NL1042868B1 - A directional device for a targeted supply of products to be cut. - Google Patents

Abstract

Directing device for processing supply of spherical and elongated agricultural products to be cut, characterized in that the directed, singled product of a size with a large margin is supplied undamaged from the center of a water stream for processing. The individually spring-loaded guide fingers follow the raw product irrespective of shape and dimensions with the aim of guiding the specific product in question through a subsequent operation in an experimentally predetermined favorable passage. By linking the degree of deflection of the pointing fingers to an artificial neural network, the most advantageous and favorable passage can be set or adjusted progressively during production.

Description

© 1042868 © B1 PATENT (2?) Application number: 1042868 © Application submitted: 16 May 2018 © Int. Cl .:

B26D 1/02 (2018.01) B26D 7/06 (2018.01) (© Division of application, submitted (30) Priority:

Application registered: November 25, 2019 (43) Application published:

47) Patent granted:

November 2019 © Patent issued:

November 2019 © Patent holder (s):

Ebutech Holding BV in Hoogerheide © Inventor (s):

Cornells Adrianus den Boer in Hoogerheide Gijs Bert Braankerte Hoogerheide © Authorized representative:

No

54) Targeting device for a targeted supply of products to be cut.

Directing device for a processing supply of spherical and elongated agricultural products to be cut, characterized in that the directed, singled product of a size with a large margin is supplied undamaged from the center of a water stream for processing. The individually spring-loaded guide fingers follow the raw product irrespective of shape and dimensions for the purpose of guiding the specific product in question through a subsequent operation in an experimentally predetermined favorable passage. By linking the degree of deflection of the pointing fingers to an artificial neural network, the most advantageous and favorable passage can be set or adjusted progressively during production.

NL B1 1042868

This patent has been granted regardless of the attached result of the research into the state of the art and written opinion. The patent corresponds to the documents originally submitted.

Title: Targeting device for a targeted supply of products to be cut.

The present invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a straightening device (algin) for directed processing supply of products, such as spherical agricultural products, vegetables, fruit and other round-like or elongated products in general, which are generally in a liquid flow, usually consisting of water, - horizontally, obliquely or vertically - is supplied in the direction of an exchangeable knife block provided with cutting blades.

Targeted transit / supply here relates to orientation of the products that is comfortable for the product, in succession, in and or to a subsequent operation, such as cutting into pieces or applying notches; wherein orientation of products when packaging them can also be seen as an operation.

The aligning device can be placed in a wet or in a dry production process, positioned such that the alignment precedes the operations: cutting and / or dividing into generally elongated strips or strips, as is known when dividing potatoes into French fries with a preferably square cross-section, but a star-shaped, round or whatever shape, also belongs to the present target group of end products.

The products to be divided are not only limited to potatoes; the present cutting device can serve all kinds of vegetable products and fruit products, as well as agricultural products and the like, as well as other foodstuffs, such as confectionery and other confectionery products, can be brought into a container in a targeted manner or can be placed in a package with a desired orientation of products.

The present cutting device relates, as an illustrative example, to a centrally arranged hydro-cutting device, wherein the transport medium generally relates to clean water, but other liquid substances, such as liquid mixtures of salt / water or sugar / water, etc. are among the practical possibilities, as shown. in the European patent EU 0.565.176 and NL 1031610 and

NL1038863, of which the present invention can form the central cutting portion.

Similar patents of centrally positioned product cutters are US 4135002, DE 1194193, EP 0499668, US2004194597 and US 4275086.

Similar patents for targeting products are NL2002866, as well as NL1038863 and NL1042436.

The present cutting device relates in relation to previous comparable patents a decentralized (with the emphasis off center) hydro cutting device. Decentralized cutting of the flow of products is based on the theoretical calculation model, in which the patent under number NL1042436 is based for the sake of convenience of a circular cross-section of a product, which is cut into equal square-shaped cross-sections. It is mathematically clear that the total added surface area of the non-square product cross-sections that are less than half the surface area in product cross-section (- unusable cut product waste; for example, slivers) is smaller than when the same product crosses the center would be transported from the same knife divided into squares. For factory processing this can save tons in product weight per day, which shows that the present invention can lead to large financial savings.

