System for preserving and metering ingredients, and preserving and metering method implementing such a system

A system for preserving and metering ingredients comprising:

• a preservation chamber comprising a set of compartments arranged to store ingredients;
• a picking and metering device for picking and metering the ingredients, arranged so that the picking and metering device can successively pick a predetermined quantity of the ingredients from each of the compartments;
• the picking and metering device for picking and metering the ingredients comprises:
• a collecting vessel arranged to temporarily store, in successive layers, the ingredients picked from each compartment;
• a controlled conveying mechanism comprising one of main rails and side blocks, and a robotic arm, arranged to move the collecting vessel in line with each compartment so that the picked ingredients from each compartment fall into the collecting vessel;
• a control unit having software programmed to control the controlled conveying mechanism and the picking and metering device;
• and
• the picking and metering device comprises:
• an extraction element having an auger type mechanism arranged to engage successively with each compartment in order to extract some of the ingredients contained in the compartment with which the extraction element is engaged;
• a motor unit arranged to actuate the extraction element when the extraction element engages with one of said compartments;
• and
• said picking and metering device being configured to adopt at least two configurations:
• a configuration known as a coupled configuration, in which the extraction element is coupled to one of the compartments in order to extract some of the ingredients to the collecting vessel;
• a configuration known as an uncoupled configuration, in which the extraction element is uncoupled from each compartment in order to allow the picking and metering device to be able to move to another compartment and/or to an unloading configuration,
• or in the picking and metering device:
• each compartment comprises:
• the extraction element arranged to pick some of the ingredients contained in said compartment;
• the motor unit arranged for actuating the extraction element;
• the picking and metering device is configured to have at least two configurations:
• a configuration known as a coupled configuration, in which the collecting vessel is placed in line with one of the compartments to collect the extracted ingredients;
• a configuration known as an uncoupled configuration, in which the picking and metering device is movable to another said compartment and/or to the unloading configuration,
• or in that:
• each compartment comprises the extraction element arranged for picking some of the ingredients contained in said compartment;
• the picking and metering device comprises the motor unit arranged for engaging successively with each compartment for actuating the extraction element of the compartment with which the extraction element is engaged;
• said picking and metering device being configured to have at least two configurations:
• a configuration known as a coupled configuration, in which the motor unit is coupled to the extraction element of one of the compartments to actuate the extraction element of said compartment and pick some of the ingredients from said compartment to the collecting vessel;
• a configuration known as an uncoupled configuration, in which the motor unit is uncoupled from each extraction element in order to allow the picking and metering device to move to another said compartment and/or to the unloading configuration.