US2286352A

US2286352A - Vegetable peeler

Info

Publication number: US2286352A
Application number: US322561A
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert W Eakins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1940-03-06
Filing date: 1940-03-06
Publication date: 1942-06-16
Anticipated expiration: 1959-06-16

Description

June 16, 1942. H W EAKlNS 2,286,352

VEGETABLE PEELER Filed `March 6, 1940 FIL-hl FIG-5 w P Mm raw/v aan? C010 TIN@ 0F Patented June 16, 1942 y' UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE VEGETABLE PEELER Herbert W. Eakins, Springfield, Ohio Application March 6, 1940, Serial No. 322,561

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to peeling machines, and more particularly to that type of machine for peeling potatoes and other vegetables, in which the receptacle for holding the vegetables to be peeled is provided at its bottom with a rotatable disc on which the mass of vegetables rests. The upper surface of the disc and the interior wall of the receptacle are usually provided with abrasive surfaces whereby the skins of the vegetables are scoured or removed therefrom.

The primary object of the present invention is to increase the efficiency and output of this type of machine. Whereas in the prior-art form of machine the rotatable disc is continually rotated, in my improved machine, as will be described hereinafter, this disc is oscillated, thereby increasing the relative velocities between the potatoes and the abrasive surfaces and thus enhancing the skin-peeling effects.

Another feature, according to the present invention, is the use of an improved agitator secured to the rotatable disc which performs not only the agitating function but also serves to secure the abrasive disc to the spider which is oscillated by the operating mechanism.

In still another aspect of the invention I have provided an improved abrasive surface that is completely covered with a vitreous enamel and therefore is highly sanitary, and yet the keenness of the cutting or scouring edges of the abrasive particles is not appreciably affected.

Other objects and features will be apparent from a perusal of the specification in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken across the improved peeling machine, but with certain portions of the operating mechanism in elevation. e

Figure 2 Vis a plan View looking down on top of the machine.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the rotary disc tilted slightly in perspective to show fastening of the agitator wire.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing one of the ways in which the abrasive material can be secured to the rotating disc and the side of the receptacle, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 5 shows still another method of securing the abrasive particles to the metal.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View, in diagram, showing a modified actuating mechanism for oscillating the machine,

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 3, the numeral I designates a deep drawn metal receptacle of cylindrical conguration, closed Aat the bottom as indicated at I except for a pair of openings 2, and having a rolled-over edge 3 at the top. This edge supports a flat webbed bar il. This bar is provided with a portion 5 which overhangs the receptacle I and has a depending flange E which lits snugly into the interior of the receptacle I at the diametral portion thereof. The flange members Ii are secured to the receptacle I by means of screw bolts, indicated at 6. The bar is also provided at the center with a depending hub portion 'I which serves as the upper bearing for a vertical shaft 8. The lower end of this shaft is mounted in a bearing 9 which is secured in any suitable and wellknown manner to the bottom plate I. The bottom plate I is provided with a depressed peripheral portion so as to confine the watery contents of the receptacle to this position. The openings 2 are preferably located in this depressed portion.

The shaft 8 is extended upwardly beyond the bar 4 and terminates in a bevel gear or pinion I. This gear is supported in a horizontal plane by the lower leg of a U-shaped bracket II, the vertical arms of which, at their upper ends, serve as bearings for a relatively large bevel ring gear I2. The teeth of the gear I2 mesh with the bevel gear I0. The side of the ring gear I2 opposite the teeth is provided with a slot formed by a pair of upstanding projections I3, which slot slidably engages one end of a relatively long lever I4, the latter serving as the actuating element for rotating the gear I2. The lever may be held within the slots by a pair of bolts I5. The bar 4 is provided with an opening I6 which is adapted to receive the nozzle of a hose II through which water may be supplied to the interior of the receptacle I.

The shaft 8 carries at its lower end av spider I8 of heavy metal, and is provided with a hub I9 pinned to the shaft as indicated at 2. The spider may take any suitable conguration, but as shown in Figure 3, this element is constituted of four arms 20 arranged in quadrature. This spider supports a disc 2I which has a pair of openings 22 near the outer periphery for receiving a rod member 23, which is spaced from the disc by means of Washers 24 and is provided with hooked ends 24 which project through the openings 22 and hook over the lower surface of the spider I8. The rod 23 thus serves to secure the disc 2| to the spider, and in order to increase the effectiveness by which this securement is 0b tained the lower surface of the spider may be provided with a flange portion indicated at in Figure 3, on which the hooked portions of the rod 23 can obtain a good grip. It will be noted that, due to the spacing effect of the washers 24, the horizontal portion of the rod 23 is spaced a distance upwardly from the disc 2|, this space being indicated in Figure 1 of the drawing at 26. As will be pointed out hereinafter the rod 23, in addition to serving as a securing means between the disc and the spider, also has the important function of causing the vegetable content of the receptacle I to be agitated as the disc 2| is oscillated.

