STRAWBERRTY CUTTING MACHINE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a strawberry cutting machine that can cut off the calyces of strawberries for subsequent use of the remaining fruit, either for the preparation of jam, compote or for consumption, wherein said machine enables the cutting of the calyces of strawberries to be perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof and automatically regardless of the size of the strawberry.

Claims

1. A strawberry cutting machine comprising: a transversal cutter that carries out the cutting of the calyx of the strawberry in a calyx cutting position, a first set of receiving cradles, an advancer of the first set of receiving cradles that carries out the advance of the receiving cradles, wherein each receiving cradle is configured to receive a strawberry and comprises: two positioning rollers, wherein at least one of the two positioning rollers is rotatable around roller axis to position the strawberry in a position prior to the calyx cutting position or in a calyx cutting position, and at least one folding paddle that fixes the position of the strawberry within the receiving cradle into the position prior to the calyx cutting position or in the calyx cutting position, a displacer that makes the strawberries movable within the movable receiving cradles from the position prior to the calyx cutting position to the calyx cutting position; and a clamp configured to hold the strawberry in at least the calyx cutting position, wherein the displacer and the clamp are independently movable.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein the clamp is configured to hold at least one portion of a strawberry both in the position prior to the calyx cutting position and in the calyx cutting position.

3. The machine of claim 1 wherein the displacer and the clamp are independently movable essentially in the same direction of movement.

4. The machine of claim 3 wherein the displacer and the clamp are independently movable essentially in the same direction of movement and are offset.

5. The machine of claim 1 further comprising at least one first follower attached to the displacer and at least one second follower attached to the clamp, wherein the at least one first follower follows the trajectory defined by at least one first cam and the at least one second follower follows the trajectory defined by at least one second cam.

6. The machine of claim 1 further comprising a movable driver that is configured to come into contact with the positioning rollers such that the rotation speed of the positioning rollers is independent from the speed of the advancer of the first set of receiving cradles.

7. The machine of claim 6 further comprising speed adjuster for adjusting the speed of the movable driver, which varies the speed of said movable driver and consequently the rotation speed of the positioning rollers for the size of strawberry to be cut.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the movable driver comprises: movable drive belts that come into contact with the positioning rollers, where the movable drive belts are arranged between two pulleys, a first drive pulley that actuates and guides the drive belts and a second redirection pulley that guides the drive belts, and concave sheaves which house and press the movable drive belts against the positioning rollers assuring contact between the movable drive belts and the positioning rollers.

9. The machine of claim 8 wherein the speed adjuster comprises a rocker attached to the concave sheave and further attached to a spring which in turn is attached to the machine frame, so that by adjusting the tension in the spring, the rotation of the rocker on the concave sheave varies, and consequently the pressure of the concave sheave on the movable drive belts which come into contact with the positioning rollers.

10. The machine of claim 1 wherein the positioning rollers comprise a generatrix comprising at least one concave zone.

11. The machine of claim 1 wherein the folding paddles comprise first sheaves defining: an open position of said folding paddles due to the contact of the first sheaves with a guiding surface, and springs that carry out the elastic attachment between the folding paddles and the receiving cradles, and a closed position of said folding paddles defined by the contact of the folding paddles with the strawberry due to the spring recovery force when the first sheaves of the folding paddle cease being in contact with the guiding surface.

12. The machine of claim 1 wherein the displacer comprises pushers, which are movable in the longitudinal direction of the strawberry.

13. The machine of claim 12 wherein the displacer further comprises a movable head that pushes the strawberry within the movable receiving cradle and is elastically attached to the pusher which are movable through a spring to adapt the movable head to the strawberry size.

14. (canceled)

15. The machine of claim 1, wherein the clamp further comprises a longitudinal cutter that enables cutting the strawberry into two halves through a longitudinal plane of the strawberry.

16. The machine of claim 1 wherein the cradles of the first set of receiving cradles are movable and the machine further comprises a fixed chamber facing the first set of movable receiving cradles that obtains the position of each strawberry in each movable receiving cradle upon it passing through the position of said fixed chamber, and a control system that compares the image obtained of each strawberry with a predetermined image of the optimal position of a strawberry within the receiving cradle.

