FR2873617A1 - Wine press for separating solid and liquid parts of e.g. grapes, has marking tips constituting positions of end of course of press cage, and electrical motor rotating cage from one position to another and vice-versa - Google Patents

Abstract

The press has an electrical motor (21) rotating a press cage (2) around an axis (3), and a guiding unit controlling the motor so as to control the position of the cage. A marking tip in opposite of a presence sensor (28) constitutes a position of end of course of cage, and another tip in opposite of the sensor constitutes another position of end of the course. The motor rotates the cage from one position to another and vice-versa.

Description

The invention relates to presses for separating the solid and

  liquid of a material such as fruits, in particular of the vintage.

  It is already known, particularly from the French patent application 2,812,235, such a press which comprises: a cage having a cylindrical side wall and two flanges closing said cage respectively at one end and at the other end of said side wall; a deformable flexible membrane disposed in said cage, sealingly attached to the lateral wall thereof along two opposite longitudinal edges and sealingly attached to the flanges along two respective transverse edges each located between one end of a longitudinal edge and one end of the other longitudinal edge so that said membrane separates the internal volume of said cage into a pressing chamber delimited by said membrane, by a first half of said side wall located between said two opposite longitudinal edges and by a first half each of said flanges located, relative to the respective transverse edges, on the side of the first half of the side wall, and in a control chamber delimited by said membrane, by the second half of said side wall and by the second half of said flanges said flexible membrane having at rest approximately the shape of a half e the cage; - At least one door closing or unmasking an opening in said first half of the side wall of the cage; - Draining means equipping said first half of the side wall of the cage; means for recovering said liquid part of this material leaving the pressing chamber by said drainage means; means for admitting a pressure agent into said control chamber and means for sucking said pressure agent out of said control chamber; - Means for rotatably mounting said cage about its axis in a position where it is disposed horizontally; and - means for selectively controlling the rotation of said cage about its axis.

  Before filling the pressing chamber made of material such as grapes, the suction means of the pressure medium are actuated out of the control chamber, so that the vacuum is produced therein and the membrane is plated. against the second half of the side wall and flanges of the cage.

  In order to carry out the pressing, once the filling has been carried out, the means of admission of a pressure medium into the control chamber are actuated so that the material which is present is applied against the drainage means and pressurized. from which it results that the liquid part of this material flows through the drainage means. In general, one proceeds to several phases of pressurizing the material such as the harvest, the pressing phases being separated by crumbling phases in which the cage is rotated about its axis to dislocate the cake material which is formed under the effect of pressure.

  To empty the cage once the pressing is done, the door is opened and the cage is rotated so that the solid part remaining in the pressing chamber is gradually evacuated through the orifice unmasked by the door.

  To avoid damaging the membrane, the vacuum is made in the control chamber during the crumbling phase and during the emptying phase.

  The invention aims to provide a press of this type simpler and more economical.

  The press according to the invention is characterized in that the means for selectively controlling the rotation of said cage comprise: means for detecting a first end-of-travel angular position of said cage; means for detecting a second end-of-travel angular position of said cage; and rotational drive means, connected to each of said detection means, adapted to rotate said cage from the first end position to the second end position and, in the opposite direction, to the second position end of race at the first end position.

  Thus, unlike prior presses whose cage can perform an unlimited number of complete turns around its axis, the cage of the press according to the invention has a limited amplitude stroke around its axis of rotation.

  The limited amplitude of this stroke avoids having to use rotating joints for the supply of pressure agent and for the suction thereof in the control chamber, simple hoses to perform the necessary connections.

  According to preferred features: said means for selectively controlling the rotation of said cage further comprise means for detecting an angular pressing position of said cage, wherein said drainage means are arranged at the bottom; and said rotational drive means are connected to said means for detecting a pressing position of the cage and are adapted to rotate said cage from the first end position to the second end position and vice versa following a path passing through said pressing position.

  These characteristics are particularly favorable for the smooth running of crumbling and emptying phases, because the material cake is subjected to the action of gravity in one direction and the other on both sides of the pressing position during oscillations of the cage.

