CA1332693C - Apparatus for sizing elongated food pieces - Google Patents
Apparatus for sizing elongated food piecesInfo
- Publication number
- CA1332693C CA1332693C CA000606837A CA606837A CA1332693C CA 1332693 C CA1332693 C CA 1332693C CA 000606837 A CA000606837 A CA 000606837A CA 606837 A CA606837 A CA 606837A CA 1332693 C CA1332693 C CA 1332693C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- cylindrical member
- bars
- longitudinal
- pieces
- drum
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
- B26D7/06—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form
- B26D7/0683—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form specially adapted for elongated articles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
- B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
- B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
- B26D1/56—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which travels with the work otherwise than in the direction of the cut, i.e. flying cutter
- B26D1/62—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which travels with the work otherwise than in the direction of the cut, i.e. flying cutter and is rotating about an axis parallel to the line of cut, e.g. mounted on a rotary cylinder
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Meat, Egg Or Seafood Products (AREA)
- Confectionery (AREA)
- Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)
- Noodles (AREA)
- General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Apparatus for sizing a mix of randomly sized food pieces into chunks of a predetermined maximum length. The apparatus includes a carrier drum and a cutting drum mounted on parallel shafts which are interconnected for rotation in opposing directions. The carrier drum has a plurality of parallel longitudinal bars mounted equidistant around the periphery of the drum, spaced apart a dis-tance equal to the desired maximum length of the food chunks. The cutting drum carries a plurality of elongated cutting blades mounted parallel to the longitudinal bars on the carrier drum and spaced apart the same distance as the longitudinal bars. The drums are aligned so that upon rotation of the drums the blades cooperate with the longitudinal bars to sever elongated food pieces carried on the surface of the bars into the nip between the drums, without striking against the bars. A conveyor mounted adjacent the carrier drum delivers a mix of randomly sized food pieces onto the carrier drum, with the longitudinal axes of the elongated pieces in the mix being aligned so that the elongated pieces are deposited on the longitudi-nal bars of the rotating carrier drum perpendicular to the axes of the bars and are carried into the nip between the counter rotating drum where they are cut to a desired length.
Apparatus for sizing a mix of randomly sized food pieces into chunks of a predetermined maximum length. The apparatus includes a carrier drum and a cutting drum mounted on parallel shafts which are interconnected for rotation in opposing directions. The carrier drum has a plurality of parallel longitudinal bars mounted equidistant around the periphery of the drum, spaced apart a dis-tance equal to the desired maximum length of the food chunks. The cutting drum carries a plurality of elongated cutting blades mounted parallel to the longitudinal bars on the carrier drum and spaced apart the same distance as the longitudinal bars. The drums are aligned so that upon rotation of the drums the blades cooperate with the longitudinal bars to sever elongated food pieces carried on the surface of the bars into the nip between the drums, without striking against the bars. A conveyor mounted adjacent the carrier drum delivers a mix of randomly sized food pieces onto the carrier drum, with the longitudinal axes of the elongated pieces in the mix being aligned so that the elongated pieces are deposited on the longitudi-nal bars of the rotating carrier drum perpendicular to the axes of the bars and are carried into the nip between the counter rotating drum where they are cut to a desired length.
Description
1 3 7~693 3 ¦ BACRGROUND OF THE IN~ TION
4 l 5 ¦ This invention relates to apparatus for siæing a mix of random-6 ¦ ly sized food pieces into pieces of a predetermined maximum length.
7 ¦ More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for separating 8 elongated pieces of a food product from a mix of randomly sized 9 pieces and cutting the elongated pieces to a desired maximum length.
11 In recent years procedures have been developed for producing 12 food products which resemble chunks of natural meat in appearance 13 and texture. Such simulated meat chunks, which typically are formed 14 of meat material and/or vegetable protein are desirable in both 1~ human and animal foods from the standpoint of aesthetic quality and 16 consumer appeal as replacement for more costly natural meat chunks.
