FRUIT-PEELING MACHINE

Abstract: The machine possesses a bed (101) on which is provided a central shaft or turret (105), having an intermittent rotary motion, on the periphery of which are provided six operating positions, two feed operating positions A, diametrally opposite, with which are associated respective hoppers (113) equipped with means for individual entrainment for the fruit (107), means being provided at each of these feed operating positions for the translatory movement of the fruit towards a clamp associated with the central rotary shaft (105), which clamp entrains the fruit to a second operating position B, where the fruit is peeled by means of two sets of knives (156), each set of knives being actuated by an electric motor (164), and the fruit then passing into a third and final operating position C, within each group, at which the operation of cutting the residual polar caps resulting from the prior cutting operation is completed, specifically with the participation of two large horizontal discoidal knives (175) capable of pivoting horizontally under the actuation of corresponding hydraulic cylinders (180), and which, in the course of the planetary movement, rotate on their own axes to facilitate the cutting.

Description: The present invention relates to a fruit-peeling machine which has been specially designed for the peeling of oranges, but which is equally suitable for the peeling of lemons or of any other type of fruit having a rounded configuration and tending towards a spherical or ovoid configuration. PRIOR ART The present applicant is the proprietor of Spanish Patent ES-A-8900316, which discloses a fruit-peeling machine, and in which a description is given of the necessity, in certain industrial processes, such as for example in the production of jams, juices, etc., of accomplishing prior peeling of the fruits, since their peel in many cases comprises components having a strong bitter flavour whose presence in the final product has an adverse effect thereon. It was also noted that in other cases, such as the cases of the orange and the lemon, peeling is of value simply for the purpose of making use of the rind. The solution provided in the abovementioned patent consisted in creating a rotary drum having four jaws distributed in an equiangular manner and capable of securing respective fruits, a pair of centring rollers being situated on the upper jaw and receiving the fruits individually from a feed hopper and passing them in synchronised sequence to each of the abovementioned jaws, specifically by allowing them to drop onto a cradle which retains them momentarily until the repeatedly abovementioned jaws act to rotate the drum continuously through an angle of 90°, the jaw which had previously collected the fruit passing to a cutting zone where, by means of a clutch, the jaws and consequently the fruit acquire a rotary motion, provided by a motor, while a pair of knives act on the fruit, passing consecutively over the generating lines of the fruit, owing to the fact that the latter is rotating-causing the complete peeling thereof, and each knife, which has the shape of a cup, furthermore being actuated by a motor, preferably a pneumatic motor, and assisted by a bushing, serving as a sensor, which acts on the outer surface of the fruit, determining the depth of penetration of the knife in any area thereof and independently of the configuration thereof. FR-A-2595231 discloses a fruit-peeling machine in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, in particular for oranges, lemons or other fruits having a rounded configuration, incorporating, on a base platform, a general arm of forked configuration having a laterally oriented concavity, between the ends of whose branches are provided jaws forming a fruit retaining first clamp actuatable manually or automatically in a manner such that the centre of the fruit is in all cases retained at the same level, irrespective of its size, and means for transmitting rotary motion to said jaws and consequently to said fruit. Although the machine forming the subject of Patent ES-A-8900316 provides a high level of performance, which was considered optimum at that time, the said machine is extremely bulky and complex, and consequently expensive, to which it must further be added that its productivity leaves room for improvement. The same can be said regarding the machine disclosed in FR-A-2595231 since the production of this peeling machine is relatively low, mainly because of the number and disposition of the different jaws. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The fruit-peeling machine proposed by the invention according to claim 1 has been specifically designed and constructed to achieve these objects, achieving on the one hand a substantial structural simplification which enables the machine to be used not only in large-scale industrial processes for the obtaining of peeled fruit in bulk, but also in cases where a much lower level of production is required, such as for example in restaurants and other public establishments where it would be desirable to have a peeling machine available at an associated investment cost which permits an adequate return, while at the same time, in comparison with the first type of application, its rate of production has been substantially enhanced, to the point where it can be quantified as being of the order of ten times greater than the obtained with a machine produced in accordance with Patent 8900316, this being achieved by virtue of a different basic functional design, specifically by virtue of a lower speed of rotation of the fruit and the simultaneous actuation thereon of a large number of knives. To this end, and more specifically, there is provided on the corresponding bed of the machine, and more specifically on the base platform thereof, a general product intake arm which possesses a forked configuration and between whose lateral branches, and at the free end thereof, are provided the jaws which form the first clamp for fixing the