WO2012130456A1

WO2012130456A1 - Device for filling free-flowing foodstuffs into a container

Info

Publication number: WO2012130456A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/001388
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volker Barth
Original assignee: Volker Barth
Priority date: 2011-03-30
Filing date: 2012-03-29
Publication date: 2012-10-04
Also published as: DE102011015586B4; DE102011015586A1; EP2690965A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for filling free-flowing foodstuffs into a container (2) to be filled, which device has a receptacle (5) for the container (2) and at least one receiving region for a foodstuff store. The receiving region is connected by a metering apparatus (22) to a discharging point (15) for the foodstuffs which is disposed on a filling part (14). In order to produce a predetermined surface pattern, the device (1) has a positioning apparatus (6) by means of which the container receptacle (5) and the discharging point (15) of the filling part (14) are movable relative to one another in such a way that during the filling of the container (2) the discharging point (15) is positioned above different points on the container.

Description

Device for filling flowable food in a container

The invention relates to a device for filling flowable, especially liquid, pasty and / or pourable food in a container to be filled, wherein the device has a receptacle for the container and at least one receiving area for a food supply, wherein the receiving area via a metering device with a connected to a filling part discharge point for the food is connected.

Such a filling device for yogurt or fruit products is out

DE 69 28 611 U1 known. The device has a filling head, which is connected via an inlet connection with an overlying storage container for a food to be filled. At the filling head, a metering pump is arranged, by means of which the food is conveyed from the reservoir to a delivery point, which is provided on the underside of the filling head. Below the filling head a receiving area for a food to be filled with the consumer is arranged. When filling the consumer container is positioned below the delivery point and then a predetermined amount of food is poured into the consumer tank. The device has the disadvantage that the food filled into the consumer container has a substantially homogeneous surface, which is optically less decorative for the consumer.

There is therefore the object to provide a device of the type mentioned, which makes it possible to fill the food in a visually pleasing to the consumer, decorative shape in the container.

According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the device for generating a predetermined surface pattern has a positioning device, by means of which the container receptacle and the delivery point of the

CONFIRMATION COPY Filling part are movable relative to each other so that the discharge point is positioned during filling of the container over different locations of the container. Advantageously, this makes it possible to fill the food into the container in such a way that it has an optical surface pattern on its surface. Thus, for example, the container may have a base filling of yogurt, muesli or the like cereals, is applied to the regionally Fruchtmus, which differs in color from the basic filling. Of course, it is also possible to apply a layer of Fruchtmus, syrup, fruit juice or the like yogurt to produce the surface pattern. The

Device thus makes it possible to fill food in a consumer-appealing and decorative form in the container, which may be, for example, a cup or a bowl. The device according to the invention can be used in particular in places where larger quantities of flowable food, such as yoghurt, cereals, pudding and the like are consumed, for example at petrol stations, at breakfast buffets of hotels and / or in canteens. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device has a control device with a data memory in which a movement profile for the relative movement between the container receptacle and the delivery point is stored, wherein the control device for generating the movement profile is in control connection with the positioning device. The motion profile may include geometry data, in particular position data for a trajectory to be traversed during the relative movement and / or velocity data for the relative speed between the container receptacle and the delivery point. It is even possible that at different points of the trajectory different relative velocities are used, so that the speed of the relative movement changes during the filling of the container. Thus, for example, a higher relative speed can be provided at a point at which little food is to be introduced into the container. be hen than at a point at which after filling of the container, a larger amount of the food in question should be present.

In a further development of the invention, a volume flow profile for the delivery volume flow of the metering device is stored in the data memory, wherein the data memory for generating the volume flow profile is in control connection with the metering device. This makes it possible, for example, to reduce the volume flow at a location where little food is to be filled into the container. Of course, the food can also be filled intermittently into the container, for example, if islands of a food different in color from the basic filling are to be produced in a basic filling of yoghurt at spaced-apart locations.