17 Such simulated meat chunks may be produced by procedures, such as 18 extrusion through a die orifice, which result in the formation of 19 pieces having a relatively uniform size. Recently procedures have been developed for producing simulated chunks of natural meat having 21 a random size distribution, that is, the chunks may range in size 22 from about ~ inch (1.25 cm) or less to about 4 inches (10 cm) or 23 more in length. While such randomly sized chunks are advantageous-24 in that they more nearly simulate chunks of natural meat, the 26 production of elongated chunks, this is, chunks having a length of 2B more than about 2 inches (5 cm) makes it difficult to accurately 27 fill the chunks into conventional packaging, such as cans, in a high 28 speed commercial packaging operation. Thus, the elongated chunks 29 are difficult to process in conventional filling equipment, and the S0 presence of such elongated chunks makes accurate weight control of 31 filled cans very difficult.
32~
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7637b/95-96 This invention provides for an apparatus for sizing a mix of randomly sized food pieces into pieces of a predetermined maximum length which comprises a first cylindrical memb0r and a second cylindrical member mounted for rotation on parallel shafts and interconnected for rotation in opposing directions, conveyor means for depositing a mix of randomly sized food pieces, including elongated pieces having a length exceeding a predetermined maximum length, onto the first cylindrical member with the longitudinal axes of the elongated pieces being substantially perpendicular to the axes of the longitudinal bars on the first cylindrical member, and means for rotating the first and second cylindrical member in opposite directions at predetermined speeds with each of the cutting blades cooperating with a longitudinal bar during rotation of the cylindrical members to sever elongated pieces carried on the first cylindrical member between the rotating members.
The first cylindrical member has a purality of axially parallel longitudinal bars mounted equidistant around the periphery of the first member and spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the food pieces to be sized.
The second cylindrical member has a plurality of axially parallel elongated cutting blades mounted equidistant around the periphery o~ the second member and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the longitudinal bars on the first member.
The present invention is directed to apparatus for separating elongated simulated meat chunks from a mixture of smaller randomly sized chunks and cutting the elongated chunks r:~
~ 2 -. ~
.
. , 1 33~693 into pieces of a predetermined maximum length, in a high speed commercial production operation. The apparatus includes a pair of cylindrical members, that is, a carrier drum and a cutting drum, mounted for rotation on parallel shafts which are interconnected for rotation in opposite direction. The carrier drum has a plurality of longitudinal bars mounted equadistant around its periphery, with the bars being spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the meat chunks to be processed. The cutting drum, which is mounted above the carrier drum, has a plurality of cutting blades secured around its periphery, with the blades being spaced apart the same distance as the spacing between the longitudinal bars of the carrier drum. Rotation of the drums brings each cutting blade into close proximity to, but not in contact with, a longitudinal bar of the carrier drum.
A mix of randomly sized meat chunks is deposited onto the surface of the carrier drum from a feed conveyor mounted a~ove the carrier drum, with the conveyor having a number of longitudinal partitions at its discharge and so that the longitudinal axes of elongated meat chunks are aligned substantially parallel to their direction of travel. Meat chunks having a length smaller than the spacing between adjacent longitudinal bars of the carrier drum fall between the bars onto a take-away conveyor mounted below the carrier drum.
Elongated meat chunks that is, pieces which have a length greater than the spacing between adjacent bars are retained on the outer surface of the longitudinal bars of the carrier drum, with the chunks extending across two or more adjacent bars. ~ ;
The elongated - 2a -; ~ .. : , c.
.: - - .
. :
. , .
1 3 7'? 69 3 1 chunks are carried into the nip between the drums where they are cut 2 to a desired maximum length by a cutting blade in cooperation with a 3 longitudinal bar. When cut to the desired lenqth, the pieces fall 4 through the bars onto the take-away conveyor.
8 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the sizing apparatus of the 9 present invention.
11 Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.
1 Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the 1 apparatus of Fig. 1.
1 DETAILED DÆSCRIPTION
1 Referring now to the drawing, the sizing apparatus of this 1 invention includes a support frame 10 having mounted thereon a 2 carrier drum 11 and a cutting drum 12, which are journaled on 2 parallel horizontal shafts 14 and 15, respectively, secured to side 2 plate 13 the frame. Carrier drum 11 has a plurality of longitudinal 2 bars 16 mounted in spaced relation around the periphery of a pair of ~.
