WO2002055389A1

WO2002055389A1 - Method and installation for preparing egg-based food portions

Info

Publication number: WO2002055389A1
Application number: PCT/FR2001/004104
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick Yves Jacques Carlier
Original assignee: Domaine Des Genets
Priority date: 2001-01-09
Filing date: 2001-12-20
Publication date: 2002-07-18
Also published as: FR2819234A1

Abstract

A method for preparing egg-based food portions, with each portion containing at least one egg. The invention is characterised by the fact that a cell (21) is formed (2) in a strip of plastic material (2), said cell (21) more or less corresponding to the volume of the portion to be prepared; an egg is broken and the contents thereof are inserted in the cell (3); a vacuum is created (4) in the cell (21) and said cell is then sealed with a supple film (41); the contents of the sealed cell (21) are mixed (5) using external stirrers by deforming the sealing film and/or the wall of the cell; the product is subsequently cooked (8) in the sealed cell (21) therefor.

Description

"Process and installation of food portion preparations based on eggs"

The present invention relates to a method and an installation for preparing food portions based on eggs, each portion consisting of at least one egg.

The present invention proposes to develop a method and an installation making it possible to produce very efficiently egg preparations without their shells to form food portions such as mixed or scrambled eggs.

To this end, the invention relates to a method characterized in that

- a cell is formed in a strip of plastic, this cell corresponding substantially to the volume of the portion to be prepared,

- an egg is broken and its contents are introduced into the cell,

- a vacuum is made in the cell and it is sealed with a flexible film,

the contents of the sealed cell are mixed by acting on the latter from the outside, by deforming the sealing film and / or the wall of the cell,

- the product is cooked in its sealed cell.

The invention makes it possible to produce very efficiently, and under excellent hygienic conditions, food portions based on eggs, without their shell, and in particular cooked under vacuum. All of the operations are carried out almost automatically and the only contact of the contents of an egg with the outside occurs in the interval between the moment when the egg is broken to be introduced into the cell and the directly following step of evacuating the cell and sealing it. From there, all operations are carried out on the sealed product, in particular the agitation of the contents of the sealed cell which is done through the film or the wall of the cell, by local deformation of the wall without the 'mixer body comes into contact with the contents of the cell otherwise than through the deformed wall of the cell. As this wall is easily deformable, the deformation movement created by the agitator can process the entire volume of the cell or a large part of it, and in any case sufficient to mix the white and the yellow d 'egg.

The invention also relates to an installation for implementing this method, this installation being characterized in that it comprises, in order:

A. a supply supplying a plastic strip provided with cells corresponding to the portions to be prepared,

B. a loading station receiving the plastic strip for loading the eggs into each cell,

C. a vacuum and sealing station through which the strip with the cells is filled, for the vacuuming of the cells and their sealing, with a flexible covering film,

D. a stirring station to mix the contents of the sealed cells, by acting through the wall of the cells using external agitators, E. a means of driving the plastic strip provided with its cells, through the installation, F. a station for cooking the portions in their sealed cells.

The supply of plastic tape (food grade) is made from a reserve of plastic roll, unwound to be treated in a device producing the cells as the strip runs, these cells being constituted by permanent deformation of the plastic strip. This allows the use of a flexible plastic strip, and not a relatively rigid support, difficult to shape and store because it would require sheet-by-sheet storage.

In a particularly simple manner, the device for producing the cells is a rotary member intended to be pressed against the surface of the plastic strip in order to knock it down and produce there by permanent deformation, the cavity of a cell. According to another characteristic, the loading station includes:

- a plate with orifices forming passages at the location of the cells to guide the fall of open eggs in the cells,

- the strip being positioned under the plate, stationary during the loading time of the cells.

This orifice plate makes it possible to precisely delimit the location of the cells; these orifices preferably have a section slightly smaller than the surface of the cells, so as to be certain that the egg falls perfectly into the cell without drooling around the periphery thereof which would interfere with subsequent sealing. This plate with orifices preferably comprises, around each orifice, a rim slightly projecting upwards, to prevent the remainder of the egg from dripping onto the strip provided with the cells and contaminating the gap between the cells.

According to another characteristic, the stirring station comprises agitators located at the location of the cells and each formed by a finger carried by an arm driven in rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the cell band and movable in translation along this axis to insert the finger of the agitator into the volume of each cell with the interposition of the deformable part of the cell, rotate it then release it.

