WO2003015541A1 - Appareil permettant d'eliminer le trognon de legumes - Google Patents

Appareil permettant d'eliminer le trognon de legumes Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2003015541A1
WO2003015541A1 PCT/GB2002/003862 GB0203862W WO03015541A1 WO 2003015541 A1 WO2003015541 A1 WO 2003015541A1 GB 0203862 W GB0203862 W GB 0203862W WO 03015541 A1 WO03015541 A1 WO 03015541A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
cutting
vegetable
core
vegetables
cores
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2002/003862
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Anthony George Ellis
Original Assignee
Aem Machinery Limited
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 Aem Machinery Limited filed Critical Aem Machinery Limited
Priority to GB0402343A priority Critical patent/GB2393108B/en
Publication of WO2003015541A1 publication Critical patent/WO2003015541A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23N—MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS
    • A23N15/00—Machines or apparatus for other treatment of fruits or vegetables for human purposes; Machines or apparatus for topping or skinning flower bulbs
    • A23N15/003—Machines or apparatus for other treatment of fruits or vegetables for human purposes; Machines or apparatus for topping or skinning flower bulbs for trimming cauliflowers, broccoli or cabbages

Definitions

  • This invention relates to apparatus for the removal of cores from vegetables.
  • it relates to automated apparatus for removing the cores of edible-leaf vegetables such as cabbage and lettuce.
  • the edible leaves of vegetables such as cabbage and lettuce can be removed from the core of the vegetable using various hand-held and/or manually operated cutting devices.
  • a processing technique is slow, labour-intensive, prone to cause repetitive strain-type injuries or lacerations to operators and generally unattractive.
  • the core is transferred by the blades to a discharge point whilst the edible portions are conveyed onwards to be further processed or frozen.
  • Such apparatus is less suitable for the removal of cores from vegetables of the edible-leaf type, primarily because the dense packing of the leaves necessitates a stronger cutting force than can be generated by the pivotably mounted blades.
  • a further limitation is that the separation of the leaves following core-excision is not as efficient as the separation of florets.
  • one aspect of the invention provides apparatus for the automated removal of cores from vegetables, the apparatus comprising conveyor means including vegetable supports for advancing of vegetables from a loading station to a cutting station and a cutting head assembly comprising at least one hollow tubular cutting element in which the cutting head assembly is movable between a cutting position proximal to a vegetable support in the cutting station and a core-removal position distal to the vegetable support.
  • a core excised from a first vegetable is retained within the cutting element and is pushed therealong and ultimately ejected therefrom by cores from second or subsequent vegetables.
  • the cutting head assembly is movable along a pathway substantially perpendicular to the direction of advancement of the conveyor means and the core-removal position is preferably removed from the pass of the conveyor means.
  • the cutting head assembly preferably comprises at least one tube of substantially circular cross-section.
  • the end of the tube nearer the vegetable supports is advantageously bevelled to provide a more incisive cutting edge.
  • the diameter of the tube preferably decreases towards the vegetable supports, either in a continuous manner, so as to form a frusto-cone, or in discrete steps with interposing shoulders.
  • the narrowest portion of the tube in the case of a tube with discrete variations in diameter preferably has a length of around 70 to 80 mm. A length of this order ensures penetration into the vegetable to a depth sufficient to remove the bulk of the core.
  • the conveyor means preferably advances the vegetables in indexed stages and the cutting operation is arranged to be contemporaneous or synchronised with the stationary intervals.
  • Different length or diameter cutting heads may be provided to enable the efficient coring of different types of vegetables.
  • the cutting head assembly preferably further comprises at least one core discharge tube dimensioned so as to allow the passage of cores cut by the at least one cutting element and connected to the at least one tubular cutting element at its end remote from the vegetable supports.
  • the core discharge tube may be disposed such that cores, on their exit from the discharge tube, fall into a core receiver placed below the point of exit.
  • the core receiver may comprise a trough or, more preferably, may comprise a core discharge conveyor, the direction of movement of which is preferably substantially orthogonal both to that of the vegetable support conveyor and that of the cutting head assembly.
  • the cutting head assembly is preferably operatively connected to a crank mechanism of which the crank or a crank wheel may be advantageously positioned below the pass of the vegetable supports within the cutting station. Circular motion of the crank shaft thereby provides reciprocating movement of the cutting element between its cutting and core-removal positions.
  • the conveyor means may comprise a continuous flexible belt actuated by a rotating wheel or drum.
  • the apparatus may also include one or more light sources positioned above, preferably directly above, the vegetable supports and arranged to project a beam or beams of light towards the loading station to provide a visible or otherwise sensible indication of the central region of the vegetable supports. By means of this indication, it is possible to load vegetables into the supports with the cores substantially centrally positioned and thereby to increase the efficiency of core, rather than leaf, excision.
  • the apparatus may also be provided with vegetable segmenting means positioned after the cutting station in the direction of advancement.
  • the vegetable segmenting means may comprise one or more blades movable between a segmenting position and a rest position and shaped so as to provide a cutting surface complementary to the vegetable supporting surface of the vegetable supports.
  • a single blade of appropriate length is thereby able to cut a cored vegetable into two parts whereas a double blade, possibly arranged in a cross-formation, is able to cut a cored vegetable into four parts.