It is advantageous if the discharge point of the filling part and the receptacle for the container in transverse horizontal directions are adjustable relative to each other. For this purpose, the positioning device can have, for example, an xy table on which the container is placed during the filling process. The surface pattern can be made even more individual. It can be designed, for example, heart or star-shaped or have the shape of a comic figure.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the receptacle for the container by means of the positioning means is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation relative to the discharge point of the filling part, wherein the discharge point is spaced laterally from the axis of rotation of the container. The device thereby enables a simple and inexpensive construction. The receptacle can be designed as a turntable for receiving a cup-shaped container.

The container receptacle is expediently positionable transversely to the axis of rotation relative to the delivery point with the aid of the positioning device. As a result, almost any surface pattern can be generated in a simple manner with the food. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the device has at least two receiving areas for storing color different foods, wherein the metering device for each of these receiving areas each having a dosing means by which the corresponding food a delivery point of the filling part can be fed, and wherein said dosing with the control device in control connection. This makes it possible to initially fill in the container a basic filling of a food, a mixture of different foods and / or a layer arrangement with several different food layers, and then to produce a pattern on the base filling with one or more color different foods.

It is advantageous if memory areas are formed in the data memory, in which different motion profiles and / or different volume flow profiles are stored, and if the control device has a selection device, by means of the respective memory area for outputting

Motion profile to the positioning and / or output of the volume flow profiles can be selected to the metering device. The user of the device can then select or alternate containers filled with different food compositions. It is even possible that the food compositions differ from each other in terms of their surface pattern. Also, in the individual food compilations, the amount of food to be filled into the container may be different. So it is conceivable, for example, to fill food compilations for children in a reduced amount in the container.

Appropriately, the metering device for at least one food on at least two metering pumps with different flow rates, which are in control connection with the control device. This makes it possible to fill the container with a basic filling the appropriate food with the help of a large metering pump and possibly additional support quickly fill the small dosing pump into the container, while only the small dosing pump is used to generate the surface pattern. A discharge point of a metering pump, which is provided for conveying a large delivery volume flow, may have a larger outlet cross section for the food than a discharge point of a metering pump, which for a smaller

Delivery volume flow is provided. With the help of the small dosing pump can then be set very precisely when generating the surface pattern of the food volume flow to obtain the most detailed surface pattern. The provided for the basic filling of the container metering pump is preferably connected to a discharge point, which is arranged on or above the axis of rotation of the container receptacle. The metering pump with the smaller delivery volume flow is preferably connected to a discharge point, which is laterally spaced from the axis of rotation of the container. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one receiving area is formed as a storage container for a pourable food, wherein the storage container has an outlet opening for the pourable food, which is adjustable by means of the metering between an open and a closed position, and wherein the outlet opening via a Slide is connected to the delivery point. It is even possible that with the

Slide a plurality of storage containers for different pourable foods, e.g. different Mueslisorten, cornflakes, etc. cooperate, so that the container can be filled with the help of the device with an even greater number of different food compositions.

It is advantageous if the device has a cooling compartment in which several

Receiving areas for storing the different foods are arranged, and when these receiving areas are connected via hoses to the at least one delivery point. In this case, for example, bottles can be set up in the individual receiving areas in which the flowable

Stored food. The bottles may in particular be filled with yoghurt, milk, fruit purée, syrup or fruit juice. Preferably, a tube is provided between the refrigerating compartment and the dispensing points, through which the tubes run from the refrigerating compartment to the delivery point assigned to each of them, wherein the tube is connected to the refrigerating compartment with good thermal conductivity and / or cooled by means of a separate cooling device. As a result, the hoses can be cooled with the food contained therein in a simple manner.

Appropriately, the filling part has a perforated disc with passage openings, which pass through the discharge-side end portions of the tubes. As a result, a plurality of hoses can be easily fixed to the filling part. The passage openings may be arranged side by side in one or more preferably straight rows. If necessary, the passage openings of the individual rows can be staggered with respect to one another.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. 1 shows a front view of a device for filling flowable and / or pourable foodstuffs into a container, the front housing wall of the device being dismantled, a plan view of the device, the upper housing wall of the device being dismantled, a side view of the device, wherein the upper housing wall and the housing side walls are disassembled, and

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of the device.

