Abstract:
A brush assembly using a spacer and the spacer permit multiple brushes to be combined on a driveshaft that is driven in rotation. The use of multiple brushes allows one to vary the characteristics of the brush assembly along the assembly&#39;s length. This also permits one to change fewer than all brushes when needed, thereby saving the cost of replacing an entire brush assembly&#39;s brushes when worn. The spacer is a body with a central opening that is preferably polygonal in section, opposing ends that form shoulders and a radially extending gasket located intermediate the opposing ends.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to machines used to mechanically peel, clean and otherwise mechanically treat the outer surfaces of food items, including at least potatoes, carrots, beets, radishes and onions. 
     It is known in the food processing industry that food items must be cleaned prior to sale or further processing. In order to accomplish the cleaning of food items in an efficient manner, machines are commonly used. Some machines use water sprayed at high velocity to dislodge soil, microbes and other matter from the exterior of the food item. Other machines use brushes and water while still other machines use other rapidly rotating surfaces to clean food items, and can alternatively remove the skin or outer layer of the food items. 
     In one known example of such a machine, an Abrasive Peeling Apparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,745,914 to Wallace, which is incorporated herein by reference. The Wallace patent describes a machine that uses a plurality of rotatable elongated rollers with an abrasive outer surface adapted to move the material to be peeled along the length of the rollers. The material to be peeled is fed into an inlet opening in one end of the apparatus and the abrasive rollers carry the product and urge it toward the opposite outlet end while peeling the product. Driving means, such as electric motors, rotate each of the rollers, preferably in the same direction. 
     Several versions of peeling and cleaning machines are also sold by Vanmark Equipment, LLC of Creston, Iowa, including the Peeler/Scrubber/Washer series 2400, 2600, 2800 and 2900 machines. Such machines use abrasive rollers, which can include a plurality of cylindrically shaped brushes that are rotatably driven by a motor. Such brushes can clean and/or peel the food products being conveyed past the rotating brushes, such as by gravity, auger or other conveyance device. Whether the food product is cleaned or peeled is determined by the rotating speed, stiffness, bristle diameter and material and other parameters of the machine that are known to those of skill in the technology. 
     An example of the brush assembly  10  used in the machines described above is shown in  FIG. 1  and is formed with a cylindrical central tube  12  from which radial bristles  14  extend to form a circular cylindrical circumference that strikes food items as they pass through the machine. The tube&#39;s central passage  16  is at least partially square, thus permitting a square driveshaft  18  to extend therethrough, resulting in a driveshaft supporting, and imparting a rotary motion to, each brush assembly. A preferably square driven end  20  is inserted into a matingly shaped square cavity on a driven component, such as a pulley or gear (not shown), thereby imparting rotary motion to the brush  10 . 
     It is desirable to occasionally replace worn brushes in the machines described above, and this is typically accomplished by removing the brush and driveshaft as an assembly, threadingly removing a nut  24  from one end and slidingly and axially withdrawing the driveshaft  18  from the brush&#39;s central passage  16 . A new brush is placed on the driveshaft and the entire assembly is reinserted into the apparatus. 
     It is also desirable to prevent food particles from entering the central passage because cleaning the passage is difficult. It is known to insert annular, flexible end fittings or fixtures  30  in an annular gap between the driveshaft  18  and the inside of the brush&#39;s central core to support the brush  10  on the driveshaft and to reduce the amount of food particles that can enter the central passage of the brush. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A rotatable, elongated brush assembly is described herein having advantageous characteristics. A driveshaft extends through the assembly so that the assembly can be drivingly linked to a rotating drive member, such as a pulley, gear or motor. The brush assembly has a first elongated brush with a central tube through which the driveshaft extends. Bristles extend radially from the central tube, which has opposing first and second ends. A second elongated brush has a central tube through which the driveshaft extends, bristles extending radially therefrom and opposing first and second ends. The second brush is substantially coaxial to, and aligned in series on the driveshaft with, the first brush. In one embodiment, the second brush is different from the first brush so that if food items are placed in contact with the brush assembly the first brush will have a different effect on the food item than the second brush. 
