WO2024260823A1

WO2024260823A1 - A multi-head weigher

Info

Publication number: WO2024260823A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/066265
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henning INGEMANN HANSEN
Original assignee: Cabinplant A/S
Priority date: 2023-06-20
Filing date: 2024-06-12
Publication date: 2024-12-26

Abstract

The present invention describes a circular multi-head weigher for batching solid food products with sticky coatings. The circular multi-head weigher comprises an infeed system including a plurality of conveyors arranged around a conical shaped infeed. The conical shaped infeed rotates in order to distribute the solid food products to the plurality of conveyors. The circular multi-head weigher further comprises a plurality of weighing hoppers including a first weigher hopper for weighing the solid food products. The plurality of weighing hoppers are arranged below the infeed system in order to receive the solid food products from the infeed system. The first weigher hopper has a side wall including an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface supports solid food product while weighing. The side wall rotates around an axis in order to empty the first weigher hopper. The first weigher hopper has a first scraper for scraping the inner surface when the first weighing hopper rotates from a receiving state to a discharge state, and a second scraper for scraping the outer surface when the first weighing hopper rotates from the discharge state to the receiving state.

Description

A multi-head weigher

DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to a multi-head weigher for batching solid food products with sticky coatings.

Within industries such as the foodstuff industry, weighing systems have been described in publications such as US6015049, WO9849892, US5526437, US4569434, EP0909601 , and WO12104404 all of which publications are hereby incorporated in the present specification by reference.

An example of a solid food product (as opposed to liquid) is a piece of poultry, and an example of a sticky coating is a marinade.

As the solid food products travel through the machine the sticky coating has a tendency to stick or adhere to inner surfaces supporting the solid food products. This can introduce weighing errors, which in the end can cause packages to have a smaller weight of solid food product than advertised on a package label. Scraping certain inner surfaces, for example the inner surface of the weighing hoppers may alleviate this problem.

However, sticky coating may also turn up on the outside surface of the machine as the solid food products travel through the machine - particular when using rotating half-cylinder weighing hoppers. This type of weighing hoppers is advantageous for alleviating the problem of sticky coating adhering to the inside surface, but present a problem, because sticky material may get stuck on the outside surface of the weighing hoppers as they rotate, i.e. sticky coating may drop down from above when a weighing hopper is in an inverted position for emptying the weighing hopper. This material may constitute a contamination of the machine, because the material may adhere to the outside surface of a weighing hopper for a long time period before dropping to an inside surface of the machine and thereby contaminate the machine. In addition more and more material may risk sticking to the weighing hopper and thereby gradually move the “zero-point” of the weight meaning that the machine thinks that a batch weighs more than it does.

A first aspect of the present disclosure is: A circular multi-head weigher for batching solid food products with sticky coatings, said circular multi-head weigher comprising:

- an infeed system including a plurality of conveyors arranged around a conical shaped infeed, said conical shaped infeed arranged for rotating for distributing said solid food products to said plurality of conveyors,

- a plurality of weighing hoppers including a first weigher hopper for weighing said solid food products, said plurality of weighing hoppers arranged below said infeed system for receiving said solid food products from said infeed system, said first weigher hopper having a side wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface supporting solid food product while weighing, said side wall arranged for rotating around an axis for emptying said first weigher hopper, said first weigher hopper having a first scraper for scraping said inner surface when said first weighing hopper rotating from a receiving state to a discharge state, and a second scraper for scraping said outer surface when said first weighing hopper rotating from said discharge state to said receiving state.

A hopper is also called a bucket in the industry.

Each of the weigher hoppers may be a half-cylinder with end walls wherein the hopper rotates up to 180 degrees for emptying. Or each hopper may be a clamshell bucket wherein each half part of the bucket rotates, but only up to 90 degrees contrary to the half-cylinder alternative that rotates 180 degrees for emptying.

Between the infeed system and the weigher hoppers may be arranged a plurality of memory hoppers.

The aspects may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the specification to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. Like elements will thus not be described in detail with respect to the description of each figure.

A circular multi-head weigher is a weigher where the weighing hoppers are arranged on a circle around the infeed. This allows for the infeed to provide an efficient distribution of products that enters the infeed. It also allows for a fast batching, because all products travel the same distance from a weigher to the collector below the weigher heads/hop- pers.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective of a circular multi-head weigher 10.

