US3540505A

US3540505A - Comminuting device

Info

Publication number: US3540505A
Application number: US779948A
Authority: US
Inventors: Immanuel Buck
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1967-12-01
Filing date: 1968-11-29
Publication date: 1970-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1987-11-17

Description

United States Patent 3,330,317 7/1967 Schaller 146/67 FOREIGN PATENTS 554,591 2/1957 Belgium 146/67 Primary Examiner-W. Graydon' Abercrombie Attorney-Michael S. Striker ABSTRACT: In a comminuting device a combination is provided which includes a rotary shaft member whose outer circumferential surface is composed of a plurality of facets which are mutually inclined in circumferential direction of the shaft member. At least one set of cutter blades is mounted on the shaft member against rotation relative thereto and extends transversely thereof. The set includes a plurality of cutter blades exceeding in number the plurality of facets and each provided with a cutting edge. All cutting edges are angularly offset relative to one another in circumferential direction and none of the cutting edges overlap one another in axial direction of the shaft member Patented Nov. 17, 1970 3,540,505

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COMMINUTING DIVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to comminuting devices in general, and more particularly to comminuting devices finding use in comminuting of meat or the like. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a cutter arrangement for such comminuting devices.

In the comminution of meat and similar articles, for instance sausage fillings or the like, the cutter blades of the comminuting device must be capable of exerting strong torque forces. For this purpose they are mounted on rotary shafts of polygonal cross section. This prevents the possibility of relative rotation between the cutter blades and the shaft.

in known comminuting devices of this type the cutter blades are arranged, as seen with respect to the circumference of the shaft of polygonal cross section, with angular spacing which is dictated by the angles included between the circumferentially adjacent facets provided on the outer circumferential surface 1 of the shaft member. This angular spacing is relatively significant and, furthermore, if cutter blades of different directions of flow are mounted on the shaft member, the angular spacing between the knives is sometimes unequal. This is disadvantageous because the drive motor which drives the rotary shaft is subjected to unequal loads as a result of this and must be dimensioned considerably larger than would otherwise be necessary because of the intermittently occurring demand peaks.

A further disadvantage of these constructions is the fact that as a result of the aforementioned problems the bearings for the shaft member are subjected to high loads and that the apparatus is very noisy during comminution of meat or the like.

Prior art constructions of this type have been sought to be improved with respect to their mixing capacity by affixing on the rotary shaft a number of cutter blades which is greater than the number of facets of the shaft. However, only as many of the cutter blades as there are facets on the shaft can be circumferentially offset with respect to one another; the remaining cutter blades are arranged in parallel with the others. in other words, regarding the cutter blades mounted on the shaft member in axial direction of the latter, the cutting edges of the remaining cutter blades in excess of the number corresponding to the facets on the shaft member, will overlap with cutting edges of at least one other cutter blade. This still further increases the peak loads, particularly on the bearings for the shaft member, and accordingly the peak loads required to be withstood by the drive motor and also the noise factor is still increased. Beyond all this, the increase in mixing capacity obtained in this manner is still not particularly satisfactory.

it is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome these aforementioned disadvantages.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a construction wherein the loads upon the bearings for the shaft member and upon the drive motor are reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a construction wherein the noise factor during comminuting is decreased.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide a construction of the type under discussion wherein the mixing capacity of the device is considerably increased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision ofa comminuting device, particularly a cutter for meat, which includes the combination of a rotary shaft member having an outer circumferential surface composed of a plurality of facets which are mutually inclined in circumferential direction of the shaft member, and at least one set of cutter blades mounted on the shaft member against relative rotation with respectto the shaft member and extending transversely thereof.

In accordance withmy invention the set of cutter blades includes a plurality of blades which exceeds in number the plurality of facetson the shaft member, and each of the cutter blades is provided with a cutting edge. All of the cutting edges are, in accordance with my invention, angularly offset relative to one another incircumferential direction of the shaft member and one of the, cutting edges overlap one another as seen in axial direction of the shaft member.

For purposes of convenience the relationship may be expressed by stating that the set of cutter blades comprises n m blades, with n the number of facets of the shaft member and m being a whole number.