     First, second, third and fourth end fittings are disposed near the respective ends of the central tubes between the driveshaft and the central tubes to form a support between the driveshaft and the central tubes. A spacer is mounted between, and seats against, the second and third end fittings and is mounted between adjacent ends of the brushes. The spacer has a body with radially outwardly facing shoulders at opposing body ends, which are preferably circular cylinders. A plurality of inwardly facing sidewalls angled relative to one another join at intersections to define a central passage of the spacer through which the driveshaft extends. A gasket extends radially outwardly from the body a substantial distance to permit the adjacent ends of the brushes to seat against opposing sides of the gasket and against the shoulders to form a sealed juncture. 
     The brush assembly has many advantages, such as the fact that the brushes can have different characteristics. In one example, a softer brush is used at one end and a coarser brush at the opposite end. Additionally, the spacer forms a seal between the brushes to reduce or prevent food particles from entering the central tubes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view in section illustrating a prior art driveshaft and brush assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a side view in section illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an exploded view in perspective illustrating the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a side view illustrating a preferred embodiment of the spacer shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is an end view illustrating the spacer of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a side view in section illustrating another embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     In describing the preferred embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific term so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose. For example, the word connected or terms similar thereto are often used. They are not limited to direct connection, but include connection through other elements where such connection is recognized as being equivalent by those skilled in the art. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The brush assembly  110  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3  resembles the brush assembly  10  shown in  FIG. 1  in some respects. The substantially square drive shaft  118  extends from one end to the other of the brush assembly  110 , extending through a pair of brushes  114   a  and  114   b , each having cylindrical central tubes  112   a  and  112   b  from which radial bristles extend to form circular cylindrical circumferences. The central tubes&#39; central passages  116   a  and  116   b  are large enough to permit the driveshaft  118  to extend therethrough. A preferably square driven end  120  is inserted into a matingly shaped square cavity on a driven component, such as a pulley or gear (not shown), thereby imparting rotary motion to the brush assembly  110  in a conventional manner. 
     The brush assembly  110  is assembled by disposing the driveshaft  118  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The annular end fitting  132  is slid onto the driveshaft  118 . The end fittings described herein are preferably an elastomeric material, such as urethane or other food-grade material, with a central passage that is substantially the same shape and size as the outer surface of the driveshaft  118 . The end fitting  132  is placed over the driveshaft  118  and slides to the end of the shaft until it abuts the radial shoulder  123 , which is rigidly mounted to the driveshaft  118 . In this position, a moderately effective seal is formed between the juncture of the abutting surfaces of the end fitting  132  and the driveshaft  118 . This seal improves greatly when the nut at the end of the driveshaft is tightened (as described below) and the end fittings are placed in a state of compression. 
     The driveshaft  118  is next extended through the central passage  116   a  of the brush  114   a . The central passage  116   a  is substantially larger in diameter than the driveshaft  118 , thereby forming a gap therebetween that is filled, at least at the ends of the brush  114   a , by the end fittings  130  and  230 . The end fitting  230  is substantially identical to the end fitting  132 , but is oriented in the opposite direction on the driveshaft  118  and positioned at the end of the brush  114   a  opposing the end fitting  132 . 
     A plurality of slots is formed in the inwardly facing ends of the end fittings  130  and  230 , which slots receive the lugs  132  and  232  (see  FIG. 2 ) rigidly mounted to, and circumferentially spaced on, the radially inwardly facing surface of the central tube  112   a . The lugs  132  and  232  insert into the slots in the end fittings  130  and  230 , and thereby restrict how close the end fittings can come to one another, while preventing substantial rotation of the end fittings relative to the brush  114   a . Because the end fittings  130  and  230  have square central openings, the rotary motion of the square driveshaft  118  is transferred to the brush  114   a.    
     After the end fitting  230  is mounted on the driveshaft  118  at the position shown in  FIG. 2 , the spacer  250  is mounted on the driveshaft  118 . As shown in more detail in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the spacer  250  is an annular body having square inner sidewalls  254  defining a central opening that is substantially the same shape and size as the driveshaft  118 . The spacer  250  is preferably an elastomeric material, such as urethane or other food-grade material, and therefore the driveshaft  118  inserts slidably into its central opening. The spacer  250  has the same radially expanding characteristics as the end fittings when placed in a state of compression as described briefly above and in more detail below. Thus, the spacer  250  initially forms a moderately good seal where it abuts the driveshaft, but it expands radially inwardly and outwardly when placed in compression, thereby seating the sidewalls  254  tightly against the outer surface of the driveshaft  118 , which creates a substantially water and food particle-proof seal at the juncture of the abutting surfaces. 
