WO2002013635A1

WO2002013635A1 - Trimming apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2002013635A1
Application number: PCT/AU2001/000979
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rocco Corrone; Lorenzo Modaffari
Original assignee: Rocco Corrone; Lorenzo Modaffari
Priority date: 2000-08-10
Filing date: 2001-08-09
Publication date: 2002-02-21
Also published as: AUPQ930300A0

Abstract

Apparatus (1) for trimming vegetable and fruit items (38) having a body portion and an unwanted portion (42), including a module comprising: a recirculating support member (13); means (7) for driving the support member (13); a plurality of securement elements (33) mounted on the support member (13) and constructed so that they can pierce the body portion of the items (38) to secure them to the recirculating support member (13); a base platform (17) arranged to lie beneath the path of the securement elements (33) and set at a predetermined distance below the securement elements (33) to provide a guide for securing the items (38) on the securement elements (33) in such a manner that the unwanted portion (42) is held substantially in sliding abutment with the base platform (17) at the predetermined distance; and a cutting assembly (39) arranged to cut the items (38) at a position below the securement elements (33), which is less than the predetermined distance whereby to cut the unwanted portion (42) from each of the items (38).

Description

TRIMMING APPARATUS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a trimming apparatus and in a particular but non-limiting aspect, it relates to an apparatus for trimming fruit and/or vegetables such as strawberries. In the case of strawberries it relates especially to trimming of the calix from strawberries.

Background of the Invention

The growing of vegetables and fruit is highly labour intensive.

For example, in the case of strawberries, much physical effort is required to prepare earth in mounds for planting of strawberries, covering the mounds with plastic sheeting, installing irrigation systems, erecting igloos as a form of greenhouse shelter, and removing the igloos. This is followed by manual picking of strawberries which are selected and picked individually according to whether or not they are ripe.

Even when the strawberries have been manually harvested, there is still much manual labour involved in preparing the strawberries for processing into foods such as jams. The fact that the strawberries have a green leafy calix and stem means that they are unsuitable for processing until the calix and stem are removed. Generally this is performed manually using a knife to cut out the calix and stem taking one strawberry at a time. This is a very time consuming and expensive operation because of the amount of manual labour involved. Furthermore, because removal of the calix involves cutting through strawberry flesh, the variability of the cutting position on the strawberry associated with manual cutting, can result in a significant amount of unnecessary wastage.

Thus, there is a need for a motorised processing approach which cuts down on the actual amount of manual labour required to remove the calix from strawberries. There is also a need to develop a cutting technique which gives a consistent cutting depth to reduce wastage.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention provides apparatus for trimming vegetable and fruit items having a body portion and an unwanted portion, the apparatus including a module comprising, a recirculating support member, means for driving the support member, a plurality of securement elements mounted on the support member, the securement elements being constructed so that they can pierce the body portion of the items to secure them to the recirculating support member, a base platform arranged to lie beneath the path of the securement elements as they are recirculated by the support member, the base platform being set at a predetermined distance below the securement elements to provide a guide for securing the items on the securement elements in such a manner that the unwanted portion may be next to the base platform at the predetermined distance below the securement elements, and a cutting assembly arranged to cut the items at a position below the securement elements at a distance from the securement elements which is less than the predetermined distance whereby to separate the unwanted portion from each of the items.

The recirculating support member may comprise a belt or chain, hi one preferred aspect it may comprise a chain driven by a sprocket drive.

Suitably the securement elements are arranged so that they are readily accessible to an operator for placing individual fruit or vegetable items into engagement with the securement elements. The securement elements may be arranged to travel above the base platform at a predetermined height above the platform, hi this way an operator may use the base platform to act as a guide to set the height of an article being trimmed in the securement element. Thus the securement elements preferably are set at a desired height above the base platform to set the position at which the articles are to be cut. In order to cope with articles of different sizes it is preferred that the relative height of the securement elements compared to the base platform be adjustable. This may be achieved by making the height of the base platform adjustable with respect to a mounting table. The mounting table, apart from providing mounting for the base platform, may also provide a mounting for the recirculating support member, drive means and associated article securement elements.

The article securement elements themselves are suitably constructed so that they prevent rotation of the articles held by the securement elements. The article securement elements may comprise two or more prongs. The prongs may extend horizontally from the support member. The prongs may be sharp enough to allow the articles to be impaled thereon.

The support member may be arranged so that article securement elements mounted thereon protrude beyond a cover member covering the support member. They may protrude through a slot. They may be arranged to be slidably supported by a guide member arranged between the slot and the support member.

