WO2003086111A1

WO2003086111A1 - Method and apparatus for processing vegetables

Info

Publication number: WO2003086111A1
Application number: PCT/FI2003/000268
Authority: WO
Inventors: Heikki Lindfors
Original assignee: Forsfood Oy
Priority date: 2002-04-12
Filing date: 2003-04-09
Publication date: 2003-10-23
Also published as: FI20020718A0; AU2003216767A1; EP1496761A1

Abstract

The object of the invention is an apparatus for processing vegetables comprising a feeding apparatus, a cutting apparatus and a removing apparatus of the vegetables. The cutting apparatus (11) have means for cutting one or more loose pieces (2b) out of the body portion (2a) of the vegetable, and a hollowing apparatus (13) for hollowing the vegetable in the body portion (2d) of the vegetable and a spreading apparatus (14) for spreading an adhesive on the vegetable (2f) have been installed to the processing apparatus (1), and in that the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11) and the removing apparatus (20) are arranged in a rotary arrangement in relation to one another, and the processing apparatus (1) in addition has one or more fixing apparatuses (7) for fixing the body portion (2a) of the vegetable (2) and one or more transfer apparatuses (6a, 6b) for holding and transferring the one or more loose pieces (2b), and the fixing apparatus (7) and the transfer apparatus (6a) are arranged to be simultaneous in relation to one another to go through the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11), the removing apparatus (20), the hollowing apparatus (13) and the spreading apparatus.

Description

Method and apparatus for processing vegetables

The object of the invention is an apparatus for processing vegetables comprising a feeding apparatus, a cutting apparatus and a removing apparatus of the vegetables.

Various vegetable preparations are manufactured of vegetables, such as potatoes. During processing, the vegetables may be peeled, divided, shaped or hollowed, for example. Generally, the various stages of vegetable processing are always carried out in separate devices.

The publication US 4 420 494 describes a method, wherein at one stage, the potatoes are split in half and then hollowed to form a cup. Hollowing is carried out manually with a separate scraper. As a method, hollowing by hand is slow and expensive. The publication WO 0149136 describes a method, wherein a cavity is drilled in the potato or a similar product. The cavity in the middle of the potato or the like extends throughout the potato. Rotary drilling is carried out with special drilling equipment. The potato is attached to the body part of the apparatus and, after that, a drilling tool is used to remove a cylindrical part from the potato. The drilling tool can have a telescopic structure. After drilling, the potatoes are boiled and then filled up in a separate device.

One problem, among others, in using this type of an apparatus is that the apparatus can only be used for making a cavity or a drilling. The potato must be filled manually or by means of a separate apparatus. The cavity must also be closed manually or by a separate device.

An apparatus for processing foodstuffs has now been invented, its functions being especially versatile. In order to achieve this goal, the invention is characterized by the facts that are disclosed in the independent claims. The other claims show some preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the apparatus according to the invention, the vegetable, such as a potato or an apple, is cut in one or more pieces. The processing apparatus has one or more fixing apparatuses for fixing the body portion of the vegetable during processing, and one or more cutting apparatuses for cutting loose pieces out of the vegetable. The processing apparatus further comprises one or more transfer apparatuses for holding and transferring the loose pieces of the vegetable. The transfer apparatus can preferably be fixed to the vegetable being processed already before the loose piece is detached from the body portion. The transfer apparatus can preferably be used in mounting the vegetable in an attaching part. In that case, the transfer apparatus can be, for example, a hinged flap that is lowered on top of the vegetable after the vegetable has been fed in.

The one or more loose pieces that were cut out of the vegetable's body portion in connection with cutting are held in the transfer apparatus. The loose piece can be transferred later on from this transfer apparatus to the various stages of processing or it can be removed from processing. The transfer apparatus preferably uses partial vacuum to hold the vegetable.

The cutting apparatus can preferably have two cutting blades for cutting the loose pieces out of the vegetable's body portion. In that case, one blade can cut the cover portion out of the body portion, and the other blade can cut out the bottom portion. In connection with cutting the cover portion, an upper plane is formed on the body portion, and in connection with cutting the bottom part a lower plane is formed. The loose pieces that are cut can be similar to or different from one another and they can have similar or different shear surfaces. The shear surface can vary according to the application. The cutting apparatus preferably has a cleaning member, such as a washer, for cleaning the cutting apparatus. This can work, for example, so that every time the blade rotates, it moves through the cleaning member.

