GB1578979A

GB1578979A - Device for the balanced fixing and mounting of blades in machines provided to cut crush hash and reduce to soft paste food products and similar

Info

Publication number: GB1578979A
Application number: GB2635077A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Otimsky E R L
Current assignee: Otimsky E R L
Priority date: 1976-06-24
Filing date: 1977-06-23
Publication date: 1980-11-12
Also published as: LU77572A1; AR212719A1; CH611809A5; NL7706858A; DE2727881A1; AT355444B; ATA432377A; DK262877A; ES460023A1; CA1082573A

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A DEVICE FOR THE BALANCED FIXING AND MOUNTING OF BLADES IN MACHINES PROVIDED TO CUT, CRUSH, HASH AND REDUCE TO SOFT PASTE FOOD PRODUCTS AND SIMILAR (71) I, ERIC ROLAND LEON HOTIM SKY, a French citizen, of 24, allee des Chalets, 93320 Pavillons-Sous-Bois, France, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:: The present invention relates to the mounting, fixing and balancing of blades used in machines provided to cut, crush, hash and reduce to soft paste food products, and particularly in machines usually used in pork-butchery or similar butchery to cut and hash meat by means of a certain number of blades having substantially a crescent shape mounted on a common shaft but angularly off-set in order to obtain, on a certain length, a positioning of a plurality of blades which cut, crush and hash the products.

Most of the known machines are constituted by a vat in the shape of a half-tore in which rotates, at high speed, a certain member of blades mounted on a shaft of generally horizontal extension. On the same vat can be mounted, in some cases, several shafts, each of them supporting sets of blades. Besides, the vat rotates slowly around its vertical axis.

In modern machines, the rotation speed of the blades has always been increasing and, whereas originally the blades rotated at about 1,000 rpm, now they rotate at nearly 3,000 and 4,000 rpm, and sometimes at 10,000 rpm. This development of the technology has given a considerable importance to some phenomena which, in the original machines, were negligible.

The centrifugal force generated by an extremely fast rotation of the blades tends to move the same, and sometimes succeeds in doing so, with all the disastrous consequences that can be thought: breakage of the blades, deep scratches in the vat, pro ducts under treatment becoming unusable due to the presence therewith of metal chips and which have to be thrown away; yet it is frequent to treat at one time several hundreds of kilograms of products.

Vibrations also appear if the blades are not carefully balanced which is often the case due to the difficulty to realize this balance. Actually, if the weight of new blades is relatively regularly balanced, substantial differences appear rapidly and progressively at each sharpening, said differences can reach several tens of grams.

The vibrations which are thus caused lead to a fast deterioration of the bearings of the shaft supporting the blades, which involves high repair costs, a general fatigue of the material and also, nearly permanently, a deafening noise when the machine operates.

The present invention copes with said disadvantages by creating a simple means for mounting the blades on intermediate washers thus enabling the correct placing and tightening of the blades on the rotary shaft while ensuring the fool-proof position thereof.

Besides, the present invention also copes with the disadvantages caused by unbalance, in creating a device enabling to position balancing components which are easy to adjust and with which can be realized sets of balanced blades mounted on bush elements which can be placed directly on the drive shaft of the machine used to cut, crush, hash; these sets after having being positioned being tightened on the shaft by usual means.

According to the invention, a structure is provided which comprises at least one rotary blade on a drive shaft in an industrial machine adapted to cut, crush or hash food products, said structure comprising at least one blade and at least one blade adjusting washer adjacent thereto, said blade having an elongate opening through which said drive shaft passes while permitting radial displacement of said blade relative to said drive shaft, said blade comprising spiral in which the protruding portion of perpendicular to the plane of the blade and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate opening, said blade adjusting washer having a substantially circular aperture to accept said drive shaft therethrough, said washer also having an arcuate channel therein in the shape of a spiral in which the protruding portion c said blade engages, means for rotating said adjusting washer relative to said blade whereby the protruding portion moves in said arcuate channel for radially displacing said blade relative to said shaft, said blade and washer being mounted on said shaft and held thereon by means of tightening means such as nuts and counternuts mounted on said shaft, and means for counterbalancing said blade.

Various other features of the invention are shown in the following detailed descrip tion.

A constructional form of the invention is shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a partial perspective view of an apparatus provided to cut, crush and hash pieces of meat, showing the radial arrangement of blades. Some parts essential to the invention are omitted from this Figure.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a blade with the washer permitting adjustment of the blade.

Figure 3 is a sectlonal view substantially taken along the line III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view, partly in cross-section, of a blade and counterweight carrying assembly.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a blade.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the sides of a washer used in the invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a counterweight washer.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the other side of the washer of Figure 6 when used as an adjusting washer.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the adjusting tool of the counterweight washer.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the blade carrying assembly.

