Conveyor Device

Abstract

Conveyor device (1), adapted to takeover of a conveyed object (F2), in particular a piece of meat, in a takeover area (A1) from an upstream feed in device (110), transfer of the conveyed object (F2) in a handover area (A3), in particular to a downstream disposal device (120), handover the object (F2) in a handover area (A2) from the takeover area (A1) in the handover area (A3),

the conveyor device comprises a plurality of discrete transport units (21), in particular transport baskets (21), the transport units (21) being arranged in particular in a circulating manner, the transport units are adapted to to receive the object (F2) to be conveyed in the takeover area (A1), to be transferred between the takeover area (A1) and the handover area (A3), and to handover the object (F2) to be conveyed in the handover area (A3), wherein the conveyor device comprises a spraying arrangement (40), wherein the spraying arrangement (40) being adapted to provide at least one spraying functionality by means of which the transport units are sprayed with a liquid.

Claims

1. A conveyor device (1), adapted to takeover of a conveyed object (F2), in particular a piece of meat, in a takeover area (A1) from an upstream feed in device (110), transfer of the conveyed object (F2) in a handover area (A3), in particular to a downstream disposal device (120), handover the object (F2) in a handover area (A2) from the takeover area (A1) in the handover area (A3), the conveyor device comprises a plurality of discrete transport units (21), in particular transport baskets (21), the transport units (21) being arranged in particular in a circulating manner, the transport units are adapted to to receive the object (F2) to be conveyed in the takeover area (A1), to be transferred between the takeover area (A1) and the handover area (A3), and to handover the object (F2) to be conveyed in the handover area (A3), wherein the conveyor device comprises a spraying arrangement (40), wherein the spraying arrangement (40) being adapted to provide at least one spraying functionality by means of which the transport units are sprayed with a liquid.

2. The conveyor device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the transport units (21) are in each case transport baskets in which the object to be conveyed comes to rest horizontally.

3. The conveyor device (1) according to claim 1, wherein a first spraying functionality is provided for spraying the transport units (21) with a first liquid (43) in a transport operating state, in particular by means of a discrete spray burst; in particular wherein in the transport operating state the conveyor device transports objects (F2) from the takeover area (A1) to the handover area (A3),

4. The conveyor device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first liquid (43) is arranged and/or intended to come into contact with the object (F2) to be conveyed.

5. (canceled)

6. The conveyor device (1) according to claim 3, wherein, within the scope of the first spray functionality, a first spray burst is delivered onto the selected transport unit (21) with a predefined quantity of first liquid (43), which is dimensioned such that at least 90% of the quantity adheres to the sprayed transport unit (21) or is taken up by the ambient air without dripping, and is in particular at most 20 ml.

7. The conveyor device according to claim 3, comprising a spraying controller (410) arranged to control the first spray function, wherein the spray controller (410) is arranged to control the first spray function in dependence on a stored spraying schedule (41P).

8. The conveyor device according to claim 7, wherein the spraying schedule comprises indications of the time sequence of discrete sprays, in particular wherein the spray control (410) is arranged, to control the first spray function and/or to generate the spray schedule (41P), respectively as a function of a user input (U1), in particular comprising the indication of a total spray interval (dT), and/or a conveying speed (v) of the transport units (21) and/or a number of the transport units (21).

9. The conveyor device according to claim 1, wherein a second spraying functionality is provided for spraying the transport units (21) with a second liquid (44) in a cleaning operating state, in particular wherein in the cleaning operating state the conveyor device does not transport any object (F2) from the takeover area (A1) to the handover area (A3).

10. The conveyor device according to claim 9, wherein the second liquid is arranged and/or intended not to come into contact with the object (F2) being conveyed.

11. The conveyor device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the spraying arrangement (40) is arranged in such a way that the transport units (21) perform both a lateral movement and a twisting movement while the transport units are sprayed with liquid within the scope of the first and/or second spraying functionality.