According to an object of the invention, the fixing apparatus has a closing mould for fixing the treated vegetable during processing. The vegetable can preferably also be attached to the fixing apparatus by means of an under-pressure mould. The closing mould used can preferably be one that is well suited for vegetables of different sizes and/or shapes.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus has a hollowing apparatus for making a cavity in the body portion of the vegetable. The hollowing apparatus preferably has one or more rotary blades for making the cavity in the body portion of the vegetable. Hollowing can preferably be carried out along a controlled path to provide a cavity of the desired shape. The blade can preferably operate so that it first makes a reliever cut on one edge of the shear surface of the body portion, for example, and then hollows a piece out of the vegetable's body portion from the opposite direction. The reliever cut prevents the body portion from breaking in connection with the actual hollowing. In that case, the edges of the cavity are essentially unbroken, and no extra pieces of vegetable go to waste. According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus has an auxiliary cutting apparatus for handling the hollowed spot. This can preferably be a die- cutting apparatus, which is used to impress on the vegetable the desired hollowing pattern provided by means of the reliever cut. This decreases the breakage of the vegetable's surface, for example, during the actual hollowing.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus has a separate cleaning apparatus for cleaning the vegetable and preferably the hollowed vegetable of any pieces of vegetable. This improves the quality of the product and, at the same time, also the functionality of the process. In cleaning, pressurized and/or under- pressurized water and/or air can be used, for example.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus comprises a dosing apparatus for adding into some portion of the vegetable a dosing agent, such as a sauce, filling, topping or coating, or another preparation or product, such as a meat product. Combining the dosing apparatus with the processing apparatus essentially diversifies the operation of the processing apparatus. The dosage is preferably put in the body portion of the vegetable, which has a special cavity hollowed therein by the hollowing apparatus.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus comprises a spreading apparatus for spreading an adhesive, such as starch, on some part of the vegetable. The adhesive is preferably spread on the body portion of the vegetable. The adhesive that is spread on the part of the vegetable provides the advantage that the parts, which had earlier been detached, can now be combined. The spreading apparatus can preferably have a conical protective member, which sediments the adhesive, for example, on a certain desired spot on the shear surface. For example, a conical protective member can be installed on top of the cavity of the body portion, and the adhesive can be dosed on top of the protective member. In that case, the adhesive is evenly spread on the edge of the vegetable's shear surface around the conical protective member.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus has a levelling apparatus for levelling the adhesive and/or the dosing agent. The levelling apparatus can comprise a mechanical levelling member, or the adhesive is allowed to automatically become even in the levelling apparatus. Levelling can be based, for example, on vibration, a sonic wave, light and/or heat. According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus has an installation apparatus for installing the loose piece of the vegetable in the body portion. In that case, for example, the detached cover portion can be reinstalled in the body portion. The cover portion that was cut from the respective body portion is preferably attached to the body portion in exactly the same position it originally was in. The installation apparatus comprises, e.g., an actuator that installs, such as presses the cut part from the transfer apparatus onto the shear surface of the body portion, for example.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus comprises a pre- combining apparatus for pre-combining the parts that are installed together. This can be used to improve the processability of the product. In the pre-combining apparatus, the body portion and the cover portion are combined by means of heating, cooling, pressing and/or surface spraying.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus comprises a washing and drying apparatus for washing and drying the fixing apparatus and the cutting apparatus. This improves the hygiene of the treatment, for example. The washing and drying apparatus is preferably located at the starting stage of the cycle.

According to an object of the invention, the apparatuses of the various stages of the processing apparatus are arranged in a revolving relationship with one another. This provides, for example, the advantage that the apparatuses can be interconnected without separate transitional phases. The processing apparatus also preferably becomes compact and simple in technical terms.

According to an object of the invention, the fixing apparatus and the transfer apparatus are arranged to travel simultaneously with one another through the stages of the processing apparatus, such as the hollowing apparatus and the sizing apparatus. In that case, the cover portion that is in the transfer apparatus can preferably go through the other parts simultaneously with the corresponding body portion, which is in the fixing apparatus. This provides the advantage, among others, that the original parts of the vegetable can then be fixed together again, when needed. It is also then preferable to simultaneously handle, in the washing and drying apparatus, the transfer apparatus that is at the same stage as the fixing apparatus.

According to an object of the invention, the processing apparatus has two or more planes for mutual arrangement of the parts. The apparatus can have two planes, for example, wherein the same stages are carried out simultaneously with one another. This preferably makes it possible to extend the apparatus and to increase the processing capacity.

According to an object of the invention, the ratios of the duration of the processing apparatus's stages can be gradually adjusted with one another. The capacity of the apparatus is preferably selected in accordance with the processed vegetable. In that case, the apparatus as a whole can be gradually adjusted to a considerably varying extent.

