Apparatus and method for cutting products of generally elongated shape - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for cutting products with a generally elongated shape, such as fruits or vegetables, such as bananas, cucumbers, zucchinis, carrots, yucca, sweet potatoes, taro, malanga, etc. The apparatus includes a main support structure, a conveyor, and a cutting element for cutting the fed products. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tub for receiving the cut products and containing some suitable fluid (e.g. water or oil) for cleaning the cut products from surface substances such as starch or latex.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention is in the field of product cutting. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for cutting elongated products, in particular food products, such as bananas, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, yucca, sweet potatoes, taro, malanga, etc. The present invention also relates to a cutting method using said device. [Background technology]

[0002] For the past three million years, humans have been applying cutting tools to food using the force and motion of their hands to achieve the effects we obtain with machines today.

[0003] Cutting of products is a widely known and used technique, especially in the processing of food items. Various types of food products are cut and even processed before being transformed by heat treatments such as frying or baking for eventual sale to consumers.

[0004] On the other hand, it is well known that fruits and vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, bananas, etc., contain undesirable substances such as starch or latex on their surfaces which can impair the taste of the food when these foods are processed, for example, in a fryer or dehydrator.

[0005] As far as latex is concerned, it is particularly important to remove said undesirable substances from the product, since it has been reported that a certain percentage of the population suffers from allergic reactions to this ingredient.

[0006] During the converting step, the conveyor belt accumulates latex during transport of recently cut product, and the presence of latex is undesirable during processing of the product. The cleaning process is tedious and requires time and effort from several employees.

[0007] Furthermore, latex is detrimental in later steps, such as the frying step, since any buildup of latex can cause problems in the equipment and reduce its useful life.

[0008] In the case of bananas, latex is found in all parts of the plant and, although the latex is fresh and the fluid can be washed off, after a few hours the latex becomes sticky and eventually transforms into dark stains on the skin of the fruit, reducing the quality of the final product.

[0009] Water washing processes to remove latex from products such as bananas are widely known, but typically an additional liquid is used, such as BANASPAR-S®, which is specifically formulated to remove fresh latex from harvested bananas and plantains, thereby preventing them from becoming stained or over-ripened.

[0010] Furthermore, the industry needs equipment that makes it possible to cut the above products, which, given their nature, have a generally elongated shape, in an automatic and continuous manner, thereby avoiding the use of additional equipment that would increase production costs or dead times in the process due to the need to have to modify existing equipment.

[0011] Some efforts registered in the state of the art to solve the above problems are as follows:

[0012] Document US 6,413,566 anticipates a slicing process for relatively hard vegetables or fruits, which comprises feeding the vegetables or fruits through a vertical conveyor and guiding the vegetables or fruits to a centrifugal slicer, which slices the vegetables or fruits to obtain vegetable or fruit slices and then unloading the vegetable or fruit slices into water.

[0013] Document US 4,852,441 describes a slicing process for food products, in particular apples, which comprises feeding the food product through a vertical conveyor, guiding the food product to an axial slicing disc, which slices the food product to obtain slices from the food product.

[0014] Document US 5,875,697 describes a conveyor device for transporting food products, which comprises endless belt conveyors connected to each other by an adjustment mechanism that makes it possible to accommodate a variety of food products regardless of their size and shape.

[0015] Document CN 107351141 describes a cutting device for cucumbers, which comprises a fastening and cutting mechanism and a feeding mechanism, an annular airbag for said fastening and cutting mechanism is installed between a zipper with a disk shape and a bearing support with a disk shape, said fastening set is uniformly distributed on said bearing support with a disk shape, and several clamping pillars of said fastening set are installed in a sliding manner on said bearing support with a disk shape through bearing steps.

