Abstract:
The present invention is an apparatus and a method for polishing or removal of an outer portion of generally spherical objects, such as onions, or for shaping of objects into generally spherical shapes. Means are provided to introduce the object of interest into a cylinder where a pressurized fluid is introduced via an orifice such that the stream of pressurized fluid contacts the object of interest thereby rotating or tumbling the object of interest. The rotating or tumbling object of interest contacts the surface of the inside of the cylinder which is abrasive to the outer portion of the generally spherical object thereby removing an outer portion of the spherical object. Means are provided to remove the object of interest from the cylinder following rotations sufficient to accomplish the desired removal of an outer portion of the spherical object. A pressurized fluid may be introduced via an orifice such that the stream of pressurized fluid or jet is oriented in opposition to the jet rotating the generally spherical object causing the object to slow in rotation for ease of removal of the object from the cylinder.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to the polishing, abrading and or removal of an outer layer or surface of a generally spherical object. The invention relates to the forming of generally cubically shaped objects into generally spherical objects. More particularly, this invention relates to the removal of the peel or skin from vegetables.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     Preparation of many vegetables requires removal of an outer portion of peel, skin, rind or other covering. The removal of peels, skins, rinds and generally the outer covering of particular vegetables frequently results in substantial loss of useful product. Polishing and forming generally spherical objects is generally accomplished by lathe related structures. Devices and apparatuses pertaining to removal of vegetable coverings are seen in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,868 to McKenna; U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,931 to Hsu; U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,754 to Rastelli; U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,104 to Heinzen et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,545,422 to Davies et al. Devices and apparatuses pertaining to polishing and shaping objects into generally spherical shapes are seen in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 4,091,572 to Denning and U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,902 to Serafin.  
         [0003]     The patents referred to herein are provided herewith in an Information Disclosure Statement in accordance with 37 CFR 1.97.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention is an apparatus and a method for rotating and polishing and or abrading objects which are generally spherical or which are to become generally spherical. A particular interest of this invention is the removal of an outer portion of generally cylindrical or spherical objects such as onions. Means are provided to introduce the object of interest into a cylinder where a pressurized fluid is introduced via an orifice such that the stream of pressurized fluid contacts the object of interest thereby rotating or tumbling the object of interest. The rotating or tumbling object of interest contacts the surface of the inside of the cylinder which is abrasive to the outer portion of the object of interest thereby removing an outer portion of the object of interest. Means are provided to remove the object of interest from the cylinder following rotations sufficient to accomplish the desired removal of an outer portion of the object of interest. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective drawing showing the apparatus ( 1 ) with cylinder ( 10 ) having an interior ( 20 ), interior surface ( 22 ), exterior surface ( 24 ), an elevation “L” ( 17 ) from the first open end ( 13 ) to the second open end ( 15 ) with two pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) affixed by connection affixing means ( 60 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) having elevation “L 1 ” ( 18 ) and or “L 2 ” ( 19 ) from the first open end ( 13 ) to an orifice means ( 50 ).  
         [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective section from  FIG. 1  showing the interior ( 20 ), interior surface ( 22 ), cutting means ( 25 ), orifice means ( 50 ) and pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ).  
         [0008]      FIG. 2A  is a plan section from  FIG. 1  showing the interior ( 20 ), interior surface ( 22 ), cutting means ( 25 ), orifice means ( 50 ), pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) and orifice means ( 50 ) illustrating the angle θ of the pressurized fluid jet relative to a plane ( 155 ).  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  is a top plan view of the apparatus ( 1 ) showing the cylinder ( 10 ) and at least one pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ).  
         [0010]      FIG. 3A  is a top plan view of the apparatus ( 1 ) showing the cylinder and at least one pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) with orifice means ( 50 ) directing a pressurized fluid or jet counter-clockwise and at least one pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) with orifice means ( 50 ) directing a pressurized fluid or jet clockwise.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3B  is a perspective view of the apparatus ( 1 ) of  FIG. 3A  with cylinder ( 10 ) having an interior ( 20 ), interior surface ( 22 ), exterior surface ( 24 ), an elevation “L” ( 17 ) and at least one pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) affixed by connection affixing means ( 60 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) and in pressurized fluid or jet communication with at least one orifice means ( 50 ), having elevation “L 1 ” ( 18 ), oriented to direct a pressurized fluid or jet either clock-wise or counter clock-wise; and at least one pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) affixed by connection affixing means ( 60 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) and in pressurized fluid or jet communication with at least one orifice means ( 50 ), having elevation “L 2 ” ( 19 ), oriented to direct a pressurized fluid or jet in opposition to the direction of the other at least one orifice means ( 50 ).  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective showing the apparatus ( 1 ) and vegetable placing means ( 80 ) and vegetable removal means ( 120 ).  
