US 12,465,027 B2 · Method and apparatus for delivering fluid droplets onto an open and stationary tray

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray (15) containing poultry. According to the invention, the apparatus comprises a stationary working surface, a single arm (16) supporting a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles, a drive unit for driving the translation of said arm (16), said plurality of dispensing nozzles being connected to at least one fluid supply circuit comprising a fluid reservoir and a pumping unit, a control unit configured to control the drive unit of the arm and to define at least one duration T of travel of the arm (16) above said working surface. The travel time T includes a period of gradual acceleration of said arm (16) outside an area of said working surface occupied by said tray and bringing said arm to a first end of said tray (15) along the first direction at a travel velocity V, a period of constant velocity V when the arm (16) moves above said tray (15), and a period of gradual deceleration of said arm (16) when the latter has passed a second end of the tray (15) along the first direction. The control unit is also configured to control each pumping unit and activate each pumping unit only when said arm is above said tray.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray (15) containing poultry, characterized in that it comprises:

a stationary work surface for receiving and supporting said tray (15),
a single arm (16) bearing a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles,
a drive unit for translating the single arm (16) along a first direction of the tray (15) when the tray is on said working surface, said arm (16) movable above said tray (15),
the plurality of dispensing nozzles being connected to at least one fluid supply circuit, each fluid supply circuit comprising a fluid reservoir for supplying corresponding dispensing nozzles with a fluid, and a pumping unit for pumping the fluid from the reservoir to said corresponding dispensing nozzles, and
a control unit configured to control the drive unit of the arm and to define at least one travel time of the arm (16) over said working surface, said travel time comprising:
a period of progressive acceleration of said arm (16) out of an area of said working surface occupied by said tray, such that said arm is brought to a first end of said tray (15) along the first direction with a moving velocity,
a period of constant velocity as said arm (16) moves over said tray (15), and
a period of progressive deceleration of said arm (16) when said arm has passed a second end of said tray (15) along said first direction, in that
said control unit is also configured to control each pumping unit and activate each pumping unit only when said arm is over said tray.

6 more elements

A method for delivering droplets of fluids onto an open tray (15) containing poultry, said tray (15) being stationary and placed on a stationary working surface, characterized in that:

a mobile arm (16) is moved over said stationary working surface, translating in a first direction of said tray (15), said arm (16) carrying a plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles, said plurality of fluid dispensing nozzles being arranged to cover an entire dimension of the tray (15) in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,
said mobile arm is moved for at least a travel time of the arm (16) over said working surface, said travel time comprising:
a period of progressive acceleration of said arm (16) out of an area of said working surface occupied by said tray, wherein said arm is brought to a first end of said tray (15) along the first direction with a moving velocity,
a period of constant velocity as the arm (16) moves over said tray (15), and
a period of progressive deceleration of said arm (16) when said arm has passed a second end of said tray (15) along said first direction,
wherein the plurality of dispensing nozzles are connected to at least one fluid supply circuit, each fluid supply circuit comprising a fluid reservoir for supplying corresponding dispensing nozzles with a fluid and a pumping unit for pumping fluid from the reservoir to said corresponding dispensing nozzles, and wherein said pumping unit of said at least one fluid supply circuit is activated only when said arm is moved above said tray.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for delivering fluid droplets onto an open and stationary tray

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for delivering fluid droplets onto an open and stationary tray

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15