[0016] The applicant specifies that documents KR 1020100116437 and US 2378502 relate to a food processing device, in particular a rotary slicer, which comprises a housing, said housing having an inlet and an outlet in a space therein, on which a disk with a plurality of cutting sheets is arranged, said plurality of cutting sheets slicing food pressed against said plurality of cutting sheets when said disk is rotated. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0017] Notwithstanding the different alternatives discussed above, a need exists for additional solutions that are efficient, cost effective, and versatile for cutting products having a generally elongated shape. [Means for solving the problem]

[0018] The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting elongated products, the apparatus for cutting elongated products comprising a main support structure, a conveyor, a cutting element for cutting the fed products, a drive unit for activating the conveyor, and a drive unit for activating the cutting element. The conveyor comprises at least two lateral belts and at least one back belt for directing the fed products towards the cutting element, the cutting element being arranged adjacent to an outlet section of the conveyor. In a further embodiment, the apparatus also comprises a tub for receiving the cut products and containing a suitable fluid for cleaning the cut products from undesired substances on the surface of the cut products, and a base for supporting the apparatus and the tub.

[0019] The present invention further provides a method for cutting a product delivered using the above apparatus.

[0020] The present invention relates to an improved device and method making it possible to cut elongated products at high speed, preferably food products from the group bananas, cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, yucca, sweet potatoes, taro, malanga, etc.

[0021] The cutting apparatus and method of the present invention can adjust the space between the feed belts in a real-time and continuous manner, allowing for the feeding of products with generally elongated shapes and dimensions that can vary from product to product (at high frequency for the above food groups), reducing production time and costs.

[0022] The cutting apparatus and method of the present invention allows for adjustable production capacity and is useful for small as well as medium and large production machines.

[0023] The cutting device and method of the present invention are simple, efficient, cost-effective and, in the case of the above mentioned groups of food products, allow efficient removal of unwanted substances on the surface of the cut products, such as latex or starch, thus avoiding the use of special chemical products for the removal of said substances.

[0024] Finally, the present invention aids in the handling and processing of cut products with an apparatus and method provided that delivers a clean product (free of unwanted material) that does not stick to the walls of the facility, does not stick to the hands of personnel handling the product, and also gives the product a good appearance for end consumption.

[0025] These and other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0026] The accompanying drawings show a preferred embodiment of the present invention with a drop vertical configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1.1] FIG. 2 is a top right front perspective view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1.2] This is a front view of Figure 1.1. [Figure 1.3] This is a right side view of Figure 1.1. [Figure 2.1] FIG. 13 is a top left front perspective view of an apparatus according to an additional embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2.2] This is a front view of Figure 2.1. [Figure 3.1] FIG. 2 is a top right front perspective view of the main support structure; [Figure 3.2] This is a right side view of Figure 3.1. [Figure 3.3] This is a front view of Figure 3.1. [Figure 4.1] FIG. 2 is a top right front perspective view of the conveyor. [Figure 4.2] This is a right side view of Figure 4.1. [Figure 5.1] This is a front view of Figure 4.1. [Figure 5.2]This is a rear view of Figure 4.1. [Figure 6.1] FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a spring compressor system installed on an upper portion of a conveyor. [Figure 6.2] FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a spring compressor system installed on the lower portion of the conveyor. [Figure 6.3] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a static adjustment system forming part of the spring compressor system. [Figure 6.4] FIG. 13 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a spring compressor system installed on the rear portion of the conveyor. [Figure 6.5] FIG. 1 is a detailed view of a section of the spring compressor system installed above the exit of the conveyor. [Figure 6.6] FIG. 2 is a top view of the conveyor as the products to be cut are delivered. [Figure 6.7] FIG. 1 is a detailed view showing the connection between the moving means and the spring compressor system. [Figure 7.1] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the conveyor drive unit. [Figure 7.2] FIG. 13 is a top right front perspective view of the drive unit of the conveyor. [Figure 8.1] FIG. 2 is a side view of the drive unit of the cutting element. [Figure 8.2] FIG. 13 is a top right front perspective view of the drive unit of the cutting element. [Figure 9.1] FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the cutting element on the bottom surface. [Figure 9.2] FIG. 13 is a detailed view showing the coupling of a cutting element with a device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 9.3] FIG. 13 is a detailed view of the safety module of the cutting element. [Figure 10.1] 13 is a perspective view of a tab of a device according to an additional embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10.2] FIG. 1 is an internal view of a longitudinal cross section of the section of the tub in which the submersible pump is installed. [Figure 11.1] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the lower part of the device showing the exit process of the cut products. [Figure 11.2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the submersible pump device. [Figure 11.3] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a base supporting an apparatus according to a further embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12.1] FIG. 1 is an internal view of the conveyor showing the function of the spring compressor system on the transverse belt. [Figure 12.2] FIG. 13 is a side view of the conveyor showing the function of the spring compressor system on the back belt. [Figure 13.1] FIG. 2 is a side view of an apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13.2] FIG. 13 is a top view of an apparatus according to an additional embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 14.1] 1 is a block diagram showing the process flow of an additional embodiment of the present invention with a horizontal configuration and flow to the right. [Figure 14.2] 1 is a block diagram illustrating the process flow of an additional embodiment of the present invention having a descending slope configuration. [Figure 14.3] 1 is a block diagram illustrating the process flow of an additional embodiment of the present invention with an elevated vertical configuration. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] The following description is made in no uncertain manner with reference to Figures 1.1 to 14.3.