product, said general arm incorporating means for opening and closing the abovementioned jaws. Said general arm actuates means for the synchronised rotation of the jaws which will be transmitted to the fruit during the peeling phase, and said general arm being pivotably mounted on the base platform for the purpose of moving the jaws forming the first clamp from the zone in which the fruit is received to the zone in which it is peeled, which pivoting can be actuated manually or automatically, as can the operation of opening and closing the jaws, as a function of the specific application envisaged for the machine, that is to say automatically in the case of machines intended for high-productivity industrial processes and manually in much simpler applications where the fundamental objective is a reduction in the machine cost level. In line with the peeling zone, there is provided on the base platform a latch for fixing the general arm in the exact position of the fruit relative to the peeling assembly, and said peeling assembly takes the form of two sets of knives, basically conforming to the knives of Patent ES-A-8900316, which knives, within each group, form a circumferential alignment, in that they are very close together, all the knives of each group being mounted on a pivoting support, which is likewise actuatable either manually or automatically in order to move the knives towards or away from the fruit, at the same time as associated springs ultimately tend to press each of said knives against the fruit, with perfect adaptation thereto, each set of knives being associated with a common motor which transmits the motion to all of them via a set of suitably interconnected pinions. Using the same peeling device of which mention has just been made, but modifying the machine feed mechanisms, specifically automating them, it is possible to increase very substantially the operational output of the machine, specifically in its application to industrial bulk peeling processes, as for example in juice factories, fruit canneries, etc. In the latter case, the fruit-peeling machine will be formed by a central movable turret on which are provided means for the simultaneous securing of various fruits, specifically six fruits, and for which an alternating motion is provided which is achieved by means of a geared motor assembly which is kept permanently in motion but which transmits such motion to the abovementioned central movable turret via a Maltese cross mechanism which produces therein the intermittent motion referred to above, ensuring the necessary stops in order that the appropriate function is performed at each of the six operating positions which surround the central movable turret. More specifically, two identical operating assemblies are provided around the central turret, each of them having three positions, specifically a feed position, a peeling position and a position for cutting the polar discs or caps which represent the residue from the prior position or peeling phase, the machine naturally being equipped with two product supply hoppers, arranged diametrally opposite relative to the central movable turret and suitably linked to the respective feed positions. At each feed position, and at the outlet from the corresponding product supply hopper, is provided a pan which receives the oranges or fruits in question, one by one, there being specifically four pans mounted and distributed in an equiangular manner on the periphery of a rotary plate which, in turn, is associated with a vertical shaft executing intermittent angular movements through 90° in order to move each pan, and consequently each fruit accommodated therein, to the zone of actuation of a product receiving second clamp whose jaws are aligned vertically. This second clamp, which is equipped with opening and closing means, is adapted to move to an above mentioned first clamp associated with the central movable turret, with the special feature that the second clamp, which receives the fruit from the pan, simultaneously undergoes during its angular movement a rotary movement, also through 90°, as a result of which, at the moment of releasing the fruit, the said second clamp, instead of having its jaws aligned vertically, has them situated in a horizontal alignment which enables the first clamp of the central movable turret, in its turn, to have its jaws vertically aligned in order to receive the fruit, without the jaws of the second clamp forming an obstacle for this purpose. The central movable turret, which possesses as many first clamps as there are operating positions provided around it, that is to say having six first clamps, after receiving the fruit at one of said first clamps moves it to the subsequent operating position, where there is provided a peeling mechanism which is virtually identical to that disclosed in the more simplified solution for the machine, mention of which was made at the beginning of the present section. This peeling mechanism is capable of incorporating a chromatic sensor which acts as a control means in order to cause the interruption of the peeling operation at the moment that said sensor detects the colour of the pulp of the fruit. In the subsequent angular motion of the central movable turret, the fruit passes to the subsequent operating position where these residual polar discs are eliminated, specifically by the interaction of two large, parallel, circular knives which normally occupy, at rest, a lateral position relative to the zone of location of the fruit at this operating position, being actuated by two cylinders which cause the said knives to pivot laterally towards the fruit, while fixed sectors terminating in toothed curved edges, during this lateral movement, cause the rotation of pinions associated with the shafts of the knives and, consequently, cause the latter to rotate at a sufficiently high speed to ensure optimum cutting conditions. At this time, the same cams which had determined the closure of the jaws of the first clamp in the feed position determine the opening thereof to allow the release and dropping of the peeled fruit, while these residual polar discs are likewise eliminated through suitable ducts, to which they are moved by means of pushers, by blower nozzles or by any other means, leaving the jaws of the first clamp of the central movable turret able to pass, by a further angular movement of said turret, to the second feed position from which the same operating cycle is repeated. Furthermore, and as is obvious, the machine will incorporate a camshaft for actuating the non-mechanical devices for synchronising the various operating elements thereof. