FR2700491A1 - Device for supplying cutting machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The device for supplying a cutting machine, notably destined to prepare endives or similar, comprises a cutting mechanism in which the leaves of the endive is separated from the root. The device has a movable plate part (10) to bring successively the endives in the direction of the cutter (3). There are open notches are in the edge of the movable part to hold, by sticking, the endives at the level of their necks. The open notches (11) of the movable part are loaded when they occupy a remote position from the cutter (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a device for feeding a cutting machine, which is in particular intended to trim vegetables of the type more particularly consisting of an edible part and a root. This is for example the case of endives, also called chicory, which it is necessary to cut at the level of the connecting collar to separate the leafy edible part from the root.

Currently, endive feeding. these cutting machines are generally carried out manually, an operator holding the edible part of the endive to bring its connecting collar towards a movable cutting mechanism (with circular blades for example) usually equipping said machines and ensuring cutting frank and clean of said endive. A support plate can also be provided upstream of the cutting mechanism to facilitate manual guidance of the endives.

It is therefore understandable that the manual feeding of the endives to the cutting mechanism of the machine presents significant risks of accidents, as well as a mediocre cutting rate.

To this end, the device for feeding a cutting machine, intended in particular to trim endives or the like, and comprising a cutting mechanism in which the chicory of said endive is separated from its root, is remarkable, according to the invention, in that that it comprises a flat movable member for successively bringing said endives in the direction of said cutting mechanism, and provided with a plurality of open notches opening into an edge of said movable member, for holding, by wedging, said endives substantially at their collar, said open notches of said member being loaded when they occupy a position remote from said cutting mechanism.

Thus, thanks to the invention, each endive is engaged by wedging in an open notch of said member, while it is located at a distance from said cutting mechanism. The risks of accidents previously exposed are therefore almost eliminated, which gives the cutting machine equipped with said supply device maximum operational safety. In addition, it is noted that the production of cut endives, that is to say chicory, is greatly improved as a function of the number of retaining notches provided on the movable member.

Preferably, said open notches are identical and regularly spaced from one another along the edge of said flat movable member. In an advantageous embodiment, each notch has a substantially elongated shape, widening from its bottom to its opening in the corresponding edge of said flat movable member, and each of them is delimited by two sides converging on one from their ends towards the bottom of said notch and connected, by their other ends, to the corresponding edge of said flat movable member. This convergent embodiment of said notches makes it possible to easily engage endives, the diameter of the collar connecting the chicory to the root is arbitrary, and to suitably hold the collar of the endives by wedging the sides of the notches. In addition, to favor the engagement of the endives in the elongated notches, each of them is inclined rearward relative to the direction of movement of said movable member.

More particularly, at least one of the sides of each notch is defined by a serrated profile with at least two successive approximately semicircular notches, one of which is connected to said bottom of the notch and the other of which is connected to said edge of said notch. Maintaining by wedging said endives in the notches, is added a "hooking" of the collar of the endives in the serrated profile, which guarantees a rigorous positioning of said endives in the movable member and a clean cut of these by the mechanism. cutting.

For example, said flat movable member is in the form of a disc, the plane of which is parallel to the cutting mechanism of said machine, and partially covers the latter, and the external peripheral edge of which is provided with said open retaining notches. It is then noted the simplicity of embodiment of said member which acts as a planar rotary distributor and the positioning of the endives in the respective notches then takes place diametrically opposite to the cutting mechanism.

Furthermore, the cutting mechanism of the machine, on which the feed device is intended to be provided, comprises two thin circular blades, rotatably mounted in opposite directions around parallel axes whose center distance is less than the sum of the spokes of said blades, their parallel planes being spaced from each other by a distance just sufficient to allow said blades to overlap. In this case, said notched disc is advantageously rotatably mounted about an axis parallel to the axes of said cutting blades, and it is located parallel under said blades, so that the peripheral notched area of said disc passes during its rotation , under the overlap area of said blades. Preferably, the axes of rotation of said notched disc and said cutting blades are connected to a set of motors, carried by a support which is linked to said machine. Also, the parallel planes of said blades and of said disc are inclined relative to the endless belt of a conveyor so that the cut chicories fall naturally thereon. In addition, a root removal element is provided downstream of the cut of said endives, so as to automatically release said roots from said notches.

The figures of the appended drawing will make it clear how the invention can be implemented. In these figures, identical references designate similar elements.

FIG. 1 represents a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of said feeding device according to the invention, mounted on a cutting machine for dressing endives, partially illustrated.

