EP2815858B1

EP2815858B1 - Potato-cutter endowed with taking over of the machined product volume

Info

Publication number: EP2815858B1
Application number: EP14001884.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gabriele Manara
Original assignee: Eurochef Srl
Current assignee: Eurochef Srl
Priority date: 2013-06-01
Filing date: 2014-05-30
Publication date: 2016-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2034-05-30
Also published as: ITMO20130160A1; EP2815858A1; ES2584981T3

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, that is to say, to an apparatus for the industrial or even artisan processing of fried potatoes, which are preliminarily cut into helical strips and continuously. The apparatus includes the device for detecting and computing the volume of processed product.

Prior art

The prior art includes various types of potato-cutters also for large industrial productions, but the manual ones are usually left as an aid for the operator, generally a craftsman or trader, to produce the potato cut as desired by the user shortly before the operation of frying.
Moreover, the operations of cutting of the potatoes, especially those in the form of helical strips, need to be prompt and carried out immediately shortly before the operation of frying. Thus, the fragrance of the potato, just prepared, remains intact and makes the potato, so prepared and fried, very tasty, so as to make its consumption much sought for, especially in the preparation carried out in the meeting places as well as also on the travelling counters at fairs, festivals and events of all kinds.
Thus, the apparatus which enables the production of the potato cut into helical strips is of a simple constitution and comprises a small electric motor which puts in rotation the potato and a knife against which the potato is pushed. The rotation of the potato against the knife cuts the whole potato into the thin potato helical strip. The potato cut into the helical strip is collected in a tank of the potato-cutter and immediately fried, thus preserving the best qualities of the product. However, the equipment allowing a hawker to sell this type of fried potatoes, such as the potato-cutter, the frying apparatus and also the travelling means for transferring the service point, are often hired or lent for use with the payment of an amount linked to the production volume obtained by said equipment.
Therefore, there is the need, even if the hired apparatus is composed of parts, which are common to other uses as well, to determine in a single way how much product is processed with the type of contract which is drawn up with the hire or loan for use. That is to say, it is necessary to determine in a certain way the volume of processed product, in such a way that said indicator cannot be tampered with and is constantly verifiable.
Finally, it is also necessary that in the detection of the volume of processed product the values are verifiable and comparable in such a way as to settle any possible objections, which may arise in the counting carried out.
Such prior art is susceptible of further improvements as to the possibility to realize a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, which determines at least the mass of the processed product with an acceptable approximation.
The technical problem, therefore, which is at the basis of the present invention, is to realize a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, which contains a counting apparatus which transforms the detected signals into volume of product.
An additional and further aim of the present invention is to realize a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product in which tampering is not possible.
Finally, an additional technical problem, which arises in the realization of a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, includes the possibility to update the setting of the device according to the type of product, that is to say, to the average size of the potatoes, which are processed.

Summary of the invention

This technical problem is solved, according to the present invention, by a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, comprising: a supporting structure on which a rotating mandrel is sliding, which drives the potato in rotation against at least one blade arranged at a right angle with respect to the axis of rotation; said mandrel being moved by an electric motor and being mobile in the direction of the axis of rotation; characterised in that it has the electric motor and the rotating mandrel mounted and sliding with a mobile cart on said supporting structure; moreover, there is an electronic counter which is electrically connected on the power supply cable of the electric motor and which detects the passage of electric current in the activation of the electric motor.
In a further embodiment the activation is controlled electrically by a button present on a handle for controlling the sliding of the mobile cart and mechanically by the push performed by the operator on said handle.
Moreover, in a preferred embodiment the mobile cart is made in such a way as to make its opening evident to prevent the tampering of the internal connections between the power supply cable, the electronic counter and the electric motor.
Furthermore, in a specific embodiment the electronic counter has a display which shows the values detected by the counting carried out.
Moreover, advantageously, the electronic counter has a display which shows the values detected by the counting carried out; a confirmation button allows to interact with the electronic counter to define the data and the type of data displayed.
Furthermore, in a specific embodiment the front panel of the electronic counter has buttons for modifying the values shown on the display or for selecting them.
In an improved embodiment the internal connections between the power supply cable, the electronic counter and the electric motor are made in such a way as to not be further restored if tampered.
Furthermore, in a further improved embodiment, the structure of the potato-cutter has a vertical arrangement and the operating handle is placed on a lever of connection between the structure and the mobile cart, which in its turn is mobile in a vertical direction.
In a variant the potato-cutter has the electronic counter housed in the mobile cart itself.
Finally, in a preferred embodiment the electronic counter housed in the mobile cart is visible from outside the cart itself.
The features and the advantages of the present invention, in the realization of a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, will be clear from the description, made in the following, of an embodiment given as an indicative and non-exhaustive example with reference to the three enclosed drawing tables.

