GB1588171A - Tool and a machine for separating cauliflower stumps from the flowerets thereof - Google Patents

Description

(54) A TOOL AND A MACHINE FOR SEPARATING CAULIFLOWER STUMPS FROM THE FLOWERETS THEREOF (71) We, Louis JULES JOURDAN and JEAN MARIE SAILLOUR, French Subjects of 36, rue de Dinan, 35120 Dol De Bretagne, France, and Lieu dit "Beauregrad", 29222 Plouenan, France, respectively, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, 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 a tool for separating the stumps of cauliflowers from the flowerets thereof. The invention also relates to a machine which has tools according to the invention and which permits an automatized separation of the stumps. The tool and machine are designed for de-stumping cauliflowers, but it may be possible to use it for de-stumping other vegetables.

It is well known to deep freeze cauliflowers. Of the cauliflowers, it is especially the inflorescences, more commonly called the flowerets, which are of interest to consumers, the stumps not being very edible.

It is therefore preferable before proceeding with the deep-freezing of a cauliflower to remove the stump. The most commonly practised method of separation of the stump is a manual method. The flowerets are scalded and pass into a deep-freezing tunnel before being put into packs. Now, the manual separation of the stump is time consuming work and increases the cost of the deep frozen cauliflowers. A search has therefore been made to automatize this separation operation. Methods are known in which a cylinder with a cutting edge at one end is passed through a cauliflower along the axis of the stump, the cylinder diameter corresponding to the diameter of the stump.

This method achieves separation of the stump but entails the loss of the flowerets portion in alignment with the stump.

Furthermore, in such a method the flowerets are not separated into bunches automatically. An additional manual operation must therefore be provided.

One object of the present invention consists in providing a tool for separating the stumps of cauliflowers from the flowerets, the use of which tool does not have the drawbacks of the methods mentioned above, but reduces the losses and simplifies the operations of removal of the stump. The use of the tool facilitates handling of the flowerets in bunches which permits at the same time of reducing the costs and losses at the time of the preparation of the cauliflowers before their deep-freezing.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a tool for separating the stump of a cauliflower from the flowerets thereof, comprising two elements arranged to move together and by so doing to cut the stump of a cauliflower operatively located relative thereto from the flowerets of the cauliflower, said elements comprising; (i) a first element defining an aperture in which in use the stump of the cauli flower is located, such first element having a cutting edge which extends around the said stump; and (ii) a second element comprising a spread ing portion and a portion adapted to co-operate with said cutting edge, said spreading portion, having regard to the direction of movement of the first and second elements together being in ad vance of the portion adapted to co operate with said cutting edge so that the separating portion having a con figuration which, upon entry of the separating portion into the cauliflower, spreads the flowerets outwardly and continued movement of the elements together brings the cutting edge of the first element into cutting engagement with the portion adapted to co-operate with the said cutting edge of the second element whereby the stump is cut from the cauliflower and the flowerets fall to the outside of the cutting edge.

Preferably the first element comprises a cylinder and the second element comprises a conical member. Preferably, the said spreading portion has a set of slitting blades arranged radially with respect to the axis of the conical member to slit the cauliflower as the first portion enters it, said blades being of such radial dimension as to enter the bore of the cylinder when the first and second elements reach the position in which the cutting edge of the cylinder engages the conical member. Said slitting blades may have their radial cutting edges arranged in advance of the apex of the conical member and there may be four of said radially extending blades, arranged equi-angularly with respect to the conical member.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a machine for the separating of the stumps of cauliflowers from the flowerets thereof, comprising a conveyor belt, the belt carrying a row of similar first tool elements spaced at regular intervals, a machine frame carrying a second tool element for sliding movement vertically to co-operate with the said first tool elements in turn, the said second tool element and each of the first tool elements being as aforesaid, so that when said second tool element and a first tool element are in cooperation, they define a tool as aforesaid so that when a cauliflower is located with its stump in the aperture of a first element which co-operates with the second element, the flowerets can be separated from the stump by bringing the first and second elements together, the machine being adapted to operate so that the conveyor moves in a step by step basis so that first elements of the row supporting cauliflowers are brought in sequence into co-operative relationship with the second element for the separation of the stumps from the flowerets, the machine further including stump evacuating means and cut flower conveying means.