17. The machine of claim 16 comprising an ejector that enables the strawberry or strawberries to be ejected from the receiving cradle in case the control system detects that the strawberry does not have the longitudinal axis of the strawberry aligned with the rotation axis of the positioning rollers, if the strawberry is deformed or if there is more than one strawberry per receiving cradle.

18. The machine of claim 16 further comprising a relocator for relocating the strawberries comprising movable pushers that enables the strawberries to be moved out of the movable receiving cradles of the first set and deposit them in other movable receiving cradles of a second set of cradles arranged in parallel to the first set.

19. The machine of claim 18 wherein the movable pushers comprise a head and a needle which enables the strawberry to be punctured upon the advance of the movable pusher.

20-21. (canceled)

22. The machine of claim 1 further comprising at least one receiving hopper is being rotatable and comprising: a dosing tray comprising cavities wherein each of the strawberries are housed, and a transferer that enables each of the strawberries to be moved from the cavity of the dosing tray to one of the receiving cradles through an opening present in the at least one receiving hopper, wherein the transferer is adjacent to the opening present in the at least one receiving hopper, wherein the dosing tray further comprises circumferential grooves that prevent the interference of said dosing plate which is integrated with the receiving hopper, with the transferer which is fixed.

23. (canceled)

24. The machine of claim 22, wherein the transversal cutter that carry out the cutting of the calyx of the strawberry in a calyx cutting position is a fixed transversal cutter, preferably fixed curved blades facing an area where the advancer of the movable receiving cradles which carry out the advance of the movable receiving cradles returns towards the at least one receiving hopper of whole strawberries following a curved trajectory.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, in accordance with a preferred practical exemplary embodiment thereof, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings constituting an integral part of the same, which by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the strawberry receiving hopper, the first set of receiving cradles and the movable hoppers of the strawberry cutting machine of the present invention.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a receiving cradle of the strawberry cutting machine of the present invention with the folding paddles in the open position on the left and a receiving cradle with the folding paddles in the closed position on the right.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an elevation view of FIG. 2.

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the relocating means of the strawberries to move the strawberries out of the movable receiving cradles of the first set of cradles and deposit them in the cradles of the second set of cradles.

[0044] FIG. 5 shows an elevation view of the displacement means that make it possible to move the strawberries within the movable receiving cradles from the position prior to the calyx cutting position to the calyx cutting position, of the clamping means configured to hold at least one portion of the strawberry in at least the calyx cutting position and of the transversal cutting means according to a first exemplary embodiment.

[0045] FIG. 6 shows an elevation view of the displacement means that make it possible to move the strawberries within the movable receiving cradles from the position prior to the calyx cutting position to the calyx cutting position, of the clamping means configured to hold at least one portion of the strawberry in at least the calyx cutting position and of the transversal cutting means according to a second exemplary embodiment.

[0046] FIG. 7 shows a partially detailed elevation view of the displacement means that make it possible to move the strawberries within the receiving cradles from the position prior to the calyx cutting position to the calyx cutting position according to the first exemplary embodiment.

[0047] FIG. 8 shows a partially detailed elevation view of the clamping means configured to hold at least one portion of the strawberry in at least the calyx cutting position according to the first exemplary embodiment.

[0048] FIG. 9 shows a partially detailed elevation view of the displacement means that make it possible to move the strawberries within the receiving cradles from the position prior to the calyx cutting position to the calyx cutting position according to the second exemplary embodiment.

[0049] FIG. 10 shows a partially detailed elevation view of the clamping means configured to hold at least one portion of the strawberry in at least the calyx cutting position according to the second exemplary embodiment.

[0050] FIG. 11 shows a diagram of the synchronism carried out by the at least one first follower and the at least one second follower connected to the displacement means and the clamping means respectively.

