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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR APPLYING A FLUID OR SUSPENSION TO A SUBSTRATE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2016/010435
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a device for applying a fluid or suspension, in particular a food fluid or suspension onto a substrate, comprising a reservoir for the fluid or suspension means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure, a plurality of outlet channels, extending from the reservoir to a delivery-position for the fluid above the substrate, a plurality of controllable valves, each incorporated in one of the outlet channels, a controller for controlling the valves, wherein the valves are pinch valves (1); and the controller is configured for controlling the valves individually.

Inventors:
DE GROOD PASCAL JOHANNES (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL2015/050527
Publication Date:
January 21, 2016
Filing Date:
July 17, 2015
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
GROOD INNOVATIONS B V DE (NL)
International Classes:
A23G3/28; A23G3/34; B05C5/00
Foreign References:
EP1958517A22008-08-20
EP1221409A12002-07-10
US20120067920A12012-03-22
US4030640A1977-06-21
EP2662137A12013-11-13
EP1958517A22008-08-20
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
VAN OEFFELT, Abraham (P.O. Box 1514, 5200 BN 's-Hertogenbosch, NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

Device for applying a fluid or suspension, in particular a food fluid or suspension onto a substrate, comprising:

A reservoir for the fluid or suspension;

Means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure;

A plurality of outlet channels, extending from the reservoir to a delivery- position for the fluid above the substrate;

A plurality of controllable valves, each incorporated in one of the outlet channels;

A controller for controlling the valves;

wherein:

The valves are pinch valves; and

The controller is configured for controlling the valves individually; and the pinch valves each comprise an elastic hollow throughput channel, surrounded by a pressure chamber for a medium, wherein the channel can be opened and closed by increasing respectively decreasing the medium pressure,

and wherein

The reservoir for the fluid or suspension; and

the elastic hollow throughput channels, are comprised by a separate, exchangeable part, thus forming a cartridge. 2. Device according to claim 1, comprising:

a receiving compartment for the exchangeable part, wherein

the means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure are arranged to put the reservoir of the exchangeable part under pressure; and

- the plurality of outlet channels, are arranged to receive the elastic throughput channels.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of outlet channels are formed in between two mutually movable parts of the device, having a first mutual position wherein the channels are separated for receiving the elastic hollow throughput channels, and a second mutual position, wherein the channels are closed for holding the elastic hollow throughput channels.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic hollow throughput channel comprises a cylindrical body, stretching between two annular flanges.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the outlet channels are formed by bores in an essentially massive block.

Device according to claim 5, wherein the massive block is formed by at least two parts, wherein the elastic hollow throughput channels are arranged in recesses at the plane of intersection of the two parts.

Device according to claim 6, wherein the massive block comprises channels for the medium, that extend from an actuator for delivering medium under pressure, to the medium chamber, surrounding the elastic hollow throughput channel.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, suspended movable, in particular translatable and/or rotatable with respect to the substrate.

Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the controller is configured for controlling the volume or the launching speed of a droplet of the fluid.

10. Cartridge for use in a device according to any of the preceding claims,

comprising:

a reservoir for the fluid or suspension; coupled with a plurality elastic hollow throughput channels.

11. Cartridge according to claim 10, comprising a fluid or suspension.

Description:
Device and method for applying a fluid or suspension to a substrate

The present invention relates to a device and method for applying a fluid or suspension to a substrate, more in particular a device and method for supplying a food fluid or suspension to a substrate formed by a food too.

Devices and methods for applying a fluid on a substrate are known in the art. One example are so-called nozzle-jets, that make individual droplets from a fluid, which droplets are then applied to the substrate. The droplets are made and applied by a nozzle-jet. A nozzle is an orifice through which a small amount of liquid can be shot at a high velocity. When the nozzle-opening is closed by the closing a membrane and the space around the nozzle is filled with fluid under a certain pressure, then the gap can be opened during a few milliseconds to allow a small amount to escape. When the pressure in an air chamber is at a higher pressure than the liquid in a container, the liquid can be recirculated through the printing head, back to the return piping without depositing.

When during a very short time the pressure in the chamber air pressure drops to zero, the mass pressure lifts the membrane from the spray nozzle.

When the pressure comes back to the air chamber, the membrane is pushed back onto the nozzle. This occurs with a considerable speed which helps a droplet to break away from the surface tension.