By resorting to my novel invention l considerably increase the mixing capacity and multiplication speed of the apparatus and reduce the possibility of backing-up of the material being comminuted because it can now pass relatively freely between the cutter blades of the set of blades. Furthermore, the loads exerted upon the drive motor and the bearings for the shaft member are reduced because the load is now substantially constant; in the case of the drive motor this permits the use of motors having lesser strength and in the case of bearings this is obviously advantageous, particularly if the shaft member is provided with floating bearings. Finally, the apparatus is con siderably less noisy than was possible to achieve heretofore.

It should be understood that the advantages just outlined are obtained without encountering compensatory disadvantages. By utilizing the possibility, obtained in accordance with the present invention, to use more cutter blades of different direction of flow than was heretofore possible, the cutting, mixing and emulsifying of the material being comminuted is still further improved. It is advantageous if the .cutter blades of identical direction of throw or flow are so distributed circumferentially of the rotary shaft member as to obtain optimum balancing effect of these cutter blades with reference to one another. Thus, it is for instance possible to have two cutter blades of identical direction of throw offset diametrically with reference to one another, and advantageously to have them located adjacent one another with respect to the axial direction of the shaft member. If the shaft member is for example provided with six facets, optimum balancing may be obtained by having three cutter blades of identical direction of throw and identical configuration offset circumferentially of the shaft member by each, and by having them located adjacent one another. Other possibilities will come readily to mind for those skilled in the art;

The cutting edges of the cutter blades may be of any desired conf guration determined by the type of cutting which is to be carried out. Advantageously, the cutter blades will each have a base portion mounted on the shaft member and a free tip portion spaced from the base portion and from the shaft member, with the cutting edges each extending from the respective tip portion towards the associated base portion and each including a first cutting edge portion which extends from the tip portion towards the base portion and a second cutting edge portion which extends from the base portion towards the first cutting edge portion, with the first and second cutting edge portions each including a different tangent with the circle described by the tip portions when the shaft member is rotated. This results in particularly good cutting and mixing of the material and in particular low noise levels.

An arrangement which is particularly advantageous for comminuting and mixing sausage meats, and which results in optimum counterbalancing of the cutter blades, provides for subdividing the n m cutter blades into k groups, each of which has p cutter blades, with p n, and with the cutter blades of each group having identical direction of flow. To further improve cutting and mixing action it is advantageous that the cutter blades of each group have a direction of throw differing from the direction of throw of the cutter blades of the other groups. Of course, if desired the cutter blades of at least two groups may have identical cutting edge configurations and thereby identical directions of throw, and in this case the angular offsetting of the cutter blades of the two groups is provided by turning the polygonal apertures in the base portions of the cutter blades, from which apertures the shaft member of correspondingly polygonal cross section is pushed, to the extent requisite to obtain the desired offsetting. For instance, if the shaft member has four facets, and if six cutter blades with identical direction of throw are mounted on this shaft member, then these cutter blades will be subdivided into three groups of two identical cutter blades each, and the apertures in the base portions of these cutter blades will be so arranged with respect to the cutting edges that the cutting edges of all of the cutter blades in circumferential direction of the shaft member are positioned with identical angular spacing, that is in the example just mentioned with angular spacing of 60. Evidently, it is possible in accordance with the present invention to use shaft members having uneven numbers of facets, for instance 3 or facets, and in this case each group of cutter blades will advantageously consist of 3 or 5 identically configurated cutter blades to achieve optimum balancing.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic end-elevational view of one embodiment of the invention, with most of the cutter blades being shown only fragmentarily to preserve clarity of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating another embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating a third embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating yet an additional embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates in a plan view and on an enlarged scale a complete cutter blade of the type used in the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 and also illustrating a complete cutter blade of the type used in FIG. 1, but different from the one shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is similar to FIG. 5 but the cutter blade shown therein is again different from those of FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates in a view similar to FIG. 5 a complete cutter blade of the type-used in FIG. 2, but on an enlarged scale;

FIGS. 9-11 each illustrate a complete cutter blade, shown on an enlarged scale, of the different cutter blades used in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIGS. 12-- 16 each illustrate a complete cutter blade, on an enlarged scale, of the five different cutter blades used in the embodiment of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It should be pointed out, before discussing the drawing in detail, that identical components are identified in all figures with identical reference numerals. Prior to entering into a detailed discussion. of. the various figures it will be advantageous to point out the common features of the illustrated cutter blades and arrangements or sets of cutter blades, with the common characteristics of the sets of cutter blades being explained on the basis of FIG. 1 and the common characteristics of the individual cutter blades themselves being explained on the basis of FIG. 5.