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to supplement the description which is being given, and with a view to assisting better comprehension of the features of the invention, the present descriptive specification is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by a set of drawings wherein the following have been shown, by way of illustration and not limitation: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic representation in lateral elevation of a fruit-peeling machine produced in accordance with the subject of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a plan view of the same machine. Figure 3 shows a view, in lateral elevation and diametral cross-section, of one of the peeling knives which form part of the machine shown in the preceding figures. Figure 4 shows an axial or plan view of the same knife. Figure 5 shows an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the same knife, along the line of section A-B in Figure 3. Figure 6 shows a general plan view of a fruit-peeling machine produced in accordance with an alternative embodiment intended to achieve higher productivity. Figure 7 shows a general elevation of the same machine. Figure 8 shows an enlarged detail, in lateral elevation, of one of the feed positions. Figure 9 shows a plan view of the detail of Figure 5. Figure 10 shows an enlarged detail, in lateral elevation, of one of the various first clamps provided on the central movable turret and corresponding to one of the six operating positions thereof. Figure 11 shows an enlarged detail, in plan view, of the peeling mechanism for the basic peeling of the fruit. Figure 12 shows a view, in lateral elevation, of the unit shown in the preceding figure. Figure 13 shows a detail, again in elevation, corresponding to the mechanisms for synchronising the first clamps. Figure 14 shows an enlarged detail, in lateral elevation, of the mechanism for cutting the residual polar discs of the fruit. Figure 15 shows a plan view of the mechanism of the preceding figure. Figure 16 shows a detail of the transmission mechanisms which provide the central movable turret with its intermittent movement. Figure 17 shows, finally, a view, in lateral elevation and in cross-section, of one of the feeders of the machine. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION On examination of these figures, and more specifically of Figures 1 and 2, it may be noted that the fruit-peeling machine which is envisaged incorporates a base platform (1), having its corresponding support feet or legs (2), on which platform are provided, in a non-detachable manner, a pair of fixed supports (3) for the peeling mechanism, and a support (4) for a general product intake arm (5), pivotably mounted on a shaft (6) which passes through said support (4), as may be seen in Figure 1, the general arm (5) possessing a forked configuration, having a lateral aperture, and incorporating at the ends of its free branches two caps (7) in the interior of which engage respective shafts (8) which correspond to the support shoes or jaws (9) of a first clamp for the product, which jaws (9) are coaxially opposed, vertically arranged and capable of rotating and transmitting this motion to the fruit (10) to which end respective pulleys (11) are fixedly attached to their shafts (8) and, by means of toothed belts (12), receive the motion from other pulleys (13) keyed on the actual shaft (6) of the general arm (5), which shaft ends at its lower extremity in a pinion (14) and, by means of the appropriate transmission (15), receives the motion from a motor (16) provided underneath the base platform (1). In view of the fact that the shoes or jaws (9) of the first clamp must move towards each other to fix the product (10), provision has been made for said jaws (9) be coupled to their respective shafts (8) with the assistance of square-section rods (17) which permit such movement without loss of the transmission in the angular direction, the jaws (9) as such in turn being associated with a pair of arms (18), ending in bushings (19) which move telescopically on the said shaft (6) and to which are connected respective synchronising tension members (20), actuated by a cylinder (21), although the said jaws (9) could equally well be actuated manually, by a mechanical system of the scissor type or the like, in a simpler embodiment of the machine, without this affecting the essence of the invention. The jaws (9) of the first clamp act on the fruit (10) in a zone A of the machine other than the zone B in which the peeling takes place, in accordance with what is shown in broken and unbroken lines in Figure 2, in order that the general arm (5) can pivot laterally on its shaft (6), either manually, in the simple embodiment of the machine, or automatically with the interaction of a cylinder (22) and the corresponding connection rod (23). In any case, there is provided in the cutting zone B a latch (24) in the manner of a clamp which opens under frontal pressure from a collar (25) provided on the lower jaw and against the tension of a spring (26), as may be clearly seen in Figure 2. In this peeling zone B, on both sides of the fruit and on the abovementioned fixed supports (3), there are provided two basically identical peeling assemblies, each of which comprises a pivoting support comprising pivoting arms (29) and each of which also comprises a set of knives (27) to which are