TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing molasses inside containers.

The Italian patent application no. B02007A000195 discloses a plant for packaging tobacco molasses comprising an extruding unit for obtaining a continuous rod of molasses, means for cutting the continuous rod of molasses into single doses, which are dispensed onto a continuous wrapping tape, which is advanced horizontally, a winding unit for wrapping the single doses of molasses in the continuous wrapping tape forming a rod, rod cutting means for separating the single doses of wrapped molasses.

Molasses is formed by a liquid/gelatinous component within which material fibers, such as tobacco, are dispersed. As described in document B02007A000195, the plant described here envisages the dispensing of molasses onto a wrapping tape that travels horizontally since the composition of the molasses (liquid/gelatinous with dispersed fibers) would not allow its vertical dispensing.

This known solution is, therefore, not usable if it is required to package the molasses inside preformed containers instead of wrapping it inside a wrapper.

The object of the present invention is to overcome the aforesaid drawback. In particular, the solution described here has the object of producing an apparatus capable of dispensing molasses inside containers, in a precise and efficient manner, for the purpose of implementing a highly automated process for packaging molasses into containers.

The indicated object is achieved by means of an apparatus according to claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a method according to claim 12.

The claims form an integral part of the disclosure provided here.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the description that follows with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein: - Figure 1 represents - in a schematic maimer - an embodiment of the apparatus described herein;

- Figures 2A, 2B, 2C represent successive steps of the operation of the apparatus of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 represents an enlarged detail of Figure 2A;

- Figure 4 shows an example of a plant for packaging molasses into containers comprising the apparatus described herein.

In the following description various specific details are illustrated aimed at a thorough understanding of the embodiments. The embodiments may be implemented without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other cases, known structures, materials or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring various aspects of the embodiments.

The references used here are only for convenience and do not therefore define the field of protection or the scope of the embodiments.

With reference to Figure 1, the apparatus described here - indicated as a whole by the reference number 10 - comprises an extruding device 20 for making a continuous rod of molasses 100.

The extruding device 20, which is illustrated only partially in Figure 1, may be of a known type and, in particular, may be produced according to the disclosures of the patent application B02007A000195 cited above.

In this regard, according to the embodiment illustrated, the extruding device 20 comprises a casing 21 provided with an inner cavity 22 within which the molasses is received. A rotor 23 is rotatably mounted inside the cavity 22 of the casing 21, from the peripheral region of which a series of radially movable blades 24 protrude radially. During rotation of the rotor 23, the blades 24 remain in a completely extracted position immediately adjacent to the inner wall 21 A, which delimits the inner cavity 22, to perform a compacting action of the molasses along the circumferential direction of the rotor 23.

The cavity 22 communicates at the bottom with a molasses feed conduit 25. The blades 24 move into a retracted position during the approach to the conduit 25, so as to allow the joining of pieces of compacted molasses, and the formation of the beginning of a rod of molasses inside the chamber 22, which then emerges and continues in the conduit 25. The apparatus 10 also comprises a valve unit 40 comprising a nozzle 42 for dispensing the rod of molasses, and a movable closing member 44 for controlling the amount of molasses dispensed by the nozzle 42.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the nozzle 42 comprises an inner passage 42B for the molasses, which extends between an inlet 42C formed on an outer side surface 42E of the nozzle 42, and an opening 42D for dispensing the molasses, obtained at a lower end of the nozzle 42. In particular, the nozzle 42 comprises a tubular body 42A arranged with said inner passage 42B.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the nozzle 42 comprises an interchangeable insert 42' on which the opening 42D of the nozzle is formed. Preferably, the insert 42' is mounted on the main body 42A of the nozzle by means of quick coupling means, for example, by means of screws.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the closing member 44 comprises a stem 44A, preferably tubular, which fits inside the nozzle 42 through an upper opening 42F of the nozzle, and is provided with a bottom 44B to close the opening 42D of the nozzle 42.

The stem 44A and its lower end 44B have a diameter significantly smaller than the diameter of the inner passage 42B of the tubular body 42 A so that a passage section for the molasses is formed between the inner wall of the inner passage 42B and the outer side surface of the stem 44A, that is large enough to reduce the resistance to its sliding. Alternatively, the stem 44A may move to a further raised position with respect to that shown in the Figures, so that the end 44B completely, or almost completely, frees the inner passage 42B from its presence.