A device as a whole designated 1 for filling muesli, yoghurt and / or fruit pulp into a cup-shaped container 2 to be filled has a Housing 3 with an opening accessible from the outside by a receiving space 4 for the container 2. At the bottom of the receiving space 4 is arranged as a receptacle 5 for the container 2, a turntable on which the container 2 can be parked. The receptacle 5 is rotatable about a vertical axis of rotation 7 relative to the housing 3 and rotatably driven by means of a positioning device 6.

In the housing 3, a cooling compartment 8 is formed next to the receiving space 4, which is temperature controlled by means of a cooling device, not shown in detail in the drawing to a suitable temperature for the storage of yogurt and Fruchtmus. The cooling device may comprise, in a manner known per se, a compressor which is arranged with an expansion valve, an evaporator and a condenser in a coolant circuit.

In the cooling compartment 8, a plurality of first storage containers 9A are arranged, which have receiving areas 10, in which different flowable foodstuffs are stored, namely a right-handed yoghurt, a left-handed yogurt and five different Fruchtmuse. The fruit pulp differ in color from the yoghurts. In Fig. 1 it can be seen that the first storage containers 9 A are formed as bottles, which are placed in the refrigerating compartment 8. For reasons of clarity, only two of the total seven bottles are shown in FIG.

Each first storage container 9A is in each case connected via a first hose 11 to an inlet opening of a first metering pump 12. The two

Reservoirs 9A for the yoghurt, in addition to the first metering pump 12, a second metering pump 13 is associated, which has a larger nominal delivery volume flow than the first metering pumps 12 (FIG. 2).

With the help of the metering pumps 12, 13, the food in question can be sucked from the first storage container 9A and conveyed to a discharge point 15 arranged at a filling part 14. Each metering pump 12, 13 has for this purpose an outlet opening, which via a second tube 16 with the associated delivery point 15 is connected. For reasons of clarity, only two of the total of nine first hoses 11 and only two of the total of nine second hoses 16 are shown in FIG. The delivery points connected to the second metering pumps have a larger exit cross section for the food than the delivery points connected to the first metering pumps.

In Fig. 1 it can be seen that the delivery points 15, which are connected to the first metering pumps 12, are laterally spaced from the axis of rotation 7 of the container 2. As a result, the dispensing points are positioned during filling of the container via different points of the container 2 lying on circular paths. The second metering pumps 13 are connected to a delivery point which lies on the axis of rotation 7 of the container 2. In Figs. 2 and 3 it can be seen that the device also has four second storage containers 9B which serve to receive different types of cereal or the like pourable cereals. The second storage containers 9B may also be provided with dried fruits, e.g. Be filled with raisins. The second storage containers 9B are above the receiving space 4 for the

Container 2 arranged and have on their underside each have an outlet opening 17 for the pourable food. At the outlet openings 17 is in each case a closure element, such as a slider arranged, which is adjustable by means of an actuator 18 in an open and a closed position. Under the outlet openings 17, a chute 19 is provided, which is for filling the

Container 2 with the pourable food ends with its discharge end above the container 2.

FIG. 4 shows that the device has a control device 20 with a data memory 21. In the data memory 21 is for different, to be filled into the container 2 food compilations each one

Movement profile for the relative movement between the container 2 and the Abgabestellen 15 filed. In addition, in the data memory 21 for each food composition for each metering pump 12, 13 a volume flow profile for the delivery volume flow of the respective metering pump 12, 13 and stored for each second storage container volume flow profile for the dispensed from the relevant storage container in the container 2 food. With the help of the volume flow profiles, each point over which the dispensing point 15 is positioned during filling of the container 2, each associated with a volume flow for the dispensed at the delivery point food.

