U.S. patent application number 17/148027 was filed with the patent office on 2021-05-06 for rotary drum blancher with skinsheet clamp.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lyco Manufacturing Inc.. The applicant listed for this patent is Lyco Manufacturing Inc.. Invention is credited to Daniel D. Maupin, Steven J. Schultz, William D. Zittel.
Application Number | 20210127729 17/148027 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005331728 |
Filed Date | 2021-05-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210127729 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Maupin; Daniel D. ; et
al. |
May 6, 2021 |
Rotary Drum Blancher with Skinsheet Clamp
Abstract
A method and apparatus for changing all or part of the skinsheet
of a rotary drum blancher/cooler from being clean in place totally
removable is disclosed. The drum includes the skinsheet (in
sections) with a plurality of clamps and catches. Each catch is
comprised of two catches--a clean in place catch and a totally
removable catch. Each clamp is attached to a section and has an
clamping position and a release position, and includes a bail. When
a clamp is in the clamping position and its bail is in either the
clean in place catch or the totally removable catch of a
corresponding catch on an adjacent second section, the catch and
clamp hold the adjacent sections together to form a part of the
drum. When the clamp is in the release position and the bail is in
the clean in place catch of the adjacent section, the clamp and
clean in place catch allow adjacent sections to separate, but do
not allow them to be removed.
Inventors: |
Maupin; Daniel D.;
(Corvallis, OR) ; Schultz; Steven J.; (Beaver Dam,
WI) ; Zittel; William D.; (Columbus, WI) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Lyco Manufacturing Inc. |
Columbus |
WI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Lyco Manufacturing Inc.
Columbus
WI
|
Family ID: |
1000005331728 |
Appl. No.: |
17/148027 |
Filed: |
January 13, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15403701 |
Jan 11, 2017 |
10905149 |
|
|
17148027 |
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62277428 |
Jan 11, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A23B 7/06 20130101; A23N
12/04 20130101; A23L 5/13 20160801; A23V 2002/00 20130101; A23L
3/185 20130101; A23L 3/18 20130101; A23L 5/10 20160801 |
International
Class: |
A23N 12/04 20060101
A23N012/04; A23L 5/10 20060101 A23L005/10; A23L 3/18 20060101
A23L003/18; A23B 7/06 20060101 A23B007/06 |
Claims
1-12. (canceled)
13. A method of changing a skinsheet on a rotary drum
blancher/cooler for processing food from one of a clean in place
skinsheet and a totally removable skinsheet to the other of the
clean in place skinsheet and the totally removable skinsheet,
comprising: adjusting a bail from a one of a clean in place length
and a totally removable length to a selected other of the clean in
place length and the totally removable length; mating the bail with
a clean in place catch when the clean in place length is the
selected length and mating the bail with a totally removable catch
when the totally removable length is the selected length; and
placing the clamp in an clamping position.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein mating the bail with the clean
in place catch includes placing a part of a u shaped bail in a
U-shaped catch.
15-20. (canceled)
21. The method of claim 14, wherein mating the bail with the
totally removable catch includes placing a part of the u shaped
bail under a tab.
22. The method of claim 14, wherein mating the bail with the clean
in place catch includes placing a part of the u shaped bail under a
tab.
23. The method of claim 13, wherein the method is repeated a
plurality of times.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the art of
rotary drum blancher/coolers. More specifically, it relates to
rotary drum blancher/coolers with skinsheets attached thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Rotary drum blanchers are well known for gently handling
food product. One example of a rotary drum blancher is found US in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,669,288, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Other rotary drum blanchers may be found in U.S. Pat. No.
9,452,899, entitled Transfer mechanism for use with a food
processing system; U.S. Pat. No. 8,800,435, entitled Rotary screw
blancher with fluid passage and fluid agitation; U.S. Pat. No.
8,739,691, entitled Rotary screw blancher; RE42,732, entitled
Rotary blancher for processing food product; U.S. Pat. No.
5,329,842, entitled Combination blancher and cooler; U.S. Pat. No.
6,095,035, entitled Dual drum food processor; U.S. Pat. No.
6,105,485, entitled Pressurized rotary blancher; U.S. Pat. No.
6,263,785, entitled Blancher and method of operation; U.S. Pat. No.
7,500,426, entitled Rotary cooker and cooler with improved product
transfer mechanism; RE40,232, entitled Method for processing food
product; U.S. Pat. No. 7,168,846, entitled Rotary processing
device; U.S. Pat. No. 6,419,094, entitled Fixed sequential sprayer
for a cylindrical wastewater screen; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,205,913,
entitled Rotary drum blancher for cooking food include, each of
which are also hereby incorporated by reference.
[0003] Rotary blanchers generally include skinsheets which define
the rotary drum in which blanching occurs. Many prior art rotary
blanchers have bolted-on skinsheets which create a very tight
strong cylinder, but have overlapping areas that are difficult to
clean. Skinsheet, as used herein, refers to the skin forming the
drum. The skinsheet has sections that collectively define the drum,
but each individually defines only part of the drum. Sections
typically extend circumferentially--for example six sections might
each extend slightly more than 30 degrees each, so that with
overlapping they extend the entire circumference (360 degrees).
