Machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from leafy fruit and vegetable products

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from leafy fruit and vegetable products, consisting of a central body, conveying and retaining belts, at least one root shaker, means for applying pressurised air with nozzles for the application of pressurised air from one or more pressurised air tanks, generated by a compressor, said nozzles being activatable by product detection means, characterised in that rollers are provided at the outlet of the pressurised air application means for the final separation of the skin from the product. Thus, the invention provides a product that has an improved appearance and finish by removing the outer layers without cutting the product, as well as increasing productivity, reducing the required labour force, and reducing water consumption.

Description

[0001] ^ ^ DESCRIPTION Machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing the surface layers of leafy fruits and vegetables. ^^ TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a machine for peeling and removing the surface layers of leafy vegetables using compressed air and a dry process. ^^^ The object of the invention is to provide equipment that, through the combination of compressed air and peeling rollers, facilitates the current process, automating it and reducing the labor required to perform the work. ^^^ It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine that facilitates a final manual inspection and finishing, allowing operators to use both hands, thus reducing the necessary labor. ^^^BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the practical application of the invention, when carrying out the cleaning or removal of surface layers or leaves of horticultural products, it is usual to use high-pressure air injection guns operated manually through a process ^^^ This method involves applying high-pressure air between the inner skin and outer peel of the exposed upper portion, for example, of an onion, while holding the scallion by its leaves with the other hand. Thus, devices for peeling by high-pressure air injection are well-known in the state of the art, with the disadvantage of limited productivity, since a worker must peel each product manually. Devices that use pressurized water for this purpose are also available on the market. ^^^Peeling. However, this peeling method has the drawback of intensive water use and the added difficulty of reusing the water and processing the waste mixed with it. Thus, patent document ES2160549 is known, disclosing a handling line for leeks, onions, and leafy vegetables comprising a conveyor that receives and feeds the product to the washing and peeling machine. This machine consists of an adjustable brush module made up of two subassemblies, a lower and an upper one, where each subassembly is formed by one or more shafts associated with one or more brushes, whose arrangement creates one or more cycles, and whose mechanism... ^^^The transmission system is located in compartments separate from the washing and peeling compartments, leading to a precision root and blade cutting module. This module, in turn, feeds trays subjected to vibration at a frequency, amplitude, and angle of incidence appropriate to the product being handled. The surface of these trays is coated with a lower layer of foam and an upper, wear-resistant layer, facilitating sliding and accumulation for the various handling operations. The system includes conveyors for waste removal and a programmable logic controller (PLC) in the control panel. Patent document WO2010093107A1 is also known, which... ^^^Reference to an onion peeler comprising a frame, a conveyor, and a pressurized water jet. The water jet is rotatably mounted on the upper side of the conveyor, spraying high-pressure wash water through at least one conical nozzle located at the bottom of the conveyor to peel onions being transported along it. On the other hand, patent documents ES2328209 and KR102277033B1 are known, which essentially disclose a device comprising a system of blades and compressed air nozzles for peeling products by separating the outer skin from the product. ^^^However, none of the known equipment offers a solution that allows for the dry peeling of leafy horticultural products without cutting the root, while preserving the leaves. Therefore, the applicant for this utility model application identifies the need to offer equipment that solves the described problem. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The proposed system fully and satisfactorily solves the aforementioned problem, based on a highly effective solution. Specifically, the machine of the invention includes a conveyor belt with separators for the individual placement of the product to be peeled or cleaned, and a clamping belt that runs parallel to the conveyor belt, from its midpoint to the rear end, designed to hold the product in place. ^^^The product is conveyed by the stem, leaving the bulb exposed. A root shaker with combs is installed laterally alongside the conveyor belts to shake the roots and remove any adhering soil. This leaves the product clean and ready for the subsequent peeling stage. The conveyor belts pass through a central frame housing product detection devices, such as a presence sensor, and a pressurized air application system. The detection system activates the pressurized air outlet. ^^^Nozzles properly oriented towards the product deliver pressurized air generated by a compressor and stored in a compressed air tank. This pressurized air, applied for a pre-programmed time, partially separates the first layer of skin from the product. Once the pressurized air has passed through the product, it moves to the separation zone, where rollers rotating in opposite directions are positioned laterally alongside the conveyor belts. This achieves the final separation or extraction of the first layer of skin from the product, completing the cleaning process. Furthermore, and as an essential aspect of the present invention, it should be noted that the processing speed can be regulated by means of a speed variator incorporated into the conveyor formed by the two belts described above.Finally, it should be