12. Use of a conveyor device according to claim 1.

13. Use according to claim 12, wherein in order to reduce the adhesion of germs from the object being conveyed to the transport unit during a transport operating state, the transport units (21) are sprayed with a first spray liquid (43) by means of a first spray functionality, and the object being conveyed (F2) comes to lie at least partially on a surface of the transport unit (21) wetted with the first spray liquid.

14. Use according to claim 12, wherein during a cleaning operating state by means of a second spraying functionality the transport units (21) are sprayed with a second spraying liquid (43), all transport units are free of objects to be conveyed.

15. A conveyor arrangement (100) comprising a feed in device (110) for providing conveyed objects (F2) at the takeover section (A1), a conveyor device (1) according to claim 1 for transferring the object (F2) provided at the takeover section (A1) from the feed in device (110) to the handover area (A3) resp. to the disposal device (120), in particular a disposal device (120) for discharging the conveyed object (F2) from the transfer section (A3).

16. The conveyor device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the conveyor device is adapted that the liquid is cleaned after contact with an object to be conveyed before it is subsequently brought into contact with another object to be conveyed, or that the first liquid is fresh liquid intended for one-time contact with exactly one object to be conveyed.

17. The conveyor device according to claim 16, wherein the spraying functionality is set up to spray the transport units (21) in the empty state, in particular after the handover area (A3) and before the takeover area (A1).

18. The conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein, within the scope of the first spray functionality, the discrete spray bursts are delivered in individual spray intervals (dt), in particular with a maximum spray duration in each spray burst being 2 seconds, in particular 1 second or 0.5 seconds, and/or wherein a spraying pause of at least 2 seconds, in particular 5 seconds, is provided in the individual spraying intervals (dt):

19. The conveyor device according to claim 3, wherein, within the framework of the first spray functionality, the transport units (21), in particular all of them, are each sprayed once, in particular precisely, with the spray burst within a predetermined total spray interval (dT), the discrete spray bursts being delivered at intervals of an individual spray interval (dt), the product of the number of transport units and the length of the individual spray intervals (dt) being larger than a circulation duration (tU) of the conveyor device (1).

20. The conveyor device according to claim 9, wherein the second liquid (44) comprises at least one chemical cleaning agent, in particular the second liquid and/or the chemical cleaning agent being removed from the transport units (21) before the conveyor arrangement is transferred to the transport operating state.

21. The conveyor arrangement according to claim 15, wherein a cutting device, in particular a meat cutting device (112), is arranged at the transfer section (A3).

22. The conveyor arrangement according to claim 21, wherein the meat cutting device (112) is set up to separate meat parts, in particular poultry parts, from a meat carcass, in particular poultry carcass (F1), and to make them available at the transfer section (A1) as conveyed object (F2).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0055] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures; herein shows:

[0056] FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a conveyor arrangement with a conveyor device according to the invention;

[0057] FIG. 2 transport units of the conveyor device according to FIG. 1 in several representations;

[0058] FIG. 3 different spraying schedules in tabular form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a conveyor arrangement 100. The conveyor arrangement 100 comprises a feed in device 110 by which object parts F2 are provided. These object parts F2 are in particular poultry meat parts, such as chicken wings, chicken breasts or chicken thighs.

[0060] The feed in device 110 comprises a feed in conveyor 111, which can be designed as an overhead conveyor. Larger object units F1 are conveyed to this feed in conveyor. These object units F1 are in particular a poultry carcass.

[0061] The feed in device 110 comprises a disposal unit 112, which provides object parts F2 of the object unit F1. In particular, the disposal unit comprises a separating device which separates the object parts F2 from the object unit F1.

[0062] The object parts are finally transported away by a disposal device 120. The disposal device 120 can have a disposal conveyor 121, in particular a conveyor belt.

[0063] A conveyor device 1 according to the invention is provided for transferring the object parts F2 from the feed in device 110 to the disposal device 120. The conveyor device 1 is set up to take over the object parts F2 from the feed in conveyor 111 at a takeover area A1 and to transfer them to the disposal device 120 at a handover area A3.

