DEVICE WITH A BLADE FOR PROCESSING A PRODUCT

Abstract

The device, which serves for processing, particularly for cutting and diffusing at least one product, particularly a food product, includes at least one blade that is connectable via at least one coupling member and an energy converter to an ultrasound source and that is fastened to a blade holder, which is connected to a drive device that is held by a framework. According to the invention the drive device includes a plurality of actuators, which are connected each on one side via a first rotary joint to the blade holder and on another side via a second rotary joint in such a way to the framework that the blade holder is held by the actuators alone and is displaceable and optionally turnable within a volume of operation.

Claims

1. Device for processing comprising at least one blade that is connectable via at least one coupling member and an energy converter to an ultrasound source and that is fastened to a holder, which is connected to a drive device that is held by a framework, wherein the drive device comprises a plurality of actuators which are connected each on one side via a first rotary joint to the blade holder and on another side via a second rotary joint in such a way to the framework that the blade holder is held by the actuators alone and is displaceable and optionally turnable within a volume of operation.

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the blade is displaceable forward and backward in three directions, which are perpendicular to one another, and/or that the blade is turnable at least around its longitudinal axis.

3. Device according to claim 1, wherein the blade comprises a cutting edge on one side or on two sides each.

4. Device according to claim 1, wherein a control unit with a control program is provided, with which the actuators, are individually controllable such that the blade is guidable in a desired alignment along at least one straight or curved cutting area.

5. Device according to claim 1, wherein a first and a third actuator are connected each via a corresponding one of the first rotary joints to the first side of the blade holder and that a second and a fourth actuator are connected each via a corresponding one of the first rotary joints to the second side of the blade holder, so that the blade holder is displaceable forth and back along the transporting direction of the processed product or along the transporting directions of the processed products as well as perpendicular thereto.

6. Device according to claim 5, wherein a fifth actuator, which is aligned inclined or perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade is connected via a corresponding one of the first rotary joints to the blade holder, so that the blade is turnable around the longitudinal axis of the blade or can be stabilised in a specific angle of rotation.

7. Device according to claim 5, wherein a sixth actuator that is aligned with one vector component in parallel to the blade, is connected via a corresponding one of the first rotary joints to the blade holder, so that the blade is displaceable along its longitudinal axis.

8. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the first and/or second rotary joint are swivel joints, hinge joints, fork joints, angle joints or are combinations thereof that comprise two joint functions.

9. Device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the actuators comprise a controllable electric drive and/or that at least some of the actuators are driven pneumatically.

10. Device according to claim 1, wherein the blade holder comprises two side plates, to which the actuators are coupled and which are connected with one another by at least one crossbar, on which the energy converters are mounted.

11. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling members are curved and are connected to the front side or to the back side of the blade back of the blade.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the coupling members are connected in even distances to the blade which is made of one piece.

Description

[0035] Below the invention is described in detail with reference to the drawings. Thereby show:

[0036] FIG. 1 an inventive device 1, which serves for processing at least one product and which comprises thereto at least one blade 11 held by a blade holder 2, to which seven actuators 41, . . . , 47 are coupled, which are pivotally connected to a framework 6 and by which the blade 11 can execute almost any movements within a volume of operation in order to process, particularly cut or atomise the product;

[0037] FIG. 2a a symbolically shown drive device 4 as well as the blade holder 2 of FIG. 1, which comprises two side plates 21A, 21B, to which the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 of the actuators 41, . . . , 47 are coupled via first rotary joints 31, . . . , 37 and which are connected with one another by crossbars 22, which hold eight energy converters 13 that are connected via coupling members 12 to a unitary blade 11;

[0038] FIG. 2b the blade holder 2 of FIG. 2a from the back side;

[0039] FIG. 3a the blade holder 2 of FIG. 2a, which is connected to four blades 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, and that is connected via the first rotary joints 31, . . . , 37 to the actuators 41, . . . , 47, which are held by second rotary joints 51, . . . , 57;

[0040] FIG. 3b the blade holder 2 of FIG. 3a from the back side with only six actuators 41, . . . , 46 as well as a detailed view of the second rotary joint 54 that is connected to the fourth actuator 44;

[0041] FIG. 4 the inventive device 1 of FIG. 1 with the framework 6 as well as the blade holder 2 and the actuators 41, . . . , 47 of FIG. 1; and

[0042] FIG. 5 section D of the inventive device 1 shown in FIG. 4 with the four actuators 42, 44, 45 and 46 connected to the right side plate 21B of the blade holder 2.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows an inventive device 1, which serves for processing a product or a plurality of products that are conveyed to the device 1, e.g. on different planes and from different directions. Device 1 comprises at least one blade 11 that is supplied with ultrasonic energy and that is held by a blade holder 2. In this embodiment, the blade holder 2 is pivotally coupled with seven actuators 41, . . . , 47, which in addition thereto are pivotally connected to a framework 2 and held by the framework 2. The actuators 41, . . . , 47 are preferably linear drives comprising a piston rod, that is driven by an electric motor and that can be driven out and back stepwise. Hence, by means of the piston rods the blade 11 can execute almost any movements within a volume of operation, in order to process, particularly cut or atomise a processed product. The motion-sequences, which are programmed and controlled by a control unit 7, are dependent from the number of installed actuators, whose control sequences are coordinated. The control unit 7, which is held by a swivel arm, preferably comprises a screen or touchscreen, via which commands can be entered, in order to select pre-programmed motion-sequences or in order to define new motion-sequences of the blade 11.

