FR2612478A1 - Device intended to split vegetables, and machine which is equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device intended for splitting vegetables such as turnips, celeriacs, courgettes, aubergines, tomatoes, etc., into quarters. A battery of cutters, for example four in number, 61, 71, 81, 91, located in pairs in perpendicular planes, revolve face to face in opposite directions from one another. A hopper T supplies the device with vegetables which are taken up by a drive system 22 of studded wheels 25, 26, 27, 28 mounted on swinging arms capable of offering the vegetable up to the battery of cutters, along the axis Z of the hopper, on which axis is located the point t of tangential coincidence of the circular cutters. A motor M, via the action of an angular transmission 2 with two shafts 4 and 5 and belts 9, drives both the circular cutters and the studded wheels. The invention finds its applications particularly in the field of canning (canned foods) and culinary preparation.

Description

DISPOSITIP FOR HANGING VEGETABLES,
AND MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH IT.

 The present invention relates to a device intended to split into quarters vegetables such as turnips, celery, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes ...

 A problem arises, particularly in the canned vegetable industry, in cutting these vegetables into several quarters.

This result is obtained by a succession of cuts which require numerous manipulations. This results in high cost and often faulty cutting precision.

 The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks and relates to a vegetable splitting machine, a machine which performs this function automatically so that at least four quarters can be obtained by a single passage of the vegetable through the machine.

 The machine, according to the invention, therefore relates to a device which cuts automatically and in a single pass, in at least four quarters, all the large vegetables of the turnip type, celery, rutabagas, etc., the number of quarters to be obtained. being subject to the number of knives used and their configuration in the machine.

 The invention relates more precisely to a device intended for splitting vegetables, characterized in that it consists of a battery of circular knives (B) operating face to face, two by two, and rotating in opposite directions with respect to one another on the other, all of these knives being arranged on the one hand so that their tangential point of competition (t) is on an axis coincident with the axis (Z) of a feed hopper (T) and cooperating on the other hand with a drive system (22, 222) guiding the vegetables coming from the hopper so that they are, whatever their size, permanently centered with respect to said axis (Z).

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows and of the appended figures among which:
- Figure 1 shows in perspective the organs for driving the vegetables and their cutting into quarters, organs surmounted by the vegetable hopper for cutting;
- Figure 2 shows the drive system of two of the knives and the drive members of the vegetables seen along the arrow (G) of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a view showing the articulated assembly system of the two oscillating arms, system seen along the arrow (F) of Figure 1;
- Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the two oscillating arms carrying the drive members and cutting vegetables, and shows the mechanical connection of these two members as part of the machine with four knives;
- Figure 5 is an elevational view of a device for driving vegetables and their cutting according to a variant of machine with six knives;
- Figure 6 shows in plan the same device of this variant machine with six knives;
- Figure 7 schematically illustrates the drive system of a battery of six knives;
- Figure 8 is an exterior view of a machine comprising a device according to the invention.

 For clarity, the same elements are given the same references in all the figures.

 As the various figures show, a machine according to the invention essentially consists of a vegetable supply hopper (T), a device (22) for driving vegetables towards the knives, a battery circular knives (B). These knives (61, 71, 81, 91) are four in number in the variant considered, this number being a function of the number of quarters to be obtained, of a motor (M) and of a bevel gear (2) that drive the device.

 As can be seen in Figure 1, the organs for driving the vegetables and cutting them into quarters (1) are driven by a motor (M) coupled to a bevel gear (2) from which two trees emerge at 900 , along the axes (xx) and (yy), at the ends of which are arranged pinions (4) and (5).

 In operation, these two pinions (4) and (5) rotate at the same speed.

 Parallel to the axis (xx), below it and in the same plane as the pinion (4), are arranged two other pinions (6) and (7) integral with the shafts (60) and (70), axes (x'x ') and (x "x"), carrying circular knives (61) and (71) of diameter (D) respectively.

 Taking into account that the circular knives (61) and (71) are placed in the middle of the length of the shafts (60) and (70), as can be seen in FIG. 3, and that they must be located in the same plane, it follows that the spacing (e) of the axes (x'x ') and (x "x") must be at least equal to a diameter = (D) of a knife, and that the tangential concentric point (t) of the two knives must be located on the vertical axis (Z) of the feed hopper (T).