2 opposed circular end plates 17 and 18 to which the bars are secured, 2 with the bars extending substantially parallel to shaft 14. The 2 bars 11 are mounted equidistant around the periphery of the end 2 plates, with the bars being spaced apart a distance equal to the 2 maximum desired length of the food chunks to be sized. For example, 2 if the maximum length of the meat chunks is 2 inches (5 cm), longi-3 tudinal bars are spaced apart 2 inches (5 cm), on center, around the 3 periphery of the end plates. The radius A of carrier drum 11 is ~ . ,.. ., ~
,1 13326q3 l¦ such that an even number o~ bars 16 are provided around the drum, 2¦ with the specific number of bars depending on the desired capacity 51 and throughput of the apparatus.
4 l 5 ¦ Carrier drum 11 is driven by motor l9 through sprocXet 20, 6 ¦ keyed to drive shaft 21, and sprocket 22, keyed to shaft 14, with 7 ¦ the sprockets being connected by drive chain 23. Motor 19 is 8 ¦ provided with a standard variable speed reducer 24 to rotate the 9 ¦ carrier drum at a desired operatinq speed.
4 l 5 ¦ This invention relates to apparatus for siæing a mix of random-6 ¦ ly sized food pieces into pieces of a predetermined maximum length.
7 ¦ More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for separating 8 elongated pieces of a food product from a mix of randomly sized 9 pieces and cutting the elongated pieces to a desired maximum length.
11 In recent years procedures have been developed for producing 12 food products which resemble chunks of natural meat in appearance 13 and texture. Such simulated meat chunks, which typically are formed 14 of meat material and/or vegetable protein are desirable in both 1~ human and animal foods from the standpoint of aesthetic quality and 16 consumer appeal as replacement for more costly natural meat chunks.
17 Such simulated meat chunks may be produced by procedures, such as 18 extrusion through a die orifice, which result in the formation of 19 pieces having a relatively uniform size. Recently procedures have been developed for producing simulated chunks of natural meat having 21 a random size distribution, that is, the chunks may range in size 22 from about ~ inch (1.25 cm) or less to about 4 inches (10 cm) or 23 more in length. While such randomly sized chunks are advantageous-24 in that they more nearly simulate chunks of natural meat, the 26 production of elongated chunks, this is, chunks having a length of 2B more than about 2 inches (5 cm) makes it difficult to accurately 27 fill the chunks into conventional packaging, such as cans, in a high 28 speed commercial packaging operation. Thus, the elongated chunks 29 are difficult to process in conventional filling equipment, and the S0 presence of such elongated chunks makes accurate weight control of 31 filled cans very difficult.
32~
:~, . .. . . . .
," ~
7637b/95-96 This invention provides for an apparatus for sizing a mix of randomly sized food pieces into pieces of a predetermined maximum length which comprises a first cylindrical memb0r and a second cylindrical member mounted for rotation on parallel shafts and interconnected for rotation in opposing directions, conveyor means for depositing a mix of randomly sized food pieces, including elongated pieces having a length exceeding a predetermined maximum length, onto the first cylindrical member with the longitudinal axes of the elongated pieces being substantially perpendicular to the axes of the longitudinal bars on the first cylindrical member, and means for rotating the first and second cylindrical member in opposite directions at predetermined speeds with each of the cutting blades cooperating with a longitudinal bar during rotation of the cylindrical members to sever elongated pieces carried on the first cylindrical member between the rotating members.
The first cylindrical member has a purality of axially parallel longitudinal bars mounted equidistant around the periphery of the first member and spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the food pieces to be sized.
The second cylindrical member has a plurality of axially parallel elongated cutting blades mounted equidistant around the periphery o~ the second member and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the longitudinal bars on the first member.
The present invention is directed to apparatus for separating elongated simulated meat chunks from a mixture of smaller randomly sized chunks and cutting the elongated chunks r:~
~ 2 -. ~
.
