Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention generally relates to a food filling and sealing machine.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Horizontal food packaging and sealing machines are well known in the art. In these machines a series of spaced food products, for example, crackers or cookies, is moved along a chain conveyor by a series of pins, or flights, toward a packaging film forming shoe. The packaging film will typically be a flexible plastic film adapted for heat sealing. At the forming shoe the product to be wrapped is moved therethrough while a tube of the packaging film is simultaneously formed by the shoe about the product. Thereafter, the articles of product to be sealed are moved in the tube of packaging film toward the sealing and crimping heads of the packaging machine, whereupon individual packages of product are formed, sealed, and crimped apart from one another. Each sealing and crimping head is heated by internal electric heating cartridges so that the heads are hot enough to melt the plastic packaging film in order to seal individual portions of the product. Simultaneous with the sealing of the now formed packages of product, each package is also crimped apart from the other packages by the sealing and crimping heads for further processing. If the sealing and crimping heads become too cold, they may not fully seal the ends of the packages before they are crimped so that the product may pass out of the package, or air will be allowed to enter the package and the product thus becomes stale.
[0003] Also, food masses, for example minced meat, is in many cases formed into a patty and subsequently packaged in a packaging. This process has to be carried out hygienically and/or cost efficiently. Furthermore, the line has to be flexible.
[0004] As a result of the many shortfalls of the prior art, there is a need for a food filling and sealing machine which overcomes the aforementioned problems.
SUMMARY
[0005] Embodiments of the present disclosure present technological improvements as solutions to one or more of the above-mentioned technical problems.
[0006] Before the present subject matter relating to a food filling and sealing machine, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular system described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the implementations or versions or embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0007] This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a food filling and sealing machine. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the present subject matter.
[0008] In an embodiment, a food filling and sealing machine, the machine consists of an elongated sheet, a support arm, a plurality of guide rollers, a hopper, a plurality of linear actuator and a sensitive strip. The elongated sheets are of scalable packaging material. The support arm carries elongated sheet having a first end and a spaced second end, the first end of said support arm being pivotally supported on the packaging machine, the second end of said arm having said sheet fastened thereto. The hopper is configured to fill the package. The plurality of linear actuator is configured for linear movement of the sheets and for linear movement of filled package. The sensitive strip is configured to seal filled package under the influence of pressure.
[0009] In an embodiment, a process of food filling and sealing machine, the method includes the step of conveying a container along the elongated sheet. The method includes the step of dispensing a predetermined quantity of food product from the hopper into the container using the linear actuators. The method includes the step of transporting the filled container to a sealing station for hermetic sealing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0010] The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to reference features and modules.
[0011] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal packaging machine including the novel aspects of this invention.
[0012] Figure 2 illustrates two continuous sheets of scalable packaging material.
[0013] Figure 3 illustrates the packaging film loading apparatus control components.
[0014] It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that any block diagrams herein represent conceptual views of illustrative methods embodying the principles of the present disclosure. Similarly, it will be appreciated that any flow charts, flow diagrams, and the like represent various processes which may be substantially represented in computer readable medium and so executed by a computer or processor, whether or not such computer or processor is explicitly shown.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the invention. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
[0016] One or more embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present invention to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present invention. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
[0017] The terminology used, in the present invention, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present invention. As used in the present invention, the forms "a,” "an," and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," “including,” and “having,” are open ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present invention is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
[0018] In an embodiment, a food filling and sealing machine, the machine consists of an elongated sheet, a support arm, a plurality of guide rollers, a hopper, a plurality of linear actuator and a sensitive strip. The elongated sheets are of scalable packaging material. The support arm carries elongated sheet having a first end and a spaced second end, the first end of said support arm being pivotally supported on the packaging machine, the second end of said arm having said sheet fastened thereto. The hopper is configured to fill the package. The plurality of linear actuator is configured for linear movement of the sheets and for linear movement of filled package. The sensitive strip is configured to seal filled package under the influence of pressure.
[0019] In another implementation, the elongated sheet is a continuous belt or conveyor for transporting containers from a filling station to a sealing station.
[0020] In another implementation, a control unit programmed to coordinate the operation of the linear actuators to control the dispensing of the food product into the container and to receive input from the sensitive strip for adjusting the operation of the machine based on container detection.
[0021] In another implementation, the plurality of guide rollers are adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes and shapes.
[0022] In another implementation, the guide rollers may be non-powered idlers.
[0023] In another implementation, paper strips coated with latex may be used as sealing strip under the influence of pressure.
[0024] In an embodiment, a process of food filling and sealing machine, the method includes the step of conveying a container along the elongated sheet. The method includes the step of dispensing a predetermined quantity of food product from the hopper into the container using the linear actuators. The method includes the step of transporting the filled container to a sealing station for hermetic sealing.
[0025] In another implementation, the method includes the step of monitoring the output of the sensitive strip to detect the presence and position of containers in real-time.
[0026] In another implementation, the packaging sheet for package is made of paper or plastic.
[0027] In another implementation, the package can be coated in anti-sticking material.
[0028] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a horizontal packaging machine including the novel aspects of this invention.
[0029] In an embodiment, a roll of packaging film 15, supported on packaging film loading apparatus 9, is passed over a series of idler rollers 16, through a power feed roller 17, and toward a forming shoe 19. The articles of product 13 are conveyed by infeed chain conveyor 11 toward forming shoe 19, at which point packaging film 15 is formed as an elongated continuous tube about the spaced articles of product 13. Thereafter, the spaced articles of product, now enclosed in a tube of packaging film, are passed through a fin wheel assembly 20 in which the fin wheels form either a continuous bottom seal, or side seal, thus forming the continuous and elongated tube of packaging film about the product. Horizontal packaging machine 5 includes a computer 29, the computer being supported on packaging machine 5 by support arm 30. As described in greater detail below, computer 29 forms a portion of temperature measurement and control apparatus 7, as well as controlling the operation of the packaging machine.
