U.S. patent application number 09/849314 was filed with the patent office on 2002-11-07 for apparatus and method for stripping filmic casings from products.
Invention is credited to Skrak, Branko, Thomson, Terry W..
Application Number | 20020162302 09/849314 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25305540 |
Filed Date | 2002-11-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020162302 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomson, Terry W. ; et
al. |
November 7, 2002 |
Apparatus and method for stripping filmic casings from products
Abstract
The invention provides an apparatus and a method for processing
packages made up of a filmic casing containing a product, to
separate the casing from the product for subsequent further
processing of the product. The package is moved through a series of
steps to first weaken the casing, and then a leading end of the
moving casing is gripped and the end of the casing is moved away
from the product. As a result the casing is stripped off the
product as the weakened casing opens and the product continues to
move.
Inventors: |
Thomson, Terry W.;
(Mississauga, CA) ; Skrak, Branko; (Mississauga,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTOPHER R. SCOTT
133 SHANLEY TERRACE
OAKVILLE
ON
L6K 2H7
CA
|
Family ID: |
25305540 |
Appl. No.: |
09/849314 |
Filed: |
May 7, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/492 ;
53/381.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 69/0033 20130101;
A22C 11/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/492 ;
53/381.2 |
International
Class: |
B65B 069/00 |
Claims
1. Apparatus for removing a filmic casing from an elongate package
to recover product contained in the casing, the package having
first and second ends and the apparatus including: a transport
mechanism for receiving the package and moving the package along an
operating path with said first end leading; a cutting station
positioned relative to the transport mechanism to cut the casing
transversely to form a transverse slit adjacent said first end of
the casing, and to cut the casing longitudinally of the casing
starting at the transverse slit to form a longitudinal slit
extending longitudinally towards said second end; a stripper
positioned to meet the package as the package progresses
longitudinally from the cutting station, the stripper including a
gripper to grab said first end and an actuator operable to move the
gripper transversely to drag the filmic casing away from the
packaged product so that the product can be collected.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the operating path is
horizontal and the stripper moves vertically when dragging the
casing off the product.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including a loader
coupled to the transport mechanism for loading packages on to the
transport mechanism one at a time.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the transport mechanism
includes a V-shaped conveyor to carry the packages along the
operating path.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the V-shaped conveyor
is made up of a pair of belt conveyors arranged at an angle to one
another to form the V-shaped conveyor.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the stripper further
includes a pair of rollers driven to assist the gripper to drag the
casing off the product.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutting station
includes a transverse cutter arranged to move between a cutting
position to make said transverse slit, and a stored position in
which the cutter is below the transport mechanism to avoid contact
with the product as the product moves through the cutting
station.
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutting station
includes a longitudinal cutter arranged to engage and cut the
casing as the package passes the cutting station.
9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the cutting station
includes: a transverse cutter arranged to move between a cutting
position to make said transverse slit, and a stored position in
which the cutter is below the transport mechanism to avoid contact
with the product as the product moves through the cutting station;
and a longitudinal cutter arranged to engage and cut the casing as
the package passes the cutting station.
10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 in which the rollers are
movable between a closed position to drive the casing and an open
position to allow the gripper to move past the rollers.
11. A method of removing a filmic casing from an elongate package
to recover product contained in the casing, the package having
first and second ends and the method including the steps: placing
the package on an operating path along which the package is to
travel with said first end leading; moving the package along the
path and into a cutting station to cut the casing transversely to
form a transverse slit adjacent said first end of the casing, and
to cut the casing longitudinally of the casing starting at the
transverse slit and extending longitudinally towards said second
end; moving the slit package from the cutting station into a
stripper positioned to meet the package as the package progresses
from the cutting station, grabbing the leading end of the package
and moving the leading end transversely to drag the filmic casing
away from the packaged product; and collecting the product.
