WO1993007999A1 - Coupe-legumes - Google Patents

Coupe-legumes Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1993007999A1
WO1993007999A1 PCT/US1992/008280 US9208280W WO9307999A1 WO 1993007999 A1 WO1993007999 A1 WO 1993007999A1 US 9208280 W US9208280 W US 9208280W WO 9307999 A1 WO9307999 A1 WO 9307999A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
belts
food items
knife
generally
cutting
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1992/008280
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Clyde E. Foster
George R. Alcorn
Original Assignee
Universal Frozen Foods, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Universal Frozen Foods, Inc. filed Critical Universal Frozen Foods, Inc.
Publication of WO1993007999A1 publication Critical patent/WO1993007999A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
    • B26D3/10—Making cuts of other than simple rectilinear form
    • B26D3/11—Making cuts of other than simple rectilinear form to obtain pieces of spiral or helical form
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D7/06—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form
    • B26D7/0625—Arrangements for feeding or delivering work of other than sheet, web, or filamentary form by endless conveyors, e.g. belts

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to the art of cutting food products, and more specifically to a device for cutting vegetables, such as potatoes, into desired shapes. Still more specifically, the present invention, in its most preferred form, relates to a system for cutting helical strips of potatoes and includes a pair of endless belts carrying contoured paddles for aligning and feeding potatoes through a rotating cutting mechanism.
  • Frozen potatoes can be purchased in grocery stores in a variety of shapes, including the common shoe string shape (generally square in cross-section and having a length of 3-4 inches or longer) , crinkle-cut (which have a corrugated appearance) , and in recent years, helical strips of potatoes which are of the type sold by the assignee of the present invention under the trademark CURLEY Q®. Many other shapes of potatoes are available in restaurants, and the variety of shapes has risen dramatically in recent years. Potatoes are now manufactured for distribution with skin on or with skin off and are prepared for reconstitution by deep frying, baking, microwave heating, etc.
  • the evolution of the helical potato is a phenomenon of the middle to late 80's.
  • Somewhat similarly shaped products were known prior to that time and were prepared using hand crank machines such as those encountered at county fairs and in small restaurants.
  • the early cutters for making helical strips typically had a system for impaling the potato on a rotating, screw driven holder and for rotating it into a fixed knife to produce helical strips.
  • the product was typically uneven in appearance, and the process was also slow.
  • the process typically resulted in inefficient use of the potato, as the butt ends of the potato were not included in the final product and were discarded or were used for other purposes.
  • a knife which includes a number of upstanding scoring blades, and a radially extending slicing blade is located beneath the tube and is designed to be rotated during the cutting operation.
  • the patent further describes a plunger system for exerting downwardly extending forces on the potato held in the tube to push the potato through the slicing knife, resulting in a plurality of helical strips of varying diameter, depending on the distance from the axis of the tube.
  • the bottom of the plunger includes recesses to receive the upstanding scoring blades, so that the entire potato can be cut using the process.
  • This feature eliminates prior difficulties with the waste resulting from butt ends.
  • the knife itself is rotated by a motor and a belt, and a stationary tube located on the downstream side of the knife receives the product. After being cut, separation of the various coils takes place to improve product appearance. Initially, such separation was accomplished by hand. Later developments have lead to mechanical coil separators for this part of the process. Following cutting, downstream processing includes par-frying, freezing and packaging.
  • the CURLEY Q® fries have also been coated with batter and flavor ingredients to result in a family of products having different taste and appearance characteristics.
  • the feed conveyor includes U-shaped areas on metal plates for centering the potato, dogs to maintain product alignment and a spring loaded plate floating on top of the potatoes as they pass along the line.
  • the potatoes enter the area adjacent the rotating cutting knife, they pass through a series of parallel shafts extending across the path of travel, the first two shaft pairs including a plurality of paddles which urge the potatoes forwardly toward the knife, and the last pair of shafts including a plurality of spikes which grasp and penetrate the potato as it is being pushed through the cutting knife.
  • Each pair of shafts. one above and one below the feed path, is spring biased to compensate for different sized products.
  • the device can operate continuously, with one potato following another through the system.
  • Mendenhall employs the same general type of cutting knife used in the Samson et al. patent system, but the potato product is slotted before it reaches the knife so that, instead of coils, rings are produced.
  • the conveyor system in Mendenhall includes a V-shaped lower portion, which is open at its bottom to permit the slotting blade to cut the potatoes, and spring biased rollers on the top to urge the potatoes toward the cutting knife.
  • the rollers are replaced by a belt which is generally planar and which is urged into contact with the potatoes by a plurality of spring biased rollers.
  • Water gun systems have also been known for some time in the potato processing field, i.e. systems which use a tube to align potatoes and water pressure to push the potatoes through the tube at increasing velocity and through knives of various types.
