Feed roll construction

Abstract

A feed roll for use in conjunction with a machine in a food processing operation. A hub of the roll carries a resilient outer component including a sleeve having conical end members which flex during momentary contact with the article. The surface areas of the flexed end members are adequate to advance the article being processed while avoiding damage to the article.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention concerns feed rolls used in commercial enterprises to advance articles along a course during processing of same. [0002] By way of example, in the food processing industry it is a common practice to transfer, in succession, harvested ears of corn along a conveyor path with the objective being the introduction of each ear to a corn cutting machine for separation of kernels from cob. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,060, incorporated herein by reference, discloses such a machine. The patented machine has cooperating upper and lower pairs of rolls which receive each husk free ear of corn in sequence and advance same into a housing wherein an orbital cutter blade removes the kernels. The upper and lower pairs of rolls have lugs which frictionally engage the ear kernels. The lugs on existing rolls have angular surfaces resulting in line contact with and the rupturing of some kernels which become waste as damaged kernels are often not util...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] Present roll construction utilizes a molded, resilient body which advances articles in succession along a path with minimal impact and damage to the article including food products. Inclined roll surfaces yield upon contact with the article. The inclined, product engaging surfaces, momentarily yield providing adequate frictional engagement with the ear to advance same. Roll walls avoid presenting sharply defined, firm edges to the kernels. Upon ear passage the roll returns to a normal configuration. The use of a resilient synthetic material, such as urethane, enhances adhesion between the feed roll and the article being propelled to the extent, at least in some uses, dispensing with a metal prong heretofore used on a feed roll to assure driving contact with the article.

Problems solved by technology

The lugs on existing rolls have angular surfaces resulting in line contact with and the rupturing of some kernels which become waste as damaged kernels are often not utilized in the end product.

To the extent known, feed rolls of corn cutting machines have lug bearing surfaces and, even though the roll material is somewhat resilient, a substantial number of kernels are rendered unusable.

What may initially appear as a minimal loss constitutes a sizeable loss of product when the high volume of processed corn is considered even over a short period of time.

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