WO2018141548A1

WO2018141548A1 - Dosing pack and device for food processing system

Info

Publication number: WO2018141548A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/051094
Authority: WO
Inventors: Youcef Ait Bouziad; Grégory SAVIOZ; Fabien Ludovic Agon
Original assignee: Nestec SA
Current assignee: Nestec SA
Priority date: 2017-01-31
Filing date: 2018-01-17
Publication date: 2018-08-09
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-31

Abstract

The invention relates to a dosing pack (220) for delivering pre-compressed food products, the food products having been compressed under a force Fi in the dosing pack, the dosing pack (220) comprising: a container (221) where the pre-compressed food product is stored, configured with an iso-longitudinal transversal area and provided at one end with an outlet (222) through which the product is dosed in a controllable manner; a pushing element (223) longitudinally displaceable inside the volume of the container (221), to allow pushing and/or dosing the product through the outlet and a moveable element (224) arranged at the end of the container (221) where the outlet (222) is, and operable to open and/or close the container on said end. The pushing element (223) displaces longitudinally inside the container (221) with a force equal to or lower than Fi allowing the dispensing of the food product continuously without substantially further compressing it, the displacement length of the pushing element (223) being proportional to the quantity of product dosed. The invention further relates to a dosing device (210) configured to work with a dosing pack (220) as the one described and to a food processing system (100) comprising a dosing device (210) and one or a plurality of dosing packs (220), as described.

Description

Dosing pack and device for food processing system Field of the invention

The present invention is directed to a dosing pack configured to deliver pre- compressed food products and to a dosing device designed to work with such a pack. The invention further relates to a food processing system comprising a dosing pack and a dosing device.

Background of the invention Dried or semi-dried food products, typically configured as powders, are used very frequently in the food industry: they represent compact and hygienic ways of storing an initial component of a food product that will be subsequently processed, for example by mixing and adding water or any other liquid, being therefore reconstituted. However, there exists a problem when it comes to dosing precise quantities of these powders, as mainly all the systems in the prior art are passive and based on a volumetric approach, while powder characteristics change with time as the degree of moisture increases (humidifaction), therefore making that its volumic mass is also changing. In most of the known food processing systems, the powder dosing mechanism is at the end of the chain (outlet of a pack or canister), and relies on the assumption that the powder flows uniformly towards the dosing mechanism, which is incorrect; there exists for example a powder bridging phenomenom, meaning that the powders can form structures blocking the path out of the packs through which they are dosed. Moreover, the density repartition within the product also changes and the feeding is also done not continuously. Furthermore, the dosing of the powder is typically done by relying on the movement originating the powder dosing, without even having certitude that powder is delivered or dosed at all.

Therefore, the present invention aims at solving these problems of the prior art, providing a dosing system for dried or semi-dried food products, typically configured as powders, able to dose the products with a constant flow and also maintaining their density distribution, as it will be further explained. The invention also aims at other objects and particularly the solution of other problems as will appear in the rest of the present description.

Object and summary of the invention

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a dosing pack for delivering pre-com pressed food products, the food products having been compressed under a force Fi and the dosing pack comprising: a container where the pre-com pressed food product is stored, configured with an iso-longitudinal transversal area and provided at one end with an outlet through which the product is dosed in a controllable manner;

- a pushing element longitudinally displaceable inside the volume of the container, to allow pushing and/or dosing the product through the outlet;

a moveable element arranged at the end of the container where the outlet is, and operable to open and/or close the container on said end; wherein the pushing element displaces longitudinally inside the container with a force equal to or lower than Fi allowing the dispensing of the food product continuously without substantially further compressing it, the displacement length of the pushing element being proportional to the quantity of product dosed. Typically, the food product inside the container is a pre-compressed dried or semi-dried product in the form of powder, chunks or the like. The moveable element is preferably configured to close the end of the container after each product dosing.

Typically, in the dosing pack of the invention, the quantity of product dosed is a function of the transversal section of the container, of the longitudinal displacement of the pushing element, and of the density of the food product.

The dosing pack of the invention preferably comprises identification means comprising information on one or a plurality of the following: type of food product inside the container, density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container, preferred speed value for the pushing element. The identification means typically further comprise information on the end position of the pushing element inside the container after each use.

