Movable point device for sensing the high pressure water jet from the cutting machine nozzle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device incorporated in a water jet cutting machine (1), provided with at least one receiving tank (4) and a movable nozzle (5), the device (10) being capable of inducing a high-pressure water jet (6) to emerge from the nozzle (5), and being characterized in that it comprises at least: a movable container (11) arranged in the receiving tank (4) in line with the nozzle (5), the lower part of the container (11) being connected to a flexible pipe (12) at the bottom of the receiving tank (4), and a drive device (16) for supporting and moving at least a part of the container (11)-pipe (12) assembly, the drive device comprising a drive part (17) rigidly connected to the nozzle (5) and a driven part (18) attached to the container (11), the drive part (17) and the driven part (18) not being mechanically connected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of water jet cutting machines for food products and more particularly to a device, generally referred to as a "catcher", which is capable of catching a water jet at the outlet of cut food products and is arranged below the nozzle of a water jet cutting machine. Background Art

[0002] In the field of cutting food products, water jet cutting machines are well known and comprise a frame on which is mounted a loading tray, which may be movable or immovable, in the form of a grid and which supports the food product to be cut, and a movable cutting head formed by a nozzle and connected to a carrier movable in longitudinal or transverse translation or to the free end of an arm rotating about a vertical axis above said tray; said carrier or arm being driven by an electric motor or similar device. During the cutting process, the water jet passes through the product to be cut and is caught by a container generally called a "catch". This catch is positioned in line with the nozzle and generally extends along the trajectory of the latter so as to be able to catch the water jet at the outlet of the cutting zone of the product to be cut, whatever the position of said nozzle. Said catch preferably comprises an elongated chute opening on the side of the nozzle, integral with the frame and connected at the bottom to a pump for draining the water at the outlet of the cutting zone.

[0003] Water jet cutting machines are also known as described in French patent application FR2528994 and German patent application DE102010019707.

[0004] While they are relatively effective, these types of catchers and water jet cutters have numerous disadvantages as listed below.

[0005] First, the impact of a pressurized and moving water jet on the surface of such a trap generates noise at levels that necessitate acoustic treatment of the installation.

[0006] Furthermore, in the cutting zone, the impact of the water jet generates a cloud of water droplets and particles from the cut food product, which become lodged on the sliding mechanism of the loading tray, the guide profiles of the carrier and the electric motor, becoming a breeding ground for mold and bacteria; this has a very negative impact on the overall hygiene of the cutting machine, necessitating frequent cleaning of said machine and the installation of additional suction devices in order to limit the impact of the cloud of water droplets.

[0007] Finally, it was realized that the traps in the form of elongated chutes were not very easy to clean. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is therefore to propose a device for capturing a water jet emerging from the cutting zone of an object being cut by a water jet cutting machine, which device is of simple design, easy to use and clean, while guaranteeing optimal results, namely a clean cut without excessive wetting of the object being cut, and which device generates noise, but the noise level is not too high.

[0009] According to the invention, a device is proposed, which is integrated into a water jet cutting machine provided with at least one receiving tank and a nozzle movable above said receiving tank, said device making it possible to capture the high-pressure water jet coming from said nozzle and having the notable characteristics that it comprises at least:

[0010] - a container arranged in line with the nozzle in the receiving tank, the container being connected at the bottom to a flexible pipe assembly connected to the bottom of the receiving tank, the container / pipe assembly being movable and removable relative to the receiving tank, and

[0011] - a drive device for at least partially supporting and setting the container / pipe assembly, comprising a drive part arranged outside the receiving tank and coupled to the nozzle, and a driven part arranged inside the receiving tank and fixed to the container, the drive device being such that there is no mechanical connection between the drive part and the driven part, at least one of the drive or driven parts comprising a magnet.

[0012] The driving member and the driven member preferably each comprise a magnet, so that when the driving member is moved simultaneously with the nozzle, the magnetic attraction of its magnet attracts the magnet of the driven member and causes movement of the latter and the container / pipeline assembly.

[0013] The container is preferably in the form of a funnel.

[0014] Preferably, the device comprises a carrier fixed to the container and cooperating with a guide profile fixed horizontally to one of the walls of the receiving tank so as to move the container / pipe assembly along said guide profile.

[0015] The carrier preferably comprises at least one roller.

[0016] The wall of the receiving tank and the associated guide contour each have a cross-section of a homothetic form to the nozzle trajectory.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the guide profile is straight.

[0018] According to another embodiment, the guide contour is arcuate.

