Cutting knife

An inspection and cutting apparatus which employs a reciprocally moveable cutting knife includes an elongated main body having opposite ends; and a protrusion is integral with the elongated main body, and which inhibits an adhesive force from being created between the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the adjacent sidewalls of a knife guidance track when a source of water wets the outside surface of the elongated main body and the adjacent spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance channel.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a cutting knife which is employed with equipment for detecting defects in elongated articles or other objects of interest, and for cutting or otherwise removing the defects from the articles or objects of interest as the articles are being processed in a high output production facility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention as disclosed in the paragraphs which follow is utilized in an inspection and cutting apparatus such as what is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,702. The contents and teachings of this previous patent is incorporated by reference herein. U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,702 addressed a perceived problem then existing in the industry relative to the processing of elongated articles such as sliced potatoes which are utilized for frozen french fries, and wherein the elongated articles were first aligned in moveable, transversely spaced lanes, and then passed beneath individual lane oriented electro-optical cameras for inspecting the french fries for defects. In the previous prior art arrangements, if defects were detected one or more knives on a rotating cutting wheel was projected or propelled from the cutting wheel to cut or sever the defect from the article. Various U.S. patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 3,543,035 describe such earlier devices. Still further, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/066,790, and which was filed on Apr. 24, 2011 also describes an improved device for achieving the results described, above. The prior art as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,702 has been widely embraced by the food processing industry, and has operated with a great deal of success over the years.

While the apparatus as described in this prior art patent has operated quite reliably for several decades, there have been perceived shortcomings which have detracted from its usefulness. Chiefly, two perceived shortcomings have become evident through the continued use of the earlier mentioned apparatus. Firstly, and only occasionally, individual cutter knives employed in the apparatus as described in the previous patent, when rotated at predetermined operational speeds, occasionally would prematurely move or be ejected to a radially outwardly extended cutting position and then engage the elongated food product being processed without being intentionally deployed or actuated by the cutting apparatus. This premature deployment, or movement of a cutting knife to the radially extended cutting position could occasionally cause the knife to become damaged. In addition to the foregoing, the cutting knives employed, to date, have been fabricated from various materials and due to normal wear and tear, and routine operating conditions, such prior art cutting knives have occasionally broken, and have needed to be replaced. This type of wear related failure is typically expected, from time-to-time, in devices of this type. However, depending upon the product to be inspected and cut, the replacement of these damaged cutting knives can sometimes be time consuming, and inconvenient during typical food processing operations. Still further, another problem attendant with the prior art devices, as utilized heretofore, is that, on occasion, such cutting knives have not deployed at all in view of an adverse amount friction or other conditions existing within an associated knife guidance track which defines the path of travel for the individual cutting knives.

While various solutions have been suggested to address the foregoing problems, the premature deployment or the failure to deploy a cutting knife during routine food processing operations has been perceived to be a problem which has not found an acceptable solution.

Therefore, one object of the present invention is to provide a cutting knife which avoids the detriments associated with the individual prior art references while providing the benefits associated therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first aspect of the present invention relates to a cutting knife which includes an elongated, main body having opposite first and second ends, and wherein the second end of the main body defines a sharpened edge, and wherein the elongated main body further has an outside facing surface, and is reciprocally moveable within a knife guidance track which has spaced sidewalls for defining a predetermined path of travel for the elongated main body, and wherein a preponderance of the outside facing surface of the elongated main body is oriented in substantially the same plane, and wherein the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the knife guidance track are exposed to a source of water, and a protrusion which is defined by the elongated main body extends outwardly from the plane which is defined by the outside facing surface, and further creates a space between the elongated main body and the spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance track, so as to inhibit an adhesion which is created between the outside facing surface of the elongated main body, and the respective sidewalls of the knife guidance track, when the source of water wets the outside surface of the elongated main body, and the spaced sidewalls of the knife guidance channel.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a cutting knife which includes an elongated main body having a first end, and a foot shaped, second end, and wherein the second end has an outwardly facing, sharpened edge for engaging and severing an object of interest, and wherein the elongated main body is received within, and reciprocally moveable relative to a rotatably moveable knife guidance track, and wherein the elongated main body has an outside facing surface of which a preponderance of the outside facing surface area of the elongated main body lies in the same plane; a movement limiting member which is made integral with the elongated main body, and which cooperates with the rotatably moveable knife guidance track, and which further extends laterally, outwardly from the elongated main body, and wherein the movement limiting member is located intermediate the first and second ends of the elongated main body, and is further oriented within the same plane as the outside facing surface of the elongated main body; and a protrusion which is made integral with the elongated main body extends outwardly therefrom, and in a direction which is out of the plane of the elongated main body, and which further cooperates with the rotatably moveable knife guidance track.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of the constitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progress of science and useful arts” (Article I, Section 8).