Figure 2 shows, in plan, the arrangement of the movable member of said feed device relative to the cutting mechanism of said machine.

Figure 3 is a sectional view along line III-III of Figure 2 at the section of an endive by said cutting mechanism.

The feed device 1, shown in FIG. 1, is in its preferred application mounted on a cutting machine 2, in particular intended to trim endives or the like. The purpose of the device 1 is to bring the endives, previously engaged therein, successively to a cutting mechanism 3 of the machine 2, which also includes, in this example, a conveyor 4 with an endless belt 4A, partially shown by its upstream part 4B and ensuring the evacuation of cut endives.

The cutting mechanism 3 is then located above the end 4C of the upstream part of said conveyor and it is, in this embodiment, made up of two circular, cutting and thin blades 5 and 6. These are driven in reverse rotation R and R1 from each other, by respective axes 7 and 8 which are parallel to each other and whose distance between centers is less than the sum of their radii, which are otherwise identical. Consequently, the circular blades 5 and 6 are arranged in separate parallel planes, offset by a sufficient operating distance, so that they overlap one another on a common overlap zone 9.

According to the invention, the feed device 1 comprises a flat movable member 10 provided with a plurality of open notches 11 there for the establishment and the maintenance, by wedging, of said endives E. In the illustrated embodiment, the flat movable member 10 is in the form of a disc 12, in the external peripheral zone 12A from which are formed said notches 11 which open into the peripheral edge 12B of the disc. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the disc 12 is arranged in a plane parallel to the planes of said cutting blades 5,6, below and close to them, so that the peripheral zone 12A of the disc, when '' it is rotated, passes under the overlap zone 9 of said blades. For this, the disc 12 is mounted at the end of a rotary axis 14, parallel to the axes of rotation 7 and 8 of the blades, as will be seen more in detail later.

The open notches 11, shown more particularly in FIG. 2, are identical and regularly spaced from one another along the edge 12B of the rotary disc. For example, eight identical notches are provided in the peripheral zone of the disc. Geometrically, each notch has a substantially elongated shape which widens from its bottom 11A to its opening 11B in the edge 12B of the disc. Thus, each notch is delimited by two main and approximately opposite sides llC and llD which converge towards one another at one of their ends in the direction of the then rounded bottom llA, while the other ends of said sides llC and llD are connected to the peripheral edge 12B of said disc. It should also be noted that the shape of each notch is inclined substantially tangentially to the edge of the disc, so that the bottom of each of them is behind the direction of rotation R2 of the disc. , in the same direction as the direction of rotation R1 of the circular blade 6.

Furthermore, the main side llC of each notch has a serrated profile which comprises, in this embodiment, two consecutive approximately semi-circular notches llE and 11F. The notch llE is connected to the bottom liA of the notch and the notch 11F is connected, for its part, to the edge 12B of the disc by a point llG curved towards the inside of the notch in the manner of a hook. , while a projecting point 11H connects the two notches. As a variant, the main side llC could have three consecutive notches, as shown in detail A in FIG. 2. The notches 11 are intended to receive more particularly the collar EC of the endive E, which connects the edible part or chicon EH at the root ER. Also, the thickness of the disc 12, and therefore of the notches, is designed to receive and maintain the collars at a sufficient height. The disc 12 can be made of a suitable plastic or metal. It is also understood that the design of the notches according to a flared profile, and of which at least one of the sides has teeth, allows the engagement of collars of different sizes, as well as an effective retention of the latter in the notches.

Functionally, the rotary axes 7,8 of the blades and 14 of the disc are integral with electric motors not shown, housed in a casing 15 schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. This casing is fixed to a support 16 in the form of a bar, which is arranged above the end 4C of the conveyor, parallel to the latter, and which is carried, by means of appropriate articulation joints 17, by vertical uprights of structure 18 of the machine.

These uprights 18 are arranged respectively on either side of the upstream end 4C of the conveyor 4. In addition, it can be seen in FIG. 1, that the parallel rotary axes 7, 8 and 14 are inclined relative to the vertical uprights 18 so that the circular blades 5,6 are then inclined towards the horizontal endless belt 4A of the conveyor. This arrangement thus facilitates the fall of the cut chicels EH on the strip. To ensure good guiding in rotation of the axis 14 of the disc, a sleeve 19 with bearings surrounds said axis.

At the bent end 16A of the transverse support 16, there is further provided a rod 20 mounted, in an adjustable manner, along a lug 16B of said end, and ending in a curved end 20A. This is positioned so as to be located under the disc 12, vertical to the overlap zone 9 of the blades 5, 6, after the actual cutting of the endives by the latter. The purpose of the curved end 20A of the stem is to ensure the automatic removal of the root and the collar of each endive, from the corresponding notch of the disc.