[0051] FIG. 12 shows an elevation view of the advance means of the set of receiving cradle that carry out the advance of the receiving cradles and of the movable drive means of the strawberry cutting machine of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0052] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the strawberry cutting machine comprises two receiving hoppers (1) for receiving whole strawberries (2), wherein the strawberries (2) are introduced in bulk, wherein each receiving hopper (1) comprises a dosing tray (3) that enables the strawberries (2) to be dosed one by one to a first set (50) of movable receiving cradles (10).

[0053] Each receiving hopper (1) is rotatable, where the rotation axis is inclined with respect to the vertical, which enables the strawberries (2) to accumulate in the lowest zone of the receiving hopper (1).

[0054] The dosing tray (3) comprises cavities (4) where each of the strawberries (2) are housed, cavities (4) that make it possible to separate each of the strawberries (2) from the rest.

[0055] Each receiving hopper (1) further comprises transfer means (5) that enable each strawberry (2) to be moved from the cavity (4) of the dosing tray (3) to one of the movable receiving cradles (10) through an opening (14) present in the receiving hopper (1), where these transfer means (5) are adjacent to the opening present in the receiving hopper (1).

[0056] The dosing tray (3) further comprises circumferential grooves (20) that prevent the interference of said dosing tray (3), which is integrated with the receiving hopper (1), with the transfer means (5) that are fixed. The dosing tray (3) further comprises a disk (41) arranged in the lower portion thereof that prevents the friction of the strawberry (2) with the bottom of the receiving hopper (1) and consequently the damage thereof.

[0057] Each receiving hopper (1) further comprises blocking means (8) that remove the strawberries (2) from above the cavity (4) of the dosing tray that will be facing the transfer means (5). The blocking means (8) comprise a rotating brush that is actuated by means of an engine (9).

[0058] Each movable receiving cradle (10) comprises two positioning rollers (11) that collect a strawberry (2) from the receiving hopper (1) due to the movement of the strawberry (2) by means of the transfer means (5) and wherein the two positioning rollers (11) rotate around their axis in the same direction to position the strawberry (2) in a position prior to the calyx cutting position (12), which will be described further on.

[0059] The cutting machine further comprises movable hoppers (13) that are arranged on the positioning rollers (11) of the movable receiving cradles (10) when they are faced with the opening (14) of the corresponding receiving hopper (1). These movable hoppers (13) prevent the movement of the strawberry (2) outside the space arranged above the positioning rollers (11).

[0060] The positioning rollers (11) comprise a generatrix (15) that defines the surface thereof (11) when said generatrix (15) rotates around a longitudinal axis (16) of the positioning rollers (11), wherein the generatrix (15) comprises a concave zone (17). This concave zone (17) enables the central portion of the strawberry (2) to be arranged on said zone during the rotation of the positioning rollers (11). The generatrix (15) further comprises two straight zones, a first straight zone (18) with a larger radius and a second zone (19) with a smaller radius that are arranged on both sides of the concave zone (17). This first zone (18) and second zone (19) define contact edges (70) that prevent the movement of the strawberry (2) in the longitudinal direction of the positioning rollers (11) once the central zone of the strawberry (1) is arranged between the opposing concave areas (17) of both positioning rollers (11), defining a position prior to the calyx cutting position (12).

[0061] Each movable receiving cradle (10) further comprises two folding paddles (21) arranged on each of the positioning rollers (11) that fix the position of the strawberry (2) within the movable receiving cradle (10) in the position prior to the calyx cutting position (12). These folding paddles (21) comprise first sheaves (22) that define the open position of said folding paddle (21) due to the contact of the first sheaves (22) with a guiding surface (45) and springs (23) that carry out the elastic connection between the folding paddles (21) and the movable receiving cradles (10), wherein the spring (23) axis coincides with the rotation axis (46) of the folding paddles (21). This spring (23) enables the folding paddles (21) to come into contact with strawberries (2) of any diameter in the closed position of said folding paddles (21) without damaging the strawberry (2) itself. This closed position takes place when the first sheaves (22) of the folding paddle (21) cease being in contact with the guiding surface (45), such that by means of the spring recovery force (23) the paddles rotate and come into contact with the strawberry (2) by retaining it within the receiving cradle (10).