12. Apparatus for removing a filmic casing from an elongate package
to recover product contained in the casing, the package having
first and second ends and the apparatus including: a transport
mechanism for receiving the package and moving the package along an
operating path with said first end leading; a cutting station
positioned relative to the transport mechanism to weaken the casing
transversely to form a transverse line of weakness adjacent said
first end of the casing, and to weaken the casing longitudinally of
the casing starting at the transverse line of weakness to form a
longitudinal line of weakness extending longitudinally towards said
second end; a stripper positioned to meet the package as the
package progresses longitudinally from the cutting station, the
stripper including a gripper to grab said first end and an actuator
operable to move the gripper transversely to drag the filmic casing
away from the packaged product to break the casing along the
transverse and longitudinal lines of weakness so that the product
can be collected.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the operating path is
horizontal and the stripper moves vertically when dragging the
casing off the product.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further including a loader
coupled to the transport mechanism for loading packages on to the
transport mechanism one at a time.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the transport
mechanism includes a V-shaped conveyor to carry the packages along
the operating path.
16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the V-shaped conveyor
is made up of a pair of belt conveyors arranged at an angle to one
another to form the V-shaped conveyor.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 in which the stripper further
includes a pair of rollers driven to assist the gripper to drag the
casing off the product.
18. A method of removing a filmic casing from an elongate package
to recover product contained in the casing, the package having
first and second ends and the method including the steps: placing
the package on an operating path along which the package is to
travel with said first end leading; moving the package along the
path and into a cutting station to weaken the casing transversely
to form a transverse line of weakness adjacent said first end of
the casing, and to weaken the casing longitudinally of the casing
starting at the transverse line of weakness and extending
longitudinally towards said second end; moving the slit package
from the cutting station into a stripper positioned to meet the
package as the package progresses from the cutting station,
grabbing the leading end of the package and moving the leading end
transversely to drag the filmic casing away from the packaged
product; and collecting the product.
19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further including a chopper
which receives the product from the stripper and breaks the product
into smaller parts.
20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 and further including a
chopper which receives the product from the stripper and breaks the
product into smaller parts.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for
removing product from a package having a filmic casing containing
the product, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for
removing such a filmic casing from a food product held by the
casing in an elongate and generally cylindrical package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention will be described with particular reference to
packaging bulk minced meat in filmic casings for subsequent
delivery to a processor who converts the bulk minced meat into
discrete packages for retail distribution. The present invention is
useful in opening the casings and separating the casings from the
meat so that the meat can be converted into the aforementioned
discrete packages.
[0003] When animals, (notably beef stock) are processed for food,
some of the resulting meat is minced and packaged in bulk in
elongate filmic casings which are closed at the ends by various
means including metal; clips, heat sealing, etc. These packages are
then shipped to processors who open the packages manually to strip
the filmic casing away from the meat. The meat is then further
processed into consumer orientated packages.
[0004] The manual process of stripping the casing is both time
consuming and subject to losses because some of the meat and juices
remain in the spent casings. Further the risk of contamination is
always exacerbated when there is a need for human intervention in a
process involving food preparation.
[0005] Accordingly, it is among the objects of the invention to
provide an apparatus and a method that limits human intervention
when filmic casings are stripped from packages for extracting the
product from the packages for further processing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one of its aspects, the invention provides an apparatus
and a method for processing packages made up of a filmic casing
containing a product, to separate the casing from the product for
subsequent further processing of the product. The package is moved
through a series of steps to first weaken the casing, and then a
leading end of the moving casing is gripped and the end of the
casing is moved away from the product. As a result the casing is
stripped off the product as the weakened casing opens and the
product continues to move.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The invention will be better understood with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a package with a portion
broken away to better show a typical product to be processed by the
invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of apparatus
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, and showing
stations in the apparatus that are used in practicing a preferred
embodiment of a method according to the invention;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the apparatus
with portions in ghost outline to permit illustration of major
components of the apparatus;
[0011] FIG. 4 is an end view looking from the right of FIG. 3, and
illustrating a loader used to feed packages into the apparatus and
including background parts in ghost outline; and
[0012] FIGS. 5 to 8 are schematic representations of the apparatus
in use to remove the filmic casings and expose the product for
collection and subsequent processing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0013] Reference is first made to FIG. 1 which illustrates a
package 20 of the type to be opened by apparatus according to the
invention. The package 20 in this example consists of a filmic
casing 22, which is conveniently tubular, and minced meat product
24 packed into the casing. The ends of the casing in this exemplary
package are secured by crimped metal clips 26 which seal the casing
to exclude invasion by fluids and bacteria, and so that the sealed
package 20 can be shipped to a food processor. Here the package 20
is opened to release the product 24 for further processing into
consumer orientated packages. The apparatus according to the
invention is provided to perform this process.
