阅读说明：本技术 用于控制冰淇淋产品上涂覆材料的重量的生产设备和方法 (Production apparatus and method for controlling the weight of coating material on ice cream products ) 是由 扬·克亚尔·拉尔森 于 2020-05-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：在一种用于涂覆冰淇淋产品的生产设备中,多个载体被用于将冰淇淋产品从供应站运输到涂覆站,在该涂覆站,例如巧克力的涂层被施加到产品上。生产设备包括称重工具,该称重工具被配置为在施加涂层之前和之后自动对冰淇淋产品称重,该称重工具被用在反馈回路中,用于调节涂覆参数,例如巧克力温度。(In a production facility for coating ice cream products, a plurality of carriers are used to transport the ice cream products from a supply station to a coating station where a coating, such as chocolate, is applied to the products. The production apparatus comprises weighing means configured to automatically weigh the ice cream product before and after the coating is applied, the weighing means being used in a feedback loop for adjusting coating parameters, such as chocolate temperature.)

1. A method for controlling the weight of coating material on ice cream products (2) in a production plant for coated ice cream products (2), each of said ice cream products comprising an ice cream mass (2B) on a stick (2A); the production apparatus comprises a supply station for providing ice cream products (2) and a plurality of carriers (3) for transporting the ice cream products (2) from the supply station to a coating station (9), wherein the carriers (3) are arranged carrier by carrier in a circulating arrangement for picking up new ice cream products (2) for coating via the sticks (2A) after one transport cycle; each carrier (3) comprising at least one gripper (4) for holding a stick (2A) during transport of the ice cream product (2) to the coating station (9) and during application of the coating to the ice cream mass (2B); wherein the production apparatus comprises weighing means (6, 7) configured for automatically weighing the ice cream product (2) before and after application of the coating, the weighing means (6, 7) being connected to an electronic controller (11) with a computer unit and configured for receiving weight data from weight measurements by the weighing means (6, 7) to the controller (11); wherein the controller (11) is configured for repeatedly receiving the weight data from the weighing means (6, 7) during production and for automatically comparing the weight of the coating of the ice cream product (2) with a predetermined value, and the controller (11) is configured for changing a coating parameter of a coating program if the weight of the coating deviates from a predetermined value; wherein the production facility is configured to change coating parameters by the controller (11) during production without stopping production; wherein the parameter adjustment based on the weight data is arranged as a feedback loop (15) for repeatedly adjusting the parameter based on the weight data from the weight measurement of a subsequent ice cream product (2);

wherein the method comprises the following automated sequence of steps:

-providing an ice cream product (2) by the supply station and picking up the ice cream product (2) by the gripper (4) through a stick (2A) of the ice cream product (2) and transporting the ice cream product (2) to the coating station (9);

-weighing the ice cream product (2) before or after said transporting, but before applying said coating;

-coating the ice cream mass (2B) while the ice cream stick (2A) is held on the carrier (3) by the clamp (4);

-weighing the ice cream product (2) after application of the coating;

-transmitting (10) the weight data from the weight measurement to the controller (11);

-receiving, by the controller (11), the weight data from the weight measurement and comparing the weight of the coating of the ice cream product (2) with a predetermined value, and if the weight of the coating deviates from the predetermined value, changing a coating parameter of a coating program and using the changed coating parameter in the feedback loop (15) for a subsequent coating of an ice cream product (2).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a rod (3) is provided as part of the carrier; wherein each stick (3) comprises a plurality of clamps (4) arranged in a row for holding the sticks (2A) in a row, wherein the production apparatus is arranged for simultaneously dipping the mass (2B) of a row of ice cream products (2) into a liquid coating bath (9) of the coating material, wherein the weighing means comprises a weighing unit (6) for each clamp (4) in at least one of the sticks (3) or for holding at least one stick of a plurality of clamps, the weighing unit (6) being configured to measure the weight of each individual ice cream product (2) in the row of ice cream products (2) or to measure the weight of a plurality of ice cream products in the clamps arranged on one stick before and after a coating procedure;