[0062] The strawberry cutting machine further comprises advance means (100) of the set of movable receiving cradles (10), shown in FIG. 12, which carry out the advance of the movable receiving cradles (10) and movable drive means (101) that are configured to come into contact with the positioning rollers (11) such that the rotation speed of the positioning rollers (11) is independent from the speed of the advance means (100) of the movable receiving cradle set (10).

[0063] In this exemplary embodiment, the movable drive means (101) comprise movable drive belts (102) that come into contact with the positioning rollers (11). The movable drive belts (102) are arranged between two pulleys, a first drive pulley (103) that actuates and guides the drive belts (102) and a second redirection pulley (104) that guides the drive belts (102). The movable drive means (101) further comprise concave sheaves (105) which house and press the movable drive belts (102) against the positioning rollers (11) assuring contact between the movable drive belts (102) and the positioning rollers (11) in order to ensure that the rotation speed of the positioning rollers (11) is independent from the speed of the advance means (100) of the set of movable receiving cradles (10).

[0064] The machine comprises speed adjusting means for adjusting the speed of the movable drive means (101), which vary the speed of said movable drive means (101) depending on the size of the strawberry (2) to be cut. In this exemplary embodiment, the speed adjusting means comprise a rocker (106) attached to the concave sheave (105) and in turn attached to a spring (107) which in turn is attached to the machine frame, so that by adjusting the tension in the spring (107), the rotation of the rocker (106) on the concave sheave (105) varies, and consequently the pressure of the concave sheave (105) on the movable drive belts (102) which come into contact with the positioning rollers (11).

[0065] Once the transversal cutting of the strawberry (2), which will be described further on, is completed, the folding paddles (21) return to their open position due to the contact of second sheaves (49) present in the folding paddles (21) with projections (not shown) that return them to their open position, open position that is maintained by the contact of the first sheaves (22) with the guiding surface (45).

[0066] The strawberry cutting machine further comprises displacement means that make it possible to move the strawberries within the movable receiving cradles (10) from the position prior to the calyx (12) cutting position to the calyx (12) cutting position. These displacement means comprise pushers (25, 125) that are movable in the longitudinal direction of the strawberry (2)

[0067] The strawberry cutting machine further comprises clamping means configured to hold at least one portion of a strawberry (2) in at least the calyx (12) cutting position. These clamping means comprise at least one clamping needle (65, 165).

[0068] The displacement means and the clamping means are independently movable in the same direction of movement. Furthermore, the displacement means and the clamping means are independently movable essentially in the same direction of movement and are offset, such that the clamping of at least one portion of strawberry (2) by the clamping means begins before the movement of the strawberry (2) within the receiving cradles (10), from the position prior to the calyx (12) cutting position to the calyx (12) cutting position, by the displacement means and the removal of the clamping means begins before the removal of the displacement means.

[0069] The machine comprises at least one first follower (201) attached to the displacement means and at least one second follower (202) attached to the clamping means, wherein the at least one first follower (201) follows the trajectory defined by at least one first cam (203) and the at least one second follower (202) follows the trajectory defined by at least one second cam (204).

[0070] The at least one first follower (201) attached to the displacement means follows the trajectory defined by the at least one first cam (203) and the at least one second follower (202) attached to the clamping means follows the trajectory defined by the at least one second cam (204) because both the at least one first follower (201) and the at least one second follower (202) are integrally attached to a rotating tumbler (208) that forces the at least one first follower (201) and the at least one second follower (202) to follow the trajectory defined by the at least one first cam (203) and by the at least one second cam (204) respectively.

[0071] FIG. 11 shows the synchronism carried out by the at least one first follower and the at least one second follower attached to the displacement means and the clamping means respectively for a non-limiting example.