  • the segmenting means confers the advantage of smaller pieces of vegetable leaf at the end of the passage of vegetables through the apparatus. Movement of the segmenting blades may be achieved by functional connection of the blades to the crank driving the cutting head assembly. Alternatively, the segmenting means may be actuated by a dedicated driver.
  • the segmenting means may comprise a substantially conical or pyramidal block, one vertex of which is pushed into the cored vegetable so as to splay the leaves apart and thus effect a leaf separation step.
  • the invention provides a cutting element for use in conjunction with apparatus for the automated removal of vegetable cores, the cutting element comprising a hollow tube having a cutting edge at one end, an apparatus attachment interface at the other end and a core passage between the two ends.
  • the tube has a substantially circular cross-section. The diameter of the tube may decrease towards the end having the cutting edge, either continuously or in discrete steps.
  • the apparatus attachment interface may comprise a screw thread suitable for engagement with a complementary thread on appropriate apparatus or may comprise a flange around which a clip can be fitted to enable the cutting element to be fastened to an appropriate part of the apparatus.
  • the invention provides a method for the automated removal of cores from vegetables, the method comprising the steps of loading vegetables, with their cores uppermost, onto vegetable supports on a conveyor means, advancing the vegetable supports to a cutting station and removing the cores from the vegetables, the cutting step being performed by a cutting head assembly comprising at least one hollow tubular cutting element and which is movable between a cutting position proximal to a vegetable support in the cutting station and a core-removal position distal to the vegetable support and preferably, in use, removed from the pass of vegetables placed in the supports.
  • Figure 1 shows schematically a side view of core removal apparatus according to the present invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a cross section through a cutting element according to the present invention.
  • a vegetable core removal apparatus comprises an infeed conveyor 12 and a vegetable support conveyor 13 with a plurality of vegetable support dishes 14. Vegetables arriving at a loading station, generally indicated 15, are loaded, core uppermost, into the support dishes 14 by operatives. The dishes 14 move in an indexed, or stepwise, manner from the loading station 15 to a cutting station, generally indicated 16, by means of the endless conveyor 13 which moves in the direction shown by the arrow A.
  • a number of light sources 17 which, by virtue of their positioning directing above the central points of the same number of vegetable support dishes, are capable of providing operatives with a visible reference for the substantially central location of the vegetable cores within the support dishes.
  • the cutting station 18 has a hood 19 to prevent operatives from injuring themselves by coming into contact with the machinery of the cutting station.
  • the cutting station 18 comprises a tubular cutting element 20, a core discharge tube_21 and a lateral core discharge conveyor 22.
  • the tubular cutting element 20, which is more clearly shown in Figure 2 comprises a tube of substantially circular cross section with a bevelled cutting edge 23.
  • the cutting element 20 has a first portion 24 of a diameter suitable for passing around the core of vegetables placed into the apparatus and a second portion 25 of a larger diameter, the two portions 24, 25 being joined by a sloping shoulder 26.
  • the sloping shoulder 26 and the larger diameter portion 25 act to spread slightly the leaves of the vegetable so as to ease the removal of the cut core and the cutting element.
  • the end of the second portion 25 remote from the shoulder 26 terminates in an external annular flange 27 which can be connected to the screw-threaded end of the core discharge tube 21 by an internally flanged clamp nut 28.
  • the cutting element 20 and core discharge tube 21 are movable reciprocally in the direction shown by the arrow B. This movement is achieved by a crank assembly 28.
  • a connecting rod 29 is located to one side of the path of the support dishes 14 which are in the cutting station at a given time and is connected at one end to a crank wheel 30 and at the other end to the cutting element 20 and/or the discharge tube 21.
  • the crank wheel 30 rotates, in either direction, the crank assembly 28 effects a reciprocating core-incision/core-excision motion of the cutting element and discharge tube.
  • a core-excision step at which point the cutting element is at its highest point (as shown in Figure 1) and, in use, contains a vegetable core, the next core-incision step ensues.
  • the cutting element 20 enters another vegetable and, as it does so, the core of that vegetable pushes the core of the previous vegetable along the inside of the cutting element 20 and into and along the core discharge tube.
  • a 'train' of cores will be formed in the tube 21.
  • the incision of further cores will then cause discharge of previously excised cores from the free end 31 of the tube 21. Discharged cores fall into the discharge conveyor 22 which moves in a direction substantially into or out of the plane of the page in Figure 1.
  • the segmenting head comprises a blade 33 and a blade holder 34.
  • the blade is shaped so as to have a cutting edge 35 which is substantially complementary to the shape of the inner surface of the supporting dishes 14.
  • the blade 33 and holder 34 are moved in a reciprocating manner from a lower, cutting position to a higher, rest position. This movement is achieved by connecting the holder and/or blade to suitable actuation means (not shown), such as a crank.
  • suitable actuation means not shown
  • the segmenting head 32 could be actuated, in concert with the cutting element 20, by the crank assembly 28.
  • a plurality of blades 33 can be incorporated into the segmenting head, each positioned along a different diameter of a notional circle described by rotation of the blade 33 about an axis corresponding to the path of its reciprocating movement. When a plurality of blades is used in this way, smaller segments of vegetable leaf are produced at the end of the passage of vegetables through the machine.
  • the vegetable leaves are advanced to an exit or collection point 36.
  • a further conveyor belt may be placed below the point 36 to collect the leaves as they fall out of the dishes 24. This further conveyor then advances the leaves to the next stage of their processing. Alternatively, the leaves may be removed from the dishes by operatives positioned around the point 36.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)

