GB2510812A

GB2510812A - Cutter assembly for vegetable or fruit coring machines

Info

Publication number: GB2510812A
Application number: GB201222859A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Barber; Carletta Barber
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-12-18
Filing date: 2012-12-18
Publication date: 2014-08-20
Also published as: GB201222859D0

Abstract

A device for coring fruit or vegetables has a tubular section 116 which tapers outwardly away from cutting edge 118 so that the core is held within the tube during extraction. Ideally the tube is formed of multiple pivotally mounted portions so that the taper angle can vary during insertion of the tube. The tube can be inserted or extracted by a hydraulic or pneumatic ram, and control mechanism can automatically pivot the tube portions towards each other by other rams 156 during insertion. A frustoconical holding device with an aperture can hold the fruit stationary when the tubes move through the aperture. The internal bore may be frustoconical and there can be barbs 130 provided within the tube to also assist in retention of core when the tube is removed from the fruit. The external surface of the tube can be parallel to the internal surface or can converge to form the cutting edge. Certain lengths 114 of the tube may have constant diameter.

Description

CUTTER ASSEMBLY FOR

VEGETABLE OR FRUIT CORING MACHINES

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cutter assembly for vegetable or fruit coring machine, and discloses a vegetable trimming machine for trimming unwanted parts from vegetables. The machine comprises a moveable cutting head having in some applications, a pair of curved blades with co-operable cutting edges. The blades are mounted one within the other so as to be rotatable about a common axis. The blades can rotate between a cutting position in which the cutting edges overlap and an open position in which the cutting edges are angularly spaced apart. The cutting head is mounted on a reciprocating carriage which positions it relative to vegetable products being conveyed beneath the cutting head by a conveyor.

Whilst the cutting head is suitable for removing protruding parts from vegetables, for example, the stalk from a cauliflower or broccoli, it is also capable of removing the entire core from within a fruit or vegetable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine, said cutter assembly comprising a tubular cutter that has a leading end provided with a cutting edge and a tapering portion extending from said cutting edge that tapers outwardly with respect to said cutting edge, the arrangement being such that, in use, said cutter can be inserted into a vegetable or fruit to cut around a core thereof and when retracted said core will be substantially retained in said tapering portion.

The invention also includes a cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine, said cutter assembly comprising an elongate cutter insertable into a fruit or vegetable for cutting around a core thereof, said cutter having a lengthways extending bore extending from a leading end thereof and a cutting edge at said leading end and said core-receiving bore having a narrow portion adjacent said leading end such that, in use, a core received in said core-receiving bore can be held therein when the cutter is retracted from a fruit or vegetable after insertion therein to cut around the core.

The invention also includes a cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine, said cutter assembly comprising: a cutter comprised of a plurality of elongate sections, each having a first end and a second end, said sections being mounted so as to be movable between an open position in which said first ends are spaced from one another and a closed position in which said first ends are adjacent one another and said first ends each defining a cutting edge; and a mechanism for controllably moving said elongate sections between said open and closed positions, wherein when in said closed position, said elongate sections define an axially extending core-receiving bore extending from said first ends and tapering outwardly away from said first ends.

It will be appreciated that because the core-receiving bore has a narrow portion adjacent the leading end, the core will be retained in the bore when the cutter is retracted from the fruit or vegetable. The narrow portion is preferably provided by making the core-receiving bore taper outwardly away from the leading end. However, the narrow portion could be defined by a rib or insert provided in the bore adjacent the leading end.

Preferably, the core-receiving bore and an external wall of the cutter both taper outwardly away from the leading end to define a tapering tubular cutter.

In an embodiment preferred for dense vegetables, the cutter is defined by a plurality of pivotally mounted elongate members. Preferably, the elongate members can be progressively moved from a spaced apart condition to a closed position as they are inserted into a fruit or vegetable. This enables the cutter to produce a cut around the core that tapers inwardly as the cutter progresses further into the fruit or vegetable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be well understood, two embodiments thereof, which are given by way of example only, will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a cutter assembly for a vegetable or fruit coring machine in a first condition; Figure 2 shows the cutter assembly of Figure 1 in a second condition; Figure 3 shows a leading end portion of a coring cutter of the cutter assembly; Figure 4 is a plan view on line IV-IV in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows the cutter assembly of Figures 1 to 4 at the commencement of a coring operation; Figure 6 shows the cutter assembly with the coring cutter fully inserted in the fruit or

vegetable;

Figure 7 shows the cutter assembly with the coring cutter containing a core retracted from the fruit or vegetable; Figure 8 shows the cutter assembly of Figures 1 to 7 in more detail; and Figure 9 shows another cutter assembly for a vegetable or fruit coring machine.

