Brussels Sprouts Trimming Machine

Abstract

A Brussels sprouts trimming machine comprises parallel endless chains provided with laterally disposed, horizontal conveyor flights each carrying pockets in the form of an inverted frustum of a right circular cone. A series of knives are provided beneath the bottom surface of the flights, ahead of which are nozzles directed upwardly toward each pocket. The nozzles are adapted to direct a blast of fluid upwardly into each pocket to orient the Brussels sprout therein properly, with its stem end downwardly, for cutting by the knives. Coacting plungers are employed to depress the Brussels sprouts into the pockets as the stem ends are presented to the knives. The feed section of the machine comprises means for feeding lines of Brussels sprouts to a continuously rotating drum with perforations or indentations whereby the Brussels sprouts will be retained on the periphery of the drum as they are directed thereto from the feeding means. The drum preferably rotates through 270.degree. to deliver Brussels sprouts from the feeding means to the pockets on the conveyor flights. The perforations or indentations in the periphery of the drum are appropriately spaced and aligned with the pockets on the conveyor flights whereby, as each line of perforations or indentations on the drum registers with the pockets on the flights, a sprout will be transferred therefrom into each pocket on the flights.

Description

This invention relates to a Brussels sprouts trimming machine. More particularly, it relates to a machine for automatically trimming the stem ends from Brussels sprouts and to a method therefor.

In the harvesting of Brussels sprouts, the sprouts may be stripped from the main stalk by hand or by machine. A suitable machine for stripping Brussels sprouts from stalks is described and claimed in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,561. The preparation of Brussels sprouts for sale, either fresh or frozen or canned, further involves however the trimming of the stem end of the sprout. This trimming operation is presently performed by moving each individual sprout into the path of high speed rotating knives or by placing each sprout, stem downward, in holes in the surface of a moving conveyor which passes the sprouts over cutting elements. Either method requires considerable hand labor, since each sprout must be individually handled.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a Brussels sprouts trimming machine which is simple in construction, and accurate and efficient in use.

Another object is to provide a Brussels sprouts trimming machine having sprout pockets for presenting the sprouts to cutting knives by which the stem ends are trimmed off.

A further object is to provide in a Brussels sprouts trimming machine having pockets in which the sprouts are supported and moved successively past stationary cutting knives with means for orienting the sprout in each pocket stem end downward into the path of the cutting knives.

A still further object is to provide a Brussels sprouts trimming machine having holding means for retaining the Brussels sprouts in the pockets as the stems are presented to the cutting knives. This feature includes means for driving or moving the holding means in synchronism with the movement of the sprouts to the cutting knives.

Yet another object is to provide a Brussels sprouts trimming machine having feeding means whereby the Brussels sprouts are deposited generally randomly oriented into the pockets.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when read in the light of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a Brussels sprouts trimming machine as embodied in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is partial top plan and partial sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the machine as seen from line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial cross section of the machine of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the machine as seen from line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged detail of one of the knives embodied in the machine of this invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial cross section of the machine of FIG. 1 and also illustrating feeding, orienting, and trimming of the Brussels sprouts.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross section of an alternative feeding means for the Brussels sprouts.