It will be seen that each of the cutter blades shown in the drawing is provided with an aperture 10 having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to that of the rotary shaft member 11 which, as clearly shown, is of polygonal cross section. The shaft member 11 extends through the respective apertures 10 and in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 the cutter blades each have a certain amount of play in the direction of the arrow A. In the direction of the arrow B there is no play. I

Once all of the cutter blades are thus mounted on the shaft member 11, they are aligned in the direction of the arrow A and jointly fixedly secured on the shaft member. 11. How this latter is accomplished is already well known and need not be further discussed.

It will be seen that in these embodiments the cutter blades of each set of blades are so configurated that their tips 12 are arranged at identical angular spacing as seen in the direction of the circumference of the shaft member 11, and that these tips 12 further have identical spacing from the axis of rotation of the shaft member 11. Each blade of each set of blades is so configurated that its cutting edge 13 does not overlap with any other cutting edge of any other blade of the particular set as seen in the direction of the axial extension of the shaft member 11. This assures that no cutter blade of a set parallels any other of the same set. Furthermore, none of the cutting edges of any of the cutter blades cross one another in space.

It is clear from the drawing that the cutting edge 13 of each cutter blade consists of two

cutting edge sections

14 and 15, with the first being of arcuate configuration and extending from the tip 12 to a transition area 16 at which the second arcuately configurated section 15 begins. The section 15 then extends to the end portion 17 of the respective cutting edge. In the illustrated embodiments the sections 14 of all cutter blades of each set are identically configurated, that is they have identical curvature and extend over identical angles so that the angular spacing in circumferential direction of the shaft member 11 intermediate the transitional areas 16 are always identical and located on the same circle of rotation.

The direction of throw of each cutter blade is determined by the configuration of the respective sections 15. The flatter the curvature of each section 15 with respect to the circle described by the tip portion of each cutter blade is, the slower the cutter blade will enter into the meat or other material to be comminuted when the shaft member i1 is rotated. Accordingly, by combining blades of different direction of throw in a given set, the mixing capacity, speed of emulsification and quality of mixture can be influenced.

In the illustrated embodiments the cutter blades of each set are always subdivided into groups of identically configurated blades, with the blades of different groups having different directions of throw. Furthermore, in all of the illustrated blades the first sections 14 are of flatter curvature than the second sections l5,that is tangents applied to the respective first sections intersect the circle described by the tip portions on rotation of the shaft member 11 at smaller angles than tangents supplied to the respective second sections 15.

Discussing now FIG. 1 in detail, it will be seen that the device there illustrated comprises a set of cutter blades consisting of 8blades which are arranged in four groups each including two blades. Thus, blades 1 and 2 constitute a group, as do

blades

3 and 4 as well as

blades

5 and 6 and

blades

7 and 8. The four different blade configurations are illustrated in FIG. 1 in the showing of blade 1, in FIG. 5 in the showing of blade 3, in FIG. 6 in the showing of blade 7 and in FIG. 7 in the showing of blade 5. Blades 1-8 are advantageously mounted on the shaft 11 in the sequence of their numbering as seen with respect to the direction of material being comminuted within the receptacle, which latter is not illustrated as not being essential to the invention.

The assembly illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a shaft member 19 having four facets on which there are arranged eight cutter blades 2128 having cutting edges which are angularly offset with respect to one another in circumferential direction of the shaft member 19 and in such a manner that the cutting edges do not cross in space. The blades are here arranged in two groups of four identical cutter blades each. with the first group comprising blades 21-24 and the second group comprising blades 25--28. FIG. 2 illustrates a blade 28 of the second group and FIG. 8 illustrates a blade 21 of the first group. It will be seen that the cutting edges 13a and 13b of the blades of the different groups here also provide for different directions of throw, as a comparison of the differently configurated cutting edge sections 15a and 15b will show. It is usually of particular advantage if all blades of each group are arranged adjacent one another, but in many circumstances the arrangement may also be different as long as the counterbalancing obtained is adequate.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a total of nine cutter blades 30-38 which are mounted adjacent one another on a shaft member 29 having six facets. The blades 30-38 are subdivided into three groups each comprising three identical cutter blades. The

