WO2010149121A2

WO2010149121A2 - Method and device for uncapping honeycombs

Info

Publication number: WO2010149121A2
Application number: PCT/CZ2010/000072
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaroslav Vodicka
Original assignee: Apidomia S.R.O.
Priority date: 2009-06-25
Filing date: 2010-06-23
Publication date: 2010-12-29
Also published as: EP2445333A2; WO2010149121A3

Abstract

The invention relates to the method for uncapping honeycombs (8), at which on the capped honeycomb (8) the working liquid having temperature higher than 65° C is applied, which causes melting and washing off the caps from the honeycomb (8). Further the invention relates to the device for manual uncapping honeycombs (8), which comprises the collecting vessel (31), to whose outlet there is connected the input of the pump (10), whose outlet is connected with inlet of heat exchanger (11), at the same time to outlet of the heat exchanger (11) there is connected the outlet hose (118) finished with a nozzle (119) for manual manipulation or for mounting in application section (2) created above the collecting vessel (31). The invention also relates to the device for machine uncapping honeycombs (8) comprising the rotating basket (311) for positioning the honeycombs (8) for draining the bee honey coupled with a drive and positioned in the collecting vessel (31). In the collecting vessel (32) against circumference of rotating basket (311) there are arranged nozzles (120) for inlet of working liquid (5) on the capped surface of honeycombs (8) before draining honey from them.

Description

Method and device for uncapping honeycombs

Technical field

The invention relates to the method for uncapping honeycombs. The invention further relates to the device for manual uncapping honeycombs and also to the device for machine uncapping honeycombs comprising the rotating basket for placing the honeycombs for draining the honey coupled with a drive and positioned in a collecting vessel for collection of the drained honey.

Background art

To date uncapping of honeycombs was done manually or by means of machine, but in principle on a mechanical basis. The manual method is relatively exact, but it is extraordinary labour consuming. The method using machines has already eliminated the work difficulty, nevertheless there is a number of other difficulties. The common feature of all to date known methods is partial or total mechanical removing of caps, at some devices using the heat. For example the patent document CZ 125595 describes a knife for uncapping honeycombs using heat in manual manner. Known are automated lines for draining the honeycombs, but their main disadvantage is that they are limited to only one type of frame dimension and there is a high percentage of wax waste. So far known machine devices are not able to adopt themselves automatically to uneven surface of the honeycomb, which results in excessive engagement as to the depth, or on the contrary some places are omitted. Such uncapped honeycombs are stained with rests of wax, so that if during draining these remnants get into honey, they subsequently make the filtration more difficult. The producer may adjust the machine to the dimension of honeycomb, but because these are small production series, then the price of the product varies in higher price levels and moreover structure of such machine limits or directly prevents its usage at other dimensions of honeycombs. Due to this there is problem with later sale to another beekeeper, who has a different dimensions of frames and thus the usage of such device is due to one-purpose structure very limited, moreover the purpose of present solutions is uncapping only.

Still, on the market there does not exist a product which is small, powerful, universal and not expensive, being capable in overall to supersede in one technical solution several other devices, which the beekeeper necessarily needs for his work. The space requirement and financial reasons are the most frequent obstacle in improvement and facilitating the beekeeper's job.

Principle of the invention

Shortcomings of to date used solutions are removed by a method for uncapping honeycombs according to the invention, whose principle consists in that, there is directly applied a hot working liquid on the capped honeycomb. Heat of this liquid causes thawing of the caps, which causes their melting and drainage. Subsequently such honeycomb is then prepared to be drained. Temperature of an applied liquid must always be higher than melting point of beeswax, i.e. higher than 65 ⁰C. With higher temperature the application time is being shortened. Working temperature of the liquid varies according to its type. The preheated liquid may be applied on the honeycomb manually or using a machine.

In advantageous embodiments of the invention the hot liquid is the bee honey or water or water steam, at the same time at the water steam the temperature may be higher than 100 ⁰C. If the bee honey is applied, the temperature of working liquid preferably lies in an interval from 80 to 95 ⁰C.

The principle of device for manual uncapping honeycombs consists in that it comprises a collecting vessel to whose outlet the input of the pump is connected, whose outlet is connected with inlet of heat exchanger, at the same time to outlet of heat exchanger there is connected the outlet hose finished with a nozzle for manual manipulation or for mounting in application section created above the collecting vessel.

