SPIRAL-PUMP FOR TREATING FOOD ITEMS

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and a device for treating and/or transporting food items. The apparatus and method are designed to facilitate treating food items in liquid. The device of the present invention is designed as a spiral pump with a tubing that is wound around a frame structure which rotates around a horizontal axis. The apparatus of the present invention and the use thereof provides a method to treat food items in a spiral pump, where the food items are treated cycle by cycle in the pump.

Claims

1. An apparatus for treating food items in liquid media, the apparatus comprising: a tubing with an in-feed end and an out-feed end, said tubing having three or more windings, a horizontally rotating frame structure, wherein the tubing is wound around and/or into the frame structure, a motor, and control means, wherein the control means controls the motor and the motor rotates the horizontally rotating frame structure, wherein the control means alters the speed of the rotation of the horizontally rotating frame structure at least once during every full cycle rotation.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control means generates a rocking motion in the tubing by rotating the horizontally rotating frame structure alternately backwards and forwards repeatedly for a predetermined period.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises an in-feeding device for feeding food items into the in-feed end of the tubing, said in-feeding device further comprising: an in-feed chamber, and a closing means between the in-feed chamber and the in-feed end of the tubing.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an air-inlet in the first winding for creating under-pressure in the first winding of the pump.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sensor for determining the position of the windings of the pump in each cycle of rotation.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the windings in the pump is a semi-circular winding around the frame structure.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the one or more semi-circular winding around the frame structure has pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, nonagonal, decagonal shape or where a circular winding has one or more ridges or indents in the circular shape.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises one or more feeding pipes for introducing or extracting liquid or air from the tubing.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the feeding pipe for introducing or extracting liquid or air from the tubing comprises a centrally arranged first feeding pipe in the frame structure and on or more second feeding pipes feeding into the tubing from first feeding pipe.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus has two or more sets of first and second feeding pipes in the frame structure introducing or extracting liquid and air from the tubing or more than one type of air or liquid into the tubing

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the feeding pipe for introducing or extracting liquid or air/gas from the tubing comprises a centrally arranged first feeding pipe in the frame structure and on or more second feeding pipes feeding into the tubing from first feeding pipe.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus has two or more sets of first and second feeding pipes in the frame structure introducing or extracting liquid and air from the tubing or more than one type of air or liquid into the tubing.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the out-feed end of the pipe is formed into channels or semi-channels to distribute the food items laterally as the food items are fed out of the apparatus.

14. A method for treating food items, the method comprising: a) providing a spiral pump, said spiral pump further comprising a tubing with an in-feed end and an out-feed end, said tubing having three or more windings, a horizontally rotating frame structure, wherein the tubing is wound around and/or into the frame structure, a motor, and control means, b) feeding liquid through the in feed end into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure, c) feeding one or more food items into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure through the in-feed end, d) rotating the frame structure a full cycle around a horizontal central axis, e) repeating steps b)-d) while there are food items to be feed into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure, and f) when the last items have undergone steps b)-e), the frame structure is rotated until the last food items have exited the out-feed end of the tubing. wherein the motor rotates the horizontally rotating frame structure where the control means alters the speed of the rotation at least once during every full cycle rotation.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the liquid and the one or more food items are pre-blended before feeding into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure thereby performing steps b) and c) simultaneously.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the control means generates a rocking motion in the tubing by rotating the horizontally rotating frame structure alternately backwards and forwards repeatedly for a predetermined period.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein under-pressure is created in the first winding of the pump through an air-inlet in the first winding.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein a sensor determines the position of the windings of the pump in the cycle of rotation.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein a sensor detects when the first winding is approaching in-feeding position in it's cycle of rotation.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein liquid or air can be fed into or extracted from one or more of the windings using one or more feeding pipes.

21. A system for treating food items in liquid media, the system comprising: a) providing a spiral pump, said spiral pump further comprising a tubing with an in-feed end and an out-feed end, said tubing having three or more windings, a horizontally rotating frame structure, wherein the tubing is wound around and/or into the frame structure, a motor, and control means, b) feeding liquid through the in feed end into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure, c) feeding one or more food items into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure through the in-feed end, d) rotating the frame structure a full cycle around a horizontal central axis, e) repeating steps b)-d) while there are food items to be feed into the first winding of the tubing wound around the frame structure, and f) when the last items have undergone steps b)-e), the frame structure is rotated until the last food items have exited the out-feed end of the tubing. wherein the motor rotates the horizontally rotating frame structure where the control means alters the speed of the rotation at least once during every full cycle rotation.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

[0128] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0129] FIG. 1 is a front view of the apparatus of the present invention

[0130] FIG. 2 is perspective drawing of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0131] FIG. 3 is a transactional view showing a system for treating food items with an anti-bacterial agent.

[0132] FIG. 4 is a transection of the second winding a helical wound tubing with an air tubing.

[0133] FIG. 5 shows an air/gas separating device for the spiral pump of the invention.

[0134] FIG. 6 shows alternative forms of one or more windings in the pump.

[0135] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment with a divider out-feed end of a spiral pump.