In Figure 1 there is partially shown a vat 1 of an apparatus provided to cut.

crush, hash meat by means of blades 2 (of which only one is fully shown) the other blades being only shown by their axes radially placed with respect to the rotating shaft 23 mounted above the vat 1 and rotatively driven in the clockwise direction (Figure 2) by a motor (not shown).

The blades 2 are of a conventional tyn for such machines and have, as it can be seen both in Figure 1 and in Figure 2, a crescent shape of which the end portion 2a is substantially cylindrical and serves as a boss, while the end portion 2b becomes thinner and the edge 2c is sharp having been suitably sharpened. The central shaft 23 comprises a stop means (not shown) for limiting the position of the first blade, then this shaft, of a polygonal shape, receives a plurality of blades 2 of which the circular portion 2a, bored with a polygonal elongated aperture 4, permits each blade 2 to be correctly mounted on the shaft 23. Be tween each pair of adjacent blades there is mounted at least one washer 5 of a cylindrical shape also bored in its centre with a substantially circular opening 6 enabling it to be placed on the shaft 23.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the considered blade 2 comprises a lug 16 placed in the boss portion of the blade, nearly in prolongation of the longitudinal median axis of the polygonal elongated aperture 4. An arcuate opening 15, in the shape of a suitable spiral, is machined in the washer 5 to receive the lug 16 of the blade 2. After slipping the blade 2 and washer 5 on the driving shaft 23 of the machine, the blade 2 is positioned by adjustably rotating the washer 5, by means of a pin inserted in a hole 10 in the circumferential edge of the washer. Actually by rotating about the shaft 23 the washer 5 (which cannot move laterally) the lug 16 of the blade moves within the opening 15 of the washer which causes a lateral movement of the blade 2 with respect to the shaft 23.Since this movement can occur only if the washer 5 can rotate on itself, the blade is held in an unchanging position as soon as the assembly of the blades and washers is tightened in a well known way on the shaft 23, for example by means of a nut. As it has been shown above, the washer 5 is an adjusting washer for the position of the blade 2 on the shaft 23.

The correct positioning of the lugs 16 ensures the final locking of the blades 2 in spite of the stress applied thereon by the centrifugal force due to the high rotation speed of the shaft 23.

This device for a relative holding of the blades with respect to the driving shaft is simple, not costly and safe.

In Figure 4 there has been shown a blade and counterweight carrying assembly carrying a first blade 40, a first blade adiusting washer 42, a second blade also marked 40, a second blade adjusting washer also marked 42, a counterweight washer 45 which serves for counterbalancing the blade, and a counterweight adjusting washer 49, the blades being separated by the washers 49, 45.

The right portion of the drawing diagrammatically shows a support 21 in which are placed ball-l-aces 22 holding the shaft 23 freely rotating in the support 21. The shaft 23 is polygonal at 23a. An assembly 24 (Figure 10) is slipped on the shaft 23 and has two similar bush elements 24a and 24b each of them composed of a cylindrical portion 25 and 25a respectively having two diametrically opposite flat portions 26, 27 and 26a, 27a respectively and at one end a collar or flange 28 and 28a respectively.

Two diametrically opposite channels 29, 30 are bored in the bush elements 24a and 24b which are, lastly, bored in its centre with a polygonal channel 31, 31a. While the channels based in the element 24a are threaded, the channels bored in the element 24b are smooth and are used as guides for long screws 32, 33 freely inserted within the smooth channels of element 24b to be screwed in the threaded channels of element 24a by rotating the heads 32a and 33a of the screws 32, 33.

In Figure 5, there has been shown a blade 40 similar to the blade 2 of Figure 2 and which has the shape of a crescent with a cutting edge 40a. This blade is ended by a substantially cylindrical portion 40b bored in its centre with an aperture 41 enabling it to be mounted on the cylindrical portion 25 of the element 24a or 24b of the assembly 24 with a certain clearance perpendicularly to the axis of the assembly 24 while not enabling its rotation, with respect to the sheath 24.

In Figure 6, there has been shown an adjusting washer 42 bored in its centre with a channel 43 having at least the diameter of the central cylindrical portion 25, 25a of the assembly 24. A recess 43a is provided, on one side of the washer 42, for housing one of the collars 28 or 28a when said washer is mounted onto the assembly.

The side of the washer 42 non-viewable in Figure 6 is as shown in Figure 8, that is it comprises an arcuate aperture bent according to a suitable spiral, and similar in this respect to the washer 5 of Figures 1-3.