According to an embodiment, the dosing pack according to any of the previous claims further comprises heating means to allow heating of the food product inside the container or to change its behaviour.

In the dosing pack of the invention, the moveable element is preferably provided with engaging means to allow its movement and the opening of the end of the container where the outlet is.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a dosing device configured to work with a dosing pack as described previously, the device comprising: - pushing means configured to displace the pushing element longitudinally inside the container volume under a force equal to or lower than Fi;

transmission means for displacing the pushing means under a certain force equal to or lower than Fi according to a controlled path. Preferably, the pushing means are preferably configured as being retractable and therefore freeing the dosing pack.

The dosing device of the invention typically further comprises engaging means to engage with the moveable element to open and/or close the container end.

Furthermore, the dosing device preferably comprises recognition means to retrieve the information from identification means in the dosing pack.

Yet according to a third aspect, the invention relates to a food processing system comprising a dosing device as the one described and one or a plurality of dosing packs as described, such that the system is configured to deposit one or a plurality of food product layers from one or a plurality of the dosing packs.

The food processing system of the invention preferably comprises at least a food regeneration unit connectable to a dosing pack on a dosing device, to where the food product coming from the dosing pack comes in a controllable manner, is further mixed with water to be reconstituted and/or structured and/or texturized and is later deposited into one or a plurality of layers. Typically, the food processing system of the invention further comprises a deposition area moveable with respect to the food regeneration unit.

Furthermore, the food processing system of the invention preferably further comprises cooking means able to heat and/or cook the deposited food layers, layer by layer.

In the food processing system of the invention, the dosing packs are typically interchangeable and comprise different food products.

The food processing system of the present invention further preferably comprises a control unit to retrieve information from the identification means and consequently process the product inside the dosing pack.

Brief description of the drawings

Further features, advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent for a skilled person when reading the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the figures of the enclosed drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a representative view of a food processing system according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows a frontal view of the food processing system of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1 . Figs. 3a-c show different views of a dosing pack according to the present invention, further showing the process of the pack opening.

Figs. 4a-e show different views of a dosing pack according to the present invention, further showing the process of dispensing its content by means of the displacement of a pushing element. Figs. 5a-e show different cut side views of a dosing pack according to the invention when opened and connected to a food processing system, in order to deliver its content.

Figs. 6a-d show different views of the dosing pack according to the present invention, also showing details of the pushing element and of its opening.

Fig. 7 shows a frontal view of a dosing system according to the present invention, comprising a dosing device where a dosing pack is mounted for delivering its content.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a dosing system according to the present invention, as represented in Figure 7.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments According to a first aspect, and as it is represented in Figures 3a-c for example, the invention relates to a dosing pack 220 for delivering pre-compressed food products: the food products comprised inside its volume and that will be dosed or delivered have been previously compressed under a force Fi. The dosing pack 220 of the invention comprises a container 221 where the pre-compressed food product is stored: the container 221 is preferably configured having an iso-longitudinal transversal area and is provided at one end with an outlet 222 through which the product is dosed in a controllable manner, as it will be further explained in detail. The transversal area of the container 221 is typically square or rectangular, though any other configuration is also possible, such as circular, elliptical, hexagonal, etc. However, according to the invention, the transversal area will be maintained substantially constant along the longitudinal axis of the container in order to provide a continuous and controlled dosing of the food product inside.

The dosing pack 220 further comprises a pushing element 223 configured to be longitudinally displaceable inside the volume of the container 221 , to allow pushing and/or dosing the product through the outlet 222. This pushing element 223 has been represented in Figures 4a-e, in certain phases or steps of the pushing process of it to dose the food product inside. The shape of this pushing element 223 is typically planar on the side pushing the food product towards the outlet 222 of the container, such that the product can be delivered continuously and in a controlled manner; besides, the pushing element 223 is configured on the opposite side to the planar one having a shape that is adapted to engage with the shape of pushing means in a pushing device, as it will be described in what follows.