The features mentioned above as well as other features of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of embodiments of tools and one embodiment of a machine, the said description being made in respect of the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of a tool according to the invention one element (the second) of which is shown penetrating into the head of a cauliflower; Figure 2 is a view in vertical section of the tool of Figure 1, the said second element having reached its lowest point of travel; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal vertical section of a machine according to the invention; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view in cross section of the machine of Figure 3 on the line IV-IV;; Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of parts of the step-by-step advancing means of the belt of the machine of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of positioning means of the machine shown in Figure 3; Figure 7 is a view to an enlarged scale of a part of a chain of the belt of Figure 3; Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view in cross section of a base plate of the belt of Figure 3; Figures 9 to 11 are views, of which Figure 10 is in section, of variations of the tool of Figure 1, and Figure 12 is a view in section of a variation of the cylinder edge.

In Figure 1, the tool shown is composed of two parts or elements, namely a first element in the form of a cylinder 1 and a second element which has a conical member 2. The cylinder 1 is open at its two ends and is mounted on a base plate 3 by conventional fixing means. The upper edge 4 of the cylinder 1 has its outer flank chanferred so as to form a circular cutting edge.

The conical member 2 is mounted on the lower part of a slide 5 by conventional fixing means 6. The member 2 is provided with slitting blades 7 which are four in number in the embodiment shown although this number may be different from four.

Each blade 7 is mounted in a slot in the member 2 and is welded to the member at the edges of the slot. The blades 7 are joined at 8 where they meet along the axis of the conical member and are welded together along their adjacent parts. The lower edge 9 of each blade 7 is chamfered in order to define a cutting edge. The inner diameter of the cylinder 1 is selected to be large enough for most cabbage or cauliflower stumps to be able to locate and pass freely therein and therethrough. The base diameter of the member 2 is greater than that of tbe cylinder 1. The cylinder 1 and the member 2 are coaxial.

To effect the operation of removal of the stump 11 of a cauliflower 10, the slide 5 is raised vertically taking with it the member 2 up to a height which permits of easily placing the cauliflower 11 so that it rests on the edge 4, the stump 11 of the cauliflower being engaged in the cylinder 1, Next, the slide 5 with the number 2 is caused to descend vertically onto the head of the cauliflower 11. The cutting edges 9 of the blades 7 begin to cut slots in the cauliflower. Then, as Figure 1 shows, the apex of the member 2 spreads the head of the cauliflower outwardly along the slots. The edges 9 then reach the top of the stump 10.

This position is shown in Figure 1. Finally, the outer surface of the member 2 reaches and is engaged by the cutting edge 4 of the cylinder 1 as Figure 2 shows, with the effect of separating completely the stump section 11 enclosed in the cylinder 1, from the floweret sections or bunches 12 which are scattered on the base plate 3 around the cylinder 1.

It will be appreciated that in fact the second element has two sections, namely a first section of member 2 which locates in cylinder 1 when cutting is effetced as shown in Figure 2, and second section from where the cutting edge 4 engages the conical member 2 to its largest diameter. The said first section is in fact in advance of the first section having regard to the direction in which the conical member 2 is moved to effect said cutting.

Experience shows that the cuts caused by the edges 9 of the blades 7 and the edge 4 of the cylinder 1 in the head of the cauliflower have the effect, in combining, of breaking the flowerets into small pieces which are easy to put into bags before deep freezing them.

By way of example, the member 2, as shown in Figure 2, may be mounted on a solid cylindrical base 13 comprising a collar 14 which is lodged in a hole of the lower part of the slide 5. Mounting of the member 2 on the slide is effected simply by using a washer 15 and the screw 6, which latter is screwed into a hole tapped in the base 13.

For best operation of the tool, it is necessary for the vertical axes of the member 2 and of the cylinder 1 to be coincident so that there is no space between the surface of member 2 and the edge 4 in the position indicated in Figure 2. The mounting of the cylinder 1 on the plate 3 may be effected using screw-nut systems passing through holes which are slightly out of round and are in plate 3 and a lower collar 16 attached to the cylinder 1.