[0029] Firstly, it should be emphasized that the attached drawings show only an illustrative embodiment for cutting bananas, however, as will be clear to a person skilled in the art, the invention can be used for any product having an elongated shape, preferably food products included in the above mentioned groups.

[0030] Secondly, the drawing also shows an embodiment of the invention having a vertical configuration with a downward flow, i.e. the feeding of the product to be cut is carried out by the upper part of the device, while the outlet and the tub, where the product is washed, are installed on the lower part. However, as will become clear to the skilled person from the following description, said configurations are within the scope, for example vertical with an upward flow (feeding through the lower part, exit / washing is done through the upper part); horizontal towards the right or left (feeding and exit are on the same line); inclined with a downward flow (feeding through the upper part, exit / washing is done in the lower part); inclined with an upward flow (feeding through the lower part, exit / washing is done in the upper part), etc. Some of these embodiments are shown by block diagrams in figures 14.1 to 14.3.

[0031] The term "plurality" as used throughout this invention refers to a defined number of elements which may vary from 2-20.

[0032] The term "at least" is used throughout this invention to indicate a minimum or lower limit as stated.

[0033] The apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a main support structure 11, a conveyor 13, a drive unit 14 for actuating the conveyor 13, a cutting element 20 and a drive unit 28 for actuating the cutting element 20, as can be seen in Figures 1.1 to 1.3.

[0034] The main support structure 11 of Figures 3.1-3.3 comprises a number of recesses 12 for coupling the conveyor 13 and the cutting elements 20 with their respective drive units 14 and 28, as can be seen from Figures 1.1-1.3. In additional embodiments, the main support structure 11 can be provided with additional attachments, for example attachments for coupling a conveyor (not shown) for feeding the products to be cut in an automatic and continuous manner.

[0035] The conveyor 13 shown in Figures 4.1, 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2 comprises a first plate 34 and a second plate 35 preferably installed parallel to each other, the first plate 34 and the second plate 35 having a number of orifices for coupling the first and second plates to each other by a mechanical joint 36, such as a screw and a nut. Separators coupled to the first plate 34 and the second plate 35 by a number of orifices determine the distance between the first plate 34 and the second plate. In one embodiment of the invention, the separators are sleeves, but one skilled in the art will understand that a wide variety of elements can be used for these purposes. In an alternative embodiment, both the first plate 34 and the second plate 35 are arranged welded to the separator.

[0036] The feeding of the products 9 is performed by a feed section 37, which in the embodiment shown is located in the upper part of the conveyor 13, while the exit from the conveyor for a subsequent feeding to a cutting step is performed by an exit section 38, which in the embodiment shown is located in the lower part of the conveyor 13. Said exit section 38 is arranged adjacent to the cutting element 20, regardless of the configuration used for the conveyor. Preferably, the feed section 37 has a hopper shape. In fact, although it is true that in the drawing said hopper shape is located on the first plate 34, said shape can be present in an undefined manner on the second plate 35.