assigned corresponding sensors (28) and mounted on said pivoting arms (29) through which passes the shaft (30) on which the knives rotate, the pivoting arms (29) specifically being pivotably mounted on the fixed supports (3) by means of the shafts (31) and being actuatable either manually, in a simple embodiment of the machine, or by means of respective cylinders (32) mounted on corresponding supports (33), in the automated version, and in either case between two limit positions, the position of inactivity of the knives shown in the upper part of Figure 2 and the operating position shown in the lower part of the same figure. In either case, a spring (34) interacts with each pivoting arm (29) and, independently of the effect of the cylinder (32), tends to press the knives against the fruit (10) with a view to adapting perfectly to the anatomy of the latter. In each case, again, the various shafts (30) of a single set of knives (27) terminate, at their end opposite to said knives, in pinions (35) which simultaneously receive the motion from a motor (36) which is common to all the knives of a single set, there consequently being two motors (36), one for each set of knives, and these motors being mounted on the actual pivoting support of the knives, in a manner such that they accompany the latter in their lateral pivotings. In accordance with this structure, the operation of the machine is as follows: With the jaws (9) of the first clamp in the open position, which can be achieved either manually or automatically, a fruit (10) reaches the said jaws (9), again manually or automatically, all this occurring at position A of the base platform (1). Subsequently the jaws (9), within the context of the general arm (5) pivot into position B while the motor (16) causes the rotation thereof and the consequent rotation of the fruit, this movable assembly remaining rigorously fixed by the latch (24). In this position, and again either manually or automatically, the pivoting support comprising the pivoting arms of the two sets of knives cause the latter to approach the fruit, surrounding it virtually completely, as may be seen in particular in Figure 1, the sensors (28) resting on the peel of the fruit while the set of knives (27) perform the cutting or peeling thereof, as a result of their own rotation generated by the motors (36) and affecting the entire surface of the fruit, not only because of the actual profusion of knives but as a result of the rotary movement of said fruit. The peeling phase having been completed, the sets of knives move away from the fruit (10), and the latter is again moved in translation from zone B to the initial zone A, where the fruit, now peeled, is replaced by a new fruit to be peeled. Returning again to the knives (27), as may be seen in Figures 3 to 5, each of the knives is formed from a body which has the shape of a type of cup having its curved concave interior (50) in the form of a paraboloid, the base whereof extends on the outside in an axial collar (51) provided with some suitable means of coupling to the corresponding support, and an edge (52) being defined at the aperture of this "cup" or body which forms the cutting edge of the knife, but with the special feature that said edge (52) is equipped with a plurality of internal offsets or facets (53), of half-moon shape, distributed in an equiangular manner along the entire cutting edge, and being mutually adjacent, as may be seen especially in Figure 3, these offsets or facets being obtained by means of the intersection with the body of the knife of a plurality of imaginary cylinders whose equally imaginary axis E, as has been shown diagrammatically in Figure 5, intersects the imaginary axis E' of the knife, forming therewith an angle alpha of substantial amplitude. In this manner, a toothed cutting edge is obtained, defined by a broken or toothed rim whose cutting efficiency enables the operating output of the peeling machine to be substantially enhanced. In accordance with the version of embodiment shown in Figures 6 to 17, the fruit-peeling machine is constructed on the basis of a bed (101), terminating at the top in a base platform (102) from which there emerges centrally a central fixed turret (103) within which is provided a central movable turret (104) to which are solidly fixed a pair of rotary plates (105) on which are mounted the jaws (106) forming the first clamps which retain the fruit (107) during the various operating phases that take place at the periphery of this central movable turret where, as has previously been said, there are specifically provided six operating positions divided into two identical groups. More specifically, in each of these two operating groups there is a feed position which, in the plan view of figure 6, has the reference A and which in turn comprises an auxiliary turret (108) mounted marginally on the base platform (102) , this turret being hollow and having an internal shaft (109) for the rotation of an upper plate (110) with which are associated, at the periphery thereof, four pans (111) capable of receiving the fruits (107) in sequence from a feed hopper which is shown in detail in Figure 17 and in which, on a frame (112), a ramp (113) is provided on which the fruits (107) "roll", entrained by a plurality of cleats (114) mounted on lateral chains (115) which are in turn mounted on sprockets (116) provided in accordance with the vertices of an imaginary right-angled triangle whose hypotenuse is parallel to the ramp (113) by which the product ascends and which is interrupted at its upper end by an edge (117) which is suitably situated relative to the nearest pan (111) in order that the product can fall into the interior of the latter, a lateral stop (118) assigned to each plan (111) helping to retain the fruit as it falls. The shaft (109) mounted in the auxiliary turret (108) imparts to the upper plate (110), and consequently to the pans (111), a rotary and intermittent motion to move them in translation to the zone of actuation of a second