The circular multi-head weigher comprises an infeed system with a conical shaped in- feed 12 and a plurality of conveyors arranged around the conical shaped infeed.

In fig. 1 the conical shaped infeed specifically comprises a first conical frustum with a first inclination and a second conical frustum on top of the first - the second conical frustum having a steeper inclination than the first conical frustum. However, other shapes may be contemplated, for example simply a cone. The inclination of the conical shaped infeed is not to be so low that the sticky food products cannot slide down the conical shaped infeed. The lowest angle depends on the specific type of sticky food product. The conical shaped infeed is made by a plurality of triangular plates arranged next to each.

The conical shaped infeed rotates such that the sticky food products are distributed to the plurality of conveyors.

During operation of the circular multi-head weigher, the solid food products are typically distributed randomly on the conical shaped infeed as they are received from above, and will due to gravity and the conical shape of the receiving section slide down towards a periphery of the conical shaped infeed at the bottom end of the conical shaped infeed.

The conical shaped infeed may optionally be vibrating in order for avoiding any food products remaining for a longer time on the conical shaped infeed. Around the periphery of the conical shaped infeed is located sixteen conveyors, i.e. the weigher is a 16 head conveyer. Any number of weighing heads may be contemplated depending on the task. In general the number of weighing heads is a balance between the cost of building the machine, and the production capacity. The cost increases with the number of heads and the production capacity also increases production capacity up to a certain limit, i.e. the machine will cost too much or take up too much space.

The conveyors are arranged along a ring and surrounding the conical shaped infeed up to 360° notwithstanding any abruptions such as parts of a frame system for supporting conveyor structures used in connection with the machine.

Each conveyor comprises a feeding channel, in which a feeder 16 is located. The feeder is illustrated as a helix, i.e. a shape of a corkscrew. The curve defining the helix in three dimensions may have a cross section with a radius less than the radius of the helix, i.e. the curve has a non-zero radius but not so large that it will contact the axis of the helix, because it is advantageous that there is an opening along the axis so that food product has freedom to move and be pushed along the conveyor and not rotated as in the case of an Archimedes screw for example (the feeder is coreless (having a opening in the center along the feeder axis such that if food product is forced towards the center of the feeder it does not meet any obstacle, i.e. it is free to move in that direction), however if there is a core present that core does not touch the helix at any point along the length of the helix). The cross section of a feeder may be in the shape of a circle or a square.

The distance between two turns typically corresponds to the size of the solid food product to be conveyed, e.g. about 0.1 m in case of a chicken breast. The feeding channel extends from an inlet end 14 located adjacent the periphery of the conical shaped infeed to an outlet end 18 located opposite the inlet end.

Solid food products entering the conical shaped infeed will be randomly distributed among the conveyors.

As a solid food product enters the inlet end of one of the conveyors it is carried along the feeding channel by the feeder towards the outlet end, and discharged to a weighing hopper 20 below the outlet end.

The machine comprises one weighing hopper below the outlet of each conveyor. Further below the weighing hoppers is a collector 46. The collector may be a conical shaped chute or it may be an annular compartment (with wall 44 and bottom 42) as illustrated in fig.1. There may be arranged scrapers for scraping the wall and bottom of the annular compartment.

Fig. 2 shows a close-up perspective of a weighing hopper 20.

The weighing hopper is supported by a support.

The weighing hopper has a shape similar to a hollow semi cylinder (also known as a hollow half cylinder), i.e. it is defined by a first end wall 22, and a second end wall 24, which is opposite the first end wall. Each end wall having the shape of a half-disc.

The weighing hopper has an axis 36 extending through a center of rotation. In fig. 2 it is illustrated that the axis extends through the first end wall and the second end wall.

Between the first end wall and the second end wall is a side wall of the weighing hopper. The side wall may be a folded rectangular sheet.

The side wall has an inner surface for supporting solid food product inside the weighing hopper.

The inner surface may be a circular cylindrical surface having its axis of rotation coinciding with the axis.

