WO2013190150A2

WO2013190150A2 - Device for cutting, guiding and retaining

Info

Publication number: WO2013190150A2
Application number: PCT/EP2013/072340
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio FLOTATS MOLINAS
Original assignee: Zumex Group Sa
Priority date: 2013-10-01
Filing date: 2013-10-24
Publication date: 2013-12-27
Also published as: WO2013190150A3; EP3051964A2; ES2532987B1; ES2532987A1

Abstract

Device for cutting and subsequent separation and retention of fruit, preferably for use within an automated squeezing system for which the device comprises a cutting area that can incorporate a cutting blade, a widening area that forces the opening of the fruit, said widening area having a recess that has a greater depth than the cutting zone. This widening can vary in length depending on the place in which the encounter occurs with the squeezing element, and its configuration can also vary; hence it can be widened on both sides of the device, symmetrical with respect of the plane of the cutting blade, or widened on only one of the sides.

Description

DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETAINING

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION The present invention refers to a device for cutting, preferably for automatic squeezing machines, that enables making a clean section of the fruit to be squeezed, thus avoiding tears, for example of the rind in the case of citruses, that provoke spillage of the liquids they contain, among them aromatic oils that when mixed with the juice to be consumed give it a bitterer taste and that are unhealthy when certain levels regulated by food standards are reached.

A torn rind further creates visual aggressiveness that dissuades a good sensory perception, while a clean cut suggests a good sensory experience. The cutting system is apt for fruits, vegetables or any other green, and so the use herein of the term "fruit" is to be understood to be comprehensive of all vegetables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Different automatic squeezing machines exist in the market, it being quite common that the fruit is cut before the squeezing, which is usually done by placing a wire or knife in the path of the fruit, which in this manner is forced into it, producing the cut.

Thus, for example, Spanish patent no. ES2008438 has as a subject, a fruit squeezing machine that consists in some drums equipped with semi-hemispherical recesses, having dimensions that enable receiving citric fruits one at a time that are then transferred to the bottom portion where they are cut into two halves by a knife, there being two other synchronised drums equipped with male semi-hemispherical heads that attack the fruit halves.

Likewise Spanish patent ES2091702 refers to a fruit squeezing machine in which some rotating arms, ending in sockets, pick up the fruit to be squeezed from the feeder and, when said arms rotate they transfer the fruit to a position facing some squeezing cones, there being a knife crossing their path that divides the fruit into two halves. It is common, and it so occurs in the two above cited patents, that after starting the cut and due to the shape of the guide and retention squeezing subsystem, a force is applied so that each one of the fruit portions is separated in such a way that on many occasions the fruit portions end up being separated by tearing and not by the action of the knife, which results in the liquids and oils found in the rinds, for example, of citric fruits, being released and spilled to the point of altering the flavour of the end juice product and affecting the healthiness thereof.

To solve this problem, Spanish Utility Model ES1050660U describes a system in which the knife, actuating in a synchronised manner with the fruit squeezing and driving assembly, is shifted in the opposite direction as the fruit, favouring a clean cut and avoiding tears.

Another solution that is disclosed in patent literature is Spanish patent P201 131496, that foresees a cutting system in which the fruit to be squeezed is trapped by the action of two cavities facing each other in the moment in which both cavities make a descending movement while the knife makes an ascending movement, completely cutting the fruit as described in the patent. The two described systems are mechanically quite complex and necessarily imply the use of a large number of pieces which, furthermore, must be mobile, with the resulting increase in manufacturing, cleaning and maintenance costs, and the risks of mechanical or synchronising malfunctions, both due to their large number of pieces and the lubrication problems that are caused by the sticky and adhesive properties of the squeezed juice.

To solve the problem in a way that does not imply increasing the mechanisms inside the squeezing machine, the present invention is proposed. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is a device for cutting fruit and the subsequent separation and retention of the resulting portions, preferably in an automatic manner, for use inside an automated squeezing system, although nothing prevents it from being used independently or in other types of installations. For this, the device, made of one or several pieces, comprises a cutting area and an area for opening the fruit and retaining the same.

The cutting area has a sharpened edge that preferably incorporates a cutting blade, which could be a knife.

Taking as reference the direction of the advance of the fruit along its path, the cutting area is in an advanced position with respect to the rest of the device, facing the fruit to be cut and interposed in its path.

Once again following the direction of the advance of the fruit, the device has a widening after the cutting area.

Said widening forces the opening of the fruit and, once cut, forces the separation of the portions resulting from the cut, as well as contributing to maintaining the portions of the fruit in the cavities of the driving drums until they encounter the squeezing elements.

This widening can vary in length depending on the place in which the encounter occurs with the squeezing element, and its configuration can also vary; hence it can be widened on both sides of the device, symmetrical with respect of the plane of the cutting blade, or widened on only one of the sides.

As has been disclosed, the widening forces the separation of the two portions of fruit in the measure that the cut is made and the fruit continues advancing.

To prevent said opening of the fruit and the separation of the cut portion from causing a tear on the portion of the fruit not yet cut, the device is equipped with a series of recesses in the widening area. The recess extends from the edge of the cutting area in the direction of the advance of the fruit, being deeper in the area closest to the cutting edge, and with the depth gradually reducing after this point in the direction of the path of the fruit.

