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
  • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
  • B26D7/27—Means for performing other operations combined with cutting
  • B26D7/30—Means for performing other operations combined with cutting for weighing cut product
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A22—BUTCHERING; MEAT TREATMENT; PROCESSING POULTRY OR FISH
  • A22C—PROCESSING MEAT, POULTRY, OR FISH
  • A22C25/00—Processing fish ; Curing of fish; Stunning of fish by electric current; Investigating fish by optical means
  • A22C25/18—Cutting fish into portions
• • 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
  • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
  • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
  • B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
  • B26D1/14—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a circular cutting member, e.g. disc cutter
  • B26D1/157—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a circular cutting member, e.g. disc cutter rotating about a movable axis
  • B26D1/16—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a circular cutting member, e.g. disc cutter rotating about a movable axis mounted on a movable arm or the like

Definitions

• the invention relates to a machine for cutting up especially articles of food into portions, which machine comprises a rotary cutting unit for cutting the items, a conveyor for conveying the items past the cutting unit and through the machine, an optic member for monitoring the shape of the items and transmitting data relating to the shape, and a processing unit which, based on the data received from the optic member, can control the machine for cutting the items into portions of a predetermined weight.
• Machines of this kind are especially used for cutting up articles of food which either by nature or by production have been given an irregular shape.
• Such items may be fish, meat or sausage products, cheese, extruded mince products or similar food articles.
• portions of a particular predetermined weight are to be cut, which is extremely desirable due to the further distribution and sales, the cutting must be performed in such a manner that the cross-sectional area of the item, and thus its weight, is recorded in order to determine where to perform the cut.
• a machine for cutting especially fish fillets is known from DE, Al, 4,001,298, which machine is provided with a number of cameras arranged above and across a conveyor belt and having a number of rotary cutting knives which are also mounted across the belt.
• the knives cut parallel to the travelling direction of the belt, and the mutual distance between the knives may be varied by means of positioning means.
• Each fillet is placed with its longitudinal direction across the belt, upon which the cross-sectional area of different locations on the fillet is recorded by the cameras during the travelling of the belt, which cameras transmit a pulse to the positioning means of the knives, whereby the mutual distance between the knives is set for subsequent simultaneous cutting of fish pieces of identical portion weight.
• This machine is both expensive and difficult to use. This is owing partly to the complicated positioning means for the knives and partly to the fact that all cuts are performed simultaneously.
• the simultaneous delivery of more portions may cause one or more of the portions to be under ⁇ weight depending on the shape and size of the fillet. This complicates the subsequent packaging which must be adjusted to this kind of cutting.
• the positioning means of the knives limit the density of the knives, which in turn creates a limit as to how small portions the apparatus can cut.
• a machine is known from US patent no. 4,557,019, which is provided with a beam generator which projects light on an item with a pattern of parallel lines extending along the travelling direction of the belt, which pattern is monitored by a camera, after which a processing unit con ⁇ verts the monitored pattern into data relating to the cross-section of the item for controlling a knife which in a cutting motion is moved substantially across the travelling direction of the conveyor belt, in that the belt is conveyed at a uniform speed during the cutting. In order to compensate for the motion of the belt, the knife is shifted during the cutting motion along the belt and at the same speed.
• the optic member is a laser which, along a line across the travelling direction of the conveyor, can monitor the height of the items in relation to the surface of the conveyer, that at least part of the conveyor can be moved intermittently and that the processing unit based on the measured data relating to the monitored items can determine their cross-sectional area and weight and stop the con ⁇ veyor, when a portion of the predetermined weight has just passed the blade.
• a portion-cutting is hereby obtained which is partly very accurate due to the continuos measuring of the items and the determination of their cross-sectional area, which measurement can be performed at any small distance along the items prior to the cutting, and which partly permits cutting of however thin slices of the items, since only a single knife is used for the cutting, during which only a relative movement takes place between the blade and the individual item across the item. Consequently, any desired portion may be cut ranging from portions of very small weight to portions of a weight corresponding to the maximum weight of the items.
• any underweight portions can be avoided if more items are placed next to each other on the conveyer or partially overlapping each other in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor, in that the finished portion will thus always obtain the required weight, although one or more slices of the portion may consist of two parts.
• any continuous cutting of food articles, including vegetables can be performed continuously in pre ⁇ selected weight portions independent of the shape of the fed items.
• the conveyor comprises a first belt, as disclosed in claim 3, which relative to the travelling direction of the items is placed in front of the knife, and a second belt positioned behind the knife, which second belt can be moved at a higher speed than the first belt, and that an oblong supporting member extending in the plane of the knife is arranged between the first and the second belt, whereby the surface of the supporting member is flush at least with the surface of the first belt.
• This supporting member supports the item during the cutting without obstructing the conveyance of the items between successive cuttings.
• the surface of the supporting member has at least one longi ⁇ tudinal groove which can receive the periphery of the knife with a free fit, whereby the supporting member will effect ⁇ ively support each item during the cutting. It is hereby ensured that the blade can be inserted so far into each item that a complete cut is performed.
• the supporting member is expediently designed as a rotary roller, the axis of which extends parallel to the plane of the knife, and the roller is expediently rotated at such a speed that its surface travels at the same speed as does the surface of the first belt, whereby the longitudinal groove of the roller is positioned opposite the knife when the first belt is stopped.
• the machine in order to secure each item effectively during the cutting, has a holding device above the first belt and immediately in front of the knife, which holding device can hold an item during its cutting.
• fig. 1 shows a machine according to the invention seen from the side where the frame of the machine is only partially implied
• fig. 2 shows the machine according to the invention seen in the direction of the cutting unit
• fig. 3 shows a section on a larger scale of fig. 1 of a first embodiment of a supporting member
• fig. 4 shows a section of fig. 2 on a larger scale
• fig. 5 shows a section on a larger scale of fig. 1 of a second embodiment of a supporting member
• fig. 6 shows a second embodiment of a guide of a bearing housing in a flattened course in a machine accord ⁇ ing to the invention.
• the drawing shows a machine 1 according to the invention for cutting articles of food, such as fish fillets, meat pieces etc., into portions.
• the machine 1 is built on a frame 2 with legs 3, so that the machine can be mounted and put to use as an independent production unit in a cutting and packing plant.
• the machine For conveying items 4 which are to be cut into portions in the machine 1, the machine has a conveyor comprising a first belt 5 and a second belt 6, which first belt 5 extends from the supply end of the machine 1 to a cutting zone in the form of a cutting unit 7, and which second belt 6 extends from the cutting unit 7 in continuation of the first belt 5 to the delivery end of the machine.
• the first belt 5 extends in a known manner over turning rollers 8, 9, 10, of which one is a driven roller for moving the belt, so that the surface 15 of the belt 5 is moved in the direction from the supply end towards the cutting unit 7.
• the second belt 6 is guided and driven over turning rollers 11, 12, 13, so that the surface of the belt is moved along from the cutting unit 7 towards the delivery end.
• the second belt 6 can be conveyed at a higher speed than the first belt 5; the purpose of this will be explained below.
• a pulse generator which is not shown in the drawing is placed at one of the turning rollers of each belt, which pulse generator records the travelling of the belts 5, 6 and thus also records the travelling movement of an item 4 placed on each belt relative to the cutting zone.
• a generally known optic member in the form of a laser 14 which monitors the surface 15 of the belt 5 across the direction of travel of the belt, whereby the laser 14 can measure the height of the upwardly protruding portion of an item 4 placed on the surface 15 of the belt.
• This monitoring can be performed by means of a single laser 14 which, by a reciprocating linear motor 16 which is not shown in the drawing, is moved to and fro across the item 4 when this is conveyed below the laser on the belt 5.
• the laser 14 transmits data relating to the height of the item 4 above the belt or its thickness for each time a monitoring is made, and based on the location of the reciprocating motion across the belt where the monitoring is performed, a processing unit 17 computes the cross- sectional area and thus the weight of that part of the item which at the particular time is being monitored.
• the pro ⁇ cessing unit 17 will then permit the belt 5 to convey the item 4 so far that a subsequent cutting provides a portion of the exact predetermined weight.
• the processing unit 17 stops the motion of the belt, upon which the cutting unit 7 is actuated so as to cut the item 4.
• the cutting unit 7 is constructed with a rotary circular cutting blade 18 being attached to the end of an axle 19 which is mounted in a bearing housing 20.
• the bearing housing 20 is guided in holding means 21 in such a manner that the bearing housing can move within an approximately circular course 22 which on the part of the circumference facing the belt 5 is flattened, so that the course 22 at this place is parallel to the surface 15 of the belt 5.
• the inside 23 of the course 22 is provided with teeth 24 which interlock with teeth 25 on a toothed wheel 26 being fixedly secured to the axle 19.
• the holding means 21 are secured to an axle 27 extending along the longitudinal direction of the belt 5, which axle 27 is secured to a gear motor 28 arranged on a bracket 29 in the frame 2 of the machine 1.
• the gear motor 28 rotates, the holding means 21 will take the bearing housing 20 round in the course 22, and the interlocking between the teeth 24 and 25 will make the axle 19 rotate in the bearing housing 20, so that the circular cutting blade 18 also rotates.
• the radial displacement of the holding means 21 can be ob ⁇ tained by means of a sliding joint 30 permitting telescopic displacement of the bearing housing 20 relative to the axle 27.
• the sliding joint 30 may for example comprise two parallel bars secured to the bearing housing 20, which bars can slide radially in relation to the axle 27 in two sets of bushings, where each set of bushings receives one of the two bars.
• the radial dis ⁇ placement of the bearing housing 20 in relation to the axle 27 can be obtained by means of a linkage 31 secured to the axle 27, the linkage comprising a first arm being hinged to a second arm which on its part is pivotally connected to the bearing housing 20, which first and second arm are hinged together under an angle which is considerably less than 180°.
• the sliding joint 30 or linkage 31 may possibly be provided with expansion means not shown in the drawing to ensure the contact between the bearing housing 20 and the course 22.
• the rotation of the circular cutting blade 18 can also be brought about by means other than teeth 24 on the inside of the course 22 in interaction with the teeth 25 on the toothed-wheel 26.
• the inside of the course 22 can be designed as a smooth course without teeth, and the bearing housing 20 may on the side facing the course 22 be provided with wheels which can run on the smooth course 22.
• the bearing housing 20 contains a motor which can rotate the circular cutting blade 18.
• the cutting unit will, when passed by the belt 5 and the item 4 on the belt, cut a predetermined portion off the item 4, which portion is placed or drops down onto the second belt 6. Since this belt 6 is moved at a higher speed than that at which the first belt 5 travels, a distance is created between the parts which are placed on the second belt 6.
• the neighbouring ends of the two belts 5, 6 must have space between them in order to permit the circular cutting blade 18 to penetrate as deeply through the items 4 during the cutting that the items are cut through completely.
• the items 4 In order for the downwards facing part of the items 4 not to yield when cut, the items 4 must be supported in this space.
• an oblong supporting member is provided, which extends longitudinally in the space.
• the supporting member On the upward surface 33 the supporting member has a longitudinal groove 34 which has such a width and depth that the circumference of the circular cutting blade 18 can be received in the groove 34 with a free fit.
• the supporting member can, as shown in fig. 4, be in the form of a roller 32 being rotatably mounted in the frame 2, whereby the motion of the items 4 from the first belt 5 to the second belt 6 is facilitated, since the items will roll across the roller 32.
• the roller 32 is connected to the first belt 5 in a manner not further described but motionwise so that the surface 33 of the roller 32 is first of all moved at the same speed at which the surface 15 of the belt 5 is conveyed during the motion of the belt, and, secondly, stops when the belt stops.
• the roller may be equipped with more longitudinal grooves 34, and the connection between the belt 5 and the roller 32 is moreover made so as for one of the grooves 34 to be situated exactly opposite the circular cutting blade 18 when cutting of one of the items 4 is initiated.
• the roller In order to make sure that the roller 32 does not roll un ⁇ intentionally during the cutting of an item 4, the roller is at its one end provided with a fixedly secured toothed or ratchet wheel 35 which by means of a pawl on a lever arm 36 can prevent such rotation of the roller 32.
• the lever arm 36 can be actuated by a power element 37 and will cause the pawl to engage the wheel 35 when the belt 5 stops in connection with a cutting of an item 4.
• the actuation of the power element 37 is controlled by the processing unit 17.
• the supporting member is designed as an oblong strip 38, but this strip 38 is not able to permit the items 4 to roll from the first 5 to the second belt 6. Still, the strip may be advantageous when cutting thin slices off the items 4, since the strip 38 can be made considerably narrower than the roller 32.
• a hold ⁇ ing device 39 is arranged above the first belt 5 and immediately in front of the blade 18, which holding device by means of an arm 40 hinged at one end can cause needles 41 to interact with the items 4.
• the arm 40 is actuated in a generally known manner by a power element 42 which in turn is actuated by the processing unit 17 when the first belt 5 stops.
• the processing unit 17 is set to cut for instance fish pieces from a fillet into pieces of x grammes.
• the belt 5 and the cutting device is started, after which the items 4 are placed longitudinally on the belt 5.
• their height above the surface 15 of the belt 5 is measured, which height is an expression of the thickness of the particular item at the location where the monitoring has been performed.
• Monitoring is performed at more locations transversly to the longitudinal direction of the belt 5 and thus also across each of the items 4 placed on the belt 5.
• the data measured by the laser 14 are transmitted to the processing unit 17 which, based on the measurements of the thickness of the items, continuously computes the weight of the pieces or parts of the items 4 monitored so far and determines when the belt 5 is to stop exactly when a pre ⁇ determined portion of an item 4 has passed the circular cutting blade 18.
• the belt 5 is then stopped when the particular item 4 is opposite the course 22 of the blade 18, while at the same time the blade 18 in its motion along the course 22 has reached the position of the flattened portion of the course 22.
• the measuring results can be stored so that a subsequent item 4 is conveyed for supplementing any underweight of a prior cutting, whereby the required total weight portion can always be obtained.
• any required weight portion can be obtained by a simple and reliable construction which is easily and safely operated and maintained.

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• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Forests & Forestry (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Processing Of Meat And Fish (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8096524

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (12)

Citations (4)

• 1992
  • 1992-05-26 DK DK69992A patent/DK69992D0/da not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1993
  • 1993-05-26 AU AU43101/93A patent/AU4310193A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1993-05-26 WO PCT/DK1993/000184 patent/WO1993024287A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (4)

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