METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PRODUCT CONTAINING FOOD IN A SKIN

Abstract

In a method for producing a product (5.1-5.3), containing a food in a skin (10), on a string, wherein successive products (5.1-5.3) are separated from one another by a tie-off region (3), a taut thread (4) should be wound around the tie-off region (3), multiple times over its length(S), and said thread should be continued from product (5.1-5.3) to product (5.1-5.3).

Claims

1. Method for producing a product (5.1-5.3), containing a food in a skin (10), on a string, wherein successive products (5.1-5.3) are separated from one another by a tie-off region (3) produced between two tie-off points (1, 2), wherein a taut thread (4) is wound around the tie-off region (3) multiple times over its length (S) in such a way that as much food as possible, which may be located between the two tie-off points (1, 2), is displaced before the second tie-off point (2) is produced and said thread is continued from product (5.1-5.3) to product (5.1-5.3).

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the same thread (4) is used for creating the tie-off points (1, 2) and for winding around the tie-off region (3).

3. Method according to claim 1, wherein a thread feed means winds the thread (4) around the tie-off region (3) multiple times at the first tie-off point (1) of the tie-off region (3) for creating the first tie-off point (1), and then, for creating a predetermined number of windings (4A), the product (5.1-5.3) is displaced along its conveying direction, and the second tie-off point (2) is created.

4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the speed is constant both when creating the tie-off points (1, 2) and when winding around the tie-off region (3).

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the winding speed of a thread feed means when creating the tie-off points (1, 2) is different compared with when creating the windings (4A) around the tie-off region (3).

6. Method according to claim 1, wherein the skin (8) consists of plastics material.

7. Method according to claim 1, wherein a transparent skin (8) is used.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein a liquid food, in particular a soup, is selected as the food to be filled into the skin (8).

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the tie-off region (3) is created by at least one displacer (11, 12).

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein a displacer (11) constricts the tie-off region (3), in front of the first tie-off point (1) in the conveying direction.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein after the first tie-off point (1) the product (5.1-5.3) is drawn further in the conveying direction, by a further displacer (12), for creating the tie-off region (3).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein when the product (5.1-5.3) is drawn further between the further displacer (12) and the first displacer (11) the tie-off region (3) is wound.

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the second tie-off point (2) is created in front of the first displacer (11).

14. Method according to claim 11, wherein the movement of the further displacer (12) and the movement of the thread feed means are synchronized.

15. Method according to claim 1, wherein a skin type is determined by a camera, which is connected to an artificial intelligence means, and thereafter the movement of the thread feed means and/or displacers (11, 12) is determined.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein the camera is arranged on the rotor housing, in the region of a skin intake.

17. Method according to claim 9, wherein the movement of the displacer (12) takes place using a servo drive.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein the movement of the rotor and displacer (12) is synchronized.

19-21. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further advantages, features and details of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred embodiments, and with reference to the drawings; in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a plan view of three products in a product string;

[0025] FIGS. 2 to 4 are schematic views of the creation of a tie-off region according to the present invention between products on a string, in different method steps.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] A food for products 5.1 to 5.3 enters a skin 8 from a filling tube 7, which skin is pushed onto the filling tube 7 in a concertinaed manner. In this case, the skin 8 is held securely on the filling tube 7 by means of brake slips 9. In front of the filling tube 7, a bubble 10 comprising food forms in the skin 8.

[0027] In general, when creating the tie-off region now additionally two pairs of pliers-like displacers 11 and 12 are used. The front displacer 11 is stationary, while a rear, movable displacer 12 is mounted on a carriage (not shown in further detail) on which said displacer can be displaced, by means of a hydraulically or pneumatically actuated piston, for creating the tie-off region 3, wherein said displacer carries along the skin 8 at the start of the production, and subsequently also a product that is already produced.

[0028] In the present embodiment, the completed tie-off region 3 is created by a first tie-off point 1 and by a second tie-off point 2. This is achieved by means of a thread 4, which is wrapped around the tie-off region 3 by means of a rotor (not shown). In this case, a secure constriction is implemented at the tie-off points 1 and 2 and also along the tie-off region 3.

[0029] The method sequence is as follows:

[0030] In accordance with the present invention, according to FIG. 2 the tie-off point 1 is now created at maximum speed of the rotor and having a taut thread 4. Then, according to FIG. 3, the displacer 12 moves away from the stationary displacer 11, pulls the product with it, and forms the tie-off region 3, wherein food which is located in the tie-off region 3 is displaced through the closed claws of the displacer 11 in the direction of the arrow P according to FIG. 3, and into the bubble 10. This preferably takes place at a constant wrapping speed of the rotor and existing thread brake. In this way, the tie-off region is wrapped in a defined manner, which means that a predetermined number of windings 4A are laid around the tie-off region 3.

[0031] Thereafter, according to FIG. 4, the second tie-off point 2 is produced, at a preferably constant speed of the thread rotor and braking of the thread, in order that the tension is maintained.

[0032] After creation of the second tie-off point 2, the displacer 11 is opened and the product is pulled to the left by the displacer 12 for example, such that the filling tube 7 can fill the skin 8 with food for the next product. At the same time, the thread brake is opened, such that no thread is laid around the newly formed product, but rather the thread is guided along said product. When the desired length of the product has been achieved, the displacer 11 is closed again, the displacer 12 is opened and is returned to its initial position according to FIG. 2.

[0033] The movement of the second displacer 12 on its carriage is achieved by a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder. The stroke between two end positions corresponds approximately to the spacing S. In the case of said movement, the second displacer 12 carries along the tip of the sausage skin 8 after the first tie-off point 1 or the sausage, in the conveying direction.

[0034] All the movements of the rotor both for creating the tie-off points 1 and 2 and the tie-off region 3, and also optionally the movement(s) of the displacer(s) 11 and 12 are generated by servo drives, as a result of which both the rotor and the displacer can be accelerated or braked in an exact manner. This means that, according to the invention, the rotor can always rotate at maximum speed, and specifically while creating the two tie-off points 1 and 2 and while creating the windings 4A.

[0035] However, it is also conceivable that the first tie-off point 1 is created at maximum speed of the rotor, thereafter the rotor is moved along the tie-off region at a predetermined speed and optionally lower rotation rate, and only then, for creating the second tie-off point 2, is the rotor increased to maximum speed. The speed at which the rotor winds the tie-off threads around the tie-off region, for creating the tie-off point, may be different from that at which the windings 4A are created along the tie-off region. The rotor also does not need to be stopped upon reaching the second tie-off point 2, but merely the winding speed is increased.

[0036] By means of synchronization of the rotor movement with the tie-off thread, and the displacer movement along the tie-off region 3, the thread pitch between the two tie-off points 1 and 2 is thus specified in a targeted manner, without the rotor stopping and only then the axial movement of the second displacer along the twist-off point taking place. As a result, constant stopping and acceleration of the rotor is significantly reduced, which leads to substantially lower wear and associated running costs.

TABLE-US-00001 List of reference signs 1 1st tie-off point 34 2 2nd tie-off point 35 3 Tie-off region 3 4 Thread 37 5 Product 38 39 7 Filling tube 40 8 Skin 41 9 Brake slipper 42 10 Bubble 43 11 Displacer 44 12 Displacer 45 13 4 14 47 15 48 1 49 17 50 4A Winding 18 51 19 52 20 53 21 54 22 55 23 5 P Arrow 24 57 25 58 S Length of 3 2 59 27 0 28 1 29 2 30 3 31 4 32 5 33