The inner surface extends angularly around the axis from a first edge 34 to a second edge 32 over a first angle <|). The first angle may be less than 180 degrees such as 179 degrees or 178 degrees or 177 degrees or in the range 170±9 degrees or 170±8 degrees or 170±7 degrees or 170±6 degrees or 170±5 degrees.

Thus, between the two edges is an opening, i.e. a solid food product can fall down into the weighing hopper. Thus, as a solid food product is discharged from the outlet end of a conveyor it falls down into the weighing hopper located below the outlet end of the respective conveyor due to gravity. When the opening faces upwards (towards the outlet end) the weighing hopper is in a receiving stated. When the weighing hopper faces upside down, i.e. rotated 180 degrees compared to the receiving state the weighing hopper is in a discharge state (such that solid food product falls out of the weighing hopper).

The side wall has an outer surface which may be a circular cylindrical surface having its axis of rotation coinciding with the axis, i.e. the outer surface is on the opposite side of the side wall than the inner surface.

The weighing hopper is oriented such that the first axis is parallel or substantially parallel to a feeding channel - each feeding channel of a conveyor having a second axis extending through the inlet end and the outlet end. Alternatively, the weighing hopper may be oriented such that the first axis is orthogonal to the second axis.

The weighing hopper is rotatably mounted to the support such that it can rotate around the first axis, i.e. it is hinged at a first position to the support (a first hinge point) - the first position being adjacent the first end wall.

The support may comprise a support arm 29 extending around the weighing hopper such that the weighing hopper is hinged at a second position to the support arm - the second position being opposite the first position, i.e. adjacent the second end wall (on the other side of the weighing hopper than the first hinge point). Thus, the weighing hopper is supported on opposite sides of the weighing hopper. These two positions coincide with the center of rotation for the weighing hopper. The support arm serves to stabilize the weighing hopper. The support arm may be U-shaped.

The rotation and orientation of a weighing hopper as well as the discharging of a solid food product from a conveyor are controlled such that the opening faces upwards when a solid food product is discharged from a conveyor.

As a solid food product has been discharged to a weighing hopper, the weight of the solid food product is determined.

If a number of weighing hoppers has solid food products, which has a combined weight suitable for being batched together and packaged in a package with a certain target weight, the respective weighing hoppers rotate upside down so that the solid food products fall out and down into the collector. Inside the weighing hopper is provided a scraper 28 for scraping the interior of the weighing hopper as the weighing hopper rotates for emptying the weighing hopper.

The scraper has a scraper edge, which contacts the inner surface when the weighing hopper rotates. The scraper edge is proximate the first edge, i.e. closer to the first edge than the second.

It is illustrated that the scraper has a distance to the first edge, i.e. a clearance for example for allowing sticky product freedom to be removed from the scraper (no overlap between the scraper and the inner surface when the weighing hopper is in a position for receiving food product, i.e. with the opening facing upwards in the receiving state - if there is an overlap solid food product may risk getting stuck on the scraper). The distance may be more than 1 degree such as 5 to 15 degrees. In principle, the scraper edge may be located any where on a circle such that the inside of the weighing hopper has been scraped all the way to the second edge before the weighing hopper has rotated to the discharge state.

It is contemplated that the scraper has a cross section more narrow (smaller diameter) than the support arm to reduce the risk of food product landing on the scraper - it is contemplated to make the scraper as narrow as down to 0.5 cm.

The scraper is U-shaped so that a base of the scraper scrapes the inner surface, i.e. a first leg of the scraper scrapes an inner side of the first end wall, and a second leg of the scraper scrapes an inner side of the second end wall.

The scraper is supported by a scraper support, and is stationary when the weighing hopper rotates around the first axis. The scraper support may be the same support that supports the weighing hopper.

The weighing hopper is connected to an actuator, which rotates the weighing hopper such that the inner surface moves along the scraper edge until the second edge reaches the scraper edge. The rotation direction is so that the first edge passes the scraper edge before the second edge. This “inner” scraper may be arranged next to the second edge instead. The rotation direction will then be opposite as to when the scraper is arranged next to the first edge. As the weighing hopper has been emptied the rotation continues until the weighing hopper has rotated 360 degrees so that it is ready to receive a successive solid food product. Alternatively, the weighing hopper may rotate back 180 degrees. However, this requires that the rotation is stopped after 180 degrees in the first direction before the weighing hopper is rotated backwards, and such a stop takes time and reduces the capacity of the machine compared to when the weighing hopper rotates 360 degrees in the same direction.