In a conventional hydroplating device, the fluted products of a certain square sorting to be cut (about 20 per second of, for example, the sorting 40-70 mm in succession on), are guided at high speed (10 to 20 meters per second) and carried by a transport - water jet and supplied by means of a calibrated round water / product passage to the cutting knife block (tunnel block) and when passed through a gridded cutting knife completely cut into usually an elongated product, such as elongated fries made from roundish potatoes.

Depending on the roundness of the potato to be sliced, as a product, for example, a cut of fries elongated from the inside to the outside with a decreasing length is viewed from the inside to the outside.

The usability and therefore also the price of the cut raw material product in the cutting process is determined by the shape and the length of the cut product.

The amount of so-called slivers and nubbins (being too small product segments) determine the efficiency of the cutting process in a negative sense.

As much length as possible should be cut from a round-like product with as little waste / loss as possible (slivers and nubbins), which has led to the present invention, wherein the product to be cut (e.g. potatoes) in transit on preferably two sides of touches the polygonal cutting passage of the cutting blade. See also the patents under the numbers NL1038863 and NL1042436.

In principle, in the known variants the cutting process in question is also aimed for the lowest possible cutting energy required and therefore for the lowest possible cutting speed (kinetic energy or kinetic energy is a form of energy in classical dynamics due to inertia of mass and is directly proportional to mass (in kg) and the square of the speed.

(in m / sec).

Too much energy added to the product by the water results in a too high cutting speed of the product, as a result of which cut damage (feathering and shattering or fraying, and transverse cracks caused by compression) occur on the cut surface of the end product. In later processing, such as frying, unwanted cooking oil can take place here (resulting in so-called too-fat French fries).

By applying gradual constrictions in the passage (acceleration) of the water flow filled with aggregated products, the throughput speed of the aggregated product can simply be increased to a desired cutting speed in accordance with and in proportion to the water speed.

Therefore, a narrowing disturbance in the feed-through passage (for example when placing resilient guide or control arms in the feed-through) can lead to a higher feed speed, hence the present invention has opted for an enlarged and deformed feed-through, within which the guide arms / handlebars - the poor perform their functions, namely: guiding and steering from the center.

Parallel cutting and aligning devices arranged in parallel can each be equipped with gridded identical cutting blocks, so that the desired cutting capacities can be achieved and replaced in the event of calamities without production stagnation. So-called knife block exchangers can also be used for this purpose, whereby another equally dimensioned knife block is slid for the directional devices.

Due to the separate springs of the contact and control elements, products can be oriented in a desired manner for positioning the product, such that they pass through the transport channel at the desired translation position, whereby some variation in product dimensions is permitted.

(for example the spread in dimensions 40-70 in mm) The contact elements dragging and spreading over the products work without touching, steering and following during every instantaneous position of the product in the transit channel, without drag damage (such as feathering) being applied to the product need to be, depending on the machine settings determined experimentally.

The contact fingers, which do not touch each other, can, due to the contact with the potatoes, independently move about the slotted plate stops over sliding axles. These displacements are in accordance with the size and shape of the single potato. It is conceivable here that with a certain average size and average forms of potatoes there is a most favorable cutting position through the cutting knife over an average batch of potatoes of for example 1 ton in order to obtain as little waste as possible (slivers and nubbits).

By applying machine learning or by using an artificial neural network, it is possible to determine gradually from the start of cutting a batch of potatoes by means of fast and intelligent computers, which should be the most favorable passage through the cutting knife in order to produce as little waste as possible.

