FR2990194A1 - Machine for delivering food products contained in e.g. bowls, in e.g. hospitals, has movable pinching block and counter pinching surface that are positioned, so that pinching line is located below free end of pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

The machine has a flexible pipe (10) gripped transversely according to a pinching line, so that a portion of the wall of the pipe defined by the line is brought in contact with another portion of the wall. A movable pinching block (11) of the pipe has a marked final edge (11a), and a counter pinching surface (12a) is located on a side of the pipe opposed to a side on which the block is located. The surface is placed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pipe. The block and the surface are positioned, so that the line is located below a free end of the pipe.

Description

The present invention relates to a delivery machine for liquid products, semi-liquids or viscous, loaded or not. This machine is particularly adapted to be used for the large-scale filling of containers such as bowls, plates, trays or the like, with food products, in catering units of communities such as hospitals, schools or schools. retirement homes. It is known to manually perform the filling of containers as mentioned above, which has the disadvantage of being relatively slow, occupy a large staff and generate musculoskeletal disorders in operators.

It is also known to use food dispensing machines to automate the filling operations of the containers. Such machines, however, have several disadvantages. In the first place they have a complex structure, requiring a careful cleaning between the distribution of two different dishes, in order not only not to mix the dishes but especially to avoid the development of microbes or bacteria in the distribution pipes and thus, to avoid any contamination of consumers. This thorough cleaning is all the more tedious to realize that the machine has a complex structure, generating retention zones, and that this machine has components difficult to disassemble and reassemble.

Existing machines are relatively well suited to the distribution of food in liquid form, viscous or pasty but are however not suitable for the distribution of liquids containing pieces, commonly called "loaded products". Indeed, these machines generally comprise dosing nozzles conical valves, which may become blocked during the distribution of stringy products and / or containing pieces, and which are also relatively complex to clean. In addition, the speed of movement of the products through these nozzles is relatively large, and leads to that the pieces are subjected to high shear rates. Existing machines also include blade pumps to route the products, which crush the pieces. These same conventional machines also have the disadvantage of exposing the product to be distributed to the ambient air given the structure of their product delivery means, which is problematic with rapidly degrading foods, such as spinach.

This same structure of delivery means also makes it necessary to manually transfer the food, by means of jugs, between a food preparation kettle and a feed tray which equips a machine, which generates additional work and leads to significant risk of staining of the working space between said pot and said tank. The present invention aims to remedy all of these disadvantages.

Its main purpose is to provide a machine for distributing products of very different consistencies, without grinding the pieces that include the loaded products, and having a simplified cleaning possibility. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine whose product delivery means reduce or even eliminate the exposure of the products to the ambient air. Another object of the invention is to provide a machine for eliminating the manual transfer of food between a pot of food preparation and a feed tray that normally equip such a machine.

To achieve at least the main objective above, the machine according to the invention includes at least one delivery assembly of the product, comprising: - a flexible hose, the flexibility of which is such that this pipe is able to be clamped transversely according to a pinch line, so that a first portion of the wall of the pipe defined by this pinch line is brought into contact with the second portion of the wall of the pipe defined by this pinch line; a movable pinching block, comprising a marked end edge, pinching the pipe, and a pinch counter-surface, situated on the side of the pipe opposite to that on which said mobile block is located and disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe, said movable block and said counter-surface being positioned such that said pinch line is set back from the free end of the pipe. The invention thus consists in providing a product delivery assembly including a flexible hose, and in effecting the interruption of product delivery by pinching this flexible hose. The latter is flexible to the point of being fully clamped transversely, and this nip is made between said marked edge of the movable pinch block and said counter-pinch surface. Such a design makes it possible to deliver products of very different consistencies, and without crushing the pieces that comprise the loaded products, because of the absence of tortuous passages at said delivery assembly.

It also allows a perfectly clear interruption of the delivery of product, by pinching the pipe along a transverse line, and thus push back the quantity of product located above this line while achieving some expulsion of the amount of product located at below this line as a result of the downstream narrowing of the pipe resulting from the nip. Any parasitic flow of product between two filling sequences, which may contaminate the edges of the containers or the machine, is thus eliminated. In addition, this design eliminates retention areas and allows cleaning to be done easily and quickly.

The term "downstream", as the term "upstream" later, are of course to be considered in relation to the direction of flow of the product in the pipe. Preferably, said pipe is connected to a product delivery duct, itself directly connected to a pump for conveying the product, itself directly connected to a pot for the preparation of this product.