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-weighing each ice cream product (2) individually before coating, or weighing each stick comprising a plurality of clamps, each clamp holding an ice cream product, before coating;

-simultaneously dipping the ice cream products (2) in the row of ice cream products (2) into a liquid coating bath (9) of the coating material, pulling the row of ice cream products (2) out of the coating material;

-weighing each ice cream product (2) individually after coating, or weighing each bar comprising a plurality of clamps, each clamp holding an ice cream product.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a rod (3) is provided as part of the carrier; wherein each stick (3) comprises a plurality of clamps (4), which plurality of clamps (4) are arranged in a row for holding the sticks (2A) in a row, wherein the production apparatus is arranged for simultaneously dipping the mass (2B) of a row of ice cream products (2) into a liquid coating bath (9) of the coating material, wherein the weighing means comprise weighing units (6), wherein selected ones of the clamps (4) are provided with separate weighing units, while the other clamps are not provided with weighing units for measuring the weight of each individual ice cream product (2) of the row of ice cream products (2) arranged in a clamp with a weighing unit before and after a coating procedure;

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-weighing each ice cream product (2) in the clamp provided with a weighing unit before coating;

-simultaneously dipping the ice cream products (2) of the row of ice cream products (2) into a liquid coating bath (9) of the coating material, pulling the row of ice cream products (2) out of the coating material;

-weighing each ice cream product (2) in said clamp provided with a weighing unit after coating.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein a rod (3) is provided as part of the carrier; wherein each stick (3) comprises a plurality of clamps (4) arranged in a row for holding the sticks (2A) of the ice cream products (2) in a row, wherein the production apparatus is arranged for simultaneously dipping the mass (2B) of a row of ice cream products (2) into a liquid coating bath (9) of the coating material, wherein the weighing means comprises one weighing unit (6) for at least one of the sticks (3), the weighing unit (6) being configured for measuring the total weight of the row of ice cream products (2) before and after a coating procedure;

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-co-weighing the ice cream products (2) of the stick (3) before coating;

-simultaneously dipping the pieces (2B) of the row of ice cream products (2B) into the coating material, pulling the row of ice cream products (2) out of the coating material in the coating;

-after coating, co-weighing the ice cream product (2).

5. Method according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the production apparatus comprises a releasable coupling (17) between the weighing unit (6) and the product (2) and is configured to separate each stick (2A) from the weighing unit (6) during immersion into the coating material, wherein the method comprises coupling the weighing unit (6) to the stick (2A) before immersion to weigh the product (2), separating the weighing unit (6) from the stick (2A) during immersion of the ice cream mass (2B), and coupling the weighing unit (6) to the stick (2A) after immersion for weighing the product (2) and detecting the coating material picked up during immersion.

6. Method according to claim 5, wherein the production apparatus is configured for detaching each stick (2A) from the weighing unit (6) during transport of the product (2) from the supply station to the coating station (9), wherein the method comprises coupling the weighing unit (6) to the stick (2A) only after picking up from the supply station and detaching the weighing unit (6) before dipping.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein the weighing means (6, 7) comprise a weigher (7) and a container (7A) or platform, the container (7A) or platform being arranged for receiving the ice cream product (2) thereon and weighing the product (2) with the weigher (7) while the ice cream product is resting on the container (7A) or platform; wherein the production apparatus is programmed to release the stick (2A) of the ice cream product (2) from the clamp (4) for placing the ice cream product (2) onto the container (7A) or platform for weighing the ice cream product (2) by the weigher (7);

wherein the method comprises the following steps:

-receiving the ice cream product (2) from the carrier (3) onto the container (7A) or platform;

-weighing the ice cream product (2) on the container (7A) or platform with the weigher (7) before coating, while the stick (2A) is detached from the carrier (3);