[0037] Through the front / inner part of the first plate 34 and the back / inner part of the second plate 35, a first moving means 71 is coupled to move the transverse belt 41 (Fig. 6.6) so that the first moving means 71 is located in the inner part of the conveyor 13 (Figs. 4.1 and 4.2). In a preferred embodiment, the first moving means 71 comprises at least two drive pins 39, at least two feed pins 40, at least two compressor pins 26, at least two tension pins 44, at least two free pins 45 and at least two outlet pins 46 (Fig. 12.1). The coupling of the first moving means 71 to the plates 34 and 35 of the conveyor 13 is performed by coupling means, for example mechanical joints such as screws and nuts, although the skilled person will understand that a wide variety of elements can be used for these purposes. The first moving means 71 comprises a shaft 27 which is coupled to a spring compressor system 49 (FIG. 6.7), as will be explained later.

[0038] The first plate 34 of the conveyor 13 has a longitudinal opening in its central part (Fig. 5.2) over which the rear belt 42 rests so that it feeds through the rear / outer part of the first plate 34 of the conveyor 13 (Fig. 4.2). In a preferred embodiment, said longitudinal opening has a rectangular shape. In the rear / outer part of the first plate 34, second moving means 58 are arranged for moving the rear belt 42, as shown in Fig. 12.2. In a preferred embodiment, the second moving means 58 includes at least two rear upper pins and two rear lower pins, and also has a shaft 27 which is coupled to the spring compressor system 49.

[0039] As a result, the transverse belts 41 and the rear belts 42 form a path through which the products 9 to be cut can be fed and maintain a single position and orientation without the risk of falling off (Figure 6.6).

[0040] A number of guides 43 (Fig. 12.1) help the transverse belts 41 to move the products 9 to the cutting elements 20 and to keep the products 9 in a set position. Said number of guides 43 can also be moved depending on the size of the products 9 to be cut. In one embodiment, said movement is made from left to right.

[0041] In another embodiment of the invention, the second plate 35 includes a longitudinal opening that coincides with the first plate 34 of the conveyor 13, and a window 48 can be placed over said longitudinal opening to cover it and to allow a view of whatever is happening in the internal part of the conveyor 13 of the device 10. The window 48 is fixed by a fastening means, for example a mechanical joint such as a screw and a nut, although those skilled in the art will understand that a wide variety of elements can be used for these purposes. In a preferred embodiment, the window 48 has a rectangular shape.

[0042] A spring compressor system 49 (Figs. 6.1, 6.5-6.7) for a conveyor belt according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of preferably elongated moving chambers, each of which is arranged on a base structure 51. In each of the plurality of moving chambers, a bush 55 and a spring 54 for tensioning a shaft 27 of a different first moving means 71 of the lateral belt 41, which is connected to one end of the bush 55, are installed in the inner part of the chamber, said spring 54 being connected to a calibration element 56 at the opposite end for decreasing or increasing said applied tension. In a preferred embodiment, the calibration element 56 comprises at least one calibration screw. As a result, when the spring 54 applies tension to the bush 55 by the calibration element 56, the shaft 27 of the first moving means 71 is moved longitudinally relative to the base structure 51 of each moving chamber to tension the lateral belt 41, as the arrows indicate in Figs. 6.1-6.3.

[0043] The spring compressor system 49 also includes a static adjustment system coupled to the tensioning pin 44 (Figures 6.3 and 12.1). Said static adjustment system includes a base structure 51, a bushing 55 coupled to the shaft 27 of the tensioning pin 44, and a calibration element 56, as well as a number of moving chambers. This system does not include a spring, since its function is to always maintain the same position and provide a constant pressure equal to the counter pressure of the transverse belt 41 so that the transverse belt 41 always remains in tension.

[0044] In one embodiment, a static adjustment system of spring compressor system 49 is mounted on both transverse belts 41 and on each of plates 34 and 35 of conveyor 13 .

