WO2004014160A1

WO2004014160A1 - Device for transporting objects in fixed orientation

Info

Publication number: WO2004014160A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/007742
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stephanus Michael Marie Backus
Original assignee: Backus Beheer B.V.
Priority date: 2002-08-05
Filing date: 2003-07-15
Publication date: 2004-02-19
Also published as: AU2003250082A1

Abstract

Device for transporting an object with a fixed orientation along a circular path, comprising a first wheel-like carrier (10) and a second wheel-like carrier (11) arranged in a parallel manner to each other and which together bear a support (17) for the object, each carrier being capable of being driven rotatably around a rotation axis, whereby the support will follow a circular path wherein the rotation axis (4) of the first carrier (10) is parallel to, but not aligned with the rotation axis (5) of the second carrier (11), in that the support (17) is rotatably connected to each carrier, and each axis of the rotatable connection between the support and the carriers is parallel to the rotation axis of the carriers, the axis of the one connection being shifted with respect to the axis of the second connection over a distance and a direction which corresponds to the shifting distance of the rotation axis of both carriers.

Description

Device for transporting objects in fixed orientation

The invention relates to a device for transporting an object with a fixed orientation along a circular path, comprising a first wheel-like carrier and a second wheel-like carrier ananged in a parallel manner to each other and which together bear a support for the object, each carrier being capable of being driven rotatably around a rotation axis, whereby the support will follow a circular path.

Such a device is commonly known.

In the known device the support is normally provided with an axis above the support area which is rotatably connected to both carriers which are exactly opposed to each other. The orientation is maintained by gravity forces.

A problem with this type of transport devices is that the bearing is above the support surface thereby hindering access to the object to be transported. Furthermore the orientation is not really fixed and vibrations or any external force may influence the orientation of the support.

It is an object of the invention to provide a transporting system in which these problems are avoided.

This problem is solved in that the rotation axis of the first canier is parallel to, but not aligned to the rotation axis of the second carrier, in that the support is rotatably connected to each carrier, and each axis of the rotatable connection between the support and the carriers is parallel to the rotation axis of the carriers, the axis of the of the one connection being shifted with respect to the a axis of the second connection over a distance direction which corresponds to the shifting of the rotation axis of both earners.

In this way a free accessible support surface is available on each support and the orientation can not be changed due to external forces acting on the support. Other characteristics and advantages will become clear from the following description references being made to the annexed drawings, relating to an onion chaving machine in which the transport system according to the invention is used, in which

Fig. 1 is a schematic side view in cross-section of the apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 3 is a schematic front view of the first transport system on a larger scale,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged schematic side view of the first transport system,

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of a gondola-support for the onions in the first transport system,

Fig. 6 is a cross-section according to the line NI-NI of fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a schematic side view of the holding system for the first transport system,

Fig. 8 is a schematic top view of the holding system for the first transport system,

Fig. 9 is a schematic top view of the first and the second cutting system, cooperating with the first transport system,

Fig. 10 is a schematic top view of both, the first and second transport system,

Fig. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the second transport system of the apparatus according to the invention,

Fig. 12 is a schematic side view of the cutting system in the second transport system, Fig. 13 shows a part of the cutting head of the cutting system in the second transport system,

Fig. 14 shows a detail of the cutting head in the second transport system,

Fig. 15 shows another detail of the cutting head in the second transport system,

Fig. 16 shows the operation of the cutting head in the second transport system,

Fig. 17 shows the operation of the cutting head in the second transport system in another phase of the operation, and

Fig. 18 - 21 shows schematically the operation of the second transport system and one of its cutting heads in four different positions.

In order to clarify the orientation of the onion to be treated, it is important to define the main characteristics of an onion. Onions have a generally ball-like shape with a stem end by means of which the onion has been connected to the plant. Opposite the stem end is the top end. The line connecting the stem end with the top end will hereinafter be called the main axis of the onion and the other directions will be derived directly from this definition.

The apparatus for cleaning and preparing the onion for further processing for consumption consists essentially of two transport systems, a first transport system 1 in which part of the onion is cut off and defined incisions are made in the outer layer of the onion, and a second transport system 2 in which a further incision is made in the outer layer and the outer layers are blown off.