The directional displacement can serve as an indication of the size and size of the potatoes to be cut. Hereby, the cutting blade can be moved in a certain direction or the directional unit adjusted differently.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to drawings, in which by way of an exemplary embodiment the single cutting device is selected, which is provided with an aligner, prior to a knife block.

The present cutting device is constructed in such a way that rapid interchangeability for cleaning and maintenance, even automatically, during the cutting process are possible.

Preferably, the description of the present invention does not only refer to length and diameter dimensions.

In the descriptions below, the same or corresponding parts have the same or corresponding reference numerals.

The terms left, right, top, bottom, horizontal, vertical, front and / or rear are used as indications with respect to the plane of drawing in the respective figures.

Details, applications, and methods of structural embodiments belonging to the present invention with the intended technical results will be described in a descriptive manner with reference to Figs. 1 to 8.

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement overview in oblique side view of the hydro-cutting device.

Fig. 2 shows the front view of the hydro-cutting device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of a straightening fixture.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the present directing and tensioning device with a smaller potato.

Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the present straightening and tensioning device with a larger potato.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the straightening fixture.

Fig. 7 shows a view of the forked middle fingers.

Fig. 8 shows a view of two sprung forked middle fingers.

Fig. 1 shows an arrangement overview in oblique side view of the hydro-cutting device 1, of which the straightening and cutting device 2 according to the present invention forms part.

The introduction of the uncut bulk product, in this example, the uncut potatoes of a certain spread in dimensions, into the hydro-cutting device 1, takes place above the pump trough 3, designed as an input trough obliquely towards the electrically driven product-delivery pump unit 4, which is furthermore also fed by all the receding water, leakage water and all the water used as a means of transport, supplemented, if necessary, with fresh water, for both the uncut potatoes and for the transport of the cut fries.

The water pumped upwards by the delivery pump 5 through the pump line 6 with the uncut potatoes carried therein or not centrally supplied therein is pressed together in the direction of the flow meter 7, whereafter the acceleration tube 8 and the present aligning device of the aligning device respectively , clamping and cutting device 2 is passed in order to pass the knife block 9 one after the other, positioned and directed and at the correct speed.

By means of the measured transport values - measured by the flow meter 7 - an indication is obtained of the transport speed corresponding to the cutting speed; whether or not there is laminar or turbulent flow, the pump output and the amount of potatoes to be transported to be cut.

If the transport value (number of Reynolds (Re)) is greater than 4000, the flow is certainly turbulent; if this number is less than 2000, the flow is certainly laminar. In between these two values, they are small influences that can considerably influence the flow pattern.

By means of the directing, tensioning and cutting device 2, the potatoes to be sliced are directed and guided in the direction of the knife or cutting block 9 in order to be cut eccentrically from the center of the knife block 9 according to the present invention.

For the sake of simplicity, the directing, tensioning and cutting device 2 may be a conical supply pipe for certain products, but may also comprise a directing and tensioning unit 10 to be further described in accordance with the present invention.

The structural embodiments of the aiming and tensioning unit 9 are explicitly within the present invention.

After the cutting block 8, the cut product with the remaining (non-leaked) transport water is discharged jointly via the conical flange 11 and (in this example from top to bottom) through the syphon tube 12. Within the conical flange 10 and the siphon tube 12 a velocity sheet of the cut product and the water takes place due to the enlarged inner diameter.

At a relatively low speed, the products then, together with a more calm water flow, pass through a siphon tube 12 over a dewatering conveyor belt 13, which is positioned over the full width above the pump trough 3. Hereby the cut product is separated from the reusable transport water and the clean and cut product disappears according to arrow 14 in the direction of a processing, not further specified.

The leakage water from the directing, tensioning and cutting device 2 returns via the drip tray 15 to the pump tray 3.

The entire hydro-cutting device 1 is further contained in a frame 16 provided with supports 17 and platings and enclosures not further specified.

In short: The present invention mainly focuses on the aiming, tensioning and cutting device 2 in relation to the position of the knife block 9.