  • Typical, such devices have been used for making straight cut potatoes, wherein fixed, crossed blades are mounted at the outlet of the water gun, and the potatoes are merely forced therethrough at high speeds.
  • An embodiment disclosed in this application shows a tubular, elastic, tapered feed tube for feeding potatoes under the force of water pressure through a rotating cutting knife to form helical potato strips.
  • the elastomeric member expands once the potato reaches the tapered end, thus decreasing the velocity of the potato, but increasing the water pressure to the range of 15-25 psi.
  • the applicant indicates that the potato is forced evenly and gently onto a central alignment tube of the knife and that the alignment tube further serves to decelerate the potato before the slicing blades cut the potato into helical strips.
  • the specification also indicates that no external mechanical devices touch the potato, thus eliminating any damage to the outside of the potato.
  • the present invention provides advantages not heretofore described in the prior art known to applicants, including the principal advantage of continuously feeding food product, especially potatoes, to a rotating cutter knife at an increased velocity and without damage to the potato.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to precisely align and feed product into the rotating cutting assembly, with the product following in a continuous line without the need for an intermediate plunger withdrawal and loading step as was required in the aforementioned Sampson, et al. system.
  • a further advantage of the invention resides in the ability to conduct such feeding operation without the use of the types of paddles and spike members referred to in the aforementioned Julian and Covert, et al. patents.
  • a still further advantage of the invention is the utilization of pneumatic pressure cylinders to accommodate product of varying sizes.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is the ability to use the feed system with a variety of cutting assemblies, whereby different configurations of final cut product can be made, including the cutting assembly described in the aforementioned Sampson, et al. patent and the tiered blade described in the above-referenced pending application of Foster.
  • Product of different size is accommodated and kept in contact with the belts by means of a plurality of pneumatic cylinders acting on each belt.
  • the product is initially contacted by the center tube of the cutting apparatus, in the most preferred embodiment, a tiered blade, and passes through the knife for subsequent processing.
  • FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of the mechanical cutting apparatus of the preferred form of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 2 is a schematic end view taken along the line 2—2 of FIGURE 1 illustrating the contour of the endless belt components of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
  • like reference numerals are used to denote like components.
  • FIGURE 1 Certain components shown in FIGURE 1 are for illustration purposes only and, in and of themselves, do not form part of the present invention.
  • conveyors are shown in rather schematic form and could be replaced by numerous other conveyor types known to the food handling art.
  • upstream and downstream processing devices are not shown or described.
  • devices are provided for removing food products from storage and, in the case of helical cut fries, for cleaning and preheating the potatoes (ideally to a core temperature of about 130°F) to improve the cutting operation.
  • Downstream of the assembly shown in FIGURE 1 are devices for receiving the cut product, separating coils and loops if the device is used for making helical fries, par- frying, freezing, and packaging.
  • the cutting apparatus 10 according to the preferred form of the present invention is shown to include three general sections: a conveyor and alignment section 12, a feed section 14, and a cutting section 16. Each will be described in sequence, it being understood that certain frame and support elements have been eliminated for ease of explanation of the present invention.
  • the conveyor and alignment section 12 includes two major components.
  • An input conveyor 18 is shown at right angles to the flow of product through cutting apparatus 10 and includes a conveyor web 20, mounted in a framework 22 on rollers (not shown) having shafts 23 and being adapted for delivering washed and graded products, in this case potatoes, to cutting apparatus 10.
  • the drive components for the conveyor are not illustrated as, in and of themselves, input conveyors are well known in this art.
  • the input conveyor 18 is arranged to deposit potatoes into a receiving hopper 25 which has an open top 27 and a generally rectangular horizontal cross-section.
  • the lower portion 29 of hopper 25 is tapered inwardly along its front and back walls and is open at the bottom to form an elongated slot 26 extending along the bottom of hopper 25 from its left end 30 to its right end 31.
  • the width of the slot is selected to be larger than the largest potato to be processed in cutting apparatus 10 but to be small enough to allow only single potatoes to pass therethrough.
  • the slot should desirably be narrower than the long dimension of the potatoes.
  • the slot 26 is located a small distance above a second input conveyor 35 mounted and adapted to move potatoes in a direction generally from end 30 to end 31 of the hopper 25.
  • the drive components for this conveyor have not been shown, although the rollers 37 for mounting the web and their supporting brackets 39 are shown.
  • the input and alignment section 12 includes a vibrator 40 coupled by arms 42 to a pair of plates 43, affixed to the front and back sides of hopper 25. Gentle vibration of the hopper 25 assists in alignment of the potatoes, with the bottom edges thereof resting on web 35 for movement along the slot 26 toward the feed section 14, now to be described.
  • Feed section 14 includes a framework 45 located in the vicinity of the output end 31 of hopper 25.
