Foods and beverages: apparatus – Means to treat food – Subdividing into plural products
Patent
1996-12-27
1998-07-14
Simone, Timothy F.
Foods and beverages: apparatus
Means to treat food
Subdividing into plural products
99584, 99588, 99590, 99591, A23N 413, A23N 700
Patent
active
057787700
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to the field of food processing, and particularly although not exclusively to a scoop for separating a body of a vegetable or fruit from an outer skin of the vegetable or fruit, for example a potato.
In the field of food processing, there is a requirement for high volume peeling of vegetables, particularly potatoes, in order to produce mash potato products.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which can efficiently separate a body of a food item, for example a potato from a skin of the food item, for a large volume of food items per hour.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a food processing machine for separating a body of a food item, the machine comprising: the receptacles being arranged in an array; and cutting means are operable to cut a body portion from each of the food items, and a release position, in which the food items are released from the cutting means.
Preferably, the cutting means comprise an arced blade having first and second ends, the blade being rotatable about an axis of rotation which connects the first and/or second ends.
Preferably, the machine comprises a support means for supporting a cut food portion during transport between the cutting and release positions.
Preferably, the support means comprises an arced blade having first and second ends, the blade being rotatable about an axis of rotation which connects said first and/or second ends.
The plurality of cutting means are preferably arranged in a row, about a single axis of rotation. The support means and cutting means are preferably arranged to rotate about the same axis of rotation, such that the cutting means leads the support means in cutting through the body of the food item.
Preferably the array of cutting means are supported on a moveable gantry member, the moveable gantry member being moveable between the cutting and release positions. In the cutting position, the gantry may lie adjacent the plurality of receptacles, and in the release position, the gantry may be removed from the plurality of receptacles.
In the release position, preferably the cutting means and support means rotate with respect to the rotational axis, such as to release the body of the food item, under the influence of gravity.
In the release position, the cutting means and support means may urge a food body portion held thereby, against a pushing member, for pushing the food body away from the support means and/or cutting blade, to release the food body.
Preferably, the plurality of receptacles comprise an array of recesses on a conveyor belt. Preferably the conveyor belt moves in a series of discrete step wise movements, such as to allow location of the array of cutting means with the plurality of receptacles.
In the cutting position, preferably the gantry abuts or substantially abuts the plurality of receptacles, to prevent movement of the food items in the receptacles.
Further subsidiary features of the invention will be apparent from the following description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a potato scooping machine according to a first specific embodiment of the present invention, in a cutting position;
FIG. 2 shows the potato scooping machine in a potato releasing position;
FIG. 3 shows in schematic view from one side, showing the machine in the cutting and releasing positions;
FIG. 4 shows in perspective view, a food tray, comprised in the first specific embodiment, for holding a plurality of potatoes;
FIG. 5 shows in end view, a conveyor portion comprising the food tray of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 shows a rotatable blade and blade gantry portion of the first embodiment;
FIGS. 7 and 8 show in first and second rotational positions respectively, the rotatable blade of FIG. 6;
FIG. 9 shows the rotatable blade and blade gantry portion in the cut scooping position, in which the blade and gantry are adjacent a conveyor portion in the first embodiment;
FIG. 10 shows in plan view a second embodiment blade and blade gantry portion
REFERENCES:
patent: 2015666 (1935-10-01), Ewald
patent: 4383367 (1983-05-01), Mielnicki
patent: 4526093 (1985-07-01), Fogerson
patent: 4770092 (1988-09-01), Curtis et al.
patent: 5181458 (1993-01-01), Plant et al.
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