Device for filling a mould tray with a thick fluid substance such as chocolate, crème, fondant, and similar

Abstract: The invention is for a device for filling in a single operation of several mould spaces in a mould tray with a thick fluid substance such as chocolate, crème, fon­ dant, and similar. The device consists primarly of a tank (1); a distribu­ tion vessel (3) with filler openings (6); a transport pipe (2) between the tank and the distribution vessel; a constant-flow pump (4) connected to the transport pipe and intended for pumping the substance from the tank to the distribution vessel and for pumping the substance out of the filler openings; at least one mould tray (7) loca­ ted under the distribution vessel with filler openings; a means (10-13-17-18) which switches on and off the pump for pumping the substance; and a means (11-21-23) which switches on and off the pump for withdrawing and retaining the substance in the filler openings once the mould tray is filled.

Description: The invention is for a device for filling in a single operation of several mould spaces in a mould tray with a thick fluid substance. This thick fluid substance may for example consist of chocolate for moulding pralines (continental chocolates), from crème or fondant for filling the as yet unclosed pralines or confectionery or whatsoever other items placed in the mould spaces. From the DE-C-705289, a device is known, comprising a tank for a thick fluid substance, a distribution vessel with filler openings which serves to collect the substance flowing out of the tank and to distribute the substance flowing out, a transport pipe between the tank and the distribution vessel for the transportation of the substance to the distribution vessel, a pump connected to the transport pipe for pumping the substance from the tank to the distribution vessel and forcing the substance out of the filler openings, and at least one mold tray located under the distribution vessel with the filler openings and which is filled with the substance. However, this device is provided with controlled switch cocks for cutting off the supply of substance from the tank to the distribution vessel with filler openings. Aside from the disadvantage that these cocks require quite a lot of maintenance, it is not possible to retain the substance in the filler openings of the distribution vessel, after the mould tray has been filled. So, it is not possible to avoid the formation of droplets on said filler openings and to fill very quickly many mould spaces in a mould tray simultaneously and thus in a single operation with an exact predetermined quantity of substance. In order to overcome these difficulties, according to the invention, use is made of a device in which a pump for pumping the substance is driven by a clockwise electrical motor which is coupled with the pump by a clutch controlled by an adjustable timer, which motor is driven long enough to allow the pump to fill the mould tray. When the clockwise electrical motor is uncoupled by the clutch, so that the pump comes to a standstill, the pump is very briefly driven in the opposite direction by an electrical motor which is coupled with the pump by a clutch controlled by an adjustable timer, so that the pump is driven just long enough to withdraw the substance and retain it in the nozzles of the distribution vessel, whereby the timer also controls the electrical circuit of the second timer. With this relatively simple and easy to maintain device it is possible to fill very quickly all the mould spaces of a mould tray simultaneously and thus in a single operation. Moreover the adjustment of the desired volume of thick fluid substance to be supplied is easy to carry out by means of timers and furthermore use can be made of easily replaced filling plates which form the bottom of the distribution vessel by which it is possible to use filling plates with any number of filler openings of whatsoever shape and size. By way of example a more detailed description of a chosen but by no means limited embodiment of the device in accordance with the invention is given hereafter. This description refers to the attached drawings, in which : fig. 1 is a schematic representation of the device according to the invention, where the mould tray and distribution vessel are shown in section; fig. 2 shows the electrical diagram of the device. In this device it will be seen that there is a tank 1 which is filled with a thick fluid substance such as chocolate, crème, fondant or similar. This tank 1 is connected by a transport pipe 2 to a distribution vessel 3. The thick fluid substance is pumped by a constant-flow pump 4 which is connected to the transport pipe 2, from the tank 1 to the distribution vessel 3. This pump can be of whatsoever sort and can for example be a gearwheel or wormscrew pump. The distribution vessel 3 has a prismatical shape and the bottom consists of a replaceable filler plate 5 provided with nozzles 6 over its entire area through which the thick fluid substance is forced out. This filler plate can be attached to the distribution vessel 3 by any means whatsoever. Under the distribution vessel 3 with filler plate 5, a mould plate 7 with mould spaces of whatsoever sort over its entire area is placed in such a way that the nozzles 6 are located exactly above the said mould spaces 8. A number of mould trays can be located one behind the other on a conveyor belt 9 which is actuated whenever a mould tray is entirely filled in a single operation by the distribution vessel 3 with substance, so that each time a filled mould tray is removed and an empty mould tray located under the distribution vessel 3. The removable filler plate 5 can be replaced by another filler plate 5 with any number of nozzles 6 of whatsoever shape and dimensions, the number of which corresponds to the number of mould spaces 8 in a selected mould tray 7. The pump 4 is one for the purpose of pumping the substance through the transport pipe 2, driven by a clockwise electrical motor 10 and two for the brief withdrawal and retention of the substance in the nozzles 6,by a counter-clockwise electrical motor 11, as described in greater detail below. The clockwise electrical motor 10 drives through a belt or chain transmission 12 an electrically controlled drive clutch 13 the part of which is to be engaged drives a pump 4 via a belt or chain transmission 14. The drive clutch 13 is connected to an electrical circuit 15 with main switch 16 to which also the electrical motor 10 is connected. Said drive clutch 13 is actuated by a relay 17 controlled by an adjustable timer 18 which is also connected to the said electrical circuit 15 and which is turned on and off by a switch 19. The counter-clockwise motor 11 drives a second electrically controlled drive clutch 21 via a belt or chain transmission 20, the part of which is to be engaged drives pump 4 in the opposite direction via a belt or chain transmission 22, than such is necessary for pumping the substance. The said second drive clutch 21 is controlled by a second timer 23 which also forms part of the electrical circuit 15 and which is turned on and off in turn by relay 17. The operation of the device described above is described below. The main switch 16 is pressed, causing the two electrical motors 10 and 11 to turn in opposite directions. As a consequence the electrical motor 10 drives the disengaged drive clutch 13 and the electrical motor 11 drives the second disengaged drive clutch 21. The timer 18 is set in such a way that, as set out here below, the pump 4 can operate long enough to pump just enough substance to fill the mould tray 7 in a single operation. The filling time can be set on the timer 18 in relation to the size of the mould tray 7 and the distribution vessel 3 an the number of mould spaces 8 in the mould tray 7. Similarly the timer 23 is set in such a way that the pump can be driven long enough in the opposite direction, to withdraw the substance briefly and to retain it in the nozzles 6 of the filler plate 5, which forms parts of the distribution vessel 3. Next the switch 19 is pressed either manually, synchronously with the conveyor belt 9 or for example by detection in combination with the presence of the mould trays 7. As a result the timer 18 starts to run and the relay 17 closes the contacts 24, so that the drive clutch 13 engages the electrical motor 10 to the pump 4 via the belt or chain transmissions 12-14. As a result the thick fluid substance is pumped from the tank 1 to the distribution vessel 3 and fills the mould spaces 8 in the mould tray 7 by means of the nozzles 6. The time required for this is, as mentioned above, set beforehand on the timer 18 and when this time has elapsed the relay 17 is operated by the timer 18 in such a way that the contacts 24 are opened. As a result the drive clutch 13 is uncoupled, so that the pump 4 comes to a standstill and the pumping of the substance is ceased. At the same time the contacts 25 are closed by relay 17, as a result of which the preset timer 23 begins to run and the drive clutch 21 switches on in such a way that the electrical motor 11 drives the pump 4 via the belt or chain transmissions 20 and 22. During this operation the pump 4 is very briefly driven in the opposite direction and just long enough to withdraw the substance and retain it in the nozzles 6, thus avoiding the formation of droplets on the nozzles 6. At the same time this prevents further dripping. When the brief time set on the timer 23 has elapsed, the electrical circuit of the drive clutch 21 is interrupted, so that pump 4 comes to a standstill and switch 19 cuts off the current of timers 18 and 23. The entire operation can then be repeated with a newly advanced mould tray 7 which again presses the switch 19. This switch can be operated manually or automatically synchronous with the movement of the conveyor belt carrying the mould trays. Similarly at the same time this switch can be actuated by the detection of the moulds as they are advanced.

