Patent GB-1288266-A (GB)
IPC: A23N7/02
Filed: 1969-05-30
Abstract: 1288266 Vegetable peelers D C SMITH 25 Aug 1970 [30 May 1969] 27509/69 Heading A4C [Also in Divisions B8 and G1] Apparatus for scraping or peeling root vegetables comprises a hopper 6 for the vegetables, a scraping chamber 15 positioned to receive vegetables released from the hopper, said scraping chamber 15 having abrasive walls and incorporating a rotary spinner forming the chamber bottom, means for discharging vegetables from the scraping chamber, means for generating a signal subsequent to emptying of said scraping chamber, and means operable in response to said signal to effect delivery of vegetables from said hopper into the scraping chamber. In the shown embodiment the hopper 6 is provided with discharge doors 7, 7a which may be opened at predetermined intervals by actuation of an air cylinder 8. The operation of the air cylinder 8 is initiated by rotation of a shaft 12 carrying an arm 13 adapted to operate an air valve 14, the shaft 12 being rotated periodically under the control of a timer. The rotary spinner (16), Fig. 6 (not shown), comprises a central hub (45) surrounded by a member (46) which is circular in plan view, has a wave-like peripheral contour and which slopes upwardly at its outer edge. The spinner is driven by an electric motor 17 through a bevel gearbox 18. The motor may run continuously, or may be switched on or off manually or, alternatively under a timer control. The scraping chamber 15 is provided with a discharge door (21), Fig. 2 (not shown), controlled by an air cylinder 22 and through which the scraped vegetables are discharged over a drainage grid (22A) to a shoot (not shown). During scraping, jets of water are sprayed into the chamber 15 through pipes 23, the excess water and scrapings falling through a clearance around the edge of the spinner into a tank 24. The closing of the door (21) subsequent to the discharging of the scraped vegetables actuates the timer which controls the rotation of the shaft 12. Opening of the doors 7, 7a may be arranged to stop delivery of the vegetables to the hopper 6 and closing to restart delivery, or delivery may be stopped by suitable level or weight sensing devices. In an alternative embodiment, Figs. 4 and 5 (not shown), two units positioned side by side are fed through a diverter unit (not shown) from a common supply conveyer (not shown). Each unit includes a hopper (26) which is pivotally connected on one side to the framework and is supported at its opposite side by adjustable springs (26B) such that the hopper rotates about its pivot as the weight of vegetables increases. A switch (26c) is positioned to be actuated when the desired weight of vegetables has been delivered into the hopper and initiates the actuation of an air cylinder (28) controlling the opening of the doors (27), (27a). The switch 26c is also connected in circuit with a switch actuated subsequent to discharge of the scraped vegetables from the scraping chamber. The doors of each hopper are arranged to actuate a switch (not shown) on opening so as to move the diverter away from the open hopper to the position of the other hopper. A switch may also be provided to stop the conveyer in the event of both hoppers becoming full. A diagram of a control circuit for one of the units is included, Fig. 4 (not shown). Any number of units may be used together.