The cutting assembly may comprise one or more knife members. It may comprise a rotating cutting disc. The disc may be arranged to rotate in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the base platform. The rotating disc is suitably arranged so that articles held by the article securement elements are directed to impinge upon the rotating disc by the recirculating support member. The rotating disc may be set at a height intermediate the height of the base platform and article securement elements.

Where it is desired to cut the articles into a plurality of pieces the cutting assembly suitably includes a plurality of knife members. The knife members may each comprise rotating cutting discs. The knife members may be arranged at different heights relative to each other in order to be able to slice the articles into a plurality of pieces. Suitably the article securement elements are also arranged at different heights to individually hold the slices of the articles after cutting. Where the article securement elements comprise prongs, they may protrude through a plurality of slots arranged at different heights. Travel of the rotating support member beyond the cutting assembly may be arranged so that articles secured by the securement elements are discharged therefrom once they have been trimmed. This may be achieved by directing the path of the securement elements in such a fashion that the trimmed and/or sliced articles impinge upon a barrier and are ultimately pushed from the securement elements by the barrier. The barrier may comprise the cover means.

Tray means may be provided in association with the base platform in order that articles can be individually picked up from the tray means and secured to the securement elements. Similarly, a chute may be provided to direct trimmed and/or sliced articles removed from the securement elements into a bucket or other container. Preferred aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 shows a partial isometric view of a trimming apparatus according to the invention;

Figure2 shows an expanded fragmentary isometric view of a drive chain and associated securement elements and base platform; Figure 3 shows an expanded fragmentary isometric view of a cutting assembly;

Figure 4 shows a plan diagram of the arrangement of some of the main components of a two module trimming apparatus,

Figure 5 shows an isometric view of a trimming apparatus having ten modules; and

Figure 6 shows an enlarged fragmentary view of a barrier assembly for removing cut items.

The invention will now be described with reference to the specific elements marked on the drawings and listed in the following integer list.

Integer List

1 trimming apparatus table legs motor/gearbox drive shaft drive sprocket drive chain links idler sprocket base platform horizontal platform sloping side rear wall mounting beam slot bolt securement elements controller mounting block safety guard prongs cover slot guide tray strawberry cutting disc motor shaft calix chute horizontal wiper blade 47 vertical

49 arrow

50 barrier

51 horizontal portion

52 slot

53 main controller

54 vertical portion

55 trough

56 drain pipe

57 motorised conveyor

58 ramp

59 spray assembly

61 pipe

63 trip wire

65 chute

67 holder

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, the trimming apparatus generally designated 1 is particularly suitable for trimming the calix from strawberries although it is to be appreciated that it is also suitable for other fruits or vegetables.

The apparatus 1 includes a table 3 standing on four legs 5.

The table 3 has mounted thereon a motor and gearbox assembly 7 for driving a drive shaft 9.

The drive shaft drives the drive sprocket 11.

This provides drive for the drive chain 13 which recirculates around the drive sprocket 11 and idler sprocket 15. As shown more clearly in Figure 2, the drive chain 13 includes links 14. It acts as a recirculating support member for a number of securement elements. The securement elements each comprise mounting blocks 31 and a pair of pointed prongs 33 which extend horizontally from each of the mounting blocks. The securement elements are mounted on the links 14 by way of the mounting blocks 31.

The drive chain and sprocket extend beneath the cover 34. The cover comprises an elongate angle having an elongate horizontal section 45 connected to an elongate vertical section 47.

A slot 35 formed as an elongate gap between the top of the base platform 17 and the vertical section of the cover allows the ends of the prongs to protrude from underneath the cover over the horizontal platform. Thus the prongs can travel along and above the horizontal platform 19 forming part of the base platform at a set height above the base platform.

The guide 36 mounted on the mounting beam 23 extends beneath the prongs so that they are supported by the guide as they are moved in the direction of the arrow 49.

A tray 37 mounted immediately beneath the sloping side 21 of the base platform is provided for holding strawberries 38. These are readily accessible for the operator to pick up and push them onto the prongs.

The base platform also includes a rear wall 22 provided with a slot 25 at each end. The rear wall is screwed to the mounting block using the bolts 27 aligned through the slot. Thus the height of the horizontal platform relative to the prongs can be adjusted by loosening the bolts and moving the horizontal platform up or down as required before fixing it at a desired height by tightening the bolts.

A cutting assembly comprising a motor 40 for driving a shaft 41 and cutting disc 39 is mounted downstream of the tray 37. The disc is located at a height intermediate the height of the horizontal platform 19 and the prongs so that it may cut off the calix of each strawberry as it is presented to the cutting disc by the drive chain moving in the clockwise direction. It is provided with a safety guard 32. A wiper blade 46 is provided to wipe the unwanted calix from the underneath of the cutting disc so that it may fall into a receptacle (not shown) provided underneath the cutting assembly.