clamp (119) for collecting the fruit, the auxiliary turret (108) possessing in this zone a rocker arm (120) and a knuckle (121) which acts on the stop (122) of the shaft (123) by means of which each pan (111) is mounted on the upper plate (110), which shaft (123) tends to be thrust downwards by a corresponding spring (124), against which the knuckle (121) forces the lifting of the pan (111), always taking place in order that said pan is automatically moved in the vertical direction in order to facilitate the lateral pivoting of the second clamp (119), specifically its outward movement via the recess (125) which is possessed by each pan (111) and which is clearly visible in Figure 9. The jaws of the second clamp (119) are mounted on corresponding supports (126) which are movable on respective coaxially mounted stems (127) against respective springs (128) specifically with the assistance of a cam (129) which acts on knuckles (130) fixed to said supports (126), that is to say that while the springs (128) tend to close the second clamp (119), the cam (129) permits the opening of said second clamp. More specifically, each clamp (119) is in turn mounted on a fixed turret (131) within which is provided a movable turret (132) having a radial top projection forming a shank (133) on which is mounted a support disc (134) for the second clamp structure , and by means of which said movable turret imparts to the second clamp the lateral pivoting motion necessary for the latter to move the fruit (107) to the jaws (106) of the central movable turret of the machine, a shaft (135) also being provided within the movable turret (132) and, by means of conical pinions (136) transmitting the motion to the shaft (137) for actuating the cam (129), in order to open and close the second clamp (119). Moreover, solidly fixed to the upper end of the fixed turret (131) is a fixed ring gear (138) with which engages a movable ring gear (139) associated with the shank (133) in which the shaft (137) of the cam (129) moves, in a manner such that when said shank pivots laterally under the action of the rotation of the movable turret (132), said shank is forced to perform a rotary movement about its own axis, in a manner such that the second clamp (119) which receives the fruit (107) from the pan (111) with its jaws vertically aligned, reaches the zone in which the fruit is deposited on the jaws (106) belonging to the central movable turret with said jaws in horizontal alignment. Returning once again to the jaws (106) forming a first clamp at each operating position surrounding the central movable turret (104), and more specifically of the plates (105) associated therewith, these jaws (106), provided with stellate leading edges or stellate projections forming cutting stars (140) to enhance their gripping effect on the fruit (107), which on the other hand receive the motion, as will be seen below, via shafts (141), are mounted on support arms (142) which are vertically movable on a pair of shafts (143), specifically with the assistance of blocks (144) which, with an approximately Z-shaped configuration and with forked sectors at their ends, slice on the two shafts (143) as can be seen especially in Figure 10, and which furthermore possess knuckles (145) on which act respective cams (146), actuated by a shaft (147) which passes through the central fixed turret (103), which cams obviously tend to open the jaws (106), while a pair of springs (147') tend to close the said jaws (106), these springs being mounted on said sliding shafts (143) and acting on the blocks (144), as may also be seen in the abovementioned Figure 13, with the further feature that parallel and opposite racks (148) are defined in these blocks (144) and are associated by means of a synchronising pinion (149) mounted to be free to rotate on a support (150) provided at the periphery of a disc (151) provided between the two cams (146), on which there is naturally mounted one synchronising pinion (149) for each of the six operating positions provided in the machine. During the peeling process, as is obvious, the fruit (107) is to be subjected to a rotary movement, to which end the abovementioned shafts (141) terminate, at their ends opposite the jaws (106), in pulleys (152) which, by means of belts (153), receive the motion in a synchronised manner from other pulleys (154), one of these being provided with a clutch ring (155) in order to interrupt the rotary movement of the fruit when it is unnecessary, as will be seen below. Immediately downstream of each feed position A is provided an operating peeling position B, which is shown in detail in Figures 11 and 12, and which takes the form of two sets of knives (156) to which are assigned corresponding sensors (157), preferably one set of six knives and another having five, as may be seen in Figure 12, the knives of one set expediently being out of phase with those of the other in order that the knives of the first set operate in the interstices defined by the knives of the second. Each knife (156), with its corresponding sensor (157), is mounted on a pivoting support (158) and tends to approach the fruit under the action of a spring (159) which determines the peeling pressure, said knives (156) having the form of a cylindrical cup whose cutting edge is provided in alignment with the mouth thereof, and each of said knives being subjected to a rotary movement by means of a shaft (160) which passes through the pivoting support (158) and which, by means of a cardan-type joint (161), which may take the form of a spring or another similar element, permits the pivoting movements of the shaft (160) from its distal end (160') opposite the knife (156), where a pulley (162) receives the motion, by means of the transmission belt (163), from a motor (164) which transmits the motion to all the knives of the corresponding set with the assistance of pinions (165) which associate the shafts of said knives. In these Figures 11 and 12 may also be seen the means which impart the rotary movement of the fruit (107), consisting of a clutch disc (166) which acts on the clutch ring (155) actuated by a clutch plate (167) with which is associated a spring (168), the engagement of which is produced by means of a rocker arm (169) actuated by a clutch cylinder (170), the disc (166) being associated with a shaft (171) which, by means of the pulley (172) and the belt (173) receives the motion from another transmission pulley (174), as will be seen below in the discussion of the motive transmission mechanisms of the various operating elements of the machine. Downstream of each operating peeling position B is provided an operating position C for cutting the residual polar discs of the fruit, this cutting position being shown in Figures 14 and 15. The mechanism corresponding to this operating position C comprises a pair of discoidal knives (175) intended to eliminate these polar caps or discs, which are referenced (176) in Figure 14, which knives (175) are solidly fixed to shafts (177) mounted to be free to rotate on the end of further pivoting arms (178) actuated by means of connecting rods (179) by respective cutting cylinders (180), in a manner such that these connecting rods cause the arms (178) to pivot laterally in order that the knives (175) can approach the zone of location of the fruit (107) and cause the cutting of the caps (176). Moreover, adjacent to each arm (178), the mechanism incorporates a fixed sector (181) having a toothed curved edge (182), whose radius of curvature coincides with that corresponding to the trajectory of the shaft (177) and which engages with a pinion (183) associated with said shaft, in a manner such that the pivoting motion of each arm (178) causes a planetary movement of each pinion (183) on the sector (181), with the consequent rotation of said pinion (183) which is transmitted to the corresponding knife (175), which rotates at high speed while it approaches the working zone. This mechanism also comprises an expulsion pan (184) which, once the cutting of the radial caps (176) has been completed, is actuated by an expelling cylinder (185) via another connecting rod (186), causing the elimination of the totally peeled fruit, while the abovementioned residual caps are released by the cutting stars (140) which hold them fixed by virtue of the fact that two cups (187) are assigned to the jaws (106) in each part thereof, acting as expellers and assisted by respective springs (188), which are specifically visible in Figure 10. Figure 16 also shows the motive transmission elements provided within the bed (101), specifically the Maltese cross (189), likewise visible in Figure 7, which receives the motion of the geared motor (190) via the shaft (191), and more specifically via the cam (192), on which shaft are keyed the eccentrics (193) for actuating, via connecting rods, the peeling assemblies in their movement towards the fruit, of the auxiliary turret (108) from each hopper to the corresponding operating feed position, etc., the shaft (191) further incorporating a pulley (194) for transmitting motion, via a belt (195) and another pulley (196), to a shaft (197) in which, in turn, are provided the cams for the machine synchronisation means, that is to say, for all those non-mechanical elements thereof, that is to say for the purposes of actuating the solenoids which govern the various hydraulic cylinders mentioned above, together with the electric motors for actuating the knives.

Claims: Fruit-peeling machine, in particular for oranges, lemons or other fruits having a rounded configuration and tending towards the spherical, incorporating, on a base platform (1, 102), a general arm (5, 105) of forked configuration having a laterally oriented concavity, between the ends of whose branches are provided jaws (9, 106) forming a fruit retaining first clamp actuatable manually or automatically in a manner such that the centre of the fruit (10, 107) is in all cases retained at the same level on a line through both said ends of the branches, irrespective of the size of the fruit, and means for transmitting rotary motion to said jaws and consequently to said fruit, characterised in said general arm (5, 105) having been designed to pivot about a vertical axis and the fruit (10, 107) consequently being movable from a zone of collection (A) thereof to a peeling zone (B), angularly offset relative to said first zone of collection, in line ,with which peeling zone, there is provided a latching means (24, 192) for temporarily preventing movement of the general arm, and on each of both sides of the fruit in said peeling zone being provided one of two basically identical peeling assemblies, each of which comprising a set of knives (27, 156), a pivoting support (158) and a motor (36, 164), each set of knives having an approximately semi-circumferential distribution, all the knives of one set being mounted on a corresponding pivoting support, each pivoting support being actuatable manually or automatically in the direction of movement towards/away from the fruit, there consequently being provided two motors, one for each set of knives, each motor being mounted on the pivoting support of a corresponding set of knives, and each motor being arranged for rotating all the knives of said corresponding set. Fruit-peeling machine according to claim 1, characterised in that the shaft (6) forming said vertical axis for the forked general arm (5) simultaneously constitutes the means for transmitting rotary motion to the jaws (9), and consequently to the fruit (10), provided by a motor (16) situated underneath the base platform (1) which transmits the motion to a pinion (14) provided at the lower end of said shaft (6), which in its turn incorporates at its ends two pulleys (13) which, via toothed belts (12), are associated with other pulleys (11) provided on the shafts (8) of the jaws (9) of the first clamp. Fruit-peeling machine according to the preceding claims, characterised in that the shafts (8) of the jaws (9) of the first clamp are mounted to be free to rotate on