The machine shown diagrammatically Figures 3 and 4 comprises an endless conveyor belt 17 constituted by plates alternate ones of which are base plates 3. Each plate 3 carries two cylinders 1. The belt 17 is driven by two coaxial pinions 19 of the same diameter as pinions 18. The shafts respectively connecting the pinions 18 and the pinions 19 are mounted on uprights 20 and 21 forming part of the frame of the machine which is only shown in part so as not to confuse the drawing.

The frame also comprises two uprights 22 and 23 which have at their upper ends guide slots 24 which serve to guide the end bearings 25 and 26 of an axle 27 which extend between uprights 22 and 23 and on which is suspended a slide 5. Under the slide 5 are mounted two members 2. The bearings 25 and 26- are respectively coupled to heads of connecting rods 28 and 29.

The lower ends of the rods 28 and 29 are respectively coupled to crank-pins 30 and 31 of two plate cranks 32 and 33. The plate cranks 32 and 33 are mounted on the ends of a shaft 34 which passes through the frame of the machine. The shaft 34 is adapted to be driven continuously by a speed reduction assembly shown diagrammatically at 35, this assembly itself being driven by a motor 36, such for example, as an electric motor, and a transmission belt 37.

The shaft 34 also carries a cam 38 which serves to cause the pinions 18 to turn stepby-step. Figure 5 shows the arrangement in detail. The coaxial pinions 18 are rendered solid in rotation by cross bars 39 to 44 and have their common axle 45 mounted on bearings 46 carried by the uprights 20.

A lever arm 47 is mounted for pivoting about an axle 48 mounted on an upright 49 of the frame and carries at its free end an axle 50 around which one end of a finger 51 pivots, the other end of which has a shoulder 52 engaged in the position shown in Figure 5 with the bar 39. The axle 50 is subjected to the action of a return spring 53 hooked onto the frame, for example, to a cross piece 54 fixed on the upright 23. In the resting position, the assembly of the arm 47 and of the finger 51 takes up the position indicated by broken lines. When the cam 38 turns in the direction of the arrow, driven by the shaft 34, its beak 55 pushes back the arm 47, the rotation of which causes advancing of the finger 51, the should of which pushes the engaged bar 39 as Figure 5 indicates.With disengagement of the cam 38 from arm 47, the spring 43 brings back the finger 51 and the arm 47 into the resting position and the shoulder 52 of the finger 51 engages the bar 44. At the next turn of the cam 38, the bar 44 will be moved similarly to bar 39 as above described.

In practice, it is found that due to the inertia of the pinions 18 and 19 for the belt 17, the bar pushed by the finger 51 tends to go beyond the position indicated by the bar 39. To obviate this, a system of braking of the rotation of the pinion 18 is provided which is shown in Figure 3. At the end of the axle 45 on the outside of the upright 20 is fixed a braked rum 56, a large part of the circumference of which is in contact with a blade 57. One end 58 of the blade 57 is hooked on at a fixed point of the frame whilst the other end 59 is hooked to a lever arm 60 which can pivot about an axle 61 mounted on the frame. The point of a screw 62 screwed in an upright 63 of the frame presses on the free end of 60 in order to tension more or less the blade 57 and thus ensure a more or less strong braking of the drum 56.The lever 60 is extended beyond the axle 61 by an arm 64 which is struck by a boss 65 provided on the crank plate 32 once per turn of this latter. When the boss 65 strikes the arm 64, the lever 60 turns, tensioning much more the blade 57 and an abrupt braking of the drum 56 results.

The structure of the endless belt 17 will now be described referring to Figures 7 and 8. In Figure 7, there is shown again a pinion 18, the periphery of which has teeth similar to a bicycle chain socket. The teeth cooperate with chain links of bicycle type chains of which one is shown in section in Figure 8. The joining between two links of each of said chains comprises inside link plates 67-68 and the outer link plates 69-70 in Figure 8. Each chain joint has an axle 71 joining two links and carrying a roller 72. The axle 71 is extended by a threaded rod which passes through the side wall 75 of each plate 3 or 73 and is connected to such plate by a nut 74 on said rod. The plates 3 and 73 are each constituted by a sheet of sheet-metal folded as shown in section in Figure 7.Plates 73 are distinguished from plates 3 in that they do not carry any cylinders 1 and have upper flat faces. Only the outer links of the chains carry plates 3 or 73 and plates 3 alternate with plates 73. When the trajectory of the belt 17 is horizontal, the plates 3 and 73 form a practically continuous horizontal surface.