The dosing pack 220 of the invention further comprises a moveable element 224, typically configured as a lid, arranged at the end of the container 221 where the outlet 222 is. The moving of this element 224 allows the opening and/or closing of the container 221 on said end. Therefore, the container 221 will be provided at one end with the pushing element 223, the displacement of which inside the volume of the container will allow the dosing of the food product, synchronized with the moving of the element 224, arranged at the opposite end of the container 221 , the moving of which will allow the opening and/or the closing of the outlet 222 of the container, so that the food product inside can be properly dosed.

According to the invention, the pushing element 223 displaces longitudinally inside the container 221 with a force equal to or lower than Fi allowing the dispensing of the food product continuously without substantially further compressing it, as the product inside was already pre-com pressed under a force Fi. Therefore, the displacement length of the pushing element 223 inside the container 221 is proportional to the quantity of product dosed through the outlet 222, as long as the moveable element or lid 224 has been totally opened, therefore leaving completely free the exit area of the outlet 222 of the container. Typically, the moveable element 224 is configured to close the end of the container 221 after each product dosing. Preferably, the moveable element 224 is provided with engaging means 225 to allow its movement and the opening of the end of the container where the outlet 222 is. As shown in Figures 3b or 3c, for example, the engaging means can be shaped as a flange protruding from the shape of the element 224, further configured in such a way to allow that it is engaged with a corresponding part in the system that will move and therefore open or close the mentioned element or lid 224 to free totally the outlet 222.

According to the invention, the approach is to treat the food product inside the container 221 as a continuous and non-compressible media. The food product inside the container 221 is a pre-com pressed dried or semi-dried product in the form of powder, chunks or the like, having previously been compressed under a force Fi: typically, the food product (preferably powder) is dosed, packed and compressed in its container 221 with a given force Fi at factory, in such a way that air escapes from the interstices of the powder grains in the container 221 . This way, any force applied to the pushing element 223 in the container 221 equivalent or lower to Fi will not compress any further the powder but will only allow displacement of the powder continuous media, thus allowing a proper control of the quantity of product dosed. The advantages of this configuration are a constant flow of the powder as well as the maintenance of the product density distribution. Because the transversal area of the container 221 is maintained substantially constant along the longitudinal axis of the container and thanks to the fact that the food product inside of it is already compressed under a force Fi, when applying a force equal to or lower than Fi to the pushing element 223, the product is not further compressed but is delivered continuously through the outlet 222. Thus, a controlled and precise dosing of the product can be achieved, which is the object of the present invention. This configuration allows that the quantity of product dosed can be determined precisely as it is a function of the transversal section of the container 221 , of the longitudinal displacement of the pushing element 223, and of the density of the food product inside.

The dosing pack 220 of the invention typically further comprises identification means comprising information on one or a plurality of the following: type of food product inside the container 221 , density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container 221 , preferred speed value for the pushing element 223 and total length or volume (or total mass) of the food product inside the container.

According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the container can be provided with a reference identification number which is linked to a set of parameters comprised in a remote library or database. This set of parameters will comprise information on one or a plurality of the following: type of food product inside the container 221 , density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container 221 , preferred speed range for the pushing element 223 and total length or volume (or total mass) of the food product inside the container. Moreover, it can also comprise the information on the end position of the pushing element 223 inside the container 221 after each use (meaning that, after a certain dosage of product from a specific container, the database or library will be remotely accessed and updated with the final positioning of the pushing element 223 inside of it): this will allow to restart pushing over longitudinally the pushing element 223 from its last position inside the volume of the container 221 . The mentioned information of the final positioning of the pushing element will thus provide the remaining quantity of food product inside a specific container (each specific container is provided, according to this embodiment, with a certain identification reference number).

According to a possible embodiment of the invention, the dosing pack 220 can further comprises heating means (not shown) that allow the heating of the food product inside the container or the change of its behaviour.

