EP0601936A1 - Press cake disintegrating device for horizontal type fruit press - Google Patents

Abstract

Disintegrating device for a fruit press of the horizontal type comprising a cylindrical cage (1) intended to contain the material to be pressed, the cage comprising two plates (8,9), at least one of which can be displaced towards the other to press the materials contained in the cage (1) and to extract the juice therefrom, characterised in that it includes sliding disintegrating hooks (18) carried by the cage (1) and arranged at the periphery of the plates (8,9), the cage (1) comprising means (21) for guiding the hooks (18) during the relative displacements of the said plates and the group of disintegrating hooks of one plate (8) being offset angularly with respect to the group of hooks of the other plate (9). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to presses and relates more particularly to the crumbling devices of the cake resulting from the pressing, for example of grapes to extract the must.

The mechanical presses called "horizontal" most often consist of a perforated cylindrical cage closed by two plates, at least one of which is movable in translation to ensure the pressing of the material inside the cage.

In known manner the movable plate or plates are hydraulically or mechanically driven by a screw-nut system. The axis of the device is generally horizontal or slightly inclined.

• pressoir hydraulique avec un plateau mobile,
• pressoir hydraulique avec deux plateaux mobiles,
• pressoir mécanique avec un plateau mobile et vis intérieure,
• pressoir mécanique avec un plateau mobile et vis extérieure,
• pressoir mécanique avec deux plateaux mobiles et vis intérieure,
• pressoir mécanique avec deux plateaux mobiles et vis extérieures.

We can distinguish the following known construction methods:

• hydraulic press with a movable plate,
• hydraulic press with two mobile plates,
• mechanical press with a movable plate and internal screw,
• mechanical press with a movable plate and external screw,
• mechanical press with two mobile plates and internal screw,
• mechanical press with two mobile plates and external screws.

On these devices, the cage is rotating in order to distribute the material to be pressed before the pressure builds up.

These devices are used to press solids to extract the juices.

To do this, it is necessary to follow a precise pressure build-up process that is as suitable as possible. Despite this, it is not possible to extract all the juices in one press. It is necessary after a pressing cycle, carry out a complete crumbling of the cake before proceeding to a new pressure increase.

The fact of moving back the movable plate or plates while rotating the cage does not make it possible to crumble, especially after pressing at high pressure if one does not have inside the press a system adapted to this function.

In all the materials known to date, this system consists of circles and chains connecting the circles to each other and fixed by their ends to the plates, or sometimes only chains or straps guided in a particular way.

In the case of a crumbling system with circles linked together by chains, placed in the press cage, when filling the press, the trays in the separated position keep the system of circles and chains stretched between the trays on the entire length of the cage.

When pressing, the trays approaching press and reduce the grapes into a marc cake. The circles and chains of the crumbling system are incorporated into the cake.

During the crumbling, the two trays returning to their separated position drive the system of circles and chains which by stretching undone and crumble the cake of marc and recreate the drainage.

• la dislocation du gâteau
• l'émiettage

The analysis of this operation makes it possible to distinguish two distinct phases:

• the dislocation of the cake
• the crumbling

The system with circles and chains allows using the recoil of the tray (s) to extract the chains and circles from the cake by dislocating it and remains active in the complementary crumbling operation carried out using the rotation of the cage.

This activity, which is not harmful to the actual operation, presents serious qualitative risks for the juices extracted due to the mechanical aggression undergone by the solid materials and which have the results of releasing undesirable substances.

The invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks of known crumbling systems, by creating a crumbling system which, while being of simple construction, allows efficient crumbling without risk of aggression for the extracted juices.

It therefore relates to a crumbling device for horizontal type press comprising a cylindrical cage intended to contain the material to be pressed, the cage comprising two plates of which at least one is movable towards the other to ensure the pressing of the materials contained in the cage and extract the juice therefrom, characterized in that it comprises sliding crumbling hooks carried by the plates and arranged at regular intervals around their periphery, the cage comprising means for guiding the hooks during relative displacements of said plates and the group of crumbling hooks of a plate being angularly offset relative to the group of hooks of the other plate.

