Processing line for food products

Abstract

 A processing line (10) for food products, comprising a washing system (1) which is provided with a device (3) for managing the washing operations which is functionally connected to a user interface (2) which is adapted to receive at least two instructions relating to corresponding cleaning operations to be performed in sequence, the management device (3) being adapted to enable the cleaning operation relating to an instruction received through the user interface (2) only after a preset period of time has elapsed, corresponding to the time needed by the person assigned to cleaning operations to execute the cleaning operation according to the preceding instruction.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a processing line for food products.

[0002] It is known that lines or apparatuses for the processing and treatment of food products need to be washed with water and liquid detergent periodically and, in any case, every time it is desired to change the type of food to be treated.

[0003] Today, in order to perform such operations, nozzles are used which can be maneuvered by a person assigned to cleaning operations and which make it possible to direct the jet of water and/or of detergent toward the regions to be cleaned after having removed any protective housings.

[0004] It thus appears evident that cleaning operations depend largely on the care taken by the person and on the fact that the latter has actually taken the trouble to remove, in the correct sequence, all the protections and housings while devoting the time necessary to clean each station or assembly.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to make available a processing line for food products, which makes it possible to eliminate, or at least drastically reduce, the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[0006] Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a processing line for food products that makes it possible for the person assigned to washing operations to correctly perform all of the operations required.

[0007] Another object of the present invention is to provide a processing line for food products which is extremely flexible and reliable in its operation as well as customizable by the user as a function of his requirements.

[0008] This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a processing line for food products, characterized in that it comprises a washing system 1 which is provided with a device 3 for managing the washing operations which is functionally connected to a user interface 2 which is adapted to receive at least two instructions related to corresponding cleaning operations to be performed in sequence, said management device 3 being adapted to enable the cleaning operation relating to an instruction received via said user interface 2 only after a preset period of time has elapsed, corresponding to the time needed by the person assigned to cleaning operations to execute the cleaning operation according to the preceding instruction.

[0009] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a processing line for food products according to the present invention, which are illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawing which schematically represents a processing line for food products which is associated with a washing system.

[0010] In the embodiments that follow, individual characteristics shown in relation to specific examples may in reality be interchanged with other, different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

[0011] With reference to to the figure, the present invention relates to a processing line 10 for food products.

[0012] In particular, the processing line 10 for food products comprises a washing system 1 which is provided with a device 3 for managing the washing operations which is functionally connected to a user interface 2 which is adapted to receive at least two instructions relating to corresponding cleaning operations to be performed in sequence.

[0013] Delving deeper into the details, the management device 3 is adapted to enable the cleaning operation related to an instruction acquired through the user interface 2 only after a preset period of time has elapsed, corresponding to the time needed by the person assigned to cleaning operations to execute the cleaning operation according to the preceding instruction.

[0014] In essence, the person assigned to cleaning duties has to adhere to executing, in sequence, all of the cleaning operations specified by the cleaning program and cannot skip any operations since he or she has to wait, under constraint, for the preset periods of time between one cleaning operation and the subsequent one to elapse.

[0015] Advantageously, the user interface 2 is designed to provide, during the various cleaning operations that follow each other, information for the correct execution, by the person assigned to cleaning operations, of the corresponding cleaning operation.

[0016] Conveniently, the user interface 2 has means 2a (for example constituted by a keypad) of entering a user code which is associated with each person assigned to cleaning operations in order to be capable of verifying that the user code for the corresponding assigned person is cleared to carry out the required cleaning operations.

[0017] Delving deeper into the details, the management device 3 comprises a storage unit 4 which is designed to store the data for each washing cycle as well as the preset periods of time that must compulsorily elapse between the cleaning operations in sequence.

[0018] Merely by way of example, the cleaning operations can comprise the cleaning of a station of the processing line which is protected by at least one protective housing.

[0019] In this case, the clearance by the management device to perform the respective cleaning operation of such station includes opening the protective housing in order to allow access to the station that is the object of the cleaning operation.

[0020] In a similar manner, at least one cleaning operation can comprise the cleaning of a conveyor belt.

[0021] In this case, the clearance by the management device to perform the respective cleaning operation includes the movement of the aforementioned conveyor belt.

[0022] The system 1 can manage, again thanks to the action of the management device 3, in addition to the software functions to guide the cleaning operations, other devices which are designed specifically to facilitate the mechanical process of cleaning the line.

[0023] Merely by way of example, this can be achieved by means of devices which are adapted to command:

• the automatic opening of rollers in order to allow better access to the regions to be cleaned;
• the rotation and slow advancement of rollers and conveyor belts during the steps of cleaning.

[0024] In order to further optimize the cleaning operations, jog buttons can be installed in order to be able to rotate, as necessary, the parts to be cleaned and thus better reach the affected regions, and/or spray nozzles can be positioned at the points that are difficult to reach.

[0025] The present invention relates, moreover, to a washing system 1 for processing lines 10 for food products.

[0026] The operation of a processing line 10 for food products according to the invention follows in an evident manner from the foregoing description.

[0027] All the characteristics of the invention indicated as advantageous, convenient or similar may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics.

[0028] The invention, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0029] In practice it has been found that in all the embodiments the invention has achieved the set aim and objects.

[0030] In practice the materials employed, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements.

[0031] Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

[0032] The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. VR2011A000139 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

[0033] Where the technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference numerals and/or signs, those reference numerals and/or signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference numerals and/or signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference numerals and/or signs.

Claims

1. A processing line (10) for food products, characterized in that it comprises a washing system (1) which is provided with a device (3) for managing the washing operations which is functionally connected to a user interface (2) which is adapted to receive at least two instructions relating to corresponding cleaning operations to be performed in sequence, said management device (3) being adapted to enable the cleaning operation relating to an instruction received through said user interface (2) only after a preset period of time has elapsed, corresponding to the time needed by the person assigned to cleaning operations to execute the cleaning operation according to the preceding instruction.

2. The processing line (10) for food products according to claim 1, characterized in that said user interface (2) is designed to provide, during said cleaning operations, information for the correct execution, by said person assigned to cleaning operations, of the corresponding cleaning operation.

3. The processing line (10) for food products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said user interface (2) has means (2a) for entering a user code which is associated with each person assigned to cleaning operations.

4. The processing line (10) for food products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said management device (3) comprises a storage unit (4) which is designed to store the data related to each washing cycle.

5. The processing line (10) for food products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said cleaning operations comprises the cleaning of a station of said processing line which is protected by at least one protective housing, the clearance by said management device to perform the respective cleaning operation providing for the opening of said protective housing for access to said station.

6. The processing line (10) for food products according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of said cleaning operations comprises the cleaning of a conveyor belt, the clearance by said management device to perform the respective cleaning operation providing for the movement of said conveyor belt.

7. A washing system (1) according to one or more of claims 1 to 6.

Drawing