This stirring station, which preferably has a number of stirrers corresponding to the number of cells to be treated at each step, allows a very effective intervention to mix the contents of the sealed cells with the interposition of the flexible film or the flexible wall of the cell without the agitator coming directly into contact with the food product contained in the cell. This avoids having to clean the agitators each time. In addition, the food content of the cell does not come into contact with any foreign body, which considerably simplifies health problems. Very advantageously, the agitator finger is provided with a roller intended to roll against the wall of the cell during the stirring movement. This protects the wall of the cell since at no time is there friction but only rolling. In addition, this roller ^¬ Duit a product of the kneading movement even more efficient than a simple rigid member.

The drive movement of the honeycomb strip is done by a step by step movement provided by a drive means. The pitch mainly corresponds to the number of cells that can be loaded in an optimum time in the filling station.

For an average strip width corresponding to three, four cells, the strip length or the number of rows of cells (staggered or not) is of the order of three to four.

The tools associated with the various stations requiring, to intervene, stopping the strip, are chosen according to the number of cells. This is the case with the tools producing the cells, the orifices of the plate of the loading station and the fingers of the agitator.

To support the strip during the various operations performed on the cells, it is advantageous for it to be supported on a plate conveyor provided with cutouts having the shape of the cells. This conveyor transports the strip at least from the arrival of the strip, before the time of the formation of the cells, through the loading station, the vacuum and sealing station as well as the stirring station. After these loading, sealing and stirring operations, the strip is cut into panels to allow batch processing of products, for cooking and cooling. These panels are then cut into small batches or into individual products. The products are checked and finally packaged.

Advantageously, the cooking station comprises: - a cooking tank for heated liquid, - transfer equipment having

* cooking drawers with a cover to receive the cell panels and block them,

* a loading / unloading device to introduce the honeycomb panels into the drawers at the entrance to the cooking station and extract them at the exit of the cooking station,

* a descender,

* an elevator to circulate the drawers through the tank.

The loading and unloading of the cooking station or more precisely of the drawers passing through the cooking station is done using a suction head.

To keep the products in shape during cooking, the cooking drawer has a cover hinged at the bottom by removable hinges on the upstream side and the downstream side in the direction of positioning of the drawers in the cooking station, to open the cover. one side before loading the honeycomb panel, close it for circulation through the tank then open the cover by the joint on the other edge when unloading the honeycomb panel at the outlet of the tank.

The cooking station is followed by a cooling station comprising: - a tank containing cold liquid (cold water),

- transfer equipment with a loading device,

- baskets,

- a descender, - an elevator,

- an unloading device to take the panels of cells at the exit of the cooking station, place them in baskets then install them in the descender which brings them down into the tank then transfers them to the elevator which brings them back up in the cooling tank and provides them with an unloading device which extracts the panels from the baskets. Finally, the installation includes a cutting station downstream of the cooling station to cut the panels of cells into cells for the control and packaging of products. The present invention will be described in more detail with the aid of the appended drawings in which: FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of the method and of the installation for its implementation, FIG. 2 is a detail view, schematic and partial, of the device for producing the cells, FIG. 2A shows the shape of a cell, FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an orifice plate of the loading station, FIG. 3A is a section schematic longitudinal view of the orifice plate and the honeycomb strip, FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the stirring station, FIG. 5 is a top view of a cooking drawer, FIG. 6 shows the cycle of movement of a cooking drawer in the cooking station, FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the cooking station, FIG. 8 is a diagram of the movement cycle of a basket from the cooling station, - Figure 9 is a sectional view of the pos te cooling.

According to Figure 1, the invention relates to an installation for preparing food portions based on eggs. In a simple way, each portion generally consists of an egg. However, it can consist of two or more eggs. These eggs, taken out of their shells, are cooked, then cooled, checked and packaged.