blades

30, 31 and 32 together constitute one group, the

blades

33, 34 and 35 constituting another group and the

blades

36, 37 and 38 constitute a third group. The blades of each group are arranged with identical angular spacing from one another, that is they are circumferentially offset at 120. The angular spacing between the tips of adjacent cutter blades is 40. The three different cutter blade configurations of the embodiment of FIG. 3 are illustrated in FIGS. 9, l and 11 in all major details. The cutting edges 13c, 13d and I3e of the cutter blades of the different groups again have different directions of throw as will be seen by the different configuration of the

cutting edge sections

15c, 15d and 15e.

Coming, finally, to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 it will be seen that here ten cutter blades 40-49 are arranged in five groups of two identical cutter blades each. The two cutter blades of each group are arranged diametrically opposite one another with the

blades

40 and 41 constituting one group, the

blades

42 and 43 constituting a second group, the

blades

44 and 45 constituting a third groups, the

blades

46 and 47 constituting a fourth group, and the

blades

48 and 49 constituting the fifth group. One cutter blade of each group is illustrated in FIGS. 1216 respectively in all essential details and here again the cutting edges of these cutter blades have different directions of throw as is evident from a comparison of the different configuration of the cutting edge sections lm-15q.

It is not thought necessary to illustrate the housing of the comminuting device, or the drive arrangement or the like, because all of these features are well known and entirely conventional, the invention reciting only in the particulars which have already been disclosed.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a comminuting device, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a comminuting device, particularly a cutter for meat, the combination comprising a rotary shaft member having an outer circumferential surface composed of a plurality of facets which are mutually inclined in circumferential direction of said shaft member; and at least one set of cutter blades mounted on said shaft member against rotation relative to the latter and extending transversely thereof, said set including a plurality of cutter blades exceeding in number said plurality of facets and each being provided with a cutting edge, all of said cutting edges being angularly offset relative to one another in circumferential direction and none of said cutting edges overlapping one another in axial direction of said shaft member.

2. In a device as defined in claim 1, each of said cutter blades having a free tip portion spaced from said shaft member; and wherein said tip portions are substantially equiangularly offset relative to one another in circumferential direction of said shaft member.

3. In a device as defined in claim 1, each of said cutter blades having a base portion mounted on said shaft member and a free tip portion s aced from said base portion and said shaft member, said cu ting edges each extending from the respective tip portion towards the associated base portion and each including a first cutting edge portion extending from the tip portion towards the base portion and a second cutting edge portion extending from the base portion towards the first cutting edge portion, said first and second cutting edge portions each including a different tangent with the circle described by said tip portions on rotation of said rotary shaft member.

4. In a device as defined in claim 1, at least two of said cutter blades having different directions of throw.

5. In a device as defined in claim 1, further comprising additional sets of cutter blades; and wherein said sets of cutter blades are subdivided into a plurality of groups each having a number of cutter blades smaller or equal thansaid plurality of facets, the cutter blades of each group having at least substantially the same directions of throw.

6. In a device as defined in claim 5, said cutting edges of said cutter blades of each of said groups being equiangularly spaced circumferentially of said shaft, and proximal to one another in direction axially of said shaft.

7. In a device as defined in claim 5, the cutter blades of different groups having different directions of throw.

8. In a device as defined in claim 1, said shaft member having an even number of facets, and said cutter blades being provided with apertures for receiving said shaft member therethrough and having a cross-sectional configuration corresponding to that of said shaft member.

9. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having six facets, and said sets being subdivided into four groups each having two cutter blades.

10. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having six facets, and said sets being subdivided into three groups each having three cutter blades.

11. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having six facets and said sets being subdivided into five groups each having two cutter blades.

12. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having six facets, and said sets being subdivided into six groups each having two cutter blades.

13. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having four facets and said sets being subdivided into two groups each having four cutter blades.

14. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having four facets, and said sets being subdivided into three groups each having four cutter blades.

15. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having six facets, and said sets being subdivided into two groups each having six cutter blades.

16. In a device as defined in claim 5, said shaft member having six facets, and said sets being subdivided into three groups each having four cutter blades.