[0072] In said FIG. 11, included here as reference, it is observed how the clamping of at least one portion of a strawberry (2) by the clamping means begins before the movement of the strawberry (2) within the receiving cradles (10), from the position prior to the calyx (12) cutting position to the calyx (12) cutting position, by the displacement means since the clamping means, specifically the needle (65), continues its advance up to a 40° angle of rotation of the rotating tumbler (208) while the displacement means, specifically the movable pusher (25) stop its advance at a 10° angle of rotation of the rotating tumbler (208) and continue advancing from a 30° angle to a 57° angle of rotation of the rotating tumbler (208), while the removal of the clamping means begins before the removal of the displacement means, since the clamping means, specifically the needle (65), start a slight recoil or removal up to an 80° angle of rotation of the rotating tumbler (208), to immediately afterwards start the recoil or removal of the displacement means, specifically the movable pusher (25). Both the displacement means and the clamping means complete their recoil or removal at approximately a rotation angle of the rotating tumbler of 129°. All this is due to the shape of the at least one first follower (201) that follows the trajectory defined by the at least one first cam (203) and the at least one second follower (202) that follows the trajectory defined by the at least one second cam (204). This movement is then repeated for each of the movable receiving cradles (10), and due to the presence of several sets of movable pushers (25, 125) and several needles (65) each of which have a first follower (201) and a second follower (202) respectively, which in turn follow the trajectory defined by a first cam (203) and a second cam (204) respectively.

[0073] The displacement means further comprise a movable head (26, 126) that pushes the strawberry (2) into the movable receiving cradle (10). This movable head (26, 126) has a shape that enables the insertion thereof into the inner space of the movable receiving cradle (10) for the movement of the strawberry (2) to the calyx (12) cutting position and the subsequent exit thereof when the folding paddles (21) are in their closed position. This movable head (26, 126) is elastically attached to the movable pusher (25, 125) by means of a spring (28, 128) to adapt the movable head (26, 126) to the strawberry (2) size. The movable pusher (25, 125) has a ball joint (87, 187) at the actuating end thereof that absorbs the misalignment thereof when the strawberry (2) is pushed.

[0074] The clamping means further comprise a support (66, 166) of the at least one clamping needle (65, 165).

[0075] Thus, due to the independence of movements, in this preferred embodiment, the at least one clamping needle (65, 165) is movable through at least one hole (55, 155) of the pushers (25, 125).

[0076] In a first preferred exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5, 7 and 8, the displacement means and the clamping means are configured to arrange the strawberry in an ideal position to carry out the transversal cutting of the calyx (12), wherein the pusher (25) comprises centring means (110), and there is a single clamping needle (65) arranged in a centred position with respect to the clamping cradle (10).

[0077] In a second preferred exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 6, 9 and 10, the displacement means and the clamping means are configured to arrange the strawberry in an ideal position to carry out the transversal cutting of the calyx (12), wherein the clamping means comprise two clamping needles (165) and longitudinal cutting means, preferably a blade (129), which allow the cutting of the strawberry (2) in two halves to be carried out through a longitudinal plane thereof, the longitudinal cutting means being centred with respect to the clamping cradle (10) and the clamping needles displaced in relation to the longitudinal plane of the strawberry (2) so that each of the clamping needles (165) holds a half of the strawberry (2) once it has been longitudinally cut. In this way, the subsequent tasks of preparing strawberry jam or compote are facilitated.

[0078] The strawberry cutting machine further comprises transversal cutting means that carry out the cutting of the calyx (12) of the strawberry (2) arranged in each movable receiving cradle (10), wherein these transversal cutting means, in a first exemplary embodiment comprise rotating cutting discs (30) that sever the calyx (12) of the strawberry (2) that protrudes from the receiving cradle (10) in the calyx (12) cutting position once said strawberry (2) has been pushed by the movable pushers (25, 125) of the displacement means from the position prior to the calyx (12) cutting position to said calyx (12) cutting position, where said calyx (12) cutting position is defined by stops (27) that limit the advance of the strawberry (2) when it is pushed by the movable pushers (25).

[0079] In a second exemplary embodiment, the transversal cutting means that carry out the cutting of the strawberry calyx in a calyx cutting position are fixed transversal cutting means, preferably fixed curved blades facing a zone where the advance means (100) of the set of movable receiving cradles (10) that carry out the advance of the movable receiving cradles (10) return towards the receiving hopper (1) for receiving whole strawberries following a curved trajectory, which facilitates the cut due to the fact that the strawberry rotates while coming into contact with the fixed transversal cutting means.