[0014] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is a somewhat
diagrammatic representation of apparatus according to the
invention, and designated generally by the numeral 28. The
apparatus 28 has stations along an operating path (indicated
generally by the numeral 29) and which extend along the length of
the apparatus. Packages 20 of processed product (which in this
example is minced meat) are stored on a loader 30 ready for
automatic transfer from the loader 30 into the path 29 where they
meet a V-shaped conveyor 32 forming part of a transport mechanism
which moves the packages through the apparatus. This conveyor is
made up of two similar belt conveyors 34, 36 inclined with respect
to one another to better support the package 20 in alignment with
the operating path 29.
[0015] The package 20 is moved along the operating path 29 to pass
sequentially through a cutting station 38 where the filmic casing
22 (FIG. 1) is slit and then through a stripper 40 where the slit
casing is pulled off the product and fed through an exhaust system
42 having a pipe 44. The casing 22 is driven through the pipe 44
under the influence of suction applied to the pipe 44 externally by
a conventional vacuum exhaust system.
[0016] At this point the separated product 24 retains its compacted
shape and passes off the V-shaped conveyor 32 onto a flat belt 46
which carries the product through a metal detector 48 to ensure
that there is no metal (such as clips off the casing) in the
product. The product then passes through a chopper 50 which simply
breaks the product down into more manageable pieces before the
product exits through an outlet 52 for collection in any convenient
way. Of course equipment used in further processing can be arranged
to receive the product directly from the outlet 52.
[0017] The apparatus is constrained to follow a predetermined
sequence of steps using conventional switching and sensing devices
controlled electrically from a controller 54.
[0018] Reference is next made to FIG. 3 to describe in general
terms the operation of the loader 30, cutting station 38 and
stripper 40. The operation will subsequently be described in more
detail with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8. As seen in FIG. 3, packages
20 are placed on the loader 30 in parallel for moving down a ramp
56 under the influence of gravity to meet an elevator 58 (better
seen in FIG. 1). The controller 54 operates to move packages one by
one to the conveyor 32 with a predetermined space between packages
sufficient to ensure that the packages are processed individually.
The spacing can be varied as will be explained with reference to
FIG. 4.
[0019] The V-shaped conveyor 32 is in two parts, 59, 60 with a
space 62 between the parts sufficient to provide clearance for a
transverse cutter 63 which has a circular cutting blade 64. The
blade 64 is driven directly by a motor 66 which is mounted to move
into position to cut the package 20 and to then to withdraw below
the operating path 29 remote from the package. This action on a
package will be described in more detail with reference to FIG.
5.
[0020] After passing the transverse cutter 63, the package will
meet a longitudinal cutter 68 having a cutting blade 69 driven by a
motor 71. The longitudinal cutter 68 is mounted on a fixed bracket
73 and has an angular adjuster 75 for setting of the effective
height of the blade 69. This allows the cutter 66 to be set to
different heights of package 20 in the conveyor 32 to ensure that
the longitudinal cutting action is completed, as will be
described.
