GB2398480A

GB2398480A - Food handling mechanism

Info

Publication number: GB2398480A
Application number: GB0229538A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Galbraith
Original assignee: Allied Bakeries Ltd
Current assignee: Allied Bakeries Ltd
Priority date: 2002-12-19
Filing date: 2002-12-19
Publication date: 2004-08-25
Anticipated expiration: 2022-12-19
Also published as: GB2398480B; GB0229538D0

Abstract

A mechanism for dividing a food product such as bakery products e.g. batches of buns into a plurality of portions comprises an engaging member to define the plurality of portions and a separator in which the engaging member is arranged to engage with the food product and the separator is arranged to separate the plurality of portions. The engaging member and separator means may comprise an engaging blade 30 and a separating blade 32 which are arranged to be adjacent when engaging the product and to move apart to separate the plurality of portions.

Description

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PATENTS ACT 1977 A10751GB Title: Improvements in Food Handling Mechanisms

Description of Invention

This invention relates to improvements in food handling mechanisms.

In particular, although not exclusively, this invention relates to mechanisms for dividing food products into a number of portions, and methods for performing this task. The invention will be described below, with particular reference to the bakery products, specifically bakery products which comprise a plurality of individual portions which are partially joined at an integral base matrix, but it will be understood that the invention has general applicability.

Many products, particularly bakery products such as buns, are baked in batches, typically 6 buns by 8 buns, in a large oven. For transportation, packing and sales purposes it is necessary to split these large batches into smaller portions which may be, for example, 6 buns long and 2 buns wide, or 2 buns wide and 2 buns long, as commonly seen for sale in supermarkets.

Typically, this is done by hand with employees of the bakery breaking each large batch into smaller portions. This is labour intensive, and thus expensive, and makes it more difficult to package the buns automatically.

Attempts have been made to automate the process, but this has been found to be difficult since the buns are easily crushed by machinery and are then most unappealing to consumers. The need for care in breaking the batches UK, also makes the manual method relatively slow, and leads to a substantial proportion of rejects.

According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided a mechanism for dividing a food product into a plurality of portions, comprising an engaging member and a separator in which the engaging member is arranged l to engage with the food product and thereby define a plurality of portions and the separator is arranged to separate the plurality of portions.

Through the joint action of the engaging member and the separator a large batch of buns may be split into smaller, more convenient portions, without a significant risk of crushing or tearing.

Preferably the separator provides the engaging member. Thus one tool may be used which has a dual action making the machine economical and easy to install in an existing production line.

The separator may comprise two members, which are arranged to move apart to separate the plurality of portions. In this case both members may engage the food product simultaneously and may tear, or cut, the batch apart. If this is the case then preferably the two members are arranged to be adjacent when engaging the food product, to provide a swift and effective severing of the product into two portions.

The engaging member may, advantageously, comprise a blade, which cuts through the food product to define the plurality of portions. Depending on the nature of the food product a cutting action may give a cleaner division than, for example, a tearing action.

Alternatively, depending on the nature of the food product, the engaging member may restrain the food product and the separator may cause the food product to be torn into a plurality of portions.

Preferably the mechanism further comprises a frame, and a first shaft depending from the frame on which the engaging member and the separator are mounted. The frame may conveniently be used to suspend the rest of the mechanism above the food product.

In this case, the engaging member and the separator may conveniently be mounted on the first shaft by a second shaft, depending from the first shaft.

This provides 2 degrees of freedom of movement.

The first shaft and the second shaft are, advantageously, substantially orthogonal. Initially, the first shaft may be substantially orthogonal to the frame.

The mechanism conveniently further comprises powered means to move the engaging member along the first shaft, and powered means to move the engaging member or separator along the second shaft. The powered means is preferably fluid, conveniently being pneumatic.

The mechanism may further comprise a first conveyor, which in use moves the food product, conveniently beneath the engaging member. The mechanism may further conveniently comprise a second conveyor, which in use moves the food product away from the separator. Preferably the first conveyor and the second conveyor are substantially orthogonal.

The mechanism, advantageously, further comprises a sensor arranged to sense a position of the engaging member or the separator and a controller adapted to move one or both of the conveyors in response to the position sensed.

The mechanism is particularly suitable for use with a food product which comprises a plurality of portions, each portion being partially joined to another portion. It may be used advantageously for cutting bakery products, particularly for separating buns.