-picking up the stick (2A) from the container (7A) or the platform with the carrier (3) after weighing;

-dipping the ice cream mass (2B) into the coating material and pulling the row of masses (2B) out of the coating material;

-receiving the ice cream product (2) from the carrier (3) onto the container (7A) or platform after solidification of the coating;

-weighing the stick on the container (7A) or platform with the weigher (7) after coating, while the ice cream product (2) is detached from the carrier (3);

-picking up the ice cream product (2) from the container (7A) or platform with the carrier (3) after weighing;

and transporting the ice cream product (2) to the packaging station.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coating material is chocolate and the method comprises adjusting the temperature of the chocolate as part of the parameter adjustment of the feedback loop (15) in order to adjust the pick-up weight of the chocolate.

9. A production plant for coated ice cream products, comprising a supply station for providing ice cream products (2) and a plurality of carriers (3) for transporting the ice cream products (2) from the supply station to a coating station (9), wherein the carriers (3) are arranged carrier by carrier in a circulating arrangement for picking up new ice cream products (2) for coating by means of the sticks (2A) after one transport cycle; each carrier (3) comprising at least one gripper (4) for holding the sticks (2A) during transport of the ice cream products (2) to the coating station (9) and during application of the coating to the ice cream mass (2B); wherein the production apparatus comprises weighing means (6, 7) configured for automatically weighing the ice cream product (2) before and after application of the coating, the weighing means (6, 7) being connected to an electronic controller (11) with a computer unit and configured for receiving weight data from weight measurements by the weighing means (6, 7) to the controller (11); wherein the controller (11) is configured for repeatedly receiving the weight data from the weighing means (6, 7) during production and for automatically comparing the weight of the coating of the ice cream product (2) with a predetermined value, and the controller (11) is configured for changing a coating parameter of a coating program if the weight of the coating deviates from a predetermined value; wherein the production facility is configured to change coating parameters by the controller (11) during production without stopping production; wherein a parameter adjustment based on the weight data is arranged as a feedback loop (15) for repeatedly adjusting the parameter based on the weight data from the weight measurement of a subsequent ice cream product (2).

10. A production device according to claim 9, wherein the rod (3) is provided as part of a carrier; wherein each stick (3) comprises a plurality of clamps (4) arranged in a row for holding the sticks (2A) in a row, wherein the production apparatus is arranged for simultaneously dipping the mass (2B) of a row of ice cream products (2) into a liquid coating bath (9) of the coating material, wherein the weighing means comprises a weighing unit (6) for each clamp (4) in at least one of the sticks (3), the weighing unit (6) being configured for measuring the weight of each individual ice cream product (2) in the row of ice cream products (2) before and after a coating procedure.

11. Production device according to claim 10, wherein the production device comprises a releasable coupling (17) between the weighing unit (6) and the product (2) and is configured to separate each stick (2A) from the weighing unit (6) during immersion into the coating material, wherein the production device is configured to couple the weighing unit (6) to the stick (2A) before immersion for weighing the product (2), to separate the weighing unit (6) from the stick (2A) during immersion of the ice cream mass (2B) and to couple the weighing unit (6) to the stick (2A) after immersion for weighing the product (2) and detecting the coating material picked up during immersion.

12. A production device according to claim 11, wherein the production device is configured for separating each product (2) from the weighing unit (6) during transport of the product (2) from the supply station to the coating station (9).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a production apparatus and method for controlling the weight of coating material on an ice cream product having ice cream mass on a stick. The production apparatus is of the type used for producing coated ice cream products (coated ice cream), and comprises a supply station for supplying the ice cream products and a plurality of carriers for transporting the ice cream products from the supply station to the coating station. The carriers are arranged one after the other in a circulating arrangement for picking up new ice cream products after one transportation cycle for coating the ice cream products. Each carrier comprises at least one gripper for holding the stick during transport to the coating station and during application of the coating to the ice cream mass of the ice cream product.