[0004] Totally removable skinsheets have been developed, which give
full cleaning access, but can be cumbersome to remove, store,
clean, and install exactly in the same location. The skinsheet
sections are unbolted and each section removed.
[0005] The owner of this invention, LYCO Manufacturing, developed
CIP (clean in place) skinsheets which opens up overlapping sections
by separating sections, but the sections are not removed. These
skinsheets were an improvement over other prior art skinsheets,
because they were easier to clean.
[0006] The design of totally removable skinsheets (and how it is
attached to the drum) is very different from the design of CIP
skinsheets (and how it is attached to the drum). Thus, a rotary
drum blancher was designed and sold with either a totally removable
skinsheet or a CIP skinsheet, and could not readily be converted
from one to the other.
[0007] However, a user might desire to change from a totally
removable skinsheet to a CIP skinsheet, or visa-versa depending on
that users particular needs. Accordingly, a rotary drum that can be
used with both totally removable skinsheets and CIP skinsheets, is
desired, particularly one that can be changed easily from one to
the other.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0008] According to a first aspect of the disclosure a rotary drum
blancher/cooler for processing food includes a drum having a
skinsheet with a plurality of clamps and catches. The skinsheet
defines the drum and is made up of sections, with each section
extending part of the circumference. Each catch is comprised of two
catches--a clean in place catch and a totally removable catch. Each
clamp is attached to a section and has an clamping position and a
release position, and includes a bail. When a clamp is in the
clamping position and its bail is in either the clean in place
catch or the totally removable catch of a corresponding catch on an
adjacent second section, the catch and clamp hold the adjacent
sections together to form a part of the drum. When the clamp is in
the release position and the bail is in the clean in place catch of
the adjacent section, the clamp and clean in place catch allow
adjacent sections to separate, but do not allow them to be
removed.
[0009] According to a second aspect of the disclosure a method of
changing a skinsheet on a rotary drum blancher/cooler for
processing food from a clean in place skinsheet to a totally
removable skinsheet, or visa versa, includes adjusting a bail from
a clean in place length to a totally removable length (or visa
versa). The bail is mated with a clean in place or totally
removable catch depending on the lengths of the bail. The clamp in
then moved into the clamping position.
[0010] The bail is mated with the clean in place catch by placing a
part of a u shaped bail in a U-shaped catch, and the bail is mated
with the totally removable catch by placing a part of the u shaped
bail under a tab in various embodiments.
[0011] The bail of each clamp is a U-shaped bail and is adjustable
in length in one alternative.
[0012] The catches include a U-shaped portion that defines the
clean in place catch in another alternative.
[0013] The catches include a tab that defines the totally removable
catch in one embodiment.
[0014] The clean in place catch and the totally removable catch
that form a catch are part of the single fixture, or each a
distinct fixture in various embodiments.
[0015] The catches and/or clamps are welded to the sections in
various embodiments and the catches and/or clamps are not welded to
the sections in other embodiments.
[0016] All of the sections have clamps and catches in one
embodiment, and less than all of the sections have clamps and
catches in another embodiment.
[0017] Some of the clamps are in the clamping position with the
bail disposed in the clean in place catch, and others of the clamps
are in the clamping position with the bail disposed in the totally
removable catch in another alternative.
[0018] Other principal features and advantages of will become
apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following
drawings, the detailed description and the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is portion of a drum with a clamp in a clamping
position in a totally removable catch;
[0020] FIG. 2 is portion of a drum with the clamp in a clamping
position in a clean in place catch;
[0021] FIG. 3 is portion of a drum with a clamp in a release
position in the clean in place catch;
[0022] FIG. 4 is portion of a drum with the clamp in the release in
a totally removable catch; and
[0023] FIG. 5 is a cross section of a drum skinsheet.
[0024] Before explaining at least one embodiment in detail it is to
be understood that the invention is not limited in its application
to the details of construction and the arrangement of the
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or of
being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as
limiting. Like reference numerals are used to indicate like
components.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] While the present disclosure will be illustrated with
reference to a particular clamp and catch, it should be understood
at the outset that other clamps and catches can be used to
implement the invention, and that the clamps and catches can be
used in other environments. The invention can be used with any
rotary drum blancher/cooler.
[0026] This disclosure describes a clamp that can be used to hold a
skinsheet to from the drum of a blancher/cooler. Blancher/cooler,
as used herein, refers to a device to blanch and/or cool product.
Multiple sections (2, 3 4, 6, 8 or more in various embodiments) of
the skinsheet for the drum. Collectively the sections extend the
entire circumference (in the circumferential direction) of the
drum. Individually each section extends less than the entire
circumference of the drum. FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a drum
100 comprised of eight sections 102, 104 and 801-806. Flanges 807
are at the edge of each section. Collectively the skinsheet
sections form the entire drum. The skinsheet sections collectively
extend the entire length in the circumferential direction to form
the circumference, but each of section individually extends less
than the entire circumference in the circumferential direction to
form only a portion of the circumference. The sections are shown in
FIG. 8 as each being 22.5 degrees (1/8 of the circumference,
although different sections can be of different sizes, and a
different number of sections may be used.