Said design of the delivery assembly makes it possible to achieve a perfectly tight closure of the pipe when the latter is pinched, which allows the product to be delivered with a pressure of this product in the conveying duct as well as in the pipe; this possibility of delivery with pressure allows the direct connection of the delivery conduit to the pump and the direct connection of the pump to the preparation pot, and thus eliminates both the exposure of the product to the ambient air and the need to transfer the product from the preparation pot to a feed tray, as is the case according to the prior art. The pump is advantageously a peristaltic pump, making it possible to eliminate the grinding of pieces contained in the product when the latter is a loaded product. The pipe is preferably made of silicone and has a wall having a thickness of about 5% of the internal diameter of the pipe. This hose may in particular have an external diameter of 22 mm and an internal diameter of 20 mm; for a pipe of this size, said movable block and said counter surface are positioned such that said nip is located at a distance of about 25 to 45 mm from the free end of the pipe. Preferably, said counter-pinch surface is arranged on a fixed block having two inclined surfaces, one of which is situated immediately upstream of said counter-surface with respect to the direction of flow of the product in the pipe, and whose another is located immediately downstream of this counter-surface; said marked edge is delimited upstream and downstream by inclined surfaces, the two upstream surfaces of said fixed block and said movable block having upstream ends located further outside the pipe, in the radial direction of said pipe, relative to at the downstream ends of these same surfaces, and the two downstream surfaces of said fixed block and said movable block having upstream ends situated more inside the pipe, in the radial direction of this pipe, with respect to the downstream ends of these same surfaces . The fixed block and the movable block thus form upstream and downstream surfaces that promote the creation of a certain curve at the pipe when the latter is pinched; this curve proves quite favorable to the realization of said perfectly clear interruption and said expulsion of the product. The inclination of the upstream surfaces with respect to the axis of the pipe may range from 35 to 55 ° and is preferably about 45 °; the inclination of the downstream surfaces with respect to the axis of the pipe may range from 20 to 40 ° and is preferably about 30 °. Advantageously, the end of the delivery duct to which said hose is intended to be connected comprises a connection piece forming a slightly conical bearing surface, and said hose is intended to be fitted on this bearing, and said delivery assembly comprises a counter-ring forming a cavity with a slightly conical wall, dimensioned so as to be closely applied to the portion of the pipe fitted on said span and then to be connected to said end of the delivery duct. This structure eliminates any retention zone at the junction of the delivery conduit and the pipe, and allows for easy and quick disassembly and reassembly of the pipe with respect to said conduit end. Preferably, said delivery conduit has, upstream of said pipe, at least one portion having an internal diameter greater than the internal diameter of the pipe. This or these portions of the delivery duct make it possible to constitute a sort of balancing buffer regulating the delivery of the product at the level of the pipe, particularly when the machine includes a peristaltic pump. This pipe thus undergoes few jolts of pressure of the product, which would otherwise be likely to cause radial expansion of the pipe because of the great flexibility of the latter.

According to a possible embodiment of the invention in this case, the machine comprises two or four container flow paths and a filling unit comprising two or four delivery sets as mentioned above, one for each channel; said delivery duct comprises, upstream of these delivery assemblies, a two-way or four-way supply ramp, which forms the one or more portions of larger diameter.

