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(11) | EP 2 774 860 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Volumetric filling apparatus |
| (57) The present invention provides a filling apparatus (100) for filling a pre-determined
amount of a food product, the filling apparatus comprising means for delivery of food
product to a volumetric food product chamber (105) having an inlet port and an outlet
port, the volumetric food product chamber being adapted to determine the amount of
food product that is delivered by the apparatus into a container for packaging the
pre-determined volumetric volume of food product.
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[0001] The present invention relates to a volumetric filling apparatus, that is, a filling apparatus which can deliver a known measured amount of a product into a container, in particular, the product may be a food product.
[0002] Filling apparatuses for filling a tray with a pre-determined amount of a food product are known in the art. However, the known devices are extremely difficult to clean. It is also extremely difficult to achieve the high standards of sanitary surfaces as are required for apparatus for packaging food products, especially cooked food products which will only be re-heated before being consumed by the purchaser of the final packaged food product, using such known apparatuses.
[0003] To sanitise the existing devices, they must be entirely dismantled, i.e. stripped back by an engineer who dismantles the device, so that each component part can then be cleaned. This sanitisation process involves hours of downtime of that particular production line involving the device that is being cleaned. In addition, the known devices for filling pre-determined amounts of food products are extremely noisy and create an uncomfortable working environment for those operating the filling apparatuses.
[0004] The known devices have tended to be based on filling uncooked amounts of beef and dairy products. However, there is a need for a volumetric filling apparatus for all food products, either cooked or uncooked, where the filling apparatus is adapted to be easily sanitised.
[0005] Throughout this patent specification, it is to be understood that the term "food product" refers to any food product, both cooked and uncooked.
[0006] The present invention seeks to alleviate the above outlined disadvantages of known volumetric filling devices.
[0007] The present invention accordingly provides a filling apparatus for filling a pre-determined amount of a food product, the filling apparatus comprising means for delivery of food product to a volumetric food product chamber having an inlet port and an outlet port, the volumetric food product chamber being adapted to determine the amount of food product that is delivered by the apparatus into a container for packaging the pre-determined volumetric volume of food product.
[0008] The filling apparatus preferably comprises at least one food product chamber for receiving the pre-determined amount of food product from the volumetric food product chamber; and optionally, for holding the food product until it is dispensed from the filling apparatus.
[0009] The filling apparatus preferably comprises a piston moveable in a piston housing and operable for locating the food product chamber in position for receiving the pre-determined amount of food product from the volumetric food product chamber. The piston comprises at least one recess defining the at least one food product chamber. The provision of the at least one food chamber in the piston itself is a highly advantageous arrangement as it allows for ease of delivery of the measured amount of food product from the volumetric food product chamber to the food product chamber in which that amount of food product is carried as the piston travels in the piston housing, until the piston has travelled to its fully extended position in which the at least one food chamber is located over the exit port of the filling apparatus; and the measured amount of food product can be conveniently delivered into a container located underneath the exit port.
[0010] The piston ideally comprises a further recess, defining a vacuum chamber adapted for enabling a vacuum to be applied to the volumetric food product chamber such that, in use, when a vacuum is applied to the vacuum chamber, food product is forced into the volumetric food product chamber.
[0011] The volumetric food product chamber is defined by a portioning housing insert which is removably insertable into the filling apparatus and preferably, the food product chamber is engageable with the piston housing.
[0012] Advantageously, the filling apparatus comprises means for directing food product to the volumetric food product chamber; optionally wherein the means for directing the food product to the volumetric food product chamber comprises any one or more of the following: gravity, carrying the food product on a conveyor means, blowing the food product; and means for applying vacuum to the volumetric food product chamber.
[0013] In one embodiment, the means for applying vacuum to the volumetric food product chamber ideally comprises a recess in the piston, the recess defining a vacuum chamber through which a vacuum can be applied to urge the food product into the volumetric food product chamber. In use, the vacuum chamber is in fluid communication with the volumetric food product chamber such that the vacuum can be applied through the vacuum chamber to the volumetric food product chamber.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment, in use, the vacuum chamber is provided underneath the volumetric food product chamber.
[0015] The filling apparatus ideally comprises a food product reservoir and the means for directing food product to the volumetric food product chamber includes means for carrying the food product from the food product reservoir to the volumetric food chamber of the filling apparatus.
[0016] Preferably, the filling apparatus comprises means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber. Ideally, the means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber comprise means for changing the height of the volumetric food product chamber.
[0017] In a further embodiment, the means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber may alternatively, or additionally, comprise a chamber having a different size of diameter.