[0080] Once the transversal cutting of the strawberry (2) is completed, and as described above, the folding paddles (21) return to their open position due to the contact of the second sheaves (49) present in the folding paddles (21) with the projections, the fall of the strawberry being carried out without the calyx (12), by means of gravity from the movable receiving cradle (10) towards collecting means to collect the strawberries (2) without the calyx (12) comprising an evacuation hopper (31) of the strawberry without the calyx (12) and a collection drawer (32) of said already cut strawberries. Furthermore, the machine comprises means for collecting the cut calyx (12) comprising an evacuation hopper and a collection drawer (not shown).

[0081] The strawberry cutting machine further comprises a fixed chamber (35) facing the first set (50) of movable receiving cradles (10) that obtains the position of each strawberry (2) in each movable receiving cradle (10) upon it passing through the position of said fixed chamber (35), a control system that compares the image obtained of each strawberry (2) with a predetermined image of the optimum position of a strawberry (2) within the receiving cradle (10) and which determines whether the strawberry (2) is well placed, well placed being understood as the strawberry having the longitudinal axis thereof aligned with the rotation axis of the positioning rollers (11), if the strawberry (2) is properly shaped, that is, if it is not deformed or if there is more than one strawberry (2) per receiving cradle (10).

[0082] The strawberry cutting machine further comprises ejection means that enable the strawberry (2) or strawberries (2) to be ejected from the receiving cradle (10) in case the control system detects that the strawberry (2) does not have the longitudinal axis thereof aligned with the rotation axis of the positioning rollers (11), if the strawberry (2) is deformed or if there is more than one strawberry (2) per receiving cradle (10). These ejection means comprise a blower (36) that ejects the strawberry (2) or strawberries (2) from the receiving cradle (10) towards an evacuation nozzle (48) when the folding paddles (21) are in their open position.

[0083] The strawberry machine further comprises relocation means for relocating the strawberries (2) that act in case the fixed chamber (35) detects that the strawberry (2) does not have the calyx (12) thereof arranged on the side of the receiving cradle (10) adjacent to the transversal cutting means. These relocation means for relocating the strawberries (2) comprise movable pushers (37) that enable the strawberries (2) to be moved out of the movable receiving cradles (10) of the first set (50) and to deposit them on other movable receiving cradles (10) of a second set (60) of cradles arranged in parallel to the first set (50) before the folding paddles (21) of the movable receiving cradles (10) of this second set (50) close down on the strawberry (2). These movable pushers (37) comprise a head (43) and a needle (44) that enables the strawberry (2) to be punctured upon the advance of the movable pusher (37) preventing the transversal displacement thereof. The movement of these relocation means is driven by a set of flat cams.

[0084] Preferably, the movable receiving cradles (10) of the second set (60) have a configuration symmetrical to the movable receiving cradles (10) of the first set (50) with respect to a vertical plane arranged between both sets (50, 60), but are offset with respect to the movable receiving cradles (10) of the first set (50) to compensate for the time it takes the strawberry (2) to pass from a movable receiving cradle (10) of the first set (50) to a movable receiving cradle (10) of the second set (50).

[0085] Between both sets of cradles (50, 60) the strawberry cutting machine comprises intermediate support means (42) where the strawberry (2) rests during the passage thereof from the first set (50) to the second set (60) during the push carried out by the movable pusher (37) of the relocation means.

[0086] The machine further comprises displacement means that make it possible to move the strawberries within the movable receiving cradles (10) of the second set (60) from the position prior to the calyx (12) cutting position to the calyx (12) cutting position, displacement means equal to those described for the first set (50) of movable cradles (10), stops for this second set (60) which are the same as those described for the first set (50), transversal cutting means for the second set (60) which are the same as those described for the first set and clamping means which are the same as those described for the first set (50) of movable cradles (10).