Short description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of the potato-cutter according to the present invention in which a cart, which is mobile towards the blade, is shown in the position of introduction of the potato prior to cutting;
Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the potato-cutter of Figure 1 with the mobile cart at the end of the stroke for the cutting of the potato;
Figure 3 shows a front view of the potato-cutter, in the position of Figure 2, without the operation lever and with the front frame of reading and of selection of the operation data being visible.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

In Figures 1, 2 and 3 the potato-cutter has a structure 1 on which a cart 2 is mobile to support the movement of a mandrel 3, which puts in rotation a potato (not shown), by means of a disc and points of penetration and pulling of the potato core, against a knife 4 with an axis of rotation perpendicular to the knife itself. In the base 5 of the structure 1 there is a space 6 with a collector 7 of the potatoes cut into helical strips under said knife. In the structure 1 there is a lever 8 for controlling and activating the stroke of the mobile cart 2 with said mandrel; the lever has a button 9 in the handle 10 in such a way as to control the rotation of the mandrel while the operator pushes the mobile cart against the knife 4. An electric motor 11 is mechanically connected to said mandrel 3 and electrically connected to the power supply cable 12 and to said button. In the mobile cart 2 there is an electronic counter 13 provided with a display 14, which shows the values and the status of the apparatus, it is electrically interposed between the cable and the electric motor. On the front panel 15 of the electronic counter there are also the power-on light 16 and status light 17 as well as a confirmation button 18 and buttons 19 for selecting the data shown on the display.
The mobile cart 2 is made in such a way as to make its opening evident to prevent the tampering of the electrical connections between the electric motor and the electronic counter, this to make the detachment and the re-connection of the electronic counter inside the mobile cart not possible.
The operation of the potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of the processed product occurs as follows.
After the connection to the power supply the potato-cutter is ready to work. There are not switches internal to the apparatus, moreover, being intended for travelling use, the power supply can be low-voltage and also with direct current. The electronic counter after a first internal verification phase shows on the display the last value saved, which at construction is the average mass of potatoes processed from a certain detection start moment. The detection start is established with two procedures: the start-up of the electronic counter and its setting with the average size of the potatoes to be cut.
The electronic counter upon activation of the button 9 and upon the following cutting of the potato detects the presence of current absorbed in the cutting operation, that is to say, of rotation of the electric motor 11 for activating the mandrel 3. The amount of potato cut at each revolution of the mandrel on average is constant so as to be able to establish a relationship between the number of revolutions of the mandrel, carried out during cutting, and the so cut potato mass. The electronic counter detects the time employed in cutting at each activation, thus being the rotation speed, too, on average constant, the numbers of revolutions of the mandrel for that activation are defined.
By performing following working operations, with a defined number of potatoes of a desired size, it is possible to establish the correlation between the number of activations and the global mass of the potatoes cut. The parameter of calculation of the mass per revolution of the mandrel, so calculated, is saved in the electronic counter and serves to calculate the volume of processed product.
In this way, even if the described operation of setting and preparation is carried out only by trained staff, that is to say, the manufacturer or the trained maintenance-operator, the mass value indicated by the display is surely reliable, considering that the reference is to the constancy of the size of the potatoes and has been detected and saved in an experimental way.
The electronic counter shows on the display, in addition to the data of the mass of processed product, also the number of the activations, which serves as a verification of the data on the mass of product.
The approximation with the calculation referred to said approximate number of revolutions is good being able to be defined also of less than 10% and with the controlled size of the potatoes also much smaller.
The parameter of the ratio of the mass over the cutting revolution changes according to the size of the potatoes. It has turned out to be useful to reset it if the size of the potatoes does not correspond to the setting value. By means of experimental tests it was possible to obtain a very good approximation, that is to say, the display at the end of the test showed the value corresponding to the mass of cut potatoes.
Therefore, with a so defined mass it is possible to establish a contract correlation between a hawker and a hirer of the equipment for cutting and frying the potatoes in which the person who lets or lends for use, with the clause of payment of a percentage on the product sold, can have a deterrent to discourage the hawker from committing frauds.
Finally, access to the procedures of re-setting and of definition of the ratio between the processing time of the potato-cutter and the volume of processed product is prevented and is permitted, as said, only to trained people who know the procedure for unlocking the electronic counter.
The advantages in the use of a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product can be summarized as follows. The use of the described potato-cutter can be monitored for the whole time in which it is lent for use by the owner. That is to say, with the described potato-cutter at each cutting operation the microcomputer 13 detects its carrying out. Therefore, it allows to verify the mass amount of the processed product, both in mass and if necessary in servings, because to each serving corresponds a defined mass of product.
Moreover, the operator, that is to say, the hawker, does not have to worry about its setting, but only has to use the potato-cutter, and the equipment hired or borrowed for use, in such a way as to maximize earnings with the certainty, for the owner, to be informed about the volume of processed product.
Finally, tampering the electronic counter is not possible as it is inserted in the mobile cart 2 of the potato-cutter and maintenance or repair can be carried out only by the manufacturer or by trained staff.
Obviously, to a potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product, a person skilled in the art, in order to meet specific and contingents needs, can make several changes, which will all be included within the scope of protection of the present invention as defined by the following claims. Thus, although less advantageously, the electrical connection inside the mobile cart is made non-restorable, but it needs replacement after any possible tampering; however, the electronic counter (13) can be placed outside the cart (2) of the potato-cutter; moreover, the electronic counter can be made without the display (14) and can be verified only with a specific electronic detection tool from a connection port; or, the electronic counter (13) can be housed or mounted outside the mobile cart both in the visible version and without the display; finally, the potato-cutter could be made horizontally as is known in the art of frying potatoes cut into spirals.