Abstract

Appareil permettant d'éliminer automatiquement le trognon de légumes, qui comporte un dispositif de transport (13) pourvu de supports pour légumes et destiné au transport de légumes d'un poste de chargement (15) à un poste de coupe (16), et un ensemble tête de coupe (20) pourvu d'au moins un élément de coupe tubulaire creux dans lequel l'ensemble tête de coupe est mobile entre une position de coupe située à proximité d'un support pour légume dans le poste de coupe (18) et une position d'élimination de trognon éloignée du support pour légume. A l'utilisation, un trognon extrait d'un premier légume est retenu dans l'élément de coupe et poussé le long dudit élément, puis éjecté dudit élément par les trognons des légumes suivants.
PCT/GB2002/003862 2001-08-14 2002-08-13 Appareil permettant d'eliminer le trognon de legumes WO2003015541A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0402343A GB2393108B (en) 2001-08-14 2002-08-13 Vegetable core removal apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0119857A GB0119857D0 (en) 2001-08-14 2001-08-14 Vegetable core removal apparatus
GB0119857.1 2001-08-14

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2003015541A1 true WO2003015541A1 (fr) 2003-02-27

Family

ID=9920412

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2002/003862 WO2003015541A1 (fr) 2001-08-14 2002-08-13 Appareil permettant d'eliminer le trognon de legumes

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (2) GB0119857D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003015541A1 (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2864427A1 (fr) * 2003-12-30 2005-07-01 Cotentin Legumiere Procede et installation pour preparer des tetes de salade
US8312701B1 (en) 2011-06-10 2012-11-20 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester
US9861037B2 (en) 2010-10-28 2018-01-09 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Mechanical produce harvester with gathering belts

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1154968B (de) * 1962-10-04 1963-09-26 Rich Hengstenberg Fa Zum Herausbohren der Struenke aus Kohlkoepfen dienende Bohrmaschine
US3490506A (en) * 1966-11-22 1970-01-20 Gen Foods Corp Cauliflower stem trimming machine
US4099456A (en) * 1975-07-23 1978-07-11 Dreibholz & Floering Limited Treatment of vegetables
US4211161A (en) * 1978-03-17 1980-07-08 Jourdan Louis J Machine tools and machine for removing stem from vegetable, such as cabbage or cauliflower
AU622356B2 (en) * 1989-11-08 1992-04-02 Simplot Australia (Trade Marks) Pty Ltd Apparatus and method for cutting or trimming produce
WO1997013418A1 (fr) 1995-10-07 1997-04-17 Anthony George Ellis Appareil destine a enlever le coeur d'un legume

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2213045B (en) * 1987-12-02 1991-06-12 David Rose Cauliflower corer
JPH11290052A (ja) * 1998-04-13 1999-10-26 Hosokawa:Kk 野菜類等の芯取り装置

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1154968B (de) * 1962-10-04 1963-09-26 Rich Hengstenberg Fa Zum Herausbohren der Struenke aus Kohlkoepfen dienende Bohrmaschine
US3490506A (en) * 1966-11-22 1970-01-20 Gen Foods Corp Cauliflower stem trimming machine
US4099456A (en) * 1975-07-23 1978-07-11 Dreibholz & Floering Limited Treatment of vegetables
US4211161A (en) * 1978-03-17 1980-07-08 Jourdan Louis J Machine tools and machine for removing stem from vegetable, such as cabbage or cauliflower
AU622356B2 (en) * 1989-11-08 1992-04-02 Simplot Australia (Trade Marks) Pty Ltd Apparatus and method for cutting or trimming produce
WO1997013418A1 (fr) 1995-10-07 1997-04-17 Anthony George Ellis Appareil destine a enlever le coeur d'un legume

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2864427A1 (fr) * 2003-12-30 2005-07-01 Cotentin Legumiere Procede et installation pour preparer des tetes de salade
EP1550379A1 (fr) * 2003-12-30 2005-07-06 Soleco Procédé et installation pour préparer des têtes de salade
US9861037B2 (en) 2010-10-28 2018-01-09 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Mechanical produce harvester with gathering belts
US8312701B1 (en) 2011-06-10 2012-11-20 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester
US8631635B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2014-01-21 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester
US9072225B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2015-07-07 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Method of harvesting and decoring produce using a mechanical harvester
US9565801B2 (en) 2011-06-10 2017-02-14 Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. Decoring mechanism with mechanized harvester

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0119857D0 (en) 2001-10-10
GB2393108A (en) 2004-03-24
GB0402343D0 (en) 2004-03-10
GB2393108B (en) 2005-12-14

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