Figures 3a to 3c show different views of a dosing pack 220 according to the present invention, with a moveable element or lid 224 on one end, moveable to open or close the pack outlet 222: Figure 3a shows the pack closed, Figure 3b shows the pack partially opened and Figure 3c shows the pack completely opened (position for starting the product delivery or dosing). Similarly, Figures 4a to 4e show different sectional views of a dosing pack 220 according to the invention, where the pushing element 223 moves inside: Figure 4a shows a completely retracted positioning of the element 223 (no food product has been dosed yet), while Figure 4e shows the limit maximal positioning of the pushing element 223, no further product being left in the pack to be dosed. Further views of a dosing pack 220 according to the invention are shown in Figures 6a to 6d.

According to a second aspect, the invention further relates to a dosing device 210 as typically represented in Figures 7 or 8. The dosing device 210 of the invention is configured to work with a dosing pack 220 such as previously described. The dosing device 210 comprises pushing means 21 1 (see Figure 7) configured to displace the pushing element 223 of the pack 220 longitudinally inside the container volume under a force equal to or lower than Fi, in order to dose the food product without substantially compressing it further. The pushing means 21 1 represented in Figure 7 can be shaped as a piston for example, in a preferred embodiment, though they can be configured also differently, as long as they can push uniformly the food product inside in a longitudinal direction. The dosing device further comprises transmission means 212 for displacing the pushing means 21 1 under a certain force equal to or lower than Fi according to a controlled path. The transmission means 212 as represented in any of Figures 7 or 8 are typically configured comprising a pinion 213 and a transmission chain 214 which are able to push the pushing means 21 1 (piston) that will push the pushing element 223 in the pack 220, these transmission means 212 being configured in a compact way. With the configuration shown in Figures 7 or 8 a total longitudinal displacement of the complete length of the container 221 by the piston 21 1 is achieved while the transmission means 212 are arranged compacted occupying a lower level as shown in the Figures, which thus makes the total arrangement more compact (typically, for a displacement of a certain length L of the piston 21 1 , a total configuration of 2L would be needed; according to the invention, the same effect is achieved by a compacted configuration of L comprising the chain 214 and the pinion 213 arranged as shown in the Figures 7-8).

In the dosing device 210 of the invention, the pushing means 21 1 are configured as being retractable and therefore freeing the dosing pack; the typical configuration is that the pushing means 21 1 of the dosing device 210 retract once the pushing element 223 in the pack 220 has been pushed to a certain length (therefore having already dosed a certain and controlled amount of product through the outlet 222). Preferably, the pinion 213 of the transmission means 212 is motorized so that it allows to control the dosage of the food product. This makes the displacement of the piston 21 1 be automatically controlled.

The dosing device of the invention is typically further provided with an engaging part 230 configured to engage with the moveable element (lid) 224 of the pack 220 to open and/or close the container outlet 222. Any possible configuration for these engaging means is possible, as long as they allow a controlled movement of the lid 224 to open and/or close it, furthermore synchronized with the displacement of the piston 21 1 inside the container 221 , such that the piston will not start pushing the pushing element 223 in the pack until the lid 224 is opened.

The dosing device of the invention is further provided with recognition means (not shown) that retrieve the information from the identification means in the dosing pack 220. As previously described, this information typically comprises the type of food product inside the container 221 , density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container 221 , preferred speed range for the pushing element 223 and total length or volume of the container 221 . Another possibility is that the pack comprises an identification reference number read by these recognition means which will link it to a remote library or database, from where similar information to the one in the identification means described above will be retrieved in order to provide an optimal dosage of the product in the specific container 221 . In this embodiment, the end position of the pushing element 223 inside the container 221 after each use can also be sent to the library or database in order to update it and indicate the amount of remaining product in said container: thus, after each use, the final position of the pushing element inside will be sent to the library or database linked to the identification reference number for that specific container. This will allow correct management of quantities in the plurality of containers used in the system.

According to the invention, it can further be defined a dosing system 200, which would comprise a certain dosing pack 220 (comprising a certain product) connected to a dosing device 210, the dosing device making possible the controlled dosing of the product from inside that specific pack thanks to the information on the identification means in the mentioned pack.

With the characteristics provided to the dosing system 200 of the invention, perfect dosing is achieved thanks to the fact that the pre-com pressed food product inside the container 221 (typically a dehydrated product such as powder) behaves as an incompressible medium when subjected to a pushing or compression force equal to or lower than Fi.

