The invention relates to a separation and return system for foodstuffs, in which liquid portions of foodstuffs, which are supplied to, for example, a metering or packaging system and are not integrated into the respective process of metering or packaging, are returned into the corresponding storage containers via a return system. The active transport of the liquid portions is carried out by a vacuum compressor (7) to which the separation system is mounted upstream for security-relevant reasons. By using the combination of separation system and return system, liquid portions are utilized which are otherwise not transferred into the respective operational process.
B65B 3/14 - Procédés ou moyens pour charger le matériau dans les réceptacles ou récipients en exerçant une pression sur le matériau pneumatiquement
B65B 37/14 - Approvisionnement ou alimentation des matériaux solides fluents, plastiques ou liquides, ou de masses en vrac, de petits objets, à emballer par alimenteurs pneumatiques
F04F 3/00 - Pompes utilisant une pression négative agissant directement sur le liquide à pomper
B67D 7/02 - Appareils ou dispositifs pour transférer des liquides à partir de récipients ou de réservoirs de stockage en vrac vers des véhicules ou des récipients portables, p. ex. pour la vente au détail pour transférer des liquides autres que des carburants ou des lubrifiants
B67D 7/72 - Dispositifs appliquant une pression d'air ou d'un autre gaz en vue de forcer le liquide vers l'orifice de distribution
3.
FILLING LEVEL MEASURING SYSTEM FOR HETEROGENEOUS, SENSITIVE FOODS THAT CANNOT BE PUMPED AND HAVE A LOW LIQUID CONTENT
The invention relates to a filling level measuring system for heterogeneous, sensitive foods that cannot be pumped and have a low liquid content, wherein the food is loaded into a loading pipe (2) by means of a filling funnel (1) and is measured in a vertical measuring direction by means of an optical sensor unit (6). For the sake of hygiene, there is no direct contact between the optical sensor unit (6) and the measurement object, and the optical sensor unit (6) operates on the basis of a measurement of light propagation time. Said optical sensor unit (6) contains a PMD sensor, which determines the filling level in the loading pipe (2) by means of a light beam in the IR range and the reflection thereof at the measurement object on the basis of the propagation time of the light beam and forwards the respective measurement results to a data processing system. Said data processing system controls the loading of the loading pipe (2) according to the measurement results of the optical sensor unit (6).
The invention relates to a variable metering system for heterogeneous, sensitive and non-pumpable foodstuffs having a low liquid portion, in which a carrier plate system (5 and 8) is set into a stroke motion by a drive cylinder (1) which is in horizontal alignment. The foodstuff, which is brought into the metering chambers (6 and 7) on the carrier plates (5 and 8) using vacuum, is conveyed by said stroke motion to a discharge position where it is ejected under the effect of compressed air. By the type of connection of the two carrier plates (5 and 8), it is possible to change the distance of the carrier plates (5 and 8) from each other by means of a rod system and an associated servomotor (11) or by a hand wheel. This distance variation leads to a change in volume in the metering chambers (6 and 7), can be controlled by an external scale and can be readjusted by an automatic control of the rod system. The simple design of the metering system ensures that it can be easily dismantled and cleaned for cleaning or maintenance purposes.
B65B 1/38 - Dispositifs ou procédés pour régler ou déterminer la quantité ou la qualité du matériau fourni ou chargé par dispositifs ou procédés volumétriques par pistons et chambres de mesure
G01F 11/18 - Appareils qu'il faut actionner de l'extérieur, adaptés à chaque opération répétée et identique, pour mesurer et séparer le volume prédéterminé d'un fluide ou d'un matériau solide fluent à partir d'une alimentation ou d'un récipient sans tenir compte du poids, et pour fournir ce volume avec chambres de mesure se déplaçant au cours de l'opération du type à soupapes, c.-à-d. que la séparation est effectuée par des mouvements étanches aux fluides ou aux poudres dans lesquels la chambre de mesure est animée d'un mouvement alternatif pour un matériau solide fluent
5.
CONVEYING DEVICE FOR HETEROGENEOUS, SENSITIVE FOODS THAT CANNOT BE PUMPED AND HAVE A LOW LIQUID CONTENT
For the conveying device for heterogeneous, sensitive foods that cannot be pumped and have a low liquid content, e.g., Asian noodle or rice dishes, a screw conveyor (4), which is designed as a hollow worm, is put into rotation by means of a drive motor (1). Said drive motor (1) is connected to the screw conveyor (4) by means of a bearing flange (3) and a connecting bolt (2). The screw conveyor is partially coreless and has radial pins.