  Preferably, for reasons of simplicity and convenience of implementation means for rotating the cage: - said first end position of said cage is distinct from said pressing position; said second end-of-travel position of said cage is distinct from said first end-of-travel position and said pressing position; and - said path has an amplitude less than full turn.

  Preferably, the angular difference between said pressing position and one of said end positions along said path is greater than half a turn.

  Thus, between the pressing position and this end position, the pressurized material is found upside down, which facilitates the dislocation of any cake that has formed during pressing.

  Preferably, given the quality of the results obtained, the angular difference between said pressing position and said end-of-travel position along said path is between 185 and 255; and in particular: the angular difference between said pressing position and said end position, along said path, is between 235 and 245.

  According to other preferred features, for the quality of the results obtained, said amplitude of said path is between 305 and 355; and in particular - said amplitude of said path is between 335 and 345.

  According to other preferred features, favorable to the filling of the pressing chamber by the opening of the side wall of the cage, in one of said end positions, said opening of the side wall closed or unmasked by a door , is at the top of said cage.

  According to other preferred features, for reasons of simplicity and convenience: said detection means comprise a proximity sensor and at least one chip recognizable by said sensor; and optionally - said drive means for rotating said cage around its axis comprise a motor connected to a control unit itself connected to said detection means; and optionally - said motor cooperates with a gear train comprising a toothed wheel integral with said cage and carrying said chip.

  The disclosure of the invention will now be continued by the description of a preferred embodiment, given below by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On these: - Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view-section along a longitudinal plane of a press according to the invention, the membrane being in the rest position; - Figure 2 is a schematic elevational sectional view taken as indicated in II-II in Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a schematic end view of the drive gear which is provided with the press cage illustrated on the side that is seen on the left in Figure 1; FIG. 4 is a very simplified schematic representation of a portion of the electrical circuit of the illustrated press; - Figure 5 is a schematic end view of the cage of the press according to the invention in one of its angular positions where the cage doors are at the top thereof; - Figure 6 is a schematic elevational sectional view of the cage, in the angular position illustrated in Figure 5, but with the open filling doors and the grape being introduced into the pressing chamber; - Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, but wherein the cage is in an angular position of pressing; - Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the harvest during pressing; FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to FIGS. 5 and 7, but with FIG. 9 which shows the cage in one of its end-of-travel angular positions and FIG. 10 which shows it in the other angular position. end of stroke, which corresponds to the position illustrated in Figure 5; and FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 6 and 8, but showing the press chamber being emptied while the cage oscillates between the end-of-travel positions shown respectively in FIG. 9 and FIG.

  The press 1 illustrated in the drawings comprises a cage 2 rotatably mounted about its axis 3 on posts 4 resting on the ground.

  Under the cage 2 and between the posts 4, is disposed a tank 5 for recovering the liquid part of the treated material, in this case grape juice recovery when the material is of the vintage.

  The cage 2 has a cylindrical side wall 6 and two flanges 7 closing the cage 2 respectively at one end and at the other end of the side wall 6.

  Inside the cage 2, there is disposed a deformable flexible membrane 8, sealingly attached, on the one hand to the side wall 6 along two opposite longitudinal edges 9 and, on the other hand, to the flanges 7 along two edges respective transverse ends 10 between one end of an edge 9 and one end of the other edge 9, the diaphragm 8 having at rest (FIGS. 1 and 2) approximately the shape of a half of the cage 2.

  The internal volume of the latter is subdivided by the membrane 8 into a pressing chamber 11 and into a control chamber 12.

  The pressing chamber 11 is delimited by the membrane 8, by the half of the side wall 6, located between the longitudinal edges 9, which is seen at the top in FIGS. 1 and 2 as well as by the half of each of the flanges. 7 that is seen above the transverse edges 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  The control chamber 12 is delimited by the membrane 8 and by the other half of the side wall 6 and the flanges 7.