The product consists of a cell in which the food portion is introduced then a vacuum is made in the cell and it is hermetically sealed with a film. Then, this whole is stirred to be mixed, that is to say, to mix the egg yolk with the white. Finally, the product undergoes cooking. In more detail, the installation for the implementation of this process consists of a supply 1 providing a plastic strip 2, provided with cells 21 each corresponding to a food portion. This strip 2 passes into a loading station 3 in which the eggs are introduced into the cells 21. The loading station 3 is followed by a station 4 for evacuating and sealing using a vacuum source , sealing means ensuring a seal in the enclosure of the station 4 and, finally, a sealing film 41, unwound and heat sealed around each cell. This film 41 has the width of the strip 2 to seal the cells 21 over the entire width of the strip 2. Then the strip 2, provided with the sealing film 41, passes through a stirring station 5 in which the content is mixed sealed cells. In this station, it is acted through (that is to say with interposition) of the wall of the cells using external agitators 51, shown diagrammatically, which do not come into direct contact with the food product contained. in the alveoli. The running of the strip 2 through the installation described above is ensured by a drive means 6 constituted by an endless conveyor 61 passing over cylinders 62, 63. This endless conveyor is preferably a plate conveyor provided with orifices at the location of the cells so as to support the band of cells all around the cells, during the various operations carried out in stations 1, 3, 4 and 5. The drive means 6 preferably operates not step by step, a step corresponding each time to a given number of cells so that the operations of producing the cells, filling and stirring can be done when the strip 2 is stopped.

The plastic film 2 is supplied from a roll 22 of wound smooth film and the feed 1 includes a device for forming cells 21 (FIG. 2).

Downstream of the stirring station 5, the strip 2 arrives in a strip cutting station 7 in which the strip 2 is cut into a panel 23 having the width of the strip and a length defined according to the elements of the downstream installation. The panels 23 have dimensions chosen to allow their easy handling in the cooking station and the cooling station before being cut into smaller batches, or even unit batches.

The panels 23 then pass into the cooking station 8 and after this into the cooling station 9 then the panels are cut in the cutting device 10 in reduced or unit batches. These batches are checked in checkpoint 11 and then packaged for dispatch in post 12.

According to FIG. 2, the device for producing the cells 21, in the film 2, comprises members each formed by a blade 25 carried by an axis 26. This axis 26 can rotate the blade 25 and raise and lower it to push it into the initially flat surface of the film 2, in an orifice 610 made in the plates 61 of the conveyor 6. The advancement of the conveyor 6 and of the belt 2 is done step by step in the direction of the arrow C. To the left of the location of the member 25, 26 forming the cell 21, the finished cells 21 extend downward through the orifices 610.

The device which produces the cells 21 is composed of a number of members 25, 26, distributed transversely and longitudinally with respect to the strip 2 to produce, during a single operation, the number of cells 21 provided for each step of advancement of the belt 2.

FIG. 2A schematically shows the shape of a cell 21. This cell 21 is a circular cylindrical cavity, of rounded edge and continuing through the non-deformed surface of the strip 2. The different cells 21 are integral with each other in band 2.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a cell loading plate and FIG. 3A is a sectional view of the plate of FIG. 3.

The loading station 3 of the cells 21 is mainly ^composed of a plate 31 provided with orifices 32 corresponding to the location at which a cell 21 (not shown) at the stop of the strip. These holes are slightly smaller than those of the cells so that when the eggs are passed through these holes 32 in the cells, the eggs fall into the cell without drooling on the upper face of the strip 2, which would prevent sealing in the next step or would require cleaning.

In addition, to prevent the egg white from dripping into the cells 21 or especially next to them, the orifices 32 are provided with a rim 321 of a small height, sufficient to retain the film of liquid which can form above the plate by the accumulation of drops of egg whites. (Figure 3A).

Figure 4 shows the vacuum and sealing station 4 consisting of an enclosure through which the strip provided with cells 21, loaded. The vacuum is established in this enclosure. This enclosure also contains a roll 42 of film 41 which is unwound to be sealed on top of the cells 21. The stirring station 5 has as many agitators as there are cells to be treated at each step. An example of such an agitator is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 in the active position. This figure shows part of the strip 2 at the level of a cell 21 provided with its sealing film 41 covering the top.

The agitator is composed of an arm 511 carried by an axis 510, capable of performing a rotational movement R and an upward and downward translation according to the double arrow MD. The arm 511 carries a finger in the form of a roller 512, which sinks into the thickness of the cavity 21 and the product which it contains to knead the latter during the rotation of the roller 512 on itself and driven around the axis 510. The flexibility of the film 41 and the walls of the cell 21 allows the film and the strip to give way and the roller 512 to sink thus into the thickness of the product contained in the cell. After this mixing operation, the roller / finger 512 is again raised via its axis 511 carried by axis 510 and the operation is complete. We can then advance the band 2 with its cells by one step.