. , 1 33~693 into pieces of a predetermined maximum length, in a high speed commercial production operation. The apparatus includes a pair of cylindrical members, that is, a carrier drum and a cutting drum, mounted for rotation on parallel shafts which are interconnected for rotation in opposite direction. The carrier drum has a plurality of longitudinal bars mounted equadistant around its periphery, with the bars being spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the meat chunks to be processed. The cutting drum, which is mounted above the carrier drum, has a plurality of cutting blades secured around its periphery, with the blades being spaced apart the same distance as the spacing between the longitudinal bars of the carrier drum. Rotation of the drums brings each cutting blade into close proximity to, but not in contact with, a longitudinal bar of the carrier drum.
A mix of randomly sized meat chunks is deposited onto the surface of the carrier drum from a feed conveyor mounted a~ove the carrier drum, with the conveyor having a number of longitudinal partitions at its discharge and so that the longitudinal axes of elongated meat chunks are aligned substantially parallel to their direction of travel. Meat chunks having a length smaller than the spacing between adjacent longitudinal bars of the carrier drum fall between the bars onto a take-away conveyor mounted below the carrier drum.
Elongated meat chunks that is, pieces which have a length greater than the spacing between adjacent bars are retained on the outer surface of the longitudinal bars of the carrier drum, with the chunks extending across two or more adjacent bars. ~ ;
The elongated - 2a -; ~ .. : , c.
.: - - .
. :
. , .
1 3 7'? 69 3 1 chunks are carried into the nip between the drums where they are cut 2 to a desired maximum length by a cutting blade in cooperation with a 3 longitudinal bar. When cut to the desired lenqth, the pieces fall 4 through the bars onto the take-away conveyor.
8 Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the sizing apparatus of the 9 present invention.
11 Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of Fig. 1.
1 Fig. 3 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the 1 apparatus of Fig. 1.
1 DETAILED DÆSCRIPTION
1 Referring now to the drawing, the sizing apparatus of this 1 invention includes a support frame 10 having mounted thereon a 2 carrier drum 11 and a cutting drum 12, which are journaled on 2 parallel horizontal shafts 14 and 15, respectively, secured to side 2 plate 13 the frame. Carrier drum 11 has a plurality of longitudinal 2 bars 16 mounted in spaced relation around the periphery of a pair of ~.
2 opposed circular end plates 17 and 18 to which the bars are secured, 2 with the bars extending substantially parallel to shaft 14. The 2 bars 11 are mounted equidistant around the periphery of the end 2 plates, with the bars being spaced apart a distance equal to the 2 maximum desired length of the food chunks to be sized. For example, 2 if the maximum length of the meat chunks is 2 inches (5 cm), longi-3 tudinal bars are spaced apart 2 inches (5 cm), on center, around the 3 periphery of the end plates. The radius A of carrier drum 11 is ~ . ,.. ., ~
,1 13326q3 l¦ such that an even number o~ bars 16 are provided around the drum, 2¦ with the specific number of bars depending on the desired capacity 51 and throughput of the apparatus.
4 l 5 ¦ Carrier drum 11 is driven by motor l9 through sprocXet 20, 6 ¦ keyed to drive shaft 21, and sprocket 22, keyed to shaft 14, with 7 ¦ the sprockets being connected by drive chain 23. Motor 19 is 8 ¦ provided with a standard variable speed reducer 24 to rotate the 9 ¦ carrier drum at a desired operatinq speed.