Background

A process for producing a coated ice cream product is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5958493 to Gram Equipment A/S. The process comprises extrusion, cutting, stick insertion, cooling, coating and packaging. The patent does not consider the problem of the weight of the ice cream product deviating from the target value.

However, the correct weight of ice cream in the package is an important issue when producing ice cream products. On the one hand, if the container contains too little ice cream, this is unacceptable to the end user and often also to the end seller. On the other hand, in order to maintain a competitive price, a minimum margin of product in the package is advantageous to the manufacturer. It is therefore generally advantageous to provide ice cream products of precise weight.

US patents numbered US3566613, US4494582, US4316490 and US6209590 and canadian patent document CA1154850 disclose an adjustment mechanism for controlled weighing of ice cream containers and adjustment by a controller. For filling of ice cream into containers below a predetermined limit, us patent 3648741 discloses a fine-tuned filling for adjusting the final weight.

Weight accuracy is even more important for chocolate covered ice cream products because the cost of chocolate is much higher than the cost of an equivalent amount of ice cream. In some cases, a thick chocolate coating is several times more expensive than the ice cream it coats.

Typically, coating by chocolate or alternative jelly or juice is achieved by pre-weighing in a series of experiments in which the coating time for inserting the ice cream product into the molten chocolate is varied. The correct recipe and temperature of the chocolate and the correct time are used for production. Such procedures are explained in U.S. patent applications numbered US2016/316784 and US 2016/044935. The use of an air stream to remove excess chocolate is disclosed in GB 301911.

Although the chocolate coating can be determined with high precision in the experiments, this does not prevent uncertainties in the final production process, in which deviations from the experimental values are usually observed.

Therefore, there is a need for better control of the weight of chocolate during the production of coated ice cream products.

Description/summary of the invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improvement over the prior art. In particular, it is an object to provide more precise control of ice cream coatings, especially chocolate coatings, during the production process. This object is achieved by a method and an apparatus for controlling the weight of coating material on ice cream products in a production plant, as described below.

The production apparatus comprises a supply station for providing ice cream products. For example, the production Equipment has general principles, as disclosed in US5958493 by Gram Equipment a/S, including ice cream extrusion, cutting of the extruded ice cream into pieces for ice cream products, insertion of sticks into the cut pieces, cooling, coating and packaging. Such production facilities typically operate at high speeds producing over 10,000 ice cream products per hour, for example in the range of 36,000 ice cream products per hour.

The improvement resides in the coating process. In a production facility, a plurality of carriers are used to transport ice cream products to a coating station where a coating (e.g., chocolate) is applied to an ice cream mass. The production apparatus comprises weighing means configured to automatically weigh the ice cream product before and after the coating is applied, the weighing means being used in a parameter feedback loop for adjusting coating parameters, such as chocolate temperature, ice cream temperature and/or immersion time.

The production apparatus and the operation method thereof will be described in detail hereinafter.

In the production facility, a plurality of carriers are provided for transporting the ice cream products to the coating station. The carrier (e.g. in the form of a stick) holds a plurality of sticks of ice cream product, arranged in a circulating arrangement one carrier after the other. The carriers are used to pick up the new product by its stick after a complete transport cycle (usually through a packaging station) for transport to a coating station.

Each carrier comprises at least one clamp for holding one or more sticks, but typically a plurality of clamps for holding one stick in each clamp during transport to the coating station and during application of the coating to the ice cream mass.

In some embodiments, the rods are provided as part of carriers, one rod per carrier. In a practical embodiment, each rod comprises a plurality of clamps arranged in rows for holding a respective row of individual sticks. The bar is arranged for simultaneously dipping a row of ice cream products into a liquid coating bath of coating material, such as a molten chocolate coating.

In order to determine the correct weight of the coating, the production apparatus comprises a weighing means configured to automatically weigh the ice cream product before and after the coating is applied. For example, the weighing tool is connected to an electronic controller with a computer unit and is configured to transmit weight data from a weight measurement of the weighing tool to the controller. The controller is configured to repeatedly receive weight data from the weighing tool during the production process and to automatically compare the coating weight of the ice cream stick with a predetermined value.

Typically, the predetermined value comprises a minimum level of weight. However, it is advantageous for the manufacturer not to exceed this excess weight margin, since the additional chocolate is expensive for the manufacturer and means a wasted profit. Thus, in addition, the predetermined value includes a variation (margin) within which the weight is advantageously controlled.

For example, the coating is chocolate, and the ice cream mass requires at least 20 grams of chocolate, with a variance of 1 gram. The target may also be provided by an average weight of 20.5 grams with a variance of +/-0.5 grams.

The controller is configured to change the coating parameters of the coating program based on the weight data from the weighing tool if the weight of the coating deviates from a predetermined value. A great advantage is that the production plant is configured such that the coating parameters can be changed by the controller during a running production without the need to stop the production. In particular, the parameter adjustment based on the weight data is arranged as a feedback loop for repeating the adjustment of the parameter based on the weight data from subsequent weight measurements.

In practice, the method comprises the following automated sequence of steps. The ice cream products supplied by the supply station are picked up by the grippers of the plurality of carriers via their sticks and transported to the coating station. Before or after this transportation, but before the application of the coating, the ice cream product is weighed by a weighing means. The ice cream mass of the ice cream product is then coated while being held in the holder of the carrier via its stick. After application of the coating material, the ice cream product is reweighed by the weighing means. The weight increase before to after coating represents the weight of coating material applied to the ice cream mass.

The weighing is carried out using the same weighing cell or different weighing cells. In both cases, all weighing cells are part of the weighing means described herein.

The weight data from both measurements is transmitted to the controller. The received weight data are processed by a controller which compares the weight of the coating of the ice cream product with a predetermined value. If the weight of the coating deviates from the predetermined value and is therefore outside the predetermined amount of variation, the coating parameters of the coating program are adjusted.

For example, at least one of the following operations is performed:

-coating time increases or decreases, such as spray application time or residence time during immersion;

-changing the temperature of the ice cream product before coating;

-if a blower is used to blow off the coating from the ice cream stick, the air flow, speed, temperature and/or time is changed;

-if vibration is used, adjusting the time, the direction of vibration and/or the amplitude of vibration.

The present system is particularly useful in the case where the coating is chocolate, typically where the temperature of the chocolate is raised or lowered.

In some practical embodiments, the weighing tool comprises a weighing cell for each clamp in the at least one bar. Each weighing unit is configured for measuring the weight of an individual ice cream product in the row of ice cream products before and after the coating procedure.

In other embodiments, a weighing device is provided for each rod, wherein each rod may have one or more clamps, i.e. be able to carry one or more sticks. In these cases, the weight record will of course represent the total weight of the ice cream product carried by the clamp or clamps on each stick. Thus, in order to obtain the weight of each ice cream product, the weight should be divided by the number of clamps. This weight indication will represent the average value of each ice cream product carried by the clamps on the same stick. Thus, it is assumed that all ice cream products carried by the stick will be treated in the same way.

Alternatively, the weighing means comprises a weighing unit for at least one of the rods, the weighing unit being configured for measuring the total weight of the row of ice cream products before and after the coating procedure. In this case, the weight measurement yields the average weight of the coating on the ice cream mass in the row of ice cream products.

After weighing before coating, the ice cream products of a row of ice cream products are simultaneously dipped into the coating material and pulled out of the coating material after coating. Optionally, the fluid coating is allowed to drip before the next weighing procedure. Once the coating had solidified and did not drip from the ice cream product, it was weighed.