[0045] Furthermore, the spring compressor system 49 includes a section mounted at the outlet of the conveyor 13, which section includes a base structure 68 coupled to both outlet pins 46, on which coupling means 57 are mounted for joining the spring 83 to the base structure 68, as shown in FIG. 6.1. The coupling means 57 may include screws or any other elements known by a person skilled in the art for these purposes. In one embodiment, the spring 83 and the coupling means 57 are mounted in the lower chamber 50 of the base structure 68, as shown in FIG. 6.5 and FIG. 12.1.

[0046] Furthermore, the spring compressor system 49 of the present invention makes it possible to continuously open and close the space between the transverse belts 41 depending on the dimensions and shape of the fed products 9 in order to keep the products in an optimal position for the cutting step and to reduce the amount of residue generated during the cutting step.

[0047] In one embodiment, the spring compressor system 49 is mounted on the plates 34 and 35 of the conveyor 13 by screws or any other type of connection known to one of ordinary skill in the art. In an additional embodiment, the spring compressor system 49 includes a lid (not shown) that can keep all the elements in place.

[0048] The spring compressor system 49 of the present invention acts on both the lateral belts 41 and the rear belts 42 .

[0049] To tension the back belt 42, a base structure 51, a spring 54, a bush 55 and a calibration element 56 are also arranged on the back / outer part of each end of the first plate 34 of the conveyor 13, as can be seen in Fig. 6.4 and Fig. 12.2. In this case, the shaft 27 of the second moving means 58 is coupled to the bush 55. Optionally, a guide 81 can be arranged to help the back belt 42 not to be deformed (Fig. 12.2).

[0050] The drive unit 14 (figures 7.1 and 7.2) comprises a motor means 15, a transmission system 79 including a pulley 76 connected to the motor means 15, a pulley 77 connected to a gearing 78, a strap 18 for connecting both the pulley 76 and the pulley 77, which in turn comprises at least two motor gears 16 for transmitting rotational energy to the transverse belts 41, a free gear 17 for changing the direction of movement of the transverse belts 41 of the conveyor 13 and transmitting the necessary power to the motor gears 16, and a support structure 19 for connecting all the previous elements to the main support structure 11. In a preferred embodiment, the motor means 15 is preferably a motor. The motor means 15 move the transverse belts 41 at the same speed and torque, but in opposite directions to each other due to their configuration.

[0051] In the vertically downward embodiment shown in figures 1.1 to 13.2, the products 9 are moved downwards by the action resulting from gravity in the direction towards the cutting element 20. In the vertically upward or horizontally towards the right or left like embodiment, said movement is effected by the action of the transverse belts 41. If required, the conveyor 13 can also be equipped in the outlet section 38 with suitable means, for example deflectors or the like, for directing the products 9 to be cut towards the cutting element 20.

[0052] The lateral belts 41 can be powered by the drive unit 14, while the rear belts 42 move in a free manner, without any type of motor, as the products 9 are fed avoiding overlapping while moving towards the cutting element 20, whilst allowing the products 9 to remain in a fixed position.

[0053] In the embodiment shown, the cutting element 20 (Figs. 9.1-9.3) is installed in a horizontal manner and adjacent to the exit section 38 of the conveyor 13. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said cutting element 20 is a disk such as those sold by manufacturers such as URSCHEL®, comprising a body 21 with a bottom surface shown in Fig. 9.1 and a top surface (Figs. 9.2 and 9.3) in direct contact with the conveyor 13, and a shaft 22 for connecting the cutting element 20 to the main support structure 11.

[0054] The cutting element 20 is supported by at least two support elements 72, e.g. row locks, which aid in the calibration and alignment of the cutting element 20. In one embodiment, said support elements 72 are arranged on the top surface of the cutting element 20, as can be seen in Fig. 9.2. On the axis 22, an upper calibration element 23 and a lower component 24 are provided to adjust the distance between the cutting element 20 and the transverse belt 41, either to increase or decrease said distance.