[0030] Fin wheel assembly 20 is a conventional fin wheel assembly, and is illustrated generally in FIG. 8. Fin wheel assembly 20 typically includes three pairs of spaced fin wheels, the packaging film being drawn over forming shoe 19 by the first pair of fin wheels. The latter two pairs of fin wheels are heated and form the continuous "fin" seal along the length of the film tube. Packaging film 15 is a flexible plastic film, and is adapted to be heat sealed by the fin wheels, and by upper sealing and crimping head assembly 22 and lower sealing and crimping head assembly 23. After being sealed and crimped into individual packages by sealing and crimping head assemblies 22 and 23, the individual packages of product are moved onto an output conveyor 25, typically a belted conveyor, with an output tubing belt conveyor 26 positioned there above to align the packages of product for further processing.
[0031] In an embodiment, the hopper is constructed of a soft material such as a transparent plastic. As the measuring chambers rotate under the powder filled hopper, the gaseous contents are withdrawn through the vacuum connection 54 acting through the suction chest 53 and the powder from the hopper is uniformly compacted into the measuring chamber. The front of the hopper, or a separate doctor, uniformly strikes off the contents. The contents are retained in the measuring chambers by the suction until the foraminous material forming the back portion of the measuring chamber passes the common radial seal, at which point the suction is released and if necessary, pressure applied. For free flowing powders, pressure is not normally necessary. For powders which pack, pressure may be needed.
[0032] Figure 2 illustrates two continuous sheets of scalable packaging material.
[0033] In an embodiment, two continuous sheets of scalable packaging material, 11 and 12, are fed in from suitable sources, not shown, over the left and right guide rollers, 13 and 14. These guide rollers may be non-powered idlers. From them the sheets travel downwardly in a V-shaped configuration towards the bite of the left and right seal rolls, 15 and 16. The seal roll shafts are geared to each other by the left and right seal roll drive gears, 22 and 23. The right seal roll drive gear 23 shows in Figure 2. The left seal roll drive gear, 22, is directly behind it in this view. The seal rolls are driven by a suitable motor '24 through a worm gear 25 which in turn drives a main drive spur gear 26. As the sheets 11 and 12 are fed down into the bite of. the seal rolls, the serrated surfaces cause a sealing zone to. be. formed entirely across the two sheets and then. as the complemental. recesses 29 pass through the bite, the sheets are sealed to each other only at the edges, leaving an unsealed zone in the middle forming a container to receive the powder contents. After the powder contents are filled between the sheets, the complemental recesses pass through the bite of the rolls and the full seal roll surface again causes the two sheets to be sealed entirely across, thereby completing the container in which the powder is sealed.
[0034] Cutting means may be included in the sealing rolls so that individual packages are separated if desired. To assist in insuring that all of the powder charges fall into the containers being formed by the seal rolls, there are provided powder deflectors, 32 and 33, on each side of and above the sheets as they are fed into the rolls. One of the seal roll shafts may be spring mounted to provide flexibility in operation.
[0035] Figure 3 illustrates the packaging film loading apparatus control components.
[0036] In an embodiment, the packaging sheet is loaded on support arm or spool 204 in the following fashion. The roll of packaging film 15 is lifted in position and placed onto film spool 204, film spool 204 passing through the hollow tube core of the roll of packaging film. The roll of packaging film is passed over the film spool until the rear portion of the hollow core is received on hub 209. Next, self-centering chuck 210 is placed on film spool 205, and passed toward and into contact with the open end of the packaging film tube core. The shape and configuration of hub 209 and chuck 210 help to ensure that the roll of packaging film is centered on both the hub and the chuck with respect to the longitudinal axis of film spool 204 to prevent any unwanted wobble or vibration as the packaging film is pulled off the roll of film and through the machine. In operation, single solenoid spring return valve 233 is actuated to either raise or lower film spool 205 along with film spool support arm 206. Thus constructed, packaging film loading apparatus 9 provides a simple yet efficient, and economical means for loading packaging film onto a horizontal food packaging machine.
[0037] The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the invention.
, Claims:We claim:
1. A food filling and sealing machine, comprising:
An elongated sheets for transporting a container through the machine;
a support arm affixed to said elongated sheet for providing structural stability;
a plurality of guide rollers attached to the support arm for guiding the elongated sheet along a predetermined path;
a hopper positioned above the elongated sheet for holding a food product to be dispensed into a container;
a plurality of linear actuator coupled to the hopper for controlling the precise dispensing of the food product;
a sensitive strip integrated into the elongated sheet for detecting the presence and position of containers.
2. The food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongated sheet is a continuous belt or conveyor for transporting containers from a filling station to a sealing station.
3. The food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control unit programmed to:
coordinate the operation of the linear actuators to control the dispensing of the food product into the container; and
receive input from the sensitive strip for adjusting the operation of the machine based on container detection.
4. The food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of guide rollers are adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes and shapes.
5. The food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide rollers may be non-powered idlers.
6. The food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 1, paper strips coated with latex may be used as sealing strip under the influence of pressure.
7. The process of food filling and sealing machine, comprising:
conveying a container along the elongated sheet;
dispensing a predetermined quantity of food product from the hopper into the container using the linear actuators; and
transporting the filled container to a sealing station for hermetic sealing.
8. The process of food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 7, further comprising the step of monitoring the output of the sensitive strip to detect the presence and position of containers in real-time.
9. The process of food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the packaging sheet for package is made of paper or plastic.
10. The process of food filling and sealing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the package can be coated in anti-sticking material.