The machine of this invention is dependent upon the principle that if a Brussels sprout is placed in random fashion into a conical-shaped pocket a given number of times, it will, at least during one such placement, be in proper orientation relative to its pocket so that its stem end protrudes through the bottom opening of the respective pocket to permit trimming of the stem end by cutting knives associated with the pockets. The pockets are carried by an endless conveyor arranged to progress along a horizontal flight and each sprout is re-oriented relative to its pocket a number of times by a fluid medium emanating from nozzles underlying the effective span of the conveyor. Thus, each sprout will become properly oriented in its pocket for trimming purposes at least once out of the number of random placements of the sprout relative to its pocket.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several views, a pair of continuous parallel chain loops 10 run on the two pairs of sprockets 12, the head sprockets 14 being suitably driven in a clockwise direction by a motor drive 16. Horizontal conveyor flights 18 span the distance between the parallel chains. Each flight contains a row of pockets 20, each of which is essentially an inverted frustum of a right circular cone, open at top and bottom. Fixed beneath and clear of the bottom surface of the flights is a series of knives 22, mounted on cross members 24 attached to frame members 26 which are mounted on frame 28. The cutting edges of the knives are crossed by the path of the bottom opening of each pocket so as to furnish a slicing action to any portion of the stem of the Brussels sprouts which protrudes far enough beyond the bottom opening of the moving pocket to engage the knife. The clearance between this set of knives and the bottom of the pockets is adjustable by means of slots 30 on the frame members. At a point somewhat downstream from the end of the cutting edge of each knife is a nozzle 32 in a fluid medium such as water, air or the like, carrying conduit 34 directed essentially upward. The conduits may be perforated or drilled to form the nozzles. The location and direction of the nozzles may be varied somewhat along each line of pockets so that the force of discharge from the nozzles may be directed not only at the center of each pocket opening and not only vertically upward. Baffle plates 36, mounted on frame 28 and above the top run of the conveyor retain the sprouts in the pockets during direction of the fluid upwardly into the pockets as indicated in FIG. 7.

As indicated in FIG. 1, drain pans 38 are located below the upper straight section of the conveyor. The bottom surface of each pan is sloped downward to a drain (not shown) which conducts stem waste and effluent to a water trough (not shown). Wash water may be also introduced into the enclosure to wash out the trimmed material, which will be carried to the water trough for final removal.

The high pressure discharge of water, air or other suitable fluid from the nozzles is controlled by valves (not shown) such that the nozzles in any lateral row will discharge only when the pocket openings are traveling over the immediate vicinity of the nozzles. The longitudinal distance between rows of nozzles may be somewhat more or less than that between adjacent lateral rows of pockets so that only a small number of rows of nozzles will be discharging at any one time.

In operation, the individual sprouts, previously graded to reasonably uniform size, are fed, one into each pocket at or just beyond the left end (FIG. 7) of the machine. A vibratory feeder 40 mounted directly over the machine feeds Brussels sprouts. The surface of this feeder is grooved 42 so that sprouts will be discharged in longitudinal rows, equal in number and lateral spacing to the longitudinal rows of pockets on the trimming machine. The discharge end of the vibratory feeder just clears the surface of a horizontal drum 44 driven by spur gears 46 at a line near the horizontal center. The surface of this drum is perforated with holes 48 smaller in diameter than the sprouts to be processed, also spaced laterally in line with the rows of pockets of the trimming machine. The peripheral spacing of the holes and the rotational speed of the drum (rotating so that the bottom surface of the drum moves in the same direction as the trimmer pockets) are such that as each lateral row of holes reaches the bottom center, it registers with a lateral row of trimmer pockets. The drum is mounted on journals 50. Within the drum, essentially air tight baffles 52 are rigidly mounted as indicated in FIGS. 4 and 7, the ends and sides thereof barely clearing the inner surface of the drum. A conduit (not shown) connects the chamber formed by the baffles to an exhauster (not shown). It will be seen from FIG. 7 that the effect of this exhausting chamber is to cause a partial vacuum at all of the holes in the surface of the drum from the discharge of the vibratory conveyor around to the bottom center of the drum. Thus consecutive rows of sprouts will be picked off the vibratory feeder, carried for about 270.degree. of drum rotation, then dropped into the consecutive rows of pockets in the trimming machine. An air or water jet, or yieldable paddles bearing on the inner surface of the drum at the drop-off point may be employed to assure that all the sprouts will drop from the drum near the bottom center.

With the pockets moving forward, as each row passes over a row of nozzles, the force of the jet from the nozzles lifts the sprouts from the bottom of the pockets. Because the sprouts are not perfectly symmetrical, each sprout is rotated in some random manner before dropping back into the bottom of the pocket. Any sprouts thus oriented such that their stem ends protrude downward will be trimmed as the sprout moves through the next knife. Those which drop in any other orientation will not protrude far enough below the bottom openings of the pockets to engage the knives. In this manner, every sprout will have as many chances as be oriented correctly as there are pairs of nozzles and knives in each longitudinal row of the machine. Since the machine embodies a multiplicity of pairs of nozzles and knives, it is thus apparent a large majority of the sprouts will be automatically correctly oriented and trimmed in one passage through the machine.