• la Fig.1 est une vue en coupe, en élévation latérale d'un pressoir horizontal équipé d'un dispositif d'émiettage suivant l'invention;
• la Fig.2 est une vue en coupe à plus grande échelle suivant la ligne 2-2 de la Fig.1, montrant un détail de construction du dispositif d'émiettage;
• la Fig.3 est une vue en coupe analogue à celle de la Fig.2, montrant un autre mode de réalisation de la tige d'un crochet du dispositif d'émiettage suivant l'invention;
• la Fig.3A est une coupe à plus grande échelle montrant la liaison entre un plateau et la cage du pressoir;
• la Fig.3B montre un détail d'un plateau du pressoir;
• les Fig.4 à 9 sont des vues schématiques en coupe montrant le fonctionnement d'un pressoir équipé du système d'émiettage suivant l'invention; et
• les Fig.10 à 16 sont des vues en perspective montrant divers types de crochets pouvant être utilisés dans le système d'émiettage suivant l'invention.

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Fig.1 is a sectional view, in side elevation of a horizontal press equipped with a crumbling device according to the invention;
• Fig.2 is a sectional view on a larger scale along line 2-2 of Fig.1, showing a construction detail of the crumbling device;
• Fig.3 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig.2, showing another embodiment of the rod of a hook of the crumbling device according to the invention;
• Fig.3A is a section on a larger scale showing the connection between a tray and the press cage;
• Fig.3B shows a detail of a press tray;
• Fig.4 to 9 are schematic sectional views showing the operation of a press equipped with the crumbling system according to the invention; and
• Fig.10 to 16 are perspective views showing various types of hooks that can be used in the crumbling system according to the invention.

In Fig.1, there is shown a horizontal type press comprising a perforated cylindrical cage 1 rotatably mounted by its end flanges 2 provided with hubs 3, at the ends 4 and 5 of a horizontal shaft 6 passing through the cage part by side and constituted by a screw 7 having two threads of opposite pitch 7a, 7b for translational drive of two plates 8, 9 for pressing the product intended to be loaded into the press.

The ends of the shaft 4 and 5 of the shaft 6 which extend beyond the hubs 3 of the flanges 2 are carried by bearings such as 10 bearing on end bases 11,12 of the press frame .

The base 11 contains a drive device (not shown) such as an electric motor associated with an appropriate reducer and means of coupling with the shaft 7 on the one hand and with the cage 1 on the other hand, thus than a control panel.

Each of the pressing plates 8, 9 consists of a metal disc 13 surrounded at its periphery by a rim 14 and provided with its side facing the corresponding flange 2 of the cage, of radial reinforcing ribs 15. These details appear clearly in FIG. 3B.

The plates are advantageously made of mechanically welded sheet metal, the disc 13 and the ribs 14 being fixed in the center to a threaded sleeve 16 mounted on the screw 7.

On each of the plates 8 and 9 are mounted crumbling hooks 18 regularly distributed around the periphery of the plate.

The hooks of one of the plates are angularly offset from the hooks of the other.

Each hook 18 comprises a head 19 intended to be engaged in the material to be pressed, a rod 20 by means of which the hook is guided in translation along the cage 1 provided with a corresponding guide rail 21, and a foot 22 by means of which the hook is fixed to the tray which carries it.

The foot 22 of the hook 18 has a notch 23 in which is engaged the ball-shaped end 24 of the rod 25 of a calibrated lock 26 fixed on the face of the plate provided with reinforcing ribs 15.

The lock 26 is completed by a return spring 27 surrounding the rod 25 and bearing on the one hand on the housing 28 of the lock and on the other hand on a flange 29 carried by the rod 25.

The edge of the notch 23 which is closest to the disc 13 of the plate forms a ramp 30 for unlocking extended by a ramp 31 of opposite slope intended to facilitate the engagement of the bolt rod in the notch when the hook in rest position.

