JP2994595B2 - Petal separation equipment - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to edible flowers such as chrysanthemums, safflowers and cherry blossoms, coloring flowers such as saffron, hibiscus and marigold, and fragrances such as roses, lavenders and rosemary. The invention relates to a device for separating petals from a calyx of a flower.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in edible flowers such as chrysanthemums, separation of petals from calyx is performed by a finger. That is, the collected chrysanthemum flowers are loosened one by one by hand to separate the calyx. However, this operation requires a great deal of work, and the operation of pulling the petals with the fingertips is repeated, so that the fingers and hands are easily fatigued. It is not unusual to suffer from tendonitis due to repetition of this operation.

[0003] As a solution to such a problem,
In Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 45-28319, a centrifugal blower is used as a chrysanthemum flower supply port, and a squeezing rotator for slightly compressing chrysanthemum flowers is provided at the suction port, which is located on the outer peripheral surface portion of the blade. Install a separator inside the casing,
The chrysanthemum flower calyx separation device that sucks chrysanthemum flowers from its suction port using a blower, separates them by centrifugal force in the outer peripheral direction of the blade, and collides with the separator on the outer periphery to separate them into calyx and petals. Has been proposed.

[0004] However, in this device, since the chrysanthemum flower is brought into contact with the separator to separate it, the impact on the petals is too large, causing damage.
In addition, since no direct pressing force is applied to the calyx, it has been difficult to reliably separate the calyx.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 47-32863 discloses that a plurality of trochanters in parallel are provided with a petal and a calyx on the trochanter by reducing the speed at the inlet and gradually increasing the speed toward the outlet. Has been proposed.

[0006] However, in this apparatus, separation of the calyx and the petals was not always performed reliably.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-197636, a petal is easily separated by relaxing a calyx portion by applying pressure between rollers on which a belt rotating in a horizontal or vertical direction is suspended. Is performed continuously to separate the calyx from the petals.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 8-116944 discloses that a petal of a flower is supported on a support by an outer peripheral portion of the front side of the flower, and a calyx of the flower is pushed from a back side to a front side with a stick to pull the calyx from the petal. An edible chrysanthemum petal separation method and apparatus have been proposed in which petals are separated from the calyx.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-1
No. 97636 discloses the apparatus described above.
In order to further improve the device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 32683, the calyx of a flower which is sandwiched and pressed between rollers by making a difference in the rotation speed of a belt separates the petals. It is very difficult to adjust the pressing force and speed of the belt, and the structure of this device is extremely large. Could not be a suitable device.

In the method and apparatus disclosed in JP-A-8-116944, an operator holds a chrysanthemum flower, places the flowers one by one on a support, and then pushes down a ram by hand on the petals. However, depending on how the stick is pushed, the whole flower is pushed into the hole of the support together with the petals, or only the stick is pushed into the calyx and the calyx is The petals cannot be reliably separated because they do not separate from the petals. Also, the worker must alternately perform the work of placing the flower on the support and the work of pushing it with a stick, which is troublesome, and the worker accidentally pokes the other hand with the stick. There is a problem that often occurs.

[0011]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus capable of easily removing the sepals of a flower and separating the petals by solving the problems associated with the conventional petal separating apparatus as described above. Aim.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned object is achieved by providing an opening which penetrates from the front surface to the back surface, and
Conveyor for loading and transferring flowers with
A pressing roller pressed against the surface of the bear, and the pressing roller
Corresponding to the pressure roller, provided on the back side of the belt conveyor
The flower calyx protruding from the opening of the belt conveyor
Separating means from the bell,
Perpendicular to the transfer direction of the conveyor and parallel to the conveyor surface
Rotating shaft and substantially radially attached from the rotating shaft
This is achieved by a petal separating device characterized by comprising a plurality of peeling plates .

Further, in the present invention, the above-mentioned object is
Equipped with an opening that penetrates from the surface to the back side
Belt conveyor to be transported, facing the surface of the belt conveyor
Roller pressed and pressed, and corresponding to the pressing roller
The belt conveyor provided on the back side of the belt conveyor
Separation separating flower calyx protruding from the opening of the bear from petals
Means for separating the belt conveyor
Rotating shaft perpendicular to the conveyor surface and attached to the rotating shaft
A plurality of rotating plates, wherein the rotating plates are directed inward from the periphery.
A petal separating device, characterized in that the petal separating device has
Can also be achieved.

