Patent Description:
Tying machines are known which allow to apply a twine around food products that have a substantially cylindrical shape, such as pieces of whole or packed meat, in order to maintain the shape of the food product being prepared.

In particular, tying machines are known which are constituted by a fixed frame which supports a conveyor, which allows the axial movement of the food product to be tied along an advancement direction.

Moreover, on the fixed frame there is a winding device, which comprises means for feeding a tying twine, which are constituted by a spool for unwinding said twine, and means for locking the free end or a portion of the twine with respect to the fixed frame.

In particular, the spool can be actuated in motion, with respect to the fixed frame, along a circular trajectory extending about the advancement direction of the food product, and integrally with the spool there are twine guiding means which form a portion of twine extending between the trajectory of the spool and the means for locking said twine, so that as a consequence of the movement of the spool the twine is wound around the food product placed on the conveyor, forming at least one loop or spiral winding, depending on whether the food product is respectively kept stationary or is moved with respect to the fixed frame during the application of the twine by the winding device.

Also on the fixed frame there is a knotting device which, at the end of the winding of the twine around the food product, allows to connect with a knot a first portion of the twine, extending from the twine locking means toward the food product, to at least one second portion of the twine, which extends instead from the food product toward the spool through the guiding means.

One problem that is encountered with these machines, in particular when non-stretch twine that cannot elastically elongate is used, is that in tying certain food products, such as for example so-called coppa, the food product tends to be more constructed in the winding of the twine at its front end, relative to its direction of travel on the machine, than at its rear end, with the result that the final product tends to assume a substantially pear-like or in any case non-cylindrical shape, with a smaller cross-section at one end than at the other, which is not considered commercially acceptable.

Another problem that is encountered is that depending on the diametrical dimensions of the food product to be tied, there can be a considerable variation in the distance between the product and the spool during the movement of the latter around the product, with the result that the second portion of the twine may be excessively loose in the positions of the spool that are closest to the product, especially if the twine is non-stretch.

<CIT> and <CIT> disclose a tying machine as defined in the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a tying machine that is capable of improving the background art in one or more of the above aspects.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a tying machine that allows to perform an optimal tying of food products, ensuring that they maintain a substantially cylindrical shape.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tying machine capable of providing correct tying regardless of the diametrical dimensions of the products to be tied.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tying machine that is capable of operating validly with both stretch and non-stretch twines.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tying machine that can offer the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in its operation.

A still further object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the background art in a manner that is alternative to any existing solutions.

Not least object of the invention is to provide a machine for tying food products that is structurally simple so as to be relatively easy to provide and competitive in cost.

This aim, as well as these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a machine for tying food products according to claim <NUM>, optionally having one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred but not exclusive embodiments of the machine for tying food products according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

With reference to the figures, the machine for tying food products according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral <NUM>, comprises a fixed frame <NUM> which supports supporting means <NUM> designed to receive in resting contact at least one food product <NUM> to be tied, which has, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape.

The supporting means <NUM> advantageously comprise means for moving the food product <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM> along an advancement direction 100a.

Conveniently, the supporting means <NUM> are constituted by at least one conveyor <NUM> which allows to move the food product <NUM> along an advancement direction 100a which is substantially parallel to the axis of extension of said food product.

More particularly, the supporting means <NUM> may, for example, be constituted by a pair of conveyor belts <NUM> which are mutually opposite and arranged on inclined planes that converge downward.

Moreover, the fixed frame <NUM> supports at least one winding device <NUM> whose function is to wind at least one twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM> arranged on the supporting means <NUM>.

The means for moving the food product <NUM> allow, in particular, to make the food product <NUM> advance with respect to the winding device <NUM>.

More particularly, the winding device <NUM> comprises feeder means <NUM> for the twine <NUM>, which are, for example, constituted by a spool for unwinding a reel <NUM> of the twine <NUM>, preferably accommodated in a container 7a.

The feeder means <NUM> for the twine <NUM> can be actuated in motion by movement means <NUM> along a circular trajectory, which extends around the supporting means <NUM>.

In particular, the feeder means <NUM> are supported by a movement ring <NUM>, which is arranged around the supporting means <NUM>, so that it can be crossed axially by the food product <NUM>, and can be turned about its axis with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>.

Appropriately, as shown in <FIG>, the movement ring <NUM> is positioned substantially at an end or discontinuity of the supporting means <NUM> and advantageously can be actuated to rotate by means of a toothed belt <NUM>, which has a closed extension and meshes with at least one set of teeth <NUM>, which is formed along the outer edge of the movement ring <NUM>.

In particular, as also shown in <FIG>, the toothed belt can be driven by means of a motor <NUM>, supported by the fixed frame <NUM>.

The winding device <NUM> comprises, moreover, locking means <NUM>, which are supported by the fixed frame <NUM> and allow to lock removably, with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, at least one portion of the twine <NUM>.

In particular, the locking means <NUM> comprise, conveniently, a per se known retention element <NUM>, capable of engaging a portion of the twine <NUM> and possibly even clamping it against the fixed frame <NUM>.

For example, at least in the initial step of applying the twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM>, the retention element <NUM> allows to lock the free end of the twine <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM> and, in other steps of the operation of the machine, allows to engage other portions of said twine <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, as per se known.

The winding device <NUM> furthermore comprises guiding means <NUM> for the twine <NUM> which are movable integrally with the feeder means <NUM> and are in practice interposed, along the extension of the twine <NUM>, between the feeder means <NUM> and the locking means <NUM>.

Appropriately, the guiding means <NUM> may comprise at least one pair of redirection rollers 17a and 17b, which are mounted on the movement ring <NUM> and around which the twine <NUM> that arrives from the unwinding spool of the reel <NUM> of the twine <NUM> is wound according to at least one turn.

Preferably, the redirection rollers 17a, 17b are provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves for accommodating the twine <NUM>.

Moreover, the guiding means <NUM> comprise one or more engagement elements <NUM>, constituted for example by one or more eyelets or other redirection and guiding elements, which are supported by the movement ring <NUM> and slidingly engage the twine <NUM>, in order to guide the twine <NUM> so as to form, following the rotation of the movement ring <NUM> along a direction of rotation 10a, one or more windings of the twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM>.

In particular, the guiding means <NUM> and, more particularly, the engagement elements <NUM> allow to define, during the winding of the twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM>, a portion 6a of the twine <NUM> that extends between the guiding means <NUM> and the food product <NUM> and is drawn to move by the rotation of the movement ring <NUM> about its own axis.

Once the winding device <NUM> has provided a desired number of windings of the twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM>, the portion 6a of the twine that extends from the food product <NUM> toward the feeder means <NUM> is joined to a portion 6b of the twine <NUM>, which extends, in turn, from the locking means <NUM> of the twine <NUM> toward the food product <NUM>, by means of a knot that is formed by knotting means <NUM>, which are supported by the fixed frame <NUM> and are per se known.

For example, as shown in <FIG>, the knotting means <NUM> may comprise a knotting device 19a, capable of providing, in a per se known manner, a connecting knot between the portions 6a and 6b of the twine <NUM>, and an insertion device 19b, which cooperates with the knotting device 19a and can move on command to carry the portions 6a and 6b of the twine <NUM> into the region of action of the knotting device 19a, so that the latter can perform knotting.

Advantageously, twine cutting means, not shown, are also provided which have the function of cutting the part of the twine <NUM> that remains between the knot formed by the knotting means <NUM> and the locking means <NUM>.

According to the invention, means are provided for varying the tension of the twine <NUM> during at least one operational step of the operation of the machine.

In particular, such means for varying the tension of the twine <NUM> are capable of varying the tension of the twine <NUM> during the winding of the twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM> and/or during the advancement of the food product <NUM> relative to the fixed frame <NUM>.

Advantageously, the means for varying the tension of the twine <NUM> comprise braking means <NUM> for the twine <NUM>, which are movable relative to the twine <NUM> and, more particularly, with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, integrally with the feeder means <NUM>.

In particular, the braking means <NUM> are capable of applying a braking action, which is variable on command, to the relative sliding between the twine <NUM> and said braking means.

In detail, the braking means <NUM> are supported by the movement ring <NUM> and are interposed along the extension of the twine <NUM>, preferably between the spool for the unwinding of the reel <NUM> and the redirection rollers 17a, 17b.

The braking means <NUM> are functionally connected to control means <NUM>, which are configured to drive the braking means <NUM> so as to automatically vary the braking action that they apply to the twine <NUM> during the operation of the machine.

The control means <NUM> are appropriately constituted by an electronic control unit, which is programmable by the operators, for example via user interface means <NUM>, advantageously constituted by a control panel.

In particular, the control means <NUM> can be configured by the operators so that the control means <NUM> can actuate the variation of the braking action applied by the braking means <NUM> according to the angular position assumed by the feeder means of the twine <NUM>, with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, and/or according to the advancement level of the food product <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM> during the operation of the machine.

Appropriately, the control means <NUM> are functionally connected to sensor means for detecting the position of the feeder means <NUM> of the twine <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM> and/or to sensor means for detecting the advancement level of the food product <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>.

