Apparatus for laying sliced foods into containers

1. An apparatus for laying sliced foods ( 11 ) into containers ( 390 ), wherein said sliced foods ( 11 ) are fed in a forward-movement direction (A-A′), said apparatus comprising:

a feeding station ( 80 , 180 );

a transport station including:

a supporting structure ( 30 );

a main transport unit ( 20 , 91 ) adapted to receive said sliced foods ( 11 ) from said feeding station ( 80 , 180 ), said main transport station being mounted on said supporting structure ( 30 ) and comprising a main conveyor belt ( 21 , 121 ) for transport of said sliced foods ( 11 ), said belt being adapted:

to slide along a sliding plane in the forward-movement direction (A-A′);

to translate in a transverse direction (B-B) relative to said forward-movement direction (A-A′) along said sliding plane;

a secondary transport unit ( 50 , 150 ), mounted on said supporting structure ( 30 ) as well, and positioned downstream of said main transport unit ( 20 , 91 ), said secondary transport unit ( 50 , 150 ) comprising a secondary conveyor belt ( 51 , 151 ) adapted:

to receive said sliced foods ( 11 ) from said main conveyor belt ( 21 , 121 );

to slide in said forward-movement direction (A-A′) for depositing said sliced foods ( 11 ) in said containers ( 390 );

a user interface ( 60 ) configured for allowing an input of at least one arrangement parameter (P 1 , P 2 ) representative of an arrangement of said sliced foods ( 11 ) in said containers ( 390 );

a control unit ( 40 ) configured for:

receiving said at least one arrangement parameter (P 1 , P 2 ) from said user interface ( 60 );

generating at least one adjustment signal (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 ) for said transport station, to carry out said arrangement in said containers ( 390 ) as a function of the selection carried out through said at least one arrangement parameter (P 1 , P 2 ), wherein said control unit ( 40 ) comprises a third positioning module ( 44 ) configured for generating a fourth adjustment signal (S 4 ) adapted to determine a raising extent of an average height of said secondary conveyor belt ( 51 , 151 ).

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control unit ( 40 ) comprises a first positioning module ( 42 ) configured for generating a second adjustment signal (S 2 ) adapted to determine a periodic displacement of said secondary conveyor belt ( 51 , 151 ).

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:

said main transport unit ( 20 , 91 ) comprises a main driving pin ( 24 , 125 ) jutting out of said supporting structure ( 30 ) in a direction perpendicular to said sliding plane of said main conveyor belt ( 21 , 91 );

said secondary conveyor belt ( 50 , 150 ) comprises a secondary driving pin ( 35 );

said apparatus comprises a first ( 401 ), a second ( 402 ) and a third ( 403 ) electromechanical actuator, which actuators are adapted:

to receive said first adjustment signal (S 1 ) from said control unit ( 40 ), and

to synchronise the running speeds of said main ( 21 , 121 ) and secondary ( 51 , 151 ) conveyor belts by inputting the same peripheral speed thereof and respectively adjusting, as a function of said main adjustment signal (S 1 ), the rotation speed of said first main driving pin ( 24 ) through said first actuator ( 401 ), of said second main driving pin ( 125 ) through said second actuator ( 402 ) and of said secondary driving pin ( 35 ) through said third actuator ( 403 ).

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said third electromechanical actuator ( 403 ) is adapted:

to receive said second adjustment signal (S 2 ) from said control unit ( 40 ), and

to determine said periodic displacement of said secondary conveyor belt ( 51 , 151 ), obtained through input of frequency and amplitude of the alternated backwards and forwards sliding movement thereof, by acting on the rotation of said secondary driving pin ( 35 ).

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a fifth electromechanical actuator ( 405 ), in turn comprising an elevator assembly ( 58 ), said fifth electromechanical actuator ( 405 ) being adapted:

to receive said fourth adjustment signal (S 4 ) from said control unit ( 40 ), and

to determine said raising extent of an average height of said secondary conveyor belt ( 51 , 151 ) through the action of said elevator assembly.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control unit ( 40 ) comprises a sixth positioning module ( 46 ) configured for generating a sixth adjustment signal (S 6 ) adapted to determine a variation in inclination of said primary conveyor belt ( 21 , 121 ), specifically of a final head ( 23 , 123 ).

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 comprising a seventh electromechanical actuator ( 407 ) comprising an inclination assembly ( 68 , 168 ), said seventh electromechanical actuator ( 407 ) being adapted:

to receive said sixth adjustment signal (s 6 ) from said control unit ( 40 );

to determine said variation of inclination of said primary conveyor belt ( 21 , 121 ), specifically of said final head ( 23 , 123 ) by means of the action of said inclination assembly ( 68 , 168 ).