[0018] Preferably, the filling apparatus comprises cutting means for cutting the food product so as to separate the food product in the volumetric food chamber from other food product which can not fit inside the volumetric food chamber.
[0020] Ideally, the cutting means is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, and ideally, the cutting means comprises a knife which is moveable between the retracted position and the extended position.
[0021] The cutting means also includes a knife actuator for moving the knife between a retracted position and an extended position; in particular for moving the knife between a fully retracted storage position and a fully extended position, in use, for cutting of the food product.
[0022] Ideally, the volumetric food chamber is provided below the cutting means and in particular, the cutting knife of the cutting means when in the extended position defines the upper limit/upper wall of the volumetric food product chamber.
[0023] It is to be understood that the terms "cutting knife" and "knife" are to be construed to include any cutting edge or cutting blade, even if the edge is blunt such that the "cutting" action performed by the edge is a shearing action.
[0024] Conveniently, the internal surfaces of the volumetric food chamber, and preferably, all the internal surfaces of the apparatus which come into contact with the food product, are curved thereby making the surfaces more easy to clean to a high standard of hygiene.
[0025] An advantage of the volumetric filling apparatus of the present invention is that the apparatus is very easily, and hence, very quickly, cleaned to the high standards required in the food production industry. The ease of cleaning of the apparatus to the required high standard of cleanliness is always advantageous but is especially advantageous for filling weighted amounts of food products which have been cooked already prior to being brought to the filling apparatus since such cooked food will only be re-heated by the consumer and will not undergo any further cooking process prior to consumption. Hence, high levels of sanitation in the filling apparatus are of paramount importance.
[0026] The ease of cleaning of the apparatus to the required high standard of cleanliness is possible because the volumetric filling apparatus of the present invention is adapted to be dismantled/"stripped back" easily because of the arrangement of the component parts and also due to the arrangement of the at least one food chamber for receiving the food product from the volumetric food chamber, being preferably provided conveniently on a piston.
[0027] The filling apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for filling pre-determined weight amounts of food products that need to be cut to provide the appropriate weight amount. For example, food products such as noodles, spaghetti or other food products of similar nature which are difficult to handle and whose weight is especially difficult to measure precisely, may be filled into a container in a precisely pre-determined amount by the filling apparatus of the present invention.
[0028] The apparatus of the present invention is preferably pneumatically operated with a PLC (programmable logic controller).
[0029] The apparatus is ideally manufactured from stainless steel but can, of course, be manufactured from suitable polymeric material.
[0030] The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which are shown, by way of example only, one embodiment of the volumetric filling apparatus of the present invention.
[0031] In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side view from one side of the volumetric filling apparatus;
Figure 2 is a side view from the other side of the volumetric filling apparatus, (i.e. from the opposite side of the device as shown in Figure 1);
Figure 3 is a front view of the volumetric filling apparatus;
Figure 4 is a sectional view of the volumetric filling apparatus of Figure 1 along the line A-A of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an end view of the volumetric filling apparatus;
Figure 6 is a plan view from above of the volumetric filling apparatus;
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the volumetric filling apparatus;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the components of the volumetric filling apparatus shown disassembled;
Figures 9 to 12 are respective perspective views of the apparatus in a number of operational positions of the knife and piston of the filling apparatus of the present invention during operation of the apparatus;
Figure 13 is a side view of the components of the volumetric filling apparatus as shown disassembled in Figure 8;
Figure 14 is a perspective view of the apparatus; and
Figure 15 is an exploded view of the means for varying the volume of the volumetric food product chamber.
[0032] Referring to the drawings, the filling apparatus of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 100.
[0033] The filling apparatus 100 comprises a mobile frame 1 on which the apparatus is mounted. The mobile frame 1 may include wheels 2 for ease of locating the apparatus along a production line for instance. The wheels 2 may be locked in position by known locking means. The filling apparatus 100 is supplied with food product by food product supplying means comprising, for instance, a conveyor belt or a feeder hopper. In the particularly preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the filling apparatus 100 comprise a feeder hopper 3 as the food product supplying means. The feeder hopper 3 is connected to a volumetric food product chamber 105 by means of a conduit 101. In the most preferred embodiment shown in the Figures, the conduit 101 is preferably in the form of a transparent polymeric tube to enable inspection of the food product through the transparent tube, e.g. a transparent polycarbonate tube. A connector 103 is used to secure the conduit 101 to the knife cover plate 171. Referring to Figure 8 and Figure 13, the filling apparatus of the present invention also comprises a knife cover plate 171 and knife guard 172 as well as a knife guide mount 177 which provides a guide track 177' for the travel of the knife 170. The knife 170 is in the form of a plate 170. Bolts 174 are used to secure the knife cover plate 171 to the knife guide mount 177.