The shape of the vegetable product can vary. According to an object of the invention, the vegetable being processed in the apparatus has an oval shape. The oval structure provides the advantage, e.g., that the body portion and the loose piece of the vegetable, such as the cover portion, can be installed exactly in a certain position in the parts of the processing apparatus. Then, for example, the parts can be bonded together more accurately. The vegetable product can also preferably have a round or some other symmetrical shape.

According to an object of the invention, the feeding apparatus guides the vegetable in the desired position into the fixing apparatus. The feeding apparatus can preferably have a supporting member, which lowers the vegetable in a desired and controlled manner to the fixing apparatus.

According to an object of the invention, the removing apparatus has a removing member for removing the vegetable from the fixing apparatus. The removing member is preferably one, which lifts, lowers or otherwise guides the vegetable in the desired position out of the fixing apparatus. The removing apparatus is preferably one, which removes the vegetable product in the desired position and in a controlled manner. It is also of particular benefit that the vegetable product is gently removed by means of the removing apparatus, whereby its structure remains as unchanged as possible at this stage.

The apparatus according to the invention, wherein the apparatuses of the various stages are arranged on the same plane in a revolving relationship with one another, is capable of processing, e.g., 1800 potatoes in an hour. In that case, the processing comprises feeding, cutting, hollowing, cleaning and filling the potatoes, spreading and levelling the adhesive, installing the parts together and attaching them, as well as removing, washing and drying the product. This value of capacity is extremely high and proves that the processing in technical terms is very effective. According to an object of the invention, the vegetable to be processed is a potato, carrot, beetroot, turnip, Swedish turnip or apple.

In the following, some applications of the invention are described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a top sectional view of the processing apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the processing apparatus.

In Fig. 1, there is a processing apparatus 1, wherein the stages A - N are interconnected in a rotary manner. A driving apparatus lb rotates around the central axle CA of the processing apparatus along the production circle 10. The processing apparatus has a vacuum apparatus 9. The processing apparatus 1 has a feeding apparatus 4 that comprises a supporting member 5 for lowering the vegetable 2 to the fixing apparatus 7 in the desired manner. A transfer apparatus 6a in turn presses the vegetable 2 into the fixing apparatus 7 at stage A.

At stage Bl, the transfer apparatus 6a further presses the vegetable 2 of an oval shape into the fixing apparatus 7. At stage B2, a cutting apparatus 11, which has two blades 11a, lib, cuts a body portion 2a from the vegetable, and then at stage B3, a loose piece 2b is held by the transfer apparatus 6b, which has been lifted up. At stage C, an auxiliary hollowing apparatus 12 is used to make a pre-hollowed body portion 2c. After this, at stage D, a hollowing apparatus 143 is used to make a hollowed body portion 2d of the vegetable. The apparatus of stage E is used to make the filled up body portion 2e of the vegetable. At stage F, a spreading apparatus 14 of adhesive is used to make a body portion 2f that is spread with the adhesive. This body portion 2f of the vegetable is then moved to stage G, wherein the cover portion 2b is installed to form a combined vegetable 2g. After this, the processing apparatus 1 comprises a levelling stage H provided with an adhesive levelling apparatus, a pre-combining stage I provided with a pre-combining apparatus for combining 21 the parts of the vegetable. At stage J, there is a cleaning apparatus for cleaning the vegetable 2J.

At the removing stage K, the removing apparatus 20 lifts the processed vegetable 2k away from the fixing apparatus 7 and into the removing conveyor 22 by means of a removing member 21.

After the removing apparatus K, there is provided a washing apparatus L and a drying apparatus M. Furthermore, the processing apparatus comprises an apparatus stage N, which can preferably contain, e.g., preheating or the surface treatment apparatus of the fixing apparatus 7 and/or the transfer apparatus 6a.

Fig. 2 shows the processing apparatus 1 comprising a body la, which is attached by means of the attaching means Id to a base lc that is installed on a floor le. The processing apparatus 1 can be rotated in relation to its central axle CA by means of a driving mechanism lb.

Vegetables 2 are fed into the fixing apparatus 7 from a feed conveyor. The transfer apparatus 6a that is in its upper position has an under-pressure member 6a', which is used through an under-pressure hose 6a' ' and by means of the vacuum apparatus 9. The loose piece 2b of the vegetable 2 can be held by the under-pressure member 6a', and the body portion 2a can be fixed to the fixing apparatus 7. The transfer apparatus 6b, which is in its lower position, has an under-pressure member 6b', which is used through an under-pressure hose 6b" and by means of the vacuum apparatus 9. The processed vegetable 2k is removed from the processing apparatus 1 by means of the removing member 21 of the removing apparatus 20.