Figure 5 shows a top view of a drawer 81 for receiving a panel 23 with cells. This drawer 81 is formed by a lower part 810 provided with a cover 811 articulated on each side by hinges 812, 813 allowing the cover to be opened either to the left or to the right according to the orientation of the figure. . This opening is necessary to allow loading or unloading of the drawer with a honeycomb panel without having to modify the absolute orientation of the drawer 81 relative to the cooking station, which is important so as not to complicate the installation. FIG. 5 also shows the locations 814 produced in the bottom 810 of the drawer and which correspond to the location of the cells in a panel 23 (FIG. 1). This panel is not shown. In fact, its size corresponds at most to the size of the drawer 81 or part of it.

Figure 5 is a side view of the drawer 81. The drawer and its cover are preferably made with a metal wire structure, for example stainless steel wire, to facilitate the circulation of hot liquid around the panel housed in the drawer.

FIG. 6 shows the cycle of movement of the drawer 81 in the cooking station. On the right, the drawer 81 is open around its hinges 812. The honeycomb panel is introduced there from the right side, then the cover 811 is closed and the drawer 81 is placed in the descending column 820 of the cooking station (descending arrows Dl ). Then arrived at the bottom of the descender column

820 (described later), each drawer 81 is transferred horizontally (arrows Hl) in the elevator 821 simply represented by the column of drawers 81. Inside the elevator, the drawers rise progressively (arrows Ml) to be evacuated (arrows El) and be open. This opening being made on the other side of that of the closure after loading, the joints 813 of the drawers 81 are used. Then after being emptied, the drawer 81 is again veal transferred to the loading input of the cooking station (arrows RI).

Cooking takes place in the cooking station 8 shown in FIG. 7. This figure shows the tank 830 containing a heated liquid, generally water, containing the descender 820 and the elevator 821 for making the products stay. the time necessary for their cooking. This view also shows a transfer device 850 consisting of an arm 851 carrying a plate 852 fitted with suction cups 853 for removing a panel (not shown) and transferring it to the drawer 81, open.

This arm 850 is carried by an oscillating arm 854 shown in dotted lines.

At the exit, next to the elevator 821, there is an unloading device of the same structure as the loading device 850 and which will not be detailed.

FIG. 8 shows the direction of circulation of products in the cooling device 9. The products, that is to say the panels recovered at the outlet of the cooking device 8, are placed in baskets 91. These baskets are transferred through the tank of the cooling device 9 according to the cycle shown in FIG. 8, first in a descender 920 then in an elevator 921 in a manner analogous to the movement and to the means described in connection with the cooking station.

Figure 9 shows the structure of the cooling station 9 which consists of a tank 930 containing a cooling liquid such as water; inside the tank there is a descender 920 and next to it an elevator 921. The baskets 91, stacked in the descender and in the elevator, are exchanged at the bottom between these two devices. using 924 transfer equipment shown in duplicate.

The loading of the cooked panels and their extraction in the baskets is carried out using a handling device 850 similar to that described with reference to FIG. 7.

After cooling, the panels 23 are cut into batches and into unit portions; the quality of appearance of products is checked. Then the products are packaged and shipped.

It should be noted that the plastics of the strip in which the cells and the sealing film are made are of food grade. To prevent proteins from sticking to the plastic, it is lubricated with a lubricant (food grade) sprayed into the cells after they are made and before they receive the eggs. The same applies to the sealing film, which is naturally non-stick or receives a spray of lubricating agent before sealing. The spraying means are not shown in the drawings.

Claims

1 °) Claims Process for preparing food portions based on eggs, each portion consisting of at least one egg, characterized in that - a cavity (21) is formed (21) in a strip of plastic material ( 2), this cell (21) corresponding substantially to the volume of the portion to be prepared, an egg is broken and its contents are introduced into the cell (3), - there is a vacuum (4) in the cell (21) and it is sealed with a flexible film (41), the content of the sealed cell (21) is mixed (5) by acting on it from the outside, deforming the sealing film and / or the wall of the 'cell, - is carried out (8) cooking (8) of the product in its sealed cell (21).

