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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
DOSING UNIT
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/1998/025843
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to a metering unit (1) for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnel-shaped holder (2) for the foodstuff, provided at its bottom side with an outlet opening (4) which is adjustable by means of a metering unit, characterized in that it is equipped with a driven, coiled wire (5) placed in the holder (2) and extending into the outlet opening (4), and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet upward, which coiled wire is provided near outlet opening with a seal (6), covering approximately 30-80 % of a complete spiral turn.

Inventors:
HAMM PAUL LODEWIJK ARIE (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/NL1997/000675
Publication Date:
June 18, 1998
Filing Date:
December 08, 1997
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
HOVERDALE N V (NL)
HAMM PAUL LODEWIJK ARIE (NL)
International Classes:
A47J37/12; B65D88/68; B65G65/46; G07F9/10; G07F11/44; G07F13/02; (IPC1-7): B65G65/46; B65B37/10; B65D88/68
Domestic Patent References:
WO1996006029A11996-02-29
Foreign References:
DE4403607A11995-08-10
US4821782A1989-04-18
DE4116616A11992-11-26
FR2702746A11994-09-23
EP0451302A11991-10-16
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Van Breda, Jacques (Weteringschans 96, XS Amsterdam, NL)
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Claims:
CLAIMS
1. A metering unit for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnelshaped holder for the foodstuff, pro vided at its bottom side with an outlet opening which is adjustable by means of a metering unit, characterized in that it is equipped with a driven, coiled wire placed in the holder and extending into the outlet opening, and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet opening upward, which coiled wire is provided near the outlet opening with a seal, covering approximately 3080k of a complete spiral turn.
2. A metering unit according to claim 1, character ized in that the increase in diameter of the coiled wire from the opening upward not be greater than the increase in distance of the walls from the funnelshaped holder.
3. A metering unit according to claim 1 or 2, char acterized in that the diameter of the coiled wire in the outlet opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the outlet opening.
4. A metering unit according to claims 13, charac terized in that the seal in the coiled wire covers approx imately half of a spiral turn.
5. A metering unit according to claims 14, charac terized in that a control unit is provided for the excitation of the drive, and a pulse counter coupled with the control unit and the coiled wire or the drive for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire.
6. A metering unit according to one of the preced ing claims, characterized in that by activation of the drive, the coiled wire is rotated in the same direction as the lead of the wire.
Description:
Dosing unit The invention relates to a metering unit for a foodstuff, comprising a substantially funnel-shaped holder for the foodstuff, provided at its bottom side with an outlet opening which is adjustable by means of a metering unit.

A metering unit of this kind is intended for the dispensation of the foodstuff to a further processing unit which, in the processing direction, is placed after the metering unit. The metering unit is used in, for instance, an apparatus for finishing a deep-frozen foodstuff, as described in applicant's Netherlands patent application of the same date, entitled "Apparatus for finishing ready- portioned deep-frozen foodstuff". A known prior art meter- ing unit used for the metered supply to an automaton for finishing french fries, comprises a conveyor belt having carriers, which belt is loaded with french fries that are weighed out. Another known metering unit comprises a vibrator and a flap unit, wherein between the flap and the vibrator a space is kept free to allow passage of the foodstuff. However, a serious disadvantage proved to be the sensitivity with regard to the type and dimension of the french fries to be metered. The known metering unit may even block due to the fries arching.

EP-A-0 451 302 discloses an apparatus for dispens- ing cooked food, wherein the foodstuffs are admitted in a funnel-shaped holder and which at its bottom side debouches into a dispensation opening provided with a driven dispensation organ. Said known apparatus serves for holding and releasing cooked potatoes. Correspondingly, the metering unit is executed as a rotatable cylinder which in the vicinity of the circumference is provided with a recess, able to accommodate a portion of the cooked potatoes. Rotation of said dispensation organ conveys the respective portion into a space from which the potatoes are made available to the user of the apparatus.

When using the known metering unit for deep-frozen french fries, the danger exists that the foodstuff, which

under the conditions is rather brittle, will break. This is undesirable.

The objective of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable metering unit, which makes it possible to accurately meter out brittle foodstuffs of this kind, and which is not very susceptible to fouling and is cheap to produce.

To this end the metering unit according to the invention is equipped with a driven, coiled wire placed in the holder and extending into the outlet opening, and which coil's diameter increases from the outlet opening upward, which coiled wire is provided near the outlet opening with a seal, covering approximately 30-80 of a complete spiral turn.

Surprisingly, these very simple means have shown to provide a metering unit which makes it possible to accu- rately and reliably meter out foodstuffs, in particular deep-frozen french fries, without breaking the product to be metered out.