By using a plurality of abovementioned nozzlejets in combination with a moving target, matrix-like patterns can be deposited. In addition, by using an array of nozzle-jets in an oblique angle with a time lag compensation, the resolution of the pattern can be higher than the array line pitch. An example of the thus described state of the art is described in the European Patent EP1958517 from the same applicant.

However, the device was never developed for pureed vegetables and meats. If these substances are used as a liquid, nozzles may tend to block or give distorted droplet jets, since small fibrous coagulates will get stuck at the nozzle orifices. This may for instance be a result from a separation effect between the liquid part and the solid part of the to be printed suspension, which can be a puree or the like. The effect may in particular be present with materials that had been frozen first.

It is therefore a goal of the present invention to take away the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a solution for printing fluids or suspensions with a higher viscosity. The invention thereto proposes a device for applying a fluid or suspension, in particular a food fluid or suspension onto a substrate, comprising a reservoir for the fluid or suspension, means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure, a plurality of outlet channels, extending from the reservoir to a delivery-position for the fluid above the substrate, a plurality of controllable valves, each incorporated in one of the outlet channels and a controller for controlling the valves, wherein the valves are pinch valves and the controller is configured for controlling the valves individually.

The so-called "pinch-valve" has appeared to be a very successful principle for shutting off liquids with a high degree of solid particles is, whereas a part of the transport channel is made out of a flexible material. When this flexible part of the channel is pressurized from the outside, it will collapse and stop the internal flow of material. The apparatus according to the invention may for instance be used for applying unsieved tomato sauce, unsieved potato mash, viscous aerated cream - sugar mixture, marinade (fat pepper salt) and/or chocolate compounds with high milk powder content.

Preferably, the pinch valves each comprise an elastic hollow throughput channel, surrounded by a pressure chamber for a medium, wherein the channel can be opened and closed by increasing respectively decreasing the medium pressure. The valves may be used in various industrial areas, from to pharmacy (because of hygienical sealing) to heavy construction (pumping of pebble-filled liquid concrete). In a miniaturised shape, the principle may be used in a so called FoodJet printhead according to the state of the art.

The elastic hollow throughput channel may comprise a cylindrical body, optionally stretching between two annular flanges. In another embodiment o-shaped rings may be used. The elastic hollow throughput channel may be manufactured with the aid of silicone injection moulds.

Materials that have proved to be suitable for the elastic hollow throughput channel are silicone rubber or EPDM, while the inner diameter lies between 1 and 10 millimeter and the outer diameter lies between 1 and 10 millimeter. The length of the channel between the flanges is typically 3 to 5 times the diameter, and a threshold pressure for an (empty) elastic hollow throughput channel to close or open may lie between 0,2 and 6 bar.

In a practical embodiment, the outlet channels are formed by bores in an essentially massive block. Such block may be formed by at least two parts, wherein the elastic hollow throughput channels are arranged in recesses at the plane of intersection of the two parts. This construction has appeared to be very robust and is relatively easy to manufacture.

The massive block comprises channels for the medium, that extend from an actuator for delivering medium under pressure, to the medium chamber, surrounding the elastic hollow throughput channel.

A higher flexibility and an increased number of possibilities can be obtained when the device according to the invention is suspended movable, in particular

translatable and/or rotatable with respect to the substrate.

The controller may be configured for controlling the volume or the launching speed of droplet of the fluid. In an alternative embodiment, the reservoir for the fluid or suspension and the elastic hollow throughput channels, are comprised by a separate, exchangeable part, thus forming a cartridge. In that case, the device comprises a receiving compartment for the exchangeable part, and the means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure are arranged to put the reservoir of the exchangeable part under pressure; and the plurality of outlet channels, are arranged to receive the elastic throughput channels.

In a practical embodiment, the outlet channels are formed by bores in an essentially massive block. Such block may be formed by at least two parts, wherein the elastic hollow throughput channels are arranged in recesses at the plane of intersection of the two parts. This construction has appeared to be very robust and is relatively easy to manufacture.

The massive block comprises channels for the medium, that extend from an actuator for delivering medium under pressure, to the medium chamber, surrounding the elastic hollow throughput channel.

The invention further relates to a cartridge for use in the above device, comprising a reservoir for the fluid or suspension; and elastic hollow throughput channels, and in particular such cartridge, comprising a fluid or suspension. In another embodiment thereof, an assembly of elastic hollow throughput channels may be formed as an integral part, together with the cartridge with the fluid or suspension.

