GB2077577A - Apparatus for peeling crops, such as bulbs or tubers - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for peeling crops such as bulbs or tubers, for instance onions, comprises orienting means (3) for orienting the crop, conveying means (4) and cutting means (38 and 39) alongside said conveying means. The conveying means (4) is provided with fork-like holding members (36) arranged on rotatable carrier (30), in order to hold a bulb or a tuber. The cutting means are two pairs of rotatably driven cutting discs (38 and 39) for cutting the heads and tails, and cutting edges (56) which can be moved up and down for scoring the scales of the crop. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for peeling crops, such as bulbs or tubers The invention relates to an apparatus for peeling crops such as bulbs or tubers, for instance onions.

The apparatus comprising conveying means, and cutting means alongside the conveying means, for cutting off the heads and the tails of the crop and carving the crop.

An object of the invention is to improve the above-mentioned type of apparatus, in order to handle a large quantity of crop per time unit, while keeping the amount of waste to a minimum.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for peeling crop like bulbs or tubers, for instance onions, the apparatus comprising conveying means and cutting means alongside the conveying means, for cutting the heads and tails and scoring the crop, the conveying means being provided with holding means arranged on a movable carrier in order to hold in turn a succession of bulbs or tubers.

For cutting off the head or tail ofthe bulb or tuber effectively, it must have a fixed orientation with respect to the conveying path, and the orientation must be fixed in such a way that comparative high cutting forces may be applied to the crop. The holding means according to the invention make it possible to apply such high forces.

Preferably each holding member comprises an impaling member, which is movable transverse to the conveying direction for easily taking up and delivering the crop. The crop can be impaled on the impaling member, whereby not only a holding member of a single structure is achieved, but also ample space can be provided for placing the cutting means alongside the conveying path.

Preferably the cutting means are in the form of rotatably driven cutting discs. It has been found that a particularly effective cutting method is ensured when at least two pairs of cutting discs are arranged one behind another, the first pair of which acts as a precutting section, where the superfluous part of head and tail is cut off, and the second pair of discs cuts off a sufficient portion at the head and tail in order to enable the scales to be easily removed later on. For removing the scales according to the invention the crop may be put on a conveyor located behind the carrier and comprising at least one pair of parallel rollers, above the nip of which are arranged carving means.Due to the transport over the parallel rollers the bulbs or tubers will have an unoriented position underneath the carving means, whereby a large quantity of cuts can be scored into the scales of the bulb or tuber. With suitable removing means, like air-jets, the parts of the scales are easily removed.

In an embodiment of the invention the carving means in the form of cutting edges which can be moved up and down whereby the crop is allowed each time between cuts to move into a different position upon the parallel rollers.

In order to improve the transport, a plurality of transport fingers are provided in between the nip of the rollers, the fingers being mounted on a driven endless element.

The invention further relates to the orienting of the crop upstream ofthe holding means. For orienting the crop the conveyor upstream of the carrier of the holding means comprises at least two pairs of rotatably driven discs, which will cause a rotation of the bulb ortuber such that it will become selforientating. Preferably the discs are movable along a closed path in order to effect a continuous orienting process.

According to a further feature of the invention an obstructing member is arranged above the discs, and is movable transversely to the conveying direction of the rotating discs. Preferably the obstructing member is in the form of a brush, so that the orientation of the crop is ensured for substantially most of the bulbs or tubers.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of an embodiment of peeling and cutting apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the main parts of the apparatus of Fig. 1, however in a different configuration; and Figures 3 and 4 are sections along the line Ill-Ill, line lV-lV respectively in Fig. 2.

The apparatus shown in outline in Fig. 1 comprises a supply trough 1 for temporarily stocking the products to be handled, a conveyor belt 2' and dosage section 2" connected to the supply trough, and leading the products to an orienting section 3 in the direction of the arrow P1. In the orienting section 3 the products are moved further in the direction of the arrow P2 to the cutting section 4 for cutting the heads and tails. At the cutting section 4 the products are transported upwards to a transverse conveyor belt 5 arranged above the orienting section, see also arrow P3. The transverse conveyor 5 leads to a carving section 6, in which the scales of the bulb are scored and subsequently removed.The peeled bulb ortuberare carried awaytogetherwith the removed scales upon a conveyor belt 7, at the end of which a separation is effected between the peeled bulb, see arrow P4 and the. removed scales, see arrow P5. The separation is effected by means of a partition or baffle 8 transverse to the conveyor belt 7 and placed at a certain distance thereabove. The peeled off scale parts are carried away by conveyor belts 9, 10 and 11 along the path indicated by the arrows P6 back to a waste bin 12.