10 l 11 Cutting drum 12 which is mounted vertically above carrier drum 12 11, has a plurality of equidistant cutting blades 2S mounted around 13 the periphery of circular end plates 26 and 27 ana a central support 14 plate 28, all of which have the same radius, with the cutting edges of blades 25 being spaced apart the same distance as longitudinal 16 bars 16 on the carrier drum. The cutting blades 25 are mounted in 17 notches 29 spaced around the periphery of support plates 26, 27 and 18 28 and are secured to the plates by means of wedges 30 and counter-l9 sunk screws (not shown), with the cutting edges of the blades extending beyond the peripheral surface of the plates. The radi,us 21 of the imaginary cylinder which is formed by the cutting edges of 22 the blades is indicated at B. ' ~ ~' 24 Blades 25 are mounted parallel to shaft 15 over substantially the entire length of bars 16, with the blades 25 being aligned to 2~ cooperate with the bars 16 upon rotation of the drums in opposite 27 directions (as shown by the arrows in Fiq. 3) to cut elongated ~,;, 28 chunks carried on the uppe'r surface of the bars into the nip between 29 the drums. Preferably the cutting edge of each-of the blades 25 is slightly inclined, with reference to the axis of the shaft 15, in 31 the direction of rotation of the cutting drum. The cuttin~ drum 12 " ~; . , '` . ' . ~ :, .: ' . ~ - , ': . . ~ : ` . :
' ' . ' ~ `' " ' ' ' ~; ' . : ~ ' : ' .': ,', ~ ' ,, .
. - .
~ 1 3 )26~3 1¦ is aligned with the carrier drum 11 in a manner such that upon 2 1 rotation of the drums in opposite directions, the cutting blades do 3 ¦ not strike against the lon~ituainal bars. Rather, the leading edge I
4 ¦ of each cutting blade passes slightly behind the ~ L~g edge of a 5 ¦ corresponding longitudinal bar, such as by about .015 to .062 inches 6 1 (.0375 to .155 cm).
7 l 8 ¦ Cutting drum 12 is rotated by means of drive chain 32 which 9 1 extends around sprocket 33 mounted on shaft 14 of the carrier drum, idler sprockets 34 and 35, and sprocket 36 mounted on shaft 15, so 11 that cutting drum 12 will be rotated in a direction opposite to that 12 of the carrier drum 11. According to a preferred embo~iment, the 13 circumference of support plates 26, 27 and 28 is such that the 14 number of cutting blades mounted on the plates is one-half the number of longitudinal bars on carrier drum 11, with the cuttina 16 drum 12 being driven at a peripheral speed of two times that of the 1 carrier drum 11.
1 , .;, 1 Vibratory conveyor 40 is mounted adjacent the upper section of 2 carrier drum 11 with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor being.
2 perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bars 16 on the carrier 2 drum, to deposit a mix of random sized meat chunks carried from a 2 hopper (not shown) onto the upwardly rotatina section of the carrier 2 drum. Vibratory conveyor 40 includes a plurality of longitudinal 2 divider members 41 at the discharqe end of the conveyor which are 2 spaced apart a distance e~ual to the maximum desired length of the 2 meat chunks in the mix to be sized, to align such elongated chunks 2 with their longitudinal axes in parallel alignment with their 2 direction of travel on the conveyor, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1. In this manner, the aligned elongated chunks discharaed 32 from ~on or 40 are deposited on the surface of the rotatinq . . .
:-` 1 3~`2693 1 carrier with the longitudinal axes of the elongated chunks beina 2 perpendicular to the axis of the longitudinal bars, so that the 3 elongated chunk extend across two or more adjacent bars~ Smaller 4 sized chunks in the mix fall through the space between ad~acent bars and through the carrier drum. Preferably, the upstream ends of 6 divider members 41 are staggered in length to prevent brid~ina of 7 the elongated chunks across adjacent dividers as the random sized 8 mix is carried along the conveyor.
A take-away conveyor 42, such as a conventional endlers belt or 11 other suitable collection means, is mounted beneath the carrier drum 1 11 to receive small sized chunks which fall through the lonaitudinal 13 bars, as well as elongated chunks which are cut to the desired 14 maximum length by the action of cutting drum 12. The chunks depos-ited on the conveyor 42 are carried to suitable processing 18 ipment, such as conventional fillers, or to storage.
19~
22 . ~ ' 2 :
2 :~
2 .
3 ~:~
, ~ .. , , . .. . .
' ' . ' ~ `' " ' ' ' ~; ' . : ~ ' : ' .': ,', ~ ' ,, .
. - .