[0055] The cutting element 20 of the invention can in an additional embodiment comprise a safety module (Fig. 9.3) for avoiding vibrations that may occur when the cutting element 20 is working at high speed. Said safety module comprises a rotating element 53, e.g. a box 52 in which a bearing is installed, and a fixing element 25, e.g. a screw for fixing the rotating element 20 to the box 52. The box 52 is joined to the installation by a coupling element 82 that allows to adjust the height of the safety module.

[0056] The function of the safety module is to provide a buffer mechanism whereby a normal force is applied by the rotating element 53 to the top surface of the cutting element 20 such that vibrations from the cutting element are absorbed by the rotating element 53. Damage to both the cutting element 20 and the conveyor belt 13 is thus avoided.

[0057] A drive unit 28 (figures 8.1 and 8.2) energizes the cutting element 20. Said drive unit 28 comprises a motor means 29, preferably a motor, for example of the electric type, and a transmission system 80 including a pulley 30 connected to the motor means 29, a pulley 32 connected to the cutting element 20, and a strap 31 for connecting the pulleys 30 and 32 to each other, although a person skilled in the art will understand that other types of transmission systems can be used, for example friction wheels, chains, etc. The motor means 29 then transmits the necessary power to the cutting element 20 so that it can rotate and cut the products 9 as the fed products move through the cutting element 20. In a preferred embodiment, the rotation speed reached by the rotating element 20 is 2100 rpm, so that the cutting process is almost instantaneous, although said speed can be modified according to the needs of each process.

[0058] It is important to mention that if the speed of the cutting element 20 is as described above and the speed of the transverse belt 41 of the conveyor 13 can be controlled in a variable cycle by the two drive units, the invention makes it possible to adjust the production capacity, which is made appropriate for different purposes and for different sectors, e.g. for small, medium and large production machines.

[0059] The support structure 33 of the drive unit 28 also comprises a base plate 74 on which the motor means 29 rests, said base plate 74 having a number of elongated grooves 75 to which a number of coupling means, e.g. mechanical joints such as screws and nuts, are coupled (Fig. 8.2), which couple the base plate 74 to the support structure 33 such that said base plate 74 is longitudinally movable and allows the tension of the straps 31 to be adjusted to avoid movement problems.

[0060] An additional embodiment includes a tub 59 located in a manner adjacent to the outlet section 38 of the above-mentioned device 10 (Figs. 2.1, 2.2, 10.1 and 10.2). The tub 59 can contain fresh water, oil or any other type of suitable fluid to receive the cut product, depending on the desired purpose and the type of product to be delivered. The cutting element 20 is located in the tub 59 containing some fluid for performing the cutting process, and the cutting element 20 immediately unloads the product 9 into the fluid, but the cutting element 20 is not completely immersed in the fluid, rather only a portion of it and the calibration element 24 are in direct contact with the fluid, as shown in Fig. 11.1.

[0061] The tub preferably contains fresh water to wash the food as it is cut, since when the tub comes to the food, these foods may have unwanted substances such as starch or latex on the shaved surface. In an alternative embodiment, the tub 59 contains oil at room temperature. The oil has the advantage that it can be used again when the cut products are cooked later, for example in a fryer, because after the cutting step, the products can be introduced directly into the fryer. When the cutting is done underwater, a step before frying is required, in which all the water is evaporated, so that it does not enter the fryer and cause damage. Nevertheless, the water and oil, in addition to removing unwanted substances in the product 9, allow the product to not be layered as it emerges from the cutting element in slices.

[0062] In a preferred embodiment, said tub 59 is in the shape of an inverted pyramid, as shown in figure 10.1. At one end of the tub 50, a section 60 is extended to accommodate a conveyor belt 65 that will carry the cut products outside the device 10, but those skilled in the art will know that the shape of the tub 59 can be varied according to the needs of the process. In a preferred embodiment, this shape ensures that both the fluid and the unwanted substances generated from the cut products flow to the same area, i.e. towards a section 61 of the tub 59, where an extraction means 62, such as a submersible pump, is installed (figure 10.2) to transport the fluid containing the product residues through a hose 69 towards the next step of the process (filtration) which will be explained later.