Practically the entire interior surface of the receptacle I and the entire upper surface of the disc 2| are provided with an abrasive coating. This coating is of an improved character, and is highly efcacious in removing the skins or outer coverings of the vegetables placed Within the receptacle. The coating, in enlarged detail, is shown in Figure 4, while Figure 5 illustrates a modified form of coating. The entire interior cylindrical surface of the receptacle I, also the upper surface of the disc 2|, has rst applied thereto, in accordance with the coating shown in Figure 4, a layer of a vitreous enamel. This enamel may include a water solvent.

When the enamel has partially dried and is in a sticky condition, small particles of quartz, 'Y

flint or sand, of a size normally employed in connection with sand blasting, may be blown or otherwise forcibly caused to stick to the enamel coating. It is preferred that the quartz, flint or sand particles shall be caused to enter the coatcles to be rigidly held to the metal foundation;

Another way of applying the abrasive coating is shown in Figure 5, in which after the sand or quartz particles have been embedded in the enamel coating to the proper depth, a very thin watery solution of the enamel is sprayedover y the sand or quartz particles so that upon baking the enamel represents a continuous body, covering all of the sand particles, but the superficial layer of enamel is so thin as not to interfere with the keenness of the cutting edges normally present on the sand or quartz particles. By providing the enamel over the top surface of each sand particle without destroying its cutting or scouring effects, a surface is provided which is determined solely by the quality of the enamel and not by the quality of the sand or quartz. Thus greater sanitary effects are obtained, in addition to the added effect that each sand particle is completely embedded in the enamel so that it is absolutely impossible for even a single particle to be dislodged from the surface of the metal plate after the enamel has completely hardened.

As shown in the drawing, the upper edge of the receptacle I is left free of coating material, and in order to limit the height of the coating in a practical manner it may be desirable to provide the receptacle I with an outwardly extending bead 28 which may be rolled or otherwise formed in the metal. A barrier (not shown) may be in- Sorted in the bead during the coating process to confine the abradant coating to a position between the barrier and the bottom of the receptacle. The barrier is then removed. The upper portion of the receptacle I, that is beyond the bead 28, may also have applied thereto an enamel coating but preferably without the addition of sand or quartz, so that the depending flanges 6 may contact with a smooth surface on the receptacle. The bottom I of the receptacle is also left free of the abradant material, but if desired this portion of the receptacle may be provided with a plain enamel surface, that is without the sand or quartz particles, which surface will provide a sanitary effect. Thus it is seen that the entire interior of the receptacle I is coated with enamel, and in addition that portion of the interior between the bead 28 and the bottom I', also the upper surface of the disc 2| have abradant particles either sticking out partialll7 from the enamel surface, as indicated in Figure 4, or completely embedded in the enamel coating as shown in Figure 5.

Operation In order to operate the machine, the vegetables to be peeled, particularly potatoes, are thrown in at the top of the receptacle and fall onto the disc.2|. The hose I1 is then placed in position, permitting water to flow into the receptacle downwardly along the periphery of the disc 2| and out through the water drain opening 2. The lever or handle I4 is then actuated in a vertical path up and down, causing the gear I2 to oscil. late, which oscillations are transferred through the pinion I0 to cause rocking of the shaft 8. The disc 2|, which is effectively secured to the shaft through the spider I8 and the rod 23, takes on an angular motion the speed of which is controlled by the reciprocations of the lever I'4 and the gear ratio between the gear elements I2 and l0.

The rod 2|, which moves with the disc, catches the lower surfaces of these vegetables resting directly on the disc and causes these vegetables to move Yfirst in one direction at a considerable speed and then in the opposite direction as the disc is oscillated. This agitation gives a violent motion to the vegetables as a Whole, due to the centrifugal speed acquired by those vegetables resting directly on the disc, so that as this motion is arrested by the immediatelysucceeding excursion of the disc the effect is to cause the potatoes,

' or other vegetables, to rub against the abradant surfaces of the receptacle and the disc with considerable force. Thus the outer skins of the vegetables are quickly removed by the abrading effects of the sand or quartz'particles which are secured in the enamel. .Inasmuch as the depth of the cutting edges of the sand or quartz abradant is relatively small only the outer skins of the vegetables are removed leaving the mineral salts, which collect at the outer portion of the vegetable still intact. Y

While I am aware of the fact that abradant surfaces have heretofore been employed to scrape the outer skin layer of vegetables, I have found that `due to the reciprocatory manner in which the disc 2| is rotated at considerable speed by simply operating the lever I4, the very considerable centrifugal effect acquired by the vegetables, particularly at the time the discis changing its direction of rotation, is so great that a machine of the character described is far more effective -in peeling vegetables' than those of the prior art.