~ 1 3 )26~3 1¦ is aligned with the carrier drum 11 in a manner such that upon 2 1 rotation of the drums in opposite directions, the cutting blades do 3 ¦ not strike against the lon~ituainal bars. Rather, the leading edge I
4 ¦ of each cutting blade passes slightly behind the ~ L~g edge of a 5 ¦ corresponding longitudinal bar, such as by about .015 to .062 inches 6 1 (.0375 to .155 cm).
7 l 8 ¦ Cutting drum 12 is rotated by means of drive chain 32 which 9 1 extends around sprocket 33 mounted on shaft 14 of the carrier drum, idler sprockets 34 and 35, and sprocket 36 mounted on shaft 15, so 11 that cutting drum 12 will be rotated in a direction opposite to that 12 of the carrier drum 11. According to a preferred embo~iment, the 13 circumference of support plates 26, 27 and 28 is such that the 14 number of cutting blades mounted on the plates is one-half the number of longitudinal bars on carrier drum 11, with the cuttina 16 drum 12 being driven at a peripheral speed of two times that of the 1 carrier drum 11.
1 , .;, 1 Vibratory conveyor 40 is mounted adjacent the upper section of 2 carrier drum 11 with the longitudinal axis of the conveyor being.
2 perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bars 16 on the carrier 2 drum, to deposit a mix of random sized meat chunks carried from a 2 hopper (not shown) onto the upwardly rotatina section of the carrier 2 drum. Vibratory conveyor 40 includes a plurality of longitudinal 2 divider members 41 at the discharqe end of the conveyor which are 2 spaced apart a distance e~ual to the maximum desired length of the 2 meat chunks in the mix to be sized, to align such elongated chunks 2 with their longitudinal axes in parallel alignment with their 2 direction of travel on the conveyor, as shown by the arrow in Fig. 1. In this manner, the aligned elongated chunks discharaed 32 from ~on or 40 are deposited on the surface of the rotatinq . . .
:-` 1 3~`2693 1 carrier with the longitudinal axes of the elongated chunks beina 2 perpendicular to the axis of the longitudinal bars, so that the 3 elongated chunk extend across two or more adjacent bars~ Smaller 4 sized chunks in the mix fall through the space between ad~acent bars and through the carrier drum. Preferably, the upstream ends of 6 divider members 41 are staggered in length to prevent brid~ina of 7 the elongated chunks across adjacent dividers as the random sized 8 mix is carried along the conveyor.
A take-away conveyor 42, such as a conventional endlers belt or 11 other suitable collection means, is mounted beneath the carrier drum 1 11 to receive small sized chunks which fall through the lonaitudinal 13 bars, as well as elongated chunks which are cut to the desired 14 maximum length by the action of cutting drum 12. The chunks depos-ited on the conveyor 42 are carried to suitable processing 18 ipment, such as conventional fillers, or to storage.
19~
22 . ~ ' 2 :
2 :~
2 .
3 ~:~
, ~ .. , , . .. . .
Claims (9)
- Apparatus for sizing a mix of randomly sized food pieces into pieces of a predetermined maximum length which comprises a first cylindrical member and a second cylindrical member mounted for rotation on parallel axial shafts and interconnected for rotation in opposing directions, said first cylindrical member having a pair of spaced circular support plates mounted on a first axial shaft and a plurality of axially parallel longitudinal bars mounted between the support plates equidistant around the periphery thereof substantially parallel to said first shaft and spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the food pieces to be sized, said second cylindrical member having a plurality of spaced circular support plates mounted on a second axial shaft and a plurality of axially parallel elongated cutting blades mounted on the support plates equidistant around the periphery thereof substantially parallel to said second shaft and spaced apart a distance equal to the spacing between the longitudinal bars on said first cylindrical member, and first conveyor means adjacent said first cylindrical member for depositing a mix of randomly sized food pieces, including elongated pieces having a length exceeding a predetermined maximum length, onto said first cylindrical member with the longitudinal axes of said elongated pieces being substantially perpendicular to the axes of the longitudinal bars on said first cylindrical member, said cylindrical members being operably mounted and driven so that said cutting blades pass in close proximity to said longitudinal bars without contacting said bars to thereby sever elongated pieces carried on the first cylindrical member between the rotating members.