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said second main transport unit ( 91 ) comprises a third main conveyor belt ( 120 ) upstream of said second main conveyor belt ( 121 ) for transport of said sliced foods ( 11 ), said belt being adapted to run along a sliding plane in the forward-movement direction (A-A′) for transporting said sliced foods ( 11 ) from said second feeding station ( 180 ) to said second main conveyor belt ( 121 ).

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a storage unit ( 90 ) mounted on said supporting structure ( 30 ), the storage unit ( 90 ) comprising a storage belt ( 92 ) for temporary stocking said sliced foods ( 11 ), said belt ( 92 ) being adapted to run along at least one sliding plane in a forward-movement direction (A-A′) or backward-movement direction (A-A).

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein

said control unit ( 40 ) comprises a second synchronisation module ( 45 ) configured for generating a fifth adjustment signal (S 5 ) adapted to synchronise the running speeds of said storage belt ( 92 ) and said second main conveyor belt ( 121 );

said storage unit ( 90 ) comprises an auxiliary driving pin ( 95 ) jutting out of said supporting structure ( 30 ) in a direction perpendicular to said sliding plane of said storage belt ( 92 );

said apparatus comprises a sixth electromechanical actuator ( 406 ), adapted:

to receive said fifth adjustment signal (S 5 ) from said control unit ( 40 ); and

to input a rotation speed of said auxiliary driving pin ( 95 ) as a function of said fifth adjustment signal (S 5 ) so as to synchronise the peripheral running speeds of said storage belt ( 92 ) with the peripheral running speeds of said second main conveyor belt ( 121 ).

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said control unit ( 40 ) is configured for determining one or more of:

a forward-movement direction of the main belt ( 21 , 121 );

a translation direction and width of the main belt ( 21 , 121 , 120 );

a forward/backward-movement direction of the secondary belt ( 51 , 151 );

a forward/backward-movement width of the secondary belt ( 51 , 151 );

a displacement speed of the secondary belt ( 51 , 151 );

an inclination of one or more heads of said conveyor belts ( 120 , 51 , 151 ) in such a manner that said sliced foods ( 11 ) are laid in said containers ( 390 ) according to one of the following arrangements:

in a single row parallel to the forward-movement direction and partly overlapping each other;

in two rows parallel to the forward-movement direction, partly mutually overlapped, each of them in its own row and with a third row parallel to the forward-movement direction and such disposed as to partly overlap the two first rows;

in two rows parallel to the forward-movement direction, partly mutually overlapped, each in its own row and partly crossed between the two rows;

in two rows parallel to the forward-movement direction, partly mutually overlapped, each in its own row and with a third row parallel to the forward-movement direction and positioned in such a manner as to partly overlap the two first rows.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a laying unit ( 310 ) disposed downstream of said secondary transport unit ( 50 , 150 ), and adapted:

to receive said sliced foods ( 11 ), the arrangement of which is based on the selection inputted through said interface ( 60 );

to detect the presence and correct position of said sliced foods ( 11 );

to lay said sliced foods ( 11 ) into containers ( 390 ).

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said laying unit ( 310 ) comprises a supporting base ( 400 ) adapted to lay said sliced foods ( 11 ) into containers ( 390 ) through downward opening of said supporting base ( 400 ).

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13 , wherein said supporting base ( 400 ) comprises at least one assembly ( 311 , 312 ) of powered rollers.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said laying unit ( 310 ) comprises a first and a second casing ( 316 , 317 ) respectively associated with said roller assemblies ( 311 , 312 ), said first and second casings ( 316 , 317 ) each comprise transmission members for imposing a rotary motion to each roller ( 311 ′, 312 ′) around its axis so as to receive said sliced foods ( 11 ).

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said plurality of single rollers ( 311 ′, 312 ′) are parallel to each other and are disposed in overhanging relative to the respective first and second casings ( 316 , 317 ).

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said laying unit further comprises means for rotating each roller assembly ( 311 , 312 ) from a substantially horizontal position adapted to receive said sliced foods ( 11 ) to a position inclined to the horizontal and adapted to release said foods ( 11 ) into said containers ( 390 ).

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said laying unit ( 310 ) comprises

a first photoelectric cell ( 331 ) pointing towards the sliced foods ( 11 ) and adapted to detect the presence of said sliced foods ( 11 );

a second photoelectric cell adapted to detect the presence of said container ( 390 ) for which the group of sliced foods ( 11 ) present on the supporting base ( 400 ) is intended.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17 , wherein said laying unit ( 310 ) comprises a second control unit ( 500 ) adapted:

to check the presence of said sliced foods ( 11 ) through said first photoelectric cell ( 331 );

to check the presence of said containers ( 390 ) through said second photoelectric cell;

to operate said means for rotating said roller assemblies ( 311 , 312 ) so as to release said sliced foods ( 11 ) into said containers ( 390 ).

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 , wherein each said roller assembly ( 311 , 312 ) is made up of a plurality of single rollers ( 311 ′, 312 ′).