         [0013]      FIG. 5  is a top plan view illustrating the rotation of an object ( 180 ) placed in the cylinder ( 10 ) and subjected to the pressurized fluid or jet resulting in rotation of the object.  
         [0014]      FIG. 6  is a top plan section view from  FIG. 3  illustrating the at least one orifice ( 50 ) and the pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30  with orifice means ( 50 ) illustrating the angle Ω of the pressurized fluid relative to a pressurized fluid communication connection means axis ( 70 ) centrally positioned from the connection end ( 40 ) to the orifice means ( 50 ) and a projection at the interior ( 20 ) orthogonal to the orifice means ( 50 ) and parallel to the plane ( 155 ).  
         [0015]      FIG. 7  is a top plan section from  FIG. 5  illustrating the cylinder ( 10 ) having at least two orifice means ( 50 ) and at least two pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ). 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]      FIGS. 1, 2 ,  2 A,  3 ,  5 ,  6  and  6 A illustrate the apparatus ( 1 ) showing a cylinder ( 10 ) having a first open end ( 13 ) and a second open end ( 15 ), an interior ( 20 ), an interior surface ( 22 ), an exterior surface ( 24 ), and elevation “L”, at least one orifice means ( 50 ) having elevation “L 1 ” or “L 2 ” and pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) affixed by connection affixing means ( 60 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) to provide a pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior ( 20 ). The pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) having a connection end ( 40 ) and a pressurized fluid communication connection means axis ( 70 ) centrally positioned from the connection end ( 40 ) to the orifice means ( 50 ). The preferred embodiment has at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce a pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior ( 20 ) and one or a plurality of cutting means ( 25 ) at the interior ( 20 ).  
         [0017]     The cylinder ( 10 ), in the preferred embodiment, is steel pipe but may also be comprised of plastics, other metals and composite materials. The orifice means ( 50 ) is an orifice ( 50 ) or aperture from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ).  
         [0018]     A cylinder axis ( 150 ) and a cylinder plane ( 155 ) are presented in  FIGS. 1, 2 ,  2 A,  6  and  7  for the purpose of determining the angle θ of attack of the pressurized fluid introduced to the cylinder inside ( 20 ). The axis ( 150 ) is centrally positioned from the first open end ( 13 ) to the second open end ( 15 ) and a cylinder plane ( 155 ), seen in  FIGS. 2A and 7 , is positioned orthogonal to the cylinder axis ( 150 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ). The cylinder plane ( 155 ) intersects the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 22 ) and the second open end ( 25 ). The at least one orifice means ( 50 ), to introduce the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ), is positioned at the intersection of the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and the interior surface ( 22 ).  
         [0019]     The at least one orifice means ( 50 ) to introduce the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ) is oriented such that the stream is directed to the interior ( 20 ) either parallel to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and or at an angle to the cylinder plane ( 155 ), i.e., where parallel, as depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , to the cylinder plane ( 155 ) and relative to the interior surface ( 22 ) the orientation will be at an angle Ω in a range of between 0 degrees to the interior surface ( 22 ) and 90 degrees to the interior surface ( 22 ). The orientation of the pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ) at an angle relative to the cylinder plane ( 155 ), as depicted in  FIG. 2A , will be at an angle of θ in a range of between 0 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) and 90 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) toward the first open end ( 13 ) or in a range of between 0 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) and 90 degrees to the plane ( 155 ) toward the second open end ( 15 ).  