2) Installation of food portion preparations based on eggs, each portion consisting of at least one egg, characterized in that it comprises in order

A. a feed (1) providing a plastic strip (2) provided with cells (21) corresponding to the portions to be prepared,

B. a loading station (3) receiving the plastic strip (2) to load the eggs into each cell (21),

C. a vacuum and sealing station (4) through which the strip (2) passes, the cells (21) of which are filled, for the vacuuming of the cells and their sealing, with a flexible covering film (41 ), D. a stirring station (5) for mixing the contents of the sealed cells (21), acting through the wall of the cells using external agitators (51), E. a drive means (6) of the plastic strip (2) provided with its cells (21), through the installation, F. a cooking station (8) of the portions in their sealed cells (21).

3) installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the supply (1) supplying the plastic strip comprises

- a plastic reserve (22) delivering a smooth plastic strip (2), - a device for producing permanent cells in the plastic strip.

4 °) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the device for producing the cells is a rotary member (25, 26) intended to be pressed against the surface of the plastic strip (2) to knock it down and achieve it by deformation permanent, the cavity of a cell (21).

5 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the loading station (3) comprises

- a plate with orifices (31) forming passages (32) at the location of the cells (21) to guide the fall of the open eggs in the cells,

- The strip (2) being positioned under the plate (31), immobile during the loading time of the cells (21).

6 °) Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the orifices (32) of the plate (31) are provided with a flange (321) projecting upwards.

7 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the stirring station (5) comprises agitators (51) located at the location of the cells and each formed by a finger (512) carried by an arm (511 ) driven in rotation about an axis (510) substantially perpendicular to the surface of the cell strip and movable in translation along this axis to push the finger of the agitator into the volume of each cell with interposition of the deformable wall of the socket, rotate it and release it. 8 °) Installation according to claim 7, characterized in that the finger (512) of the agitator comprises a roller for rolling against the wall of the cell during the stirring movement.

9 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive means (6) of the cell strip (2) controls a stepwise movement of the strip, one step of which corresponds to a given number of 'sockets (21).

10 °) Installation according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9, characterized in that the device for producing cells (25, 26), the orifice plate (31, 32) of the station loading (3), the stirring station (4), comprise as many tools and / or orifices as there are cells in a strip drive pitch.

11 °) Installation according to claim 9, characterized in that the drive means (6) of the cell strip (2) is formed by a plate conveyor (61) provided with cutouts (610) having the shape of the cells , this conveyor (6) transporting the strip (2) at least from its arrival, before the time of the formation of the cells (21), through the loading station (3), the vacuum station and sealing (4) and the stirring station (5).

12 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooking station (8) is preceded by a cutting station (7) of the strip (2) into panels (23) having the width of the strip and grouping a given number of cells (21).

13 °) Installation according to any one of claims 2 and 12, characterized in that the cooking station (8) comprises

- a cooking vessel (830) for heated liquid,

- transfer equipment having * cooking drawers (8) provided with a cover (811) for receiving the cell panels (23) and locking them,

* a loading / unloading device (850) for introducing the honeycomb panels into the drawers (81) at the entrance to the cooking station and extracting them from the cooking station,

* a descender (820),

* an elevator (821) to circulate the drawers through the tank (830).

14 °) Installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the loading / unloading device (850) consists of a suction head (852) for gripping the honeycomb panel (23) and transporting it.

15 °) Installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the cooking drawer (81) comprises a cover (811) articulated at the bottom (810) by removable joints on the upstream side and on the downstream side (812, 813) in the direction of positioning of the drawers (81) in the cooking station (8), to open the cover (811) on one side before loading the honeycomb panel, close it for circulation through the tank (830) then open the cover by the joint on the other edge when unloading the honeycomb panel at the outlet of the tank.

16 °) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the cooking station (8) is followed by a cooling station (9) comprising:

- a tank (930) containing cold liquid (cold water), - transfer equipment with a loading device,

- baskets (91),

- a descender (920), - an elevator (930),

- an unloading device (850) to take the cell panels at the exit of the cooking station (8), place them in baskets (91) then install them in the descender which brings them down into the tank then transfers them to the elevator which brings them up in the cooling tank and makes them available to an unloading device which extracts the panels (23) from the baskets (91).

17 °) Installation according to any one of claims 2 and 16, characterized in that it comprises a cutting station (10) downstream of the cooling station (9) for cutting the panels of cells (23) into cells for the control and packaging of products.