In this case, the periphery of the rotary plate is used as a blade.
Or the periphery of the rotating plate may be an elastic member.
No.

The pressing roller according to the present invention may be rotatably supported by a swingable lever, and a weight may be mounted on the lever. In this case, the pressing roller is biased toward the belt conveyor by a spring. Is preferred.

Further, it is preferable that a belt receiver is provided on the belt edge side on the back side of the belt conveyor of the present invention. In particular, the thickness of the belt receiver near the separating means is larger than the thickness of the belt receiver at other places. Desirably thin.

Further, in the present invention, a large number of openings are formed in the length direction of the belt conveyor. By making these openings two sizes, for example, large and small, the size of the flowers and the degree of opening of the flowers are adjusted. By using an appropriate opening as appropriate, flowers of any size can be efficiently separated. A plurality of openings may be formed in the width direction of one belt conveyor. In this case, it is preferable to arrange the openings in a staggered manner without aligning the openings in the width direction, since the strength of the belt constituting the belt conveyor does not decrease.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a partially sectional front view of the device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view. For clarity,
Speaking of the relationship with other members, the flowers have expanded beyond their actual size, and have undergone deformations such as a thicker belt.

Pulleys 1 and 2 are rotatably supported at both ends of the gantry 4. One pulley 1 is connected to a drive motor 7 via two sprockets 5 and a chain 6, and this pulley 1 is rotatable in a direction indicated by an arrow in FIG.

A rubber belt 3 is stretched between the pulleys 1 and 2. Holes 3a preferably having a circular shape are formed on the surface of the belt 3 at substantially equal intervals. The hole 3a penetrates from the front surface to the back surface of the belt, and has a size such that a calyx of a flower separated by this device can be inserted.

The openings 3a are preferably provided at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction on the surface of the belt. The sizes of the openings 3a may be the same, or they may be provided in a mixed size as shown in FIG. Good. Providing the large and small openings 3a has an advantage that an appropriate opening 3a can be used according to the size of the flower.

Below the belt 3 of the belt conveyor, plate-like belt holders 8 made of thin metal such as iron or stainless steel or plastic are provided at both edges of the belt conveyor. That is, the belt holder 8 extends in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor on both sides thereof with the opening 3a removed. In addition, it is preferable that the thickness of a separation position of a calyx described later in the belt holder 8 be thinner than other portions as shown in FIG. 8A so that the calyx can be more easily and easily separated.

An L-shaped bracket 9 protrudes from both sides of the gantry 4 on both sides of the gantry 4, and a U-shaped lever 11 is swingably supported by a pin 12 from an intermediate portion of the bracket 9. ing. A rubber roller 13 is rotatably supported by a pin 10 at an intermediate portion of a U-shaped lever 11. A compression spring 14 is provided between the lever 11 and the L-shaped bracket, and the weight of the rubber roller 13 and the spring force of the compression spring 14
The rubber roller 13 is pressed against the surface of the conveyor 3. Further, the pressing force of the rubber roller 13 can be adjusted by adjusting the weight 14 at a portion protruding from the tip of the U-shaped bracket 11. In this embodiment, the lever 9 is swingably provided on the bracket 9.
3 may be provided so as to be vertically movable.

Separating means is provided at a position below the conveyor 3 corresponding to the position where the rubber roller 13 is pressed. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a base 20 of the separating means is attached to one side wall of the gantry 4. The separating means is provided with a rotating shaft 21 extending in a direction perpendicular to the moving direction of the conveyor 3, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper shown in FIG. It consists of a large number of stripping plates 22 attached.

The details of the separating means will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the separating means used in the present invention. Inside the base 20, a drive mode
(Not shown). A rotation shaft 21 is mounted on an output shaft of a drive motor built in the base 20, and a screw 2 is provided.
8 fixed.

A peeling plate guide 24 is attached to the base 20 side of the rotating shaft 21, and a plurality of thin peeling plates 22 are mounted in front of the peeling plate guide 24.
A peeling plate presser 26 is fixed by bolts 27 on the opposite side of the base 20, that is, on the tip of the rotating shaft 21.