In another alternative embodiment, the method is further improved wherein the rod is provided as part of the carrier; wherein each stick comprises a plurality of clamps arranged in a row for holding sticks in a row, wherein the production apparatus is arranged for simultaneously dipping a row of blocks of ice cream products into a liquid coating bath of coating material, wherein the weighing means comprises a weighing unit, wherein selected clamps are provided with a separate weighing unit, while the other clamps are not provided with a weighing unit for measuring the weight of each individual ice cream product in the row of ice cream products arranged in the clamp with the weighing unit before and after the coating procedure;

wherein, the method comprises the following steps:

-weighing each ice cream product in a fixture provided with a weighing unit before coating;

-simultaneously dipping the row of ice cream products into a liquid coating bath of coating material, pulling the row of ice cream products out of the coating material;

-weighing each ice cream product (2) in a fixture provided with a weighing unit after coating.

By arranging the weighing cells on some clamps on the bar, the number of weighing cells and associated delicate electronics, etc. may be reduced. Since the clamps are arranged relatively close together, it can be assumed that the weight average obtained from several weighing cells distributed along the bar represents all the ice cream products on that particular bar.

Depending on the setting, each ice cream product is weighed individually or as part of a row, optionally before or after transport to a packaging station.

Generally, it is not necessary to provide a weighing cell for each carrier. Since the carrier is moved cyclically and after returning to the supply station back to the coating station, it is usually sufficient to provide only one carrier, for example a single weighing unit for the entire group of ice cream products, or a plurality of weighing units for measuring the weight of individual ice cream products.

Advantageously, in order to prevent overloading of the weighing unit and to reduce early damage, the production apparatus comprises a releasable coupling between the weighing unit and the ice cream products and is configured for separating each ice cream product from the weighing unit during immersion in the coating material, while still holding the ice cream product by the carrier. In this case, the weighing unit is coupled with the ice cream product only during the weighing procedure, for example as one of the plurality of weighing units individually or as part of a row of weighing units coupled to the plurality of ice cream products jointly.

For example, the weighing unit is coupled to the ice cream product only after being picked up from the supply station (e.g. just before the coating station) and is separated again before being dipped. Optionally, the production apparatus is configured for separating each ice cream product from the weighing unit during transportation of the ice cream product from the supply station to the coating station. Optionally, the weighing unit is also separated from the ice cream product during transport from the coating station to the packaging station.

In an alternative embodiment, the weighing means comprises at least one scale and a container or platform arranged for receiving the ice cream product on the container or platform and weighing the ice cream product with the scale when the ice cream product is placed on the container or platform. The production apparatus is then programmed to release the ice cream product from the clamp onto a container or platform for weighing the ice cream product by the weigher.

In practice, the ice cream product is received from the carrier onto a container or platform and weighed while the ice cream product is resting on the container or platform before coating and while the ice cream product is off the carrier. The carrier then picks up the ice cream product from the platform after weighing and dipping the ice cream product into the coating material and pulling the row of ice cream products out of the coating material again. After the coating has solidified, the ice cream product is again received by the container or platform from the carrier and weighed while the ice cream product is on the container or platform and while the ice cream product is off the carrier. After weighing, the carrier picks up the ice cream product from the platform and transports the ice cream product to a packaging station.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically shows a production line in which a plurality of ice cream products are aligned and carried on bars, wherein the bars are arranged on a frame in an endless arrangement;

figure 2 shows a system in which the rod is provided with a weighing cell measuring the weight of the rod;

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which a separate weighing cell is provided for each clamp;

FIG. 4 shows a system in which ice cream products fall onto a weigher after the chocolate coating has solidified and are picked up again after weighing;

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of a feedback loop system including a weighing cell and controller and a coating station;

fig. 6 shows the clamp 4 with the coupling 17.

Detailed description/preferred embodiments

In the following, the offset is performed on the production line where the ice cream product is transported to the coating station. One example of a production line is disclosed in US5958493 by Gram Equipment a/S, wherein the process comprises extrusion, cutting, stick insertion, cooling, coating and packaging.

