Device and method for treating and processing food products and food components

Abstract

The present invention relates to a food processing device, for example but not exclusively, a gripper, a conveying hook, or a collection cup (1), having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics: a roughness value Ra, 0.2Ra1.2 (m), and a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm). It has been found that with devices treated in this manner, the application of vision technology is appreciably improved, so that much more reliable images are obtained. An example of this concerns observing yolk in albumen upon the breaking of eggs in egg breakers. Further, a particularly advantageous combination of usefulness is obtained, in this case for vision and cleanability.

Claims

1. A food processing device comprising a collection cup, having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics: a roughness value Ra, 0.2Ra1.2 (m), and a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm), and wherein the process surface portion includes a bottom portion which possesses an optical reflection Ry, in gloss units GU, in the 20 measuring range, 8<Ry.sub.20<14 and in the 60 measuring range, 45<Ry.sub.60<70.

2. A food processing device according to claim 1, wherein the roughness value Ra is in the range of 0.3<Ra<1.0 (m).

3. A food processing device according to claim 1, wherein the roughness value Ra is in the range of 0.3<Ra<0.5 (m).

4. A food processing device according to claim 1, wherein the roughness value Ra is in the range of from 0.2 through 0.7 m (0.2Ra0.7 m).

5. A food processing device according to claim 1, wherein the peak density value Rpc is greater than 60 cm.sup.1 and less than 140 cm.sup.1 (60<Rpc<140 1/cm).

6. A food processing device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion has one or more of the following features: an optical reflection Ry, in gloss units GU, in the 20 measuring range according to 8<Ry.sub.20<14, and in the 60 measuring range according to 45<Ry.sub.60<70; further roughness characteristics for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2 according to 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk according to 0.4<Rvk<1.8 m; and further roughness characteristics for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2 according to 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk according to 0.4<Rvk<0.9 m, and in particular Rvk, 0.5<Rvk<0.9 m.

7. A collection cup according to claim 1, wherein at least the bottom portion possess further roughness characteristics, for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2, 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk, 0.4<Rvk<1.8 m.

8. A fluid collecting device according to claim 1, wherein at least the bottom portion possess further roughness characteristics, for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2, 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk, 0.4<Rvk<0.9 m, and in particular Rvk, 0.5<Rvk<0.9 m.

9. An apparatus for breaking eggs, having collection cups for, after breaking, at least receiving and collecting albumen, wherein said collection cups possess the characteristics according to claim 1.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the collection cups are constructed to receive and collect yolk.

11. A system comprising a detection device for imaging at least parts of the food collecting devices according to claim 1 and an inspecting device for processing and inspecting images.

12. A method for observing yolk in albumen upon the breaking of eggs in egg breakers, comprising the use of a collection cup according to claim 6 to receive the albumen, and observing the albumen received in the collection cup with a detection device.

13. A food processing device, comprising a collection cup, having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics: a roughness value Ra, 0.2<Ra<1.2 (m), and a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm), wherein the process surface portion is a bottom portion which has one or more of the following features: an optical reflection Ry, in gloss units GU, in the 20 measuring range according to 8<Ry.sub.20<14 and in the 60 measuring range according to 45<Ry.sub.60<70; further roughness characteristics for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2 according to 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk according to 0.4<Rvk<1.8 m; and further roughness characteristics for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2 according to 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk according to 0.4<Rvk<0.9 m, and in particular Rvk, 0.5<Rvk<0.9 m.

14. A food processing device comprising a collection cup, having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics: a roughness value Ra, 0.2Ra1.2 (m), and a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm), wherein the processing surface bottom portion, possesses further roughness characteristics for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2, 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk, 0.4<Rvk<1.8 m.

15. A food processing device comprising a collection cup, having at least one processing surface portion of matt stainless steel having the following roughness characteristics: a roughness value Ra, 0.2Ra1.2 (m), and a peak density value Rpc, 40<Rpc<140 (1/cm), wherein the process surface portion includes a bottom portion, and wherein at least the bottom portion possesses further roughness characteristics, for the derivative of the total interpeak area Mr2, 85<Mr2<93%, and for the derivative of the total peak volume Rvk, 0.4<Rvk<0.9 m.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 shows a breaker cup unit.