There is a second scraper 31 arranged outside the weighing hopper for scraping the outer surface as the weighing hopper rotates. It is contemplated that this is necessary, because as the weighing hopper rotates (after it has weighed a solid food product) food product or parts of a food product may still fall down from above - if this happens as the weighing hopper rotates the food product will land on the outer surface of the weighing hopper. When the weighing hopper is back in the receiving state the food product on the outer surface may fall down from the outer surface and into a collection chute where it may be mixed with a batch. This food product may be contaminated and pollute the batch with bacteria for example.

The second scraper has a (second) scraper edge, which contacts the outer surface when the weighing hopper rotates.

The second scraper edge is proximate the second edge, i.e. closer to the first edge than the second. It is illustrated that the scraper has a distance to the second edge, i.e. a clearance for example for allowing sticky product freedom to be removed from the scraper (no overlap between the scraper and the inner surface when the weighing hopper is in a position for receiving food product, i.e. with the opening facing upwards. The distance may be more than 1 degree.

In principle, the second scraper edge may be located any where on a circle such that all of the outside surface has been scraped before the weighing hopper has rotated from the discharge state to the receiving state.

The second scraper is supported by a scraper support, and is stationary when the weighing hopper rotates around the first axis. The scraper support may be the same support that supports the weighing hopper. The second scraper is U-shaped, and it may be mounted to the scraper support on opposite sides of the weighing hopper.

A base of the second scraper may scrape the outer surface, i.e. a first leg of the second scraper scrapes an outer side of the first end wall, and a second leg of the second scraper scrapes an outer side of the second end wall. Although, the two legs may have a clearance/distance to the outer sides of the end walls such that the outer sides of the end walls are not scraped.

It is illustrated that the two scrapers are on opposite sides of the opening of the weighing hopper - this is for when the weighing hopper rotates 360 directions in the same direction. However, they may also both be arranged adjacent the same edge such as the first edge. This is for when the weighing hopper rotates 180 degrees from the receiving state to the discharge state in a first direction and the rotates 180 degrees back to the receiving state in an opposite direction.

A plurality of the weighing hoppers of the machine may have a first scraper edge for scraping the inner surface and a second scraper edge for scraping the outer surface. It may vary where the scrapers are located, i.e. on opposite sides or at the same edge, i.e. for one weighing hopper the two scraper edges may be next to the first edge, and for another they may be next to the second edge and for a third weighing hopper the first scraper edge may be next to the first edge and the second scraper edge may be next to the second edge.

A plurality of the weighing hoppers may have the support arm described above in connection with fig. 2.

Fig. 3a-d show perspectives of a weighing hopper 20 in four different positions.

In fig. 3a, the weighing hopper faces upwards (receiving state), i.e. the opening is facing upwards and a solid food product 54 is in the weighing hopper.

The weighing hopper can be said to be in a first operational mode/state constituting a receiving state when the weighing hopper has the position shown in fig. 3a. In fig. 3b, the weighing hopper has rotated approximately 30°, i.e. the second edge has been moved closer to the first scraper edge compared to the position in the receiving mode, and the first edge has been moved further away from the first scraper edge compared to the position in the receiving mode. The weighing hopper can be said to have entered into a second operational mode/state constituting a discharging mode when the weighing hopper has the position shown in fig. 3b.

In fig. 3c, the weighing hopper has rotated such that it more or less faces upside down, i.e. with the weighing hopper opening facing downwards.

The second edge has been moved all the way to meet the first scraper edge, and the outer surface is now in contact with the second scraper edge such that when the weighing hopper rotates the rest of the way back to the receiving state the outer surface will be scraped.

In fig. 3d the second edge has been moved all the way to meet the second scraper edge.

Due to a combination of gravity and the solid food product being pushed by the first scraper edge, the solid food product will be discharged from the weighing hopper.