In Figure 7, there is shown a counterweight washer 45 bored with an elongate aperture 46 of a width slightly greater than the width of the cylindrical portions 25, 25a of the assembly 24 in order not to be able to rotate with respect to this sheath, but to be able to move slightly transversally by sliding. The counterweight washer 45 comprises a lug 47 whose position is selected to penetrate into the spiral channel 48 bored in one of the sides of a washer 49 (Figure 8) for the adjustment of the counterweight washer.

In Figure 8 there is shown an adjusting washer 49 on the side where is bored an arcuate aperture 48 bent according to a suitable spiral, provided to receive either the lug 16 of a blade 2 in order to ensure the unchangeable positioning and fixing of the blade, or the lug 47 of a counterweight washer 45 in order to ensure the unchangeable positioning and fixing there. This washer 49 comprises in its centre a circular bore 50 of a diameter equal to the cylindrical outer diameter of the portions 25 of the sheath 24. Holes 52 are bored in the periphery of the washers 49 at equal distance from each other.

In Fig. 9 there has been shown a tool in the form of a pin 55 comprising a rod ended by an operating button 56, the end 55a of this rod being able to easily penetrate in the holes 52 bored in the sides of the adjusting washers 49.

When, for instance, it is desired to mount two blades on the assembly 24, the two elements 24a, 24b are first separated by unscrewing the long screws 32, 33. On the portion 25 there is placed, at fist, an adjusting washer 42, directed in such a way that the recess 43a will mate the collar 28 (see Fig. 4). There is then placed a blade 40, for example in downwardly directing its cutting portion 40a there is then mounted behind the first blade 40 a counterweight washer 45 comprising a lug 47. On the portion 25a of the assembly is placed an adjusting washer 49 directed in such a way that the recess 43a will mate the collar 28a, then another blade 40 of which the cutting edge is upwardly directed, and then an adjusting washer 49 for adjustment of the counterweight washer 45.Then the two elements 24a and 24b are brought close to each other by means of the screws 32, 33 while tightening very slightly the assembly, but sufficiently for the same to become an integral unit and for the lug 47 of the counterweight washer 45 to penetrate only in the spiral chanel 48 bored that side of the adjusting washer 49 placed against the counterweight washer 45.

The assembly 24 is then slipped on the outer portion 23a of the shaft 23. Since the shaft 32 is freely mounted in the sup port 21, the whole unit can easily rotate and, if an untrue balance exists, the assembly will stop with the heaviest blade 40 of said assembly being directed downwards, and it is then possible, by means of the tool 55 inserted into the holes 52 of the adjusting washer 49 to rotate more or less or throw off centre the counterweight washer 45 since the same is driven by its lug 47 placed in the spiral channel 48 of the adjusting washer 49; it is thus proceeded by trial and error, up to when the unit is balanced, with all the blades then stopping in an undetermined position after rotation of the assembly.

The assembly is then tightened by suitably rotating the screws 32, 33 and is ready to be used on the rotating shaft of a machine provided to cut, crush, hash, etc.

Generally, the adjustment of the counterweight washer is made after a previous setting of the length of the blades, realized in using a stop member (not shown) which is set in relation with the shaft 23.

In some cases, according to the type of the machine used or according to the work to be performed, it is possible to mount only one blade on an assembly 24. There are then used two or three of these assemblies 24 entirely mounted but each of them having only one blade which have to be positioned on an adjusting shaft to balance the unit.

It is also possible to provide groups of more than two blades on an assembly 24, but then it is preferred that the assembly will have a polygonal outer shape enabling arrangements ensuring, on one hand, a perfect locking of the blades with respect to this assembly and, on the other hand, the balancing of the blades.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A structure for adjustably mounting at least one rotary blade on a drive shaft in an industrial machine adapted to cut, crush or hash food products, said structure comprising at least one blade and at least one blade adjusting washer adjacent thereto, said blade having an elongate opening through which said drive shaft passes while permitting radial displacement of said blade relative to said drive shaft, said blade comprising on one side thereof a protruding portion perpendicular to the plane of the blade and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate opening, said blade adjusting washer having a substantially circular aperture to accept said drive shaft therethrough, said washer also having an arcuate channel therein in the shape of a spiral in which the protruding portion of said blade engages, means for rotating said adjusting washer relative to said blade whereby the protruding portion moves in said arcuate channel for radially displacing said blade relative to said shaft, said blade and washer being mounted on said shaft and held thereon by means of tightening means such as nuts and counternuts mounted on said shaft, and means for counterbalancing said blade.

2. The structure of claim 1 having two blades carried by the drive shaft and separated by at least one washer.

3. The structure of either claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate opening of said blade is an enclosed aperture.