As shown in the drawings the apparatus is provided with a frame in which the transport systems are mounted and which will not be described, as this is obvious for the man skilled in the art.

The first transport system 1 comprises two identical discs 10, 11 which are rotatably mounted in a parallel fashion in the frame at a defined distance from each other but in such a way that their axis of rotation 4 and 5 are parallel to each other but shifted over some distance.

Each disc 10, 11 consists of an essentially circular centre part 12, 13 the circumference of which is provided with a number of brackets 14 extending radially and outwardly so that each disc 10, 11 has a star-like shape. In the embodiment shown each plate 10,11 is provided with eight brackets 14, but it will be obvious that any suitable number of brackets may be used, dependent upon available space in the apparatus and ergonomic convenience, as will become clear from the following description.

The outer portion of each bracket 14 is provided with a bore 15 carrying a stud axles 16 which is directed to the other plate 10 or 11, i.e. a stud axle 16 mounted in a bore 15 of disc 10 extends towards disc 11 and reverse. The mutual positioning of the two discs 10 and 11 is such that the angular orientation of the brackets 14 provided on both discs is the same and thus form a number of pairs, each provided with the parallel stud axles 16.

Mounted on each pair of stud axles 16 of each pair of brackets 14 with the same orientation is a gondola support 17 as shown in fig. 5 and 6. Each gondola support 17 consists of two parallel plates 18, 19 having a generally elongated ellipsoid shape, one long edge portion of which being provided with a N-shaped recess 21. As seen in cross section the N-shaped recess in each plate 18, 19 has a tapered edge 20, such that the two plates 18, 19 have a frusto-conical edge portion and as seen along the edges are stepped downwardly towards the central part of the edge 20. Both plates 18, 19 are mounted to a block 22 which is mounted on the stud axles 16 on the brackets 14. The connection between the gondola support 17 and the brackets 14 is such that the gondola support 17 can rotate with respect to the brackets 14.

Both discs 10, 11 can be rotatably driven by some suitable driving means and this in a synchronous way. In this way it is possible to give each gondola support 17 a defined orientation in the transport system 1 and they will maintain that orientation during the rotation of the plates 10, 11.

Technically any orientation can be given to the gondola support 17, but as shown in figure 1 and 2 each gondola support 17 is slightly inclined downwardly towards the front end 3 of the apparatus, which is left as shown in fig. 1. In this way the introduction of an onion in the gondola support 17 may be improved. This inclination is in fact defined by the distance between and the orientation of the connecting line of the rotation axis 4 and 5 of the discs 10, 11. 5

As shown in fig. 1 an onion can be placed by hand in a gondola support 17, while said gondola support is almost halfway the upwards movement during the rotation of the discs 10,11. The onion is thereby positioned in such a way that its main axis is horizontally oriented and the stem end and the tail end extending beyond the outer surfaces of the plates 10 18, 19. Once the onion placed in this way in a gondola support, it will maintain its orientation during further movement with the first transport system 1. The transport system is moving in clock direction as seen in fig. 1.

Above the transport system 1 there is provided a holding mechanism 30 (see also fig. 7 and 15 8), which serves to keep the onions in their gondola support 17 while the same is moving through the upper part of the transport system 1.

The holding mechanism 30 comprises a first chain 31, e.g. a conventional Reynolds chain which is mounted on two chain wheels 32 and 33 and a set of a second and third chain 34, 35

20 which are mounted on chain wheels 36, 37 and 38, 39 respectively. Chain wheel 32 is rotatably connected to a tube member 40. The chain wheels 33, 36 and 38 are rotatably mounted on the same axis which is fixed into a housing 41. The housing 41 canies a tube like member 42 and a tube like member 43. Tube member 40 is inserted into tube member 42 and is slidably engaged thereby, a spring 44 being provided between the housing 41 and

25 the free end of the tube member 40. With the first chain 31 areanged around the chain wheels 32 and 33 the spring 43 urges both chain wheels 32 and 33 away from each other, and in this way the chain 31 is kept tensioned.