The invention will now be elucidated into more detail with reference to the following figures. Herein:

Figure 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a pinch valve;

Figure 2 shows an elastic hollow throughput channel and a perspective sectional view thereof;

Figure 3A shows an exploded view of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 3B shows a perspective sectional view of a device according to the present invention;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a device according to the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a device according to the present invention.

Figure 6 shows a cartridge for use in a device according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 7 shows a detail of the device according to the present invention,

configured for cooperation with the cartridge from figure 6.

Figure 8 shows an embodiment, wherein, an assembly of elastic hollow throughput channels is formed as an integral part, together with the cartridge with the fluid or suspension.

Figure 1 shows a perspective sectional view of a pinch valve 1 in general. The pinch valve 1 comprises an elastic hollow throughput channel 2, 3, surrounded by a pressure chamber 4 for a medium, wherein the channel can be opened and closed by increasing respectively decreasing the medium pressure via a medium channel 5.

Figure 2 shows an elastic hollow throughput channel 2, 3 in a perspective and sectional view thereof. The elastic hollow throughput channel has a wall with an inner diameter A between 3 and 5 mm, an outer diameter B between 4 and 7 millimeter, a Flange diameter C between 12 and 16 millimeter and a channel length D between 10 and 20 millimeter.

Figure 3A shows an exploded view 6 of a device according to the present invention, and figure 3B a perspective sectional view 7 of the same. The device comprises a reservoir 8 for the fluid or suspension, (non depicted) means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure, and a plurality of outlet channels 9, extending from the reservoir 8 to a delivery-position 10 for the fluid above the (non-depicted) substrate, a plurality of controllable valves 11, each incorporated in one of the outlet channels 9, a controller 12 for controlling the valves 11, wherein the valves are pinch valves and the controller 12 is configured for controlling the valves 11 individually.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a device 13 according to the present invention, for applying a fluid or suspension 16, in particular a food fluid or suspension onto a substrate 17, suspended 15 movable, in particular translatable and/or rotatable with respect to the substrate 15, which is transported on a transport belt 14.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment 18 of the present invention. Instead of a configuration wherein the nozzles 19 have a fixed mutual distance, the distance of the nozzles 19 can be changed, by removing them from a central tube and replacing them at a desired distance. This way, there is no need to place the head diagonally oriented above a transport belt for a substrate, but a rectangular orientation can be used at all time.

Figure 6 shows a cartridge for use in an embodiment of the device according to the present invention, which embodiment comprises a receiving compartment for the exchangeable part, and wherein the means for bringing the fluid or suspension under pressure above atmosphere pressure are arranged to put the reservoir of the exchangeable part under pressure; and the plurality of outlet channels, are arranged to receive the elastic throughput channels.

The cartridge comprises a reservoir 20 for the fluid or suspension; and at least one elastic hollow throughput channel 21. The hollow throughput channel is in the embodiment shown, provided with a first reinforced collar 22, essentially at the junction with the reservoir, and a second reinforced collar 23 at its distal end from the reservoir. The collars 22, 23 serve to enable to clamp the channel in the device as will be shown in figure 7, and to prevent a medium the pinch valves are operated with introduced via opening 27 (see figure 7) to leak away between the outlet channel and the hollow throughput channel.

Figure 7 shows a detail of an embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the plurality of outlet channels 26A, B are formed in between two mutually movable parts 25A, B of the device, having a first mutual position (shown) wherein the channels 26A, B are separated for receiving the elastic hollow throughput channels, and a second mutual position, wherein the channels 26A, B are closed for holding the elastic hollow throughput channels.

Figure 8 shows an partly exploded view of an embodiment 30, wherein an assembly of elastic hollow throughput channels 32 are formed as an integral part 31, together with the cartridge 33 with the fluid or suspension. The device according to this embodiment of the invention comprises two parts 41, 42 for forming pressure chambers 44 for a medium. After inserting the assembly of throughput channels 32 and the cartridge 33, parts 41 and 42 are moved against each other, in the directions of arrows 45, 46, enclosing the assembly 32. The assembly 32 and the parts 41 and

42 are dimensioned such that pressure chambers 44 are formed around the throughput channels 32 when the parts 41 and 42 are closed. The pressure chambers 44 are coupled with valves 48 via pressure channels 47.