[0027] Depending on how the clamp is used, in the release position
the skinsheet can be a clean in place skinsheet, or a totally
removable skinsheet, or partially both. When some clamps are in the
clean in place position, and others in the totally removable
position the skinsheet is partially a totally removable skinsheet
and partially a clean in place skinsheet--some sections are be left
in place for cleaning, while others removed. Also, some sections
can be held in place using traditional methods.
[0028] The preferred embodiment uses a typical over-center clamp
with a U-shaped bail to tighten the skinsheet. However, the catch
is unlike that of the prior at. The catch is comprised of two
catches.
[0029] One catch is a totally removable catch--the bail (preferably
as U-bolt) clamps on the outside of the catch in the clamping
(operable) position (when securing the skinsheet) and lifts over
the catch in the traditional manner when opened (the release
position) to totally remove the skinsheet. Totally removable catch,
as used herein, refers to a catch for a clamp that allows the
skinsheet to be totally removed when the clamp is opened. Clamping
position, for a clamp, as used herein, refers to a position where
the clamp holds adjacent sections (or other objects being clamped)
together. Release position, for a clamp, as used herein, refers to
a position where the clamp does not hold adjacent sections (or
other objects being clamped) together.
[0030] The catch also has a clean in place catch where the bail is
installed in a closed feature that allows the clamp to be adjusted
in a manner that will tighten the clamp properly in the clamping
position, but when the clamp is in the release position the
skinsheet will remain with the cylinder for cleaning. The sections
are separated but not able to be removed when they are in the clean
in place position. In the clean in place position the bail goes
through catch. Clean in place catch, as used herein, refers to a
catch for clamp that allows the skinsheet to be cleaned in place
when the clamp is opened.
[0031] The customer or original manufacturer can configure and
reconfigure the skinsheet to either a CIP mode or a totally
removable mode by selecting which position is used. If necessary,
the length of the bail is adjusted based on which catch is used.
One embodiment provides that the catch is designed to be welded
permanently in place, and the clamp body is also attached
permanently (such as by welding) to the skinsheet. Another
embodiment provides that the clamp body is not permanently to the
skinsheet. The totally removable catch and the clean in place catch
are part of a single fixture in one embodiment. The totally
removable catch and the clean in place catch are part of distinct
fixtures in another embodiment. Single fixture for two catches, as
used herein, refers to two catches that have at least some common
structure. Distinct fixtures for two catches, as used herein,
refers to two catches that do not have at least some common
structure.
[0032] The disclosure includes a method of changing a skinsheet on
a rotary drum blancher/cooler for processing food from a clean in
place skinsheet to a totally removable skinsheet, or visa versa.
The method includes adjusting the bail from a clean in place length
to a totally removable length (or visa versa). The bail is mated
with the clean in place or totally removable catch depending on the
lengths of the bail. The clamp in then moved into the clamping
position.
[0033] Turning now to FIG. 1, a part of a drum 100, including a
section 102 and a section 104 is shown. A clamp 112 cooperates with
a catch 106, including a totally removable catch 106 (also called
tab 106) to hold sections 102 and 104 together because clamp 112 is
in the operable (clamping) position. A bail 110 goes under tab (or
clean in place catch) 106 to hold clamp 112 in the clamping
position.
[0034] FIG. 4, shows drum 100 with clamp 112 in the open or release
position. Bail 110 is still shown under tab 106. To totally remove
sections 102 and 104, bail 110 is moved over tab 106, and the
sections are completely free of one another (assuming any other
clamps are also operated in this manner).
[0035] Turning now to FIG. 2, clamp 112 is in the clamping position
and bail 110 is under and through a clean in place catch 202 (which
is part of catch 108). When in this position bail 110 might need to
be shortened to provide the proper tension to hold sections 102 and
104 in place. Catch 106 is a single fixture, but can be two
distinct fixture by simple separating the tab/totally removable
catch 108 from clean in place catch 202.
[0036] FIG. 3, shows clamp 112 in the open or release position.
Bail 110 is still through clean in place catch 202. This allows
sections 102 and 104 to be separated, but prevents them from being
totally removed. They can be cleaned in this position.
[0037] The bail (or U-bolt of the clamp) can be assembled in either
the CIP mode or the totally removable mode by simple disassembly of
the clamp. Switching modes is accomplished by unscrewing the bail
and threading it through the catch and then reinstalling the
bail.
[0038] Alternatives provide for using the clamp and catches to
clamp other devices, and one embodiment is simply the clamp and
catch, and another just the catch.
[0039] Numerous modifications may be made to the present disclosure
which still fall within the intended scope hereof. Thus, it should
be apparent that there has been provided a method and apparatus for
a blancher/cooler that fully satisfies the objectives and
advantages set forth above. Although the disclosure has been
described specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many
alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the invention is intended to
embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that
fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *