WO2015000489A1

WO2015000489A1 - A hopper adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2015000489A1
Application number: PCT/DK2014/050198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Klaus Madsen
Original assignee: Marel A/S
Priority date: 2013-07-05
Filing date: 2014-07-03
Publication date: 2015-01-08

Abstract

This invention relates to a hopper adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus, such as multihead weigher. The hopper has an open upper end for receiving articles, and a discharge for delivering a group of articles received from the open upper end from the hopper towards a target destination positioned below the discharge. The discharge includes at least one gate. The at least one gate is divided into two or more sub-gates that are operated by a control unit and where the controlling includes releasing the group of articles from the hopper towards the target destination by successively opening the two or more sub-gates so as to release the group of articles in a non-simultaneous way such that the release of the group of articles in the hopper is stretched out over time.

Description

A HOPPER ADAPTED TO BE USED IN RELATION TO A PACKAGING APPARATUS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hopper adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus, and to a packaging apparatus comprising at least one such hopper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multihead weighers such as the one shown in figure 1, also sometimes referred to as combination weighers or associative weighers, provide an advantageous way of dividing a particulate product, typically food products such as peas, shrimps, meat balls, etc., or hardware products such as nuts, washers, rivets, etc., into portions according to predetermined weight criteria. Typically the particulate products are delivered to a central part of the multihead weigher, wherefrom it is randomly divided by a, typically vibrating, dispersion feeder 11 and distributed to several weighing hoppers 14 or other weighing means by means of, typically vibrating, linear feeders 12 and possibly storage hoppers 13. The weighing hoppers 14 are typically emptied into a collection chute 15, 16 and the particulate products delivered from there to post processing, e.g. packaging. In order to achieve product portions that meet the predetermined weight criteria, only those weighing hoppers that in combination come closest to meeting such criteria are emptied for each portion. A central control unit monitors each weighing hopper, and possibly further weighing and measuring units, in order to control for each portion which hoppers' content should contribute and thereby control the establishment of portions meeting the criteria as accurately as possible.

A problem that sometimes occurs is that when the products in the weighing hoppers are released into the collection chute they have the tendency to be blocked in the collection chute, with the consequence that the subsequent processing is stopped to release the blocked products from the chutes. This may as an example occur when the product is a sticky food product such as poultry food product, where a lump of such sticky food items are formed in the weighing hopper. Upon releasing this lump into the collection chute this lump can easily block the collection chute and thus any subsequent releasing into the collection chute is blocked. This problem is solved today by means of manual labor, which is not only time demanding and costly but also reduces the efficiency of the multihead weigher significantly.

The inventor of the present invention has appreciated that there is thus a need for a hopper with a releasing mechanism that avoids such blocking in the collection chute and has in consequence devised the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It would be advantageous to achieve such an improved hopper such as a weighing hopper that is provided with a releasing mechanism that prevents such blocking in the collection chute. In general, the invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages singly or in any combination. In particular, it may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide a hopper that solves the above mentioned problems, or other problems, of the prior art.

To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention a hopper is provided adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus, where the hopper has an open upper end for receiving articles, the hopper comprising:

• a discharge for delivering a group of articles received from said open upper end from the hopper towards a target destination positioned below said discharge, where the discharge includes at least one gate, wherein the at least one gate is divided into two or more sub-gates that are operated by a control unit arranged to successively open said two or more sub-gates so as to release the group of articles in a non-simultaneous way towards said target destination such that the release of the group of articles in the hopper is stretched out over time.

Accordingly, a solution is provided where the group of articles is released in a non- simultaneous way meaning that instead of releasing the articles as a one "lump", the group of articles is stretched out so that it falls in a substantially longitudinal form into the collection chute and from there to e.g. post processing such as packaging. This does not only save manual labor that would otherwise be needed to monitor and release blockings in the collection chute, but also makes the packaging apparatus, which may e.g. be a multihead weigher, more effective since the time needed to release such blocking is eliminated.

In one embodiment, said discharge comprises a first elongated gate and a second elongated gate, the internal arrangement of the first and second elongated gates being such that when the hopper is in a closed position the first and the second elongated gates together form a substantially U or V-shaped cross section. Said first elongated gate may in one embodiment be mounted to a first rotation axis and said second elongated gate is mounted to a second rotation axis arranged parallel to said first rotation axis allowing said two or more sub- gates to be opened and closed in a hinge-like manner, the distance between the first and the second rotation axis defining said open upper end of the hopper.

In one embodiment, the hopper comprises at least one sidewall and said discharge is positioned at the bottom part of the hopper. This is another alternative to the "regular" hoppers that typically have said V or U-shape when the first and the second elongated gates are in a closed position. In one embodiment, said two or more sub-gates are associated with opening and closing mechanisms allowing said two or more sub-gates to be opened in a sliding or hingelike manner.

The hopper may in one embodiment be divided into two or more compartments and where the at least two compartments are associated with different target destinations.

The time delay between opening said two or more sub-gates in said successive way is adjustable. It is thus possible to adapt the time delay to different products for one and the same hopper so as to reach said stretching of the group of articles when being released out of the hopper. As an example, there may preferably be a significant difference in the delay if the product to be released is chicken fillets vs. if it is candy having annular shape.

In one embodiment, each of said two or more sub-gates are associated with moving mechanisms for performing said successive opening of the sub-gates. In that way they may be fully operated in an independent manner.

Said hopper may be a weighing hopper, i.e. a hopper comprising a weighing device, and said product may be any type of product such as peas, shrimps, meat balls, etc., or hardware products such as nuts, washers, rivets, etc.

In a second aspect of the invention a packaging apparatus is provided comprising at least one hopper with sub-gates as described above. The packaging apparatus is in one embodiment a combination weigher, also referred to as a multihead weigher, which may comprise a central part wherefrom the product is randomly distributed to a multiple of hoppers. This central part may e.g. be a dispersion unit that distributes the product to the several hoppers, such as weighing hoppers, where the weighing hoppers are typically emptied into a collection chute and the particulate products delivered from there to post processing, e.g. packaging. In general the various aspects of the invention may be combined and coupled in any way possible within the scope of the invention. These and other aspects, features and/or advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which

figure 1 depicts a prior multihead weigher, and

figure 2a-d depict graphically an embodiment of a hopper according to the present invention adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus such as the multihead weigher shown in figure 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a hopper of any kind, which may e.g. be used as a weighing hopper or a storage hopper, and is adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus of any kind. An example of such a packaging apparatus is a multihead weigher 10 as shown in figure 1, comprising a central, vibrating dispersion feeder 11, from where a particulate product may be distributed to a number of vibrating linear feeders 12. At the end of each linear feeder is a storage hopper 13 for temporarily collecting portions of the product. Below each storage hopper 13 is a weighing hopper for determining the weight of a portion of the product. When the weighing hoppers 14 are emptied, the products are caught by a chute 15, 16 or combination of skids and a chute, and delivered to packaging means or transportation means located below the chute. As the multihead weigher 10 of figure 1 comprises 24 weighing hoppers 14, it is said to have 24 heads.

In this particular example, the hopper according to the present invention would preferably be used for the weighing hoppers since an aim of the present invention is to avoid that the products that are released from the weighing hoppers become blocked in the chute 15, 16. However, the hopper according to the present invention can be any type of hopper, e.g. a storage hopper.

Figures 2a-d depict graphically an embodiment of a hopper according to the present invention adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus such the multihead weigher 10 shown in figure 1. The hopper comprises a discharge 202, 203 for delivering a group of articles 209 received from the open upper end from the hopper 200 towards a target destination positioned below the discharge. This target destination may, e.g. as discussed in relation to figure 1, be packaging means or transportation means located below the chute 16 shown in figure 1. The articles may be any type of non-food or food articles, e.g. vegetables, fresh food products, candy, etc.

The discharge opening means 202, 203 shown here comprises a first elongated gate 203 and a second elongated gate 202, the internal arrangement of the first and second elongated gates being such that when the hopper is in a closed position as shown in figure 2a the first and the second elongated gates together form a substantially U or V-shaped cross section. The first elongated gate 203 is mounted to a first rotation axis 210 and the second elongated gate 202 is mounted to a second rotation axis 211 opposite and parallel to the first rotation axis 210.

Also, as shown here one of the two elongated gates is divided into two sub-gates 201a, 201b that are operated by a control unit (C-U) 208, which may e.g. be any type of a computer or computer system. The second rotation axis 211 is divided into rotation axis portions, each of which being associated to the respective sub-gates 201a,b so that the sub-gates can be operated independently. As shown, the space between the two rotation axes 210, 211 defines the open upper end of the hopper 200.