The closing member 44 is movable between an open position (Figure 1), wherein the molasses rod 100 is allowed to pass through the opening 42D of the nozzle 42, and a closing position (Figure 2A), wherein through its end 44B, the closing member 44 closes the opening 42D of the nozzle 42, so as to separate a predetermined quantity of molasses from the continuous rod of molasses 100.

In particular, the closing member 44 is movable along its longitudinal axis Y between a raised open position (Figure 1), in which the end 44B is inside the inner passage 42B, and a lowered closing position (Figure 2A), in which the end 44B fits into the opening 42D (i.e. substantially through the opening 42D) preventing the passage of the molasses 100 therethrough. The movement of the closing member 44 is actuated by an actuator, as will be seen below. The apparatus 10 may comprise a control unit 48 to control the aforesaid actuator according to the pre-established opening/closing times of the closing member 44.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the opening 42D is delimited by a cylindrical inner edge 42D', and the end 44B of the closing member 44 has a complementary cylindrical outer surface 44B' (Figure 3).

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the valve unit 40 comprises an expelling member 46 mounted inside the closing member 44, and movable axially with respect to the closing member 44 to perform an expulsion run such as to release any residual molasses from the end 44B of the closing member 44.

In particular, in one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the expelling member 46 extends longitudinally along the axis Y of the closing member 44. Preferably, the expelling member 46 is tubular. Even more preferably, the closing member 44 and the expelling member 46 are tubular and coaxial.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the expelling member 46 comprises an inner duct 46A for conveying air, which extends, preferably along the axis Y, up to a lower end 46B of the expelling member 46. This lower end 46B of the expelling member 46 is closed by a perforated wall 46C configured to let a flow of air pass.

During operation, the inner duct 46A of the expelling member 46 is connected to air suction means and/or a source of pressurized air and - in this way - the expelling member 46 may perform a suction action to retain any residual molasses, or it can deliver an airflow configured to separate any residual molasses from the closing member 44.

The movement of the expelling member 46 may be actuated by a second actuator, as will be seen below. The control unit 48 may be configured to control the second actuator according to a pre-set delay time with respect to the pre-set closing times of the closing member 44. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the end 44B of the closing member 44 comprises a cutter 44C arranged to cooperate with the inner edge 42D' of the opening 42D, so as to cut the molasses that are trapped between the same inner edge 42D' and the end 44B of the closing member, as a result of the movement of the closing member 44 from the (raised) open position to the (lowered) closing position.

Preferably, the cutter 44C has a closed profile.

Preferably, the cutter 44C has a serrated profile.

In accordance with the illustrated embodiment, the cutter 44C extends along a closed-loop trajectory and has a serrated profile. In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the inner edge 42D' of the opening 42D has, in turn, a second cutter 42E arranged to cooperate with the cutter 44C of the closing member 44 in the action of cutting the molasses.

In one or more preferred embodiments, such as the one illustrated, the valve unit 40 comprises a first actuator for actuating the movement of the closing member 44 (between the open position and the closing position and vice versa), and a second actuator for actuating the movement of the expelling member 46.

With particular reference to Figure 2A, the valve unit 40 comprises a cylinder 30, preferably pneumatic, which comprises a first chamber 32, within which a first piston 34 is movable along the axis Y, and a second chamber 36, separate and independent from the first chamber 32, within which a second piston 38 is mobile, always along the axis Y. The first piston 34 is connected to the closing member 44 and, together with the chamber 32, constitutes the aforesaid first actuator, while the second piston 38 is connected to the expelling member 46 and, together with the chamber 36, constitutes the aforesaid second actuator. The chambers 32 and 34 are, each, in communication with respective delivery and return fittings for the entry and exit of a working fluid into and from these chambers. Preferably, the closing member 44 is connected to the piston 34 via quick coupling means, for example, via a screw connection.

Preferably, the control unit 48 is configured to control the first actuator according to predefined opening times and closing times, and to control the second actuator according to a predetermined delay time with respect to the predefined closing times.

With reference now to the operation of the apparatus described above, the extruding device 20 generates a continuous rod of molasses 100, which is fed to the valve unit 40 by means of the supply conduit 25. The rod of molasses 100 enters through the inlet 42C into the inner passage 42B of the nozzle 42 and then reaches the opening 42D through which it is dispensed (Figure 1).

The closing member 44 performs the function of controlling the quantity of molasses dispensed, by closing the opening 42D of the nozzle 42, so as to separate a predetermined quantity of molasses already dispensed through the opening 42D, from the continuous rod 100, which remains, instead, inside the nozzle 42 (Figure 2A).