  • Framework 45 serves to support a pair of upper and lower idler rolls 47 and a pair of drive rolls 49, the sets of rolls being spaced apart by a desired dimension, e.g., two feet or more.
  • Each of the rolls includes a shaft 50 running therethrough, and a drive sprocket 52 is mounted on one end of shaft 50 for each of the drive rolls 49.
  • the shafts 50 are each journalled between a pair of belt supports 54 which, for each roller, are joined by a cross member 56 to form a generally U-shaped support assembly.
  • each of the rollers is biased toward the center of feed section 14 by one of a plurality of pneumatic cylinders 58, each of which includes a piston rod 59 joined to a cross member 56.
  • the air supply for the cylinders 58, as well as the associated hose and valving components, are not shown but would be readily appreciated by one skilled in the art after the present specification has been read in its entirety.
  • an endless belt 60 which, in the preferred embodiment, will be approximately 3-8 inches wide, or wider, and which carries a plurality of paddle elements 62 extending perpendicularly therefrom.
  • the paddles will be several inches in height and will be described in greater detail in connection with FIGURE 2.
  • the paddles 62 of one belt When assembled, however, the paddles 62 of one belt will be spaced apart just slightly from the opposing paddles of the other belt.
  • biasing rolls 65 are provided for the upper and lower belts 60, each of the biasing rolls 65 including a shaft 66 extending outwardly from the side edges of the belts 60 and journalled for rotation in supports 68. These supports are also coupled to pneumatic cylinders 58 as were the idler and drive rolls previously described.
  • the overall arrangement of the feed section 14 with respect to the input and alignment section 12 is such that the average axis of potatoes moving along web 35 will be approximately at the midpoint between the paddle elements 62 and at the horizontal midpoint of the paddle elements 62 as well.
  • the term "average axis" is used here to mean the hypothetical axis which would exist if each of the potatoes were of an identical diameter which, of course, can never occur.
  • potatoes move through the feed section 14 they will be maintained generally aligned with the average axis by the paddles due to the floating nature of the drive and idler rolls 49 and 47 and the biasing rolls 65 described heretofore.
  • the two belts 60 are driven at identical speeds by motor 70 and drive chain belt 72.
  • the drive chain belt 72 is preferably double sided and is arranged to drive both sprockets 52 to ensure that potatoes being moved by the belts 60 do not experience frictional degradation by the paddle elements 62.
  • a takeup sprocket 74 is provided on the frame assembly, along with an idler sprocket 75, all arranged to maintain the desired tension and driving contact of drive chain belt 72 about the two sprockets 52.
  • the cutting section includes a motor 80 having a shaft 81, the latter having a pulley 82 mounted thereon. Pulley 82 is coupled to another pulley 84 on the rotary knife assembly 85 by a belt 87 shown in phantom in the illustration.
  • the knife 90 is of the type shown in the Foster application and it will be appreciated to those familiar with the helical fry cutting art that when motor 80 is activated, the knife 90 will rotate about an axis 92 shown in dotted line to act upon potatoes contacting the knife to form helical strips of varying diameter, depending upon the distance from the axis.
  • the helical strips will be received in a stationary tube 94 and will be moved downstream to the post cutting processing equipment described briefly above.
  • FIGURE 2 is an end view of the two belts 60 and showing the contour 95 of the paddle elements 62.
  • the contour 95 is generally semi ⁇ circular so that a generally circular profile is maintained between the paddles 62 as they pass between the idler rolls 47 and the drive rolls 49. Due to the floating nature of the supports for belt 60, the diameter of the circular profile may change depending upon the size of the potatoes passing therethrough, and can vary independently along the length of this path.
  • the belts 60 must, obviously, be made of flexible material, but the actual material of construction can be selected from a number of rubber, resin, or cloth materials. Similarly, a variety of materials can be used for paddle elements 62, synthetic resins being preferred. To minimize damage to potatoes flowing through feed section 14, it is desirable to have some degree of resiliency between the paddle elements and, to avoid damage to the exterior of the potato, relatively soft but durable synthetic resins are preferred. At the present time, we believe that polyurethane is a suitable material for paddle elements 62. It should also be understood that the paddle elements 62 and belts 60 can be integrally formed (e.g. molded) , and that instead of the paddle elements 62 a contoured thicker belt could be employed.
  • product to be cut is brought to the knife initially on web 20 and deposited into hopper 25.
  • the potatoes will tend to pile up but will be aligned at the bottom due to the tapered walls 29 and the slot at the bottom of the hopper (see the phantom potatoes 98 in dotted line) .
  • Vibrations generated by vibrator 40 will assist in such alignment.
  • the potatoes will come to rest on web 35 and be moved toward the feed section 14, maintaining an average axis which is generally coincidental with the axis 92.
  • Potatoes will be firmly grasped by the paddles 62 as they enter the feed section and will be driven therethrough by motor 70, differences in potato diameter being accommodated by the floating action of the various rolls acting upon belts 60. Potatoes will flow in an end-to-end relationship along the profiled pathway toward the cutting knife 90, where they will be fed to and through knife 90. Throughout this time, in addition to forward movement, the biasing rolls will prevent rotation of the potatoes as they reach and pass through knife 90. The knife itself will be driven by motor 80 about an axis 92 to form helical strips, as is known for this particular knife configuration.

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
  • Preparation Of Fruits And Vegetables (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention se rapporte à un coupe-légumes notamment pour pommes de terre (98) qui comprend une bande transporteuse (35) servant à transporter le produit alimentaire à proximité d'une lame coupante rotative (90). La bande transporteuse aligne le produit alimentaire et le dispose en une rangée unique. Ladite bande transporteuse introduit le produit alimentaire entre une paire de courroies sans fin (60) comportant des palettes profilées (62) sur leurs surfaces coopérantes, de façon à recevoir ledit produit alimentaire et le transporter vers la lame coupante. Les courroies sans fin sont flottantes et accouplées à des pistons pneumatiques (58), de façon à maintenir le contact entre les palettes et le produit alimentaire, même si la dimension dudit produit est variable. Une chaîne transporteuse à double face (72) actionne les courroies sans fin, de manière à assurer un transport stable sans patinage. Les palettes empêchent la rotation du produit alimentaire pendant son découpage. Dans le mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, on utilise le dispositif pour introduire les pommes de terre dans un système de lame rotative conçu pour les découper en lamelles hélicoïdales.
PCT/US1992/008280 1991-10-16 1992-09-25 Coupe-legumes WO1993007999A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US77830091A 1991-10-16 1991-10-16
US07/778,300 1991-10-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1993007999A1 true WO1993007999A1 (fr) 1993-04-29