[0136] FIG. 1 shows the apparatus with (A) and without (B) a housing around the frame. The apparatus of the present invention is used for treating food items in liquid media such as sea water or liquid ice with or without salt and other additives. The apparatus comprises a helical wound tubing 1 with an in-feed end 2 and an out-feed end 3. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B the helical wound tubing has four windings 4 wound around and into a cylindrical frame structure 5 rotating around the horizontal central axis of the frame structure 5. At the in-feed end of the apparatus, there is a second tubing 6 shown for feeding liquid into the in-feed end of the helical wound tubing. The drawing also shows how the in-feed and the out-feed end of the helical wound tubing are centrally extending out of the cylindrical rotating frame structure.

[0137] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus and an in-feeding mechanism according to one embodiment. The in-feeding end of the tubing is provided with an in-feeding chamber 7 for collecting items before feeding a batch of food items into the first winding of the pump. The in-feeding chamber 7 leads into the in-feed end of the tubing 1. Above the in-feeding chamber 7 a weighing chamber 8 is shown. The weighing chamber 8 comprises a scale for determining the weight of the food items prior to collecting them in the in-feeding chamber 7. Above the weighing chamber 8 an in feeding conveyor 9 is shown for feeding objects into the weighing chamber 8. Above the in-feed chamber 7 of the apparatus two inlet tubing 6 are shown feeding liquid, fluid ice and substances into the in-feed chamber 7 or the in-feed end of the helical wound tubing directly. The apparatus is shown standing on a support frame 10 supporting the rotating frame structure 5. The figure shows how the tubing is wound around and into a cylindrical frame structure 5 which rotates around a horizontal axis within the frame 5. The out-feed end 3 is shown as an upwardly extending tubing, but due to the nature of a spiral pump the material therein is pumped with a force which can easily deliver the content out of the pump to a level higher than the level of the pump. Although the in-feed end 2 and the out-feed end 3 of the helical wound tubing are centrally extending out of the cylindrical rotating frame structure a joint (not shown) in the centrally extending position of the tubing prevents any extension of the tubing from rotating. The amount of food items, liquid and additives is calculated such that it does not exceed 50% of the volume of each winding and preferably where the content of food items is around 40-45%. Then the frame structure 5 is rotated a whole cycle or approximately 360° around the horizontal axis. This brings the food items in the liquid or fluid ice and additives into the second winding. The steps of feeding liquid or fluid ice or brine, the food items and additives into the first winding and rotating the frame structure 5 is repeated as long as the pump is being operated or until the last content of the pump has been emptied out of the out-feed end of the pump. The time of treatment of food items is determined by the number of windings of the spiral pump and/or the amount of time between the rotations of the frame structure 5. Each of the tubing 6 for feeding liquid or fluid ice or brine and additives into the first winding of the tubing 1 either leads to the in-feeding chamber for mixing or into the first winding of the tubing 1.

[0138] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of eight windings 4 of a tubing 1 in a pump according to one embodiment of the invention where feeding pipes 11 are provided to introduce ore extract liquid or gas/air into one or more windings. A connecting cylinder 12 is placed around the tubing 1 to facilitate and support the connection of feeding pipes 11 into the tubing 1. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3-5 three connecting cylinders 12 are shown to ait the connection of three feeding pipes 11 to the first, the third and the seventh winding.

[0139] FIG. 4 shows a view of the connection of feeding pipes 11 to the connecting cylinders 12 according to the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 3.

[0140] FIG. 5 shows how the feeding pipes 11 extend to the centre of the void within the windings 4. Means such a swivel pipe joint 13 can be used facilitate connection to a piping which delivers liquid or gas/air to the feeding pipes 11. A solenoid valve can then be used for regulating or controlling when air/gas or liquid is injected into the tubing 1.

[0141] FIG. 6 shows examples of different forms of one or more windings in the pump. The traditional winding in a pump is circular (A), but the winding can be formed as semi-circular (B) with a flat surface, semi-circular (C) with a flat surface and a ridge in the flat surface, hexagonal (D), octagonal (E), or Decagonal (F) to create uneven movement of the food items in the winding as it goes through the rocking movement. This increases the treatment movement of liquid or air against the food items. While most of the windings in a pump may be circular, windings where treatment of food items is facilitate may be semi-circular.

[0142] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the present invention, where the out-feed end of the spiral pump is formed to divide the items being pumped into a plurality of lanes. In this drawing the items being pumped are divided into four streams. This embodiment is particularly useful for the out-feeding of fish from the pump, where the fish is being set up for further processing such as a filleting machine. When fish are being transferred through a spiral pump, the fish have a tendency to align in the pump in a swimming position, i.e. head first. This means that when the fish exit the pump they can be received by an out-feeding portion as shown in FIG. 7 and directed into lanes on a further processing device such as a filleting machine. The drawing shows the out-feed end 3 of the pipe 2, where the opening of the out-feed end has been formed into four semi-channels 14 to spread the items as they are fed out of the pumping device.

[0143] As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0144] Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to exclude other components.

[0145] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).

[0146] The term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

[0147] It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention can be made while still falling within scope of the invention. Features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0148] Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless so claimed. Any steps described in the specification may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0149] All of the features and/or steps disclosed in the specification can be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination.