Patent ID: 12221288

FIG.1shows a plant100for producing food products, in particular chocolate products, in plan view.

The plant comprises modules10, in which the food products, preferably in product carriers20, can be processed and/or transported.

The plant100comprises modules10with a single smallest module length15and with a length16corresponding to twice a smallest module length15.

The modules10with a single smallest module length15can accommodate three product carriers20, the modules10with a length16, that is, a two-fold base length, can accommodate seven product carriers20.

The plant comprises rails30and the modules10are each arranged in a module row8,9on a first pair of rails32and a second pair of rails32′. The modules10can be connected to adjacent modules10on both sides in the longitudinal direction, which corresponds to the transport direction T1, T2, so that no intermediate elements or transition elements are required in the module rows8,9.

The module rows8,9are connected by a traversing module17. The traversing module17has one or more module frames18, preferably two module frames18, with a short module length15, which stand on the opposite rail pairs32,32′, and at least one traversing element19which connects the module frames18of the traversing module17.

While the product carriers10in the module rows8,9are transported along opposite transport directions T1, T2, the transport in the traversing module19is carried out perpendicular to the transport directions T1, T2.

The plant100comprises permanently installed elements70, namely a cooling station71, a demolding station72and a palletizing station73.

FIG.2shows an example of a module10in perspective view.

The module10has a module frame11with a height12, a width13and a length14. All modules have a length14which corresponds to the one-fold or two-fold shortest module length15(seeFIG.1).

For example, the module here has a length of 3060 mm, which corresponds to twice the base length. It can accommodate seven product carriers20, each with a length of 375 mm, a width of 900 mm and a height of 45 mm.

The module10has a transport device50for transporting the product carriers20and an individual control, which is arranged in a control unit56.

Handles7are arranged on the module frame11. If the module is equipped with wheels33(seeFIG.3), the module10can be moved easily.

FIG.3shows a module10in side view. Wheels33, which stand on rails30, are mounted on the module frame11. The module10also has a fixing element37that can be moved vertically for locking the module10.

The module10has large doors6at the front side, through which the inside of the module10and the product carriers20are easily accessible.

FIG.4shows a detailed view of a wheel33on a rail30in perspective view. The wheel33has a profile34which corresponds to the rail profile31(seeFIG.5).

For heavier modules10it is also possible to provide two wheels33arranged one behind the other in a wheel holder38(not shown in the figure), both wheels standing on the rail30.

FIG.5shows a rail30in a sectional view of. The rail has a convex rail profile31. A cylindrical guide rod39with a circular cross-sectional area is placed in a receiving rod40and fixed with a locking element41, which is fastened with a screw42.

FIG.6shows a rail30and a fixing pocket36in a sectional view.

The receiving rod40of the rail30is fixed by means of brackets44fastened to the floor35with screws43.

A fixing pocket36is embedded in the floor35directly next to the rail30, which fixing pocket has a receptacle45for inserting a fixing element37(seeFIG.3).

The rails30and the fixing pockets36define a uniform base height29for the plant.

FIG.7shows a transport device50in a first perspective view with a detail D1in an enlarged view.

The transport device50serves for transporting product carriers20(seeFIG.1) in a linear movement along a transport direction T, namely along the length14of module10(seeFIG.2).

The transport device50comprises a drive system51.

The drive system can comprise drive parts such as chains with or without drivers, one or more belts with or without drivers, push bars52with or without drivers, or push tables with or without drivers. The drive system51has two push bars52arranged parallel to each other, to which drivers53are attached.

The drive system5comprises an electric linear drive54for moving the push bars52in and counter to the transport direction T.

An electric motor56drives two pinions58which are connected to a shaft57and which roll on a rack59.

The push bars52can cover a distance in transport direction T which is greater than the distance59between two adjacent drivers53on a push bar52.

The drive system5also comprises a vertical drive55, in particular with one pneumatic cylinder per push bar52, for vertical movement of the push bars52.

FIG.8shows the transport system50in a second perspective view.

In each case two drivers53are arranged opposite each other for pushing/pulling a product carrier20.

The push bars52are moved in a cycle with four steps. One step is a forward movement in transport direction T, wherein product carriers20are moved by the drivers in transport direction T. The transport direction50is shown here at the end of this step. For the sake of clarity, only two product carriers20are shown; the foremost product carrier20in transport direction T is omitted.

Thereafter, the push bars52are lowered and in a third step, the push bars52are moved backwards counter to the transport direction T.

Because the push bars52can cover a distance in transport direction T which is greater than the distance59between two adjacent drivers53on a push bar52(seeFIG.7), the distance23to the product carrier20′ is bridged by the following module. The front drivers53are now located approximately below the middle of the product carrier20and the rearmost driver is located near the stop surface of the product carrier20′ of the following module.

In a fourth step, the push bars52are lifted again. Then the cycle starts again with the first step. In doing so, the last product carrier20′ is pulled up to the other product carriers20and subsequently all three product carriers20,20′ are moved together.

The product carriers lie on sliding surfaces60, which are provided by two sliding rails61.

The sliding surfaces60of all modules have a distance of, for example, 900 mm from the base height29defined by the rails30(seeFIG.6).

FIG.9shows part of a plant100in plan view. The plant100comprises, among other things, a demolding station72and a palletizing station73as permanently installed elements70.

In the demoulding station72, the products are loaded from the product carriers20onto a belt74, which leads from the demoulding station72to a packaging station, which is not shown.

The demoulding station72has large doors75on both sides.

The empty product carriers20are fed to the palletizing station73.

An industrial robot76removes dirty product carriers77and places them on a pallet78provided for this purpose, which can be moved out of the palletizing station73for cleaning.

Moreover, stacks79with fresh product carriers are stored in the73palletizing station. If necessary, the industrial robot76can remove79product carriers from these stacks.

Empty product carriers are loaded from the palletizing station73into a first module20.

FIG.10shows part of a module10in side view with a detailed section D2in perspective view.

Support rails24on which processing devices21(seeFIG.11) can be set down and fixedly mounted are attached inside the module frame11.

Uniform module frames11can thus be used for different processing devices.

FIG.11shows a module10with a first processing device21in perspective view. In the example shown, an infrared heater21is mounted on support rails24.

FIG.12shows a module with a second processing device21in perspective view.

In the example shown, a casting machine as the processing device21is arranged in module10.

In addition, the module comprises a robot arm 3D as drive device22that moves the mold trays20below the casting machine21.