| CPC A23G 9/245 (2013.01) [A23G 3/24 (2013.01); A23G 7/0012 (2013.01); A23G 7/0062 (2013.01); A23G 9/265 (2013.01); A23G 9/322 (2013.01); A23G 9/48 (2013.01); A23G 2220/10 (2013.01)] | 14 Claims |
|
1. A method for control of weight of coating material on ice cream products in a production facility for coated ice cream products, wherein each coated ice cream product comprises an ice cream block on a stick; the production facility comprising a supply station for providing ice cream products and a plurality of carriers, for transport of a plurality of the ice cream products from the supply station to a coating station, wherein the carriers are arranged one carrier after another in a cyclic arrangement for pickup of a new ice cream product by the stick for coating after a transport cycle; each carrier comprising at least one clamp for holding the stick during transport of the ice cream product to the coating station and during application of the coating to the ice cream block; wherein the production facility comprises a weight equipment configured for automatically weighing the ice cream products before and after application of the coating, the weight equipment being connected to an electronic controller with a computer unit and configured for receiving weight data from a weight measurement by the weight equipment to the controller; wherein the controller is configured for receiving the weight data from the weight equipment repeatedly during production and for automatically comparing the weight of the coating of the ice cream products to at least one predetermined value and configured for changing one or more coating parameters for the coating procedure when the weight of the coating deviates from the at least one predetermined value; wherein the production facility is configured for change of one or more coating parameters by the controller during production and without a necessity of halting production; wherein parameter adjustment on the basis of the weight data is arranged as a feedback loop for repeatedly adjusting the parameters on the basis of the weight data from weight measurements of subsequent ice cream products;
wherein the method comprises in an automated process:
providing the ice cream products by the supply station and picking up the ice cream products by its stick via the at least one clamp and transporting the ice cream products to the coating station;
before coating, weighing the ice cream products;
coating the ice cream blocks while the ice cream sticks are held by the at least one clamp on the carrier;
weighing the ice cream products after application of the coating;
transmitting weight data from the weight measurements to the controller;
receiving the weight data from the weight measurement and comparing the weight of the coating of the ice cream products to at least one predetermined value and changing one or more coating parameters for the coating procedure when the weight of the coating deviates from the at least one predetermined value and using the changed one or more coating parameters in a feedback loop for subsequent coating;
wherein the steps of comparing, changing one or more coating parameters, and using the changed one or more coating parameters are effected during production and without halting production;
wherein a bar is provided as part of the carrier; the bar comprising multiple clamps arranged in a row for holding the stick of each individual ice cream product in that row, wherein the production facility is arranged for dipping of the ice cream blocks of the row of ice cream products simultaneously into a liquid coating bath of the coating material, wherein the weight equipment comprises a weight cell wherein a selection of the clamps is provided with individual weight cells whereas other clamps are not provided with weight cells for measuring the weight of each of the individual ice cream product having a clamp provided with a weight cell before and after the coating procedure;
wherein the automated process further comprises:
weighing each ice cream product in the clamp provided with the weight cell before coating;
dipping the ice cream products of the row of ice cream products simultaneously into the liquid coating bath of the coating material, pulling the row of ice cream products out of the coating material; and
weighing each ice cream product in the clamp provided with the weight cell after the coating.
|