[0021] The arrangement of cutters 63 and 68 is such that the
resulting transverse and longitudinal slits in the casing meet to
form a generally T-shaped slit with the transverse slit being near
the clip 26 on the leading end of the package 20.
[0022] At this point the casing 22 is ready to be stripped off the
product. To do this, a gripper 70 is lowered into alignment with
the package 20 and the gripper operates to grab the casing 22 and
clip 26 before moving upwardly away from the operating path 29 to
drag the casing 22 off the product 24. Once the gripper has moved
above drivers 72, the drivers come together to assist in moving the
casing 22 upwardly into the pipe 44 of the exhaust system 42
whereupon the casing 22 is released and allowed to travel through
the pipe under the influence of the exhaust system 42, and in
particular a vacuum source applied to the pipe to draw the casing
through the pipe 44. The product 24 is then free of the casing 22
and continues to travel along the path 29 before leaving the
conveyor 32 and dropping onto the belt 46 (shown in FIG. 3 in ghost
outline). The process will now be describe in more detail with
reference to FIGS. 4 to 8 to show how the apparatus interacts with
packages and to better explain the method according too the
invention.
[0023] Reference is now made to FIG. 4 which shows the loader 30 as
seen from the right end of FIG. 2. Packages 20 are stored on the
ramp 56 ready to meet the elevator 58 which handles one package 20
at a time. When the apparatus is ready for another package, an
actuator 74 is energised to drive an elongate tray 76 about a pivot
80 which extends in parallel with the path 29 (FIG. 2). The
actuator 74 is hinged at 82 to allow changes in alignment as the
tray 76 rotates and elevates a package 20 into elevated position,
shown in ghost outline. The package is then free to fall into the
conveyor 32. The tray 76 is shaped so that as it is elevated, a
retaining wall 84 comes into play to restrict any movement of the
next package 20 to thereby retain the packages on the ramp 56.
[0024] When the tray 76 returns to the lowered position, shown in
full outline, the next package 20 will roll onto the tray ready for
movement onto the conveyor 32. As a result, the packages 20 are
delivered one at a time onto the conveyor 32 for movement into the
cutting station 28 (FIG. 2). Also, the packages are spaced along
the constant speed conveyor 32 by varying the rate of operation of
the actuator. Consequently the spacing can be increased by slowing
the actuator 74 and conversely increased by making the actuator
move more quickly.
[0025] Reference is next made to FIG. 5 which is a schematic
drawing illustrating the passage of the packages along the
operating path 29 from the loader 30 to the cutting station 38. A
leading package 20 is at the downstream end of the first part 59 of
the conveyor 32 and moving along the path 29. The package 20 has
met an optical sensor 86 (also seen in FIG. 3) in the cutting
station 38 and at the same time, the package 20 has met the
transverse cutting blade 64 which has created a transverse slit in
the package under and adjacent to the clip 26. The controller 54
responds to a signal from the sensor 86 to cause the cutter 63 to
move from a raised or cutting position shown in full outline, to a
stored position shown in ghost outline. In the latter position the
blade 64 is below the conveyor 32 and no longer in position to
affect the package.
[0026] The optical sensor 86 in the cutting station 38 will also
sense when the package 20 has passed the sensor and the resulting
signal will cause the controller 54 to activate the transverse
cutter 63 to return the cutter into the cutting position ready for
the next package. The time taken to return the cutter 63 to the
cutting position is a factor in the spacing between the packages as
they are driven along the conveyor 32. It will be evident that
similar considerations will come into play at each step of the
process and that the spacing is achieved by varying the rate of
movement of the tray 76 in the loader 30 as previously appliance
with reference to FIG. 4.
[0027] FIG. 5 also shows the action of the longitudinal cutter 66,
parts of which are shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the
blade 69 is about to be adjusted into a cutting position (as seen
in FIG. 5) where it will cut the underside of the passing package
20 longitudinally. The action of the longitudinal cutter 68 is such
that a longitudinal slit is made by the blade 69 to start at the
transverse slit and to extend to the trailing end of the package.
