GB2315991A - Vegetable cutter - Google Patents

Abstract

A vegetable cutter 10 for cutting strips from vegetables such as carrots comprising a rotating first cutting blade (mounted on surface 26) extending outwardly from its rotational axis (A, Fig. 4), a second cutting blade (mounted on surface 22) rotating about the same axis comprising a series of spaced fingers (52, Fig. 3b) and a guide 20 to direct a vegetable towards the blades. The second blade cuts the vegetable substantially radially while the first cuts substantially axially to release strips of the vegetable. The guide 20 can comprise a surface extending axially with respect to the rotational axis in which direction the vegetables are also fed. This surface may be conical with the blades being adjacent its narrow end. The cutter may have a plurality of first and/or second blades mounted symmetrically about the rotational axis, these blades optionally being releasable. Also disclosed is a machine (Figs. 6-9) comprising a plurality of the above cutter 10.

Description

VEGETABLE CUTTER AND CUTTING MACHINE The invention relates to a cutter and a machine for cutting vegetables such as carrots, swedes and the like. In particular, the invention relates to a cutter and machine for cutting stips or laces Or vegetaeles.

It is known to provide a vegetable cutter comprising a pneumatic drill attached to a vertical srand wherein dle drill comprises spikes for clamping to te end of a carrot and the drill is moveahle up and down on the stand The known machine further comprises a cutter block having a guide tubes a flat blade asd a finger blade. Th: carrot iS rotated about its Iongitudinal axis by the drill and is lowered on to the guide tube which directs the carrot over the flat blade and finger blade which are separated from onc another in the horizontal plane. The flat blade has a cutting edge which extends horizontally and tangenúally with respect to the carrot whilst te finger blade comprises a series of cutter fingers which extend vertically from Ee horizontally disposed cutting block. By lowering a rotating carrot towards the cutting blades. it is possible to produce strips or laces of carrot. However, considerable waste is achieved using the bown machine since a central core and end of the carrot is not cut due to the horizontal separation between the flat blade and finger blade. Furthermore, the known machine is inefficient since only one carrot can be cut al a lime.

Accordingly, the invention seeks to improve or at lcast mitigate the problems of the known machine. In particular, the invention seeks to increase efficiency in the process of cutting vegetables both in terms of de through-put of e number of eegelables d reduction of waste or leftover material from a *given veetable.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a rotating cutter for vegetables sue;h as carrots which cutler comprises cutting means for cutting strips of a vegetahle, and a guide to direct the vegetable towards the clotting means in usc.

Preferably the guide compriscs a guide surface which cxtentls axially WIth respect to the rotational axis of 03e cutter which is the feed direction of the vegetable. The surface preferably closes towards the rotational axis at one end. Also, the cutting mcans is proforably provided adjacent the narrow end of the guide surface beneficially keeping the vegetable on a central path. Preferably the guide surface is substantiaIIy conical.

In a preferred form, the cutting means comprises a first cutting blade which extends outwardly from the rotational axis of the cutter. Preferably the first cutting blade comprises a straight cutting cdge. Thc first cutting blade can cuL the vegelable somewhat axially to release laces. The cutting mcans can further comprise a second cutting hlade which preferably comprises a sencs of spaced fingers. The finÇ,er blades can out the vegetables substantially radially. Beneficially the fingers and straight cutting edge provides stops or laces cut from a vegetable in use.

Preferably the first and second cutting blades are releasably attached to the cutter.

In a further preferred form two or more first bladcs are symmetrically disposed about the centre of rotation of the cutter. Two or more second, or finger, blades can he symmetrically disposed about the centre of rotation of the cutter.

In a preferred cmbc)eliment the cutter comprises one or more components to which a first and second blade are releasably attached in use. Preferably the or each component comprises a first surface comprising mcans such as threaded apertures for attachment of the first blade and can also comprise a second surface having means for attachment ot the second blades Preferably the first surface is disposed forwardmost of the second surface in relation to the dircction of rotation of the cutter in use.

According to another aspect nf the invention, there is provided a machine for cutting vegetables into laces, which machine comprises two or more cutters which can be cutters according to the first aspect of the invention. Preferably, the machine compnses means for automatically passing a vegetable through a cutter.

Also, means is preferably provided for directing the vegetable laces to a collection hopper or bin. A second means is preferably provided for directing the discarded end of a carrot to a second hopper. A safety device is also preferably provided automatically to turn off the cutters for example if an operator' s hand approaches the cutters.