A chute 43 is provided downstream of the cutting assembly and is located in a position where the drive chain is turning away from the location of the slot. In turn this means the prongs are withdrawn through the slot as they go around the idler sprocket. Thus the vertical wall of the cover 34, by preventing the strawberries from moving with the prongs, effectively pushes the bodies portions ύf the strawberries with calix removed off the prongs and into the chute 43.

As is shown more clearly in Figure 4, opposite side of the table has a similar set up in that it includes modules similar to that shown on one side in Figure 1. Thus it includes a cutting disc 3a, tray 37, chute 43 and base platform along similar lines to that described with reference to the front part of the drawing shown in Figure 1. The drive chain is common to both the front and back modules depending upon the length of the drive chain 13. As many cutting stations as are desired may be added on both sides of the table.

Where there are two or more cutting stations on one side of the table, the drive chain may include one or more regions where it is diverted inwardly so that the bodies of trimmed strawberries may impinge upon the vertical wall 47 of the cover and thereby be pushed from the prongs so that they fall in an associated chute.

The apparatus can be controlled via the controller 30 mounted above the table 3. The controller may simply be wired to turn on the motors 7 and 40 or it may include means to vary the speed of the motors.

In a typical mode of operating the apparatus of Figures 1 to 4, an operator may pour a bucket of strawberries into the tray 37 and then proceed to push the strawberries one by one onto the prongs 33. The operator aligns the strawberries so that the calix is in contact with the base platform 17 as he pushes the strawberries onto the prongs. Thus the base platform by providing a slidable abutment for the calix, sets the position at which the calix will be cut from the strawberries as they are individually presented to the cutting disc 39 in their clockwise travel around the circuit defined by the drive chain.

The disc spins in the opposite direction to the drive chain ie. as the chain runs clockwise the disc spins counterclockwise. This serves to prevent strawberries being pushed off the prongs by the disc .

After trimming by the cutting disc, the ongoing motion of the drive chain serves to withdraw the prongs through the slot 35. The strawberries are prevented from following the prongs by the vertical wall 47 of the guard 34 and hence drop into the chute 43 to be collected in a container provided thereunder or onto another conveyor line provided beneath the apparatus.

As the base platform makes it easy for the operator to line up a strawberry of any size at the correct height, the operator can efficiently and quickly load a strawberry for trimming much more quickly than he could remove the calix of a strawberry with a knife.

Furthermore, the fact that the position at which the strawberry is trimmed can be accurately set by adjusting the height of the base platform means that it is possible be more accurate than is typical of purely manual procedures of cutting. Thus one can expect that less fruit will be wasted in the cutting process.

It is even anticipated that the apparatus could be associated with an automatic feeding assembly which feeds correctly oriented strawberries or other fruit to the prongs prior to being cut by the cutting disc. In this way, it is anticipated that the process can be automated to a level where it becomes even less labour intensive. Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, as the ten module apparatus is constructed in similar fashion to that described with reference the following description will deal largely with differences. Integers identified in Figure 5 and 6 with the same numerals as those described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 have similar functions.

The ten modules have a common drive chain for the prongs 33 of the securement elements and a common motor/gearbox 7 for driving the drive chain.

A motorised conveyor 57 is provided between the two banks of five modules. A trough 55 is provided beneath a portion of the conveyor to collect treatment liquid. The treatment liquid is sprayed onto cut strawberries lying on the conveyor by the spray assembly 5a extending above the conveyor for a substantial part of its length.

A drain pipe 56 extends from the bottom of the trough for draining of liquid collected by the conveyor.

Each of the modules is provided with a chute 65 retained in a holder 67. The chute is movable between a first portion where the floor of the chute is substantially horizontal, to a second position where the floor makes an angle with horizontal.

Each of the modules also includes a barrier 50 for removing the bodies of cut strawberries from the prongs. As is seen more clearly in Figure 6, the barrier comprises a flat horizontal portion 51 which is mounted on the cover 34 downstream of a cutting disc. A vertical portion 54 depends from the edge of the horizontal portion along a direction which makes an angle with the direction of the drive chain. An open ended slot 52 is formed in the vertical at a level where the prongs may travel through the open end of the slot. The angle is chosen so that the tips of the prongs are clear of the closed end of the slot as they move with the driven chain.

Thus, the bodies of cut strawberries held on the prongs are pushed off the prongs by impingement with the vertical portion 54 as the prongs move along the slot. The barrier is placed above the chute 65 so that the bodies of cut strawberries fall onto the floor of the chute. Initially, the floor of the chute may be maintained in the first position to allow a number of strawberries to collect on the floor. This allows the operator time to inspect them for flaws and to remove any which are unsatisfactory.