  To allow the rotational mounting of the cage 2 on the posts 4, the cage 2 comprises, in the center of each of the flanges 7, respectively a pin 13 cooperating with a bearing 14 carried by the posts 4 that can be seen on the left. Figure 1 and a pin 15 cooperating with a bearing 16 carried by the posts 4 that we see on the right.

  In the example shown, the pin 15 is closed while the pin 13 serves as a pipe to the control chamber 12, with which it is in communication.

  The pipe 13 allows either the suction of the air which is contained in the chamber 12, or the admission into this chamber of compressed air, the connection and the pipes connected to the pipe 13 as well as the compressor and the pump. vacuum allowing admission and suction of compressed air, being symbolized in Figure 1 by the arrows 17 and 18, respectively.

  To allow the introduction of the material to be pressed in the chamber 11 and, after pressing, the evacuation of the solid part of this material, the side wall 6 is provided with two openings each closable by a door 19. To allow the separation between the solid and liquid parts of the material introduced into the pressing chamber 11, the side wall 6 is equipped with perforated gutters 20 (not shown in Figure 1) which allow the drainage of the material.

  To rotate the cage 2, the press 1 comprises, as can be seen in FIG. 1, an electric motor 21 carried by the stanchions 4 that can be seen on the left in this figure, the rotary shaft of the motor 21 being equipped with a gear 22 which meshes with an intermediate gear 23, which also meshes with a gear 24 mounted on the flange 7 of the cage 2 which is seen on the left in FIG. being centered, like the cage 2, on the axis 3.

  To identify certain angular positions of the toothed wheel 24, and therefore of the cage 2, the wheel 24 is provided, as seen in FIG. 3, with locating pellets 25, 26 and 27 while the posts 4 that the we see on the left in Figure 1 are equipped with a presence sensor 28.

  The pellets 25, 26 and 27 are arranged on the toothed wheel 24 at the same distance from the axis 3 as the sensor 28, on the face of the wheel 24 located opposite the cage 2. Thus, during the rotation of the cage 2 about the axis 3, the pellets 25, 26 and 27 pass in front of the sensor 28, which is capable of detecting whether one of these pellets is facing it.

  As can be seen in FIG. 4, the sensor 28 is connected to the control unit 29 of the press 1, which unit is also connected to the motor 21.

  When the pellet 25 is opposite the sensor 28, the cage 2 is in the angular position illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 10, where the openings closed or unmasked by the doors 19 are located at its top.

  When the pellet 26 is opposite the sensor 28, the cage 2 is in the angular position illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, where it has rotated at an angle of the order of one third of a turn (120) relative to in the position illustrated in particular in Figure 5, the portion of the side wall 6 delimiting the pressing chamber 11 is then located in the lower part (under the axis 3) of the cage 2.

  When the pellet 27 is opposite the sensor 28, the cage 2 is in the angular position illustrated in FIG. 9, where it has rotated by an angle of the order of 340 relative to the position illustrated in particular in FIGS. and 10.

  The control unit 29 is designed to control the motor 21 so that the position illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 10 (pellet 25 opposite the sensor 28) constitutes a limit position and that the position illustrated on FIG. FIG. 9 (chip 27 opposite sensor 28) constitutes the other end-of-travel position, the possible path between the two end-of-travel positions being, of course, the longest, the angular amplitude of this path being order of 340.

  In FIGS. 9 and 10, this path has been materialized by the lines 34 and 36, which show the two end-of-travel positions, and by the arrows 33 and 35, which show in which direction the cage 2 rotates to reach the position corresponding end of stroke. Note that the path of the cage 2 between the two end positions passes through the pressing position illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

  Before introducing the material such as harvest into the chamber 11, the cage 2 is placed in the end-of-travel position illustrated in particular in FIG. 5 (pellet 25 facing the sensor 28), the doors 19 are opened as shown in Figure 6 and actuates the suction means 18 to produce the vacuum in the control chamber 12, which results in the membrane 8 is pressed against the side wall 6 and the flanges 7 located on the side of the chamber 12, as illustrated in FIG.