Family

ID=25112879

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1992/008280 WO1993007999A1 (fr) 1991-10-16 1992-09-25 Coupe-legumes

Country Status (1)

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WO (1) WO1993007999A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1153714A1 (fr) * 2000-05-08 2001-11-14 Wolfgang Krumbein Dispositif pour déplacer en avancement des produits de boulangerie
WO2009020981A1 (fr) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-12 John Bean Technologies Corporation Convoyeur souple de maintien pour dispositif de coupe
IT201600126477A1 (it) * 2016-12-14 2018-06-14 Turatti Srl Macchine per formare spaghetti di prodotti vegetali

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2323092A (en) * 1941-06-23 1943-06-29 Fmc Corp Universal corn cutter
US2598190A (en) * 1946-01-23 1952-05-27 United States Steel Corp Drawbench
US2787273A (en) * 1955-05-13 1957-04-02 Fmc Corp Green corn cutting machine
US2797751A (en) * 1955-03-09 1957-07-02 Elgin Corrugated Box Company I Corrugated board slitting machines
US3386564A (en) * 1965-04-23 1968-06-04 Thomas W Secrest Feed table
US3718819A (en) * 1971-02-12 1973-02-27 F Miksitz Feeding and particle size measurement of comminuted solids
US4644838A (en) * 1983-09-20 1987-02-24 Rogers Walla-Walla, Inc. Apparatus for helical cutting of potatoes
US4926726A (en) * 1987-11-12 1990-05-22 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food processing apparatus
US4979418A (en) * 1987-11-12 1990-12-25 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food processing apparatus
US5010796A (en) * 1990-01-31 1991-04-30 Mendenhall George A Helical split ring french fry and apparatus for making the same
US5042342A (en) * 1987-11-12 1991-08-27 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food processing apparatus

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2323092A (en) * 1941-06-23 1943-06-29 Fmc Corp Universal corn cutter
US2598190A (en) * 1946-01-23 1952-05-27 United States Steel Corp Drawbench
US2797751A (en) * 1955-03-09 1957-07-02 Elgin Corrugated Box Company I Corrugated board slitting machines
US2787273A (en) * 1955-05-13 1957-04-02 Fmc Corp Green corn cutting machine
US3386564A (en) * 1965-04-23 1968-06-04 Thomas W Secrest Feed table
US3718819A (en) * 1971-02-12 1973-02-27 F Miksitz Feeding and particle size measurement of comminuted solids
US4644838A (en) * 1983-09-20 1987-02-24 Rogers Walla-Walla, Inc. Apparatus for helical cutting of potatoes
US4926726A (en) * 1987-11-12 1990-05-22 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food processing apparatus
US4979418A (en) * 1987-11-12 1990-12-25 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food processing apparatus
US5042342A (en) * 1987-11-12 1991-08-27 Lamb-Weston, Inc. Food processing apparatus
US5010796A (en) * 1990-01-31 1991-04-30 Mendenhall George A Helical split ring french fry and apparatus for making the same

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1153714A1 (fr) * 2000-05-08 2001-11-14 Wolfgang Krumbein Dispositif pour déplacer en avancement des produits de boulangerie
WO2009020981A1 (fr) * 2007-08-06 2009-02-12 John Bean Technologies Corporation Convoyeur souple de maintien pour dispositif de coupe
US8683903B2 (en) 2007-08-06 2014-04-01 John Bean Technologies Corporation Compliant hold-down conveyor for slicer
IT201600126477A1 (it) * 2016-12-14 2018-06-14 Turatti Srl Macchine per formare spaghetti di prodotti vegetali
WO2018109791A1 (fr) * 2016-12-14 2018-06-21 Turatti S.R.L. Machines de formation de spaghettis à partir de produits végétaux
US10894333B2 (en) 2016-12-14 2021-01-19 Turatti S.R.L. Machines for forming spaghetti from vegetable products

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