     The spacer  250  has a pair of opposing, radially outwardly facing shoulders  256  and  258  that are preferably circular cylindrical and substantially the same diameter as the inwardly facing surfaces of the central tubes  112   a  and  112   b . A gasket  252  extends radially outwardly from the juncture of the shoulders  256  and  258 , and is preferably substantially equidistant from the opposing ends of the spacer  250 . The spacer  250  can be any size, as will be understood by a person having ordinary skill from the description herein, to meet the requirements of the cooperating components. In one contemplated embodiment, the spacer  250  is about 1.78 inches long, the gasket  252  is about 0.25 inches thick and about 4.50 inches in diameter, the diameter of the shoulders  256  and  258  is about 3.36 inches and the central opening in the spacer  250  is about 2.02 inches square. 
     When the spacer  250  is mounted on the driveshaft  118 , it is displaced along the length of the driveshaft  118  until one end seats against the end fitting  230  as shown in  FIG. 2 . This can be accomplished by simply manually forcing the spacer  250  toward and into the central tube  112   a . When the shoulder  256  is extended into the central tube  112   a  a moderately good seal is formed at the juncture of the abutting surfaces. However, upon compression as described below, an excellent seal is formed. 
     Next, the end fitting  231 , which is substantially identical to the end fitting  130 , is placed on the driveshaft in the same orientation as the end fitting  130 . The end fitting  231  is abutted against the spacer  250  opposite the end fitting  230 . The brush  114   b  is then placed on the driveshaft  118  in a similar orientation as the brush  114   a , but with the leftmost end (in the illustration of  FIG. 2 ) over the end fitting  230  and the shoulder  258 . 
     In order to operably mount the brush  114   b  on the driveshaft  118 , the slots of the end fitting  230  must receive the lugs  233  that are mounted to the inwardly facing surface of the central tube  112   b . Furthermore, the leftmost end (in  FIG. 2 ) of the brush  114   b  must extend around the shoulder  258  of the spacer  250  in order for the shoulder  258  to fit within the central opening  116   b  of the central tube  112   b . This can be accomplished by manually forcing the central tube  112   b  toward the spacer  250 . Once this occurs, the end fitting  230  abuts the proximal end of the spacer  250 , and a moderately good seal is formed at the juncture of the abutting surfaces. 
     After the brush  114   b  is in position on the driveshaft  118 , the end fitting  131 , which is substantially the same as the end fitting  130 , is placed on the driveshaft  118 , and into the end of the brush  114   b . The slots on the end fitting  131  receive the lugs  133  mounted to the inwardly facing surface of the central tube  112   b , and a nut  124  (and possibly a washer) is mounted to the threaded end  125  of the driveshaft  118 . The nut  124  is tightened against the end fitting  131 , thereby tightly holding the brushes  114   a  and  114   b  on the driveshaft  118 . 
     When the nut  124  is tightened against the end fitting  131 , the compressive force is transmitted through the brush  114   b  to the end fitting  231 , spacer  250  and end fitting  230 . This compressive force is then transferred through the brush  114   a  to the end fitting  130 . Thus, the act of tightening the nut  124  serves to place at least all end fittings and the spacer  250  in a state of compression. When the compressive forces overcome the resistance to deformation of the end fittings and the spacer  250 , the end fittings and spacer are deformed. The deformation that takes place is a reduction in axial length and a corresponding increase in radial girth. The radial expansion causes the end fittings to form an excellent water and food-particle-proof seal at abutting surfaces of the end fittings and the brush central tubes. Furthermore, the radial expansion of the spacer  250  causes there to be formed a substantially water and food particle-proof seal at the juncture of the abutting surfaces of the spacer and the brush central tubes. 
