JACOBSEN, Mikkel, Klitgaard (Langersvej 6, Aalborg, DK-9000, DK)
KJÆR, Anders (Torngårdsallé 31, Aabybro, DK-9440, DK)
TRUDSLEV, Crasten (Thomasmindeparken 62 A, Aabybro, DK-9440, DK)
JACOBSEN, Mikkel, Klitgaard (Langersvej 6, Aalborg, DK-9000, DK)
KJÆR, Anders (Torngårdsallé 31, Aabybro, DK-9440, DK)
| Patent claims 1. Method for conveyance of food or foodstuffs (3,19) from a conveyor belt (11 ) to packaging (15,21 ) characterized in that the foodstuff (3,19) from the conveyor belt (11) is moved into a cavity (7) in a star wheel (1 ), which is placed after the conveyor belt (11), whereafter the star wheel (1 ) is turned between 90 and 270 degrees, preferably 180 degrees, around a center axis (2) whereafter the foodstuff (3,19) is ejected from the cavity (7) by impact from a fixed guy (10), which is put into the bottom of the star wheel (1 ) via a slit (25), which radially is put into the star wheel (1 ) preferably in the middle of its width (22), where the foodstuff after being ejected is placed in the packaging (15,21 ), which is conveyed to the star wheel (1 ) via a conveyor belt (14), which is placed under the star wheel (1 ). 2. Method according to claim 1 characterized in that the conveyance or transfer is automated including that the conveyance of the foodstuffs (3,19) including the speed with which the foodstuffs (3,19) is moved forward on the conveyor belt (11 ) and the position of the foodstuffs (3,19) is synchronised with the rotation of the star wheel (1 ), which is also synchronised with the speed and the position of the packaging (15,21 ). 3. Star wheel (1) for conveyance of items such as foodstuffs (3,19) from a feed such as a conveyor belt (11) to packaging (15,21), which is placed on a conveyor belt (14) characterized in that the star wheel (1 ) can turn around a center axis (2) where the star wheel (1 ) is provided with one or more cavities (7), which from the external side of the star wheel's (1) diameter forms a cavity within the width (23) for transport of foodstuffs (3,19) and that the star wheel (1 ) is provided with a slit (25), which from the external side of the star wheel (1 ) runs along the whole periphery preferably in the middle of the width (22,23) and that the star wheel (1 ) is provided with a fixed guy (10), which is inserted in the bottom of the star wheel (1 ) via the slit (25) and where the star wheel is placed after the conveyor belt (11 ) and below the conveyor belt (14). 4. Star wheel (1 ) in relation to claim 3 characterized in that the width (22,23) must be larger than the width of the foodstuff (3,19), which is to be conveyed. 5. Star wheel (1 ) in relation to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that the circumference of the star wheel (1 ) can be circular or angular. 6. Star wheel (1 ) in relation to claim 3, 4 or 5 characterized in that the star wheel can be assembled by modules, which individually can be replaced and be adapted to specific foodstuffs (3,19). 7. Star wheel (1 ) in relation to one or more of claims 3 to 6 characterized in that cavities (7) are shaped with a lower surface (4) and an end surface (6), which connects the lower surface (4) with an upper surface (5) where there is an angle (8) between the lower surface (4) and the upper surface (5), which is preferably between 5 and 15 degrees. |
The invention relates to a method for conveyance of food or foodstuffs from a conveyor belt to packaging.
The invention also relates to a star wheel for conveyance of items such as foodstuffs from a feed such as a conveyor belt for packaging, which is placed on a conveyor belt.
It is known to convey sausages from a conveyor belt to packaging consisting of sausage trays by using a wheel, which in the periphery is provided with mechanical grips, which can be closed and opened.
With the hitherto known technique, a grip is closed around a sausage, which is conveyed on a conveyor belt.
When the grip in triis way encloses the sausage, the wheel on which the grip is mounted can be turned whereby the sausage is moved with the grip.
The sausage is thus moved and at one point it is placed over a sausage tray, via the turning of the wheel, on exactly that position where it is desired to be placed in the packaging.
When the sausage thus has the correct position in relation to the packaging, the grips are opened whereby the sausage via gravity drops down on the desired position in the sausage tray.
It has however been found that there are some drawbacks connected to the known technique.
It is thus very difficult and often impossible to use the technique to other foodstuff items than sausages.
If it for instance is desired to move burger patties using the mentioned technique, the patties will deform by being pressed together by the grips. The technique can therefore in practice primarily only be used for sausages.
It is also a problem that the mechanical grips are relatively complicated and are therefore expensive to manufacture and service.
Another problem of the known technique is that the relatively complicated process, which includes opening and closing of the mechanical grips is relatively slow, which puts a physical limit on the speed whereby the system can function.
From GB 2104028 A is known a star wheel for moving items from a conveyor belt to a packaging. The packaging is moved from the wheel to the packaging with a pull-out stationary finger placed just above the packaging, which the items are to be transferred to.
It has been found, however, that there are problems in practice with adjustment of the pull-out finger, which is sensitive towards variations in the shape of the items, which is why the technique in GB 2104028 A has not been widely spread.
It is therefore an object of the invention to improve the known method and technique. The object of the invention is achieved by a method of the type stated in the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the foodstuff from the conveyor belt is moved into a cavity in a star wheel, which is placed after the conveyor belt, whereafter the star wheel is turned between 90 and 270 degrees, preferably 180 degrees, around a center axis whereafter the foodstuff is ejected from the cavity by impact from a fixed guy, which is put into the bottom of the star wheel via a slit, which radially is put into the star wheel preferably in the middle of its width, where the foodstuff after being ejected is placed in the packaging, which is conveyed to the star wheel via a conveyor belt, which is placed under the star wheel.