The device for manual uncapping enables also other activities for the beekeeper, especially it may be used as a filling device for honey, for warming and mixing honey, filtration of honey, dissolution of sugar, as a source of warm water, for melting the wax, evaporating the water from honey, for production of mead and beverages but also for purposeful production of wax and honey emulsion, as well as for further usage according to the requirements of the beekeeper.

Principle of the device for machine uncapping the honeycombs consists in that in the collecting vessel against circumference of rotating basket there are arranged nozzles for inlet of hot liquid on the capped surface of honeycombs before draining honey from them. Such device enables total or partial automation of draining process, especially of draining lines. Uncapping is performed at low speeds of rotating basket and once uncapping is completed the rotating basket is brought to speeds necessary to drain the honey from honeycombs, so that total centrifuging of honey is performed, the same as in the honey extractor. Through this the transfer of combs into another device is completely eliminated, everything is done in one machine unit. Therefore it is very advantageous, if the hot liquid is a genuine bee honey as this is a natural part of the whole process.

Description of the drawing

The invention will be described according to the embodiments which are schematically represented on the enclosed drawings, where the Fig. 1a shows procedural scheme of uncapping method, the Fig. 1b the scheme of the simplest embodiment of the device, the Fig. 2 a device for manual uncapping of honeycombs and the Fig. 3 a device for machine uncapping of honeycombs. Examples of embodiment

Procedural scheme of the method for uncapping honeycombs represented in the Fig. 1a shows that the basic step is heating of working liquid, formed of genuine bee honey or water, possibly of water steam or other suitable liquid. At the same time the working liquid must be warmed to a temperature higher than the temperature of wax melting, i.e. to the temperature higher than 65 ⁰C, as regards the liquid, its optimum temperature lies in an interval from 80⁰C to 100 ⁰C. If the working liquid is honey, the temperature of working liquid 5 lies within interval 80 to 95 ⁰C. Heating of working liquid is performed in the heating section 1. Hot working liquid from the heating section 1 is transferred into the application section 2, where this is poured onto the capped honeycombs from both sides, which causes washing off the wax from caps - uncapping. Consequently, mixture of working liquid and wax flows into the collecting section 3, in which its purification and wax withdrawal is performed. After purification the working liquid is once again transferred into the heating section ±.

The Fig. 1b represents the basic manual embodiment of the device without pump and with a simple heating. Heating section 1 is arranged under the bottom of the collecting vessel 3J. creating the collecting section 3. The collecting vessel 3_1 is partially filled with working liquid 5, which is being preheated here. At the bottom of the collecting vessel 3J. there is arranged the discharge valve 6, which serves for flowing in the hot working liquid 5 into the coating vessel 7. With the hot working liquid 5 from the coating vessel 7, the capped honeycomb 8 positioned above the level of the working liquid 5 in the collecting vessel 3J. is coated manually. Uncapped wax 9 flows into the collecting vessel 3J. and it swims on surface of the working liquid 5. At the bottom of the collecting vessel 3J. the clean hot working fluid 5 is taken through the discharge valve 6 for further application.

At this embodiment the productivity may be increased and service facilitated by replacing the discharge valve 6 with the not represented pump, to whose outlet a hose finished with nozzle leading in an upper part of the collecting vessel is connected for manual coating of honeycombs. In exemplary embodiment according to the Fig. 2 the device according to the invention comprises two vessels. The first vessel creates the collecting section 3 and above its upper section there is arranged the application section 2. The second vessel forms the heating section 1, and it is formed of heat exchanger, in the represented embodiment of a tubular heat exchanger H. The tubular heat exchanger H comprises the heating element 111 positioned in a water bath 113, in which also the heating tube 112 is positioned, through which the working liquid 5 is passing. In upper part of the tubular heat exchanger IJ. is water steam 114 in the represented embodiment. The tubular heat exchanger 11 comprises the valves 115, the outlet valve 116 and the pressure valve 117 and it is provided with the known not represented system for withdrawal of water steam 114 in case of need.