Claims: Device for the filling of mold trays (7) with a thick fluid substance, such as chocolate, creme, fondant and the like, comprising a tank (1) for a thick fluid substance, a distribution vessel (3) with filler openings (6) which serves to collect the substance flowing out of the tank and to distribute the substance flowing out, a transport pipe (2) between the tank (1) and the distribution vessel (3) for the transportation of the substance to the distribution vessel (3), a constant-flow pump (4) connected to the transport pipe (2) for pumping the substance from the tank (1) to the distribution vessel (3) and forcing the substance out of the filler openings (6), at least one mold tray (7) located under the distribution vessel (3) with the filler openings (6) and which is filled with the substance, characterized in that driving means (10) are provided for driving the pump (4) in one direction for pumping the substance from the tank (1) to the distribution vessel (3), means (13) for switching the driving means (10) on and switching off this means when the mold tray (7) is filled by the pump (4), driving means (11) for driving the pump (4) in the opposite direction, and means (21) for switching the second driving means on and off for withdrawing and retaining by means of the pump (4) the substance in the filler openings (6) of the distribution vessel (3), after the mold tray (7) has been filled. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the filler openings in the distribution vessel (3) consist of spaced nozzles (6) fitted in an interchangeable filler plate (5) which forms the bottom of the distribution vessel (3). Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the device is provided with interchangeable plates (5) with nozzles (6) of various shapes, dimensions and layout. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the constant-flow pump (4) consists of a gearwheel pump. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the constant-flow pump (4) consists of a wormscrew pump. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means which turns the pump (4) on and off for pumping the substance from the tank (1) to the distribution vessel (3), comprises an electrical motor (10), an electrically controlled drive clutch (13) on the one hand driven by said electrical motor and on the other hand meant for driving said pump (4) and an adjustable timer (18) which controls the electrical circuit of the drive clutch (13) for engaging and disengaging the electrical motor (10) with the pump (4). Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the means that switches the pump on and off for the withdrawal and retention of the substance in the filler openings (6) for the distribution vessel (3), consists of an electrical motor (11) which turns in a counter-clock direction, an electrically operated drive clutch (21), driven on the one hand by said electrical motor (11) and on the other hand intended for driving said pump (4), and an adjustable timer (23) which controls the electrical circuit of said drive clutch (21) for engaging and disengaging of said electrical motor (11) with pump (4). Device as claimed in claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the adjustable timer (18) which controls the electrical circuit (15) of drive clutch (13) for engaging the electrical motor (10) with the pump (4) for pumping the substance, also controls the electrical circuit of the second adjustable timer (23) which controls the drive clutch (21) for engaging and disengaging the electrical motor (11) with pump (4) for the withdrawal and retention of the substance in the filler openings (6) of the distribution vessel (3).

Inventors: VAN MEULENBEKE, PIERRE
Applicants: VAN MEULENBEKE, PIERRE
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A23G3
IPC codes: A23G1, A23G3, A23P1