 Finally, so that the discs can rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other, according to the arrows (rl) and (r2), a free pinion (8) carried by an axis along (x "x") a been arranged in the same plane as the pinions (4, 6, 7), at a level below the pinions (6) and (7).

 A chain (9) connects the four sprockets (4, 6, 7, 8) together and ensures the rotation of the two circular knives (61) and (71) in opposite directions. This chain follows the path (f) under the action of the drive pinion (4) integral with the bevel gear (2). The knife (61) rotates clockwise and the knife (71) counterclockwise.

 The pinion (8) also serves as a chain tensioner according to a conventional means not shown.

 Below these two circular knives (61) and (71) which rotate respectively around the axes (x'x ') and (x "x") are placed, perpendicularly and at a distance (h) substantially equal to 1/2 knife radius, two other circular knives (81) and (91) which rotate around two axes (y'y ') and (y "y").

 As for the knives (61) and (71), they are placed in the middle of the length of the shafts (80) and (90) which carry them. ns are in the same plane and the spacing (e) of their axis (y'y ') and (y "y") is at least equal to a diameter of a knife. They rotate in the opposite direction Vun with respect to the other according to the arrows (r3) and (r4) and, as shown in FIG. 2, their training takes place in an identical manner to that of the knives (61) and (71), but the movement is produced in this case by the pinion (5) of the bevel gear (2) which transmits the movement to the pinions (16, 17, 18) at three points identical to the pinions (6, 7, 8) by l 'Intermediate of a chain (19) held taut by the pinion (18). The knife (91) rotates clockwise. The pinions (4) and (5) being identical, we see that the four knives, placed 900 from each other, rotate at the same speed.

 Between the hopper (T) and this battery (11) of four circular knives (61, 71) and (81, 91) arranged two by two at 900, a vegetable drive member (22) has been arranged.

 According to an important characteristic of the invention, this vegetable drive member (22) is designed as an articulated system now described and which permanently allows the centering of the vegetable.

 In Figure 3, we can see the 'drive member (22) consisting of two sub-assemblies (A) and (B) placed symmetrically with respect to the vertical axis (Z) of the hopper (T).

 Each of these sub-assemblies is articulated around the knife-carrying shafts (60) and (70) and their movement along a radius (R) is limited by the ends of an oblong circular sector (So).

 The connection of the two sub-assemblies is carried out by two springs (500) and (510) placed at each of their ends. It is thanks to this configuration of the swinging arms around the shafts (60) and (70), and this spring connection (500) and (510), that any variation in size of the vegetables can be absorbed while maintaining permanent centering. vegetable.

 In Figure 4, there is shown in perspective only the subassembly (B) described below, it being understood that the subassembly (A) (not shown) is symmetrical and has strictly the same configuration.

 This sub-assembly (B) is a frame constituted by two uprights (40) and (41), the spacing of which is maintained by a transverse element of suitable shape (42).

 The base of the two uprights (40) and (41) is crossed by the knife holder shaft (70) around which the frame oscillates. At its end, a pinion (10) has been placed.

 Completely at the base of each upright (40) and (41), two branches (50) and (51) are welded to 900. These branches serve to ensure the connection of the two swinging arms to each other via the two springs (500) and (510), the ends of each of which are fixed to each of the ends (eb) of the branches (50) and (51) on the one hand, and of the branches of the symmetrical sub-assembly (A) on the other hand, (52) and (53).

 The top of each upright (40) and (41) is also crossed by a shaft (270) which carries two spike wheels (27) and (28), and at the end of which is fixed the pinion (1 1).

 The pinions (10) and (11) are connected by a belt (100) which ensures the rotation of the shaft (270) and the sprockets (27) and (28) in the same direction as the knife (71) , i.e. counter-clockwise.

 The two studded wheels (27) and (28) are arranged on the shaft (270) so that the distance (d) (figure 2) between the two wheels which is a function of the average size of the vegetables to be cut. , or equally distributed on both sides (d / 2) of a plane (P) passing through the vertical axis (Z) of the hopper (T), as shown in Figures 2 and 4. This plane ( P) also contains the circular knife (71) and obviously the knife (61) of the symmetrical sub-assembly.

 The pins (30) of each group of wheels (27) and (28) are oriented inward and face each other.

 We therefore see how the training and cutting of large vegetables introduced into the machine are carried out, object of the invention.