In the not represented embodiment the tubular heat exchanger H is provided with auxiliary heating tube connected to outlet of the heating tube and passing through the water bath 113 of the heat exchanger H, while to an outlet of the auxiliary heating tube the outlet hose 118 with nozzle 119 is connected. The auxiliary heating tube in case of need serves as a steam generator, which is generated at small withdrawal of working liquid from the auxiliary tube in a case that this working liquid is water. The inner space of the heat exchanger 11_ in this case is filled with water bath only. The collecting section 3 is formed of the collecting vessel 31., in which there is positioned the annular vessel 32, which is formed of two concentric cylindrical walls and a bottom and it divides the inner space of the collecting vessel 3J. to the outer annular chamber 321. inner annular chamber 322 and cylindrical chamber 323. in which there is positioned an inlet of the pump 10, whose outlet is through the piping 101 or a hose connected with heating tube 112 of the tubular heat exchanger H. To the second end of the heating tube 112 there is connected the outlet hose 118, which is finished with the nozzle 119. extending into the application section 2. Between the bottom of the collecting vessel 31 and the annular vessel 32 the openings 311 are created in a known method, which connect the space of outer annular chamber 321 with the cylindrical chamber 323 in the central section. In the represented embodiment the openings 311 are created by supports 3111 distributed under bottom of the annular vessel 32, out of which one is represented. On the upper outer face of the annular vessel 32 the cylindrical vessel 33 is positioned, while between the annular vessel 32 and the cylindrical vessel 33 there are arranged the separation extensions 331. creating between both vessels the gap 332, which enables an overflow of wax and of a part of the working liquid 5 from outer annular chamber 321 into inner annular chamber 322, in which the wax 9 and with wax polluted working liquid 5 are gathered.

The level meter 4 of the working liquid 5 is connected with the outer annular chamber 321. With the level meter 4 in case of need it is possible to add the working liquid 5. The application section 2 comprises upwards dished bottom 21. arranged on upper part of the cylindrical vessel 33. In axis of the dished bottom 21 there is mounted the rotating point 22, against which during uncapping an operator is leaning the frame with honeycomb 8.

The operator leans the capped honeycomb 8 against the rotating point 22, where he is holding it with one hand and with the second hand through the nozzle 119 brings to both surfaces of honeycomb 8 the hot working liquid 5. Temperature of this working liquid 5 must always be higher than melting point of beeswax, i.e. at minimum 65 ⁰C, the optimum working range is 80-100 ⁰C, but it can be even higher. If the working liquid is honey, the temperature of working liquid 5 varies in interval from 80 to 95 ⁰C. If the working liquid is water steam, the temperature may be even higher. Pouring the capped honeycomb 8 with hot liquid 5 causes that the wax caps are molten and mixture of wax 9 and working liquid 5 drains into the outer annular chamber 321 , in which the wax 9 swims on surface and through overflow over the outer wall of the annular vessel 32 overflows into this vessel. In the lower section at bottom of the collecting vessel 31 the working liquid 5 flows through the openings 311 into the cylindrical chamber 323. The pump 10 sucks the working liquid 5 from the cylindrical chamber 323 and expels it into the tubular heat exchanger H, where it is heated. Hot working liquid 5 from the tubular heat exchanger H is through the nozzle 119 again applied to the honeycomb 8. The genuine bee honey may be preferably used as a working liquid 5. Uncapped honeycombs 1 are after this step prepared to be drained in honey extractor of a known structure by means of centrifugal force. The working liquid may comprise water and/or sugar and its temperature lies within interval 80 to 95 ⁰C₁ respectively its temperature lies under the boiling point of the respective liquid.

After minor modifications, the described device may be used also for other activities of a beekeeper, e.g. at evaporating water from honey, liquefying crystallic honey or dissolving sugar in water or thawing the wax, etc.

The Fig. 3 schematically represents the device for machine uncapping honeycombs. This device comprises the collecting vessel 31., in which there is rotatably positioned the rotating basket 311 of identical or similar structure with honey extractor, into which the frames with honeycombs 8 to be uncapped and after then the honey to be drained are positioned. Rotating basket 311 is coupled with the known and not represented drive. In the lower section of the collecting vessel 3J. on the inner section of circumference of the collecting vessel 3J. there is created the collecting chamber 312 for drained honey which is delimited by the cylindrical wall 3121, in whose inner space the collecting space 313 of the working liquid 5 and of the wax 9 is created. The wax 9 is gathered on surface of the working liquid 5 and from there it is withdrawn by means of collecting system 90 of the wax 9.