In the same way the axis of the chain wheels 37, 39 is connected to a tube member 45, which 30 is inserted into the tube like member 43, a spring 46 being present between the housing 41 and the free end of the tube member 44. In this part of the holding mechanism 30 two parallel chains 34, 35 are present and both chains 34, 35 are tensioned by means of the spring 46. The two tube like members 42 and 43 include an angle which is selected in such a way that the chains 31, 34 and 35 substantially follow the movement of a gondola support 17 during its movement along the upper part of the transport path of the transport system 1.

On the tube like member 42 there is provided a bracket 51 which is connected to a bar 47 in a hinged way, which bar 47 is slidably engaged in a bore 48 provided a block 49 which is fixed to the frame. The upper part of the bar 47 is provided with a stop 50 which prevents the bar 47 from being released from the bore 48, and which defines the lowermost position of the chain wheel 32.

The axis of the chain wheels 37, 39 is rotatably connected to a bracket 55, which is hingeably connected through axis 57 to a bar 56 slidably engaged in a bore 52 provided in a block 53 which is fixed to the frame. The upper part of the bar 56 is provided with a stop 54 which prevents the bar 56 from being released from the bore 52 and which defines the lowermost position of the chain wheels 38, 39.

Because of this hingeable connection of the bracket 55 and the sliding movement possibility of the bars 47, 51 the holding mechanism 30 is able to adopt itself to different situations, i.e. to different sizes of onions present in the gondola supports 17 present under the holding mechanism 30.

In operation normally three gondola supports are present under the holding mechanism 30. Starting from the situation that these three are empty the holding mechanism will be in its lower position. Upon rotation of the discs 10, 11 supporting the gondola supports 17 , a gondola support 17 will be presented to the operator who will put an onion in that gondola support upon further rotation, the chain 31 will be pushed upwardly by that onion, causing a rotation around axis 57 and a sliding movement upwardly of the bar 47.

During further movement of the filled gondola support, this upward movement of the chain will continue, until the filled gondola support has arrived in the area in the neighbourhood of the housing 41. But at that moment the next gondola support filled with an onion will come under the holding mechanism 30. Upon further movement the chains 34, 35 will be pushed upwardly by the first filled gondola support causing a sliding upward movement of the bar 56, without influencing the holding force on the second gondola support. During subsequent rotation, the next filled gondola support will enter the holding mechanism 30 area, but at that time the first filled gondola support will leave that area and the situation becomes more or less stationary, with small oscillation movements.

In this way it is possible to exert some holding force on the onions placed in the gondola supports 17. In order to not damage the onions and to keep them exactly in position the chains 31, 38 and 39 are moved with a speed which is almost equal to the speed of movement of the upper surfaces of the onions present in the gondola supports.

The first operation to be perfonned by the apparatus is to cut the onion to give it the right height, the height being defined as the dimension of the onion as seen along the main axis. This operation implies cutting away part of the stem end portion and of the top end portion along planes perpendicular to the main axis.

The real cutting operation is performed by means of two parallel circular knives 61, 62 which are rotatably driven and which are parallel to the discs 10, 11 carrying the gondola supports 17. The two knives 61, 62 are opposing each other and are positioned along the transport path of the gondola supports 17 in such a way that the knives are positioned at both sides of the gondola support. The knife 62 is supported by axis 63 which is beared in a housing 64. The housing 64 is hingeably connected to the ends of two bars 65, 66 the other ends of which are hingeably connected to the frame. In this way the knife 62 can be moved in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the transport path of the gondola supports 17. An other bar 67 is hingeably connected to a central part of the bar 65 which is further guided through holes provided in brackets 68 which form a guiding for this bar in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the transport path of the gondola support 17.

The other end of the bar 67 is provided with a stop 69 which together with the brackets 68 will prevent the knife 62 to be moved over the central line of the transport path of the gondola supports 17. The brackets 68 are fixed to the frame. One end of the axis 63 is carry- ing the knife 62 the other end is carrying a belt pulley 70, carrying a belt 71 which further is conveyed along a pulley 72 connected to driving means. As the pulley 72 is located close to the upper ends of the bars 65, 66 the knife 62 can be driven in each position. The mounting of the other knife 61 is completely identical to the one of the knife 62, except that its construction is a mirror image of the construction for the knife 62.