Referring now toFIG. 9, it will be seen that the cutting knife of the present invention, and which is generally indicated by the numeral10is utilized, in combination with, a rotatable knife support ring which is generally indicated by the numeral11. The rotatable knife support ring11is mounted on an inspection and cutting apparatus as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,702. The rotatable knife support ring11defines a multiplicity of radially extending, individual, knife guidance tracks12. The individual knife guidance tracks12are each defined by a pair of spaced, substantially parallel sidewalls which are indicated by the numeral13. The spaced sidewalls define, at least in part, a reciprocal path of travel14for the individual cutting knives10, as seen inFIG. 9. The respective cutting knives10are moveable from a first, non-cutting position15, to a second, extended, cutting position16. In the extended cutting position16, the cutting knives10are brought into contact with an article or object of interest, not shown, in order to sever the object or article in a predetermined location so as to remove a defect which has been previously detected.

Referring now toFIG. 1and following, the first form of the cutting knife10as seen inFIG. 1includes an elongated main body which is generally indicated by the numeral20. The elongated main body has a first end21, and an opposite second end22. The elongated main body is defined, in part, by a shaft portion which is indicated by the numeral23. The shaft portion23is further defined, in part, by a longitudinal axis24. The longitudinal axis24extends between the first and second ends21and22, respectively. Still further the shaft portion has a first longitudinally extending peripheral edge25; and a second, opposite, longitudinally extending peripheral edge26. The shaft portion23has a given width dimension which is measured between the first and second peripheral edges25and26. Still further the shaft portion23has a given length dimension, and a given thickness dimension. Additionally, the shaft portion23has opposite sidewall surfaces27and28, and which further define an outside facing surface29. As illustrated in the drawings, a preponderance of the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20is oriented in substantially the same plane. This feature will be discussed in greater detail, hereinafter. As seen in the drawings, the cutting knife10of the present invention includes a movement limiting member which is generally indicated by the numeral40. The movement limiting member40is made integral with the elongated main body20of the cutting knife10, and is further positioned in a location which is intermediate the first and second ends21and22of the reciprocally moveable cutting knife10. The movement limiting member40has a main body41with a first end42, which is made integral with the first peripheral edge25, and an opposite, second end43. The main body41is defined by an outside facing surface44, which is oriented in substantially the same plane as the outside facing surface29, and which further defines the shaft portion23. The movement limiting member40is operable to cooperate with the rotatable knife support ring11, and the individual knife guidance tracks12that are defined by the knife support ring11, in a manner so as to define the reciprocal path of travel14for the individual cutting knives10when employed in an operational, automatic defect removal machine, not shown.

The second end22of the elongated main body defines a foot-shaped cutting portion which is generally indicated by the numeral50. The foot-shaped cutting portion has a first end51, which is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis24of the elongated main body20, and an opposite, and distal second end52, and which is positioned laterally, outwardly relative to both the longitudinal axis24, and the first peripheral edge25. The foot-shaped cutting portion has a first, or top peripheral edge53, and an opposite, cutting, or second peripheral edge54. The second or cutting peripheral edge54is operable to engage an object of interest (not shown) and sever the object in a manner which is well known in the art. The foot-shaped cutting portion50is transversely disposed relative to the longitudinal axis24, and extends laterally, outwardly, relative to the shaft portion23. Again, the second or foot-shaped cutting portion50has an outside facing surface55, and wherein a preponderance of the outside facing surface55is angled from the outside facing plane of the shaft, to the cutting edge24, and which is defined by the foot-shaped cutting portion50. As seen inFIG. 1, and following, the foot-shaped cutting portion50has a length dimension, as measured between the first and second ends51and52, thereof, and which is greater than the width dimension of the elongated main body20, when this dimension is measured between the peripheral edges25and26thereof. Still further, the foot-shaped cutting portion50has a width dimension as measured between the first and second peripheral edges53and54which is variable. Further the cutting portion50has a variable thickness dimension, (FIG. 1).