In particular, the closing member 44 is operated according to predetermined opening times and closing times so that predetermined quantities of molasses are dispensed in succession, through the opening 42D. The variation of the aforesaid opening and closing times allows the quantity of molasses dosed by the apparatus to be varied. In one or more preferred embodiments, the control unit 48 may, for example, comprise a memory module containing a look-up table wherein the relative opening/closing times are saved for different predetermined quantities of molasses.

The cutter 44C obtained on the closing member 44 facilitates the separation of the aforesaid predetermined quantity of molasses from the continuous rod 100.

The predetermined quantity of molasses that is dosed by the dosing apparatus 10 may be released into a container 110 for its packaging.

Furthermore, after the closing member 44 has moved to its lowered closing position, the expelling member 46 is actuated in its expulsion run in order to release any residual molasses stuck inside the end 44B of the closing member 44 (Figure 2B). The expelled molasses residue may be discharged directly into the same container on which the molasses dosing operation was performed. The expelling member 46 may be operated on the basis of a predetermined delay time with respect to the predefined closing times of the closing member 44.

Possibly, through the end 46B of the expelling member 46 it is also possible to deliver an airflow to facilitate the detachment of the molasses residue from the closing member 44. Subsequently, preferably immediately before the container into which the molasses has been dispensed moves away from the nozzle 42, again through the lower end 46B of the expelling member 46, it is possible to perform a suction action to retain any residue of molasses still attached to the closing member 44, in order to prevent it from being dispersed into the environment (Figure 2C).

Therefore, in accordance with the embodiment described above, the expelling member 46 delivers an airflow, and subsequently performs a suction action. In accordance with alternative embodiments, the expelling member 46 could either deliver an airflow or, alternatively, perform a suction action.

To start a new molasses delivery step, the closing member 44 and the expelling member 46 return to their respective raised positions, preferably through their simultaneous actuation.

In view of the above, the dosing apparatus described herein is therefore capable of dispensing single doses of molasses in a precise and repeatable maimer. Furthermore, the proposed dispensing apparatus 10 is capable of dispensing single doses of molasses in a clean manner.

With reference now to Figure 4, this illustrates an example of a plant for packaging molasses inside containers that comprises an apparatus as described above.

The plant in Figure 4 - indicated as a whole with the reference number 50 - comprises a conveyor 51 for transporting containers 110 in succession along a series of stations 52, 54, 55, 56 (56'), 58. The conveyor 51 may, for example, comprise a linear conveyor comprising a rail 51 A, preferably extending along a closed-ring path, and carriages 5 IB movable on the rail, on which the containers 110 are arranged; the carriages 5 IB may be movable independently of each other thanks to a linear electric motor system comprising a fixed part, for example, comprising permanent magnets, distributed along the entire rail 51A and a movable part, comprising, for example, one or several electric windings, arranged on each carriage 5 IB. Alternatively, the conveyor 51 may be a belt or conveyor belt.

The plant 50 may comprise an inlet station 52 where the empty containers 110 are transferred to the conveyor 51, and an outlet station 58 for the transfer of the containers 110, filled with molasses and preferably closed, to a downstream line of the plant (not illustrated).

The plant 50 comprises a molasses-dispensing station 54, in which the dispensing apparatus 10 described above is arranged, which dispenses predetermined doses of molasses inside the empty containers 110. The conveyor 51 may be arranged to feed the succession of containers 110 to a dispensing position Pl, below the nozzle 42. In one or more preferred embodiments, the nozzle 42 may be vertically movable to fit inside the container 110 in the dispensing position, before dispensing the dose of molasses. Alternatively, in accordance with a preferred embodiment, it is the container 110 that may be moved vertically to house the lower end of the nozzle 42 inside.

The plant 50 may furthermore comprise a weighing station 56 downstream of the dispensing station 54, and possibly also a weighing station 56' upstream of the dispensing station, to control the amount of molasses actually dispensed into the containers 110 (those skilled in the art will understand that the weighing station 56' may be used to weigh the empty containers 110 to take into account any differences in weight between one container 110 and another).

Finally, the plant 50 may comprise a station 55 for applying lids (not illustrated) on the individual containers 110 filled with molasses, for closing them, to complete the final package.

Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary, even significantly, with respect to those illustrated here, purely by way of non-limiting example, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims.