This section describes the method and components of our AUTOMATED SPIRAL POTATO SLICING APPARATUS AND METHOD to meet the following objects and improve the original invention (under U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,942):
To provide means to hold a potato during the cutting operation.
To provide a superior means of rotating the potato.
To provide separation of the core of the potato from the spiral cut product.
Separation of the core of the potato from the spiral cut product gives superior processing characteristics.
Specifically, the original cutting means included the core which had a tendency to remain uncooked during the frying operation.
The following components are shown in
The following components are shown in
The assembly is turned to the side to give access to the rotating drum 1. The potato is loaded into the drum 1 and is centered by the holding vanes 2. When the assembly is turned back to the cutting position, the drive belt 6 makes contact with a drive pulley. The drive motor is turned on, the drum 1 rotates, the holding vanes 2 ensure potato rotation and the cutting operation can begin. This is done by pushing the potato with a triangular shaped block 18 attached to an air cylinder. The block has prongs 19 that turn the final remaining potato end through the blade 5. The thickness of the cut is controlled by the distance between the blade 5 and the inside surface of the housing 7.
Comments
This section will describe the method and components of the automated prototype of the previously patented spiral potato slicing apparatus (U.S. Pat. No. 5,784,942, Jul. 28, 1998). It includes the assembly described in Section 1 which will be referred to as “slicer 14”.
The following components are shown in
The potatoes are introduced to the entry feeder 9 whereas each is longitudinally advanced to the loading feeder 10. The entry sensor 21 would control the apparatus supplying the potatoes to the entry feeder 9. The load position sensor will stop the action of the entry feeder 9 when activated. The potato will be advanced by the loading feeder 10 to the load tray 11 until the loaded sensor 23 is activated. The loading feeder 10 will stop; the load tray cylinder 12 will rotate the load tray 11 to the load potato position. When the slicer 14 has been placed in the load position, the load apparatus 13 will advance the potato into the slicer 14. The slicer rotate cylinder 15 will place the slicer 14 in the cut position. It is recognized at this time the above action may repeat to position the next potato for loading thereby increasing production capability. When the slicer 14 has reached cut position, the push cylinder 20 will engage the potato, forcing the prongs 19 into the end of the potato. Simultaneously, the drive motor 17 will start rotating the slicer 14. The push block 18 will align with the triangular opening made by the holding vanes within the slicer 14. The potato will advance through the slicer 14 by the removal of a substantially continuous spiral sheet from the end of the potato. At the conclusion of the slicing operation, the prongs 19 will ensure the total slicing of the potato by turning the potato end until the push block 18 reaches the slicing blade. The rotating drum turns the push block 18 by its contact with the holding vanes. The potato core may be suspended from the prongs 19 and may be removed by the retraction of the push cylinder 20. When the push cylinder 20 has retracted, the slicer 14 will be rotated to the load position for the next cycle.
Comments