[0064] FIG. 1 shows in a reduced representation a function of the conveyor device 1 within the conveyor arrangement 100. The provision of the object parts F2 at the takeover area A1 and the delivery of the object parts F2 at the handover area A3 is shown schematically.

[0065] Consequently, the conveyor device 1 fulfills a spatially funneling function in order to position the object parts F2 arriving at the takeover area A1 in a spatially widely scattered manner in a defined manner in a comparatively small handover area A3.

[0066] In conventional conveyor arrangements, this funneling function is performed by a suitably shaped stainless steel plate between the takeover area A1 and the handover area A3. The object parts F2 slide along the stainless steel plate. Each object part leaves behind individual contaminations. After about one hour of operation, there are individual contaminations on the stainless steel sheet, for example from several thousand object units F1. Further object parts sliding along now come into contact with this contamination.

[0067] The present invention now provides means of ensuring that the individual object parts are significantly less contaminated with germs from other object parts. For this purpose, a conveyor device according to the invention is used instead of the stainless steel sheet, which is explained in more detail below.

[0068] The conveyor device 1 according to the invention (see FIG. 1) comprises a plurality of transport units 21. Such a transport unit 21 can be designed, for example, as a transport basket. Other forms are also possible, although it must be ensured that the transport unit 21 can safely pick up the object parts F2 and selectively deliver them again.

[0069] The transport units 21 are arranged to be transferable along a conveying direction R between the takeover area A1 and the handover area A3. At the takeover area A1, a transport unit 21 takes over one or more object parts F2 and transports them to the handover area A3, where the transported object parts F2 are transferred to the disposal device 120. The conveying direction R is circulating, so that the transport units return to a starting position after one circulation.

[0070] The transport unit (FIG. 2) comprises side walls 21s and a base 21b. The side walls 21s and the base 21b form a receiving space for receiving the object parts. The object parts can enter or leave the receiving space through a receiving opening 210.

[0071] The walls have a plurality of recesses 21a. The recesses 21a are arranged on the bottom walls 21b and the side walls 21s in such a way that the object parts are held reliably in the receiving space, but on the other hand the contact area between the object parts and the transport unit is as small as possible. The transmission paths of contamination are thus reduced to a minimum. The walls (base and side walls) form a downwardly pronounced taper 21j. This reduces the downward outer circumference of the transport unit.

[0072] Above the first fixing section 21f, the side wall 21s has a collar 21k that covers the first fixing section 21f when viewed from above. The collar 21k is inclined downward in the direction of the receiving space. Falling object parts F2 are thus kept away from the first fixing section 21f and guided into the receiving space as objects F2.

[0073] The conveyor device 1 comprises a base carrier 11. A support rail 12 is attached to the base carrier 11. The support rail 12 defines the conveying direction R. The transport units 21 are movably arranged on the support rail 12. The support rail 12 can be composed of several individual support rail segments.

[0074] The conveyor device includes a spraying arrangement 40. The spraying arrangement 40 includes two spraying nozzles 41, 42.

[0075] A first spraying nozzle 41 is arranged to generate a first spraying jet 43. The first spraying jet is in particular a spray mist 43. The first spraying jet 43 serves to wet the transport units with a first liquid. The wetting of the transport units causes fewer germs to adhere to the transport unit. As a result, fewer contaminants remain on the transport unit, which is a component for improving hygiene.

[0076] The first liquid of the first disposals praying jet 43 comprises in particular water, in particular at least 80% by volume. A thin film of water on the surface can prevent the above-mentioned effect of reduced adhesion of germs.

[0077] The first liquid of the first spraying jet 43 comprises, in particular in addition to water, a further component. The further component has, in particular, a disinfecting effect. The further component may comprise an alcohol. The proportion of the further component in the first liquid is in particular at most 20% by volume. In particular, the proportion of alcohol in the first liquid comprises max. 20 vol-%.