[0019] Preferably, the pipe assembly is connected to the bottom of the receiving tank by a quick-connect coupling that does not require the use of tools. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further advantages and features emerge from the following description of embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0021] [ Figure 1 ] is a schematic cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to the present invention for capturing a water jet from a cutting zone of an object being cut by a running water jet cutting machine;

[0022] [ Figure 2 ]yes Figure 1 Schematic cross-section of a device for catching a water jet when removed so that it can be cleaned outside the cutting machine. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Figure 1 to Figure 2 A partial schematic diagram showing the following:

[0024] - the water jet cutting machine 1 comprises in particular a frame 2, which comprises in particular a horizontal mounting plane 3 and a receiving tank 4 extending below said mounting plane 3 and comprising at least one upper opening 41 and a substantially vertical wall 42 and a nozzle 5 from which a high-pressure water jet 6 emerges, the nozzle 5 being arranged above said mounting plane 3 and movable above said receiving tank 4, preferably in a straight or curved trajectory, i.e. the receiving tank 4 extending horizontally to cover a surface containing at least the projection of the trajectory of said nozzle 5,

[0025] - the object 7 to be cut is placed on the mounting plane 3 of the frame 2, usually on the grid 8 and arranged below the nozzle 5, and

[0026] - means 10 for catching the water jet 6 or the portion 61 of the water jet 6 leaving the cutting zone 9 of the object 7, usually called "catcher".

[0027] The device 10 comprises a container 11, preferably in the form of a funnel, arranged below and in line with the cutting zone 9 in the receiving tank 4 of the cutting machine 1, the container 11 being connected at the bottom to a pipe assembly 12, preferably flexible, connected to the bottom of the receiving tank 4, for example by means of a quick-connect coupling, not shown, so as to allow the removal of cutting wastewater during the cutting phase and the emptying of the receiving tank 4 during cleaning. In addition, the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly is movable and removable relative to the receiving tank 4.

[0028] The device 10 also comprises a carrier 13 fixed to the container 11, the carrier 13 preferably having at least one roller 14 and being able to cooperate with a guide profile 15 fixed horizontally to the wall 42 of the receiving tank 4 of the cutting machine 1, so that the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly is at least partially moved along the guide profile 15, the pipe assembly 12 being dimensioned to allow such movement despite its connection to the bottom of the receiving tank 4. The guide profile 15 may comprise, for example, one or more rails. The guide profile 15 may also not be attached to the wall 42 of the receiving tank 4, but be formed directly in the wall 42, without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0029] Preferably, the wall 42 of the receiving tank 4 of the cutting machine 1 and the associated guide profile 15 each have a cross section in a homogeneous form to the trajectory of the nozzle 5. Thus, if the trajectory is a straight line, the cross section of the wall 42 and the guide profile 15 is a straight line parallel to the trajectory, and the guide profile 15 is straight; if the trajectory is an arc, the cross section of the wall 42 and the guide profile 15 is an arc concentric with the trajectory, and the guide profile 15 is arcuate.

[0030] In order to set the movement and support of the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly, the device 10 further includes a drive device 16, which includes a drive component 17 arranged outside the receiving tank 4 and connected to the nozzle 5, that is, it moves simultaneously with the latter and describes a trajectory similar to that of the nozzle 5, and a driven component 18 arranged in the receiving tank 4 and fixed to the container 11 and preferably to its associated carrier 13.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the drive device 16 is such that there is no mechanical connection between the drive component 17 and the driven component 18. This configuration is meaningful because, on the one hand, it allows the drive and driven components 17, 18 to be arranged on both sides of the wall 42 of the receiving tank 4 without having to make holes through the wall 42, which avoids any risk of cutting the sewage out of the receiving tank 4, and on the other hand, it allows the container 11 and its pipe assembly 12 to be quickly disassembled without tools.

[0032] According to a further preferred embodiment, the driving part and the driven part 17, 18 each comprise a magnet 19, 20, so that when the driving part 17 moves simultaneously with the nozzle 5, the magnetic attraction of its magnet 19 attracts the magnet 20 of the driven part 18 and causes the latter to be displaced, thereby causing the carrier 13 and the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly to be displaced along the guide profile 15. This configuration is of particular significance because it not only ensures the displacement of the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly, but also, due to the magnetic attraction, it ensures the support of the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly and its support of the guide profile 15 in a simple manner.

[0033] However, according to an embodiment not shown, the driving part 17 or the driven part 18 comprises a magnet, while the other driven part 18 or the driving part 17 comprises a portion made of a material attracted by the magnet.