The control device is in control connection with the positioning device 6 and the metering device 22 formed by the metering pumps 12, 13, the closure elements of the second storage containers 9B and the actuators 18 such that the container 2 is filled relative to when it is filled according to the movement profile associated with the food composition to be dispensed the dispensing points 15 are moved and the individual foodstuffs are filled into the container 2 according to the volume flow profiles stored for the relevant food compilation. The motion profiles and the volumetric flow profiles are selected so that after filling the container 2, the food composition filled in the container has a predetermined surface pattern on its surface. The motion profiles and the volumetric flow profiles can be determined by tests and stored accordingly in the data memory during the production of the device, for example in the form of value combinations, characteristic curves and / or characteristic diagrams. Of course, it is also possible to determine the motion and volumetric flow profiles by simulation taking into account the viscosities, the flow behavior, the occurring during application of the motion profile acceleration and centrifugal forces and the specific masses of the individual food and a surface pattern to be generated. As can be seen in Fig. 1, the device 1 has a graphic display 23, which is designed as a touch screen. With the help of the display 23, a selection menu for the individual food compositions can be displayed. By touching the touch screen at a predetermined location, the user can select a desired food composition, whereupon it is automatically filled into the container 2 according to the stored movement and flow profiles.

In Fig. 1 it can still be seen that the cooling compartment 8 is connected via a pipe 24 with the filling part 14. The tube 24 is cooled by means of a Peltier element not shown in the drawing and the second tubes 16 extend through the tube 24 through to the delivery points 15. The filling part 14 has over the container 2 a perforated disc with openings on which the discharge side end portions of Pass through second tubes 16.

Claims

claims

1 _: device (1) for filling flowable, in particular liquid,

pasty and / or pourable food in a container to be filled (2), wherein the device (1) has a receptacle (5) for the container (2) and at least one receiving area for a food supply, wherein the receiving area via a metering device (22) is connected to a filling point (14) arranged discharge point (15) for the food, characterized in that the device (1) for generating a predetermined surface pattern comprises a positioning device (6), by means of which the container receptacle (5) and the discharge point (15) of the filling part (14) are movable relative to one another in such a way that the delivery point (15) is positioned over different points of the container during the filling of the container (2).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the

Device having a control device (20) with a data memory (21) in which a movement profile for the relative movement between the container receptacle (5) and the delivery point (15) is stored, and in that the control device (20) for generating the movement profile with the positioning device (6) is in control connection.

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the data memory (21) a volume flow profile for the delivery volume flow of the metering device (22) is stored, and that the data memory (21) for generating the volume flow profile with the metering device (21). 22) is in control connection.

4: Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the discharge point (15) of the filling part (14) and the receptacle (5) for the container (2) in transverse horizontal directions are adjustable relative to each other.

5. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the receptacle (5) for the container (2) by means of the positioning device (6) about a vertical axis of rotation (7) relative to the delivery point (15) of the filling part (14) rotatable and the discharge point (15) laterally from the axis of rotation (7) of the container (2) is spaced.

6. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the container receptacle (5) by means of the positioning device (6) transversely to the axis of rotation (7) relative to the delivery point (15) is positionable.

7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the device (1) has at least two receiving areas for storing color different food, that the metering device (22) for each of these receiving areas each having a dosing means by which the corresponding food can be fed to a discharge point (15) of the filling part (14), and that these dosing means are in control connection with the control device (20).

8. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the data memory (21) memory areas are formed in which different motion profiles and / or different volume flow profiles are stored, and that the control device (20) has a selection device , by means of each of which a memory area for outputting its movement profile to the positioning device (6) and / or for outputting its volume flow profiles to the metering device (22) is selectable.

9. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the metering device (22) for at least one food at least two metering pumps (12, 13) with different delivery volume menstrom which are in control connection with the control device (20).

10. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one receiving area is formed as a storage container (9B) for a pourable food that the storage container (9B) has an outlet opening for the pourable food, with the help the metering device (22) is adjustable between an open position and a closed position, and that the outlet opening is connected to the delivery point via a chute (19).