Fig. 2 shows the front view of the hydroprocessing device 1 of Fig. 1, showing at the top the alignment, tensioning and cutting device 2 as the present invention, as well as the pump tray 3, the electrically driven product delivery pump unit 4, the delivery pump 5 , the pump line 6, the flow meter 7, the siphon tube 12, the dewatering conveyor belt 13, the cut product according to arrow 14, the frame 16 provided with some supports 17.

Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a directing and tensioning device 18, wherein the right-hand flange 19 connects to the acceleration tube 8 of Fig. 1.

For better insight and clarity, the left-hand flange 20 is shown cut-through and the slotted plate (38 from Fig. 4) has been omitted.

The potatoes, not further specified, pass through the straightening, tensioning and cutting device 18, as indicated by the arrows 21, which are directed in the direction of the knife block not yet indicated, which is detachably connected to the left flange 20.

The right flange 19 and the left flange 20 are connected to each other by means of the largely watertight gutter 22, which can be smooth, ribbed or perforated; in view of the low frictional resistance on the potatoes.

The pointing fingers: in this example one after the other eight times pointing fingers 23 and eight times their mirrored pointing fingers 24 and the seven times forked middle fingers 25 and the once executed front unforked middle finger 26. All pointing fingers 23 are resiliently slidably adjusted and arranged over the star arranged sliding shaft 27. All forked middle fingers 25 and non-forked middle finger 26 are resiliently adjusted and slidably arranged over the rigidly arranged sliding shaft 28. All directional fingers 24 are resiliently adjusted and slidably arranged over the rigidly arranged sliding shaft 29 behind the drawing.

The adjustable positions of the fingers 23 to 26 are determined in accordance with Fig. 3 by the tensioned springs 30, 31 and 32, the stop rings 33 and the adjusting nuts 34. The tensioned springs 30, 31 and 32 can be set differently from each other, al depending on the required clamping on the potatoes at the beginning of the aligning and tensioning device 18, in the center of the aligning tensioning device 18 and at the end of the aligning and tensioning device 18; in any case matched to each other in such a way that the potatoes enter the outgoing connection opening 35 to the knife block (not shown) in a decentralized manner.

The fingers 23 to 26 that point to the front enclose the potatoes as much as possible (which may vary slightly in size within the sorting) at the top, such that the potatoes are forcefully directed and guided depending on the size of the potato .

Naturally, a small potato will experience fewer control and clamping forces than a larger potato for that reason, that the indentation of the corresponding spring tension is greater.

The point shapes of the steel or plastic target fingers 23 to 26 are experimentally dimensioned such that they do not damage the uncut products.

For example, the tip of the front middle finger 26 is spoon-shaped.

Furthermore, in FIG. 3 visualized whether or not waterproofing plating 36, which seamlessly connects to the gutter 22.

Fig. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the present straightening and tensioning device 18 from Fig. 3. A small potato 37 is shown such that it is surrounded in the water flow by a left-hand pointing finger 23, by a right-hand mirrored to pointing finger 23. pointing finger 24 and a forked middle finger 25 and possibly through, in this example, the once forefront non-forked middle finger 26.

The sliding shafts 27, 28 and 29 together with the invisible tensioned springs 30, 31, 32 of Fig. 3 provide the necessary pressing forces via the moments created, because the direction fingers 23 to 26 are arranged in a hinged manner in the frequently bent slotted plate 38. The contours of the slots 39, 40 and 41 are made visible in the slot plate 38. Through the slots 39, 40 and 41, water can escape from the large product / water flow and possibly end up in the drip tray 15 of Fig. 1 via further leakage.

Furthermore, Fig. 4 shows the possibly ribbed guide 42 on the underside of the trough 22, as an exemplary embodiment.