[0063] In another embodiment, a deflector (not shown) is placed at the end of the conveyor belt 65 for the cut product (Figure 11.1) to guide the cut product towards another step of the process, for example cooking of the product before sale to the final consumer. Similarly, an air flow can be provided at the outlet of the conveyor belt 65 to push the slices of cut product towards other steps of the process (Figure 11.1).

[0064] To complete the washing of the cut products, at the outlet of the conveyor belt 65 for the cut products a washing fluid distributor element 67, e.g. a sprinkler, is also installed (Figure 11.1).

[0065] The tub 59 may also include a valve 64 to control the fluid level in the tub and avoid spillage, and a purge 63 to drain the fluid in the tub 59 (FIG. 10.1).

[0066] On the other end of the tub 59, a filter belt 66 containing mesh is installed so that all the fluid recirculated by the submersible pump 62 through the hose 69 is filtered before being recirculated to the cutting element 20 (Figures 2.2 and 13.2).

[0067] As shown in Figures 2.1 and 2.2, a base 70 (Figure 11.3) supports the device 10 with all the structural features described above.

[0068] Method for cutting a product

[0069] The present invention also provides a cutting method for a product using the device 10 described above, said method comprising the following steps:

[0070] a) feeding the products 9 to be cut onto the conveyor 13 of the device 10 through the feeding section 37.

[0071] When food products are involved, preferably the food products are provided without peeling and without any edges or edges to facilitate the process.

[0072] Preferably, the position of the products 9 in the infeed section 37 of the conveyor 13 is such that their longest side is parallel to the conveyor belt 13, as shown in Figure 13.1.

[0073] b) Transporting the delivered product by means of a conveyor 13 to a cutting element 20.

[0074] c) widening / reducing the distance between belts 41 and 42 of conveyor 13 depending on the dimensions of the delivered products 9 by means of said spring compressor system 49;

[0075] d) Cutting the product in the cutting element 20.

[0076] In an additional embodiment, the process of the present invention also allows for the removal of unwanted material from the cut products by the following steps:

[0077] e) Removing unwanted material from the cut products by immersing said products in a suitable fluid contained in a tub 59 to obtain cleaned cut products.

[0078] When the product 9 is cut and immersed in a tub 59 containing some fluid, the fluid gradually changes its color and / or appearance due to unwanted substances that are transferred from the cut product. Latex, for example, turns water yellow and oil cloudy yellow.

[0079] To maintain a clean fluid, the fluid must be constantly replaced, which depends on the type of process and will be determined by the skilled artisan. In the case of oil, the oil can be filtered to remove residues from unwanted materials and then reused in the process.

[0080] f) Removing the cut product.

[0081] After removing the unwanted material in the fluid-containing tub 59, the product is forced out of the cutting element 20 by centrifugal force to reach the conveyor belt 65 for cut products (Fig. 11.1), which, in addition to transporting the cut products outside the device 10 towards other possible steps of the process (e.g. frying), serves as a filter to separate the clean product slices from the unwanted material remaining in the fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the clean fluid flow is fed through a distribution element 67 installed at the outlet of the conveyor belt 65 for cut products to finish the washing process (Fig. 2.1 and Fig. 11.1). The clean cut products can then be fed to the following steps with the help of a deflector and an air flow coming from the outlet of the conveyor belt 65 (Fig. 11.1).

[0082] In another additional embodiment, the method proposed by the present invention also comprises a step of filtering and recirculating the filtered fluid to the cutting element 20: g) filtering the fluid laden with undesired material and feeding the fluid back to the cutting element 20.

[0083] The fluid laden with unwanted material transferred from the cut products traverses the cut product conveyor belt 65 and is now directed towards the submersible pump 62 which guides the fluid through a hose 69 towards the filtering belt 66 where it becomes filtered from the unwanted material of the cut products to be pumped back to the cutting element 20. In this way the knives of the cutting element 20 always remain clean and lubricated (Figure 13.2).