Advantageously, the sensor means comprise at least one first position transducer <NUM>, for detecting the angular position of the movement ring <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, and at least one second position transducer <NUM>, which is assigned to detecting the advancement of the food product <NUM> on the supporting means <NUM> with respect to a preset reference point which is integral with the fixed frame <NUM>.

Advantageously, the braking means <NUM> comprise a presser element <NUM> and an abutment element <NUM> between which the twine <NUM> is interposed, so that the twine <NUM> can be engaged, at mutually opposite regions, by the presser element <NUM> and the abutment element <NUM>, so that the twine <NUM> is braked in its sliding with respect to the braking means <NUM> by the friction applied to it by the engagement with the presser element <NUM> and the abutment element <NUM>.

Advantageously, means are provided for varying the compression force that can be applied by the presser element <NUM> to the twine <NUM>, in particular during the execution of one or more operational steps of the operation of the machine and more particularly during the rotary motion of the movement ring and/or during the execution of at least one portion of movement by the food product <NUM> in its advancement path with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>.

In detail, the presser element and the abutment element conveniently can move with respect to each other toward each other or mutually apart, in order to allow to vary the frictional action applied by them on the twine <NUM> and, therefore, consequently vary the braking action applied to the twine by the braking means <NUM>.

Conveniently, the presser element <NUM> can be actuated with a motion toward or away from the abutment element <NUM> by virtue of actuation means, appropriately controlled by the control means <NUM>.

In greater detail, the abutment element <NUM> comprises, for example, an abutment plate <NUM> that is integrally connected to the movement ring <NUM> and is arranged so as to face, with its face designed to engage the twine <NUM>, an axial face of the movement ring <NUM>.

Appropriately, the abutment plate <NUM> is arranged, with its plane of arrangement, on a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the movement ring <NUM>.

For example, the abutment plate <NUM> is supported by the movement ring <NUM> by means of a pair of support pins <NUM> which protrude from the movement ring <NUM> in an axial direction.

Advantageously, the presser element <NUM> in turn comprises a twine braking shoe <NUM> that faces the abutment plate <NUM> and, more in particular, the face of the abutment plate <NUM> directed toward the movement ring <NUM>.

The twine braking shoe <NUM> is mounted on the movement ring <NUM> so as to be integral with the movement ring <NUM> in its rotation about its own axis, while still being able to translate, along a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the movement ring <NUM>, so that it can be moved closer to or further away from the abutment plate <NUM>.

Advantageously, the twine braking shoe <NUM> is pushed elastically in the direction of the abutment plate <NUM>, so that it is possible to clamp the twine between the twine braking shoe and the abutment plate, by elastic means, which are appropriately provided by a spring <NUM> which acts on the face of the twine braking shoe <NUM> that is opposite the one directed toward the abutment plate <NUM>.

The twine braking shoe <NUM> and the abutment plate <NUM> thus act on the twine <NUM> so as to generate, while the twine <NUM> is being unwound from the reel <NUM>, during the rotation of the movement ring <NUM> about its axis, a frictional force which contrasts the relative sliding of the twine <NUM>, with respect to the twine braking shoe <NUM> and the abutment plate <NUM>, and which leads to a tensioning action on said twine.

Means for varying the elastic action applied by said elastic means to the twine braking shoe <NUM> are provided and advantageously comprise means for varying the length of the spring <NUM>.

In particular, the spring <NUM> acts between the twine braking shoe <NUM> and a pusher plate <NUM> that can be moved on command to vary its distance from the twine braking shoe <NUM> during the rotary motion of the movement ring <NUM> and/or during the advancement motion of the food product <NUM>, with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>.

More particularly, the twine braking shoe <NUM> is mounted so that it can slide, but not rotate, on a supporting stem <NUM>, preferably having a substantially polygonal cross-section, which is arranged, with its axis, substantially parallel to the axis of the movement ring <NUM>.

The supporting stem <NUM> is supported, in turn, by the movement ring <NUM> with the ability to slide along its axis.

Appropriately, the supporting stem <NUM> is furthermore supported, so that it can slide along its axis, also by the abutment plate <NUM>.

The sliding movement of the supporting stem <NUM> of the twine braking shoe <NUM> along its axis, with respect to the movement ring <NUM>, is performed by virtue of actuation means.

In greater detail, the pusher plate <NUM> is integrally fixed around the supporting stem <NUM> and is appropriately arranged between the twine braking shoe <NUM> and the movement ring <NUM>, while the spring <NUM> is advantageously interposed between the twine braking shoe <NUM> and the pusher plate <NUM>.