[0078] The wetting by means of the first spraying jet 43 takes place during a transport operating state. In the transport operating state, the objects F2 are transported. In this case, the transport unit is sprayed in a defined manner with the first spraying jet 43 so that the surface is at least partially wetted with liquid. Spraying takes place when there is no object F2 to be conveyed on the transport unit. Therefore, the first spraying nozzle 41 is arranged at a return area A4 of the conveyor device, i.e. in the conveying direction R between the handover area A3 and the takeover area A1.

[0079] In the return area, the transport units perform not only a lateral movement but also a pivoting movement and thus a rotary movement. This changes the relative orientation not only in one dimension but also in a second dimension, which is conducive to complete wetting of the transport unit. In this way, the probability of complete wetting can be increased while using as little liquid as possible.

[0080] The first spraying jet 43 can be executed so briefly and precisely that no substantial quantities of liquid drip down either. The liquid delivered by a spraying jet will be completely deposited on the transport unit. Alternatively, any remaining free liquid is absorbed by the ambient air, in particular as water vapor, so that no precipitation is formed which creates puddles on the floor.

[0081] In order to achieve the absorption of the first liquid without precipitation outside the transport units, the spraying of the transport units with the first spraying jet is carried out on the basis of a predefined spraying plan 41P, which is shown in tabular form as an example in FIG. 3.

[0082] For the sake of simplicity, it is assumed by way of example that the conveyor device 1 comprises five transport units 14, each numbered #1, #2, . . . #5. The transport units are arranged on the conveyor device in a rotating manner. Each transport unit returns to its starting position after one revolution U1, U2 . . . U6.

[0083] In one embodiment (FIG. 3a), the first transport unit #1 is sprayed in a first circulation U1. In a second circulation, the second transport unit #2 is sprayed, and so on. After the last transport unit #5 has been sprayed in the fifth circulation, a circulation U6 is made without spraying. The individual spraying interval dt between two spraying strokes (spray-free interval) is, for example, 1.2 times the circulation time tU. The total spray interval dT is six times the circulation time tU. The total spray interval dT is the duration between two spray bursts on an individual transport unit.

[0084] In one embodiment (FIG. 3b), the single spray interval is increased compared to the example shown in FIG. 3a. In this case, one spray burst is followed by a further cycle U2, U4, . . . without a burst. A total spray interval dT is 11 times the circulation time tU. A single spray interval dt is 2.2 times the circulation time tU.

[0085] In one embodiment, the individual spray interval is reduced compared to the example shown in FIG. 3a (FIG. 3c). A total spray interval dT is 4 times the circulation time tU. A single spray interval dt is 0.8 times the circulation time tU.

[0086] Even if in the previous examples the individual spray intervals are always of equal length, this is not a mandatory property; because in particular with a crooked number of transport units and with a short total spray interval, this is not always mathematically feasible. In this respect, the individual spray intervals can vary within an overall spray interval, whereby it is preferred that the individual spray intervals are distributed as evenly as possible and are thus as long as possible. The longest possible individual spray intervals dt promote complete absorption of the moisture in the form of water vapor by the ambient air.

[0087] The spraying pulses must also be timed so precisely that the transport unit 21 to be sprayed is in a defined alignment with the first spraying nozzle 41 at the time of the spraying pulse. This requires position information PI. To determine the position information PI, a presence sensor 412 is provided, which is set up to detect the presence of a transport unit 21 at a specific time. In combination with the known conveying speed v of the transport units 21 along the support rail 12, the position of the transport unit 21 relative to the first spraying nozzle 41 can be inferred. As soon as the transport unit 21 to be sprayed is then located at the first spraying unit, the spraying impact can be initiated on the basis of a control command C.

[0088] A control unit 410 is provided for the precise timing of the spray burst. Position information PI, for example from the presence sensor 412, serves as input values. Furthermore, the transport speed v is an input variable that can be used to determine the circulation time tU. The transport speed v can be provided electronically by a drive control of the conveyor device. Alternatively, the presence sensor can be positioned such that the spray burst is triggered immediately upon detection of the presence of a transport unit 21; in this case, knowledge of the velocity v is dispensable.