The peeling plate 22 is, as shown in FIG.
A substrate portion 22e extending in the longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft 21 and a plurality of rectangular blade portions 22a protruding from the substrate portion 22e.
Consists of That is, there is a gap between the rectangular blade portions 22a, and this portion allows the peeled petals to pass.

The material of the stripping plate 22 can be metal or synthetic resin. In order to mount the thin stripping plate 22, a plurality of grooves 21a extending in the axial direction are formed in the rotating shaft 21. In FIG. 3C,
Eight grooves 21a are evenly arranged around the circumference.
The number of circumferential grooves may be an appropriate number such as six, four, or three in addition to the eight shown in FIG.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3C, the groove 21a formed on the rotating shaft 21 is formed so as to coincide with a line extending in the radial direction from the center of the rotating shaft 21. However, as shown in FIG. 3D, the position of the groove 21a is set at a small distance from the radial line, for example, the symbol e in FIG. 3D.
By deviating by the distance indicated by, the separation effect of the calyx can be enhanced. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3D, the peeling plate 22 is biased forward with respect to the direction of rotation of the drive shaft. However, in some cases, it may be biased rearward.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the stripping plate guide 24 has a cylindrical shape to be fitted to the rotating shaft 21, and the side opposite to the base 20, that is, the stripping plate 22 side, It is a conical surface 24a that expands outward.

As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the peeling plate retainer 26 has a substantially disk shape, and its surface facing the base 20 is expanded outward. Conical inner surface 2
6a are formed. 26b is a hole through which the bolt 27 passes.

It is preferable that the ends 22c and 22d of the stripping plate 22 to be fitted with the conical expanded inner surfaces 24a and 26a are also inclined in accordance therewith.

In this embodiment, the peeling plate 22 is
It can be replaced in case the board is damaged or the target flower is different. When replacing the stripping plate 22, the bolt 27 is removed, and the stripping plate retainer 26 is removed. Thereby, the stripping plate 22 can be removed in the axial direction along the groove 21a formed in the rotating shaft 21. After the stripping plate 22 is removed, a new or differently-sized stripping plate 22 prepared separately is inserted into the groove 21a, and its base 20 side end is inserted into the stripping plate guide 24. 26 is applied and a bolt 27 is screwed. By doing so, the peeling plate 22 can be easily attached.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3B, by appropriately changing the direction of the peeling plate 22, the rectangular protruding portion 22a of the peeling plate 22 and the groove therebetween are mixed in a plurality of blades. In this way, the calyx can be easily separated from the petals according to the type of the flower.

In this embodiment having the above structure, the worker places the calyx G of the flower F downward in the opening 3a of the belt conveyor at the position indicated by A in FIGS. 1 and 2, and inserts the calyx G into the opening 3a. The flower F is placed on the conveyor 3 (see FIG. 2). In this state, the belt conveyor 3 has an arrow M
As the roller moves in the direction shown by the arrow, the rubber roller 13 presses and holds the petal H of the flower F on the conveyor 3. In response to this, the rotating shaft 21 of the separating means provided below the belt conveyor 3 rotates, and the peeling plate 22 rotates the flower F.
Peel off the calyx G. In this case, it is preferable that the rotating shaft 21 of the separating means is rotated in the direction shown in FIG. While the belt conveyor 3 is moving, the calyx G is peeled off by the separating means and falls down, and the petals H are separated in a state where the calyx G is peeled off, so that the petals H are advanced in the exit direction of the belt conveyor 3,
There they are collected in a receiving box (not shown). That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, the lower end of the petal H is separated from the calyxed flower F attached to the calyx G as shown in FIG. The petals H are separated apart as shown in FIG.

As described above, the openings 3a formed in the belt conveyor 3 may be provided with two or more kinds of flowers, large and small, alternately in the longitudinal direction as shown in FIG. Is also good.

A plurality of openings 3a may be formed in the width direction of the belt conveyor 3. In this case, the openings 3a are preferably arranged in a staggered manner as shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 schematically shows another separating means for separating the calyx G. 7 is a motor 31 for rotating disc blade 32 having a rotation axis 31a orthogonal to the belt surface of the belt conveyor 3 mounted rotatably, a plurality of inwardly from the peripheral edge of the rotating disc blade 32 forming a notch.