corresponding bushings which are expediently solidly fixed to the ends of the general arm (5), said shafts being hollow and having a polygonal orifice in which are provided respective square-section rods (17) to which the jaws (9) of the first clamp are solidly fixed, with a view to allowing the spacing between them to be varied without loss of the angular transmission, said jaws furthermore being solidly fixed to respective arms (18) which are slidingly mounted on the shaft (6) of the general arm (5), by means of respective bushings (19) on which act the means for opening and closing the jaws (9) of the first clamp, which comprise a cylinder (21) acting upon a pair of tension members, but which may optionally take the form of a scissor-type mechanism or the like, which is manually actuated. Fruit-peeling machine according to the preceding claims, characterised in that, for the lateral pivoting of the first clamp from the product collection zone to the product peeling zone, it possesses a cylinder (22) and a connecting rod (23) which associate the pivotable general arm (5) with the fixed frame of the machine, it being optionally possible for such cylinder to be substituted by a simple handle for manual actuation. Fruit-peeling machine according to the preceding claims, characterised in that each pivoting support comprises pivoting arms (29) and in that each knive (27) is mounted on a corresponding pivoting arm (29) to which a corresponding sensor (28) is directly fixed, while a shaft (30) of the knife passes through said pivoting arm (29) and ends in a pinion (35), all the pinions of the various knives of a single set engaging with the output pinion of the corresponding rotary motor (36), and each single pivoting support comprising all the pivoting arms (29) of a single corresponding group of knives, said pivoting arms (29) expediently being mutually solidly fixed and being pivoting, either manually or with the interaction of a cylinder (32). Fruit-peeling machine according to claim 1 characterised in that, on a suitable bed (101), terminating at the top in said base platform (102), it incorporates a central movable turret (104) having a pair of rotary plates (105) around which are provided six operating positions which form two identical groups, in each of which there is a feed operating position (A), a peeling operating position (B) and an operating position (C) for cutting the residual polar caps from the previous peeling phase, the rotary plates (105) incorporating a plurality of said first clamps for restraining the fruit (107), which first clamps coincide numerically with the abovementioned operating positions, and said plates being subjected to an intermittent motion generated by a geared motor (190) and via a cam (192) acting on a Maltese cross (189) associated with the shaft (147) of the plates, in a manner such that the latter rotate with intermittent stops at the abovementioned operating positions. Fruit-peeling machine according to claim 6, characterised in that, at each feed operating position, an auxiliary turret (108) is provided which terminates at the top in a upper plate (110) supporting various pans (111), preferably four in number, which individually receive the fruit (107) from a feed hopper in which the fruits are entrained in an upward direction on a ramp (113) by a plurality of cleats which are oversize with respect to the fruits and open at the bottom, antrained by lateral chains (115), from which cleats (114) each fruit falls onto a pan at the moment when it reaches the upper edge (117) of the ascending ramp, a shaft (109) being provided within each auxiliary turret (108) which imparts to the upper plate (110) an intermittent rotary motion for the planetary movement of the pans to the zone opposite the feed hopper, where a product receiving second clamp (119) is provided. Fruit-peeling machine according to claim 7, characterised in that the said product receiving second clamp (119) is mounted on a second, fixed turret (131) in whose hollow interior is accommodated a movable turret (132) having its upper end elbowed radially forming a radial top projection forming a radial shank (133) to terminate at its free end in the second clamp (119) as such, in a manner such that, via this radial shank (133), the second clamp undergoes lateral pivoting or rotary movements to move it towards the central movable turret (104) of the machine, the jaws of the clamp (119) are mounted on corresponding supports (126) being mounted to slide on respective coaxially mounted stems (127) against respective springs (128) which tend to close said second clamp against diametrically opposite points of the fruit, while in order to open said second clamp the mechanism incorporates a cam (129) which moves within said shank and which, via a set of conical pinions (136) receives the motion from a shaft (135) which passes vertically through the movable turret (132), provision having furthermore been made for the supports (126) as such of the second clamp to be associated with a support disc (134) to which, in turn, is solidly fixed a movable ring gear (139) which engages with a second toothed, fixed ring gear (138) solidly fixed to the upper end of the fixed turret (131), in a manner such that the angular pivoting of the shank for the planetary movement of the second clamp (119) causes a rotary motion of the supports (126), with the result that the two jaws of the second clamp (119), vertically aligned at the time of receiving the fruit, move to be horizontally aligned at the moment when said fruit is released to a corresponding first clamp provided on the rotary plates (105) of the central movable turret (104) of the machine. Fruit-peeling machine according to claims 6, 7 and 8, characterised in that each first clamp formed by two jaws (106) at each operating position surrounding the central movable turret (104) of the machine is mounted on two parallel and horizontal support arms (142) which, in turn, are solidly fixed to two blocks (144) which slide on two vertical