EP-4739131-A1 - A METHOD OF NORMALIZING ICE CREAM PRODUCTS

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of normalizing ice cream products comprising providing a first ice cream item, automatically measuring one or more ice cream item properties of said first ice cream item. Adjusting one or more ice cream item properties of a subsequently provided second ice cream item on the basis of the measurement of said one or more ice cream item properties of said first ice cream item. Further disclosed is a system for using the method and a normalized sequence of ice cream products.

Inventors

• MEYER, Søren Christoph

Assignees

• Gram Equipment A/S

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240705

Claims (20)

1. 1. A method of normalizing ice cream products (ICP) including the steps of: providing a first ice cream item (FICI), automatically measuring one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) of said first ice cream item (FICI), adjusting one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) of a subsequently provided second ice cream item (SICI) on the basis of the measurement of said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) of said first ice cream item (FICI).
2. 2. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting establishes a normalizing of said second ice cream item (SICI).
3. 3. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting establishes a normalizing of a sequence of ice cream items.
4. 4. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting establishes a normalizing of said sequence of ice cream items at a specific location (LOC) of the production line (PL).
5. 5. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting establishes a normalizing of one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) of ice cream items (ICI).
6. 6. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) is a weight of said ice cream item (ICI).
7. 7. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) is a volume of said ice cream item (ICI).
8. 8. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) is a height of said ice cream item (ICI).
9. 9. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) is either a width or length of said ice cream item (ICI).
10. 10. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties is a distance of a portion of said ice cream item (ICI).
11. 11. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) is a temperature of said ice cream item (ICI).
12. 12. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream items properties (ICIP) is a local temperature of said ice cream item (ICI).
13. 13. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said one or more ice cream item properties (ICIP) is visual-characteristics of said ice cream item (ICI).
14. 14. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is a weight adjustment.
15. 15. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is a weight adjustment of an uncoated ice cream item (ICI).
16. 16. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is a volume adjustment.
17. 17. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is a volume adjustment of an uncoated ice cream item (ICI).
18. 18. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is within a predetermined weight or volume.
19. 19. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is within a predetermined percentage of the ice cream product.
20. 20. A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said adjusting is within a tolerance, wherein said tolerance is based on ice cream item type.

Description

A METHOD OF NORMALIZING ICE CREAM PRODUCTS Field of the invention [0001] The present invention relates to a method and a system for normalizing of ice cream products 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 of normalizing ice cream products including the steps of: providing a first ice cream item, automatically measuring one or more ice cream item properties of said first ice cream item, adjusting one or more ice cream item properties of a subsequently provided second ice cream item on the basis of the measurement of said one or more ice cream item properties of said first ice cream item. [0005] Thereby is provided an advantageous method of normalizing ice cream products. The present method is advantageous for a number of reasons which will be described here below. [0006] The term ice cream item may be understood as an ice cream item anywhere along the way of the production line until the end of the production line. The ice cream item is to be understood as the same ice cream item along the production line where the ice cream item may be refined and enhanced along the production line until an ice cream product is made. The first ice cream item may be defined as an ice cream item, e.g., when a cone is placed on the transportation surface, when a mass of ice cream is shaped and divided from a ice cream former, when a coating has been added, when a wrapping is added or anywhere along the production line. The production line for producing ice cream item may comprise a freezer, a mixer, an ice cream former, a hardening tunnel, a coating station, a wrapping stations, a packaging station or any other processing units related to making ice cream products located along the production line. [0007] The term ice cream item may be a container for a mass of ice cream, such as e.g., a cone, an ice boat, a biscuit, a cookie or anything other edible for receiving ice cream. The ice cream item may be defined as when the first part of the ice cream product is being placed on a transportation surface. This may be when e.g., a cone or a biscuit is placed in e.g., a hole or on a tray of a transportation surface before being filled with ice cream. The first part of the ice cream item may also be when a mass of ice cream is being shaped and individual divided and positioned on a transportation surface or in a non-edible cup. The term ice cream item may be used until the final ice cream product is made, which may typically be when an ice cream product may be at the end of the production line or ready for sale. [0008] The term ice cream item could be understood as a mass of ice cream manufactured prior to the ice cream former. The ice cream item type could be any of the following: ice cream, lemonade ice, water ice, popsicle, ice cream-sandwich, ice cream-cone, a lolly, gelato, frozen yogurt, granita, sorbet, kulfi, dondurma or any combination thereof. The ice cream item type could be in the size of a popsicle stick, a sandwich, a cone, an ice cream boat or an ice cream cake. The ice cream item type could further comprise other edible parts like caramel, chocolate, fruit juice, edible decoration, jam or any combination thereof. The ice cream item type could further be a vegan produced ice cream item. The ice cream could also be several different flavors of ice cream item and/or colours. [0009] Furthermore, the ice cream item could comprise a stick, a container, a cone, or any other relevant part for holding the ice cream item when eaten. The parts related for holding the ice cream item when eaten could be of an edible material like e.g., a waffle or cookie. The part related for holding the ice cream items could also be a nonedible like a stick or a cup of plastic or wood. [0010] The ice cream item type could be an ice cream item type without any holding means which is