As still another embodiment, a rotary plate similar to the rotary disk blade 32 of the separating means shown in FIG. 7 is made of an elastic member such as rubber or plastic such as urethane, and the calyx G is struck. Alternatively, the rotating disk blade 3 of the separating means shown in FIG.
A rotating plate similar to 2 may be prepared, and the periphery thereof may be covered or adhered with an elastic member such as rubber or plastic such as urethane so that the calyx G may be knocked.

[0040]

According to the present invention, a flower is used for separating a calyx from a petal by a separating means from under the belt conveyor while pressing a flower petal with a roller in a state where a calyx portion of the flower is inserted into an opening of the belt conveyor. The calyx is surely stripped from the petals,
This separates the petals. In this case, the petals are only subjected to the same appropriate pressing force as when picked with a finger, and the petals obtained without excessive damage are very similar to those separated by fingers. The product value is high. Further, the operator only needs to hold the flower and place the flower in the opening of the belt conveyor, and no excessive force is applied to the fingertip and tendonitis does not occur. Further, according to this device, productivity is remarkably higher than when petals are peeled off with a finger.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front view, partially in section, of an embodiment of the device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a separation means used in the present invention,
(A) is a perspective view, (b) is a cross-sectional view of (a), (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III of (b), and (d) is a cross-sectional view of a main part of another embodiment. .

FIG. 4 is a view showing the state of separation of petals of the present invention;
(A) is a perspective view of a flower with a calyx, (b) is a plan view of a separated petal, and (c) is a front view of the separated calyx.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a state in which an opening of the belt conveyor according to the present invention is formed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state in which an opening of the belt conveyor according to the present invention is formed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another separating means according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 3 belt conveyor 3a opening 8 belt receiver 11 lever 13 pressing roller 21 rotating shaft 22 peeling plate

Claims (10)

(57) [Claims] An opening penetrating from the front surface to the back surface is provided.
Belt conveyor for placing and transferring calyx flowers
A pressing roller pressed against the surface of the conveyor;
Provided on the back side of the belt conveyor corresponding to the pressure roller
Flower petals protruding from the opening of the belt conveyor
And a rotating shaft perpendicular to the conveying direction of the belt conveyor and parallel to the conveyor surface, and a plurality of peeling plates attached substantially radially from the rotating shaft. A petal separation device, comprising: 2. An opening penetrating from the front surface to the back surface.
Belt conveyor for placing and transferring calyx flowers
A pressing roller pressed against the surface of the conveyor;
Provided on the back side of the belt conveyor corresponding to the pressure roller
Flower petals protruding from the opening of the belt conveyor
Separating means for separating from the base.
The rotation axis orthogonal to the conveyor surface of the
A petal separating device comprising a rotating plate attached to a pivot, wherein the rotating plate has a plurality of cuts inward from a peripheral edge. 3. The petal separating device according to claim 2 , wherein a peripheral edge of the rotary plate is a blade. 4. The petal separator according to claim 2 , wherein a peripheral edge of the rotating plate is an elastic member. Wherein said pressing roller is rotatably supported by the swingable levers, one of claims 1-4, characterized in that is adapted to attach the weight to the lever 1
A petal separation device according to Item. 6. The petal separator according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing roller is biased toward the belt conveyor by a spring. 7. A petal of the separation device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that receiving belt on the back side of the belt edge of the conveyor belt is provided. 8. The petal separating device according to claim 7 , wherein the thickness of the belt receiver near the separating means is smaller than the thickness of the belt receiver at another position. 9. A belt conveyor provided with an opening penetrating from the front surface to the back surface for placing and transferring flowers with calyx, a belt receiver provided on a belt edge side on the back surface side of the belt conveyor,
A pressure roller rotatably supported by a movable lever and pressed toward the surface of the belt conveyor, and mounted in a radial direction of a rotation axis orthogonal to the transport direction of the belt conveyor and parallel to the conveyor surface; An apparatus for separating petals, comprising: means for separating the calyx of a flower having a large number of peeling plates from the petals. 10. The method of claim wherein the opening of the plurality of rows in a width direction of the belt conveyor is formed 1-9
The petal separating device according to any one of the above.