In this way it thus becomes possible to transfer foodstuffs without use of grips or pull-out fingers, which require adjustment, whereby it becomes possible to move e.g. burger patties with the new technique.
Also, the manufacturing speed can be increased significantly since the speed is not limited by opening or closing complicated grip mechanics and does not require adjustment of pull-out fingers when foodstuff items are being changed.
The system also becomes significantly less costly to manufacture and more reliable since all of the mechanics are significantly simplified.
Further appropriate embodiments of the method are stated in claim 2.
As mentioned the invention also relates to a star wheel.
This star wheel is characterized in that the star wheel can turn around a center axis where the star wheel is provided with one or more cavities, which from the external side of the star wheel's diameter forms a recess within the width for transport of foodstuffs and that the star wheel is provided with a slit, which from the external side of the star wheel runs along the whole periphery preferably in the middle of the width and that the star wheel is provided with a fixed guy, which is added in the bottom of the star wheel via a slit and where the star wheel is placed after the conveyor belt and under the conveyor belt.
Hereby it thus becomes possible to use the star wheel for moving foodstuff items without the star wheel containing movable parts.
The construction therefore becomes simple, inexpensive and robust.
Further appropriate embodiments appear from claims 4 to 7.
The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shows, seen from the side, a conveyor belt with sausages, which are moved to a wheel-shaped unit with cavities, also named a star wheel, which can move sausages to a sausage tray, which is placed below.
Fig. 2 shows, seen from above, the same configuration as depicted in fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows, seen from the side, a conveyor belt with burger patties, which are moved to a wheel-shaped star wheel with cavities, which can move burger patties to a burger patty packaging, which is placed below.
Fig. 4 shows, seen from above, the same configuration as depicted in fig. 3.
On fig. 1 is with 1 shown a star wheel, which can turn around a center axis 2. The star wheel 1 is provided with cavities 7, which create hacks in the star wheel 1 from the external side of the periphery.
A conveyor belt 11 moves sausages 2 towards the star wheel 1 whereby a sausage 3 via the conveyor belt 11 can be moved into a cavity 7 when the cavity 7 is placed appropriately opposite the conveyor belt 11.
When a sausage 3 thus has been moved into a cavity 7 in the star wheel 1 , the star wheel 1 can turn a number of degrees in a direction as marked with the arrow 9 whereby the next cavity 7 can be placed opposite the conveyor belt 11 , which can thus push the next sausage 3 into the cavity 7.
The latter described process can be repeated whereby sausages 3 are continuously filled into cavities 7 in the star wheel 1.
When the star wheel 1 from insertion of a sausage 3 in a specific hack 7 is turned preferably 180 degrees in the setup shown in fig. 1 , the sausage 3 will hit a fixed guy 10, which is inserted into a slit 25 (see fig. 2), whereby the sausage 3 is pushed out of cavity 7 and thereby by appropriate positioning of the packaging 15 is placed in its desired space in this.
After the sausage 3 via the fixed guy 10 is pushed out of the cavity 7, the cavity 7 is again ready to receive a new sausage 3, which occurs when star wheel 1 again is turned between 90 and 270 degrees, preferably 180 degrees, whereafter the cavity 7 is again placed opposite the conveyor belt 11 and thereby again can receive a new sausage 3 from the conveyor belt 11.
As it will appear from e.g. fig. 2, the conveyor belt 11 , which moves sausages 3 and the conveyor belt 14, which moves forward packaging 15 consisting of sausage trays, are preferably perpendicular on each other.
This will often be the most appropriate when the system is to be optimised for speed.
In order to optimise and automate the process speed, positioning and movement of the individual components must be synchronised.
In this regard it can be appropriate to let the conveyor belt 11 , which provides the star wheel 1 with sausages 3, be connected with another conveyor belt 12 since the conveyor belt 11 thereby simply can be used to fine-adjust speed and position of each individual sausage 3, which is to be added with a cavity 7 in the star wheel 1.
In fig. 3 is shown a technical installation similar to the one, which is shown in fig. 1 , but where the foodstuff item in fig. 3 is burger patties 19.
It is thus a surprising effect of the new technique that not only sausages but also multiple foodstuff items can be moved from conveyor belt to packaging with the new gentle technique.
In a preferred embodiment, the star wheel 1 is assembled by modules, which can easily be replaced such that the star wheel 1 is optimised for running with a specific foodstuff.
As e.g. shown in fig. 2, the width 22 is a parameter, which typically will be adjusted to a specific foodstuff item.
The width 22 must obviously be larger than the foodstuff item, which is to be moved in order not to deform it. It is in this connection often appropriate that the star wheel 1 can easily be detached and combined by module parts, which are shaped in an optimum way to a specific foodstuff item.
The system can by appropriate computer based process control easily be programmed to run and operate with various foodstuff items and these can be placed individually in packaging or, as shown in fig. 4, stacked 20 as illustrated with burger patties 19.
In the used figures, the circumference of star wheel 1 is shown in a circular way.
The circumference can however in some constructions with advantage be poly-edged.
Tests have shown that the new technique can move sausages with a speed, which is more than 50 % faster than what is possible with the hitherto known technique.
When this is compared with the additional advantages that are created by the new technique including the use of multiple foodstuff items and more simple and inexpensive production and servicing, the effect of the new technique is both surprising and remarkable.
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