Due to the smaller size of the potato 37, the pointed fingers shown will pivot less far about the corresponding slot and thereby press less hard on potato 37.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the present straightening and tensioning device 18 with a larger potato 43 below the pointing fingers 23, 24 and 25. Hereby follow the resilience of the invisible tensioned springs 30,31,32 from FIG. 3 for the necessary pressing forces via the moments created, because the pointing fingers 23 to 25 are freely hinged in the frequently bent slotted plate 38.

The contours of the slots 39, 40 and 41 are again made visible in the slot plate 38. Water can escape through the slots 39, 40 and 41 from the large product / water flow and possibly end up in the drip tray 15 via further leakage.

Because of the larger potato contours, the pointed fingers shown will move more and therefore press harder on the larger potato 43.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the straightening tensioning device 16, wherein the frequently bent slotted plate 38 is partially shown between the right flange 19 and the left flange 20. It can be seen that the left pointing finger 23 protrudes through the slot 39 and is pivotable as such around the slot 39. The same is the case with the pointing fingers 24, 25 and 26, as is also shown in the relevant figures.

Further, in Fig. 6, the trough 22 is visible, as well as the watertight cladding 36, the three identical sliding shafts 27, 28 and 29, which are mounted non-rotatably either in the right-hand flange 19 or in the left-hand flange 20.

Fig. 7 shows a view of the forked middle fingers 25, with the imaginary hinge line 44 being made visible. The sliding shaft 28 shown in Fig. 6 runs through the relatively large finger hole 45.

The imaginary hinge line 44 corresponds to the touch line of the slot 40 of Fig. 4.

The forked middle fingers 25, like the pointing fingers 23, 24, the forked middle fingers 25 and the non-forked middle finger 26, can be made of one and the same material, but can also be mutually made of different materials, such as stainless steel, plastic and / or of hard rubber etc.

The right material can be determined experimentally.

The directional arrow 45 indicates the conveying direction of the potatoes, this forked middle finger 25 guiding the potatoes supplied by the water mid-top or almost mid-top and giving direction together with the laterally positioned guide fingers 23, 24 and the closed middle finger 26 at the end of the potatoes to be controlled in the decentralized direction of the cutting knife block 9 of Fig. 1, in which the potatoes are cut into French fries in the most advantageous manner and with the greatest possible efficiency.

FIG. 8 shows a view of two sprung forked middle fingers 25, wherein the springs 46 and 47 are clamped by the combination clamping nuts 48, 49 and the combination clamping nuts 50, 51, respectively.

The sliding shaft 28 indicated in Fig. 6 runs through the relatively large finger hole 45.

The imaginary hinge lines 44 correspond to the touch lines of the slot 40 of Figures 4 and 5.

Claims (15)

CONCLUSIONS Device for processing a supply of spherical and elongated agricultural products to be cut, characterized in that the product is supplied from the center for processing. 2. A straightening device according to claim 1, characterized in that the transport medium of the product is generally a water stream. A straightening device according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the products are guided and guided in succession in an oriented manner. Orientation device according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the required dimensions of the products fall within a wide margin. Orientation device according to claims 1 to 4, characterized in that targeted orientations when packaging products fall to the present invention. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that when decentralized cutting of a stream of products to multiple cross-sectional sections, much less unusable product waste is created and therefore entails a great financial advantage. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that in the present invention the singular products may fall within a certain wide range. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the product is not damaged and / or is compressed too much (tow damage). Orientation device according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each direction finger is individually adjustable with regard to spring contact pressure. Targeting device according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that each pointing finger exerts a controlling influence on the product individually. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that each straightening finger follows the product regardless of shape and dimensions. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the resilient straightening fingers, while steering, follow each other's functions without drag damage up to the entrance of the knife block. Orienting device according to claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the finger adjustments can be adjusted for each product type separately by trial and error. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 13, characterized in that no single straight finger can get stuck under another straight finger. A straightening device according to claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the present invention can be used for an artificial neural network, wherein the most advantageous and favorable passage of the unprocessed product is set or adjusted progressively during production. ι8- "2"