 The motor (M) being started, the pinions (4) and (5) which exit perpendicularly from the angle gear at 900 (5), transmit the rotational movement to the four circular knives placed two by two perpendicularly and rotating in opposite direction to each other thanks to the path of the chains (9) and (19).

 The studded wheels are also in rotation and, like the discs (61) and (71), they rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other since their drive is done directly by the shafts (6) and (7 ), carrying knives (61) and (71) which themselves rotate in opposite directions with respect to each other.

 It follows that the studded wheels (25) and (26) turn clockwise like the knife (61) and the studded wheels (27) and (28) turn, like the knife (71), counterclockwise.

 When a vegetable is introduced into the hopper (T), it is conveyed by gravity, along the axis (Z), to the space formed by the four spiked wheels (25, 26, 27, 28) which take it under load and transport it towards the interior of the machine thanks to their reverse direction of rotation. Inside the machine, the vegetable successively meets the first two knives (61) and (71) which initiate a cut in two parts, then the knives (81) and (91) which continue the soup perpendicularly to finally obtain four quarters recovered in a receiving hopper of the districts not shown.

 In the example described above, the knife battery (B) included four knives. However, a device according to the invention can. include more, for example six, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7.

 The drive system (227) of vegetables from the hopper (T) (not shown in these figures) consists of a motor (Ml) coupled via a pinion (33) and a chain transmission (111) to a drive belt (112) with six bevel gears (40) which drive six toothed belts (90) intended to take care of the vegetables. These toothed belts are guided by a series of pinions (80), pinions arranged in such a way that the training volume of the vegetables is delimited by these six toothed belts in the form of a sort of diabolo whose axis is centered on the axis (Z) of the hopper (T); A spring (600) integral with the structure (700) supporting the pinions (80) collects the thrust generated by the passage of the vegetable, thrust which is a function of the size of this vegetable. The vegetables are thus conveyed to the battery of six knives (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C j C6) which are arranged so that their tangential point of competition (t) is on the axis (Z) . The tension of the toothed belts is ensured for example by means of a screw regulating their tension (v). These knives, as in the variant with four knives, work two by two, face to face and turning in opposite direction one compared to each other. They are located at the bottom and vertical part of the drive system as seen in Figure 5.

 The diagram for driving the knives at 600 one inside the other is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 7 in which only two knives (23) and (26) located face to face have been shown to make the explanation which follows clearer. .

 It is however necessary to remember that, in this configuration with six knives (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6), the common point with the configuration with four knives remains the point of tangential competition (t) which is located on the vertical axis (Z) of the feed hopper (T) (not shown in this figure 7).

 On the other hand, and as can be seen in Figure 5, the axis (uu) is common to the six knives (only two are shown), while, in the previous variant with four knives, the four perpendicular axes (x ' ) and (x "), (y ') and (y") are vertically distant from each other by a distance (h).

 This device for driving the six knives consists first of all of a motor (M2) placed vertically which, seen from above, rotates in the direction of the arrow (R) clockwise.

 At the output of this motor (M2) and on the axis (zz), are superimposed two drive wheels (122) and (132) associated with two belts (123) and (133) represented respectively by a dashed line and a broken line.

 Each belt (123) and (133) drives along the arrow (f) a group of three pulleys, and each passes through a tension pulley (pth) for the belt (123) and (ptb) for the belt (133).

 So that each pair of knives facing each other turns in opposite directions to each other, in the direction of penetration, as shown by the arrows (rl) and (r2), and the fact that all the pulleys (pl, p2, p3, p4, p5, p6) rotate in the same direction, an appropriate cooperation of three pulleys with each belt is essential.

 Thus, the belt (123) (in dotted lines on the board 7) drives the pulleys (pl), (p3) and (p5) while the belt (133), in broken lines on the board 7, drives the pulleys (p2 ), (p4) and (p6).

In addition, according to an important characteristic of the invention, each pulley (pl, p2, p3, p4; p5, p6) is integrally associated with a vertical axis (al, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6) at the end of which is placed a bevel gear (ral, ra2, ra3, ra4, ra5, ra6) which will transmit to each knife (C1,
C2, C3, C4, C5, C6) its rotation.

 In Figure 6, there is shown the position of these angle references which, if we consider a top view of each knife taken separately, are all placed on the same face of the knife, in its center (D) .

This leads to each pair of knives facing each other (C1-C4;
C2-C5; C3-C6) has its bevel gear on one side opposite the two knives associated with each other.