With reference to the embodiment shown, the supporting stem <NUM> slides smoothly through the movement ring <NUM> so that it protrudes from the face of the movement ring <NUM> that is directed oppositely with respect to the twine braking shoe <NUM>.

At one of its ends, the supporting stem is advantageously connected to a contact pad <NUM>, which can engage slidingly, during the rotary motion of the movement ring <NUM>, a pusher element <NUM>, which is movable, with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, along a direction that is substantially parallel to the axis of the movement ring <NUM>.

Advantageously, the pusher element <NUM> comprises an actuation ring <NUM>, which is arranged so that its axis is oriented substantially parallel to the advancement direction 100a of the food product <NUM> and is supported by the fixed frame <NUM> so that it can move along a direction that is substantially parallel to its axis.

In particular, as shown, the contact pad <NUM> is connected to the end of the supporting stem <NUM> that protrudes from the face of the movement ring <NUM> that is directed oppositely with respect to the twine braking shoe <NUM>.

More particularly, the actuation ring <NUM> is arranged so as to face, with one of its axial faces, the axial face of the movement ring <NUM> that is directed oppositely with respect to the twine braking shoe <NUM> and is mounted on the fixed frame <NUM> substantially coaxially to the axis of the movement ring <NUM>.

The movement of the actuation ring <NUM> along its axis is provided for example by actuation cylinders <NUM>, preferably three, evenly angularly spaced around the axis of the actuation ring <NUM>.

Advantageously, the actuation cylinders <NUM> are supported by the fixed frame <NUM> and are connected to the actuation ring <NUM> by means of their stems.

Preferably, the actuation cylinders <NUM> are fixed to a face of a supporting wall <NUM> which is integral with the fixed frame and their stems axially cross the supporting wall <NUM>.

In greater detail, the actuation ring <NUM> and the movement ring <NUM> are arranged on the side of the supporting wall <NUM> that is opposite with respect to the side where the actuation cylinders <NUM> are located.

Advantageously, the actuation cylinders <NUM> are controlled by progressive valves driven by the control means <NUM>.

Appropriately, in order to allow optimal takeup of the twine <NUM> in the operational steps of the operation of the machine in which twine tension variation is performed by virtue of the braking means <NUM>, means are provided which are adapted to push at least one of the redirection rollers 17a and 17b into a position in which it is spaced from the other.

In particular, at least one of the redirection rollers, for example the one indicated by 17b, is slidingly mounted on a linear guide <NUM> extending substantially at right angles to the axes of the redirection rollers 17a, 17b and elastic pushing means <NUM> are provided which are interposed between the redirection rollers 17a, 17b and act so as to push the redirection roller 17b in the opposite direction with respect to the redirection roller 17a along the linear guide <NUM>.

The operation of the machine according to the invention is as follows.

The operator sets up the operation of the machine via the control panel and proceeds to arrange the food product <NUM> on the supporting means <NUM>.

The conveyors <NUM> are activated to bring a portion of the food product <NUM> at the winding device <NUM>.

At this point, the movement ring <NUM> is turned in the direction of rotation 10a about its own axis, so that the portion 6a of the twine <NUM> can rotate until it comes into contact with the food product <NUM>, winding itself around it, such as to provide at least one winding of the twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM>.

With the movement ring <NUM> rotating about its axis, the contact pad <NUM> is moved to slide on the actuation ring <NUM>, being kept pushed against the actuation ring itself by the action of the spring <NUM> on the pusher plate <NUM>.

During the rotation of the movement ring <NUM>, to ensure that the required tension of the twine <NUM> is maintained, the control means <NUM>, based on the angular position of the movement ring <NUM> detected by means of the first position transducer <NUM>, actuate, by virtue of the activation of the actuation cylinders <NUM>, a displacement of the actuation ring <NUM> so as to produce the axial sliding of the supporting stem <NUM> and, therefore, the variation of the position of the pusher plate <NUM> with respect to the fixed frame <NUM>, with consequent variation of the action applied by the spring <NUM> to the twine braking shoe <NUM> and consequent variation of the braking force applied by the twine braking shoe on the twine <NUM> in cooperation with the abutment plate <NUM>.

Once the desired number of windings of twine <NUM> have been applied around the food product <NUM>, the knotting means are activated and form a knot between the portions 6a and 6b of the twine <NUM>.

At this point, after the twine locking means have been actuated so as to make them engage a new portion of the twine <NUM>, the cutting means are activated and cut the portion of the twine that is located between the knot formed by the knotting means <NUM> and the locking means <NUM>.

The machine is thus ready to apply at least one more winding of twine <NUM> around the food product <NUM> after moving the food product <NUM> by means of the conveyors <NUM> in the advancement direction <NUM>, so that a new portion of the food product <NUM> is arranged at the winding device <NUM>.