Yet according to a third aspect, the invention relates to a food processing system 100 comprising a dosing device 210 and one or a plurality of dosing packs 220, as schematically represented in Figures 1 -2. The system 100 of the invention is configured to deposit one or a plurality of food product layers from one or a plurality of the dosing packs 220.

The system 100 is configured in such a way that it comprises a dosing management system 50 with a plurality of dosing packs 220: typically, each one of the dosing packs comprises a different type of food product, or the same type of food product but having for example different density. The system is further provided with a dosing device 210 to which each one of the packs 220 can be connected: as previously described, the dosing device 210 is configured to dose in a controlled manner the desired quantity of food product from the corresponding pack 220. The dosing management system 50 is configured to be able to exchange different packs 220 and attach them to the dosing device 210 as desired and needed for a certain recipe. In fact, as represented in Figures 1 and 2, the device 210 delivers a layer of a food product coming from a certain pack 220 onto a depositing area 60. By exchanging different dosing packs 220, different layers of the same or different food products or of the same product but having different density can be deposited onto the mentioned area 60. Typically, according to the invention, the depositing area 60 and the dosing system 200 (comprising a dosing device 210 and a connected dosing pack 220) are configured to be able to move with respect to each other, in X, Y and/or Z and/or rotating with respect to each other. This will allow to build a plurality of shapes onto the area 60 as desired. A preferred embodiment will be to make the depositing area able to move in X and Y directions, while the dosing system will move vertically in Z. Because each dosing pack 220 typically comprises identification means with information on the type of food product inside, also comprising information on the density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container 221 and preferred speed range for the pushing element 223, the dosing of the product inside the pack is done by the dosing device 210 in an optimal way, this providing a controlled dosing. Typically, the system 100 is provided with recognition means (not shown) connected to a control unit (not shown) providing the information on the optimized way to operate the dosing device 210 in order to dose optimally the food product inside. Preferably, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the food processing system 100 further comprises at least a food regeneration unit 10 connectable to a dosing system 200: preferably, the food regeneration unit 10 is configured as an extrusion unit. A fluid (typically water) is added in a controlled way to the food product coming from the pack 220 and flowing into the unit 10 where the product is mixed and reconstituted and/or structured and/or texturized before being deposited into one or a plurality of layers delivered onto the depositing area 60. Optionally, the liquid introduced into the food regeneration unit 10 can have been previously heated.

Figures 5a to 5e show different views in section of a certain dosing pack 220 connected to a dosing device 210 and how the food product inside is delivered into the food regeneration unit 10. Figure 5a shows the connection of a certain dosing pack 220 to the dosing device 210: approaching in Figures 5a and 5c, until in Figure 5c the engaging part 230 in the device 210 engages with the engaging means 225 of the lid 224: further, Figures 5d and 5e show the moving of the said lid 224 to free the outlet 222 of the pack so to allow dosing starts. It is therefore understood that a precise and controlled dosage of the food product from each pack is necessary in a food processing as the one in the invention. The dosing pack 220 is based on constant transversal section configuration, with a pushing element 223 on one end, having an opened outlet 222 (obturable with a lid 224) on the opposite end: with such configuration, when a force Fi is applied onto the pushing element 223, nothing changes when the pack is closed by the lid 224. However, when the outlet 222 is open, the product inside (pre-com pressed under a force Fi) moves exactly at the same speed as that of the pushing element 223, thus allowing a perfect control of the food product dosage. The displacement length of the element 223 and the transversal pack section are used by the control unit in the system as feedback for dosing monitoring allowing active volumetric dosing. The control of the displacement speed of the pushing element 223 allows the perfect control of the product dosing flow rate. As the end of the pack 220 is closed by the lid 224 after each use, further the final positioning of the pushing element 223 in each pack having been registered, the packaging of the invention is configured as multi-use or multi-serve.

The system of the invention can optionally further comprise cooking means (not shown) able to heat and/or cook the deposited food layers onto the deposition area 60, layer by layer.