shafts (143), each of said blocks being associated with both shafts and said blocks tending to move together under the action of springs (147') mounted on said shafts, which blocks further incorporate knuckles (145) for bearing on two cams (146) associated with a shaft (147) which passes axially through the central fixed turret (103) of the machine, in a manner such that these cams constitute the control elements for opening and closing the first clamp. Fruit-peeling machine according to claim 9, characterised in that a disc (151) is provided between the two cams (146) associated with the shaft (147) passing through the central fixed turret (103), on which disc is mounted, in alignment with each operating position of the machine, a support on which is mounted, with freedom of rotation, a synchronisation pinion (149) which simultaneously engages with two racks (148) machined in the blocks (144) of the two support arms (142) of the jaws (106) of each first clamp, in a manner such that the relative movement of the two support arms is thus inter-related and synchronised. Fruit-peeling machine according to claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the two jaws (106) of each first clamp receive two corresponding shafts (141) which pass through the free end of the support arms (142), said shafts ending in two pulleys (152) by means of which the fruit acquires a rotary movement, said pulleys being associated by means of belts (153) with two other pulleys (154) mounted on a common shaft, of which the lower pulley receives, solidly fixed thereto, a clutch ring (155) with which a clutch disc (166) and a clutch plate (167) interact, the latter being actuated by a clutch cylinder (170) via a rocker arm (169), in a manner such that the fruit acquires said rotary motion from the general geared motor of the machine when the cylinder is actuated accordingly, via the corresponding solenoid and from a cam shaft which acts on the synchronisation means. Fruit-peeling machine according to claims 6 to 11, characterised in that two sets of knives (156) are provided at each peeling operating position, with which are associated corresponding sensors (157), mounted on said respective pivoting supports (158) and provided with shafts (160) for rotation by means of a cardan type joint (161) which permits lateral pivotings of the knife against the tension of a spring (159) which determines the peeling pressure, the shaft of one of the knives of each group terminating in a pulley (162), via which it receives the rotary motion from an electric motor (164), and said shaft possesing a pinion (165) for transmitting motion to the remaining knives in the group. Fruit-peeling machine according to claims 6 to 12, characterised in that, at each operating position for cutting the residual polar caps (176), two parallel horizontal discoidal knives (175) are provided, associated with two further pivoting arms (178), actuatable via connecting rods (179) by corresponding cutting cylinders (180), which arms are mounted to be capable of axial movement on fixed pivoting shafts and parallel and adjacent to which are provided fixed sectors (181) terminating in toothed curved edges (182), whose radius of curvature coincides with that of the movement of the shafts (177) of the knives, to which shafts (177) pinions (183) are in turn solidly fixed which engage with said toothed curved edges (182) and via which the cutting knives (175) are subjected to a rapid rotary movement accompanied by the planetary movement thereof, it having furthermore been provided that, at the half-way level between the two cutting cylinders (180), an expelling cylinder (185) is provided which, again via a connecting rod (186), acts on the fruit, laterally, with the assistance of an expulsion pan (184) associated with the free end of said connecting rod (186), after the cutting phase has been completed and during the operation of opening the first clamp, provision having also been made for said first clamp to incorporate, one in each of its two jaws (106), two cups (187) which are retractable counter to the tension of respective springs (188) which, when the first clamp is open, expel the residual caps fixed to said jaws (106) by virtue of the existence thereon of stellate projections forming cutting stars (140) which penetrate into the fruit in order to improve the gripping thereof in its rotary movement during the cutting phase. Fruit-peeling machine according to claims 6 to 13, characterised in that, within the bed (101), there is provided the geared motor (190) for the mechanical actuation of the various elements thereof, on the shaft (191) of which are provided the actuating eccentrics (193) for the connecting rods which act on the feed positions, and on the cam (192) which acts upon the Maltese cross (189) which imparts the intermittent motion to the central movable turret (104), said shaft (191) incorporating a pulley (194) via which the motion is transmitted, with the assistance of a belt (195) and of another pulley (196), in a synchronised manner, to a cam shaft (197) for the non-mechanical synchronisation devices for the solenoids which control the hydraulic cylinders of the machine. Fruit-peeling machine according to all preceding claims, characterised in that each peeling knife, which forms a type of "cup", is provided at its edge (52) with a plurality of internal offsets or facets (53), in half-moon configuration, distributed in an equiangular manner along said edge and very close together, obtained by cutting on the edge of the "cup" a plurality of imaginary cylinders whose axes (E) pass through the axis (E') of the knife and form therewith angles of substantial amplitude, all this in a manner such that a broken or toothed rim is provided at the cutting edge of the knife, having curved, concave facets extending towards the inner face of the edge.

Inventors: DEL SER GONZALEZ, CLEMENTE
Applicants: DEL SER GONZALEZ, CLEMENTE
Application year: 1991
Main classification: A23N7
IPC codes: A23N7, B26D3, A23N4