Figure 10 shows a variant of Figure 9.

Figure 11 shows a variant inner view of Figure 4.

For the sake of brevity, in the description that follows the embodiments will be described with reference to coring vegetables. However, it is to be understood that the embodiments are equally suitable for coring fruits and no limitation is to be implied by such references.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, a cutter assembly 10 for a vegetable or fruit coring machine comprises a coring cutter 12 which is generally tubular and comprises a constant diameter cylindrical portion 14 and a tapering portion 16 that reduces in diameter towards a cutting edge 18. The tapering portion 16 is for cutting around a core of a vegetable when the cutter is moved in a first direction (indicated by arrow A in Figures 1 and 2) and retaining the core when the cutter is moved in a second direction (indicated by arrow B). The cutter 12 is supported by a frame 20. The frame 20 and the cutter 12 are moveable in the first and second directions A, B by a ram 22.

A holding device 24 is provided for applying a restraining force to a vegetable when the cutter 12 is moved in the second direction B to allow the tapering portion 16 to be removed from the product. The holding device 24 is supported by at least one ram 26 that is secured to the frame 20. The ram, or rams, 26 is/are arranged to move the holding device 24 independently of the cutter and generally parallel to the cutter in the first and second directions A, B. The holding device 24 is preferably supported by two rams 26 as shown. Thus, the frame 20, the cutter 12 and holding device 24 are moveable by the ram 22, and the holding device 24 is independently moveable relative to the cutter 12 and the frame 20 by the rams 26.

Figures 3 and 4 show the leading end of the cutter 12 in more detail. The inner surface 28 of the tapering portion 16 is frustoconical. Preferably, as shown, the tapering portion 16, as a whole, is frustoconical (i.e. the inner and outer surfaces extend parallel to one another). The tapering profile of the inner surface 28 is advantageous, as when the tapering portion 16 is inserted into a vegetable, the cut material of the vegetable expands to fill the interior space of the tapering portion so that when the cutter 12 is retracted, the core remains within the tapering portion 16. The tapering external profile of the tapering portion 16 serves to reduce the force needed to penetrate the vegetable and therefore facilitates insertion of the cutter.

Although the frustoconical shape of the tapering portion 16 serves to retain the core of the vegetable when the cutter 12 is withdrawn from the vegetable, it may be desirable to provide further means for retaining the core. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a plurality of projections, or teeth 30 may be provided on the inner surface 28. The teeth project radially inwardly and away from the cutting edge 18. The teeth 30 act like baths by digging into the core when the cutter 12 is removed from the vegetable.

The cutter 12 is preferably provided with a sharp annular cutting edge 18 at its leading end. This edge is provided by increasing the taper angle of the tapering portion 16 over a short length at the leading end of the cutter.

A coring operation using the cutter assembly will now be described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. In Figure 5, the frame 20 and coring cutter 12 are shown in a first, or start, condition. The hydraulic ram 22 is in a retracted condition so that the cutter 12 is held above the vegetable 34 that is to be cored. At this stage, the rams 26 are extended so that the holding device 24 is ahead of the cutter such that when the ram 22 moves the cutter assembly in direction A, the holding device can engage the vegetable 34 ahead of the cutter 12 to centre the vegetable relative to the cutter. The vegetable 34 is supported by a conveyor 36 and when the vegetable is positioned generally beneath the cutter 12, the ram 22 is actuated and extends the cutter and holding device 24 towards the vegetable 34. When the holding device 24 contacts the vegetable, the frustoconical shape of the holding device serves to centre the vegetable 34. A centrally disposed aperture 38 in the holding means allows the tubular portion 16 to pass through the holding device to penetrate the vegetable.

Continued extension of the ram 22 moves the frame 20 to the position shown in Figure 6 causing the tubular tapering portion 16 to pass through the aperture 38 and penetrate the vegetable and so cut around the core 40. During this movement of the frame 20, the rams 26 are allowed to retract in a controlled manner so that the vegetable is not squashed.