The width of this recess can also be gradually reduced to the extent that its depth is reduced, although a possible embodiment is contemplated with a recess having a constant width. Another one of the functions of said widening is to retain the fruit in the cavities that transport it until it encounters the squeezing elements, serving as a stop to keep it from falling; for which its length will vary according to the point at which the encounter occurs between the fruit and said squeezing elements.

For this function to be effective, the distance between the surface of the widening area and the surface of the female drum must be minimal at all times, bearing in mind that as the juice is a sticky and adhesive liquid, the depositing of the juice in them should not interfere with the relative movement between them.

The device can be independent and attached with given means to the machines or come integrated in one of the elements of the machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 displays an embodiment of the knife comprising an inserted sharpened blade; thus being visible the body of device (1 ), on which a knife or cutting area (2) is distinguished, which in this case has an inserted cutting blade (3), a widening area (4), which in this case has a symmetrical widening on both sides, a recessed area (5) that is stretched out and gradually loses depth. This figure displays a handle (6) for facilitating the handling of the device, although this is an optional element that may not be present in other embodiments.

FIGURE 2 displays an example of the system of automatic squeezing that includes the cutting and retaining device, and in which are visible the rotating female drums (7) that comprise the cavities, not shown, in which the fruit is lodged, male drums (8) that rotate in the opposite direction of the female drums, having protuberances or squeezing elements (9) and, crossing the path of the fruit, cutting and retaining device (10), in which can be identified cutting area (2), with knife (3), and widening area (4).

FIGURE 3 displays a detailed view of the squeezing device in relation to one of the female drums of a squeezing machine in which can be seen cutting area (2), knife (3), widening area (4), recess (5) female drum (7) and cavities (10) in which the fruit is lodged. FIGURE 4 displays a different embodiment of the device, this time integrated and forming part of the internal face of the housing of a squeezing machine, specifically, of a machine with a squeezing system of the type described in Spanish Patent No. P201331 180, in which can be seen knife (3), cutting area (2), widening area (4), and recess (5)

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

A manner of executing the invention is explained herein, which is not the only one and therefore its scope is limited to explanatory purposes only.

The device, in accordance with an embodiment explained herein, which corresponds to FIGURE 1 and comprises: · A main body (1 ) having an arrowhead cross-section.

• A cutting area (2) in which a cutting blade(3) is housed.

• A widening area (4), in this case symmetrical with respect of the plane of the cutting blade.

• A recess (5) in the widening area, said recess having a greater depth and width in the portion closest to the cutting area, and losing depth and width as it draws away there from.

In this specific embodiment, the device has been equipped with a handle (6) which is entirely additional and might not be present in other embodiments.

The device configured in this manner is installed on the path of the fruit with the cutting blade positioned tangentially to female drums (7) as can be seen in FIGURE 2.

The fruit, trapped between the two female drums (7) and driven by their rotation, finds the device in its path, entering into contact with cutting blade (3), thus starting the cut. As the fruit advances the cut continues and so the most advanced portion of the fruit passes beyond the cutting blade and begins its path through widening area (4) forcing the opening of the fruit which, in this moment, is partially cut. This opening is produced while the most advanced portion of the fruit is held on track by recess (5), in such a way that the smaller separation fails to reach such an angle that could cause a tear in the portion of the fruit still pending to be cut. The recess, in turn, facilitates a centred advance of the fruit.

Without recess (5) the opening of the fruit caused by widening (4) would provoke the tearing of the portion remaining to be cut, whereas, if the widening were smaller in the whole of area 4, its function of retaining the fruit in the cavity that draws it would be hindered .

The widening area will be extended, serving as a retaining top for the fruit lodged in the cavities of the female drum up to the point of contact with squeezing elements (9).

In this regard the differences in length can be seen between the embodiment foreseen in figures 1 , 2 and 3, in which the squeezing is carried out after the cut, and the embodiment foreseen in figure 4, in which the widening area is notably larger.

Claims

1. DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETENTION, characterised in that it comprises:

· A cutting area (2)

• A widening area (4)

• A recess (5) in the widening area

In which:

The cutting zone is located in a forward position with respect of the rest of the device, taking as reference the direction of the forward movement of the fruit on its path.

The recess has a deeper depth in the area closest to the cutting zone, with a lesser depth as it draws away.

2. DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETENTION, in accordance with claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises a cutting blade.

3. DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETENTION, in accordance with claim 1 , characterised in that the widening area expands on both sides of the device in a symmetric manner with respect of the cut of the cutting blade.

4. DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETENTION, in accordance with claim 1 , characterised in that the recess gradually looses width.

5. DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETENTION, in accordance with claim 1 , characterised in that the widening area extends up to the point that the fruit to be squeezed is received by squeezing elements (9).

6. DEVICE FOR CUTTING, GUIDING AND RETENTION, in accordance with claim 1 , characterised in that the distance between the surface of the widening area and the surface of the female drums is minimal but sufficient, so that the juice slides between them without interfering in the relative movement between them.