Production flow-rate measurement options for food process lines
A transfer conveyor for food process lines has an endless conveyor belt characterized by an upper, food-product carrying run and a lower, return run. The upper, food-product carrying run defines a transit plane. The upper, food-product carrying run also extends between an intake end and a discharge end. The upper, food-product carrying run furthermore has a first pleat below the transit plane proximate the intake end and a second spaced-away pleat below the transit plane proximate the discharge end. These spaced-away pleats partitioning the upper, food-product carrying run into an intake-end span and a discharge-end span cooperatively flanking a mid-span. Wherein the transfer conveyor additionally includes one scale servicing the intake-end span of the upper, food-product carrying run and another scale servicing the discharge-end span.
1 . A method of adjusting in a mechanized food-process line a weight-flow outflow flowrate for food product pieces flowing through a selected food-process line machine; said method comprising the steps of:
inputting an inflow of food product pieces in one state of processing into the selected food-process line machine;
performing at least one operation on the food product pieces in the selected food-process line machine so as to transform the food product pieces from the one state to a second state;
outputting an outflow of food product pieces from the selected food-process line machine while weighing a weight-flow flowrate value of the outflow of food product pieces;
providing a feedback control system;
providing the feedback control system with a target value for the weight-flow outflow flowrate for the food product pieces;
the feedback control system monitoring the value of the weight-flow outflow flowrate from the selected food process-line machine with the target value for the weight-flow outflow flowrate for the food product pieces and in consequence thereof undertaking an adjustment measure to bring the value of the weight-flow outflow flowrate from the selected food process-line machine in closer agreement with the target value.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the one state of the food product pieces comprises any of:
raw;
coated in a dry coating;
coated in a wet coating; or
coated in any combination of at least one dry coating and at least one wet coating; and
the second state of the food product pieces comprises any of:
coated in a dry coating;
coated in a wet coating; or
coated in any combination of at least one dry coating and at least one wet coating; or optionally also in addition to any of the above;
par-fried.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein:
from between inputting an inflow of a batch of food product pieces into the selected food-process line machine and outputting that batch of food product pieces therefrom, that batch of food product pieces transits through the selected food-process machine by a characteristic dwell time;
such adjustment measure comprises adjusting the dwell time of the food product pieces within the selected food-process line machine.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the selected food-process line machine applies a dry coating material, replenishing the dry coating material with a finer or coarser dry coating material accordingly.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the selected food-process line machine applies a wet coating material, thickening or thinning the wet coating material accordingly.
6 . The method of claim 2 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over an outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with air knives aimed at the food product pieces passing thereunder and adjust up, down or switch off a flowrate of air out the air knives.
7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over an outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with agitation provisions and adjust up, down or switch off a level of intensity of the agitation provisions as the food product pieces flow thereacross.
8 . The method of claim 2 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over an outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with a compression roller rolling over the food product pieces passing thereunder and adjusting an increase, decrease or lift off a level of pressure of the compression roller over the food product pieces passing thereunder.
9 . The method of claim 2 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over an outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with moisture misters aimed at the food product pieces passing thereby and adjust up, down or switch off a flowrate of the moisture out of the moisture misters.
10 . A method of adjusting in a mechanized food-process line a weight-flow outflow flowrate for food product pieces being outputted by a selected food-process line machine onto an outflow conveyor; said method comprising the steps of:
inputting an inflow of food product pieces in one state of processing into the selected food-process line machine;
performing at least one operation on the food product pieces in the selected food-process line machine so as to transform the food product pieces from the one state to a second state;
outputting an outflow of food product pieces from the selected food-process line machine onto the outflow conveyor while weighing a weight-flow flowrate value of the outflow of food product pieces;
providing a feedback control system;
providing the feedback control system with a target value for the weight-flow outflow flowrate for the food product pieces;
the feedback control system monitoring the value of the weight-flow outflow flowrate from the selected food process-line machine with the target value for the weight-flow outflow flowrate for the food product pieces and in consequence thereof undertaking an adjustment measure to bring the value of the weight-flow outflow flowrate from the selected food process-line machine in closer agreement with the target value;
wherein the one state of the food product pieces comprises any of:
raw;
coated in a dry coating;
coated in a wet coating; or
coated in any combination of at least one dry coating and at least one wet coating; and
the second state of the food product pieces comprises any of:
coated in a dry coating;
coated in a wet coating; or
coated in any combination of at least one dry coating and at least one wet coating; or optionally also in addition to any of the above;
par-fried.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein:
from between inputting an inflow of a batch of food product pieces into the selected food-process line machine and outputting that batch of food product pieces therefrom, that batch of food product pieces transits through the selected food-process machine by a characteristic dwell time;
such adjustment measure comprises adjusting the dwell time of the food product pieces within the selected food-process line machine.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the selected food-process line machine applies a dry coating material, replenishing the dry coating material with a finer or coarser dry coating material accordingly.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the selected food-process line machine applies a wet coating material, thickening or thinning the wet coating material accordingly.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over the outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with air knives aimed at the food product pieces passing thereunder and adjust up, down or switch off a flowrate of air out the air knives.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over the outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with agitation provisions and adjust up, down or switch off a level of intensity of the agitation provisions as the food product pieces flow thereacross.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over the outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with a compression roller rolling over the food product pieces passing thereunder and adjusting an increase, decrease or lift off a level of pressure of the compression roller over the food product pieces passing thereunder.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein such adjustment measure comprises:
when the adjustment measure is selected to transpire over the outflow conveyor, providing the outflow conveyor with moisture misters aimed at the food product pieces passing thereby and adjust up, down or switch off a flowrate of the moisture out of the moisture misters.