Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DISTRIBUTOR OF LIQUID OR CREAMY CONSTITUENTS FOR GARNISHING
FOOD
The invention relates to a mechanical metering device that is particularly
suited for garnishing
food products, such as pizza, flat bread, cakes etc. with sauce, cream or
generally with liquid or
cream-like components, and that are supplied by a tube and under pressure,
which pressure may
be generated by a pump. In general, these metering devices are mounted at a
production line or
mechanical production equipment above the passage area of the basic product to
be garnished,
which means that the garnishing process is performed in free fall, and, in
order to distribute the
garnishing product evenly on the surface of the basic product, it is necessary
to use several tubes
or nozzles and air jets that are evenly spaced above the garnishing area and
that distribute the
garnishing product on the basic product.
The known devices have several disadvantages; for instance the system with a
plurality of tubes
and nozzles proved to be particularly unsuitable for products such as tomato
sauce, because the
garnishing products are rarely homogenous in respect to fluidity and texture,
and therefore the
individual nozzles that are fed by one single supply tube do not dispense
equal quantities of the
garnishing product. In addition, dispensing via a plurality of tubes and
nozzles causes problems
regarding cleaning and sanitation, because the product drips from each nozzle
after the product
flow has been interrupted. In order to prevent the product from spoiling as
well as mold from
forming and bacteria from breeding during downtimes, it is also necessary to
exchange this part
more often, which negatively impacts the production costs.
The system that provides distribution via air jets requires high product
homogeneity, precise
metering of the product, as well as calibration of the air jet depending on
the texture and the
volume of the garnishing product, which often entails excessive distribution
connected with
cleaning problems or insufficient and thus intermittent distribution.
In particular from US-5.921.170 (Khatchadourian), a metering device is known
where the
garnishing product falls onto the basic product underneath, which basic
product is seated on a
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base that rotates and shifts radially about a vertical axis, meaning that the
distribution actually is
performed in the shape of a spiral.
This known device, which is integrated into a production line for pizza,
allots all movements to
the basic product, whereas the nozzle that dispenses the garnishing product is
stationary.
This solution excludes the use of traditional conveyor belts or conveyor
chains for the basic
product. Thus, conveying on a rotating base from the point of molding of the
basic product to the
baking station or the ejection station of the basic product, whereas rotation
might only take place
up to the point of garnishing, or a mechanized change must occur from a
traditional or at least
non-rotating base to a base that is suitable for the further processing and/or
the baking process.
This also complicates solutions that, for instance, require the base to be
heated during the
conveying and/or the garnishing of the basic product.
The even and regular distribution in spiral-shape is guaranteed, if it is
ensured that the spiral has
a constant gradient, the garnishing product is dispensed without interruption
and evenly, and in
particular that the speed with which the garnishing product touches the basic
product is uniform.
As an alternative, the even distribution of the gamishing product can also be
achieved by
adjusting the volume (dispensed volume) in relation to the changed speed with
which the
garnishing product touches the basic product below.
The object of the invention is to design a metering device of the kind
indicated at the beginning,
that affords the even distribution of the garnishing product on the basic
product - independent of
the homogeneity of the garnishing product - and uses traditional conveying
means, or such
conveying means that also enable the processing of the basic product during
the garn.ishing
process, for instance via heat, and that also facilitates the cleaning process
and maintenance of
good sanitation.
To achieve this object, the invention suggests equipping the nozzle and/or the
end of the tube
through which the garnishing product is supplied, with all the motions that
are necessary to
achieve the even distribution on the basic product, without using special
conveying means for the
basic product, which conveying means would rotate and/or shift the basic
product, other than
conveying the basic product from one point of processing to the next.
Thus, the invention titilizes the known system of the spiral distribution,
where the garnishing
products falls onto the basic product; in order to achieve this object of the
invention, the
invention provides a device that rotates about a vertical rotational axis,
which has a threaded
607782.1 2/13/03
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spindle that is mechanically connected with the rotating part of the device
and that radially shifts
the end of the tube or the nozzle for dispensing the garnishing product during
the rotation in a
horizontal plane above the basic product such that the garnishing product is
distributed in a spiral
with constant gradient, without moving the basic product. In order to achieve
a homogenous
distribution, the speed that is used for creating the spiral is constant
during the entire garnishing
process, which preferably starts at the periphery of the basic product and
ends at the center. In
order to achieve this, the number of revolutions of the device is increased in
relation to the
reduction of the radius of the spiral, so that the garnishing product is
always deposited onto the
basic product at the same speed.