The method of this invention is to reorient the sprouts repeatedly within pockets shaped so that only in one orientation will the trimming knife engage the sprouts, that orientation being when the stem end of the sprout protrudes through the bottom hole of the pocket, and to apply a holding force to the sprout as it approaches and travels through the cutting zone.

The holding force or means is furnished by a series of spring loaded plungers 54 mounted on cross member 56 to a second longitudinal frame 58. Stop collars 60 are positioned on the plungers to limit their downward motion. The frame is movable by means of chain drives 62 over cam and Scotch yoke mechanism members 64 which engage sprocket 66. Motor 16 through chain drive 68 furnishes synchronous movement of the frames 58 and chain loops 10 with the result that the plungers are depressed into the pockets as they pass into the path of the cutting knives which, as mentioned hereinbefore, are alternatively spaced with the nozzles for the fluid medium. The path of the plungers is generally elliptical as generated by the cooperative concentric circular cam and Scotch yoke so as to cause pressure on the Brussels sprouts only when they are presented to and are engaged by the cutting knives.

Following the trimming of the stems, the Brussels sprouts are discharged from the pockets onto suitable conveyor means (not shown) for further processing and/or packaging.

In FIG. 8, another embodiment of a rotary drum suitable for depositing Brussels sprouts into the pockets is illustrated. This drum 70 is provided with indentations 72 and curved plate 74 extends over a portion of the surface of the drum thereby retaining the Brussels sprouts in the indentations until they are deposited into the pockets.

While the machine of present invention is specifically constructed to handle Brussels sprouts it will be apparent that it is equally adapted for the handling of other vegetables of like nature for trimming the stem or stalk end therefrom.

Moreover, although there have been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will of course be obvious that changes in form may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is therefore intended that the invention be not limited to the exact form herein shown and described except as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A machine for trimming Brussels sprouts comprising, in combination:

cutting means,

means for presenting the Brussels sprouts to said cutting means,

orienting means adapted to direct a fluid jet upwardly toward said presenting means for positioning the stems of the Brussels sprouts downwardly from said presenting means and into the path of said cutting means, and

holding means for retaining the Brussels sprouts within said presenting means while the stems thereof are presented to said cutting means.

2. A machine for trimming Brussels sprouts comprising, in combination:

an endless conveyor arranged to progress along a horizontal flight,

pockets transversely disposed and mounted on said conveyor, each of said pockets having open upper and lower ends thereof and convergently downwardly extending sides for supporting a Brussels sprout therein,

knives fixedly positioned on a first frame along a horizontal plane beneath said conveyor and said pockets,

nozzles also positioned along a horizontal plane beneath said conveyor and said pockets and adapted to direct fluid upwardly into said pockets thereby serving to orient each Brussels sprout with its stem protruding from the lower end of the pocket, and

plungers mounted on a second frame positioned along a horizontal plane above said conveyor and said pockets and adapted to depress the Brussels sprouts into the pockets as their stems are presented to the knives.

3. A machine as in claim 2 further comprising baffle means positioned on said first frame along a horizontal plane above said conveyor and said pockets whereby upon direction of fluid upwardly into said pockets expelling the Brussels sprouts from said pockets is prevented.

4. A machine as in claim 3 further comprising means for feeding Brussels sprouts to said pockets, said means comprising a rotary drum with perforation on the surface thereon and means to create a vacuum therein whereby the Brussels sprouts remain on said drum and are subsequently deposited into said pockets.

5. A machine as in claim 3 further comprising means for feeding Brussels sprouts to said pockets, said means comprising a rotary drum with indentations on the surface thereof and a curved retaining plate extending over a portion of said surface whereby the Brussel sprouts remain on said drum and are subsequently deposited into said pockets.