The controlling of the releasing of the articles 209 from the hopper towards the target destination is done by successively opening the two sub-gates 201a,b as shown in figures 2a- 2d so that the articles are released in a non-simultaneous way. The effect of such non- simultaneous releasing is that the group of the articles 209 in the hopper will be stretched out over time as shown in figure 2d when reaching the target destination. Accordingly, the fact that the released group of articles is stretched out in a substantially vertical way, it is ensured that when the articles enter the chute 16 similar as shown in figure 1 the released articles 209 will not be blocked in e.g. the chute, which might otherwise be the case if the articles would be released in a simultaneous way as a one big lump.

As depicted here, each of the sub-gates are associated with moving mechanism 204, 205, which may e.g. be any type of a piston which may e.g. be hydraulic driven, for performing the successive opening and of the sub-gates. Also, the first elongated gate 203 is operated in a similar way using moving mechanism 206, e.g. a hydraulic piston.

Although only the second elongated gate has two sub-gates 201a,b, in the embodiment of figures 2a-2d, embodiments where the first or both of the elongated gates are provided with such two (or more) sub-gates are within the scope of the invention. Also, the hopper 200 may be divided into two compartments via a sidewall (not shown here), where the compartments may be linked to different target destinations. Other types of hoppers are also possible, for example a hopper comprising at least one sidewall and where the discharge opening means is positioned at the bottom part of the hopper (not shown).

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the two or more sub-gates are associated with opening and closing mechanisms allowing the two or more sub-gates to be opened in a sliding manner, instead of hinge-like manner as shown here, or the gates and sub-gates can be side-hinged or otherwise removably fastened in any suitable way within the scope of the invention.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the discharge comprises only one elongated gate 202 divided into a number of sub-gates 201a,b. Instead of having the sub-gates cooperate with an opposite elongated gate 203 as shown in figure 2a-d to close or open the bottom of the hopper, the sub-gates may cooperate with a fixed structure such as an inclined sidewall which resembles the closed state of the elongated gate 203 but is non-movable, thereby also forming a V-shaped cross section, or the sub-gates may cooperate with a substantially vertical sidewall replacing the elongated gate 203, thus forming a sawtooth- shaped cross section. In an embodiment of the invention, the sub-gates are substantially vertical when the discharge is closed, and cooperate with an inclined, fixed sidewall to form a hopper to receive the group of articles. In an embodiment of the invention, the sub-gates are substantially horizontal when the discharge is closed and cooperate with inclined or vertical sidewalls to form a hopper, where the sub-gates form the bottom of the hopper.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A hopper adapted to be used in relation to a packaging apparatus, where the hopper has an open upper end for receiving articles, the hopper comprising:

• a discharge for delivering a group of articles received from said open upper end from the hopper towards a target destination positioned below said discharge, where the discharge includes at least one gate,

wherein the at least one gate is divided into two or more sub-gates that are operated by a control unit arranged to successively open said two or more sub-gates so as to release the group of articles in a non-simultaneous way towards said target destination such that the release of the group of articles in the hopper is stretched out over time.

2. A hopper according to claim 1, wherein said two or more sub-gates are arranged beside each other, preferably in a common plan and/or with common rotation axes.

3. A hopper according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said discharge comprises a first elongated gate and a second elongated gate, the internal arrangement of the first and second elongated gates being such that when the hopper is in a closed position the first and the second elongated gates together form a substantially U or V-shaped cross section.

4. A hopper according to claim 3, wherein said first elongated gate is mounted to a first rotation axis and said second elongated gate is mounted to a second rotation axis arranged parallel to said first rotation axis allowing said two or more sub-gates to be opened and closed in a hinge-like manner, the distance between the first and the second rotation axis defining said open upper end of the hopper.

5. A hopper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hopper comprises at least one sidewall and where said discharge is positioned at the bottom part of the hopper.

6. A hopper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said two or more sub-gates are associated with opening and closing mechanisms allowing said two or more sub-gates to be opened in a sliding or hinge-like manner.

7. A hopper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the hopper is divided into two or more compartments and where the at least two compartments are associated with different target destinations.

8. A hopper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a time delay between opening said two or more sub-gates in said successive way is adjustable.

9. A hopper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each of said two or more sub- gates are associated with moving mechanisms for performing said successive opening of the sub-gates.

10. A packaging apparatus comprising at least one hopper according to any of the claims 1-9.

11. A packaging apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the packaging apparatus is a combination weigher.