阅读说明：本技术 在食物产品的外侧面施加颗粒状物料的方法和设备 (Method and apparatus for applying granular material to the outer side of a food product ) 是由 G·卡塔拉诺 M·莫洛 于 2019-08-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本文描述了一种在食物产品(P)的外侧面上施加颗粒状物料的方法。该方法包括以下步骤：提供具有模具腔体(S；S’)的模具(2；102),所述模具腔体至少部分地由至少一个活动壁(22B；106)界定；通过将所述外侧面(p1)设置在面向所述活动壁(22)并与所述活动壁相距一定距离的位置中,而将产品(P)定位在所述模具腔体中；在包括在所述活动壁(22B；106)和所述产品的所述外侧面之间的间隙(24；112)中引入颗粒状物料；以及使所述活动壁(22B；106)朝向所述产品的所述外侧面移动,使得所述颗粒状物料压靠所述产品(P)的所述外侧面(p1)。(A method of applying a particulate material on the outer side of a food product (P) is described. The method comprises the following steps: providing a mold (2; 102) having a mold cavity (S; S'), said mold cavity being at least partially delimited by at least one movable wall (22B; 106); positioning a product (P) in the mould cavity by arranging the outer side (P1) in a position facing the movable wall (22) and at a distance therefrom; introducing a granular material in a gap (24; 112) comprised between said movable wall (22B; 106) and said outer side of said product; and moving the movable wall (22B; 106) towards the outer side of the product so that the granular material is pressed against the outer side (P1) of the product (P).)

1. A method of applying a granular material on at least one outer side of a food product (P), comprising the steps of:

providing a mold (2; 102) having a mold cavity (S; S'), said mold cavity being at least partially delimited by at least one movable wall (22B; 106);

positioning a product (P) in the mould cavity by arranging the outer side face (P1) in a position facing and at a distance from the movable wall (22B, 106);

introducing a granular material in a gap (24; 112) comprised between said movable wall (22B; 106) and said outer side of said product; and

moving the movable wall (22B; 106) towards the outer side of the product, so that it presses the granular material against the outer side (P1) of the product (P).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein an inflatable body (22) defining said movable wall is provided within said mould (2), and wherein said moving step comprises inflating said inflatable body so that it presses said particulate material against said outer side (P1) of said product (P).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the expanding step comprises injecting a fluid under pressure into the inflatable body (22).

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inflatable body (22) is constituted by a flexible casing or sheath made of waterproof material, preferably rubber or silicone.

5. The method according to claim 3, comprising controlling the pressure inside the inflatable body (22) and stopping the injecting step when a preset pressure is detected, wherein preferably the preset pressure is maintained for a preset time.

6. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, comprising applying a granular material on a closed peripheral edge or a closed lateral surface of the product (P),

wherein the inflatable body (22) has an annular configuration following a closed contour,

wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the product such that the inflatable body (22) will surround the peripheral edge or the lateral surface of the product, at a distance from the peripheral edge or the lateral surface, and

wherein the step of expanding comprises expanding the inflatable body along the entire extension of the closed contour in a direction transverse to the contour.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the mold (102) comprises at least one movable block (106) defining the movable wall, and wherein the moving step comprises moving the movable block towards the outer side of the product by an actuator device (118).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the step of moving the movable block towards the lateral side of the product comprises driving the actuator device based on reference data indicative of a preset position and/or a preset force.

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, comprising applying a granular material on a closed peripheral edge or a closed lateral surface of the product (P),

wherein the mold comprises a series of movable blocks (106) assembled together to form an annular profile,

wherein the positioning step comprises positioning the product such that the movable block will surround the peripheral edge or the closed lateral surface of the product, at a distance from the peripheral edge or the closed lateral surface, and

wherein the moving step comprises simultaneously moving the movable blocks toward the peripheral edge or the closed lateral surface of the product.

10. An apparatus for applying granular material on at least one outer side of a food product (P), comprising:

a mould (2; 102) provided with at least one mould cavity (S; S') at least partially delimited by at least one movable wall and dimensioned to receive the product according to a positioning such that the outer side (p1) of the product is located in a position facing and at a distance from the movable wall (22B, 106); and

means (C, 118) for moving the movable wall towards the interior of the mold cavity.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising:

at least one inflatable body (22) defining said movable wall; and

means (C) for supplying a fluid under pressure, hydraulically connected with said inflatable body (22), for injecting the fluid under pressure into said inflatable body.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the mould comprises a cavity (21) delimited by a bottom (21A) and a side wall (21B) surrounding the bottom (21A), and wherein the inflatable body (22) has an annular configuration to cover the side wall (21B) of the cavity (21) so as to define internally a space designed for receiving the product and the granular material.

