U.S. patent application number 12/867331 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-05 for device and method for separating surface layers in products of the food industry.
This patent application is currently assigned to NORDISCHER MASCHINENBAU RUD. BAADER GMBH + CO. KG. Invention is credited to Thomas Grabau.
Application Number | 20120000331 12/867331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40521911 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120000331 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Grabau; Thomas |
January 5, 2012 |
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SEPARATING SURFACE LAYERS IN PRODUCTS OF THE
FOOD INDUSTRY
Abstract
A method and apparatus to separate a surface layer of a product
in the food industry. The apparatus includes a transport device to
transport the product from an input region to an output region and
a pressure device to press the product against the transport
device. A separating device is arranged in the output region to
separate the surface layer from the product. The separating device
defines a separating gap between the separating device and the
transport device. A substantially cylindrical, rotatably
controllable deflecting device is arranged in the output region.
The deflecting device has a shape varying in the axial direction
and/or a circumferential direction. The transport device is guided
around the deflecting device to create a variable process gap to
separate the surface layer of the product from the product.
Inventors: |
Grabau; Thomas; (Luebeck,
DE) |
Assignee: |
NORDISCHER MASCHINENBAU RUD. BAADER
GMBH + CO. KG
LUBECK
DE
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20100313720 A1 |
December 16, 2010 |
|
|
Family ID: |
40521911 |
Appl. No.: |
12/867331 |
Filed: |
February 4, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
February 4, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP09/00999 PCKC 00 |
371 Date: |
August 12, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/13;
99/539 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A22C 25/17 20130101;
A22B 5/166 20130101; Y10T 83/04 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
83/13;
99/539 |
International
Class: |
B26D 1/00 20060101
B26D001/00; A47J 43/00 20060101 A47J043/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 15, 2008 |
DE |
10-2008-009-922.8 |
Claims
1-18. (canceled)
19. An apparatus to separate a surface layer of a product in the
food industry, comprising: a transport device to transport the
product from an input region to an output region; a pressure device
to press the product against the transport device; a separating
device arranged in the output region to separate the surface layer
from the product, the separating device defining a separating gap
between the separating device and the transport device; and a
substantially cylindrical, rotatably controllable deflecting device
arranged in the output region, the deflecting device having a shape
varying in at least one of an axial direction and a circumferential
direction, wherein the transport device is guided round the varying
shape of the deflecting device to create a variable process gap to
separate the surface layer of the product from the product.
20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the deflecting
device is at least sectionally of a concave construction in a
surface region of the deflecting device.
21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the concave
construction varies in width and depth in at least one of the axial
direction and the circumferential direction.
22. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a
control unit to control the deflecting device, the control unit
including a detection device to detect at least one of geometrical
data and image data of the product.
23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control unit
controls at least one of the deflecting device and the separating
device.
24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the control unit
is operatively coupled to the detection device.
25. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the deflecting
device is controllable during a separating operation to vary the
process gap.
26. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the separating gap
is adjustable.
27. The apparatus according to claim 19, further comprising a
squeeze drive coupled to drive the transport device.
28. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the transport
device comprises an endlessly rotating transport belt.
29. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the separating
device comprises a band saw.
30. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the separating
element comprises an oscillating blade.
31. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the pressure
device is adapted to a contour of the product on a side facing the
product.
32. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the product
comprises a fish, and wherein the apparatus is constructed to
separate a skin layer or fat layer from the fish.
33. A method to remove a surface layer of a product in the food
industry, comprising: transporting the product by a transport
device from an input region to an output region, wherein the
transporting includes delivering the product to a separating gap
formed between the transport device and a separating device in the
output region; separating the surface layer from the product by a
separating device arranged in the output region; pressing the
product by a pressure device against the transport device during
the separating step; and controlling a rotatable deflecting device
arranged in the output region so that the transport device is
guided round the deflecting device to create a variable process gap
in addition to the separating gap.
34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the controlling to
vary the process gap is perfumed during the separating step.
35. The method according to claim 33, wherein the separating step
includes varying the process gap in at least one of width and depth
in an axial direction and in a circumferential direction.
