foodstuff, in particular french fries, from getting between the wire and the wall of the outlet opening, which could give rise to breakage.
The seal provided in the coiled wire serves to provide an accurate interruption of the dispensation when the rotation of the coiled wire stops.
Accuracy of dispensation and effectiveness of sealing appears to be optimal when the seal provided in the coiled wire covers approximately half of a spiral turn.
To automize the metering unit it is advised to pro- vide the coiled wire with a drive. Preferably there is also provided a control unit for the excitation of the drive, and a pulse counter coupled with the control unit and the coiled wire or the drive for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire. The control unit may then be adjusted case by case for the simple adaptation of the amount of foodstuff to be metered.
In order for the metering unit to produce the desired effect, it is advisable that by activation of the drive, the coiled wire is rotated in the same direction as the lead of the wire .
The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic side view of the metering unit according to the invention; and
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic front view of the metering unit according to the invention.
Identical reference numbers used in the figures refer to identical parts.
The metering unit 1 shown in Fig . 1 and Fig . 2 comprises a holder 2 for the foodstuff and a dispensation organ 3 coupled with the holder 2. At its under side the holder 2 is provided with an outlet opening 4. A coiled wire 5 is placed into the holder 2 , extending at least partly into said outlet opening 4. As is clearly shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, the holder 2 is substantially funnel- shaped, and the coiled wire 5 has a diameter which increases from the outlet opening 4 upward. Said increase in diameter of the coiled wire 5 is not greater than the horizontal distance from the walls of the funnel-shaped holder 2. Another aspect of the diameter of the coiled wire 5 is that said diameter is slightly smaller in the outlet opening 4 than the diameter of the outlet opening 4 itself. Optionally, the coiled wire 5 may have a constant diameter, so that there is no upward widening of the coil. Near the outlet opening 4 the coiled wire 5 is provided with a seal 6, which preferably covers approximately 30- 80% of a complete spiral turn. In the case shown, said seal covers approximately half of one complete turn of the coiled wire 5. In addition, the wire 5 is at its top coupled with a motor drive 7. Also, it is possible to provide a control unit (not shown) for the excitation of the motor drive 7, and a pulse counter coupled with the con- trol unit and the coiled wire 5 or the motor drive 7 for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire. In the case shown, with the wire 5 having a right-hand lead in the direction from the outlet opening 4, the motor drive 7 has to also impart a right-hand turn to the coiled wire 5 dur- ing excitation, so that said wire, through rotation, seemingly disappears into the outlet opening. When using the metering unit for the dispensation of deep-frozen french fries, the holder 2 containing the coiled wire 5 has a temperature of approximately -10°C.
It will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that the above-described embodiment relates merely to a preferred embodiment, and that within the scope of the appended claims many variations are possible.

Claims

1. A metering unit for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnel-shaped holder for the foodstuff, provided at its bottom side with an outlet opening which is adjustable by means of a metering unit, characterized in that it is equipped with a driven, coiled wire placed in the holder and extending into the outlet opening, and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet opening upward, which coiled wire is provided near the outlet opening with a seal, covering approximately 30-80% of a complete spiral turn.
2. A metering unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the increase in diameter of the coiled wire from the opening upward not be greater than the increase in distance of the walls from the funnel-shaped holder.
3. A metering unit according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the diameter of the coiled wire in the outlet opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the outlet opening.
4. A metering unit according to claims 1-3, charac- terized in that the seal in the coiled wire covers approximately half of a spiral turn.
5. A metering unit according to claims 1-4, characterized in that a control unit is provided for the excitation of the drive, and a pulse counter coupled with the control unit and the coiled wire or the drive for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire.
6. A metering unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by activation of the drive, the coiled wire is rotated in the same direction as the lead of the wire.
PCT/NL1997/000675 1996-12-09 1997-12-08 Dosing unit WO1998025843A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1004724 1996-12-09
NL1004724A NL1004724C2 (en) 1996-12-09 1996-12-09 Dosing unit.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998025843A1 true WO1998025843A1 (en) 1998-06-18

Family

ID=19764012

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL1997/000675 WO1998025843A1 (en) 1996-12-09 1997-12-08 Dosing unit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NL (1) NL1004724C2 (en)
WO (1) WO1998025843A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6682817B1 (en) 1999-06-02 2004-01-27 Saes Getters S.P.A. Composite materials capable of hydrogen sorption comprising palladium and methods for the production thereof
CN103552775A (en) * 2013-11-08 2014-02-05 蚌埠玻璃工业设计研究院 Novel cylindrical-bin cleaning device
FR3071236A1 (en) * 2017-09-20 2019-03-22 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING DENSE PHASE POWDERS WITH AN INJECTION CONE HAVING A ROTATING CONICAL PROPELLER

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4821782A (en) * 1987-01-29 1989-04-18 Hyer Industries, Inc. Powder feeder
EP0451302A1 (en) * 1990-03-28 1991-10-16 T.A. S.R.L.Tecnologie Alimentari Machine for quickly serving a portion of cooked food
DE4116616A1 (en) * 1991-05-22 1992-11-26 Guenter Doll Conveying, metering, mixing appts. for poor-flow powders e.g. pigments - has laterally=sprung rotating spring within hopper base to prevent bridging, and projecting into outlet e.g. to grooved roller metering device
FR2702746A1 (en) * 1993-03-15 1994-09-23 Sibequip Sa Emptying system of a system for unloading tanks intended to contain pulverulent products
DE4403607A1 (en) * 1994-02-05 1995-08-10 Altamat Gmbh Measured supply system sending shredded paper to bag packing machine
WO1996006029A1 (en) * 1994-08-19 1996-02-29 Marlen Research Corporation Quick clean-up dual piston pump

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4821782A (en) * 1987-01-29 1989-04-18 Hyer Industries, Inc. Powder feeder
EP0451302A1 (en) * 1990-03-28 1991-10-16 T.A. S.R.L.Tecnologie Alimentari Machine for quickly serving a portion of cooked food
DE4116616A1 (en) * 1991-05-22 1992-11-26 Guenter Doll Conveying, metering, mixing appts. for poor-flow powders e.g. pigments - has laterally=sprung rotating spring within hopper base to prevent bridging, and projecting into outlet e.g. to grooved roller metering device
FR2702746A1 (en) * 1993-03-15 1994-09-23 Sibequip Sa Emptying system of a system for unloading tanks intended to contain pulverulent products
DE4403607A1 (en) * 1994-02-05 1995-08-10 Altamat Gmbh Measured supply system sending shredded paper to bag packing machine
WO1996006029A1 (en) * 1994-08-19 1996-02-29 Marlen Research Corporation Quick clean-up dual piston pump

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6682817B1 (en) 1999-06-02 2004-01-27 Saes Getters S.P.A. Composite materials capable of hydrogen sorption comprising palladium and methods for the production thereof
CN103552775A (en) * 2013-11-08 2014-02-05 蚌埠玻璃工业设计研究院 Novel cylindrical-bin cleaning device
FR3071236A1 (en) * 2017-09-20 2019-03-22 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Et Aux Energies Alternatives SYSTEM FOR SUPPLYING DENSE PHASE POWDERS WITH AN INJECTION CONE HAVING A ROTATING CONICAL PROPELLER
EP3459876A1 (en) * 2017-09-20 2019-03-27 Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives System for supplying dense phase powder by injection cone housing a rotating conical helix

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