The teeth of the pinion 18 mesh with the rollers 72 of the chains. On the outside of the outer links 69-70 which carry plates 3 is fixed a small plate 76 which carries a horizontal axle roller 77 which is fixed to the centre of the small plate. The axle of the roller 77 intersects the vertical axes of the cylinders 1 of the plate 3 in question. As Figure 6 shows, at the time of the descent of the slide 5, roller 77 enters into a groove 78 provided in the slide 5.

The operation of the machine will now be described, taking as a starting point where the slide 5, having reached its lowest point begins to ascend again. Such point corresponds to the position shown in Figure 3.

The axle 34, rotating in the directioin indicated by the arrow on the crank plate 32, pushes back the rod 28 (it is the same for 33 and 29) which lifts the slide 5 guided by the slots 24. After a certain angle of rotation, the cam 38 actuates the arm 47 and the finger 57 which causes one of bars 3944 to advance and turn the pinion 18 by angle corresponding to an arc the length of which is equal to the distance between two plate centres 3. In the example described, the angle of rotation is 60 , the diameter of the pinion 18 being such that the circumference of 18 is equal to six steps of the belt 17. The movement of the pinion is braked when the finger 51 ceases to push the appropriate bar 39--44. Then, on the passage of the boss 65 on the arm 64 the braking is accentuated although the pinion is stopped.For its part, the slide 5 has then passed its high point and has commenced to descend. The lowest part of the slide 5 is provided with the groove 78 which engages the roller 77 of a plate 3 and centres it, this action eventually taking the endless belt 17 slightly backwards. The axes of the members 2 of the slide 5 coincide then with the axes of the cylinder 1 of the appropriate plate 3. The cauliflowers which are fitted in the cylinders 1 then have their stumps separated as has been described in relation to the tool shown in Figures 1 and 2.

The flowerets fall in bunches on the plate 3 and the adjacent plates 73 and are transported beyond the pinion 18 where they fall onto the elevator 79 which removes them to another station. In addition, the stumps fall from the cylinders 1 into the fixed spouts 80 and 81 provided for this purpose under the belt 17 and are removed by a small conveyor.

Protective casings 82 and 83 cover the machine parts as shown in Figure 3. Furthermore appropriate casings are provided above the chain as Figure 8 shows. It is to be noted that the supporting faces 85 and 86 are provided to support the plates 3 at the time of the working of the tools. In fact, the supporting face 85 is placed on an angleiron 87 connected to the frame and supports the rollers 72. In addition, the surface 86 carried by an arm 88 fixed to the frame serves as a supporting block for the central part of the plates 3 and 73 so that they will not bend in the middle.

The machine has two work places located on both sides of the centre line of endless belt 17 between the ends of the casings 82 and 83. Safety devices may be provided at the entry of the casing 82 to avoid any introduction of fingers when the slide 5 descends towards its bottom point. The feeding of the motor 36 may be provided such that it does not stop when the slide 5 is at its high dead point once the stop switch of the motor is operated.

Figure 9 shows a variation of the member 2 of Figure 1 in which the blades have oblique outer edges as indicated at 89, instead of being axial. Figure 10 shows another variation of member 2 formed by a cone 90 and a cone frustum 91 the cone angle of which is less than that of cone 90.

Figure 11 shows a variation of a cylinder 1 in which spaced teeth 92 are provided on the edge 4. At the moment of placing a cauliflower on the cylinder 1 the teeth 92 penetrate into the periphery of the stump and keep the cauliflower on the cylinder in spite of the abrupt advancing movements of the endless belt 17. In such case, the member 2 co-operating with the cylinder of Figure 11 has on its surface recesses into which the teeth engage at the moment of cutting shown in Figure 2.

Finally, Figure 12 shows that the edge 4 may be defined by double chamfering in respect of the vertical to ensure a more efficacious cutting of each stump.

In anoher modification, the member 2 has a second set of cutting blades of which the cutting edges are disposed rearwardly of the apex of member 2 and one angularly interspaced with respect to the cutting edges 9 of blades 7.