[0034] The knife 170 is moveable on the knife guide mount 177 having an aperture 179. The knife guide mount has a side wall 177' along the length of each side of the knife guide mount 177 and the side walls 177' limit the lateral movement of the knife 170. The knife 170 is moveable on the knife guide mount 177 between the retracted knife position and the extended knife position in which the knife 170 can shear the food product which is contained in the volumetric food chamber 105 and thus separate that food product in the volumetric food chamber from the food product which could not be accommodated within the volumetric food chamber 105 i.e. the food product remaining in the conduit 101.
[0035] The filling apparatus 100 includes a feeder hopper insert 102 for connecting the conduit 101 to the feeder hopper 3.
[0036] The filling apparatus 100 also includes a knife 170 which is moveable between a retracted, storage position; and an extended position in which the knife 170 is adapted to cut or shear the food product. The knife 170 is operated by a knife actuator 175 which is operable to move the knife 170 between the retracted and the extended positions. The knife 170 also includes a perforated segment 173 in the form of a generally circular segment 173 having a plurality of apertures on the surface of the knife 170.
[0038] The filling apparatus 100 also comprises a piston 120 and a piston actuator 121. The piston 120 is moveable in a piston housing defined by a first piston housing element 186 and a second piston housing element 185. The piston housing includes an outlet port 128 through which the pre-determined amount of food product is ejected from the filling apparatus 100 into a container (not shown). The container is then subsequently sealed. The piston housing also comprises a cover plate 183 which encloses the piston housing at one end; in particular, the cover plate 183 closes the piston housing at the end of the second piston housing element 186 from which the food product exits the filling apparatus 100 through food product exit port 128. At the other end of the piston housing, the piston housing is closed by the sealing member 122 carried on the piston actuator 121. Thus the piston 120 is sealed at both ends of its travel and this has the advantage of providing less noisy operation than in known filling devices.
[0039] The piston 120 is generally cylindrical in cross section and the piston housing elements 185, 186 are correspondingly profiled so that the piston 120 can be moved between a retracted position and an extended position. The piston 120 comprises at least one recess 125 which defines at least one food product chamber 125. In a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, the piston also comprises a second recess 126 which defines a vacuum chamber 126, the function of which is to enable a vacuum to be applied to the volumetric food product chamber 105 so as to urge the food product from the conduit 101 and into the volumetric food chamber 105.
[0040] A vacuum/suction port 133 is provided underneath the vacuum chamber 126 and there is a connection port 134 on the suction port 133 for connecting the suction port 133 to a vacuum pump (not shown in the drawings).
[0041] When the knife 170 is in the extended position as shown in Figure 4, the upper limit of the volumetric food chamber 105 is defined by the position of the knife 170 in the extended position. The lower limit of the volumetric food chamber is defined by the piston 120, and particularly by the perforated insert 131 provided on the piston 120. Thus, the perforated insert 131 provides the floor of the volumetric food chamber 105.
[0042] As well as the perforated segment 173 in the form of a generally circular segment 173 having a plurality of apertures on the surface of the knife 170, there is also a perforated floor segment 132 having a plurality of apertures, provided on the vacuum/suction port 133 such that, in use, when a vacuum pump is connected to the connection port 134, a vacuum is applied to the food product which is contained in the volumetric food product chamber 105. A photocell or "electric eye" technology may optionally be used to determine when food provided or a specific volume of food product is in the chamber 105 and trigger the vacuum to evacuate the chamber 105.
[0043] The filling apparatus 100 also comprises means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber. The adjustment means may comprise volumetric adjustment mechanism 110 which is shown enlarged in Figure 15.
[0044] The filling apparatus also comprises a product inlet port 130 for enabling the pre-determined amount of food product to exit from the volumetric food product chamber 105 and to enter into the food product chamber 125 from which it will subsequently be ejected through product exit port 128. The filling apparatus 100 also comprises means for urging the food product to exit from the food product chamber 125, in the preferred embodiment, by urging the food product out by means of an air jet. The air jet is applied by means of air jet inlet port 180 which is provided over the food product chamber 125. The air jet may also optionally be triggered by use of a photocell or "electric eye" technology to determine when food product is in the food product chamber 125.
[0045] The filling apparatus 100 also comprises controlling means 190 which includes a control panel (not shown).