[0044] The programming of the device 1 can be done different ways. E.g., the blade 11 can be guided along a desired cutting area, whereby the motion-sequences of the piston rods are measured and registered. Furthermore, curved areas in a geometrical space can be defined, based on which the positions of the first swivel joints are determined and the course of the distances between the first and second swivel joints corresponding to one another are identified. The actuators 41, . . . , 47, particularly the seventh actuator 47, which can axially move the blade, can also execute oscillating movements.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows that the device 1 comprises a relatively long unitary (see FIG. 2a) or multipart (see FIG. 3a) blade 11, which can be moved within a relative large volume of operation that is determined by the length of the piston rods of the actuators 41, . . . , 47. Preferably a unitary blade 11 is used. In spite of the large dimensions of the blade 11 and of the large volume of operation as well as the manifold applicability, if appropriate including processing a plurality of products, the invention allows the setup of the device 1 with spatial dimensions that essentially depend on the size of the blade 11. The columnar actuators 41, . . . , 47 can be arranged in parallel to members of the framework or rack 6 and do not substantially increase its dimensions.

[0046] The device 1 further comprises protection covers and a hood 65, which can be moved backwards and turned upwards.

[0047] FIG. 2a symbolically shows a drive device 4 consisting of the actuators 41, . . . , 47 as well as the blade holder 2 of FIG. 1 with a unitary blade 11. The blade holder 2 comprises two side plates 21A, 21B, to which the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 of the actuators 41, . . . , 47 are coupled via first rotary joints 31, . . . , 37. The side plates 21A, 21B are connected with one another by two crossbars 22, on which eight energy converters 13 are mounted pairwise by means of four mounting devices 23. The energy converters 13 are connected via coupling members 12 to the unitary blade 11. The coupling members 12 comprise each a semi-circular bow, which stands perpendicular on the blade back of the blade 11 and is welded thereto. The coupling members 12 are arranged in an even pattern, whereby it is assured, that the ultrasound energy provided to the energy converters 13 by an ultrasound generator is evenly coupled into the blade 11. Hence, the blade 11 is held by eight coupling members 12, via which ultrasound energy is supplied as well.

[0048] In order to better display the blade 11 and the blade holder 2, the actuators 41, . . . , 47 are symbolically shown integrated in a block, i.e. the drive device 4. Shown are only the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 of the actuators 41, . . . , 47, which are coupled via the first rotary joints 31, . . . , 37 to the side plates 21A, 21B of the blade holder 2. The first rotary joints 31, . . . , 37 are preferably swivel joints, wherefore the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 are turnable within an aperture angle. By maximally deflecting and turning the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 around the related aperture angle, the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 move along the surface of a cone. Thereby, the aperture angle can be selected very large and can exceed 180 in specific sectors. Individual ones of the piston rods 411, . . . , 471 can travel by specific movements of the blade 11 through angle areas, which are different in size. In addition, aperture angles with different sizes can be assigned to individual ones of the rotary joints 31, . . . , 37. It is essential that the blade 11 can be moved and turned to a required degree within the desired volume of operation. FIG. 2a shows further that individual ones of the first rotary joints 31 and 33 or 32 and 34 can also be arranged immediately adjacent to one another, so that the related actuators 41, 43 or 42, 44 are coupled practically to identical points at the blade holder 2.

[0049] In FIG. 2a the basic movements, the translations V1, V2, V3, V4, V5 and the turnings D1, D2, D3, are drawn, which can be executed by the blade 11 individually or in combination.

[0050] By means of the first and the second piston rods 411, 421, which are aligned horizontally and in parallel to one another and which are coupled each to one side of the blade holder 2, the left side and the right side of the blade 11 can be displaced forth and back independently from one another or in combination equally (V1=V2) or un-equally (V1V2), optionally in opposite directions. With different movements of the piston rods 411, 421, a rotational movement D1 of the blade 11 can be achieved.

[0051] With the third and fourth piston rods 431, 441, which are aligned in parallel to one another and which are coupled each to one side of the blade holder 2 (at the same positions as the first and the second piston rods 411, 421), the left side and the right side of the blade 11 can be displaced independently from one another or in combination equally (V3=V4) or un-equally (V3V4), optionally in opposite directions, downwards and upwards, whereby rotational movement D2 can be achieved.