In view of this construction it is possible to move the knives 61, 62 into the right position for cutting off the stem end portion and top end portion of an onion carried by a gondola support 17 along the knives 61, 62.

Normally both knives 61 and 62 are pushed to the central places of the transport path of the gondola supports 17 by means of a pair of air cylinders (not shown).

Each air cylinder has a piston bar, the free end of which being connected to the bar 65 and the cylinder being fixed to the frame.

In order to adjust the position of the knives 61, 62 to the onion approaching the knives, each housing 64 is provided with a feeling system for detecting the position of the onion in the gondola support. The feeling system consists of a bar fixed to the housing 64 and on this bar 75 is mounted another bar 76 extending in an oblique way with respect to the transport path of the gondola supports 17 in such a way that as seen in the direction of movement of the gondola supports 17 the tail end of the bar 76 is closer to the central plane of the transport path of the gondola supports 17 than the leading end of the bar 76. The relative position with respect to the transported gondola supports 17 is such that the bar 76 touches the surface of the onion outside the main axis. By this contact the onion is pushing the knife assembly away from the central place to such an extend that the right portion of the onion is cut away by the knives 61, 62. Therefor the knives 61, 62 are located immediately behind the bars 76 as seen along the direction of movement of the gondola supports. The air pressure in the air cylinders is adjusted to such a value that this can easily be performed. At the same time, and upon moving the gondola support 17 completely between the two knives 61, 62 a cam associated with the rotation axis of the discs 11, 12 actuates a valve, shutting off the air pressure to the cylinders. In this way it is prevented that the onion becomes squeezed between the knives 61, 62 and eventually will be moved together with these knives and consequently be removed from its gondola support as soon as the stem portion and the top portion have been cut off. In the next step of the operation of the apparatus, the onion will be provided with a first incision line through the outer layers, which incision line lies in a plane containing the main axis of the onion, and is extending as a more or less continuous cut over half the circumference of the onion. As seen in fig. 1 this incision line extend over the leading half of the 5 onion substantially in a horizontal plane. Subsequently a second incision line will be made in the tailing half and almost making an extension of the first incision line.

The cutting mechanism is composed of two cutting systems, a first cutting system 105 applying the incision line to the leading surface of the onion as positioned in the gondola support 10 17 and a second cutting system 106 applying an incision line to the tailing surface of the onion as positioned in the gondola support 17.

The first cutting system 105 comprises a first cutting blade 90 mounted near one end of a holding bar 91. The holding bar 91 is through a substantially vertical axis 93 rotatably

15 mounted on a structure 92 fixed to the frame. On the axis 93 there is mounted a spring system (not shown) urging the end of the bar 91 carrying the cutting blade 90 in a direction which is opposite to the direction of movement of the gondola supports 17. A stop 95 is provided which holds the part of the bar 91 holding the cutting blade 90 substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the gondola supports.

20

The height of the cutting blade 90 is adjusted to such an extend that it almost coincides with the biggest dimension of the onion as seen along the movement of the gondola supports. The cutting blade 90 has a triangular shape extending beyond the bar 91 Furthermore the relative dimensions are such that the cutting bars extends beyond the central plane of the transport

25 path of the gondola supports 17 as seen from the axis 93.

In operation an onion will push against the cutting blade 90 and the outer layer of the onion will be pierced. Upon further movement of the onion the bar is pushed 91 outwardly, and the knife blade 90 will move along the circumference of the onion, thereby performing an 30 incision line through the outer layers of the onion until it reaches the position of the cut-off part of the onion, substantially corresponding to the main axis of the onion. The first cutting system 105 also comprise a second cutting blade 100 which has a construction which is a minor image as the construction for the first cutting blade 90, except that it is at a slightly different horizontal level. As shown also this cutting blade 100 is extending beyond the central plane of the transport path of the gondola supports 17 and performs the same function as the cutting blade 90, but to the other side of the onion.