The device according to the invention comprises a fixed basic frame with two
horizontal plates; a
friction ring or annular gear is mounted to the bottom plate in the region of
a central bore,
whereas on the top plate, a bushing is pivoted coaxially to this ring and this
bore, which bushing
is driven by an electric motor and permanently mounted to bearing plates for a
threaded spindle;
the rotation of this threaded spindle moves a carriage in the direction of the
axis and to radially
shift the end of the tube for supplying the garnishing product. The threaded
spindle is driven via
a friction disk, which is in contact with the friction ring, or via an annular
gear that engages into
the gear ring.
By rotating the bushing and thus the bearing of the threaded spindle in one
direction, the radial
shifting of the carriage via the threaded spindle in one direction is
achieved, for instance,
outwardly to the rotational axis of the bushing, whereas the friction disk or
toothed gear that is
connected with the threaded spindle, rolls off the friction ring or annular
gear, which is mounted
to the stationary frame. Reversing the rotational direction of the bushing
results in the shifting of
the carriage from the area of the rotational axis of the bushing outward, that
is, into the margin
area of the basic product underneath.
The flexible tube for supplying the garnishing product is routed freely
through the rotating
bushing, which tube is pivoted in the radially shiftable carriage so that the
dispensed garnishing
product can fa11 freely onto the basic product.
The positioning of the end of the tube prevents the tube from twisting or
becoming entangled
while the various motions of the device are performed and also allows for the
tube to be
disassembled and exchanged easily for cleaning purposes and maintaining good
sanitation,
which tube preferably comprises one single piece with the tube component of
the peristaltic
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pump for supplying the garnishing product. The invention does not exclude that
the
rotational speed of the end of the tube or the nozzle for dispensing the
garnishing product
remains constant, whereas the decreased radius of the spiral results in a
reduced speed at
which the garnishing product is deposited onto the basic product, which
requires a
proportional increase of the supplied garnish volume to deposit and distribute
the
garnishing product evenly. In order to limit the required cleaning and to
maintain good
sanitation, the device according to the invention allows easy exchange of the
tube, which
is a single exchange part with a single tube coupling and which can easily be
removed
and installed.
Below, the invention is explained in detail using the exemplary embodiment of
a metering
device of a garnishing device according to the invention, which exemplary
embodiment is
schematically shown in the attached drawings; the drawings are solely for
informational
purposes and do not limit the scope of the invention. It shows:
Fig. 1 is the metering device according to the invention in top view.
Fig. 2 shows a cross section according to cutting plane II-II of Fig. 1, which
plane
comprises the vertical axis of the metering device shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows the lateral view - partly in cross-section - of the carriage that
is driven by the
threaded spindle according to the invention.
Fig. 4 shows the metering device shown in Figs. 1 and 2, with a mounting for
the
threaded spindle and the carriage without case.
Lateral carriers 1 are mounted to a frame 10 of a conveyor belt or conveyor
chain 11 by
means of clamps la, which carriers support at their top, a plate lb with
central bore lc.
Above central bore 1 c and coaxial to it, a second plate 3 is supported by
means of arms 2,
which plate 3 is spaced and parallel to the first plate and centered, in which
plate a
bushing 4 is seated such that it can be rotated 3r via ball bearings 3a and
which, on its
outer surface, supports a pulley or a groove 4a for a belt 8 that is used to
transfer the
movement of the pulley 5a of an electric motor 5 to bushing 4. Two arms 3e are
mounted
to the bottom of bushing 4, which arms extend downward and at the end of which
vertical
parallel bearing plates 6 are mounted for a rotatable 6r threaded spindle 6c,
a leading
spindle 6b and a connecting element 6a. Threaded spindle 6c is fitted with a
friction disk
6e at one of its ends that protrudes over bearing plates 6, which friction
disk rolls off
friction ring 1 f with its rubber-coated periphery 6f; the friction ring is
mounted to the
edge region of central bore 1 c of plate 1 b via rings 1 e, 1 d. In order to
ensure
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good contact between the periphery 6f of friction disk 6e and stationary
friction ring lf, a ball
bearing 6d is provided - seated at the same bearing plate 6 - which ball
bearing provides a
friction disk 6e, parallel and perpendicular to the rotational axis above, in
order to form a thrust
bearing on top of friction ring 1 f.
In accordance with rotation 3r of bushing 4, arms 3e and bearing plates 6
rotate together with
threaded spindle 6c, spindles 6a, 6b and the movable 9t carriage 9 that are
connected with the
bearing plates. Via friction disk 6e and friction ring lf, which is
permanently mounted to plate
lb, the rotation of threaded spindle 6c is achieved via rotation 3r, on which
threaded spindle a
threaded nut 9b of the carriage engages. Carriage 9 provides a guide part 9c,
the seat 9g of which
glides along stationary leading spindle 6b. Via the rotation 6r of threaded
spindle 6c, carriage 9 is
moved 9t along the axis of threaded spindle 6c, whereas guide part 9c slides
along stationary
leading spindle 6b to prevent carriage 9 from twisting. This mechanism allows
for movement 9t
of carriage 9 to be linked to rotational movement 3r, resulting in a spiral 13
distribution of the
garnishing product S with constant gradient. To ensure that the distribution
of garnishing product
S on basic product 12 is performed with uniform speed and independently of the
distance of end
7a of tube 7 from the rotational axis of bushing 4 and thus from the center of
basic product 12
underneath, the number of revolutions of motor 5 during shifting 9t of
carriage 9 from the
outward area to the center area of basic product 12 increases in relation to
the decrease of the
radius of spiral 13.1
Garnishing product S is supplied under pressure, which can for instance be
generated by a
peristaltic pump, and that is routed axially via flexible hose 7 through
passage 4c of rotating
bushing 4, which bushing has an internal ba11 bearing 4b to prevent friction
with the tube during
rotation 3r. End 7a of tube 7 or the nozzle for dispensing garnishing product
S is pivoted on ball
bearing 9f, which is mounted to carriage 9, and additionally routed through
ring element 9e,
which is also mounted to carriage 9.
The invention does not exclude that threaded spindle 6c only extends over an
area that is slightly
longer than the radius of basic product 12 and that threaded spindle 6c is
driven by a toothed
' Translatoi's note: In my opinion, this sentence is somewhat convoluted. It
was translated the way I think it should
read. The literal translation of the German sentence reads: To ensure that
garnishing product S during the
distribution on basic product 12, performed with uniform speed, and
independently of the distance of the end 7a of
tube 7 from the rotational axis of bushing 4 and thus from the center of basic
product 12 underneath, the number of
revolutions of motor 5 during shifting 9t of carriage 9 from the outward area
to the center area of basic product 12
increases in relation to the decrease of the radius of spiral 13.
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gear, that derives the motion from a gear ring, which is connected with the
stationary
structure of the device. Furthermore, the invention does not exclude that the
metering
device according to the invention is seated moveably so that it accompanies
basic product
12 while it is conveyed on conveyor means 11, without stopping the latter, and
that the
metering device moves back to its initial position after the garnishing
process is
completed.
To achieve a uniform distribution, apart from the above described process
which provides
a change of rotational speed 3r with a constant supply of the same amount of
garnishing
product S, a process can be used that - while rotational speed 3r remains the
same -
provides a changed supply of garnishing product S in proportion to a change of
the radius
of the spiral; above all, reducing the radius results in an increased supply
capacity of the
pump that feeds the device.
Furthermore, the invention does not exclude that bushing 4 is seated on one
single plate
that eventually covers the height of plate lb and that has friction ring lf or
annular gear.
In this case, axial passage 4c of bushing 4 has a diameter that roughly
corresponds to
twice the shift of carriage 9. Threaded spindle 6c can also be seated within
passage 4c of
bushing 4 or above the latter. Bushing 4 can also be replaced by a circular
plate that is
rotatably 3r seated on stationary plate 1 b and has a diametrically or simply
radially
arranged passage, within which or in the region of which threaded spindle 6c
and carriage
9 are seated.
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