[0052] In order to avoid turning of the blade 11 when operating the first two actuators 41, 42, preferably a fifth actuator 45 is provided, which is aligned in parallel to the first and to the second actuator 41, 42 and is connected via a corresponding one of the first rotary joints 35 eccentrically to the blade holder 2. If the fifth actuator 45 is controlled identically to the first and the second actuator 41, 42, then a parallel translation of the blade 11 results forth and back. If the fifth actuator 45 is controlled differently, then a turning D3 around an axis results, which is defined by the coupling points of the first two actuators 41, 42. By turning D3 of the blade 11 a cut can be executed. Alternatively, the blade 11 can be aligned horizontally and held stably, so that a powdery product can be placed thereon, which then is atomised under the impact of ultrasound energy.

[0053] By operating the sixth piston rod 461, which is aligned almost in parallel to the blade 11, a lateral displacement (V5) of the blade 11, e.g. along its longitudinal axis can be executed. Thereby a vertical cut in combination with a horizontal cut can be executed, whereby even most difficult products can precisely be cut. A laterally acting oscillation can be superimposed on the vertical movement, so that the cutting process is facilitated.

[0054] FIG. 2b shows the blade holder 2 from the backside with the two side plates 21A, 21B and the two crossbars 22 and the four mounting devices 23 of FIG. 2a connected thereto, with which the energy converter 12 and the thereto connected blade 11 are held.

[0055] FIG. 3a shows the blade holder 2 of FIG. 2a, which is connected via the first rotary joints 31, . . . , 37 to the actuators 41, . . . , 47, which are held by second rotary joints 51, . . . , 57.

[0056] The blade holder 2 holds a multipart blade 11, i.e. four trapezoidal single blades 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, which are axially aligned to one another in a plane and which form a common blade plane and a common blade edge. Alternatively, also eight for example triangular single blades can be used that are connected each to a coupling member 12.

[0057] The second rotary joints 51, . . . , 57, which in this embodiment comprise a rotational part and a hinge part and which exhibit therefore the function of a rotary joint and of a hinge joint combined, also allow the actuators 41, . . . , 47 to be moved within an aperture angle that is selected as required. The actuators 41, . . . , 47 are held on both sides by rotary joints 31, . . . , 37 and 51, . . . , 57 respectively. The alignment of the actuators 41, . . . , 47 is dependent from the deflection of each individual one of the actuators 41, . . . , 47 and the blade 11 is held practically flying, whereby a wing beat can actually be executed repetitively with the blade 11 within the volume of operation.

[0058] FIG. 3b shows the blade holder 2 from the backside with only six actuators 41, . . . , 46 and the related second rotary joints 51, . . . , 56 of FIG. 3a as well as a detailed view of the second rotary joint 54, which is connected to the fourth actuator 44. This second rotary joint 54 comprises a hinge joint 541, which holds the related fourth actuator 44 turnable in a first plane. The hinge joint 541 is pivotally held by means of an articulated shaft 542 and a joint bearing 543 turnable in a second plane, which extends perpendicular to the first plane. Hence, the fourth actuator 44 is held turnable within an aperture angle. This combined rotary joint or double joint 55 functionally corresponds to a swivel joint.

[0059] The seventh actuator 47 has been omitted in the embodiment of FIG. 3b, wherefore only the fifth actuator 45 acts eccentrically onto the second side plate 21B of the blade holder 2. The impact is not exerted symmetrically, which however does not lead to undesirable deformation or torsion of the blade holder. It must be noted that the product is divided by the blade 11, to which ultrasound energy is applied, practically without resistance. Hence, merely in preferred embodiments the seventh actuator 47 is provided, with which a symmetrical impact of force can be realised, if these would be desired.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows the inventive device 1 of FIG. 1 with the framework 6 as well as the blade holder 2 and the mounted actuators 41, . . . , 47 of FIG. 1. The framework 6 is set up in the manner of a table with legs 61 and crossbars 62, on which the actuators 41, . . . , 47 are fastened. The framework 6 can exhibit manifold designs and fulfils primarily the function of stably holding the actuators 41, . . . , 47. If a stable conveyor device is provided for processing a product or a plurality of products, then the second rotary joints can also be mounted on this conveyor device. In this way, the inventive device 1 can be integrated with minimum space requirement into a production line.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows section D of the inventive device 1 shown in FIG. 4 with the four actuators 42, 44, 45 and 46, which are connected via the corresponding first rotary joints or swivel joints 32, 34, 35 and 36 to the second side plate 21B of the blade holder 2. The two first swivel joints 32 and 34 are open, wherefore the joint balls 321, 341 and the joint sockets 322, 342, which are connectable to the piston rods 421, 441, are shown separated from one another. Hence, the second side plate 21B can be rotated and displaced as desired.