As seen in the drawings, the cutting knife10of the present invention includes a convexly shaped protrusion which is generally indicated by the numeral60. The protrusion60extends outwardly from the plane which is defined by the outside facing surface29. The protrusion60creates a space extending entirely thereabout between the elongated main body20, and the spaced generally parallel sidewalls13of the knife guidance track12so as to inhibit adhesion which is created between the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20, and the respective sidewalls13of the guidance track12, when water wets the outside surface29of the elongated main body20, and the spaced sidewalls13of the knife guidance track12during operation of the cutting apparatus. As should be understood, the rotatable knife supporting ring11which defines the plurality of radially extending individual knife guidance tracks12, is often utilized in wet conditions, and in devices which are used to process food products. The water has often been previously used for either transporting the goods, or on the other hand, has been used for washing the goods or articles before they were transported and during the sorting and cutting process. Consequently, this source of water, not shown, often becomes deposited on the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20, and within the plurality of individual knife guidance tracks12. As will be appreciated, the respective cutting knifes10are typically forced to travel rapidly along the reciprocal path of travel14. During normal operations the knife guidance track12utilizes the deposited water to retain the respective cutting knives10in their first retracted and non-cutting position15when the rotatable knife support ring11is rotating at its operating speed. It should be understood that the surface wetting between the respective cutting knives10, and the adjacent space sidewalls13, in combination with static friction, creates a retention force which is usually greater than the centrifugal force experienced by the cutting knives10as the knife supporting ring11rotates. As will be appreciated, and during operation the cutting knives10are exposed to an intentional and predetermined ejection force, (not shown) which is typically caused by high pressure fluid (air and water, for example), and which overcomes the adhesion caused by the wetting and the friction, to cause the cutting knives10to travel along the knife guidance track12, and along the path of travel14. However, during operation, friction generated between the individual cutting knives10, and the adjacent sidewalls13has, heretofore, caused the outside facing surfaces29of the elongated main body20to become smooth. At this point, the surface wetting, and the resulting adhesion, caused by the presence of water on the individual smooth surfaces is not overcome by the actuation force provided by the high pressure air which is supplied, and consequently the previous prior art knives have failed to actuate, or even travel the full distance along the reciprocal path of travel14. In the arrangement as provided in the present invention, the convexly shaped protrusions60inhibit an adhesion force from being created between the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20, and the respective adjacent sidewalls13of the knife guidance track12when the water wets the outside surface29of the elongated main body20, and the spaced sidewalls13, respectively. This is achieved when the protrusion60frictionally contacts at least one of the sidewalls13of the knife guidance channel or track12, thereby creating a space that extends entirely about the protrusion60, and thus preventing the water from creating an adhesion force which cannot be overcome by the actuation force causing the cutting knife10to move along the path of travel14. As seen in the drawings, the protrusion60includes a first form61, as seen inFIG. 1; and a second form62as seen inFIG. 5. In the first form, each protrusion61includes a continuous, narrowly elongated convexly shaped body63, and which extends outwardly, a known thickness dimension69relative to the outside facing surface29, and in a direction which is outside the plane as defined by the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20. Each protrusion60extends outwardly relative to each side29of the elongated main body20. In the second form62, (FIG. 5) the protrusion60may include a plurality of protrusions64, and which are oriented in predetermined locations along the first peripheral edge25of the elongated main body20(FIG. 5). As seen inFIG. 1, the first form61of the protrusion60, and which forms the elongated continuously narrow convexly shaped body63has a first end65, a spaced apart second end66, a first elongate edge67, a spaced apart second elongate edge68and a length dimension106. Protrusion60is formed on each opposing side of the shaft portion23of the elongated main body20. The first end65of the protrusion60is spaced a distance102away from the first end21of the elongate main body20. The second end66of the protrusion60is spaced a distance103away from the foot shaped cutting portion50. The first elongate edge67of the protrusion60is spaced a distance100away from the first longitudinally extending peripheral edge25of the elongated main body20and the second elongate edge68of the protrusion60is spaced a distance101away from the second longitudinally extending peripheral edge26of the elongated main body20. The distances100,101,102and103in combination with the thickness dimension69of the protrusion60create and maintain a space110, (SeeFIG. 3) between the elongated main body20and the adjacent side wall13of the knife guidance track12. As shown in the Figures, the space110extends entirely about the narrowly elongated convexly shaped body63of the protrusion60. The space110inhibits and/or substantially prevents formation of adhesion caused by water between the elongated main body20and the adjacent side wall13and allows the cutting knife10to be reliably deployed into the extended cutting position16when actuated.