         [0020]     At least one vegetable placing means ( 80 ), to place a vegetable ( 180 ), as seen in  FIG. 5 , into the cylinder ( 10 ) at the first open end ( 13 ), is suggested by  FIG. 4  which may comprise a vegetable receiving tube ( 110 ) having an receiving tube open end ( 130 ) into which a vegetable ( 180 ) or other generally spherical object ( 180 ) is placed by placing means ( 80 ) including, but not limited to, a Singulator. The receiving tube ( 110 ) will generally be cylindrical. Mounting structure intermediate the at least one vegetable placing means ( 80 ) and the apparatus ( 1 ) is comprised of bracket means ( 90 ) which interrelates the at least one vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to the apparatus ( 1 ) at the cylinder first open end ( 13 ) by bracket interconnection means ( 60 ) comprised of welding, glues, epoxies, cements, clamps, bolts, screws and other equivalent bracket affixing means as will be appreciated by those in the bracket arts. The vegetable placing means ( 80 ) is placed in cylindrical communication with the first open end ( 13 ) wherein a gate means ( 100 ) may be operated to open and close thereby allowing the vegetable or other object contained therein to drop into the cylinder ( 10 ) at the first open end ( 13 ). Thereafter the gate means ( 100 ) may be operated to close and allow the vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to be prepared to receive and hold the next vegetable or spherical object ( 180 ) to be positioned to be introduced into the cylinder ( 10 ). Gate means ( 100 ) may be a plate which is withdrawn and repositioned, by gear, motor or other means, to allow the vegetable ( 180 ) to pass.  
         [0021]     The vegetable ( 180 ) or generally spherical object, an object to be made generally spherical or to polish or abrade the surface of an object ( 180 ), upon being subjected to the pressurized stream or jet and rotated in contact with the interior surface ( 22 ), is then removed from the cylinder ( 10 ), as seen in  FIG. 4 , by at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) in cylindrical communication with the cylinder ( 10 ) wherein a removal gate means ( 101 ) may be operated to remove the vegetable ( 180 ) and peel from the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 ). The at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) to remove a vegetable ( 180 ) from the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 ), is suggested by  FIG. 4  which may comprise a vegetable receiving tube ( 110 ) having an receiving cylinder open end ( 140 ), in cylinder communication with cylinder ( 10 ) into which a vegetable or other generally spherical object ( 180 ) is placed by placing means including, but not limited to, a gate means ( 101 ). Mounting structure intermediate the at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) and the apparatus ( 1 ) is comprised of bracket means ( 91 ) which interrelates the at least one vegetable removal means ( 81 ) to the apparatus ( 1 ) at the cylinder second open end ( 15 ) by bracket interconnection means ( 60 ) comprised of welding, glues, epoxies, cements, clamps, bolts, screws and other equivalent bracket affixing means as will be appreciated by those in the bracket arts. The vegetable removal means ( 81 ) is placed in cylindrical communication with the second open end ( 15 ) wherein a gate means ( 101 ) may be operated to open and close thereby allowing the vegetable or other spherical object ( 180 ) contained therein to drop out of the cylinder ( 10 ) at the second open end ( 15 ). Thereafter the gate means ( 101 ) may be operated to close and allow the vegetable placing means ( 80 ) to be prepared to introduce the next vegetable ( 180 ) or object to be positioned into the cylinder ( 10 ). Gate means ( 101 ) may be a plate which is withdrawn and repositioned, by gear, motor or other means, to allow the vegetable ( 180 ) to pass into the vegetable receiving tube ( 110 ) and then to conveyor or other means of transport or storage for further processing.  
         [0022]     The at least one orifice means ( 50 ) is at least one orifice ( 50 ) formed by an aperture from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ). Pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ), generally tubular and composed of a rigid material generally metal, plastics, composite materials and other rigid materials, is affixed by connection affixing means ( 60 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) at the orifice means ( 50 ) comprising an aperture to communicate pressurized fluid through the orifice means ( 50 ). Connection affixing means ( 60 ) includes welding, glues, epoxies, cements, clamps, bolts, screws and other such affixing means appreciated by those of ordinary skills in the affixing arts. The pressurized fluid communication connection means ( 30 ) is generally a tubular fitting which will receive a pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) at the at least one orifice ( 50 ) or is a direct connection to a pressurized fluid supply ( 30 ) at the exterior surface ( 24 ) at the at least one orifice ( 50 ); a tubular fitting which will receive a pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) at a connector end ( 40 ) which includes a disconnect, a spring pressure connection, a threaded means receiving a pressure nut; connection affixing means ( 60 ) includes welding, mold formation, machining.  