The system of the invention will also be provided with an engaging part 230 configured to engage with the corresponding engaging means 225 in the moveable element or lid 224 of the dosing pack 210, thus allowing its controlled movement for opening and/or closing the pack outlet 222.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and alternations may be made by a person having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of this invention which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1 . Dosing pack (220) for delivering pre-compressed food products, the food products having been compressed under a force Fi in the dosing pack, the dosing pack (220) comprising: a container (221 ) where the pre-compressed food product is stored, configured with an iso-longitudinal transversal area and provided at one end with an outlet (222) through which the product is dosed in a controllable manner; a pushing element (223) longitudinally displaceable inside the volume of the container (221 ), to allow pushing and/or dosing the product through the outlet; a moveable element (224) arranged at the end of the container (221 ) where the outlet (222) is, and operable to open and/or close the container on said end; wherein the pushing element (223) displaces longitudinally inside the container (221 ) with a force equal to or lower than Fi allowing the dispensing of the food product continuously without substantially further compressing it, the displacement length of the pushing element (223) being proportional to the quantity of product dosed.

2. Dosing pack (220) according to claim 1 wherein the food product inside the container (221 ) is a pre-compressed dried or semi-dried product in the form of powder, chunks or the like.

3. Dosing pack (220) according to any of the previous claims wherein the moveable element (224) is configured to close the end of the container (221 ) after each product dosing. 4. Dosing pack (220) according to any of the previous claims wherein the quantity of product dosed is a function of the transversal section of the container (221 ), of the longitudinal displacement of the pushing element (223), and of the density of the food product. Dosing pack (220) according to any of the previous claims further comprising identification means comprising information on one or a plurality of the following: type of food product inside the container (221 ), density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container (221 ), preferred speed range for the pushing element (223), total length or volume of the container (221 ).

Dosing pack (220) according to any of claims 1 -4 comprising an identification reference remotely linked to a library and/or database, the identification reference being associated to information on one or a plurality of the following: type of food product inside the container (221 ), density of the food product, value of the compression force Fi, transversal section of the container (221 ), preferred speed range for the pushing element (223), total length or volume of the container (221 ), end position of the pushing element inside the container after each use.

Dosing pack (220) according to any of the previous claims further comprising heating means to allow heating or preheating or changing the behaviour of the food product inside the container.

Dosing pack (220) according to any of the previous claims wherein the moveable element (224) is provided with engaging means (225) to allow its movement and the opening of the end of the container (221 ) where the outlet (222) is.

9. Dosing device (210) configured to work with a dosing pack (220) according to any of claims 1 -8 comprising: - pushing means (21 1 ) configured to displace the pushing element (223) longitudinally inside the container volume under a force equal to or lower than Fi;

transmission means (212) for displacing the pushing means (21 1 ) under a certain force equal to or lower than Fi according to a controlled path.

10. Dosing device (210) according to any of the previous claims wherein the pushing means (21 1 ) are configured as being retractable and therefore freeing the dosing pack (220).

1 1 . Dosing device (210) according to any of the previous claims further comprising engaging means (225) to engage with the moveable element (224) to open and/or close the container end.

12. Dosing device (210) according to any of the previous claims comprising recognition means to retrieve the information from identification means in the dosing pack (220).

13. Food processing system (100) comprising a dosing device (210) according to any of claims 9-12 and one or a plurality of dosing packs (220) according to any of claims 1 -8, such that the system (100) is configured to deposit one or a plurality of food product layers from one or a plurality of the dosing packs (220).

14. Food processing system (100) according to claim 13 further comprising at least a food regeneration unit (10) connectable to a dosing pack (220) on a dosing device (210), to where the food product coming from the dosing pack (220) comes in a controllable manner, is further mixed with water to be reconstituted and/or structured and/or texturized and is later deposited into one or a plurality of layers.

15. Food processing system (100) according to claim 14 further comprising a deposition area (60) moveable with respect to the food regeneration unit (10).

16. Food processing system (100) according to any of claims 13-15 further comprising cooking means able to heat and/or cook the deposited food layers, layer by layer.

17. Food processing system (100) according to any of claims 13-16 wherein the dosing packs (220) are interchangeable and comprise different food products.

18. Food processing system (100) according to any of claims 13-17 further comprising a control unit to retrieve information from the identification means and consequently process the product inside the dosing pack (220).