In this way an incision line is made to the leading part of onion and extending substantially from one end of the main axis to the other end of the main axis of the onion over the surface of the onion. Because both cutting blades are extending beyond the central plane, there is a slight overlap between the cuts made thereby approaching a situation of continuous line.

The construction of the second cutting system 106 is almost a minor image of the construction for the first cutting system except for the spring system and the stop 95 which has been deleted thereon.

Instead thereof, the axis 110 carrying the bar 111 holding the knife 112 is fixed to a bracket 113 connected to the free end of a piston 115 of an air cylinder 114, which is fixed to the frame. In the rest position of the system the piston 115 is pushed in that direction that thereby the axis 110 rotates to a position in which the bar 111 is completely outside the path of movement of the gondola supports 17. This position is shown in dotted lines in fig. 9. By means of a cam system associated with the discs 11, 12 a valve can be operated whereby the piston 115 is pushed in such a direction that the bar 111 with knives 112 takes the position which is a mirror position of the rest position of the first cutting system. This position is shown in full lines in fig. 9. A second knife 116 is mounted on a completely identical construction except that it is a minor image of the construction used for the knife 112 with respect to the central places of the transport path of the gondola support 17.

In operation the knives 112, 116 are outside the path of movement of the onions. As soon as an onion enters the zone of the second cutting system, the air cylinders 114 are actuated whereby the knives 112, 116 are pushed against the surface of the onion close in the area of the main axis and start to make an incision there. As the further movement of the onion, the knives 112 will further cut along a line which is substantially in one plane with the main axis and made an incision line which is almost an extension of the incision line made by the first cutting system, until the bars 111 are completely in a position which is a minor image of the first cutting system.

After having performed the first and second incision lines the onion is leaving the holding system and is now approaching a transfer station 120 where the onion will be transfened to the second transport system 2.

The second transport system 2 comprises two parallel discs 130, 131 which are mounted on a common axis 132 and can be rotatably driven thereby. Essentially discs 130, 131 have a circular shape provided with equally spaced around their circumferences a number of radial extensions 133, the function of which will be explained below. In the embodiment shown, the discs 130, 131 are each provided with four extensions, and the extensions on each plate 130, 131 have the same angular orientation, so that both discs 130, 131 are exactly a minor image of each other. It will be obvious that the number of extensions 133 is not critical, but any other number can be used taking into account the available space and the synchronisation with the first transport system. The discs 130, 131 can be rotatably driven by means of a driving system, which is synchronized with the driving system of the first transport system as will be explained below.

To the outer surface of each disc 130, 131 there are mounted four U-shaped brackets 135, so as to have two flanges perpendicular to the surface of the discs. These brackets 135 are equally spaced as seen along the circumferences of the discs 130, 131.

The parallel flanges of each bracket 135 are provided with aligned bores (see fig. 11 and 18) and accommodate a pen 136 which fomis a rotatable support for one end of a bar 137. The other end of the bar 137 is provided with a rotatable axis 138, extending in a direction perpendicular to the discs 130, 131. One end of this axis 138 is provided with a clamping plate 139 consisting of a small circular plate, which on the free surface is provided with elevations such as teeth, in order to grip the onion. The construction is made such that each time two clamping plates 139 are opposing each other. The bars 137 are pressed towards their respective discs 130, 131 on which they are mounted by means of a spring system (not shown), so that two opposing clamping plates 137 are pressed towards each other, without touching each other as this is prevented by the discs 130, 131 giving support to the bar. By selecting an appropriate distance between the discs 130, 131, it is possible to have an onion clamped between each pair of clamping plates 139.

During the rotation of the discs 130, 131 each pair of clamping plates 139 is following a circular path, which at one place overlaps with the path of the gondola supports 17 of the first transport system 1. As the two transport systems are fully aligned it becomes possible to have onions transfened from a gondola support 17 in the first transport system 1 to a position between a pair of clamping plates 139 in the second transport system 2.

