EP-4739130-A1 - METHOD FOR UPSTREAM CORRECTIONS OF ICE CREAM ITEMS ALONG A PRODUCTION LINE

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for positioning ice cream items comprising a providing and positioning of a first ice cream item at a measuring location along a production line for producing ice cream products. Measuring a position of the first ice cream item at the measuring location along the production line for producing ice cream products and conveying the first ice cream item along said production line away from the measuring location. Then providing and positioning a second ice cream item at the measuring location along the production line for producing ice cream products, wherein the positioning of the second ice cream item is based on the measured position of the first ice cream item. Further disclosed is a system for using the method.

Inventors

• MEYER, Søren Christoph

Assignees

• Gram Equipment A/S

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240705

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method for positioning ice cream items (ICI) comprising; providing and positioning a first ice cream item (FICI) at a measuring location (LOC) along a production line (PL) for producing ice cream products (ICP), measuring a position of said first ice cream item (FICI) at said measuring location (LOC) along said production line (PL) for producing ice cream products (ICP), conveying said first ice cream item (FICI) along said production line (PL) away from said measuring location (LOC), and then, providing and positioning a second ice cream item (SICI) at said measuring location (LOC) along said production line (PL) for producing ice cream products (ICP), wherein said positioning of said second ice cream item (SICI) is based on said measured position of said first ice cream item (FICI).
2. 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said positioning a second ice cream item (SICI) upstream to said measuring location (LOC) along said production line (PL) for producing ice cream products (ICP), wherein said positioning of said second ice cream item (SICI) is based on said measured position of said first ice cream item (FICI).
3. 3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said step of positioning said second ice crem item (SICI) based on said first ice cream item (FICI) position on a transportation surface (TSU) is done by adjusting the position of an ice cream former (ICF).
4. 4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said step of measuring a position of said first ice cream item (FICI) on said transportation surface (TSU) is done automatically.
5. 5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting the position of said ice cream item is done automatically.
6. 6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting said position of said ice cream former (ICF) is done automatically.
7. 7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting said position of said ice cream former (ICF) is done manually.
8. 8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting the position of said ice cream former (ICF) is done manually based on said automatically measuring of said position of said first ice cream item (FICI).
9. 9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said step of measuring a position of said first ice cream item (FICI) triggers an alarm (ALA) when said ice cream item is out of position.
10. 10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said alarm (ALA) is triggered when a manual upstream adjustment (UMA) is to be made.
11. I L A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a visual interface (VI) is indicating if an adjustment is to be made.
12. 12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a visual interface (VI) is indicating how an adjustment is to be made.
13. 13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein a visual interface (VI) is indicating how much adjusting is to be made.
14. 14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adjusting positioning of said second ice cream item (SICI) by automatic repositioning of relevant hardware based on automatic measurements.
15. 15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adjusting positioning of said second ice cream item (SICI) by automatic adjusting of control circuity of said ice cream former (ICF) by repositioning of relevant hardware based on automatic measurements.
16. 16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an ice cream divider (ICD) is placed next to an ice cream former outlet (ICFO) of said ice cream former (ICF).
17. 17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adjusting said ice cream former outlet (ICFO) is done simultaneously and/or synchronized with said ice cream divider (ICD).
18. 18. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adjusting said ice cream former outlet (ICFO) is done simultaneously / synchronized with a stick inserter (STI).
19. 19. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said method comprises a step of dividing said ice cream item after being shaped in said ice cream former (ICF).
20. 20. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said method comprises a step of dividing ice cream item after said ice cream item gets in contact with said transportation surface (TSU).

Description

METHOD FOR UPSTREAM CORRECTIONS OF ICE CREAM ITEMS ALONG A PRODUCTION LINE Field of the invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for upstream corrections of ice cream items along a production line. Background of the invention [0002] In the production industry of ice cream products, it is critical to optimize the quality of the ice cream products to be able to deliver ice cream products with the correct amount of coating or the right amount of weight. It is also critically to optimize the yield of the ice cream products produced in production line to avoid too much waste of ice cream during the production and prevent breakdowns in the production line. Traditionally a lot of ice cream products are being discarded because of not being conveyed correctly along the production line. Another problem would be that the ice cream products would also not be suitable for sale due to an incorrect weight compared to the saying on the packaging. Thus, an adjustment of the production line of ice cream products which allows for effective production of ice cream products are highly desirable. Summary of the invention [0003] The inventors have identified the above-mentioned problems and challenges related to producing ice cream products, and subsequently made the below-described invention which may increase the quality and yield of ice cream products. [0004] The invention relates to a method for positioning ice cream items comprising; providing and positioning a first ice cream item at a measuring location along a production line for producing ice cream products, measuring a position of said first ice cream item at said measuring location along said production line for producing ice cream products, conveying said first ice cream item along said production line away from said measuring location, and then, providing and positioning a second ice cream item at said measuring location along said production line for producing ice cream products, wherein said positioning of said second ice cream item is based on said measured position of said first ice cream item. [0005] In a preferred embodiment, the step of positioning a second ice cream item upstream to said measuring location along said production line for producing ice cream products, wherein said positioning of said second ice cream item is based on said measured position of said first ice cream item. [0006] Thereby is provided an advantageous method of positioning ice cream items. The present method is advantageous for a number of reasons which will be described here below. [0007] The term ice cream former is to be understood as a device for bringing a mass of ice cream from a freezer to a former outlet, where the ice cream is guided out of the former outlet. Between the freezer and the ice cream former outlet there may be additional machines and devices e.g., an ingredients feeder where nuts or other edible things may be added to the ice cream in the process. The ice cream former is both shaping and dividing the mass of ice cream into ice cream items. The ice cream former may be an ice cream extruder with a continuously flow of ice cream, where the mass of ice cream is being cutted outside of the ice cream former outlet to create the ice cream item. The ice cream former may be an ice cream filler where the flow of the mass of ice cream is being divided by a valve before the ice cream former outlet and the ice cream item is made before leaving the ice cream former outlet. The mass of ice cream may be multiple ice cream according to both colours and flavours which may be mixed, shaped and individual divided into ice cream items. The mass of ice cream may be a single flavour or a multiple mix of different flavours and/or colours. The mass of ice cream may also be with chocolate, caramel, fruit or other additional toppings or sauces, where the toppings or sauces may both be in the ice cream items or on the outside of the ice cream items. The ice cream former may typically comprise a long pipe for guiding the mass of ice cream from the freezer to the ice cream former outlet. There may be more than one freezer from which masses of ice cream is guided to the ice cream former. More than one freezer is used when an ice cream product with more than one type of ice cream is being made. A container with e.g., sauces may also be guided to the ice cream former, when the ice cream product is being made with sauces. There could also be a combination of multiple freezers and / or multiple containers with sauces to be added together in the ice cream former. It could be any combination of masses of ice cream and sauces that may be mixed in the ice cream former. The ice cream former may typically be placed above a conveyor or transportation surface when the ice cream former is shaping and individual dividing the mass of ice cream to ice cream items. The ice cream former may also move along the conveyor when ice cream items is an ice cream item bar type. The i