This invention extends to a separator for use in any of the preceding mechanisms.

According to a second aspect of this invention there is provided a method of dividing food products involving positioning a food product under an engaging member, lowering the engaging member to engage with the food product and thereby defme a plurality of portions, and separating the plurality of portions.

The method may involve using the engaging member to separate the food products. Preferably the method involves using the engaging member to cut though the food product.

The method may involve conveying one of the plurality of portions away from the food product. Advantageously the method involves sensing the position of the engaging member and positioning the food product in response to the position sensed.

The method may involve restraining one of the plurality of portions whilst the plurality of portions are separated.

According to a third aspect of this invention, there is provided a mechanism for separating a food product into two portions, comprising engagement means to engage the food product along the line of separation, and separation means to separate the two portions, one either side of the line of separation.

The engagement means may engage the food product and restrain one of said portions against movement whilst the separator means may move the other portion away from said line.

The separator mechanism may operate in conjunction with a conveyor and said separator means may operate to move the said other portion from the conveyor.

The mechanism may further comprise means to cause movement of the conveyor to cease when the food product is being conveyed to a desired position by the conveyor, and means to re-commence movement of the conveyor when said other portion of the food product has been separated from said one portion.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, having been selected purely by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a bun splitting machine; and FIGURE 2 shows schematically a cross-section through a part of the machine.

A machine for splitting a batch of buns into smaller portions for packing, transportation and sale is shown generally at 10 in Figure 1. The machine comprises an input conveyor 12, an output conveyor 14, and a mechanism for splitting the batch 16 into smaller portions 18, which is indicated generally at 20.

The splitting mechanism 20 comprises a frame 22 on which is mounted a first housing 24. The frame 22 enables the first housing 24 to be suspended above the input conveyor 12.

The splitting mechanism 20 also comprises a second housing 26 which is mounted on the first housing 24, and thus the frame 22 by a first pair of pistons 28. The second housing 26 supports the part of the mechanism which provides the splitting action, which includes a pair of blades, an engaging blade and a separating blade 32. The engaging blade 30 is mounted directly on the input side of the housing 26, whilst the engaging blade 32 is slidably mounted on the housing 26.

The frame is oriented orthogonally to the line of movement of the first housing, and both the frame and the first housing are oriented orthogonally to the line of movement to the second housing. Additionally, the input and output conveyors are orthogonal.

Further details of the construction of the machine 10 can be seen in Figure 2 which shows two air cylinders 36, 38, positioned within the first housing 24 and the second housing 26 respectively. This figure also shows in more detail the way that the separator blade is mounted in the second housing 26 for movement along the longitudinal axis of the housing.

The housing 26 has a C-shaped cross section, and T-pieces 40, which are connected to a carriage 42 may be mounted in the hollow provided in the centre of the C. The separating blade 32 is, in turn, mounted on the carriage 42.

A photo-detector 44 and an LED 46 are mounted on the frame at either side of the engagement blade 30. These communicate with a controller 48 positioned in the first housing 24.

In use the bun splitting machine goes through a regular cycle of operations, which will now be described. In its starting, or maintenance, position the splitting mechanism 20 is positioned below the first housing 24.

When the controller receives a signal to indicate that there is a batch of buns positioned underneath the mechanism 20, it causes movement of the conveyor 12 to cease, and it activates the lowering of the mechanism 20, in the direction of arrow A shown on Figure 1. The mechanism 20 is driven by the first air compressor 36. The movement continues until the sensor 44, 46, signals to the controller that the blade has been lowered. The blade descends to a position between two buns, as shown in Figure 2, engaging the food portions along a line between a row of buns and pierces and severs a portion 18 from the main batch 16. At the end of the movement the blade is suspended just above the surface of the input conveyor 12.

The separator blade 32 is then moved in the direction of arrow B indicated on Figure 1 toward the output conveyor 14, by the second air compressor 38. Once the buns have been moved onto the output conveyor 14 by the separator blade 32 they are moved away and may be packed for transportation.

In practice the cutting movement and the splitting movement are essentially one smooth movement and it is not necessary although it may be

Claims

desirable, for the blade to descend to the end of its range of cutting movement before any splitting movement occurs. When the separator blade has reached the end of its range of movement and pushed the small portion of buns 18 on to the output conveyor 14 the mechanism 20 is drawn upwardly, toward the top of the frame, in the direction of arrow A. This releases the large batch of buns 16 and movement of the input conveyor 12 propels the batch 16 forward so that another set of buns is underneath the engagement blade. The separator blade 32 is then bought back so that it is adjacent to, and indeed may abut, the engagement blade and, essentially the machine is again in its starting position. This machine enables small portions of buns to be easily split without any significant risk of crushing the buns. The co-ordination between the movement of the conveyor and the movement of the mechanism is, of course, vital. is In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists of" and "comprising" means "including or consisting of". The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. CLAIMS

1. A mechanism for dividing a food product into a plurality of portions comprising an engaging member to define the plurality of portions and a separator in which the engaging member is arranged to engage with the food product and the separator is arranged to separate the plurality of portions.

2. A mechanism according to Claim 1 in which the separator provides the engaging member.

3. A mechanism according to Claim 2 in which the separator comprises two members, which are arranged to move apart to separate the plurality of portions.

4. A mechanism according to Claim 3 in which the two engaging members are arranged to be adjacent when engaging the food product.

5. A mechanism according to any preceding claim in which the engaging member comprises a blade which cuts through the food product to define the plurality of portions.

6. A mechanism according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which the engaging member restrains the food product and the separator causes the food product to tear into a plurality of portions.

7. A mechanism according to any preceding claim further comprising a frame, and a first shaft depending from the frame on which the engaging member and the separator are mounted.

8. A mechanism according to Claim 7 in which the engaging member and / or the separator are mounted on the first shaft via a second shaft depending from the first shaft.

9. A mechanism according to Claim 8 in which the first shaft and the second shaft are substantially orthogonal.

10. A mechanism according to any of claims 7 to 9 in which the first shaft is substantially orthogonal to the frame.

11. A mechanism according to any of claims 7 to 10 further comprising powered means to move the engaging member and/or the separator along the first shaft.

12. A mechanism according to any of claims 8 to 11 further comprising powered means to move the engaging member andlor separator along the second shaft.

13. A mechanism according to Claim 11 or Claim 12 in which the powered means is fluid.

14. A mechanism according to any preceding claim further comprising a first conveyer, which in use moves the food product under the engaging member.

15. A mechanism according Claim 14 further comprising a second conveyer, which in use moves the food product away from the separator.

16. A mechanism according to Claim 15 in which the first conveyer and the second conveyer are substantially orthogonal.

17. A mechanism according to any of claims 14 to 16 further comprising a sensor arranged to sense a position of the engaging member or the separator and a controller adapted to move one or both of the conveyers in response to the position sensed.

18. A mechanism according to any preceding claim adapted for use with a food product which comprises a plurality of portions, each portion being partially joined to an another portion.

19. A mechanism for cutting bakery products according to any preceding 1 5 claim.

20. A bun separator according to any preceding claim.

21. A separator for use in a mechanism according to any preceding claim.

22. A method of dividing food products involving positioning a food product under an engaging member, lowering the engaging member to engage with the food product and define a plurality of portions, and separating the plurality of portions. i

23. A method according to Claim 22 involving using the engaging member to separate the food product.

24. A method according to Claim 22 or Claim 23 involving using the engaging member to cut through the food product.

25. A method according to any of claims 22 to 24 involving conveying one of the plurality of portions away from the rest of the food product.

26. A method according to any of claims 22 to 25 involving sensing the position of the engaging member and positioning the food product in response to the position sensed.

27. A method according to any of claims 22 to 26 involving restraining one of the plurality of portions whilst the plurality of portions are separated.

28. A mechanism for separating a food product into two portions, comprising engagement means to engage the food product along a line of separation, and separator means to separate the two portions on either side of the line of separation.

29. A mechanism according to Claim 28 wherein the engagement means engages the food product and restrains one of said portions against movement whilst the separator means moves the other portion away from said line.

30. A mechanism according to Claim 29 wherein said separator mechanism operates in conjunction with a conveyor and said separator means operates to i move the said other portion from the conveyor.

31. A mechanism according to Claim 30 comprising means to cause movement of the conveyor to cease when the food product has been conveyed to a desired position by the conveyor, and means to recommence movement of the conveyor when said other portion of the food product has been separated from said one portion.

32. A mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

33. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein andlor in the accompanying drawings.