36. The method according to claim 33, wherein the controlling of
the deflecting device is based on at least one of previously
determined geometrical data and image data of the product.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a National Stage Application of
PCT/EP2009/000999, filed Feb. 4, 2009, which designates the United
States and claims the priority of German patent application DE 10
2008 009922.8, filed on Feb. 15, 2008, the subject matter of which
is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The invention concerns an apparatus for separating surface
layers in products of the food industry, comprising a transport
element for transporting the products from an input region to an
output region, wherein the transport element is guided at least in
the output region round a substantially cylindrical deflecting
element, a pressure element for pressing the products against the
transport element, and a separating element for separating the
surface layer from the product, wherein the separating element is
arranged in the output region of the transport element, forming a
separating gap between the separating element and the transport
element. Furthermore the invention concerns a method for removing
surface layers in products of the food industry, comprising the
steps of: transporting the product to be treated by means of a
transport element from an input region to an output region,
delivering the product to a separating gap which is formed between
a separating element located in the output region and the transport
element, pressing the product to be treated by means of a pressure
element against the transport element during the separating
operation, and separating a surface layer by means of the
separating element arranged in the output region of the transport
element.
[0003] Such apparatuses and methods are used in the food industry
and in particular in the fish-processing industry. By the example
of processing fish, this means e.g. that the skin and/or the fat
layer underneath is separated from the fillet. Separation of the
skin and/or fat layer from the fillet can take place in one
separating cut or in several separating cuts one after the other.
In this case the separating elements for separating the surface
layer usually run rectilinearly. This means that between the
separating element and the transport element, or the deflecting
element which is located in the region of the separating element
and serves so to speak as a cutting support, a separating gap which
remains constant across the full width of the transport element is
formed. As a result, the surface layer to be separated has the same
thickness across the full width. In particular for fish processing,
however, for purposes of improving yield it is necessary to produce
a cutting depth which is variable across the width. For example,
salmon has a thicker fat layer in the region of the backbone than
in regions which are remote from the backbone. Also, the thickness
and width of the fat layer varies in the longitudinal direction of
the fillet.
[0004] It has proved difficult, however, to construct or control
the separating element in such a way that a cutting depth which is
variable across the width can be obtained. Efforts were therefore
made to adapt the transport element or elements lying underneath it
accordingly. European Patent document EP 1 365 655 B1 discloses for
example an apparatus in which a conveyor belt serves as a
supporting surface for the products. This conveyor belt is
allocated an adjustable support with an adjustable profile
transverse to the direction of transport of the products. The
support is located below the conveyor belt and comprises elements
that can be raised and lowered and which are arranged side by side
transversely to the direction of transport to produce the profile
which forms a process gap. However, this apparatus has the drawback
that it needs high expenditure on control. Further, the structural
design is very complex and therefore cost-intensive.
SUMMARY
[0005] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus which is simple and easy to handle and which
ensures a variable process gap in addition to the separating gap.
Furthermore it is the object of the invention to propose a
corresponding method.
[0006] This object is achieved firstly by an apparatus having the
features mentioned hereinbefore by the fact that the deflecting
element arranged in the output region is designed to perform a
rotational movement and can be controlled accordingly and has a
(cross-sectional) shape which varies in the axial direction and/or
circumferential direction to form a process gap. As a result, the
possibility of a variable process gap is provided in a surprisingly
simple and effective manner. To put it another way, the changing
shape of the deflecting element on the side facing towards the
separating element on the one hand and the possibility of control
of the deflecting element on the other hand enables the process gap
to be variable, so that product-specific separating operations can
be performed.
[0007] In an embodiment of the invention the deflecting element may
be at least sectionally of concave construction in the region of
the surface region or peripheral surface. As a result the process
gap can be made at least partially larger or deeper, so that e.g.
in the region of the backbone more fat can be removed than in the
edge regions of a fillet.