Unoriented bulbs ortubers removed from the orienting section 3, are placed on the conveyor belt 11 and are returned together with the scale parts. At the end of the return belt 11 a partition 13 similar to partition 8 removes the bulbs or tubers from the scale parts. The bulbs are fed back through return belt 14 into the supply trough 1.

Turning now to Figs. 2 and 3, the conveyor in the orienting section 3, in the cutting section 4, and in the carving section 6 are shown together with the handling means belonging thereto. The orienting section 3 in Fig. 2 comprises several pairs of discs 15 the disc of each pair being parallel to each other and spaced apart by a distance which is adjustable in a way described below. Each disc 15 is provided with a hub 16 axially displaceable over a hexagonal shaft 17. The hub 16 is provided with a circumferential groove 18, supported upon a rail 19.Through a central adjustment means, not shown in the drawings, the distance between the rails at the left and right side ofthe series of discs 15 is adjustable in the direction ofthe arrows P7, whereby through the groove 18the hub 16 and the disc 15 are shiftable with respect to each other in sideways direction.

Consequently the distance between the discs 15 is adjustable.

Each end of the hexagonal shaft 17 is received in a bearing, not disclosed in the drawing, carried by a driving chain, indicated by the interrupted line 20. By means of the chain 20 the shafts 17 are conveyed in the direction ofthe arrow P8. So moving the pairs of discs 15 from the upper left side to the below right side in Fig. 2. Through a sprocket 21 and a second similar sprocket, not shown, the rotating discs 15 are fed back.

In addition each shaft 17 is rotatably driven, such that the discs will rotate in the direction the arrow P9.

The driving means of the shaft 17 are not disclosed further and can be effected in any suitable way, for instance by means of sprocket wheels and a second chain parallel to the chaing 20, but moving at a different rate.

Above the orienting discs 15 an obstructing member in the form of a brush 22 is mounted on a bracket 23, suspended on a shaft 24 and swingable in the direction ofthe arrow P10. Due to said swingable structure the obstructing member 22 will be subjected to a movement transverse to the conveying direction P8 of the discs 15.

It will be appreciated that the orienting section 3 may be extended to more than one track, i.e. several pairs of discs 15 may be arranged side by side, all the discs in a row being moved by means of the same shafts 17 and the same chain 20. To each group belongs a guiding rail 19 for adjustment of the spacing distance.

The cutting section 4 for cutting the heads and tails respectively is joining the orienting section 3, such that transfer of an oriented bulb or tuber is possible.

For this purpose, the conveyor in the orienting section 4 is in the form of a rotating carrier 30, which is turned around a shaft 31 in the direction of the arrow P1 1 by means of a drive (not shown). The carrier 30 is provided at its circumference with hoilow radially extending sleeves 32, in which an impaling member 33 is slidably received. In order to prevent rotation of the impaling member 33 in the sleeve 32, the member 33 is provided with a pin 34, protruding into a slot 35 in the sleeve 32. At its end which protrudes from the sleeve 32, the impaling member 33 is provided with a couple of needles or tines, forming together a fork 36. Through cam means in the carrier 30, not shown, each fork-like end section is moved out of the sleeve 32 and retracted therein respectively as the sleeve is rotated in the direction of the arrow P1 1.In order to improve the transfer from the orienting section to the section 4, a pressing member is arranged near the end ofthe orienting section in the neighbourhood of the return sprockets 21 above the orienting discs 5, which pressing member comprises a pair of parallel rods or strips 31 The forks 36 are arranged to move in between the two rods 37 and due to its stabbing action transverse to the transport direction P11 a bulb or tuber is impaled. Consequently the bulb is kept in position and thereupon furthertransportedtowards the cutting means 38 and 39.