The working liquid 5 from the lower section of the collecting space 313 is withdrawn by means of the pump 10, by means of which it is through the decanting and filtration system 102 expelled by the piping 101 into the heating section 1., which is by means of the nozzles 120 connected with upper section of the collecting vessel 31, in which the nozzles 120 end against circumference of the rotating basket 311 and create the application section 2 of the device.

The capped honeycomb 8 respectively honeycombs are inserted into the rotating basket 311, which is turned at low speeds and through the nozzles 120 to the capped honeycombs 8 is brought the hot working liquid 5, which melts wax of the caps and together with it flows down into the collecting space 313 of the working liquid 5 and of the wax 9, in which the wax 9 gathers on surface of the working liquid 5, from which it is collected by means of the collecting system 90 of wax 9 and drained into the not represented vessel for wax. After uncapping the inlet of working liquid 5 through nozzles 120 is stopped, the rotating basket 311 rotates at higher speed and at high rotations the honey is drained from honeycombs. The drained honey flows down the wall of the collecting vessel 3J. into the collecting chamber 312 of honey, from which it is in a known manner carried away. Height of honey level in the collecting chamber 312 of honey is maintained on a maximum level, so that in case that at uncapping the mixture of wax 9 and of working liquid 5 flows into collecting chamber 312 of honey, it flows out on surface of honey into the collecting space 313 of working liquid 5.

This device advantageously enables to use one machine unit, the device enables both operations - uncapping as well as draining, preferably as an application medium the honey is used as it is a natural part of the whole process, there is no contamination with other liquid.

The whole device is controlled with electronic control unit, according to information of suitably arranged sensors, which monitor the situation in important processing joints, so that a smooth operation of the device is ensured. Such automatic regulation is known to specialists, it will not be described in detail.

Applicability

The method as well as the device according to the invention may be used in beekeeping at manual or machine uncapping honeycombs. List of referential markings

1 heating section

11 tubular heat exchanger

111 heating element

112 heating tube

113 water bath

114 water steam

115 valve

116 outlet valve

117 pressure valve

118 outlet hose

119 nozzle

120 nozzles

2 application section

21 dished bottom

22 rotating point

23 honeycomb

3 collecting section

31 collecting vessel

311 rotating basket

312 collecting chamber

3121 cylindrical wall

313 collecting space of working liquid and of wax

32 annular vessel

320 opening

321 outer annular chamber

322 inner annular chamber

323 cylindrical chamber

33 cylindrical vessel

331 separation extensions

332 gap

4 level meter

5 working liquid

6 discharging valve

7 coating vessel

8 honeycomb

9 wax

10 pump

101 piping

102 decanting and filtration system

Claims

1. Method for uncapping honeycombs (8), characterised in that, on the capped honeycomb (8) the working liquid having temperature higher than 65 ⁰C is applied, which causes melting and washing off the caps from the honeycomb (8).

2. Method according to the claim 1 , characterised in that, the working liquid (5) is the genuine bee honey.

3. Method according to the claim 2, characterised in that, the temperature of working liquid (5) lies in interval 80 to 95 ⁰C.

4. Method according to the claim 1 , characterised in that, the working liquid (5) comprises water and/or sugar and its temperature lies in interval 80 to 95°C.

5. Method according to the claim 1 , characterised in that, the working liquid (5) is the water steam (114).

6. Device for manual uncapping honeycombs (8), characterised in that, it comprises the collecting vessel (31), to whose outlet there is connected the input of the pump (10), whose outlet is connected with inlet of heat exchanger (11), at the same time to outlet of heat exchanger (11) there is connected the outlet hose (118) finished with a nozzle (119) for manual manipulation or for mounting in application section (2) created above the collecting vessel (31).

7. Device for machine uncapping honeycombs (8) comprising the rotating basket (311) for positioning the honeycombs (8) for draining the bee honey coupled with a drive and positioned in the collecting vessel (31), characterised in that, in the collecting vessel (32) against circumference of rotating basket (311) there are arranged nozzles (120) for inlet of working liquid (5) onto the capped surface of honeycombs (8) before draining honey from them.

8. Device for manual uncapping honeycombs (8), characterised in that, it comprises the collecting vessel (31), in which there is integrated the heating section (1) of the working liquid (5), at the same time the collecting vessel (31) in its lower section is provided with outlet, to which the pump is connected, to whose outlet there is connected a hose finished with nozzle leading in an upper part of the collecting vessel (31) for manual coating of honeycombs (8).