         [0023]      FIGS. 3 and 6  illustrate the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) comprised of a single orifice ( 50 ).  FIGS. 1, 5  and  7  illustrate the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) as comprised of more than one orifice means ( 50 ).  FIGS. 3A and 3B  illustrate that the at least one orifice means ( 50 ) and pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) as being oriented to introduce at the interior ( 20 ) counter-clockwise and clockwise pressurized fluid or jets. The at least one orifice means ( 50 ) may be comprised of at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ). Each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) are formed by an aperture ( 50 ) from the exterior surface ( 24 ) to the interior surface ( 22 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ). Each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) may be at different elevations within the cylinder ( 10 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ). In the preferred embodiment each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) will direct pressurized fluid to the interior ( 20 ) to assert the same clockwise or counterclockwise forces on the vegetable ( 180 ) subjected to the pressurized fluid or jet.  
         [0024]     In alternative embodiments one or more of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) directs a pressurized fluid or jet in a counter rotation direction, as seen in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , relative to other of the one or more of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) as depicted in  FIG. 7  wherein each of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) may be at different elevations within said cylinder ( 10 ) and may be in opposing directions of counter-clockwise and clockwise. A spherical object ( 180 ) may be rotated sufficiently for peeling contact with the interior surface ( 22 ) and then have rotation slowed or stopped by the one or more of the at least “n” orifice means ( 50 ) directing a pressurized fluid or jet in a counter rotation direction in preparation for removal of the spherical object ( 180 ) from the cylinder ( 10 ).  
         [0025]     As seen in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the apparatus ( 1 ) may have at least one orifice means ( 50 ) and pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) as oriented to introduce at the interior ( 20 ) counter-clockwise pressurized fluid or jets and at least one orifice means ( 50 ) and pressurized fluid connection ( 30 ) oriented to introduce at the interior ( 20 ) clockwise pressurized fluid or jets.  
         [0026]     The one or a plurality of cutting means ( 25 ) is at the interior surface ( 22 ). Cutting means ( 25 ) addresses the formation or texture of the interior surface ( 22 ) with which the vegetable ( 180 ) will contact as it is rotated by the pressurized fluid. Cutting means ( 25 ) is comprised, for example, by a smooth interior surface ( 22 ), a rough interior surface ( 22 ), a grit interior surface ( 22 ) or a pipe threaded interior surface ( 22 ). The interior surface ( 22 ) may polish or abrade the surface of the object ( 180 ). Those of ordinary skills in the cutting arts will appreciate other forms of interior surface ( 22 ) which will be equivalent to those herein described.  
         [0027]     Also disclosed and claimed here is a method of removing the surface from generally cylindrical or spherical objects ( 180 ) including peeling vegetables ( 180 ) using the apparatus ( 1 ) described herein. The method comprises placing a vegetable ( 180 ), by vegetable placing means ( 80 ), into the cylinder interior ( 20 ); introducing, by the at least one orifice means ( 50 ), a pressurized fluid stream at the interior ( 20 ); sizing the vegetable ( 180 ), sizing the cylinder interior ( 20 ) and orientating and directing and setting the pressure of the pressurized fluid stream introduced at the at least one orifice ( 50 ) causing the vegetable ( 180 ) to rotate and to contact the interior surface ( 20 ); removing the peeled vegetable ( 180 ) and the peel from the cylinder interior ( 20 ) by vegetable removing means ( 120 ).  
         [0028]     In the preferred embodiment of the method, the method will involve placing the vegetable into the cylinder interior ( 20 ) at the first open end ( 13 ) and removing the vegetable and the vegetable peel from the cylinder interior ( 20 ) at the second open end ( 15 ).  
         [0029]     An alternative embodiment of the invention is a cylinder ( 10 ) having a first open end ( 13 ) and second open end ( 15 ), the cylinder ( 10 ) having an interior ( 20 ), an interior surface ( 22 ) and an exterior surface ( 24 ). An axis ( 150 ) is centrally positioned from the first open end ( 13 ) to the second open end ( 15 ) and a plane ( 155 ) is orthogonal to the axis ( 150 ) intermediate the first open end ( 13 ) and the second open end ( 15 ). Orifice means ( 50 ) exists to introduce pressurized fluid stream or jet at the interior surface ( 22 ), at the intersection of the plane ( 155 ) and the interior surface ( 22 ), at an angle to the plane ( 155 ) in the range of 0° and 90° both toward the first open end ( 13 ) from the plane ( 155 ) and toward the second open end ( 15 ) from the plane ( 155 ) and parallel to the plane ( 155 ) at an angle of 0° to 90° to the interior surface ( 22 ). One or a plurality of cutting means ( 25 ) are employed at the interior surface ( 22 ).  
         [0030]     While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended claims are therefore intended to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.