13. The device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the inflatable body (22) is constituted by a flexible casing or sheath made of waterproof material, preferably rubber or silicone.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, comprising:

at least one movable block (106) defining said movable wall, mounted on a fixed structure (104) of said mould; and

an actuator device (118) configured for moving the movable mass.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein,

wherein the mold comprises a series of movable blocks (106) assembled together to form an inner annular profile of a given perimeter, and

wherein the actuator device (118) is configured to simultaneously move the movable blocks (106) to reduce the extension of the perimeter.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means comprise a cam system (126, 104', 122', 124') driven by at least one linearly movable actuator member configured to move said movable blocks (106) along a direction which is not orthogonal but inclined with respect to the movable wall defined by said movable blocks and which is reciprocally incident inside each pair of adjacent movable blocks.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of food products, in particular to products at least partially coated with a particulate material.

The above configuration is suitable for various types of products such as biscuits, snacks, etc.

Background

The industrial processes for applying particulate material known so far mostly envisage directing an excess flow of particulate material onto the single product, generally in the form of a film of material falling freely, so that a portion of the material impinging on the product will remain attached to the product itself.

Methods of the above-mentioned type can be used to coat the product completely or only partially. In the latter case, a mask is used together with purposely provided openings to expose only the part of the product to be coated to the flow of material.

In contrast, other processes envisage stirring the product in a rotating container containing the granular material, like the coating process. In this case, the product is completely coated.

In both of the types of processes mentioned, the operation carried out is essentially that of bringing the granular material into contact with the product. Then, due to the presence of the substance with adhesive properties, which coats the product itself in the viscous state, such as cream, molten chocolate and the like, the substance remains attached to the product.

Disclosure of Invention

In this context, the invention relates to a method of applying a particulate material which will be improved in comparison with the above-mentioned known methods, for reasons which will become apparent hereinafter.

The method forming the subject of the invention is defined by the characterizing portion of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a device according to claim 10.

In various embodiments, the methods described herein include methods for applying a particulate material on a localized area of a product.

In various preferred embodiments, the application of the particulate material is focused on the edge or peripheral surface of the product.

In general, the methods described herein can be performed on products of any shape. The method can be implemented in different ways depending on the shape of the product, which will be explained in detail below.

The claims form an integral part of the technical teaching provided herein in relation to the invention.

Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge clearly from the ensuing description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided purely as non-limiting examples and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of successive steps of a method described herein according to a first embodiment;

fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of an example of an apparatus for use in the first embodiment described above;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a mold used in the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the mold of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows an example of a product obtained by the method described herein;

FIG. 6 shows an example of an apparatus for a second embodiment of the method described herein;

FIG. 7 shows the apparatus of FIG. 6 in different operating conditions;

fig. 8A, 8B and 8C are a top plan view, a side view and a view from below, respectively, of the apparatus of fig. 6, partially disassembled.

Detailed Description

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. Embodiments may be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail so as not to obscure aspects of the embodiments.

The references used herein are provided for convenience only and thus do not define the scope of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

Generally, the method described herein has the function of applying the particulate material on at least one outer side of the food product.

The method comprises the following steps:

providing a mold having a mold cavity at least partially bounded by at least one movable wall facing an interior of the mold cavity;

positioning a product in a mold cavity by disposing the outer side face at a position facing the movable wall and spaced apart from the movable wall by a certain distance;

introducing a granular material in the gap between the movable wall and the outer side of the product; and

the movable wall is moved towards the outer side of the product in order to press the granular material against said outer side.

Thus, the method described herein comprises positioning the product and the granular material in a relative position previously established in which they have been in contact with each other within the cavity of the mould, and pressing the material against the product by the action of the movable walls delimiting the cavity of the mould.

The action exerted by the movable wall causes the granules to penetrate into the product to varying degrees, depending on the characteristics of the product and of the granular material, thus fixing the granules to the product.

As will be seen in greater detail hereinafter, the above-mentioned movable wall, designed to press the granular material against the product, may be defined by an inflatable body or by a movable block controlled by actuator means.

For obvious reasons, the use of inflatable bodies constitutes a preferred choice for the application of the method on products of complex shape (for example, of inverted circular or irregular shape).

Reference is made to the solution using an inflatable body, which is transformed from a rest configuration to an expanded configuration by injecting a fluid under pressure into the inflatable body.

In various preferred embodiments, the body is prearranged for expansion in a main direction.

Preferably, the inflatable body is constituted by a shell made of waterproof flexible material (for example rubber, silicone, etc.).

Preferably, the action exerted by the inflatable body is subject to control of the pressure generated within the body, for example by means of a pressure sensor.

With reference to other solutions with a movable block, this is driven into motion, preferably translational, towards the product.