- 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said first conveyor means comprises a vibratory conveyor mounted adjacent an upwardly rotating section of the first cylindrical member, with the longitudinal axis of the first conveyor being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the bars on said first member, said first conveyor means having a plurality of longitudinal divider members mounted at the end of said conveyor adjacent the first cylindrical member, with the divider members being spaced apart a distance equal to the desired maximum length of the food pieces.
- 3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 in which the ends of said divider members remote from the first cylindrical member are staggered in length.
- 4. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which the circumference of the first cylindrical member is twice that of the second cylindrical member and the number of cutting blades carried on said second member is one-half the number of longitudinal bars carried on said first cylindrical member.
- 5. The apparatus defined in claim 4 in which the second cylindrical member is rotated at twice the rotational speed of the first cylindrical member.
- 6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said first and second cylindrical members are mounted and driven so that the leading edge of each cutting blade passes slightly behind the trailing edge of a longitudinal bar.
- 7. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which a second conveyor means is mounted below the first cylindrical member and the end of the first conveyor adjacent said first cylindrical member to receive food pieces which pass through the first cylindrical member.
- 8. The apparatus defined in claim 6 in which the leading edge of the cutting blades pass behind the trailing edge of the longitudinal bars a distance of about 0.0375 cm. to 0.155 cm.
- 9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 in which the second axial shaft on which the second cylindrical member is carried is mounted above the fist axial shaft at an angle of about 45°
to the longitudinal axis of said first shaft, adjacent the side of the first cylindrical member opposite the first conveyor means.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US22690388A | 1988-08-01 | 1988-08-01 | |
| US07/226,903 | 1988-08-01 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1332693C true CA1332693C (en) | 1994-10-25 |
Family
ID=22850916
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000606837A Expired - Fee Related CA1332693C (en) | 1988-08-01 | 1989-07-27 | Apparatus for sizing elongated food pieces |
Country Status (7)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0353446B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0283199A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE113890T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU614393B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1332693C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE68919292T2 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2063787T3 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN106671171B (en) * | 2015-11-11 | 2018-09-28 | 洪文德 | A kind of food separate machine |
Family Cites Families (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BE434395A (en) * | ||||
| US2454237A (en) * | 1947-06-20 | 1948-11-16 | Albert G Wahl | Vegetable cutter |
| US3483780A (en) * | 1967-07-19 | 1969-12-16 | Nypel Inc | Cutter |
| US4404879A (en) * | 1980-05-06 | 1983-09-20 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Accurately placed stress concentrating aperture in flexible packages |
| FI64300C (en) * | 1981-03-30 | 1983-11-10 | Kone Oy | FRAMEWORK FOR THE ADJUSTMENT OF SAFETY TRAILING |
| US4391374A (en) * | 1981-10-05 | 1983-07-05 | Fmc Corporation | Method of and apparatus for separating elongated articles by length |
-
1989
- 1989-06-22 DE DE68919292T patent/DE68919292T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-06-22 EP EP89111380A patent/EP0353446B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-22 ES ES89111380T patent/ES2063787T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1989-06-22 AT AT89111380T patent/ATE113890T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1989-06-30 AU AU37270/89A patent/AU614393B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1989-07-27 CA CA000606837A patent/CA1332693C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1989-07-28 JP JP1194458A patent/JPH0283199A/en active Pending
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE68919292T2 (en) | 1995-04-13 |
| JPH0283199A (en) | 1990-03-23 |
| AU3727089A (en) | 1990-02-01 |
| EP0353446A2 (en) | 1990-02-07 |
| ATE113890T1 (en) | 1994-11-15 |
| DE68919292D1 (en) | 1994-12-15 |
| EP0353446A3 (en) | 1991-07-10 |
| EP0353446B1 (en) | 1994-11-09 |
| AU614393B2 (en) | 1991-08-29 |
| ES2063787T3 (en) | 1995-01-16 |
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