[0046] As shown in Figure 8, the volumetric food product chamber 105 is provided by a portioning insert 105 which is locatable underneath the knife guide mount 177 which supports the knife 170. The portioning insert 105 comprises a flange 107. Another insert 106 is associated with portioning insert 105, the portioning insert 106 also comprising a flange 108. The portioning insert 105 is generally cylindrical in cross section. The portioning insert 105 is dimensioned such that it can be inserted into an aperture 179 provided in the knife guide mount 177 such that the flange 107 rests on the knife guide plate 177 and holds the portioning insert 105 in position. The portioning insert 106 connects to the piston housing 186 and the flange 108 on the portioning insert 106 is used to secure the portioning insert 106 to the piston housing 186 so as to secure the portioning insert 105 between the knife mount guide 177 and the piston housing 186.
[0047] The filling apparatus 100 also comprises an air/liquid separator 108 which is associated with the vacuum pump. There is a cover plate 109 on the air/liquid separator 108.
[0048] The operation of the filling apparatus of the present invention, in use, will now be described in detail:
Referring initially to Figure 9, in a first position (Position 1) of the knife 170, the knife 170 is in the retracted position and the piston 120 extended in the fully forward position. With the knife 170 in the fully retracted position and the piston 120 in the fully forward position, food product is forced downwardly under vacuum, from the feeder hopper 3 into the conduit 101 leading from the feeder hopper 3 to the food product inlet port 130 with the food product resting on the upper surface of the perforated insert 131 on the piston 120; in this position shown in Figure 9, the perforated insert 131 is located above the vacuum chamber 126 such that, with a vacuum pump connected to connection port 134, the force of the vacuum urges the food product downwardly from the feeder hopper 3 into the volumetric food product chamber 105 defined by portioning insert 105 connected between the piston housing 186 and the knife cover plate 171.
Referring now to Figure 10, in a second position (Position 2) of the knife 170, the knife actuator 175 is moved to the fully forward position urging the knife 170 forwardly through the food product that is lodged in the conduit 101 from the feeder hopper 3 and thereby shearing the food product such that food product in the conduit 101 is severed and separated from the pre-determined amount of food product that is accommodated in the volumetric food product chamber 105. The pre-determined amount of food product is determined by the distance between the upper surface of the perforated roof 131 and the knife 170 as it travels on the knife guide plate 177 i.e. by the volume of the volumetric food product chamber 105.
[0049] In this position shown in Fig 10, under the action of the piston actuator 121, the piston 120 has begun to move backwards such that the vacuum chamber 126 is no longer located underneath the volumetric food product chamber 105.
[0050] Referring now to Figure 11, in a third position (Position 3) of the knife 170, the knife actuator 175 is in the fully forwardly extended position and the piston 120 is in the fully retracted position such that the food product chamber 185 is now located immediately underneath the volumetric food product chamber 105. With the knife 170 and the piston 120 in these positions, food product falls from the volumetric food product chamber 105 directly into the food product chamber 125 provided by the recess 125 in the piston 120. The apertures in the perforated segment 173 in the knife 170, ensure that there is minimal loss in suction through from the vacuum port 133. This means all of the food product in the volumetric food product chamber 105 will be sucked under vacuum, from the chamber 105 into the food product chamber 125 provided by recess in the piston 120.
[0051] Referring now to Figure 12, in a fourth position (Position 4) of the knife 170, the piston 120 moves to the fully forwardly extended position; and the knife actuator 175 moves to the fully retracted position. The piston 120 moves forwardly and urges the food product chamber 125, containing the food product, forwardly towards the product exit port 128 provided in the piston housing 185. With the food product chamber 125 now located over the product exit port 128, the product is ejected downwards out through the product exit port 128. Depending on the nature of the food product, this ejection may be with the aid of the air jet delivered through air jet port 180. At the same time, the knife 170 moves to the fully retracted position to allow for the next portion of product to be measured and separated from the food product outside of the volumetric food product chamber 105 ie food product remaining in the conduit 101.
[0052] When in this fourth position, the filling apparatus deposits one measure of food product into a receiving container for example, a tray, (not shown in the drawings but this would be located underneath the product exit port 128), whilst at the same time drawing down another portion of food product to be measured in the volumetric food product chamber 105. The piston will then be again pulled backwardly as shown in Figure 10 so as to position the food product chamber 185 underneath the volumetric food product chamber 105 to again receive the next pre-determined amount of the food product for subsequent ejection through the exit port 128. Thus the positions shown in Figures 9 to 12 are repeated. This operation allows for a high throughput of product through the apparatus of the present invention.