[0089] An input unit 411, exemplarily shown here as a potentiometer, is used to detect a user input U1.

[0090] The user default U1 can, for example, be the maximum value of a permissible total spraying interval dT. In other words, the total spraying interval dT is the specification at which interval at the latest an individual transport unit is to be sprayed. Based on the user specification U1 and the conveying speed v and the number of transport units, the control unit can generate a spraying schedule 41P as shown above. Based on the generated spray schedule 41P and the position information PI, individual spray strokes are then initiated in a targeted manner by control command.

[0091] Different food parts require different hygienic treatment. Thus, there are also different requirements within a particular product group. For example, chicken breast is a comparatively highly contaminated piece of meat, while beef has a comparatively low level of contamination. Using the input unit 411, the spraying intervals can be specifically adjusted to the respective application.

[0092] A second spraying nozzle 42 is arranged to generate a second spraying jet 44. The second spraying jet is used to clean the transport units of contaminants. The cleaning may be mechanical and/or chemical. Mechanical cleaning uses the mass and flow energy of the fluid to remove contaminants from the transport unit. Chemical cleaning uses material properties of the fluid to loosen adhesion of the contaminants. In this respect, the second liquid may also contain cleaning substances that are undesirable when wetted by the first spray device.

[0093] Cleaning using the second spraying jet takes place in a cleaning operating state. In the cleaning operating state, no transport of objects takes place. The cleaning operating state is initiated at regular intervals, for example after 8 hours. In particular, the feed in device 110 and the disposal device 120 are also at rest in the cleaning operating state.

[0094] In one embodiment, the spraying arrangement 40 includes a splash guard arrangement 45. The splash guard arrangement includes splash guards and is intended to prevent uncontrolled dispersal of fluid throughout the conveyor device and the environment, particularly during the cleaning mode.

[0095] In one embodiment, liquid can flow off into a collecting device 46 at a lower drain area 45A of the splash guard arrangement and then be cleaned by means of a treatment device 47 The treated liquid can then be made available again to the respective spraying nozzle by means of a recirculation 48. Separate treatment can be provided for each of the two spraying nozzles 41, 42.

[0096] Several first spraying nozzles may be provided, each of which is operated, for example, synchronously or together.

[0097] A plurality of second spraying nozzles may be provided, each of which is operated synchronously or asynchronously with one another.

[0098] Not shown but possible is the supply of fresh water to the spraying nozzles 41, 42 without treatment. Any waste water can be fed to the waste water disposal system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0099] 100 conveyor arrangement [0100] 1 conveyor device [0101] A1 takeover area [0102] A2 transfer area [0103] A3 handover area [0104] A4 return area [0105] F1 object unit [0106] F2 conveyed object/object parts [0107] 11 Base carrier [0108] 12 support rail [0109] 21 transport unit (transport baskets) [0110] 21b bottom wall [0111] 21s side wall [0112] 21j taper [0113] 21f fixing section on transport unit [0114] 21a recesses [0115] 210 receiving opening [0116] 21k collar [0117] 40 spraying arrangement [0118] 41 first spraying nozzle [0119] 41p first spraying schedule [0120] 42 second spraying nozzle [0121] 43 first spraying jet [0122] 44 second spraying jet [0123] 45 splash guard arrangement [0124] 45A drain area [0125] 46 collecting device [0126] 47 preparation device [0127] 48 recirculation [0128] 410 spraying controller [0129] 411 input unit [0130] 412 presence sensor [0131] 110 feed in device [0132] 111 feed in conveyor [0133] 112 disposal unit (cutter)/separating device [0134] 120 disposal device [0135] 121 disposal conveyor [0136] R conveying direction [0137] V conveying speed [0138] dt single spray interval [0139] dT total spray interval [0140] tU cycle duration [0141] PI position information [0142] U1 user input [0143] C control command