Preferably, the action of the aforesaid blocks is subjected to a force and/or position control to limit the force exerted on the product.

Preferably, the part of the product that comes into contact with the granules consists of a viscous semi-finished product, such as cream, chocolate, honey, etc.

For example, the granular material may be comprised of nuts, coconut, grain, meringue, and the like.

In any case, the methods described herein can be used with any type of particulate material.

A preferred application relates to a material consisting of particles having a size of less than 0.5 cm.

As will be shown below, the methods described herein have been developed with particular reference to products coated with a particulate material around their closed peripheral edges or their closed lateral surfaces.

In any case, the same principles illustrated herein may clearly be applied to products having other configurations, such as products coated with a particulate material on a single face or side.

Referring now to the drawings, fig. 5 shows a product P having the general parallelepiped shape, whose lateral edges are constituted by sides P1, coated with a granular material M.

With reference to fig. 2 to 4, these illustrate an example of an apparatus for coating a plurality of said products with a granular material. The device is realized according to an embodiment wherein an inflatable body as described above is used.

The apparatus comprises a mould 2 having a plurality of cavities 21 for receiving products P.

The cavities 21 are each defined by a bottom 21A and a sidewall 21B surrounding the bottom 21A.

These cavities have a contour in plan view that corresponds to the contour of the product to be received but is significantly larger.

Positioned within the cavity 21 is, in fact, an inflatable body 22 having an annular shape complementary to the internal profile of the cavity 21 identified above.

These bodies are each arranged with their own sector 22B in contact with the wall 21B of the cavity 21, occupying the outermost region of the cavity, leaving instead an inner space constituting the mold cavity S, which is suitable for receiving the product P and the granular material M.

More specifically, each of the bodies 22 is dimensioned so that, by arranging the product P on the bottom 21A in a position substantially in the centre of the cavity S, a channel 24 (fig. 3) designed to contain the granular material is obtained between the section 22B and the respective side P1 of the product P.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the width of the channel 24 is such that the quantity of granular material contained is much greater than that required for coating the product, obviously in order to simplify the operation and ensure complete coverage of the product at the end of the process.

On the other hand, the height of the body 22 and therefore the depth of the cavity S is obviously variable as a function of the vertical extension of the portion of product to be coated with the granular material. However, it is generally possible to prearrange the mould 2 so that a single cavity S is positioned at a specific height of the product, for example at an intermediate height.

The mould 2 has a series of holes 27 for injecting air into the body 22. The latter having a corresponding connector (not visible in the figures) coupled to the hole 27.

Air is supplied by a compressor assembly C which is connected to the bore of the mould by a flexible tube.

In accordance with the above discussion, the body 22 is predisposed to transition from the rest configuration to the expanded configuration as a result of the injection of air under pressure. This conversion requires increasing the thickness of each segment 22B, determining the effect of the pressure of the above-mentioned segment on the granular material on the side p1 of the product.

In particular, the body 22 is preferably configured so that, for each section 22B, the expansion caused by the injection of air will mainly (if not exclusively) occur in a main direction parallel to the bottom 21A of the cavity 21 and orthogonal to the respective wall 21B.

Preferably, in operation, expansion of the body 22 is subject to control of the pressure generated therein. The injection of air is stopped once a preset pressure is reached, which will be set during the installation step of the plant and depends on various factors, including the characteristics of the product P and the granular material M. In various preferred embodiments, the above-mentioned preset pressure is maintained for a specified time.

The above-described control scheme enables the action produced by the body 22 to be adapted to the specific features and differences (for example, in terms of geometry, dimensions, etc.) of the various products, so as to prevent damage to those products which deviate from the reference conditions.

Each body 22 may be constituted by a closed casing or by a sheath designed to surround the air chamber, together with the walls 21B and/or the bottom 21A of the cavity 21.

As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, which envisages respective inflatable bodies for the different cavities 21 of the mould, it is possible to provide the different cavities jointly with one or more inflatable bodies covering a part or the entire perimeter of each cavity. In this case, the number of inflatable bodies will be less than the total number of cavities 21 of the mould. Possibly, in some applications, a single inflatable body 22 may also be provided.

Instead, it is also possible to provide a plurality of individual inflatable bodies in each cavity 21, the number of which is equal to the number of segments 22B required.

As regards the method of now applying the granular material to the product P by means of said device, as shown in fig. 1, the method starts from a condition in which the cavity S is completely free and the body 22 is in the rest configuration (step a of fig. 1).

The product P is then inserted into the cavity S with the different sides P1 facing the respective sections 22B of the body 22 and at the same time being kept separated from these sections by the channels 24 (step B).

Next, the channel 24 is filled with the granular material M until the granular material completely coats the side P1 of the product P (step C).

At this point, the bodies 22 are inflated and their sectors 22B therefore press the granular material against the respective side p1 of the product (step D).

As has been seen, this action fixes the individual particles to the product.

Finally, the product P, now fixed with a layer of granular material along its side P1, is picked up for transfer to a subsequent station, for example a packaging station (step E).

Reference is now made to fig. 6-8A-C, which illustrate different examples of devices implemented according to embodiments using the previously mentioned active blocks.

According to the above described embodiment, the mould, designated by reference numeral 102, comprises a fixed plate 104 and a plurality of blocks 106, mounted on the side 104A of the plate 104, with the possibility of movement, as will be seen in more detail below.

The blocks 106 are divided into different groups or matrices which, together with the side 104A of the plate 104, define respective mould cavities S' for receiving the product P and the granular material M.

In the example shown, the set of four blocks is assembled together so as to delimit a respective cavity S 'having a rectangular shape in plan view, in particular each block defining, with its own inner side 106B, the walls of the respective cavity S'.

The cavity S' is dimensioned such that when the product P is located in the centre of the cavity, the block 106 is located at a distance from the product, thereby defining a channel 112 designed for receiving the granular material. As already described with respect to the previous embodiment, the width of the channel is such that the amount of granular material contained is greater than the amount required to coat the respective product. Likewise, the height of the block 106 and therefore the depth of the cavity S' obviously varies as a function of the vertical extension of the portion of product to be coated with the granular material.

As previously mentioned, the block 106 is mounted so as to be movable so as to press the granular material previously introduced into the channel 112 against the respective side of the product P.

In various preferred embodiments, the blocks 106 are prearranged for simultaneous movement. For this purpose, the blocks 106 are connected to a common drive 118.

In various preferred embodiments, as in the one shown, the blocks 106 move in a rectilinear motion along a direction which is not orthogonal but inclined with respect to the walls of the respective cavities S' defined by the blocks and which are incident one upon the other within each pair of adjacent blocks.

In this way, the blocks 106 are each able to access a respective side of the product without interfering with and remaining in contact with adjacent blocks, so as to define respective cavities S'.

In various preferred embodiments, the plate 104 has grooves 104' that are inclined differently according to the direction of movement of the block 106, these grooves engaging with respective pins 126 carried by the block 106 itself and guiding the movement of the block in the above-mentioned direction.

The drive arrangement 118 comprises a first drive member 122 and a second drive member 124, which are arranged below the plate 104 and can be moved linearly in an alternating motion.

The member has slots 122', 124', which slots 122', 124' correspond in shape and position to the slots 104', through which slots 122', 124' the member engages the pins 126 of the block 106 and moves the block. In particular, the two drive members 122, 124 are each connected to two adjacent blocks 106 by a respective slot.

The two members 122, 124 are prearranged to move in a synchronized manner and in opposite directions. The slot acts as a cam device designed to convert the motion of the two members into the motion of the block 106 mentioned above.

The control of the two members may be performed by respective actuators, or by a single actuator connected to the two members by a transmission chain.

The stroke of the two members 122, 124 may be predetermined based on the geometry of the product.

In some embodiments, the movement of the two members 122, 124 is subject to control of position, with the actuators used to control the aforementioned members being driven based on reference data indicative of preset positions.

In an alternative embodiment, the movements of the two members 122, 124 are oppositely force controlled, wherein the actuators for controlling the aforementioned members are driven based on reference data indicative of a preset force.

In both types of control, the preset position or preset force corresponds to a condition in which the block 106 is pressed against the product P with a maximum preset force.

In the case of force control, the force exerted by the two members 122, 124 may be detected by load cells associated therewith. In an alternative embodiment, instead, the force is detected by measuring the intensity of the current absorbed by the actuator controlling the above-mentioned member.

In some embodiments, control of the force may be implemented to assist in the control of the position.

In this way, any possible damage to any products deviating from the reference state (for example with respect to their geometry and/or dimensions) is prevented.

The method of applying the granular material M to the product P by means of said apparatus substantially corresponds to the process described above with reference to figure 1. The only difference is that in this case, according to the way shown, the action of pushing the granules against the product is exerted by the block 106 and not by the inflatable body 22.

Finally, in view of the foregoing, it will be noted how the methods and apparatus described herein can be used to operate on any shaped product. In this respect, with reference to the apparatus, this will envisage a suitably shaped mould cavity S based on the shape of the product in various applications. For applications with products having complex shapes (e.g., inverted circular, irregular, etc.), the device is preferably prearranged in the form of having an inflatable body.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the construction details and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to what has been illustrated herein purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention, as defined by the annexed claims.