Near the head 19 on the one hand and on the foot 22, on the other hand, each hook 18 carries guides 32, 33 cooperating with the guide rail 21 secured to the cage 1.

In Fig.2, there is shown in detail a first embodiment of the sliding guide means of the hooks.

It can be seen in this figure, that the cage 1 is made of plastic and carries rails 21 for guiding the hooks also made of plastic.

The rod 20 of the hook is a hollow metallic rod of triangular shape to which are fixed by welding metal tabs 21 folded down behind the head of the rail 21 in order to guide the hook in translation on the rail.

Similarly, the guides 33 carried by the foot 22 of the hook are constituted by folded tabs (not shown).

The embodiment shown in Fig.3 differs from that of Fig.2 only in that the crumbling hooks comprise rods 34 of rectangular tubular section.

It follows that the folded metal legs 35 like the legs not shown carried by the foot of each hook are in the form of squares.

In FIG. 3A, it can be seen that the rim 14 of each plate has notches 36 formed at regular intervals in the disc 13 and opening onto the wall of the shell 1 by interruptions 37 of the rim 14.

The notches 36 have a width approximately equal to that of the head of a rail 21 and a height approximately equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the rod 34 of the hook and the head of the rail 21.

The width of the interruptions 37 of the rim 14 is approximately equal to the width of the base of a guide rail 21.

Thus, the guide rails 21, pass through the plate by the notches 36 thereof. They are fixed to the cage 1 by screws 38 with countersunk head for example and nuts 39. The rails 21 thus ensure the rotational connection of the plates 8.9 with the cage 1.

The rods of the hooks 18 slide on the guide rails 21 through the notches 36 of the plates which carry them.

In FIGS. 10 to 16, a number of shapes are shown which the heads 19 of the hooks 18 can take.

These various embodiments all have rods 34 of rectangular section.

In FIGS. 10 and 11, the heads 19 are constituted respectively by a pallet 40.

In the variant of FIG. 11, a notch 41 with oblique edges directed downwards is provided in the pallet 40 and defines two branches 42.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 are of the head type 19 in the form of a fork 43 perpendicular to the rod 34 welded to the bevel-shaped end 44 of the hook rod 34.

The branches 45, 46, 47 of the forks 43 shown in FIGS. 12 to 14 are of decreasing length from one embodiment to another.

The head 19 of the hook of FIG. 15 is a head formed by two folded rods 48 fixed to the end of the rod 34.

The head 19 of the hook of FIG. 16 consists of a single folded rod 49 fixed to the end of the rod 34.

Of course, the shapes of hooks which have just been described are in no way limiting and other shapes can be imagined within the framework of the present invention.

The operation of the press equipped with the crumbling system according to the invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 9.

The displacement of the plates 8, 9 linked in rotation with the cage 1 is ensured either by the rotation of the cage 1 alone or by the rotation of the cage 1 and of the screw 7.

In Fig.4, the plates 8 and 9 are spaced from each other and the material M to be pressed is loaded into the cage 1.

The crumbling hooks 18 are in the rest position extended as far as possible into the space between the plates and held by their calibrated locks 23,24,27 (Fig.1).

At the start of the tightening caused by the gradual approximation of the plates 8, 9, the hooks are driven by the plates, by means of the aforementioned calibrated locks.

In Fig.5, it can be seen that the plates 8,9 have come close enough that the hooks 18 of each plate come into abutment on the opposite plate.

In this position, the rod 25 of each calibrated lock is pushed against its spring 27 by the ramp-shaped edge 30 of the notch 23 of the foot 22 of the hook, which causes the hook 18 to be released in translation compared to its plateau 8.9.

The plates 8, 9 can thus continue to approach to ensure the pressing of the material M.

At the end of their tightening stroke shown in Fig.6, the plates 8,9 have caused the hooks 18 to recede, the feet 22 of which are at a maximum distance from the plates.

The material M is compressed to the maximum and the beginning of the loosening by spacing of the plates can begin.

It can be seen that the hooks 18 are engaged by their heads 19 in the compressed material M.