The cutting means 38 are in the farm of two parallel cutting discs, which are arranged upon a shaft 40 in a non-rotatable, but axially displaceable way. The shaft 40 is rotatably driven, and a key structure ensured that a turning action is transferred to the cutting discs 38. By means of a trailing ring 41 and a fork 42 attached thereto the position of each disc 38 is adjustable along the shaft 40, whereby the distance between the two parallel discs 38 is adjustable, see Fig. 3. It will be apparent that by means of the precutting discs 38 the superfluous part of the bulb can be cut off, whereby a fixed dimension of the products to be further processed is secured. The pre-cut products upon the form 36 will thus reach the cutting discs 39. Each disc 39 is provided with an adjustment disc 43 at a fixed distance from the cutting disc 39.Each cutting disc 39 with adjustment disc 43 is again axially displaceable, but nonrotatable mounted on a driving shaft 44.

The thus-prepared product upon the fork 36 will touch the edge of the adjustment disc 43, opposing the action of a spring 45, so urging the adjustment disc away from the opposite adjustment disc. Each disc takes with it its cutting disc, whereby a sufficient portion ofthe crop is cut off in order to enable its scale easily to be removed. The parts cut off and left in the space in between the guide disc and cutting disc are removed by means of pins 46 which are yieldable in side-ways direction.

The thus-cut product is furthertransferred upon a transverse conveyor 5, see Fig. 1, which in Fig. 2 is indicated schematically by element 47. In Fig. 2 it appears that the carving section 6 is arranged above the orienting section 3 in Fig. 2, but this does not detract to the actual working of the carving section.

Said carving section comprises substantially two parallel rollers 50 rotatably driven in the direction of the arrows P12, whereby the products which are above the nip ofthe rollers are subjected to a force engaging the circumference of the bulb. This will enhance random rotation of the bulb or tuber on the rollers 50. Due to the helical rib 51 the crop is sub jectedto a conveying action in the direction of the arrow P1 3. The transport in the direction of P1 3 is assisted by fingers 52 mounted on an endless element 53 arranged around two rollers 54, one of which is driven in the direction ofthe arrow P14.

Above the nip of the rollers 50 carving means 55 are arranged, comprising cutting edges 56 which are moved up and down. The cutting edges 56 are attached in groups are attached in groups to support arms 57. The support arms are arranged to swing about a shaft not shown. Cams move the arms upwards, and the arms fall under the influence of gravity.

At the end of the nip between the rollers 50 a chute 58 joints thereto, above which air jets 59 are located in order to blow off the randomly scored scale ofthe product. The scorings are indicated in the perspective view of the bulb ortuber below-left in Fig. 2.

It will be appa rent that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment described hereabove.

For instance the holding means may be formed as clamps instead of the fork 36.

Claims (16)

1. An apparatus for peeling crop like bulbs or tubers, for instance onions, the apparatus comprising conveying means and cutting means alongside the conveying means, for cutting the heads and tails and scoring the crop, the conveying means being provided with holding means arranged on a movable carrier in order to hold in turn a succession of bulbs or tubers.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which each holding means is in the form of an impaling member.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which the impaling member is movable transverse to the conveying direction.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the carrier is rotatably driven and the impaling members are radially movable.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the previous claims, in which the cutting means are rotatable cutting discs which straddle the conveying parts of the holding means.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which two pairs of cutting discs are arranged one behind the other with respect to the conveying direction, at least one disc of the downstream pair being provided with an adjustment disc attached thereto and movable axially with respect to its driving axis.

7. Apparatus according to any ofthe previous claims, in which the conveying means located downstream of the carrier of the holding means comprise at least one pair of parallel rollers with carving means mounted above the nip ofthe rollers.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the carving means are cutting edges which can move up and down.

9. Apparatus as calimed in claim 8, in which transport fingers mounted on an endless driven element at the side remote from the carving means are moved in the nip of the rollers.

10. Apparatus as claimed in one of the previous claims, in which the conveying means upstream of the carrier for the holding means comprise at least two pairs of rotatably driving discs.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which the driving discs are movable along an endless path.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or 11 in which the distance between the discs is adjustable.

13. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 12, in which an obstructing member is mounted above the discs, which obstructing member is movable transverse to the conveying direction of the rotating discs.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, in which the obstructing member is in the form of a brush.

15. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14, in which the holding means are movable in between two parallel pressing elements located above the rotating discs.

16. Apparatus for peeling crops substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.