From the position shown in Figure 6, the frame 20 is moved in the second direction B by the ram 22 to the position shown in Figure 7. This movement withdraws the tubular portion 16 from the vegetable 34. The core 40 is retained in the tubular portion by the shape of the tubular portion and by teeth 30 which dig into the core.

During this movement of the frame 20, the rams 26 are controllably extended to provide a restraining force on the vegetable 34. The restraining force acts in the first direction A and serves to prevent the remainder of the vegetable from rising with the core 40.

Once the core 40 has been extracted, the rams 26 are retracted to bring the holding device to the position shown in Figure 5 and so allow a further vegetable 34 to be positioned under the cutter 12 by operation of the conveyer 36. When the core 40 of a further vegetable 34 is extracted, the further core pushes the first core upwardly from the tubular portion 16 for removal, preferably by a vacuum system (not shown).

Figure 8 shows the cutter assembly 10 of Figures 1 to 7 in more detail. Like reference numerals have been used for like components. The ram 22 is not shown.

Figure 9 shows another cutter assembly 110 for a vegetable or fruit coring machine. Components similar to, or equivalent to, components of the cutter assembly will be referred to using like reference numerals incremented by 100. As with Figure 8, the ram 22 is not shown. Also, for the sake of clarity, the holding device 24 and rams 26 have not been shown.

For vegetable or fruit products that are relatively dense, such as the almost solid variety of cabbage known as Dutch white, the cutter assembly 110 shown in Figure 9 is more suitable than the cutter assembly 10 shown in Figures 1 to 8.

The cutter assembly 110 includes a coring cutter 112 comprising a constant diameter tubular portion 114 and a tapering portion 116 that reduces in diameter towards a cutting edge 118. The tapering portion 116 comprises a plurality of pivotally mounted sections 150. The sections 150 are movable relative to one another between an open condition (as shown in Figure 9) and a closed position (not shown). In the closed condition, the lengthways extending edges 151 of adjacent sections 150 abut one another so that the sections 150 define a substantially continuous tubular tapering portion 116. Each section 150 forms a segment of the tapering portion 116. In Figure 9, two sections 150 are provided. Each section 150 extends through 1800 of the circumference of the tapering portion. Each section is pivotally mounted to the tubular portion 114. The pivot mountings may take the form of spherical bearings 152, although any other form of pivot mounting could be used instead. Respective lever arms 154 are attached to the sections 150. The lever arms 154 are pivotally connected to respective rams 156. The rams 156 are angled relative to the cutter 112 so that movement of the rams opens and closes the tubular portion 114. The rams 156 are fixed relative to the frame 120 in the same way as the rams 26 shown in Figures 1 to 8.

Although not shown, it will be appreciated that a holding device 24 would be mounted to the frame 120 via rams 26 as shown in Figure 8. The rams 26 for the holding device 24 would be disposed at 900 to the rams 156.

Operation of the cutter assembly 110 is similar to operation of cutter assembly 10 described with reference to Figures 5 to 7. However, when frame 120 is moved in the first direction A for cutting around the core of a vegetable or fruit product 34, the rams 156 are extended during the downward cutting movement of cutter 112 so that the sections 150 are gradually pivoted together from the position shown in Figure 9. The rams 156 are controlled to ensure the sections 150 are maintained in abutment when the cutter is moved in the second direction B. In this way, the cutting edge 118 cuts along a curved path into the vegetable or fruit product and the trailing portions of the sections 150 follow substantially along that path into the product This reduces resistance to the cutting movement. Further, a relatively dense vegetable or fruit product, which may not expand to occupy the space inside the tubular portion 16 is cut to fit the tapered, or reducing diameter, of the tubular portion 116. Therefore, when the cutter is withdrawn in the second direction, the core is withdrawn inside tubular portion 116.