[0008] The concave construction of the peripheral surface of the
deflecting element may vary in width and/or depth both in the axial
direction and in the circumferential direction. The axial direction
denotes the direction transverse to the direction of transport of
the products. The circumferential direction describes the direction
of rotation of the deflecting element. Thus different profiles or
process gaps can be set both in the longitudinal direction of the
products and in their transverse direction.
[0009] In a further embodiment, the deflecting element is
controllable during the separating operation to vary the process
gap. By rotating the deflecting element, the process gap can be
varied selectively, this being from one product to the next or also
during processing of one product.
[0010] Secondly the object is achieved by a method having the steps
mentioned hereinbefore by the fact that the deflecting element is
controlled to perform a rotational movement, so that a variable
process gap is formed in addition to the separating gap. The
resulting advantages have already been described in connection with
the apparatus according to the invention. To avoid repetition,
reference is made to the appropriate passages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further embodiments are apparent from the subsidiary claims
and the description. One embodiment as well as the principle of the
method are described in more detail with the aid of the attached
drawings. The drawings show:
[0012] FIG. 1 is one embodiment of a schematic view of the
apparatus according to the invention in a detail,
[0013] FIG. 2 is a top view of a substantially cylindrical
deflecting element of the apparatus according to FIG. 1,
[0014] FIG. 3 is the deflecting element according to FIG. 2 with
developed peripheral surface,
[0015] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the deflecting element in
section X-X according to FIG. 2, and
[0016] FIG. 5 is a half-section view of the deflecting element in
the planes shown in FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The apparatus shown in the figures serves to separate a fat
layer from fillets of the salmon species. Naturally the apparatus
is also suitable and can be used for treating/processing other
products and in particular for separating other surface layers such
as e.g. skin layers or the like.
[0018] The apparatus 10 shown in substantial parts in FIG. 1 for
separating skin layers and/or fat layers from fish fillets
comprises a transport element 11. The transport element 11 may be
constructed as an endlessly rotating and flexible conveyor belt or
the like. Other embodiments of the transport element 11, e.g. as a
suction belt, flexible conveyor chain or the like, are possible
too. The transport element 11 is guided round several driving
and/or deflecting elements, in particular also round a
substantially cylindrical deflecting element 12. The products to be
treated are transported in the direction of conveying F from an
input region E.sub.B to an output region A.sub.B. In the output
region A.sub.B of the transport element 11 is arranged the
cylindrical deflecting element 12.
[0019] Furthermore the apparatus 10 comprises a pressure element 13
for pressing the products against the transport element 11 as well
as a separating element 14 for separating the surface layer from
the product. The separating element 14 is also arranged in the
output region A.sub.B of the transport element 11 and forms a
separating gap between itself and the transport element 11. To
adjust the size of the separating gap between the separating
element 14 and the transport element 11, the separating element 14
is movable. The pressure element 13 may also be adjustable, for
example, in the vertical direction to the plane of conveying, to
vary the distance from the transport element 11. The pressure
element 13 may consist of a pressure finger 15 and a guide belt 16
or the like. The pressure element 13, which can also have any other
ordinary design, extends at least across the width of the product,
but also across the full width of the transport element 11. In
relation to the deflecting element 12, which is described in detail
below, the pressure element 13 is located directly above the
deflecting element 12. The pressure element 13 may be arranged in
such a way that the pressure force K is directed perpendicularly to
the axis A of the deflecting element 12. The pressure element 13
can also be constructed as a guide element and/or serve as a guide.
In further embodiments, not shown, the pressure element 13 can also
be assigned a guide element which is located in front of the
pressure element 13 in the direction of conveying F and can have
different constructions. In particular the guide element can be
adapted to the contour of the products and be constructed or
arranged in cascade fashion.
[0020] The deflecting element 12 arranged in the output region
A.sub.B of the transport element 11 is at least partially movable.