In order to be able to take up an onion the distance between the pair of clamping plates must be enlarged before entering the transfer zone and must be reduced at the moment an onion has been positioned between the pair of clamping plates 139. This can be done in different ways. In the embodiment shown each bar is connected to a cam roller 140 which can rotate along a circular cam path provided on a fixed disc mounted around the axis 131. The cam path has a raised portion pointing away from the surface of the discs 131, 132 such that the bars 137 are pushed outwardly form the outer surfaces of the discs 130, 131 through a rotation around the pens 136. As long as a cam roller 140 is travelling through the raised portion zone, the pair of clamping plates 139 has its greatest distances and is in fact open and able to pick up an onion. Upon entering the transfer zone, the raised portion of the cam follower stops, whereby the pair of clamping plates 139 are approaching each other and pick up the onion present on the gondola support 17 which is exactly present in the transfer zone.

In view of the orientation of the two transport systems, the onion is taken by the clamping plates 139 by the end surfaces (stem end and top end). Synchronisation between the two transport systems can be easily obtained by using a common chain driving system for both transport systems and using the right chain wheels, thereby obtaining an exact speed relationship between the two systems. The radial orientation of the two systems must be adjusted once and a fine tuning may be provided in order to compensate for the different sizes of the onions, so that the clamping plates 139 are centralized with respect to the main axis of the onions.

The cam follower track consists about 180° of a raised portion, so that the onion after having performed a movement of 180° together with the second transport system will be released and can leave the apparatus through a chute 134. It is obvious that the same cam follower track can be used for all bars associated with the same disc 130 or 131, so that in fact there are only two cam follower tracks, one for the bars 137 on disc 130 and one for the bars 137 on disc 131.

During the circular movement of the clamp plates 139 together with the discs 130, 131, the clamp plates 139 are rotated around the axis on which they are mounted. In order to obtain this rotation the free end of each axis is provided with a belt pulley 142. Otherwise there are provided a number of fixed belt pulleys 141 on the axis 132 of the plates 130, 131. By applying a belt around each belt pulley 142 and one of the fixed pulleys 141, rotation of the discs 130, 131 will automatically generate a rotation of the pulleys 142 and hence of the clamping plates 139. In the embodiment shown two successive clamp systems have a common belt and belt pulley 141 and are therefor aligned. The other two bar systems have another pulley 141 and have a belt system lying in a plane which is somewhat shifted with respect to the belt of the other bar system. In this way all together four belts are present generating a rotational movement of the clamping plates 139.

The second transport system is provided with a cutting system which is intended to make a circumferential incision line into the outer layers of the onion during its transport in the second system 2. This circumferential incision line is lying in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the onion and thereby parallel to the discs 130, 131 and the position of this plane is preferably the plane containing the largest dimension of the onion in that direction.

In the embodiment shown there are four cutting systems each belonging to each pair of the clamping plates 139 and each cutting system is rotating together with the plates 130, 131 by the fact that it is connected thereto.

Each cutting system (see fig. 12-18) comprises an L-shapedbar 170, the angle portion of which being rotatably mounted on an axis 171 which is fixed between the end portions of the two opposing extensions 133. One leg 172 of the L-shaped 170 is directed substantially towards the common axis 132 and the other leg 173 extends to a position close to a pair of clamping plates 139. In the angle portion of the L-shaped bar 170 there is provided a spring system (not shown) which urges the second leg 172 of the bar in the direction of the clamping plates 139 and even into a position slightly between the two clamping plates.

The first leg 172 of the bar 170 is provided with a cam follower roll 175 and on the axis 132 there is mounted a fixed cam 176 with such a shape that during each revolution of the plates 130, 131 the bar leg 173 is in one part removed from the axis of the clamping plates as will be explained below.

The second leg 173 of the bar 171 is provided with a touching pad 177 having a semi- circular surface 178 which is oriented towards the axis of the clamping plates. When an onion is pressed between the clamping plates 139, this surface 178 will rest against the outer surface of the onion, and as the onion is rotating will assist in removing the outer layers of the onion.

