METHOD AND DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE PARAMETER AT THE CENTRE OF A PRODUCT, AND CORRESPONDING PRE-REFRIGERATION OR REFRIGERATION METHOD AND MACHINE

• US 20170321948A1
• Filed: 09/03/2015
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Philippe Christian Vitel
• Original Assignee: Philippe Christian Vitel
• Inventors: VITEL, Philippe Christian
• Application Number:
  US15/515,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20170321948A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/003 Transport containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 13/06 with conveyors carrying articles to be cooled through the cooling space
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/06 Sensors detecting the presence of a product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/003 for movable devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/00 Other cooling or freezing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/00 Thermometers specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/12 combined with sampling devices for measuring temperatures of samples of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 2207/04 for conservation purposes

Abstract

Batches (9a and 9b) pass in succession into a (pre) refrigeration machine. An actuator (17) in the chamber (1) of the machine is controlled by a logic controller (16) to insert a temperature sensor (18) into a product selected in the batch. Above batch (9a) in front of entrance door (6) of chamber (1), a preparatory module (27) explores the top surface of the area at the top of the batch located under sensor (18). An image analyzer selects a product into which sensor (18) will be inserted, and a future insertion point in the selected product. This data is transmitted to a memory to which logic controller (16) will refer to control actuator (17) when the batch is in chamber (1). Preferably, the data refer to a repository linked to the batch, for example provided by a corner of the box (3) containing the selected product.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A method for automatically controlling at least one parameter at the center of a control product (4a) that is part of a batch (9a, 9b) during a pre-refrigeration or refrigeration process of the batch in a chamber (1) wherein a sensor (18) is stuck into the control product, wherein, in order to stick the sensor, while the batch (9b) is already inside the chamber (1), an activator (17) which carries and moves the sensor (18) inside the chamber (1) is activated, and after the pre-refrigeration or refrigeration process, the activator takes the sensor out of the control product, and a product of the batch is selected as a control product (4a) in such a way that in the chamber (1) the control product is as close as possible to a standby position of the sensor (18).

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the control product (4a) is identified before the entry in the chamber (1), and the identification comprises in associating a beacon (41) to the control product, and there is within the chamber a contact or contactless position detector for detecting the beacon.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the control product (4a) is identified before the entry in the chamber (1), and the position of a sticking point (23) on the surface of the control product is recorded for the identification, and a signal indicative of the position is sent to a memory, and the content of the memory is used to control the activator.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the sticking point (23) is a highest point of the control product (4a).

52. The method of claim 48, wherein at least part of the outline of a crate (3a) containing part of the products of the batch is detected and the at least part of the outline of the crate (3a) is used as a reference frame (36), the control product (4a) being selected inside the outline.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein in the chamber (1), during the sticking of the sensor (18) in the control product (4a) and while the sensor (18) is being extracted at the end of the pre-refrigeration or refrigeration process, a blocker (38) is applied on the product, immobilizing the control product (4a) during sticking and extraction.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein, prior to the sticking of the sensor into the control product, an external wall of the control product is pierced at the future sticking point by a tool (56, 56a, 56b) controlled in a coordinated manner with the sensor.

56. An automatic device for controlling at least one parameter at the center of a control product (4a) that is part of a batch (9a, 9b) during a pre-refrigeration or refrigeration process of the batch in a chamber (1) comprising a sensor (18) to be stuck in the control product (4a) so that a sensitive end (19) of the sensor (18) is at the center of the product, further comprising a product identification unit of the of a product (4a) of the batch, selected as the control product intended to receive the sensor (18), and an activator (17) located in the chamber (1) controlled by an automaton and carrying the sensor in a moveable manner according to the identification firstly by an at least partially lateral centering movement (21) of the sensor (18) on a sticking point (23), and then by a sticking movement (24) of the sensor (18) in the control product (4a) at a beginning of a pre-refrigeration or refrigeration process and an extraction movement out of the control product at an end of the process.

57. The device of claim 56, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor.

58. The device of claim 56, wherein the identification unit (27) comprises an image sensor and an image analyzer, the identification unit (27) being placed at a station through which the batch (9a) passes upstream of the chamber (1), and able to detect a product as the control product, and to produce a signal indicative of coordinates of the sticking point (23) on the surface of the control product (4a).

59. The device of claim 56, further comprising a detector comprising a feeler designed to self-position on a beacon (41) associated with the control product (4a), and the sensor is coupled to the feeler to laterally move with the feeler.

60. The device of claim 56 further comprising a blocker (41) for immobilizing the control product (4a) during the sticking and during an extraction of the sensor (18) by the activator (17) following the pre-refrigeration or refrigeration process, wherein the blocker (41) is connected to the sensor (18) with an axial sliding freedom beyond a stress threshold corresponding to an immobilization stress applied to the control product (4a).

61. The device of claim 56, further comprising a cleaning device (57) for periodically cleaning the sensor between two batches.

62. The device of claim 56, wherein the sensor is a hygrometry sensor.