The operation of the machine 2 equipped with the feed device 1 of the invention takes place as follows.

After the blades 5, 6 of the cutting mechanism and the notched disc 12 have been rotated, the operator can proceed to place the endives in the notches, advantageously when the latter are situated diametrically opposite the mechanism of cut, as shown by the arrows F in FIGS. 1 and 2. It thus presents the endive
E substantially perpendicular to the plane of the disc 12 to engage the collar EC in the corresponding open notch 11, preferably making it undergo a simultaneous rotation of approximately a quarter turn, in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation R2 of the This brief rotation, shown by the arrow F1 in FIG. 2, promotes the engagement of the collar EC towards the bottom llA of the open notch 11, whose converging sides llC and llD maintain said collar EC by wedging, as well as its retention by the serrated profile with notches llE, llF and spikes llG and 1 il, depending on the diameter of the collars present, on the side llC.

The loading of endives in the successive notches of the feed disc is thus carried out easily, all the more so since its rotation speed is between three to eight revolutions / minute.

Each endive thus engaged is directed, by the rotation of the disc, in the direction of the cutting mechanism 3, the blades 5, 6, turning in opposite directions to each other while converging towards their overlapping zone 9, "snap up" and cut the endive E at approximately the connection between the collar EC and the cut base EB of the chicon EH, as shown in particular in FIG. 3.

The chicon chopped EH then falls on the endless belt 4A of the evacuation conveyor 4, while the collar EC, which is wedged in the corresponding notch 11 and which is extended by its root ER, is withdrawn from the notch of said disc by the curved end 20A of the rod 20 to be recovered in a receiving tank 21.

From the above, it appears that the supply device 1 guarantees optimum operating safety and effective maintenance of the endives, whatever their size, while eliminating the problems associated with wear and maintenance of the disc, in particular. The notches could of course have a different shape and have a serrated profile with multiple notches on each of the main sides.

Claims (10)

1. Device for feeding a cutting machine, in particular intended to trim endives or the like, and comprising a cutting mechanism in which the chicory of said endive is separated from its root, characterized in that it comprises a movable flat member (10 ) to successively bring said endives towards said cutting mechanism (3), and provided with a plurality of open notches (11) opening into an edge of said movable member, to hold said endives by wedging substantially at the level of their collar , said open notches (11) of said movable member being loaded when they occupy a position remote from said cutting mechanism (3). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said open notches (11) are identical and regularly spaced from each other along the edge of said flat movable member (10). 3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each notch (it) has a substantially elongated shape, flaring from its bottom (liA) to its opening (lob) in the corresponding edge of said flat movable member, and in that each of them is delimited by two sides (liC, llD) converging at one of their ends towards the bottom (liA) of said notch and connected, by their other ends, to the corresponding edge of said flat movable member. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that each open (11) and elongated notch is inclined backwards relative to the direction of movement of said movable member (10). 5. Device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that at least one of the sides (bed) of each notch is defined by a serrated profile with at least two successive notches (llE, llF) approximately semi-circular , one of which is connected to said bottom of the notch and the other of which is connected to said edge of said notch. 6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said flat movable member (10) is in the form of a disc (12) whose plane is parallel to the cutting mechanism (3) of said machine, and partially covers the latter, and the external peripheral edge (12A) of which is provided with said open retaining notches (11). 7. Device according to claim 6, of the type in which the cutting mechanism of said machine comprises two thin circular blades (5,6), rotatably mounted in opposite directions around parallel axes (7,8) whose center distance is less than the sum of the radii of said blades, their parallel planes being spaced from each other by a distance just sufficient to allow said blades to overlap, characterized in that said disc (12) with notches (11) is rotatably mounted about an axis (14) parallel to the axes (7,8) of said cutting blades and in that said disc (10) is located parallel under said blades, so that the peripheral region (12A) with notches of said disc passes, during its rotation, under the overlap zone (9) of said blades (5,6). 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the axes of rotation (7, 8, 14) of said notched disc and said cutting blades are connected to a set (15) of motors, carried by a support (16) which is linked to said machine. 9. Device according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the parallel planes of said blades (5,6) and of said disc (12) are inclined relative to the endless belt of a conveyor (4) , on which fall the said chicory. 10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a withdrawal element (20) of the roots is provided downstream of the cut of said endives, so as to automatically disengage said roots from said notches.