Operation

The operation of the described embodiments of the present invention are believed to be readily apparent, and are briefly summarized at this point.

The reciprocally moveable cutting knife10of the present invention is best illustrated byFIGS. 1 and 5. In its broadest aspect the cutting knife10which is used in combination with a rotatable knife support ring11, and which is mounted on an inspection and cutting apparatus which is similar to that as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,520,702, includes an elongated main body having opposite first and second ends21and22, respectively, and wherein the second end22of the main body20defines a sharpened edge54. The elongated main body20further has an outside facing surface29, and is further reciprocally moveable within a knife guidance track12which has spaced sidewalls13, for defining a predetermined path of travel14for the elongated main body20. A preponderance of the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20is oriented in substantially the same plane, and wherein the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body, and the knife guidance track12are exposed to a source of water. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the reciprocally moveable cutting knife10has a protrusion60which is defined by the elongated main body20, and which further extends outwardly from the plane which is defined by the outside facing surface29. The protrusion60creates a space between the elongated main body20, and the spaced sidewalls13, which define the knife guidance track12, and which further inhibits an adhesion from being created between the outside facing surface29of the elongated main body20, and the respective sidewalls13of the knife guidance track12when the source of water wets the outside surface29of the elongated main body20, and the spaced sidewalls13of the knife guidance channel12.

The elongated main body20is defined, at least in part, by a shaft portion23. The shaft portion23has a predetermined length dimension, and further extends from the first end21of the elongated main body20, and in the direction of the second end22thereof. The shaft portion23is defined, at least in part, by a longitudinal axis24. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the path of travel14of the reciprocally moveable cutting knife10is substantially coaxially with, and parallel to the longitudinal axis24of the shaft portion23.

The second end22of the elongated main body20includes a cutting portion50having a first and second end51and52, respectively. The cutting portion50is disposed substantially transversely relative to the longitudinal axis24of the shaft portion23, and is further located substantially along the longitudinal axis24of the shaft portion23. The cutting portion50has an outside facing surface55which is angled from the outside facing plane, as defined by the outside facing surface29, to the cutting edge24, as defined by the foot-shaped cutting portion50. As seen in the drawings, the cutting knife10includes a movement limiting member40which is made integral with the elongated main body20, and which is further positioned in a location which is intermediate to the first and second ends21and22, of the reciprocally moveable cutting knife10. The movement limiting member40has an exterior facing surface44which is oriented in the same plane as the elongated main body20.

In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the reciprocally moveable cutting knife10as illustrated includes a shaft portion23, and which has opposite first and second peripheral edges25and26respectively, and which are further oriented in substantially parallel, spaced relation, one relative to the other. The movement limiting member40, and the second end52, of the cutting portion50, each extend laterally outwardly relative to the first peripheral edge25of the shaft portion23. The movement limiting member40, and the cutting portion50are positioned in spaced relation, one relative to the other. The cutting portion50has a variable width dimension when the same width dimension is measured between the first and second ends51and52thereof. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, the protrusion60comprises, in one form, a continuous narrowly elongated body63which is located in parallel relation relative to the first peripheral edge25. The first peripheral25has a predetermined length dimension, and the protrusion60has a length dimension which is less than the length dimension of the first peripheral edge25. As illustrated in the drawings, the protrusion60may also comprise a plurality of protrusions64which are oriented in predetermined locations along the first peripheral edge25of the shaft portion23.

As seen inFIG. 1, the shaft portion23has a continuous outside facing surface29as illustrated. In the second possible form of the invention as seen inFIG. 5, the shaft portion23has a discontinuous outside facing surface29. More specifically, several apertures are positioned or formed along the shaft portion23. In the arrangement as seen in the drawings, it should be understood that the elongated main body20may be fabricated from a metal substrate, or from a synthetic substrate or further, from a combination of both metal and synthetic materials.

Therefore it will be seen that the present cutting knife avoids the detriments individually associated with using cutting knives of the previous design and further provides a convenient means for assembling a food processing device which is operable to reliably actuate predetermined cutting knives in a very reliable manner not possible heretofore.