     Before compression caused by tightening the nut  124 , there can be small or no gaps between the axially opposing surfaces of the gasket  252  and the ends of the brushes  114   a  and  114   b  that preferably seat against these opposing surfaces during compression. If there are small gaps, the gaps are closed upon compression of the spacer  250 , because the compressive force causes the brushes  114   a  and  114   b  to move toward one another in the axial direction. By closing the gap and/or further compressing the gasket  252  under the compressive force of the nut  124 , there is a substantially water and food particle-proof seal at the juncture of the abutting surfaces. 
     Because the spacer  250  is made of a flexible material, the gasket  252  extending radially from the shoulders  256  and  258  is compressed between the facing ends of the brushes  114   a  and  114   b . The gasket  252  fills any gap that exists between the brushes, thereby preventing, or at least restricting, particles and liquids from entering the central passages  116   a  and  116   b . The juncture of the shoulders  256  and  258  and the central tubes  112   a  and  112   b  are also sealed when the nut  124  compresses the assembly  110 , which also restricts entry of particles or liquids between the brushes and the driveshaft. If the brush  114   a  is slightly shorter than the brush  114   b , the spacer  250  automatically shifts along the driveshaft, from the exact center to slightly offset from center, when the nut  124  is tightened. 
     Compression by tightening the nut  124  has the effect of deforming the end fittings and spacer in the radial direction both inwardly toward the driveshaft and outwardly toward the brush tubes&#39; inner surfaces. The deformation creates a tight contact between the surfaces of the respective components, thereby forming a substantially water and food particle-proof seal at the juncture of the abutting surfaces. 
     Each shoulder adjacent a corresponding end fitting will preferably come into contact with the end fitting prior to the radially extending gasket  252  touching the end of the corresponding central tube. The gap formed from the gasket  252  to the ends of the central tubes is then eliminated when the entire assembly  110  is placed in a state of compression by the tightening of the nut  124 , because the combined axial length of the end fittings and the spacer is reduced due to the compression. This compression simultaneously causes the radial expansion of the end fittings and the spacer, thereby placing their surfaces in tight proximity to the driveshaft in the center and the central tubes of the brushes in the radially outward direction. As the axial dimension is reduced due to the already described compression the radial gasket  252  surface contacts the ends of the central tubes. 
     Because the dimension of the gasket is significantly less than the center portion of the spacer  250  and the contacted end fittings, the compression possible in the gasket  252  is very small in comparison to the spacer&#39;s central region and the end fittings. This small compression effectively limits the overall compressive travel of the end fittings and spacer to a fixed dimension that is desirable to reach the proper fit of the assembly parts and the proper radial expansion of the inner components, thus reaching an optimum fit and seal. Once the shoulder  256  is so compressed and extended into the central tube  112   a , a substantially water and food particle-proof seal is formed at the juncture of the abutting surfaces. 
     It is desirable to periodically replace worn brushes in the machines described above, and this is accomplished by removing the brush and driveshaft as an assembly, threadingly removing the brush or brushes to be replaced, and placing one or more new brushes on the driveshaft. Then the entire assembly is reinserted into the machine. 
     In addition to making replacement of brushes more economical, due to the need to replace only one half of the brush length of the assembly, the components described above permit one to vary the characteristics of the brush assembly based upon the location in the machine. For example, sometimes a coarse brush is required where the food items enter the machine, and a softer or less aggressive brush is required near the exit of the machine. Using the apparatus described above, two different kinds of brushes can be placed on a brush assembly with the desired characteristics only where necessary. One can use a coarse brush for the brush  114   a  in  FIG. 2 , and a softer brush for the brush  114   b  in  FIG. 2 , or vice versa. 
     Although the explanation above describes the two brushes  114   a  and  114   b  on the driveshaft  118 , it is contemplated that three, four, five, six or more brushes can be placed on a similar driveshaft. For example, the brush assembly  310  shown in  FIG. 6  has four brushes and three spacers. Furthermore, although the brushes  114   a  and  114   b  are of equal length, it is contemplated that the brushes can be of unequal length. A person having skill in the technology will understand that the invention can be adapted in various ways by placing a spacer, which would be substantially identical to the spacer  250 , between each adjacent pair of brushes and placing end fittings and other components where needed. 
     This detailed description in connection with the drawings is intended principally as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from the invention or scope of the following claims.