noted that the optional extension of the captive belt at the product exit, beyond the final separation rollers, improves the performance of the final finishing of some of the pieces, allowing the use of both hands and saving 50% of the necessary labor with this single action. From this configuration, the following advantages are derived: • Improved product presentation and finish for packaging and sale. ^^^• Considerable reduction in labor employed. • Increased productivity of the production line. • Water savings due to the dry process. ^^^ In summary, the set of equipment mentioned above that make up the machine of the invention achieves the removal of the outer layers of fresh horticultural products without cutting the product, with an increase in productivity and a very significant decrease in the labor required. ^^^ BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description that follows and to aid in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of its practical embodiment, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of this description, in which the following is represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figure 1.- Shows a detailed top view of a machine for cleaning, peeling and. ^^^ Removal of surface layers from leafy fruit and vegetable products carried out in accordance with the object of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a side elevation view of the machine of Figure 1. Figure 3 shows, finally, an enlarged detail of the machine of Figure 2 at the level of its central area. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As can be seen from the figures described, the machine of the invention is made up of a central body or supporting frame (9), on which a conveyor belt (1) for placing the product is mounted, a belt that extends both before and after the central body (9), on which a plurality of ^^^Separators that allow individual placement of the product to be peeled, such as leeks, spring onions, calçots, chives, garlic shoots, carrots, turnips, and similar leafy products. Parallel to said conveyor belt (1), affecting its middle and rear section, ^^^ It establishes a conventional captive belt (2), equipped with means for securing the stems of the products to be cleaned / peeled. Once the products are stabilized by their stems, they are passed through at least one root shaker (3) located laterally to the two belts. This shaker consists of a series of combs or brushes designed to remove any soil that may have adhered to the roots, as well as to position the roots in a way that facilitates the removal of the peels after subsequent blowing. Next, in the intermediate zone of the machine, the process continues... ^^^Applying pressurized air to each of the pieces stabilized by the conveyor belt (1) in combination with the clamping belt (2), for which the frame (1) has a series of nozzles (7) that deliver or apply pressurized air from one or more pressurized air tanks (8), generated by a compressor (10). The activation of the nozzles (7) is regulated by product detection means (5), materialized in mechanical, electromechanical, or optical sensors. This activation causes the blowing off of the outer layers of the product, preventing it from moving and facilitating the operations of removing the leaves from the stem, peeling, brushing, and washing. Once the outer skin of the product in question, for example, onions / spring onions, is separated, the clamping belt (2) conveys the onions / spring onions towards eccentric rollers (4) that perform the final separation of the skin from the product.Eccentric rollers (4) arranged on the sides of the conveyor belt assembly (1) and the captive belt (2). Finally, the stabilized and clean product is redirected to the rear end. ^^^ (6) of the machine, where the conveyor belt (1) and the clamping belt (2) preferably extend beyond the rollers (4), defining a manual finishing work area for the operators. Because the product remains immobilized, it allows the operators to remove any skin that the machine has not properly eliminated, using only one hand. This facilitates the simultaneous handling of two pieces by one operator, thus reducing the required labor.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from leafy horticultural products, such as leeks, spring onions, calçots, chives, garlic shoots, carrots, turnips, radishes, or other leafy horticultural products, characterized in that it comprises a central body (9) on which a conveyor belt (1) for placing the product is mounted, extending both before and after the central body (9). The conveyor belt (1) has a plurality of separators for the individual placement of the product to be peeled. Parallel to this conveyor belt (1) is a clamping belt (2) equipped with means for securing the stems of the products to be peeled. Laterally to this pair of belts is at least one root shaker (3) consisting of combs for removing soil from the roots, after which the following are established:A machine for applying compressed air, including at least nozzles (7) for applying compressed air from one or more compressed air reservoirs (8) generated by a compressor (10), and activated by product detection means (5), wherein rollers (4) for the final separation of the product's skin are located at the outlet of the compressed air application means.

2. A machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from leafy horticultural products, according to claim 1, wherein the assembly formed by the conveyor belt (1) and the retaining belt (2) extends beyond the rollers (4) for the final separation of the product's skin, defining a manual finishing work area for the operators.

3. A machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from leafy horticultural products, according to claim 1.

4. Machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from leafy horticultural products, according to claim 1, wherein the product detection means (5) are comprised of mechanical sensors.

5. Machine for cleaning, peeling, and removing surface layers from products, ^ ^ leafy horticultural products, according to claim 1, wherein the means for detecting the product (5) are materialized in electro-mechanical sensors.

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