In addition, the metering unit according to the invention is of a very simple construction so that it is cheap to manufacture, and it is quite impervious to foul- ing or other kinds of disrupting influences on the meter- ing accuracy. The metering unit according to the invention has proved to be very suitable for providing measured por- tions of the foodstuff.

It should be noted that US-A-4,821,782 discloses a substantially funnel-shaped holder which at its bottom side debouches into an outlet opening, wherein the holder is provided with a driven coiled wire whose diameter increases from the outlet opening upward. Said apparatus serves for the dispensation of powdery materials and is therefore not suitable for the dispensation of foodstuffs and french fries in particular.

It should further be noted that in correspondence to US-A-4,821,782, FR-A-2,702,746 discloses a system wherein the holder is not funnel-shaped but cylindrical.

At the base of the cylinder an outlet opening is provided for the powdery materials held in the cylinder. This appa-

ratus, too, is unsuitable for use with foodstuffs such as french fries.

The fact that the coiled wire has a diameter which increases from the opening upward achieves that the entire store of foodstuff present in the holder is involved in the dispensation. In order to prevent the outlet opening from becoming blocked due to too much foodstuff being sup- plied, it is advisable that the increase in diameter of the coiled wire from the opening upward not be greater than the increase in distance of the walls from the funnel-shaped holder.

Probably the dispensation organ constituted by the coiled wire functions so well because it forms a guide for the foodstuff which is drawn into the centre of the wire coil, while the foodstuff's tendency to arching prevents the product from falling through the coil gaps when its rotation is interrupted.

Preferably the diameter of the coiled wire in the outlet opening is slightly smaller than the diameter of the outlet opening. This prevents foodstuff, in particular french fries, from getting between the wire and the wall of the outlet opening, which could give rise to breakage.

The seal provided in the coiled wire serves to pro- vide an accurate interruption of the dispensation when the rotation of the coiled wire stops.

Accuracy of dispensation and effectiveness of seal- ing appears to be optimal when the seal provided in the coiled wire covers approximately half of a spiral turn.

To automize the metering unit it is advised to pro- vide the coiled wire with a drive. Preferably there is also provided a control unit for the excitation of the drive, and a pulse counter coupled with the control unit and the coiled wire or the drive for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire. The control unit may then be adjusted case by case for the simple adaptation of the amount of foodstuff to be metered.

In order for the metering unit to produce the desired effect, it is advisable that by activation of the

drive, the coiled wire is rotated in the same direction as the lead of the wire.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional schematic side view of the metering unit according to the invention; and Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional schematic front view of the metering unit according to the invention.

Identical reference numbers used in the figures refer to identical parts.

The metering unit 1 shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 com- prises a holder 2 for the foodstuff and a dispensation organ 3 coupled with the holder 2. At its under side the holder 2 is provided with an outlet opening 4. A coiled wire 5 is placed into the holder 2, extending at least partly into said outlet opening 4. As is clearly shown in the Figs. 1 and 2, the holder 2 is substantially funnel- shaped, and the coiled wire 5 has a diameter which increases from the outlet opening 4 upward. Said increase in diameter of the coiled wire 5 is not greater than the horizontal distance from the walls of the funnel-shaped holder 2. Another aspect of the diameter of the coiled wire 5 is that said diameter is slightly smaller in the outlet opening 4 than the diameter of the outlet opening 4 itself. Optionally, the coiled wire 5 may have a constant diameter, so that there is no upward widening of the coil.

Near the outlet opening 4 the coiled wire 5 is provided with a seal 6, which preferably covers approximately 30- 80% of a complete spiral turn. In the case shown, said seal covers approximately half of one complete turn of the coiled wire 5. In addition, the wire 5 is at its top coupled with a motor drive 7. Also, it is possible to pro- vide a control unit (not shown) for the excitation of the motor drive 7, and a pulse counter coupled with the con- trol unit and the coiled wire 5 or the motor drive 7 for determining the adjustment of the coiled wire. In the case shown, with the wire 5 having a right-hand lead in the direction from the outlet opening 4, the motor drive 7 has to also impart a right-hand turn to the coiled wire 5 dur- ing excitation, so that said wire, through rotation, seem- ingly disappears into the outlet opening. When using the metering unit for the dispensation of deep-frozen french fries, the holder 2 containing the coiled wire 5 has a temperature of approximately -100C.

It will be obvious to the person skilled in the art that the above-described embodiment relates merely to a preferred embodiment, and that within the scope of the appended claims many variations are possible.