In a preferred embodiment, four channels are provided for vegetables, each channel having a carriage for directing a vegetable towards aa associated cutter. Preferably, pairs of carriages are operated together such that an operator can load one pair whilst the other pair are passing loaded vegetables through associated cutters. Additionally, a guide mechanism such as a rcsilicntly biased bar is preferably disposed adjacent the cutter head in order to restrain movement of the vegetable whilst it is being sliced. The bar can also form part of the safety device.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which, Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a cutter head according to the invention; Figure 2 shows a side and front elevation of a flat blade for use in the invention; Figure 3 shows a side and front elevation view of a finger blade for use in the invention; Figurc 4 is a front clcvation vicw of the cutter head shown in Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side elevation view of the cutter head shown in Figure d; Figure 6 is a schematic perspective vicw of a machine according to the invcntion; and Figures 7, 8 and 9 are three side elevation views of an extractor for the machine shown in Figure 6.

Referring to Figure 1 there is shown a cutter head 10 which can be formed from a subslantially cylindrical block. Head 10 comprises a mounting plate 12 having countersunk apertures 14 which are used to attached block 10 to a drive shaft. Cutter 10 further comprises a substantially symmetncal coinpoilenl 16 and 18 which each define a guide surface 20 which is substantially conical. Each component 16 and 18 comprises an axial face 22 having a pair of apertures 24 and a non-radial face 26 also having a pair of aperturcs 28.

Each component 16 and is also comprises a leading and trailing edge on guide surface 20. The components 16 comprise a lcading edge 30 which is curved in the xial and radial direction. Trailing edge 32 extends away from the central rotational axis A of the cutter head 10 in both the axial and radial direction, since it is a straight line along conical surface 20.

Figure 2 shows a flat blade 40 comprising a cutting edge 42 and slots 44. Pigure 3 shows a finger blade 50 comprising a series of sharp fingers 52 and slots or apertures 54.

In use, flat blade 40 is attached to surface 26 of each of components 16 and 18. For example, a pair of bolts can be used to pass through aperture 44 and couple to threaded apertures 28.

Accordingly, a cutting edge 42 of a blade 40 is presented as the foremost leading edge uf each of components 16 and 18. Finger blade 50 can be attached to each surface plate 22 of cornponent 16 and 18 again using bolts to attach through apertures 54 into threaded apertures 24. Accordingly, each component 16 and 18 is provided with a trailing edge comprising a series of fingers 52.

Figure 6 shows a machine according to the invention comprising a series of four cutter heads 10. Machine 60 ftither comprises tour receiving channel. 62 into which vegetables are operably placed. The channels can be 'C' shaped in section to guide the egetablc. Each channel 62 comprises a carriage 64 for moving the vegetable toward the cutter head 10. The machine further comprises a resiliently biased bar 66 which acts to retain the vegetable in channel 62 as it is pushed against the head 10 by carriage 64. The bar 66 is attached to a rotatable plate 78 pivotally attached to machine 60 which can be attached to a spring to hold bar 66 in a lowered position. Plate 78 can form part of a safety circuit comprising a circuit breaker 80 for detecting when the rod 66 is moved too close to heads 10. The hcads can also be concealed in unit 82 fur safety.

The carriage has a series of spikes for engaging the end of the vegetable. Machine 60 also compriscs a drive mechanism such as an electric motor and a series of drive shalts in unit 82 for driving individual heads 10. Tbis mechanism can also be linked, for example using a screwrod, in order to move each carriage 64. Altcmatively carriages 64 arc drivcn by pneumatic push rods 86 which extend from unit 84 to direct the carriage towards the cutters. The rods can be driven manually or electronically using a proyammable logic control. An ejector 90 can be provided adjacent thc cutters 10.

An ejector 90 comprises a series of pivoting flaps 92 hingeahly attached to a mounting 94 which extends across the channels 62. A stop 96 such as the end of a channel 62 is used to restrict bacEvard (clockwisc, as shown) rotation of flaps 92 thus to remove the unused end of a carrot from carriage 64 as shown in figure 9.

A pair of chutes 68 and 70 are used respectively to direct the laces into a receiving bucket 72 and carrot tops into a receiving bucket 74. Further. a control circuit havin.g an actuator such as a button 76 can be provided in order for an operator to determine when carriages 64 are to be used.