Although the principles of the present invention have been described above in relation to the particular embodiment it must be understood that the said description has only been given by way of example and is not intended to limit the broadest scope of the invention as defined by the appended

Claims (14)

claims. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A tool for separating the stump of a cauliflower from the flowerets thereof, comprising two elements arranged to move together and by so doing to cut the stump of a cauliflower operatively located relative thereto from the flowerets of the cauliflower, said elements comprising: (i) a first element defining an aperture in which in use the stump of the cauli flower is located, such first element having a cutting edge which extends around the said stump; and (ii) a second element comprising a spread ing portion and a portion adapted to co-operate with said cutting edge, said spreading portion, having regard to the direction of movement of the first and second elements together being in ad vance of the portion adapted to co operate with said cutting edge the separating portion having a con figuration which, upon entry of the separating portion into the cauliflower, spreads the flowerets outwardly and continued movement of the elements together brings the cutting edge of the first element into cutting engagement with the portion adapted to co-operate with the said cutting edge whereby the stump is cut from the cauliflower and the flowerets fall to the outside of the cutting edge.

2. A tool according to Claim 1, wherein the first element comprises a cylinder of which the bore defines the said aperture and an end thereof defines the said cutting edge, and the second element comprises a conical member of which the base diameter is larger than the diameter of the cylinder and of which the apex points towards and in use enters the cylinder, the said spreading portion being defined by that part of the conical member of less diameter than the diameter of the cylinder and the portion adapted to co-operate with said cutting edge being defined by the remainder of the conical member.

3. A tool according to Claim 2, wherein the said spreading portion has a set of slitting blades arranged radially with respect to the axis of the conical member to slit the cauliflower as the spreading portion enters it, said blades being of such radial dimension as to enter the bore of the cylinder when the first and second elements reach the position in which the cutting edge of the cylinder engages the conical member.

4. A tool according to Claim 3, wherein said slitting blades have radial cutting edges arranged in advance of the apex of the conical member.

5. A tool according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein there are four radially extending and equi-angularly disposed slitting blades.

6. A tool according to Claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein the second element has a further set of radially arranged slitting blades, with the cutting edges arranged angularly interspaced relative to the first named set of sGt- ting blades and located rearwards of the apex of said conical member.

7. A tool according to any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the said cutting edge of the first element has spaced teeth for engaging in the cauliflower stump to hold it and the said portion adapted to co-operate with said cutting edge has recesses in which the teeth locate as the stump is cut from the flowerets.

8. A tool for separating the stump of a cauliflower from the flowerets thereof, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2, Figure 9, dr Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.

9. A machine for the separating of the stumps of cauliflowers from the flowerets thereof comprising a conveyor belt, the belt carrying a row of similar first tool elements spaced at regular intervals, a machine frame carrying a second tool element for sliding movement vertically to co-operate with the said first tool elements in turn, the said second tool element and each of the first tool elements being as defined in any of Claims 1 to 8 so that when the second tool element and a first tool element are in co-operation, they define a tool according to any one of the preceding claims so that when a cauliflower is located with its stump in the aperture of a first element which cooperates with the second element, the flowerets can be separated from the stump by bringing the first and second elements together, the machine being adapted to oper- ate so that the conveyor moves on a stepby-step basis so that first elements of the row supporting cauliflowers are brought in sequence into co-operative relationship with the second element for the separation of the stumps from the flowerets, the machine further including stump evacuating means and cut floweret conveying means.

10. A machine according to Claim 9, wherein the second element is carried by a slide which is connected by a connecting rod means to a rotatable crank, said crank being drivingly connected to an advancing cam which, with each rotation of the crank, causes the conveyor belt to advance by one step.

11. A machine according to Claim 10, wherein the conveyor belt is constituted by two parallel chains driven by two spaced pinions connected by a shaft, and base plates carrying the said first elements, the base plates extending between the parallel chains.

12. A machine according to Claim 11, wherein each chain comprises a plurality of carrier links supporting the base plates and each link has a roller which serves as a guide for vertical slide bar connected to the slide for positioning the appropriate base plate in rotation to the slide to ensure register between the first element carried by the base plate and the second element as they are brought together

13. A machine according to any of Claims 9 to 12, wherein there are two rows of said first elements on the conveyor belt and two of said second elements arranged for simultaneous vertical sliding to cooperate in turn with the first elements of the two rows of first elements respectively.

14. A machine for separating the stumps of cauliflowers from the flowerets thereof substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.