 From this association of pulleys three to three, (pl, p3, p5) and (p2, p4, p6) in Figure 7 on the one hand, and the position of the bevel gearboxes (Figures 6 and 7) of on the other hand, it follows that the three pairs of knives facing each other turn in opposite directions, bringing the vegetable to be cut inwards into six parts.

 Figure 7 shows clearly the drive process of the two knives (C3) and (C6) which can be transposed to the two other pairs of knives face to face (C1-Cq) and (C -C).

 The knives, whether it is the four-knife variant or the six-knife variant, preferably have a scalloped profile.

 Figure 8 schematically illustrates a machine for splitting vegetables. This machine consists of a frame (200) mounted on a base (202) with four feet. Found, integral with this frame (200), the hopper (T) in which the vegetables to be split are poured. An inspection door (20) is provided on the front of said machine. I1 can thus also access the knives for maintenance and cleaning.

 The machine, object of the invention, is completely made of stainless steel for hygienic reasons and is conventionally equipped, according to the standards in force, with all the safety devices.

Claims (11)

 1) Device for splitting vegetables such as turnips, celery, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, etc., characterized in that it is constituted by a battery of circular knives (B) operating face to face, two by two, and turning in the opposite direction to each other, all these knives being on the one hand arranged so that their tangential point of competition (t) is on an axis coincident with the axis (Z) of a feed hopper (T) and also cooperating with a drive system (22, 222) guiding the vegetables coming from the hopper so that they are, whatever their size, permanently centered by relative to said axis (Z).  2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that this battery (B) comprises four knives (61, 71, 81, 91) arranged in pairs at 900 and which cooperate with the drive system (22).  3) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the knives (61, 71) and (81, 91) are driven by means of two shafts 900 with an axis (xx) and (yy) at the end of which are arranged pinions (4) and (5).  3) Device according to claim 2, characterized in that a motor (M), thanks to a bevel gear (Z) with two outputs of shafts (4, 5) arranged 900 from one another , cooperating with a drive chain (9, 19), guided by a set of sprockets (6, 7, 8), (16, 17, 18), respectively drives two shafts (60, 70) of axes (x 'x'), (x "x") carrying the discs (61, 71) and two shafts (80, 90) perpendicular to the latter with axes (y'y '), (y "y") carrying the discs (81, 91).  4) Device according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the system (22) for driving and centering the vegetables comprises in two sub-assemblies (A) and (B) articulated around the knife-holder shafts (60 , 70), the connection of these two sub-assemblies being effected by two springs (500, 501) placed at each of their ends.  5) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that each sub-assembly (A), (B) is constituted by a frame comprising two uprights (40), (41) whose spacing is maintained by a transverse element (42 ), the base of the two uprights (40) and (41) being respectively crossed by the knife-holder shafts (60, 70) around which the frame oscillates, the top of each upright (40), (41) also being traversed by a shaft (250, 270) each carrying two spike wheels (25, 26) and (27, 28), the drive of the spike wheel-carrier shafts being obtained by the combination of two drive pinions, the one secured to the disc carrier shaft and the other to the spindle wheel carrier shaft.  6) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a battery (B) with six knives (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6) and a drive system (222) consisting of a motor (M1) driving a belt (112) cooperating with six bevel gear (40) which drive six toothed belts (90) intended to take care of the vegetables.  T) Device according to claim 6, characterized in that a spring (600) integral with the structure (700) collects the thrust generated by the passage of vegetables.  8) Device according to one of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the six knives (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6) are driven by means of the combination of a motor (M2) on the axis of which two wheels (122) and (132) rotate respectively driving two belts (123) and (133) which, in turn, each drive three pulleys (pl, p3, p5) and (p2, p4, p6) linked to knives (C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6) by means of angle references (ral, ra2, ra3, ra4, ra5, ra6).  9) Device according to claim 8, characterized in that each pair of knives facing each other (C1-C4; C2-C5; C3-C6) has its bevel gear positioned on the opposite side for two knives associated one by compared to each other.  10) Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile of the knives is a scalloped profile.  11) Vegetable splitting machine in at least four quarters, equipped with a device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it consists of a frame (200) provided on the front of a door (20 ) of visit and access to said device intended to split vegetables, frame (200) supporting the hopper (T), and at least one of the motors (M), (Ml), (M2).