(2) In FIG. 1 a breaker cup unit 1 is shown, viewed obliquely from above, just short of full-size. Such a unit 1 is typically one in a whole row, is part of and arranged in an egg breaking apparatus, and coupled to or connected with an endless conveyor. Further details on egg breaking are given in the above-mentioned document EP2002770.

(3) Basically, the steps in the breaking of an egg, from a row of successive eggs, are: taking up an egg in a clamp with two clamp halves, cleaving the egg with a striking knife, moving the clamp halves apart, while the shell halves are held in the clamps and the egg content falls and drips from the shell halves moving apart, receiving this content with a cup unit 1 as mentioned above, whereby, via an upper yolk cup 20 for receiving substantially the yolk of the egg, the albumen (white of the egg) drips further down and is collected in an albumen cup 30.

(4) More particularly, there are indicated in FIG. 1, the yolk cup 20, having substantially a circumferential shape of the lower part of a sphere, including a yolk cup wall 21, which occupies the upper part of this circumferential shape, yolk cup bottom 22 which occupies the lower part of this circumferential shape, a leak slot 23 which is a recess or slot between the yolk cup wall 21 and the yolk cup bottom 22 and which serves to allow the greater part of the albumen to run, flow or drip further downwards, and the albumen cup 30, having substantially a scoop-shaped circumferential shape, including albumen cup walls 31 on the longitudinal sides of the albumen cup 30, first bottom part 32 on the short side of the scoop and extending substantially in vertical direction, and a second bottom part 33 on the long side of the scoop and extending substantially in horizontal direction.

(5) Such a cup unit 1 is connected through a coupling 2 with the above-mentioned endless conveyor. Separate tilting of the yolk cup 20 is enabled with a yolk cup tilting pin 24, and of the albumen cup 30 with an albumen cup tilting pin 34. Further lines indicated in the albumen cup 30 are descriptive lines at bending edges, at the transitions between the different parts 31, 32, 33 of this cup 30.

(6) Conventionally, such cup units 1 are made of stainless steel, for example, RVS304. The method pursued to date for making the parts of such a cup unit cleanable is that of electrolytic polishing. Further details about this have been mentioned hereinabove. Basically, the parts of such a cup unit exhibit a reflecting effect.

(7) In the use of vision technology, in a conventional manner, exposure and observation (in particular by a camera as mentioned) take place substantially from above. In particular, as follows from the foregoing, a method for observing yolk in albumen comprises the use of a collection cup as mentioned to receive the albumen, wherein a detection device is utilized for observing the albumen received in the collection cup (to detect unwanted traces of yolk).

(8) Not surprisingly, the reflecting effect referred to will considerably influence the analysis of the image recordings of the two cups 20, 30 and, worse, will disturb it. It has been found that this problem can be reduced or solved with a cup unitas food processing devicethat satisfies one or more features of the present invention.

(9) Thus, it has been found that with roughness characteristics according to the present inventions, also a reflectivity Ry is obtained that considerably improves analyzing of the image recordings. In particular, yolk residues in the albumen fluid mass in the albumen cup 30 can be recognized very clearly. Further typing thereof, as well as processing of the obtained typing and characteristics derived therefrom, makes a suitable and advantageous processing of these food components possible. Furthermore, it is mentioned here that the reflectivity referred to was determined with a NOVOGLOSS LITE GLANSMETER, type VF2463, reference being made to website www.tqc.eu.

(10) Further particulars about definitions and measuring procedures can be found in Rhopoints Instruments Ltd., Novo-Gloss Lite Operation Manual, Revision A English, June 2007, DRD5000-011.

(11) To anyone skilled in the art it is self-evident that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described. Diverse alterations are possible within the framework of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

(12) To anyone skilled in the art it will be clear that many parts and components of such food processing devices may be implemented in this manner.

(13) Deviations, as well as parts or components of such equipment or machines that are not specified here, are understood to be within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

(14) Thus, the invention is not limited to the processing of eggs. As follows from the above, the invention can be used with advantage, for example, in a slaughter apparatus for slaughtering and processing animals, for example, but not exclusively, cattle, pigs, fowl, or poultry. 1 breaker cup unit 2 coupling 20 yolk cup 21 yolk cup wall 22 yolk cup bottom 23 leak slot 24 yolk cup tilting pin 30 albumen cup 31 albumen cup wall 32 first bottom part 33 second bottom part 34 albumen cup tilting pin