  The material such as the harvest 30 is then introduced through the openings unmasked by the doors 19, this material, given the location of the openings, distributing by itself relatively evenly in the pressing chamber 11.

  Once filling is complete, the doors 19 are closed and the cage 2 is moved from the end-of-travel and filling position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the pressing position illustrated in FIG. 7 (pellet 26 facing the sensor 28), this angular displacement of the cage 2, which is of the order of a third of a turn (120), being illustrated by the arrow 31 of FIG.

  In this position, the drainage gutters 20 look at the tank 5 for recovering the liquid contained in the material.

  The means 17 for injecting compressed air are then actuated in the control chamber 12.

  The membrane 8 then applies against the material 30. Under the effect of this pressure and under the effect of gravity, the liquid part of the material 30 flows through the perforations of the gutters 20 and joins the tank of recovery 5 which it is evacuated by the plug 32 located at the lowest point of this tray.

  Once the liquid ceases to flow, the suction means 18 is actuated until the membrane 8 is again pressed against the side wall 6 and against the puddles 7 of the cage.

  The cage 2 is then rotated to the second end-of-travel position illustrated in FIG. 9 and, in the opposite direction, from this position to the end-of-travel position illustrated in FIG. 10, then, in the opposite direction, to the position illustrated in Figure 9 and so on for a time to achieve a crumbling, that is to say a dislocation of the material cake that had formed under the effect of pressure.

  A number of pressing and crumbling phases are then carried out, then, when all the liquid part of the material 30 has been extracted, the doors 19 are opened and the cage 2 is oscillated between the positions illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, as shown by the double arrow 37 of Figure 11, with of course the membrane 8 pressed against the side wall 6 and the flanges 7, so that the solid part of the material 30 which remained in the chamber 11 is evacuated gradually through the openings unmasked by the doors 19.

  Note that the fact that the angular stroke of the cage 2 extends on either side of the pressing position illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 has the effect that the material 30 is subjected to the effect of gravity in one direction then in the other, which is favorable to the dislocation of the cake of matter, and thus to the operations of crumbling and emptying.

  The fact that the angular travel between the pressing position (FIGS. 7 and 8) and the end-of-travel position illustrated in FIG. 9 is greater than a half-turn (180), this race being here of the order of 220, is also favorable to the dislocation of the cake material, since thus the material is put upside down between the pressing position and this end position.

  The fact that the stroke of the cage 2 between the two end positions is less than a full turn allows the press 1 to be particularly simple and convenient to manufacture, particularly with regard to the identification of the angular positions of the cage 2 and the connections thereof with the intake and suction devices of compressed air 17 and 18, which require only a flexible (and not a rotating joint).

  Similarly, the routing of electrical energy, pneumatic or hydraulic for motorizing, if desired, the opening of the doors 19 does not require a rotary joint but a simple flexible.

  In non-illustrated variants, the end position where the openings closed or unmasked by the doors 19 are at the top of the cage 2 is not that which is angularly closest to the pressing position, but the other end position; the angular difference between the pressing position and the furthest end-of-travel position is greater than half a turn, for example between 185 and 255 and more particularly between 235 and 245; the angular difference between the two end-of-travel positions is greater than one complete revolution or else remains less than one complete revolution, for example between 305 and 355, and more especially between 335 and 345; the path of the cage between the two end positions does not go through the pressing position; and / or the pressing position coincides with one or both of the end positions.

  In other non-illustrated variants, the end-of-stroke detection means are implemented differently than with a proximity sensor and pellets recognizable by this sensor, for example by electrical switches on which moving fingers come to bear.

  In other non-illustrated variants, the trunnion 15 is not closed but constitutes a tubular in communication with the pressing chamber 11, this tubing serving for the admission into this chamber of the material such as grapes, with example the cage 2 which oscillates, during the intake phase, between the two end positions of the manner shown in Figures 9 and 10; or an accessory, for example a retractable nozzle for spraying a cleaning liquid in the chamber 11, is housed in this spigot.