If one wishes to tie particular food products <NUM>, such as, for example, so-called "coppa", by means of the application of spiral windings of the twine to the food product <NUM>, the free end of the twine <NUM> is initially fixed to the fixed frame <NUM> by virtue of the locking means <NUM> and the food product <NUM> is arranged on the conveyors <NUM>, which are activated until the front end of the food product <NUM> is placed at the winding device <NUM>, after which the conveyors <NUM> are stopped.

At this point, the winding device <NUM> is activated, turning the movement ring <NUM> about its axis in the direction of rotation 10a, so as to provide around the front end of the food product <NUM> multiple annular windings of the twine <NUM> that allow to fix the twine <NUM> to the food product <NUM>.

After thus providing a certain number of windings, the locking means <NUM> release the free end of the twine <NUM>, and while the movement ring <NUM> continues to rotate, the food product <NUM> is moved in the advancement direction 100a, so as to provide around the food product <NUM> successive windings of the twine <NUM> in a spiral along the entire longitudinal extension of the food product <NUM>.

During the advancement movement of the food product <NUM> performed while the movement ring <NUM> continues in its rotary motion, the control means <NUM>, based on the settings programmed by the operator, actuate the progressive increase of the tension of the twine <NUM> by the braking means as a function of to the movement of the food product <NUM>.

In practice, based on the signals that arrive from the second position transducer <NUM>, the control means <NUM> command the activation of the actuation cylinders <NUM> so as to provide a displacement of the actuation ring <NUM>, in the sense that it causes a displacement of the pusher plate <NUM> in the direction of the abutment plate <NUM>, so as to obtain an increase in the elastic pushing force applied by the spring <NUM> to the twine braking shoe <NUM> and thus increase the tensioning action applied to the twine.

By virtue of the possibility to increase the tension of the twine <NUM> as the food product <NUM> advances during the application of a winding of the twine <NUM> in a spiral on the food product, it is possible to prevent, in particular when a non-stretch twine <NUM> is used, the food product <NUM> from being constricted excessively by the twine <NUM> at its front end with respect to its rear end, thus ensuring that the food product <NUM> maintains an adequate cylindrical shape, differently from what occurs in the background art.

Once the application of the spiral windings of the twine <NUM> is finished, the conveyors <NUM> are stopped and after possibly applying at least one more annular winding the locking means <NUM> are activated and then the knotting means <NUM> are activated so as to provide the connection by means of a knot of the portions of twine <NUM> extending between the food product <NUM> and the locking means <NUM> and between the food product <NUM> and the twine feeder means <NUM>, thus ensuring the locking of the twine <NUM> on food product <NUM>.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects and in particular it is emphasized that the machine according to the invention is capable of performing an optimal application of the twine to food products, especially with non-stretch twine, ensuring that the twine is always applied with the correct tension, during the operation of the machine.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; thus, for example, in order to actuate the displacement of the actuation ring <NUM> along its axis, it is possible to use at least one cam device or the like instead of the actuation cylinders <NUM>.

All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the scope of the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A machine (<NUM>) for tying food products, comprising a fixed frame (<NUM>) which supports supporting means (<NUM>) for at least one food product (<NUM>) to be tied and being provided with a winding device (<NUM>) which is adapted to wind at least one twine (<NUM>) around said food product (<NUM>), said winding device (<NUM>) comprising means (<NUM>) for feeding said twine (<NUM>), means for moving said feeder means (<NUM>) along a circular trajectory about said supporting means (<NUM>), means (<NUM>) for locking at least one portion of said twine (<NUM>) with respect to said fixed frame (<NUM>) and means (<NUM>) for guiding said twine (<NUM>) toward and around said food product (<NUM>), in order to form around said food product (<NUM>) at least one winding of said twine (<NUM>), knotting means (<NUM>) being provided which are adapted to mutually join, by means of at least one knot, at least two portions of said twine (<NUM>), and further comprising means for varying the tension of said twine (<NUM>) during at least one operational step of the operation of the machine, said means for varying the tension of said twine (<NUM>) comprising means (<NUM>) for braking said twine (<NUM>) which can move with respect to said twine (<NUM>) and are adapted to apply a braking action, which can vary on command, with respect to a relative sliding between said twine (<NUM>) and said braking means (<NUM>), characterized in that said braking means (<NUM>) are functionally connected to control means (<NUM>) configured to drive said braking means (<NUM>), in order to vary automatically the braking action (<NUM>) applied by said braking means (<NUM>) to said twine (<NUM>) during the operation of the machine.