Claims

Potato-cutter provided with a system for detecting the volume of processed product comprising: a supporting structure (1) on which a rotating mandrel (3) is sliding which drives the potato in rotation against at least one blade (4) placed at a right angle with respect to the axis of rotation; said mandrel being moved by an electric motor (11) and being mobile in the direction of the axis of rotation; characterised in that it has the electric motor and the rotating mandrel mounted and sliding with a mobile cart (2) on said supporting structure; moreover, present and electrically connected on the power supply cable of the electric motor is an electronic counter (13) which detects the passage of electric current in the activation of the electric motor (11).
Potato-cutter according to claim 1, wherein the activation is controlled electrically by a button (9) present on a handle (10) for controlling the sliding of the mobile cart (2) and mechanically by the push that the operator performs on said handle.
Potato-cutter according to one of the previous claims 1, 2, wherein the mobile cart (2) is made in such a way as to make its opening evident to prevent the tampering of the internal connections between the power supply cable, the electronic counter (13) and the electric motor (11).
Potato-cutter, according to one of the previous claims 1, 2, 3, wherein the electronic counter (13) has a display (14) which shows the values detected by the counting carried out.
Potato-cutter, according to one of the previous claims 1, 2, 3, wherein the electronic counter (13) has a display (14) which shows the values detected by the counting carried out; a confirmation button (18) allows to interact with the electronic counter (13) to define the data and the type of data displayed.
Potato-cutter according to one of the previous claims 4, 5, wherein the front panel (15) of the electronic counter has buttons (19) for modifying the values shown on the display (14) or for selecting them.
Potato-cutter according to the previous claim 3, wherein the internal connections between the power supply cable, the electronic counter and the electric motor are made in such a way as not to be further restored if tampered.
Potato-cutter, according to one of the previous claims 1 to 6, wherein the structure (1) of the potato-cutter has a vertical arrangement and the operating handle (10) is placed on a lever (8) of connection between the structure and the mobile cart (2), which in its turn is mobile in a vertical direction.
Potato-cutter, according to one of the previous claims 1 to 8, wherein the electronic counter (13) is housed in the mobile cart (2) itself.
Potato-cutter, according to the previous claim 9, wherein the electronic counter (13) housed in the mobile cart (2) is visible from outside the cart itself.