The weighing hopper cycles between the first operational mode (receiving state) and the second operational mode (discharge state) as successive solid food products are being discharged from the outlet end above the weighing hopper.

Now follows a set of items, which constitute aspects of the present disclosure which may be considered independently patentable and as such the following sets form basis for possible future sets of claims:

1 . A circular multi-head weigher for batching solid food products with sticky coatings, said circular multi-head weigher comprising:

- an infeed system including a plurality of conveyors arranged around a conical shaped infeed, said conical shaped infeed arranged for rotating for distributing said solid food products to said plurality of conveyors, - a plurality of weighing hoppers including a first weigher hopper for weighing said solid food products, said plurality of weighing hoppers arranged below said infeed system for receiving said solid food products from said infeed system, said first weigher hopper having a side wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface supporting solid food product while weighing, said side wall arranged for rotating around an axis for emptying said first weigher hopper, said first weigher hopper having a first scraper for scraping said inner surface when said first weighing hopper rotating from a receiving state to a discharge state, and a second scraper for scraping said outer surface when said first weighing hopper rotating from said discharge state to said receiving state.

2. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said side wall extending between a first end wall, and a second end wall opposite said first end wall.

3. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said side wall extending angularly around said axis from a first edge to a second edge, and said first weigher hopper including an opening between said first edge and said second edge.

4. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said outer surface constituting a circular cylindrical surface having its axis of rotation coinciding with said axis.

5. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said receptacle having a shape of a hollow semi cylinder.

6. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said side wall having a shape of a folded rectangle. 7. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said scraper having a U-shape for scraping said inner surface, said first end wall, and said second end wall.

8. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said first weighing hopper rotatably mounted to a support for rotating said first weighing hopper around said axis.

9. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said first weighing hopper hinged at a first position to said support.

10. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said first weighing hopper hinged at a second position to said support, said second position opposite said first position.

11. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said support comprising a support arm extending around said first weighing hopper for hinging said first weighing hopper to said support arm at said second position.

12. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said support arm being U-shaped.

13. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said first scraper having a first scraper edge, and said second scraper having a second scraper edge.

14. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding items, said first scraper edge and said second scraper edge arranged next to said first edge, or next to said second edge, or said first scraper edge arranged next to said first edge and said second scraper edge arranged next to said second edge.

Claims

1. A circular multi-head weigher for batching solid food products with sticky coatings, said circular multi-head weigher comprising:

- a plurality of weighing hoppers including a first weigher hopper for weighing said solid food products, said plurality of weighing hoppers arranged below said infeed system for receiving said solid food products from said infeed system, said first weigher hopper having a side wall including an outer surface and an inner surface, said inner surface supporting solid food product while weighing, said side wall arranged for rotating around an axis for emptying said first weigher hopper, said first weigher hopper having a first scraper for scraping said inner surface when said first weighing hopper rotating from a receiving state to a discharge state, and a second scraper for scraping said outer surface when said first weighing hopper rotating from said discharge state to said receiving state or from said receiving state to said discharging state.

2. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said side wall extending between a first end wall, and a second end wall opposite said first end wall.

3. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said side wall extending angularly around said axis from a first edge to a second edge, and said first weigher hopper including an opening between said first edge and said second edge.

4. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said outer surface constituting a circular cylindrical surface having its axis of rotation coinciding with said axis.

5. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said receptacle having a shape of a hollow semi cylinder.

6. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said side wall having a shape of a folded rectangle.

7. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said scraper having a U-shape for scraping said inner surface, said first end wall, and said second end wall.

8. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said first weighing hopper rotatably mounted to a support for rotating said first weighing hopper around said axis.

9. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said first weighing hopper hinged at a first position to said support.

10. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said first weighing hopper hinged at a second position to said support, said second position opposite said first position.

11 . The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said support comprising a support arm extending around said first weighing hopper for hinging said first weighing hopper to said support arm at said second position.

12. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said support arm being U-shaped.

13. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said first scraper having a first scraper edge, and said second scraper having a second scraper edge.

14. The circular multi-head weigher according to any of the preceding claims, said first scraper edge and said second scraper edge arranged next to said first edge, or next to said second edge, or said first scraper edge arranged next to said first edge and said second scraper edge arranged next to said second edge.