[0034] It is understood that under the magnetic attraction there may be a slight offset between the driving member 17 and the driven member 18, the latter falling behind the driving member 17. However, this offset is conducive to effective capture of the water jet, because the part 61 of the water jet 6 leaving the cutting zone 9 of the object 7 to be cut is also offset relative to the path of the nozzle 5.

[0035] Furthermore, it will be appreciated that the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly moves simultaneously with the nozzle 5 , making it possible to significantly reduce the size of said container 11 .

[0036] Through this construction, it can be understood that the device 10 according to the present invention has the following advantages:

[0037] - reduce the noise level generated by the movement of the pressurized water jet 6 against the surface of the container 11, since the size of the latter is reduced and the area of ​​diffusion of the generated noise is also reduced;

[0038] The object 7 to be cut is placed on the grid 8, while the cutting wastewater is carried away naturally (without exhaust fan) by the Venturi effect due to the container 11 in the form of a funnel.

[0039] - No need to clean the exhaust fan, as mentioned above, this is no longer necessary with this equipment;

[0040] - Simplicity of the drive system, which does not require any additional motors or associated cables;

[0041] - the device 10 has excellent cleanability, since its construction makes it possible to isolate the drive means 18 from the drive device 16 in the frame 2 outside the internal area of ​​the receiving tank 4, without any mechanical parts or electrical cables being visible in this area;

[0042] - Simple and quick removal of the receiving tank 4 of the cutting machine 1 out of the container assembly 11;

[0043] - by means of manual action to counteract the magnetic attraction of the magnet 19 of the drive 18 of the drive device 16, for cleaning the pipe assembly 12 outside the machine (refer to Figure 2 );

[0044] - easy, tool-free and safe reinstallation of the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly in the receiving tank 4 of the assembly's cutting machine 1 by bringing said container 11 / pipe 12 assembly into contact with the guide profile 15, by moving it into a position in line with the nozzle 5 and finally reconnecting the pipe assembly 12 to the bottom of said receiving tank 4;

[0045] - After removal of the container 11 / pipe 12 assembly, the receiving tank 4 of the cutting machine 1 is easy to clean.

[0046] Likewise, the device 10 according to the invention is preferably integrated into a water jet cutting machine 1 , the nozzle 5 of which is movable relative to its frame 2 .

[0047] Finally, it goes without saying that the above-described example of the device 10 according to the present invention is only a specific illustration and does not have any limiting value.

Claims

1. A device (10) integrated into a water jet cutting machine (1), provided with at least one receiving tank (4) and a nozzle (5) movable above the receiving tank (4), the device (10) being capable of catching a high-pressure water jet (6) from the nozzle (5), and characterized in that: It includes at least: - a container (11) arranged in line with the nozzle (5) in the receiving tank (4), the lower part of the container (11) being connected to a flexible pipe (12) assembly connected to the bottom of the receiving tank (4), the container (11) / pipe (12) assembly being movable and removable from the receiving tank (4), and - a drive device (16) for supporting and setting movement of at least a part of the container (11) / pipeline (12) assembly, comprising a drive component (17) arranged outside the receiving tank (4) and connected to the nozzle (5), and a driven component (18) arranged inside the receiving tank (4) and fixed to the container (11), the drive device (16) being such that there is no mechanical connection between the drive component (17) and the driven component (18), and at least the drive component (17) or the driven component (18) comprising a magnet.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The driving component (17) and the driven component (18) each include a magnet (19, 20), so that when the driving component (17) moves simultaneously with the nozzle (5), the magnetic attraction force of its magnet (19) attracts the magnet (20) of the driven component (18) and causes the latter and the container (11) / pipeline (12) assembly to be displaced.

3. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The driving component (17) or the driven component (18) comprises a magnet, and the other driven component (18) or the driving component (17) comprises a portion made of a material attracted by the magnet.

4. The device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that The container (11) is in the form of a funnel.

5. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that It comprises a carrier (13) fixed to the container (11) and cooperating with a guide profile (15) fixed horizontally to one of the walls (42) of the receiving tank (4), so that the container (11) / pipeline (12) assembly moves along the guide profile (15).

6. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that The object carrier (13) comprises at least one roller (14).

7. The device (10) according to any one of claims 5 or 6, characterized in that The wall (42) of the receiving tank (4) and the associated guide profile (15) each have a cross-section of a shape similar to the trajectory of the nozzle (5).

8. The device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that The guide profile (15) is straight.

9. The device (10) according to claim 7, characterized in that The guide profile (15) is arc-shaped.

10. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The pipe (12) assembly is connected to the base of the receiving tank (4) by a quick-connect coupling method that does not require any tools.

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