On the leg 173 of the bar 170 extending between the angle portion and the touching pad 177 there is mounted a pen 180, which rotatably supports a second angled bar 181. The first leg 182 of this bar is substantially coinciding with a part of the leg 173 of the bar 170 and on its end there is mounted a touching pad 183 with a semi-circular surface 184 which may completely coincide with that on the bar 170. In this surface two triangular cutting blades 185 have been mounted. A spring 186 is mounted between the second leg 187 of the bar 181 and a bracket 188 fixed to the leg 173 of the bar 170 so that the spring urges the bar 170 in a direction such that by means of a pen and stop 189 the leg 182 with touching pad 183 is completely in coverage with the leg 170 and touching pad 177.

A fixed cam 189 is provided near the axis which can cooperate with the end of the leg 187 so as to rotate the bar 181 around the pen 180, and in fact removing the touching pad over some distance away from the clamping plates 139 compared to the position of the touching pad 177.

In the touching pad 183 there is provided a channel 190 which ends on the semi-circular surface 184 between the cutting blades, and which otherwise by means of a flexible hose 191 is connected to a pressurized air distribution system provided on the axis, and rotating therewith. The operation is as follows and this automatically defines the shapes of the two cams 176,

189 controlling the movement of the bars 170 and 181.

Upon approaching the transfer point between the first and the second transport system the 5 two touching pads 183 and 177 are removed from the clamping plates 139 in order to make a conect transfer of the onion possible. This can be done by the cam 176 and leaving bar 181 free to move. The two touching pads 183 and 177 are completely in alignment.

As soon as the onion has been clamped between the clamping plate and start rotation, cam 10 176 pushes the touching pad 177 and consequently also touching pad 183 with the cutting plates 185 to the onion surface. At the same time pressurized air is allowed into the channel

190 provided in this touching pad 183. As soon as the onion has made a complete revolution, and during this revolution the cutting blades 185 have made an incision extending over the complete circumference of the onion in a plane perpendicular to the main axis of the

15 onion, the bar 181 is touching the cam 189 so that the touching pad 183 is somewhat removed from the surface of the onion. Blowing of pressurized air still continues. As the outer layers of the onion have been provided with several incision lines extending in perpendicular direction to each other these outer layers are blown away by the pressurized air and may fall down in a receptacle placed under the second transport system. As the cutting

20 blades 185 are removed from the onion surface after one revolution no further incisions will be made, and the removal of the loosened outer layers is even supported by the touching pad 177 which is always in contact with the onion surface.

After some time the onion between the rotating clamping plates has reached a position 25 substantially diametrically with respect to the transfer position. At that time the outer layers have been blown off and the two touching pads 183, 177 are now completely removed from the surface of the onion as a result of the action of the cams, and the two touching pads are brought into alignment, so as to be ready for the next take-up of an onion.

30 Subsequently the clamping plates 139 open and thus allow the onion to be dropped in the chute 134.

Claims

1. Device for transporting an object with a fixed orientation along a circular path, compris- ing a first wheel-like canier and a second wheel-like canier ananged in a parallel manner to each other and which together bear a support for the object, each carrier being capable of being driven rotatably around a rotation axis, whereby the support will follow a circular path, characterized in that the rotation axis of the first carrier is parallel to, but not aligned with the rotation axis of the second canier, in that the support is rotatably connected to each canier, and each axis of the rotatable connection between the support and the caniers is parallel to the rotation axis of the caniers, the axis of the one connection being shifted with respect to the axis of the second connection over a distance and a direction which conesponds to the shifting distance of the rotation axis of both carriers.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is bowl-shaped.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the carriers bear a number of supports.

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the supports are regularly spaced along a circular line conesponding to the circular path of the caniers.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper surface of each support is provided with a friction surface.

6. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided which at least in part of the circular paths of the supports, press an object placed in a support towards that support.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the pressing means comprise at least one chain or belt which by means of guiding means is kept in contact with an object positioned in a support.

8. Device according to any one of the preceeding cliams, characterized in that at least one operational station has been located along the circular path of a support, whereby an object placed therein can be machined.

9. Device according to claim 8 and 6 or 7, characterized in that the operational station is provided win that part of the circular path where the object is subjected to the pressing means.