4. The structure of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein blade has a boss portion at one end thereof which is mounted on the drive shaft and the protruding portion of the blade is mounted on the boss portion of said blade.

5. The structure of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the means for caunterbalanc- ing said blade are mounted on the shaft and comprise a counterweight washer and a counterweight adjusting washer, said counterweight washer having an elongate opening and comprising on one side thereof a protruding portion perpendicular to the plane of the washer and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of said elongate opening and penetrating in an arcuate channel in said counterweight adjusting washer, so that by rotating said counterweight adjusting washer the protruding portion moves in said arcuate channel and radially displaces said counterweight washer relative to said shaft.

6. The structure of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said means for rotating said blade adjusting washer comprises holes bored at equal distance from each other in the periphery of the blade adjusting washer so as to enable said blade adjusting washer to be rotated by way of a tool introduced in said holes to move the protruding portion of the blade in the arcuate portion of the blade adjusting washer to adjust and position the blade.

7. The structure of claim 5 wherein said counterweight adjusting washer comprises holes bored in the periphery of said counterweight adjusting washer so as to rotate said counterweight adjusting washer by way of a tool introduced in said holes and move the protruding portion of the counterweight washer in the arcuate channel of the counterweight adjusting washer to adjust and position the counterweight washer.

8. The structure of any one of claims 1 to 7, having a blade and counterweight carrying assembly mounted on the shaft and comprising a pair of separate end flanged bush elements adjustably displaceable toward and away from each other, said blade and a blade adjusting washer, and said means for counterbalancing said blade in the form of a counterweight washer and a counterweight adjusting washer; said blade and washers being mounted on said elements between the flanges of said elements, said adjusting washers being separately rotatable for moving the protruding portions of the blade and counterweight washer in the arcuate channels for adjusting the radial positions of said blade and said counterweight washer, and means for tightening the bush elements towards each other.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the bush elements are adjustably connected together by long screws placed in diametrically opposite channels.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to be used on the rotating shaft of a machine provided to cut, crush, hash, etc. Generally, the adjustment of the counterweight washer is made after a previous setting of the length of the blades, realized in using a stop member (not shown) which is set in relation with the shaft 23. In some cases, according to the type of the machine used or according to the work to be performed, it is possible to mount only one blade on an assembly 24. There are then used two or three of these assemblies 24 entirely mounted but each of them having only one blade which have to be positioned on an adjusting shaft to balance the unit. It is also possible to provide groups of more than two blades on an assembly 24, but then it is preferred that the assembly will have a polygonal outer shape enabling arrangements ensuring, on one hand, a perfect locking of the blades with respect to this assembly and, on the other hand, the balancing of the blades. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A structure for adjustably mounting at least one rotary blade on a drive shaft in an industrial machine adapted to cut, crush or hash food products, said structure comprising at least one blade and at least one blade adjusting washer adjacent thereto, said blade having an elongate opening through which said drive shaft passes while permitting radial displacement of said blade relative to said drive shaft, said blade comprising on one side thereof a protruding portion perpendicular to the plane of the blade and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the elongate opening, said blade adjusting washer having a substantially circular aperture to accept said drive shaft therethrough, said washer also having an arcuate channel therein in the shape of a spiral in which the protruding portion of said blade engages, means for rotating said adjusting washer relative to said blade whereby the protruding portion moves in said arcuate channel for radially displacing said blade relative to said shaft, said blade and washer being mounted on said shaft and held thereon by means of tightening means such as nuts and counternuts mounted on said shaft, and means for counterbalancing said blade.

10. The structure of claim 8 or 9

further comprising a second blade disposed adjacent to said counterweight adjusting washer, and a second blade adjusting washer disposed adjacent to said second blade on one of said bush elements, said second blade having an elongate opening enabling radial relative motion between said second blade and said shaft and comprising on one side of said second blade a protruding portion perpendicular to the plane of the blade and substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the opening, said second blade adjusting washer having an arcuate channel in the shape of a spiral in which penetrates the protruding portion of said second blade and an arcuate channel in the shape of a spiral in which penetrates the protruding portion of a third adjusting washer, said second blade adjusting washer being rotatable for moving the protruding portion of said second blade in the arcuate channel in which it penetrates so as to adjust the radial position of said second blade.

11. The structure of any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein means for rotating said second blade adjusting washer comprises holes bored in the periphery of the second blade adjusting washer so as to rotate said second blade adjusting washer by way of a tool introduced in said holes and move the protruding portion of the second blade in the arcuate channel of the second blade adjusting washer to adjust and position the second blade.

12. A structure as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described and substantially as illustrated in the accompanying draw ings.