In use, cutter head 10 has a pair of blades 40 and a pair of blades 50 attached as described above. Each head 10 is attached to a drivon shaft and caused to rotate about axis A. A carrot is fed along rotational axis A guidcd by conical surface 20 so that it abuts the cutting edges 42 and 52 of the blades. Tht action of blade 52 is to slice laces from the carrot which laces are removed by straight cutting edge 42. Beneficially only a small part of the carrot rcmains unused. That is a sniall disc at the end of the carrot which is hcld on a carriage 64 by spikes for example. This is removed by ejector 90 as shown in fit revs 7 to 9 since flaps 92 pushes the vegetable end off thc spikes as thc carriage is returned to its start position.

Beneficially, the restraining bar 66 configured with circuit breaker 80 can be used to automatically stop the rotation of cutters 10 if a vegetable jams or if an operator's hand moves the bar toward the cutters.

Any number of channels 62 can be povit1t:d in a machine. On a four channel machine, as shown, rhe machine can be configured, either mechanically or using a microprocessor tor example, such that a pair of carriages 64 operate in unison. Accordingly, an operator loads a pair of adjacent caniages G4 each with a carrot, or other vegetable, and then depresses actuator button 76 causing the carriages 64 to push the vegetable toward the associated cutting head 10. Meanwhile, carriages 64 of the other pair of channels are returned to the start position following completion of the cutting of an earlier pair of vegetables, whereupon the operator can load the empty carriages 64 and again depress actuator button 76 thereby to begin shredding of the newly inserted vegetable. Accordingly, this cycle can be repeated. It has bcen found that this mechanism significantly increases the efficiency of the slicing of vegetables, reducing the number of man hours required to pmduce a unit mass of product and also roducing the wastage from an individual carrot.

Claims (27)

1. A rotary cutter for cutting vegetables such as carrots, comprising cutting means for cutting strips from a vegetable and a guide to direct the vegetable towards the cutting means in use.

2. A cutter according to claim 1 wherein the guide comprises a guide surface which extends axially with respect to the rotational axis of the cutter in which direction the vegetables are also fed in use.

3. A cutter according to claim 2 wherein the surface closes towards the rotational axis to form a narrow end.

4. A cutter according to claim 3 wherein the cutting means is provided adjacent the narrow end of the guide.

5. A cutter according to claims 3 or 4 wherein the guide surface forms part of a cone.

6. A cutter according to any preceding claim wherein the cutting means comprises a first cutting blade which extends outwardly from the rotational axis of the cutter.

7. A cutter according to any preceding claim wherein the first cutting blade comprises a straight cutting edge

8. A cutter according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the first cutting blade is arranged to cut a vegetable substantially axially.

9. A cutter according to claim 6, 7 or 8 comprising two or more first cutting blades disposed about the rotational axis ofthe cutter.

10. A cutter according to any preceding claim comprising a second cutting blade comprising a series of spaced fingers.

11. A cutter according to claim 10 wherein the fingers are arranged to cut the vegetable radially.

12. A cutter according to any one of claims 6 to 11 wherein the first or second blade is releasably attached to the rotary cutter.

13. A cutter according to any preceding claim wherein the cutter comprises one or more components to each of which a first and or second cutting blade is releasably attached.

14. A cutter according to any of preceding claims 6 to 13 comprising two or more first blades symmetrically disposed about the centre of rotation ofthe cutter.

15. A cutter according to any of preceding claims 10 to 14 comprising two or more second blades symmetrically disposed about the centre of rotation of the cutter.

16. A cutter as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.

17. A machine for cutting vegetables into laces which comprises two or more vegetable cutters.

18. A machine according to claim 17 comprising a cutter according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

19. A machine according to claim 17 or 18 comprising means for automatically passing a vegetable through a cutter.

20. A machine according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein means is provided for directing the vegetable laces to a collection hopper or bin.

21. A machine according to claim 20, wherein a second means is provided for directing the discarded end of a vegetable to a second hopper.

22. A machine according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein a safety device is provided to automatically turn off the cutters, for example, if an operator's hand approaches the cutters.

23. A machine according to any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein four channels are provided for vegetables, each channel having a carriage for directing a vegetable towards an associated cutter.

24. A machine according to claim 23, wherein pairs of carriages are operated together such that an operator can load one pair whilst the other pair are passing loaded vegetables through associated cutters.

25. A machine according to any one of claims 17 to 24, wherein a guide mechanism, such as a resiliently biased bar, is preferably disposed adjacent the cutter head in order to restrain movement of the vegetable whilst it is being sliced.

26. A machine according to claim 25, wherein the resiliently biased bar forms part of a safety device.

27. A machine for cutting vegetables as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.