  In other variants not shown, the cage 2 is shaped differently, for example with a single opening closed or unmasked by a door 19 or more than two openings, or perforated gutters 20 which are replaced by perforations directly in the side wall 6; and / or it is a pressure agent other than compressed air which is used, for example water.

  Many other variants are possible depending on the circumstances, and it is recalled in this regard that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Claims (12)

  1. Press to separate the solid and liquid parts of a material (30) such as grapes, comprising: - a cage (2) having a cylindrical side wall (6) and two flanges (7) closing said cage respectively to one end and at the other end of said side wall (6); - a deformable flexible membrane (8) disposed in said cage, sealingly attached to the side wall (6) thereof along two opposite longitudinal edges (9) and sealingly attached to the flanges (7) along two transverse edges respective ones (10) each located between one end of a longitudinal edge (9) and one end of the other longitudinal edge (9) so that said membrane (8) separates the internal volume of said cage (2) into a chamber pressing (11) delimited by said membrane (8), by a first half of said side wall (6) located between said two opposite longitudinal edges (9) and by a first half of each of said flanges (7) located, relative to at the respective transverse edges (10), on the side of the first half of the side wall (6), and in a control chamber (12) delimited by said membrane (8), by the second half of said side wall (6) and by the second half of said flasq ues (7), said flexible membrane having at rest approximately the shape of a half of the cage (2); - At least one door (19) closing or unmasking an opening in said first half of the side wall (6) of the cage (2); - Draining means (20) equipping said first half of the side wall (6) of the cage (2); - recovery means (5) of said liquid portion of this material (30) leaving the pressing chamber (11) by said drainage means (20); - intake means (13, 17) of a pressure medium in said control chamber (12) and means (13, 18) for suction of said pressure agent out of said control chamber (12); - Means (4, 13 16) rotatably mounting said cage (2) about its axis (3) in a position where it is disposed horizontally; and - means (21 29) for selectively controlling the rotation of said cage (2) about its axis (3); characterized in that said means for selectively controlling the rotation of said cage (2) comprise: - detection means (25, 28) of a first angular end position of said cage; detection means (27, 28) for a second end-of-travel angular position of said cage; and rotational driving means (21,24,29) connected to each of said detecting means (25,27,28) adapted to rotate said cage from the first end position to the second end position then, in the opposite direction, from the second end position to the first end position.   2. Press according to claim 1, characterized in that: - said means for selectively controlling the rotation of said cage (2) further comprises means (26, 28) for detecting an angular position for pressing said cage, wherein said drainage means is arranged at the bottom; and - said rotary drive means (21,24,29) are connected to said detecting means (26,28) at a pressing position of the cage and are adapted to rotate said cage from the first end position of race to the second end position and vice versa following a path (33 36) passing through said pressing position.   3. Press according to claim 2, characterized in that: - said first end position of said cage (2) is distinct from said pressing position; - said second end position of said cage (2) is distinct from said first end position and said pressing position; and - said path (33 36) has an amplitude less than full turn.   4. Press according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the angular difference between said pressing position and one of said end positions along said path is greater than half a turn.   5. Press according to claim 4, characterized in that the angular difference between said pressing position and said end position, along said path, is between 185 and 255.   6. Press according to claim 5, characterized in that the angular difference between said pressing position and said end position, along said path, is between 235 and 245.   7. Press according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said amplitude of said path (33 36) is between 305 and 355.   8. Press according to claim 7, characterized in that said amplitude of said path (33 36) is between 335 and 345.   9. Press according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in one of said end positions, said opening of the side wall (6) closed or unmasked by a door (19) is at top of said cage (2).   10. Press according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said detection means (25 28) comprise a proximity sensor (28) and at least one chip (25 27) recognizable by said sensor.   11. Press according to claim 10, characterized in that said means for rotating said cage (2) about its axis (3) comprise a motor (21) connected to a control unit (29) itself connected to said detecting means (25-28).   12. Press according to claim 11, characterized in that said motor (21) cooperates with a gear train (22 24) comprising a toothed wheel (24) integral with said cage (2) and carrying said pellet (25 27). .