The height of the blade 69 is chosen so that there is no
possibility that the longitudinal blade 69 will meet the trailing
clip 26 on the package 20 to ensure that there will be no debris
from the clip to contaminate the product. The length of the
longitudinal slit should be as long as possible to better
facilitate the stripping of the casing 22 from the product 24 in
the stripper 40 as will be explained.
[0028] The longitudinal cutting action of the cutter 68 will cause
a reactive force which tends to lift the package off the blade 69,
and this is prevented by the use of a reaction roller 88 positioned
generally above the blade 69 and free to roll on the package
20.
[0029] The package 20 has now been prepared for the stripper 40 and
the controller has caused the gripper 70 to move from a raised
position shown in FIG. 3 to a stored position shown in FIG. 5 where
the gripper 70 is ready to grip an oncoming package 20. This is
achieved by mounting the gripper on an actuator 90 which moves the
gripper vertically between the two positions.
[0030] The gripper 70 is ready to be activated and will remain in
this condition until the slit package meets a sensor 92 (seen
diagrammatically in FIG. 3) and this combines with the controller
54 to cause the gripper 70 to grab the leading end of the package
20 complete with the associated one of the clips 26 before starting
an upward movement as illustrated in FIG. 6. A pair of curved
reaction plates 94 (FIG. 3) prevent the packages lifting as the
gripper 70 moves upwardly. These plates can be changed or adjusted
to match sifferent product shapes and sizes.
[0031] Initially the gripper 70 moves upwardly between the plates
94 and then through a space between a pair of drive rollers 96, 98
(see also FIG. 3) in an open position. These rollers are driven by
a motor 100 and gears 102 which mesh when rollers 96,98 are brought
together into a closed position. For simplicity, the supporting
structures have been omitted from the drawings. However it will
become evident that the rollers are spaced apart in an open
position as the gripper 70 passes and then moved into a closed
position. Then the drive rollers are brought together about the
casing and driven to assist the gripper to pull the casing upwardly
off the product. At the same time the rollers squeeze the casing to
cause any juices to fall downwardly onto the product and belt 46,
thereby minimising waste.
[0032] Reference is next made to FIGS. 7 and 8 which show how the
spent casing is transferred from the gripper 70 to the exhaust
system 42. As the gripper 70 approaches the system 42, the gripper
70 releases the casing 22 which is still driven by the rollers 96,
98. As a result the casing comes under the influence of the vacuum
drawn through the pipe 44 and is swept away through the pipe 44 as
it leaves the rollers.
[0033] Once the casing has left the stripper, the rollers open and
the gripper is driven back into the FIG. 5 position ready for
another package.
[0034] The invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary package and product. Although the invention will have
particular utility with such a package, it is within the scope of
this invention to provide apparatus and method for general use to
strip filmic casings off product.
[0035] Of course there will be limitations due to the process used.
For instance the product must be such that it is not damaged by the
cutters in the cutting station. However there are variations that
will be evident and within the scope of the invention. For
instance, the casing could be weakened without actually cutting it
by forming lines of weakness transversely and longitudinally so
that the lines of weakness will break to allow the casing to be
dragged off the product. Slitting is one form of weakening the
casing.
[0036] Another possible variation is to use packages that are not
cylindrical. This could happen because cylindrical packages are
shipped in containers where the packages on the bottom will be
deformed by the weight of the packages above them. A variety of
products having a range of shapes and sizes can also be
accommodated although some variations to the loader and other parts
will be in order without departing from the scope of the
invention.
[0037] Yet another possibility is that the operating path may not
be horizontal. It is not necessary that the path be horizontal as
long as the direction of action of the stripper is such that the
casing leaves the product and the product can be collected.
[0038] These and other variations are within the scope of the
invention as described and claimed.
* * * * *