Moreover, the rod 23 constitutes a veryY simple form of agitator which can be readily replaced, and in addition serves the other purpose of detachably securing the disc 2| to the spider I8'. The rod 23 is preferably of circular cross section so as not to cut or in any other manner mar the vegetables as it causes the latter to move first in one direction and then in the other, thus leaving to the abrading surfaces the sole function of removing the peel. It will be understood that while the greatest shuffling effect on the potatoes takes place at a level where the rod 23 contacts the potatoes, the rest of the charge of potatoes also partakes, at least to some extent, of the oscillatory motion during this backing and filling operation. The entire charge of potatoes is therefore subjected to the abrasive action of the sand or quartz particles. During this scraping operation water is let in through the hose I1 and the peelings, which look somewhat similar to bran flakes, are carried by the water through the openings 2. The water is introduced into the receptacle preferably at the center, as illustrated, and on flowing vertically downward the water is swished radially outward by centrifugal effects of the oscillatory disc and the rod 23. This causes a strong scouring action on the disc. The water carrying the peelings finds direct egress from the receptacle at the openings 2, which are positioned directly in line with the ow of the water as it leaves the periphery of the disc.

It is apparent that instead of arranging the pinion l on a Vertical axis and the ring gear on a horizontal axis I may, if desired, move these a'xes 90 degress in the fom of a wellknown gear train so that the lever I4 may be operated in a horizontal rather than a vertical direction. This arrangement has been shown in Figure 6. It is also apparent that inasmuch as the abrasive particles are held in the enamel to a depth above their greatest dimension, as seen in Figure 4, or as shown in Figure 5 the particles are completely embedded in the enamel but still leaving the cutting edges effective, the particles are completely entrapped by the enamel thus preventing any loosening whatsoever of the particles from the metal. The entire interior of the receptacle I is completely sanitary and can be readily scrubbed or cleaned in any other manner without disturbing the abrasive effects of the embedded particles. In order to assure a sanitary condition for the outer surface of the receptacle, this surface may also be treated with a suitable form of enamel and baked, as in the case of the interior surface. It may also be found desirable to enamel the under side of the disc 2l, but leaving oif the abrasive particles.

It will be understood that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A machine for peeling vegetables provided with a metal inclosure having a metal disc near the bottom thereof, the interior surface of the inclosure and the upper surface of the disc being coated with an enamel containing abrasive particles, all of said particles being embedded in the enamel to such a depth that the enamel covers the greatest dimension of each particle.

2. A machine for peeling vegetables provided with a metal inclosure having a metal disc near the bottom thereof, the interior surface of the inclosure and the upper surface of the disc being coated with an enamel, abrasive particles all embedded in said enamel, and a thin layer of enamel sprayed over all of said particles whereby each particle is completely inclosed within the enamel but the cutting edges of each particle remain effective.

3. A peeling machine comprising a receptacle for vegetables to be peeled and a revoluble disc having an abrasive surface, a rod extending over the entire diametral length of said disc but spaced therefrom and adapted to agitate the vegetables to be peeled.

4. A machine for peeling vegetables provided with a metal cylinder, a rotatable shaft extending along the axis of the cylinder and secured to a spider at the bottom, a disc resting on said spider and means including a rod extending over said disc for clamping the disc to the spider, said disc and the interior of the cylinder being coated with an abradant material, and means for rocking said shaft whereby the vegetable content is agitated by said rod causing all surfaces of the Vegetables to be presented successively to the abrasive surfaces of the cylinder and disc.

5. A machine for peeling vegetables provided with a metal cylinder, a rotatable shaft extending along the axis of the cylinder and secured to a spider at the bottom, a disc resting on said spider, the upper surface of said disc and the interior surface of said cylinder being coated with an abradant material, means for rotating said shaft, and means in common for securing the disc to said spider and for agitating the vegetables in the cylinder whereby each portion of the surface of each vegetable is presented successively to the abradant material, said means comprising a rod which extends over a substantial portion of the disc.

6. A machine for peeling vegetables provided with a metal cylinder, a rotatable shaft extending along the axis of the cylinder and secured to a spider at the bottom, a disc resting on said spider, the upper surface of said disc and the interior surface of said cylinder being coated with an abradant material, means including a rod which extends over a substantial portion of the disc and parallel thereto for detachably securing said disc to the spider, and means for rotating said shaft.

'7. A machine for peeling vegetables provided with a metal cylinder, a rotatable shaft extendingalong the axis of the cylinder and secured to a spider at the bottom, a disc resting on said spider, the upper surface of said disc and the interior surface of said cylinder being coated with an abradant material, means for rotating said shaft, and means in common for securing the disc to said spider and for agitating the vegetables in the cylinder whereby each portion o1' the surface of each vegetable is presented successively to the abradant material, said lastmentioned means comprising a rod which extends over said disc and hooks about the lower edge of the spider.

HERBERT W. EAKINS.