After checking the strawberries, the chute may be tilted to the second position to discharge the strawberries onto the conveyor where they may be sprayed by a treatment liquid from the spray assembly 59. The strawberries continue along the conveyor up the ramp 58 extending above the trough 55 and may be dumped off the end of the conveyor onto another station for further handling or packing.

It is to be understood that the word comprising as used throughout the specification is to be interpreted in its inclusive form ie. use of the word comprising does not exclude the addition of other elements.

It is to be understood that various modifications of and/or additions to the invention can be made without departing from the basic nature of the invention. These modifications and/or additions are therefore considered to fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Apparatus for trimming vegetable and fruit items having a body portion and an unwanted portion, the apparatus including a module comprising, a recirculating support member, means for driving the support member, a plurality of securement elements mounted on the support member, the securement elements being constructed so that they can pierce the body portion of the items to secure them to the recirculating support member, a base platform arranged to lie beneath the path of the securement elements as they are recirculated by the support member, the base platform being set at a predetermined distance below the securement elements to provide a guide for securing the items on the securement elements in such a manner that the unwanted portion may be next to the base platform at the predetermined distance below the securement elements, and a cutting assembly arranged to cut the items at a position below the securement elements at a distance from the securement elements which is less than the predetermined distance whereby to separate the unwanted portion from each of the items.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the recirculating support member comprises a belt or chain.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the recirculating support member comprises a chain driven through a sprocket.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the securement elements each comprise at least two prongs capable of piercing the body portion, the prongs extending laterally from the recirculating support member.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 comprising guide means arranged beneath the prongs to support the prongs and a cover member covering the recirculating support member wherein the bottom edge of the cover member and the base platform between them define an elongate slot through which the at least prongs protrude and along which the prongs travel as they move with the recirculating support member.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cutting assembly comprises a disc rotating in a substantially horizontal plane and a wiper blade arranged to wipe the unwanted portion from the disc after it has been cut from the item.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a barrier arranged so that the body of each article which has been cut from the unwanted portion by the cutting assembly impinges upon the barrier so that it is pushed from the securement element as the recirculating support member moves the support element.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 comprising a tray for holding a store of items to be trimmed mounted downstream of the cutting assembly and next to the base platform.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the cutting assembly includes a plurality of rotating cutting discs which are arranged to cut the unwanted portion from the body portion and also to cut the body portion into a plurality of pieces.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the cutting assembly comprises a plurality of discs stacked above each other which are driven to rotate in substantially horizontal planes.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of modules having a common recirculating support member.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 comprising a motorised conveyor arranged to extend between a plurality of modules having a common recirculating support member, and removal means adapted to remove from the securement elements the bodies of articles which have been separated by cutting from their respective unwanted portions and to direct the articles onto the conveyor.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 comprising, spray means arranged to spray the bodies of articles on the conveyor with a treatment liquid, and trough means arranged beneath the conveyor to collect treatment liquid sprayed by the spray means.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the removal means comprise, a chute, and a barrier arranged so that the bodies of articles which have been separated from their respective unwanted portions impinge upon the barrier so that they are pushed from the securement elements to fall onto the chute as the recirculating support member moves the support elements, wherein the chute is constructed so that it can allow the bodies of items to fall onto the conveyor.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 comprising, a chute and a barrier for each module wherein the chute has a base upon which the bodies of articles may fall and the chute is tiltable between a configuration in which the base is substantially horizontal so that the bodies of items may remain on the base and a configuration in which the base tilts sufficiently with respect to the horizontal as to cause the bodies of items which are on the base to be discharged onto the conveyor.

16. Apparatus for trimming vegetable and fruit items having a body portion and an unwanted portion, including a plurality of modules each comprising, a common recirculating support member with means for driving the support member, a plurality of securement elements in the form of prongs extending laterally from the support member, the securement elements being constructed so that they can pierce the body portion of the items to secure them to the recirculating support member, a base platform arranged to lie beneath the path of the securement elements as they are recirculated by the support member, the base platform being set at a predetermined distance below the securement elements to provide a guide for securing the items on the securement elements in such a manner that the unwanted portion may be held substantially in sliding abutment with the base platform at the predetermined distance below the securement elements, and a cutting assembly arranged to cut the items at a distance below the securement elements which is less than the predetermined distance whereby to separate the unwanted portion from each of the items, and a barrier arranged so that the bodies of articles which have been cut from the unwanted portions by the cutting assembly impinge upon the barrier so that they are pushed from the securement elements as the recirculating support member moves the support elements.