[0053] It is of course, to be understood, that the food product could fall downwardly into the food product chamber 186 under force of gravity without the provision of a vacuum chamber and without the application of a vacuum, however, this would result in a much slower operation. Of course, other means of urging the food product downwardly could be employed. However, the vacuum chamber 186 and its operation as described above has been found to be highly advantageous for rapid throughput of food product through the filling apparatus 100. At the same time, the ease of dismantling and re-assembly of the components described above has the advantage of allowing for ease of cleaning and sanitising of the filling apparatus 100. The curved surfaces of the component parts which are in contact with the food product also facilitates ease of cleaning eg the conduit 101, the volumetric food product chamber 105, and the food chamber 186 defined by the recess 186 in the piston 120 all have curved surfaces.
[0054] To disassemble the filling apparatus 100 for cleaning, only one spanner is required to fully assemble and/or disassemble the machine. The disassembly/ strip down process can be completed by one operator in under 5 minutes.
1. A filling apparatus (100) for filling a pre-determined amount of a food product, the
filling apparatus comprising means for delivery of food product to a volumetric food
product chamber (105) having an inlet port and an outlet port, the volumetric food
product chamber (105) being adapted to determine the amount of food product that is
delivered by the apparatus.
2. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the filling apparatus (100)
comprises at least one food product chamber (125) for receiving the pre-determined
amount of food product from the volumetric food product chamber and optionally, for
holding the food product until it is dispensed from the filling apparatus.
3. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the filling apparatus (100)
comprises a piston (120) moveable in a piston housing (185, 186) and operable for
locating the food product chamber (125) in position for receiving the pre-determined
amount of food product from the volumetric food product chamber (105).
4. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the piston comprises at least
one recess defining the at least one food product chamber.
5. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the piston comprises a further
recess defining a vacuum chamber adapted for enabling a vacuum to be applied to the
volumetric food product chamber such that, in use, when a vacuum is applied to the
vacuum chamber, food product is forced into the volumetric food product chamber.
6. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the volumetric
food product chamber is defined by a portioning housing insert which is removably
insertable into the filling apparatus and optionally, the food product chamber is
engageable with the piston housing.
7. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the filling apparatus (100)
comprises means for directing food product to the volumetric food product chamber
(105);
optionally wherein the means for directing the food product to the volumetric food product chamber comprises any one or more of the following: gravity, carrying the food product on a conveyor means, blowing the food product; and means for applying vacuum to the volumetric food product chamber.
optionally wherein the means for directing the food product to the volumetric food product chamber comprises any one or more of the following: gravity, carrying the food product on a conveyor means, blowing the food product; and means for applying vacuum to the volumetric food product chamber.
8. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the means for applying vacuum
to the volumetric food product chamber ideally comprises a recess in the piston, the
recess defining a vacuum chamber through which a vacuum can be applied to urge the
food product into the volumetric food product chamber whereby, in use, the vacuum
chamber is in fluid communication with the volumetric food product chamber (105) such
that the vacuum can be applied through the vacuum chamber ( 126) to the volumetric
food product chamber (105).
9. A filling apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the filling
apparatus comprises a food product reservoir (3) and the means for directing food
product to the volumetric food product chamber includes means for carrying the food
product from the food product reservoir to the volumetric food chamber (100) of the
filling apparatus ( 100).
10. A filling apparatus (100) as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the filling apparatus
comprises means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber; optionally
wherein the means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber comprise
means for changing the height of the volumetric food product chamber; or wherein the
means for adjusting the size of the volumetric food product chamber comprise using
a chamber of different diameter.
11. A filling apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the filling apparatus
comprises cutting means for cutting the food product so as to separate the food product
in the volumetric food chamber from other food product which can not fit inside the
volumetric food chamber.
12. A filling apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the volumetric food
product chamber is provided below the cutting means; optionally wherein the volumetric
food chamber is provided below the cutting means and the cutting knife of the cutting
means when in the extended position defines the upper limit/upper wall of the volumetric
food product chamber.
13. A filling apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the cutting means is
moveable between a retracted position and an extended position, and ideally, the cutting
means comprises a knife which is moveable between the retracted position and the extended
position; optionally wherein the cutting means also includes a knife actuator for
moving the knife between a retracted position and an extended position; in particular
for moving the knife between a fully retracted storage position and a fully extended
position, in use, for cutting of the food product.
14. A filling apparatus as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the internal surfaces
of the volumetric food chamber are curved thereby making the surfaces easier to clean
to a high standard of hygiene.
15. A method of filling a container using a filling apparatus as claimed in any one of
Claims 1 to 13.
16. A filling apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown
in the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of filling a container substantially as herein described with reference to
and as shown in the accompanying drawings.