[0084] If the undesired materials are removed almost instantly (seconds after they are introduced into the fluid-containing tub 59), the present invention is completed as an efficient cutting and removal system of undesired materials, as a result of said removal, the product does not stick to the walls of the facility or to the hands of the personnel handling the product, the product has a good appearance for end consumption, and further, avoids the need to use chemical additives whose function would be to remove said materials.

[0085] Modifications of the invention described herein may be anticipated by those skilled in the art. However, the present specification relates to preferred embodiments of the invention, and the specification is for illustrative purposes only. Modifications that are clearly within the spirit of the invention, such as changes in shape, material, and dimensions of the features that constitute the invention, will be considered to be within the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 9 Products 10. Apparatus for cutting products having a substantially elongated shape 11 Main support structure 13 Conveyor 14 Drive unit that activates the conveyor 20 Cutting Elements 28 Drive unit for activating the cutting element 34 First Plate 35 Second Plate 36 Means for joining the first plate and the second plate 37 Feed Section 38 Exit Section 41 Horizontal Belt 42 Back Belt 49 Spring Compressor System 58 Secondary means of moving the back belt 59 Tabs 71 First moving means for moving the lateral belt

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for cutting elongated food products having a shape and dimension, the apparatus comprising: a first lateral conveyor belt assembly, a second lateral conveyor belt assembly, and a food cutting element, the first lateral conveyor belt assembly having a first lateral belt portion and the second lateral conveyor belt assembly having a second lateral belt portion opposite the first lateral belt portion to form first and second opposing sides of an aisle for receiving elongated food products and feeding the elongated food products to the cutting element to provide cut food products, the apparatus further comprising a back conveyor belt assembly disposed along the first lateral conveyor belt assembly and the second conveyor belt assembly, the back conveyor belt assembly having a back belt portion to form a third side of the aisle for stabilizing the elongated food products during progression through the aisle.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first transverse conveyor belt assembly and the second transverse conveyor assembly extend parallel to one another.

3. 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, wherein the back belt portion is substantially perpendicular to each of the first transverse conveyor belt assembly and the second transverse conveyor assembly.

4. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a support structure, first springs and movement means for connecting the first lateral belt portion to the support structure, second springs and movement means for connecting the second lateral belt portion to the support structure, and third springs and movement means for connecting the rear belt portion to the support structure, each of the springs and movement means allowing movement of at least a portion of the respective belt portion in response to the shape and size of an elongated food product traveling through the passage.

5. 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein each of said first spring and moving means and said second moving means has a spring for exerting a force on said respective belt and calibration means for adjusting the force of said spring on said respective belt portion.

6. 6. Apparatus according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the back spring and displacement means comprises a spring for exerting a force on the back belt and calibration means for adjusting the force of the spring on the back belt.

7. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising at least one drive unit for moving the first lateral belt portion and the second belt portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one drive unit is configured to move the first and second lateral belt portions in opposite directions.

9. 9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first static adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting the tension of the first belt portion and a second static adjustment assembly for selectively adjusting the tension of the second belt portion.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising a washing section for receiving and washing the cut food products for delivering the cleaned cut food products.

11. 1. A method for cutting an elongated food product having a shape and size, the method comprising: providing a first lateral conveyor portion and a second lateral conveyor portion to form opposing first and second sides of an aisle; providing a backing belt portion disposed adjacent the first lateral conveyor portion and the second lateral conveyor portion to form a third side of the aisle; feeding the elongated food product to an entrance of the aisle; transporting the elongated food product through the aisle to an exit of the aisle; and cutting the elongated food product received from the exit of the aisle to provide a cut food product, whereby the backing belt portion additionally stabilizes the elongated food product being transported through the aisle.

12. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising removing undesired material from the cut food product with a fluid.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the fluid is selected from the group of oil and water.

14. 14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising deflecting at least a portion of the first and second transverse belt portions in response to the shape and size of an elongated food item.

15. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising deflecting at least a portion of the back belt in response to the shape and size of an elongated food product.

16. A method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, wherein a deflector is placed at the end of the passage.

17. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of selecting the elongated food product from banana, cucumber, zucchini, carrot, yucca, sweet potato, taro, malanga, and combinations thereof.

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