In Fig. 7, it can be seen that during the spacing stroke of the plates 8, 9, the hooks 18 are retained in translation in the pressed material cake M until the feet 22 of the hooks 18 again engage with their latches.

Referring again to FIG. 1, it can be seen that this engagement is associated by the cooperation of the rod 25 of each lock provided with its end ball 24 with the ramp 31 of slope opposite to that of the ramp 30, provided on the foot 22 of the hook to re-engage the ball 24 in the notch 23 of said foot.

As shown in Fig.8, the hooks 18 being again secured in translation with their plates 8, 9, the continued recoil of the plates drives the hooks via their latches and thereby causes the dislocation of the completed cake by its crumbling due to the simultaneous rotation of the cage 1.

In Fig.9, there is shown the press at the end of the distance between the plates 8, 9, the material M being crumbled and ready to undergo a new pressing operation.

Note that the system acts effectively in the cake dislocation phase and remains inactive in the crumbling phase due to the very low aggressiveness of the mechanical system.

Claims (11)

Crumbling device for horizontal type press comprising a cylindrical cage (1) intended to contain the material to be pressed, the cage comprising two plates (8,9) at least one of which is movable towards the other to ensure pressing materials contained in the cage (1) and extract the juice therefrom, characterized in that it comprises sliding crumbling hooks (18) carried by the cage (1) and arranged at the periphery of the plates (8,9) , the cage (1) comprising means (21) for guiding the hooks (18) during the relative movements of said plates. Crumbling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the group of crumbling hooks of a plate (8) is angularly offset relative to the group of hooks of the other plate (9). Crumbling device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each hook (18) comprises a head (19) and a foot (21) joined by a rod (20; 34) passing through the plate (8, 9) corresponding by a notch (36,37) formed therein and in that near the head (19) and on the foot (22) of each hook are provided guides (32; 35,33) cooperating with a guide rail (21) in translation secured to the cage (1) associated with each hook and also passing through the notch (36, 37), said rails constituting the means for guiding the translation of the hooks (18) and means for rotationally connecting the plates (8, 9) with the cage (1). Crumbling device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the crumbling hooks (18) are made integral in translation with the plates (8,9) to which they are associated, by tared locks (23 , 24, 27) carried by the plates and cooperating with the feet (22) of the corresponding hooks, the release of the hooks (18) in translation relative to their plates (8,9) being ensured during the stroke of approach of the plates (8,9) by the coming into contact of the heads (19) of the hooks associated with a plate (8,9) against the opposite plate (9,8). Crumbling device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the foot (22) of each hook has a notch (23) in which is engaged a rod (24,25) of the calibrated lock, said rod being movable mounted in a housing (28) carried by the plate (8,9), against an elastic return member (27), the notch (23) comprising an inclined edge in the form of a ramp (30) to facilitate the exit of the end (24) of the rod (25) out of said notch when the hook (18) is released in translation relative to the associated plate (8, 9). Crumbling device according to claim 5, characterized in that the foot (22) of each hook further comprises a ramp (31) of slope opposite to that of the ramp (30) of the notch (23), intended for facilitate the engagement of the rod (25) of the calibrated lock in the notch (23) against the action of the elastic return member (27) of the lock, when the hook returns to its position fastening in translation with the corresponding plate (8,9). Crumbling device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the guides (32; 35.33) provided on each hook (18) near its head (18) and on its foot (22) are constituted by metal tabs welded respectively to the rod (20; 34) of the hook and on the foot (22) of the latter and folded behind the mushroom of the corresponding guide rail (21) secured to the cage (1). Crumbling device according to one of Claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the head (19) each hook (18) is constituted by a pallet (40) fixed to the end of the rod (34). Crumbling device according to claim 8, characterized in that the pallet (40) of the head (19) has a notch (41) with oblique edges defining two branches (42). Crumbling device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the head (19) of each hook (18) is in the form of a fork (43) fixed to the beveled end (44) of the rod ( 34). Crumbling device according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the head (19) of each hook (18) consists of at least one bent rod (48; 49) fixed to the end of the rod (34) of said hook.

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