Printing a cake with an edible print or photo has been very accessible for some time now. Several bakeries and department stores offer this service for a modest price. However, the technology behind this method was not always obvious. FoodJet was the first to develop this revolutionary printer and the edible materials 15 years ago.
As supplier of an EasyMotion system, BIBUS has contributed to this innovative printer. This article describes how this system works.
FoodJet de Grood Innovations
FoodJet from Nijmegen develops and produces industrial printing systems for, among others, the bakery world, chocolatiers and confectionery manufacturers. The company started in 2005 with the development of a machine that can print edible materials on food products such as biscuits, cakes, ice cream and chocolate. The materials that are used are for example oil, chocolate and sauces. The starting point of the machine was that printing should be a good alternative to conventional working with moulds. Of course, high accuracy was just as important and the machine had to be easy to maintain and clean.
Innovative print head for printing edible materials
The breakthrough in the realization process was found in the form of an innovative print head, which could also process liquids containing lumps, crystals and fibers without the head becoming clogged.
This print head is connected to the printer as a module, just like a conveyor belt. It is also possible to hang a vision system above this conveyor belt. The information from this system is sent via a CAN bus connection to the print head, which automatically corrects the pattern to be made based on the information. Multiple printheads can thus work together and be fully coordinated with each other.
Print head cleanability
In the design phase of this machine, a good and easy cleanability of the machine due to HACCP standards has already been taken into account. The tray with print heads is therefore placed on a synchronous, linear hydraulic height adjustment from Bansbach EasyMotion. The adjustment is achieved by simultaneous control of two separate cylinders.
The EasyMotion system consists of a hydraulic pump, two lines of cylinders and pipes to connect all components. With this system, the exact forces do not have to be entered in advance. Each cylinder is adjusted, when less force is exerted on the cylinders, then the system continues to function.
The tray of the printer is equipped with E-cylinders with a stroke of 300 mm. This type of cylinder requires a counter force of 70 N per cylinder for the inward movement of the piston rod, so that the tray is moved back down manually or electrically. A hand crank was chosen for this application, which means that machines can be used worldwide. This means that different voltages do not have to be taken into account.
Bansbach EasyMotion hydraulic height adjustment
The Easymotion system used in the FoodJet printer comes from the German brand Bansbach. Bansbach is a renowned ISO 9001:2008 certified German company that has been offering an extensive program of customer-specific gas spring and hydraulic solutions for over 40 years.
Where other systems stop, the Easymotion system continues. Heavy or light, Easymotion is versatile and can also be adapted to specific wishes and needs. The Easymotion system consists of a hydraulic pump, control cylinders and pipes to connect all components. The system can be operated with an electric motor or manual crank.
BIBUS provides support in the design process, provides tailor-made advice and provides a wide range of solutions for hydraulic height adjustment. View the range below or contact us without obligation. We are happy to advise and guide you in selecting the right hydraulic height adjustment.