The filling unit may in particular be formed by a gantry disposed transversely to said passageways. The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages thereof will become apparent with reference to the attached schematic drawing showing, by way of non-limiting example, a possible embodiment of the machine 10 concerned. Figure 1 is a very simplified perspective view of certain parts of this machine; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a filling unit that includes the machine, including four delivery sets; Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 of this filler unit; FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a pipe connection subassembly comprised of one of the four delivery assemblies; FIG. 5 is a front view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the four delivery sets, in a delivery position of the product; and FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 of this same delivery assembly, in a position of interruption of the delivery of the product. FIG. 1 represents a machine 1 for delivering liquid, semi-liquid or viscous products, loaded or not, intended to be used for filling on a large scale containers such as bowls, plates, trays or the like, with food products, in community catering units such as hospitals, schools or retirement homes. The machine 1 comprises a table 2 in which there are arranged four tracks 3 scrolls series of containers to be filled (not shown), a filling unit 4, transverse to the table 2, and a chamber 5 of heat sealing containers filled. The machine 1 also comprises a peristaltic pump (not shown) for conveying the product to be delivered from a preparation pot (not shown) to the filling unit 4. FIGS. 2 and 3 show the filling unit 4 This is formed by a gantry 6 spanning the four lanes 3 and comprises four sets 10, 11, 12 of product delivery in containers passing underneath them, one for each channel 3. Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 show that each delivery assembly essentially comprises a flexible pipe 10, a movable pinch block 11 and a fixed block 12, the block 11 being movable between a non-pinch position shown in FIG. 5, wherein the pipe 10 delivers the product, and a pinch position shown in Figure 6, wherein the pipe 10, recessed from its free end, is pinched along a line of nip transverse to it. It also appears that each pipe 10 is connected upstream to a distributor ramp 13 forming part of a product delivery conduit (not shown except for this ramp 13); this duct is connected directly to the aforementioned pump. The term "upstream", and further the term "downstream", are of course to be considered in relation to the flow direction of the product in the pipe 10. Each pipe 10 is made of silicone and has an outside diameter of 22 mm and a internal diameter of 20 mm. Such a pipe has a flexibility such that it is able to be clamped transversely along a nip, so that a first portion of the wall of the pipe defined by this pinch line is brought into contact with the second part of the pipe wall defined by this pinch line, as can be seen in FIG.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show that the upstream end of the pipe 10 is connected to a delivery duct formed by one of the branches of an inverted "U" distribution piece 15, forming part of the ramp 13. This connection is carried out by means of a connection subassembly essentially comprising a base ring 16 and a counter-ring 17. The base ring 16 comprises a connecting piece 18 forming a slightly conical surface, on which the pipe 10 is intended to be fitted, and the counter-ring 17 forms a cavity 19 slightly conical, dimensioned so as to be closely applied around the portion of the pipe 10 fitted on said scope. The counter-ring 17 is connected to the base ring 16 by means of screws 20, and a screw 21 with knurled head 22 is screwed into a threaded hole 23 of the ring 16. This hole 23 opens into the cavity of this ring 16 and the screwing of the screw 21 makes it possible to axially immobilize the entire ring 16-against-ring 17-pipe 10 on the conduit of the part 15. An O-ring 24 is interposed between the ring 16 and the lower face of the central beam of the portico 6.

Thanks to the connection made possible by this ring 16 and this counter-ring 17, the pipe 10 does not form any tortuous passage or any retention zone, and thanks to the screw 21, said connection subassembly can be disassembled very quickly and easily from the filling unit 4, for cleaning by simple passage washing machine. The movable block 11 is located on one side of the pipe 10 and the fixed block 12 is located on the diametrically opposite side of this pipe, both being set back from the free end thereof. This withdrawal is such that said nip is located at a distance of about 30 mm from this free end. The movable block 11 forms a marked end edge 11a delimited upstream and downstream by inclined surfaces.

The fixed block 12 forms a counter-pinch surface 12a, disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 10, and has two surfaces inclined immediately upstream and downstream of this counter-surface 12a. The two upstream surfaces of the movable block 11 and the fixed block 12 have upstream ends located further outside the pipe 10, in the radial direction of this pipe, with respect to the downstream ends of these same surfaces; their inclination relative to the axis of the pipe 10 is about 45 °. The two downstream surfaces of the movable block 11 and the fixed block 12 have upstream ends situated further inside the pipe 10, also in the radial direction of this pipe, with respect to the downstream ends of these same surfaces, and their inclination by relative to the axis of the pipe 10 is about 30 °. In the non-pinching position (see FIG. 5), the movable block 11 and the fixed block 12 are positioned relative to the pipe 10 so that the edge 11a and the counter-surface 12a are located inside the the casing of the pipe 10, thus allowing a certain maintenance of the latter by friction during the delivery phase of the product. It also appears in FIG. 5 that the movable block 11 is connected to a support rod, itself connected to the core 25 of a solenoid 26 allowing the actuation of the mobile block 11 between the retracted position, of not pinching, shown in FIG. 5 and the pinch-out position shown in FIG. 6. In order to define a precise position of the moving block 11 in this extended position, the body of the solenoid 26 has a seat 27 with a triangular cross section, into which comes abutting the corresponding end of the core 25, which has a complementary shape. The elasticity of the pipe 10 returns the movable block 11 in the retracted position when the supply of the solenoid is cut off. There is thus no mechanical return member of the movable block 11 in the retracted position.

With reference again to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be apparent that the dispensing ramp 13 comprises a base dispenser 30 and two pieces 15 as mentioned above, forming subdivision distributors. The base dispenser 30 comprises a central inlet connected to the product conveying duct, and two lateral ducts to which are connected the two parts 15. Each of the latter has a central inlet at its intermediate branch and two lateral branches forming the aforementioned ducts, simply engaged through the central beam formed by the gantry 6. Each of these lateral branches comprises a ring 31 bearing against this central beam, adjustable in position along it.