Claims

1. A processing apparatus for vegetables, comprising a feeding apparatus, a cutting apparatus and a removing apparatus of the vegetables, characterized in that the cutting apparatus (11) have means for cutting one or more loose pieces (2b) out of the body portion (2a) of the vegetable, and a hollowing apparatus (13) for hollowing the vegetable in the body portion (2d) of the vegetable and a spreading apparatus (14) for spreading an adhesive on the vegetable (2f) have been installed to the processing apparatus (1), and in that the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11) and the removing apparatus (20) are arranged in a rotary arrangement in relation to one another, and the processing apparatus (1) in addition has one or more fixing apparatuses (7) for fixing the body portion (2a) of the vegetable (2) and one or more transfer apparatuses (6a, 6b) for holding and transferring the one or more loose pieces (2b), and the fixing apparatus (7) and the transfer apparatus (6a) are arranged to be simultaneous in relation to one another to go through the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11), the removing apparatus (20), the hollowing apparatus (13) and the spreading apparatus.

2. A processing apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the fixing apparatus (7) and/or the transfer apparatus (2a, 2b) are either vacuum-operated or of a choking and/or a carrying type.

3. A processing apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vegetable (2) is installed in the fixing apparatus (7) by means of the transfer apparatus (6a).

4. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus has an auxiliary hollowing apparatus (12), such as a die-cutting apparatus for pre-hollowing the body portion (2d) of the vegetable.

5. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hollowing apparatus (13) has a rotating blade for making a cavity in the body portion (2d) of the vegetable.

6. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has a cleaning apparatus (J) for cleaning the vegetable.

7. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has a dosing apparatus (E) for adding a dosing agent, a product and/or a preparation into the vegetable (2e).

8. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spreading apparatus (14) has a conical protection member for controlling the spreading of the adhesive.

9. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has a levelling apparatus (H) for levelling the adhesive, the dosing agent, the product and/or the preparation.

10. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has an installation apparatus (G) for installing the loose piece (2b) of the vegetable in the body portion (2a, 2f).

11. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has a pre-combination apparatus (I) for combining the loose piece (2b) of the vegetable with the body portion (2a, 2f).

12. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has a washing apparatus (L) and/or a drying apparatus (M) for handling the fixing apparatus (7) and/or the transfer apparatus (6a).

13. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the processing apparatus (1) has two or more planes for arranging the apparatuses of the different stages with one another.

14. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the vegetable (2), which is processed in the processing apparatus (1), has an essentially oval, round or some other symmetrical shape.

15. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the feeding apparatus (4) has a supporting member (5) for lowering the vegetable (2) to the fixing apparatus (7).

16. A processing apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the removing apparatus (20) has a removing member (21) for removing the vegetable (2k) from the fixing apparatus (7).

17. A method for manufacturing a processing apparatus for vegetables, comprising a feeding apparatus, a cutting apparatus and a removing apparatus of the vegetable, characterized in that, means for cutting one or more loose pieces (2b) out of the body portion (2a) of the vegetable are installed in the cutting apparatus (11), and a hollowing apparatus (13) for hollowing the vegetable in the body portion (2d) of the vegetable and a spreading apparatus (14) for spreading an adhesive on the vegetable (2f) are installed to the processing apparatus (1), and in that the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11) and the removing apparatus (20) are arranged in a rotary arrangement in relation to one another, and in addition one or more fixing apparatuses (7) for fixing the body portion (2a) of the vegetable (2) and one or more transfer apparatuses (6a, 6b) for holding and transferring the one or more loose pieces (2b) are installed in the processing apparatus (1) and the fixing apparatus (7) and the transfer apparatus (6a) are arranged to be simultaneous in relation to one another to go through the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11), the removing apparatus (20), the hollowing apparatus (13) and the spreading apparatus.

18. A method for processing vegetables in a processing apparatus that has a feeding apparatus, a cutting apparatus and a removing apparatus of the vegetable, characterized in that one or more loose pieces (2b) out of the body portion (2a) of the vegetable are cut by means of the cutting apparatus (11), and the vegetable is hollowed by a hollowing apparatus (13) and an adhesive is spread by a spreading apparatus (14) on the vegetable (2f), and in that the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11) and the removing apparatus (20) are arranged in a rotary arrangement in relation to one another, and the processing apparatus (1) in addition has one or more fixing apparatuses (7) for fixing the body portion (2a) of the vegetable (2) and one or more transfer apparatuses (6a, 6b) for holding and transferring the one or more loose pieces (2b), and the fixing apparatus (7) and the transfer apparatus (6a) are arranged simultaneous in relation to one another to go through the feeding apparatus (4), the cutting apparatus (11), the removing apparatus (20), the hollowing apparatus (13) and the spreading apparatus.