For this purpose the deflecting element 12 is designed to perform a
rotational movement and can be controlled accordingly. In the
embodiment shown, the cylindrical deflecting element 12 is
rotatable about an axis A. Rotation about the axis A can take place
e.g. within a defined angular range .alpha. limited by stops or the
like, or circumferentially. Here the surface region or peripheral
surface M.sub.F of the deflecting element 12 has a
(cross-sectional) shape which varies in the axial direction and/or
circumferential direction. Due to the special shape of the
deflecting element 12 in the region of the peripheral surface
M.sub.F, in addition to the separating gap a process gap is formed
or defined, which ensures individual and in particular also
variable cutting control. To put it another way, the process gap
can be varied both in width, that is, transversely to the direction
of conveying F, and in depth, that is, vertically to the plane of
conveying, separately from the separating gap or independently
thereof.
[0021] The deflecting element 12 may be at least sectionally of
concave construction in the region of its peripheral surface
M.sub.F. However, the recess formed in the peripheral surface
M.sub.F can assume other shapes. The concave construction of the
peripheral surface M.sub.F of the deflecting element 12 varies in
width and/or depth both in the axial direction and in the
circumferential direction, as becomes clear in particular e.g. from
FIGS. 2 to 4. The concave recess may extend over part of the width
of the deflecting element 12 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The recess can
also extend across the full width. In the circumferential direction
too, the recess is formed only partially (see FIG. 4). Forming the
recess over the whole circumference is also possible, however. The
deflecting element 12 is controllable in such a way that a
different contour serves as a support for the separating element 14
optionally during a cut on one product or between cuts from one
product to the next, due to rotation of the deflecting element 12,
so that the cutting control varies. To put it another way, the
process gap can be varied continuously or intermittently.
[0022] With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the design of the deflecting
element 12 becomes particularly clear. For instance, the section
between planes B and D, which is shown in FIG. 3 as a developed
peripheral surface M.sub.F, corresponds to the circumferential
section B-D of 120.degree. in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5, sections C-A, E-B,
A-C, F-D and B-E shown in FIG. 4 are shown for illustration.
[0023] The apparatus 10 can further be allocated, for control of
the deflecting element 12, a means (not shown) for detecting
geometrical data and/or image data of the products. To convert the
detected data to a corresponding rotational movement of the
deflecting element 12, the apparatus 10 comprises a control means
(likewise not shown). The control means can be constructed and
designed for control of the deflecting element 12 and/or separating
element 14. The control means and the means for detecting the
geometrical data and/or image data are operatively connected to
each other for this purpose.
[0024] For driving the transport element 11, a so-called squeeze
drive is particularly suitable. But other ordinary drives can be
used as well. The separating element 14 can be a band saw, an
oscillating blade or any other suitable cutting and/or separating
means. The pressure element 15 may be adapted to the contour of the
respective product on the side facing towards the product. But flat
or curved or other shaped constructions can be used as well. The
deflecting element 12 can also have a profiled and pivotable
deflecting edge or the like in embodiments not shown.
[0025] Below, the principle of the method is described in more
detail with the aid of the figures: a first product is conveyed
from the input region E.sub.B by means of the transport element 11
to the output region A.sub.B. The separating element 14 is adjusted
relative to the transport element 11, forming a separating gap. The
product, lying on the transport element 11, runs under the pressure
element 13 which presses the product with a defined force against
the transport element 11. By the transport element 11, the product
is conveyed against the blade or cutting edge of the stationary,
rotating or oscillating separating element 14. During the
separating process the pressure element 13 presses the product with
a pressure force F onto the transport element 11, as a result of
which the flexible transport element 11 and hence also the product
fits closely against the contour of the deflecting element 12
arranged below one run of the transport element 11. By conveying
the product further, the surface layer, that is, for example a skin
and/or fat layer, is separated from the fillet. The separated
surface layer is taken away obliquely downwards between the
separating element 14 and the transport element 11, while the
fillet is taken away obliquely upwards between the separating
element 14 and the guide belt 16 of the pressure element 13.
[0026] The cutting control can be varied during the separating
process by rotating the deflecting element 12 clockwise or
anticlockwise, so that an altered contour is opposite the
separating element 14 as a support. Control of the deflecting
element 12 can also take place e.g. after a change of product, so
that adaptation of the process gap is product-specific.
* * * * *