The two side ducts of the base dispenser 30 have an internal diameter of 38 mm and the parts 15 have an internal diameter of 33.7 mm. These internal diameters are therefore significantly greater than that of the pipes 10, which allows the distributor 30 and the parts 15 to constitute a sort of equalization buffer regulating the delivery of the product at the level of the pipes 10. Otherwise, these pipes would suffer from pressure jolts of the product, resulting from the action of the pump, likely to cause their radial expansion due to their high flexibility. The design described above has the decisive advantage of making it possible to deliver products of very different consistencies, and without crushing the pieces that comprise the loaded products, due to the absence of tortuous passages at the level of the delivery assemblies. It also allows a perfectly clear interruption of the delivery of product, by pinching the pipes 10 according to transverse pinch lines, and thus pushing upstream the amount of product located above these lines while achieving some expulsion of the quantity of product located downstream of these lines due to the narrowing of the pipes resulting from these nips. As a result, any parasitic flow of product between two filling sequences, contaminating the edges of these containers or the machine, is eliminated. In addition, this design eliminates retention areas and allows cleaning to be done easily and quickly.

Said design also has the advantage of providing a perfectly tight closure of the pipes 10 when the latter are pinched, which allows to deliver the product with a pressure of this product in the conduit and in the pipes 10; this possibility of delivery with pressure allows the direct connection of the delivery conduit to the peristaltic pump and the direct connection of the pump to the preparation pot, and thus eliminates both the exposure of the product to the ambient air and the need to transfer the product from the preparation pot to a feed tray, as is the case according to the prior art. The aforementioned upstream and downstream surfaces of the fixed blocks 12 and the movable blocks 11 favor the creation of a certain curve at the level of the pipes 10 when the latter are pinched, as can be seen in FIG. 6; this curve proves quite favorable to the realization of said perfectly clear interruption and said expulsion downstream of the product. The invention therefore provides a machine overcoming many of the disadvantages of the prior art.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example but that it extends to all embodiments covered by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

CLAIMS1 - Machine (1) for delivering liquid, semi-liquid or viscous products, charged or not, characterized in that it includes at least one assembly (10, 11, 12) for delivering the product, comprising: - a pipe flexible (10), whose flexibility is such that this pipe is adapted to be clamped transversely along a pinch line, so that a first portion of the wall of the pipe (10) defined by this pinch line is brought in contact with the second part of the pipe wall (10) defined by this pinch line; a movable pinching block (11), comprising a marked end edge (11a), pinching the pipe (10), and - a pinch counter-surface (12a), located on the side of the pipe (10) opposite to the one on which is located said movable block (11) and arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pipe (10), said movable block (11) and said counter-surface (12a) being positioned so that said line pinch is located set back from the free end of the pipe (10). 2- Machine (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that said pipe (10) is connected to a product delivery duct, itself directly connected to a pump for conveying the product, itself connected directly to a pot of preparation of this product. 3- Machine (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pump is a peristaltic pump. 4- Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pipe (10) is silicone and has a wall having a thickness of about 5% of the internal diameter of the pipe (10). 5. Machine (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the pipe (10) has an external diameter of 22 mm and an internal diameter of 20 mm, and in that said movable block (11) and said counter-surface (12a) are positioned such that said nip is located at a distance of about 25 to 45 mm from the free end of the pipe (10). 6. Machine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - said counter-surface (12a) pinch is arranged on a fixed block (12) 35 having two inclined surfaces, one of which is located immediately upstream said counter-surface (12a) with respect to the flow direction of the product in the pipe (10), and the other of which is situated immediately downstream of this counter-surface (12a); said marked edge (11a) is delimited upstream and downstream by inclined surfaces, the two upstream surfaces of said fixed block (12) and said movable block (11) having upstream ends located further outside the pipe (10); ), in the radial direction of this pipe, with respect to the downstream ends of these same surfaces, and the two downstream surfaces of said fixed block (12) and said movable block (11) having upstream ends situated further inside the pipe (10), in the radial direction of this pipe, with respect to the downstream ends of these same surfaces. 7 - Machine (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the inclination of the upstream surfaces relative to the axis of the pipe (10) is between 35 and 55 ° and is preferably about 45 °. 8- Machine (1) according to claim 6 or claim 7, characterized in that the inclination of the downstream surfaces relative to the axis of the pipe (10) is between 20 and 40 ° and is preferably from about 30 °. 9- Machine (1) according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that: - the end of the delivery duct to which said pipe (10) is intended to be connected comprises a connecting piece (18) forming a slightly conical bearing surface, and said pipe (10) is intended to be fitted on this bearing surface, and - said delivery assembly comprises a counter-ring (17) forming a cavity (19) with a slightly conical wall, dimensioned so as to be tightly applied to the portion of the pipe (10) fitted on said span and then to be connected to said end (15) of the delivery conduit. 10- Machine (1) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that said delivery conduit has, upstream of said pipe (10), at least a portion (30, 15) having an internal diameter greater than the diameter internal pipe (10).