Figure 1 shows a section 1 of a production line in which a plurality of ice cream products 2 are arranged in a plurality of successive rows, each row being carried by a bar 3, the bar 3 having a plurality of grippers 4 as holders for sticks 2A of ice cream products 2.

Each stick holder 4 in the rod 3 comprises a releasable clamp 4, which releasable clamp 4 has two oppositely arranged jaws 4A, 4B between which the stick 2 is clamped and held in a vertical orientation. The sticks 3 are transported through a coating station 9, the coating station 9 being in the form of a bath of liquid coating material (in particular chocolate), the ice cream mass 2B of the product 2 being inserted into the coating station 9 by lowering the sticks 3. It is noted that this principle is also applicable to juice coating.

The thickness of chocolate left on the ice cream mass 2B depends on the viscosity of the chocolate fluid, the infusion time, the melting temperature of the chocolate and the temperature of the ice cream. These parameters are typically adjusted prior to the start of the production line. However, it should be noted that chocolate pick-up during the infusion process also changes the temperature of the chocolate pool, especially at the start of the production process or during changes in the production process. For this reason, it is advantageous to provide a feedback system for the chocolate pick-up weight.

Figure 2 shows a system in which the rod 3 is provided with a weighing unit 6, which weighing unit 6 measures the weight of the rod 3 before and after the row of ice cream products 2 has been impregnated. In this embodiment, the total chocolate pick-up of the row of ice cream products 2 is measured, and the average weight of the chocolate coating of an individual ice cream product 2 is obtained by dividing by the number of sticks 2 in the row.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment in which a separate weighing cell 6 is provided for each clamp 4. This arrangement results in an actual weight increase of each individual product 2. An advantage over the system of figure 2 is that the statistical distribution of the weights for ice cream products 2 subjected to substantially the same chocolate coating procedure is increased in accuracy.

Figure 4 shows the sequential weighing steps of the system, wherein after solidification of the coating, the ice cream product 2 is dropped onto the weigher 7 by releasing the stick 2A from the clamp 4 by opening the jaws 43A, 4B for weighing by the weigher 7. After weighing, the ice cream products 2 are picked up again by their sticks 2A. To hold the ice cream product 2, the container 7A is used on a scale.

Alternatively, but not shown here, the ice cream products 2 fall again on the weighers 7 and are then not picked up again, but are transported from the weighers 7 to the packaging section by other transport means.

Fig. 5 is a block diagram 10 of a feedback system, wherein the signal from the weigher 7 or weighing unit 6 is transmitted 10 to a computerized controller 11, which calculates 12 the deviation from a target value and the possible variations of parameters of the chocolate coating, such as the temperature 13 at which the product 2 remains in the chocolate pool and/or the pick-up time 14, and then used in a feedback loop 15 for the immersion time of the product cycle of the next batch of product 2.

In embodiments where a blower is used to blow liquid chocolate away from the ice cream surface, alternative parameter variations may be related to the blowing time and intensity of the air flow, thereby adjusting the chocolate remaining on the stick.

In some embodiments, a vibrator is used to shake the chocolate, the vibration of which is also optionally regulated by the controller based on feedback from the weight.

In these cases, weight control of the chocolate is used in a control feedback loop so that adjustments to the parameters of the chocolate coating are calculated and adjusted during production without the need to stop production. This has the particular advantage that deviations from the predetermined target pick-up weight of the chocolate are adjusted and kept optimised under various conditions, for example from the start of production or during a change in production, and before a steady-state production cycle is established.

Fig. 6 shows a clamp 4 with a coupling 17, which coupling 17 connects and disconnects between a conventional holder 16 for holding and a weighing cell 6. The weighing unit 6 is only periodically active for weighing the product 2 before and after coating, but during transport by the rod 3 the weighing unit 6 is separated from the stick 2A of the product 2 by the coupling 17 to avoid overloading the weighing unit 6.