In a preferred arrangement, the cutter assemblies 10, 110 are used with a carriage and vegetable feed arrangement, however, the cutter assemblies 10, 110 may equally well be used in conjunction with many other support and vegetable feed arrangements that will readily occur to the skilled person. a

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine, said cutter assembly comprising a tubular cutter that has a leading end provided with a cutting edge and a tapering portion extending from said cutting edge that tapers outwardly with respect to said cutting edge, the arrangement being such that, in use, said cutter can be inserted into a vegetable or fruit to cut around a core thereof and when retracted said core will be substantially retained in said tapering portion.
2. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the tubular portion is frustoconical.
3. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the tubular portion is fustoconica I.
4. A cutter assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular portion comprises a plurality of pivotally mounted sections which in an open condition of the tubular portion are spaced apart one from another and in a closed position of the tubular portion are pivoted together into abutment with each other.
5. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for causing said pivotal movement of the tubular portion sections, whereby, in use, said sections can be gradually pivoted together during said insertion into a vegetable or fruit and maintained in abutment with each other around the core when the cutter is retracted.
6. A cutter assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular portion comprises core retention means for gripping a core in the tubular portion when the cutter is retracted.
7. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the core retention means comprises a plurality of projections which project radially inwardly and away from said cutting edge.
8. A cutter assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said tubular portion has a wall thickness that tapers at the cutting edge.
9. A cutter assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the cutter is supported by a frame, and the frame and the cutter are movable in the first and the second directions by a ram.
10. A cutter assembly as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising holding means for restraining a vegetable or fruit when the tubular cutter is retracted to allow the tubular portion to be withdrawn from the fruit or vegetable.U. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 10, when dependent on claim 9, wherein the holding means is supported by the frame, further comprising at least one ram for moving said holding means relative to the frame and cutter.12. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein the holding means is shaped to centre a vegetable or fruit relative to the cutting edge of the tubular portion.13. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein the holding means comprises a frustoconical member and has a central aperture which allows passage of the tubular portion there through.14. A cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine, said cutter assembly comprising an elongate cutter insertable into a fruit or vegetable for cutting around a core thereof, said cutter having a lengthways extending bore extending from a leading end thereof and a cutting edge at said leading end and said core-receiving bore having a narrow portion adjacent said leading end such that, in use, a core received in said core-receiving bore can be held therein when the cutter is retracted from a fruit or vegetable after insertion therein to cut around the core.15. An assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said core-receiving bore has a length and tapers outwardly from said leading end for at least a portion of said length.16. An assembly as claimed in claim 15, wherein said cutter has an external wall that tapers outwardly from said leading end and parallel to said taper of the core-receiving bore.17. An assembly as claimed in claim 16, wherein said core-receiving bore and said external wall include lengths having a constant diameter.18. An assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said cutter comprises a plurality of elongate members, each having a first end and a second end, said first ends forming said leading end and said elongate members being pivotally mounted at their second ends so as to be pivotable between an open position in which said first ends are spaced apart and a closed position in which said first ends are adjacent one another.19. An assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein said core-receiving bore has a length, respective inner surfaces of said elongate members define said core-receiving bore and when in said closed position, said core-receiving bore tapers outwardly from said leading end for at least a portion of said length.20. An assembly as claimed in claim 18 or 19, further comprising a control device connected with said elongate members for causing the elongate members to pivot between said open and closed positions.21. An assembly as claimed in claim 20, wherein said control device comprises at least one fluid actuated ram.22. An assembly as claimed in claim 20 or 21, further comprising a drive device for driving said cutter and wherein said control device cooperates with said drive to cause said elongate members to pivot gradually from said open to said closed position during a cutting stroke in which the cutter moves into a fruit orvegetable.23. A cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine, said cutter assembly comprising: a cutter comprised of a plurality of elongate sections, each having a first end and a second end, said sections being mounted so as to be movable between an open position in which said first ends are spaced from one another and a closed position in which said first ends are adjacent one another and said fast ends each defining a cutting edge; and a mechanism for controllably moving said elongate sections between said open and closed positions, wherein when in said closed position, said elongate sections define an axially extending core-receiving bore extending from said first ends and tapering outwardly away from said first ends.24. A cutter assembly as claimed in claim 23, further comprising a device for moving said cutter in a first direction for inserting the cutter into a fruit or vegetable and a reverse direction for retracting the cutter from the fruit or vegetable, said mechanism cooperating with said device such that said elongate sections are moved progressively from said open to said closed position as the device moves said cutter in said first direction.25. A cutter assembly for a fruit or vegetable coring machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 8 and Figure 9 of the drawings.26. A fruit or vegetable coring machine comprising a cutter assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.