Conveyor for water jet cutting machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a conveyor (1) for transporting a product P to be cut under a jet (3) of high pressure liquid issuing from a nozzle (2) of a cutting machine in a vertical direction D, comprising at least: - a plurality of continuous loops (4) arranged parallel to one another and extending between two drive rollers (5) so as to define an upper strand (6) and a lower strand (7), each loop (4) comprising at least two longitudinal walls (8); and - two guide members (11) associated with at least each of the loops (4) and arranged between the two drive rollers (5), making it possible to twist the upper strand (6) of at least one associated loop (4) so ​​that its longitudinal wall (8) is parallel to said direction D between said two guide members (11).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to the general field of machines for water jet cutting of products, such as food products, by means of a water jet, and more particularly to a conveyor for moving the products to be cut under the nozzle of a water jet cutting machine. [Background technology]

[0002] In the field of cutting products, in particular food products, it is known to use water jet cutting machines, which consist of a frame, which may or may not be movable in a grid-like manner, on which is mounted a loading tray supporting the products to be cut, and a movable cutting head, consisting of a nozzle and fixed either to the free end of a carriage which moves according to a longitudinal or transverse translational movement or to an arm which can pivot about a vertical axis above said plate; said carriage or arm is actuated by an electric motor or the like.

[0003] This type of water jet cutting machine is certainly efficient, but has the drawback that it requires the use of a loading platform, as the loading tray needs to be removed in order to remove the cut product and place a new product to be cut on it, and as a result, the products cannot be cut continuously. Therefore, this type of water jet cutting machine is not easily adapted to automation of the movement of the product to be cut.

[0004] To partially overcome this drawback, there are conveyors for moving the product to be cut under the nozzle of the water jet cutting machine; this type of conveyor consists of a continuous belt of metal mesh supporting the product to be cut and stretching between two rolls, one of which is associated with a drive means for moving the continuous belt and thus the product to be cut.

[0005] This type of conveyor, although effective, has the major drawback of significantly wetting the product being cut due to splashing of the water jets on the metal mesh of the continuous belt, which is unacceptable for food type products. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a conveyor for moving the products to be cut under the nozzle of a water jet cutting machine, which is easy to implement and clean and at the same time ensures an optimal result, i.e. a clean cut without excessive moisture on the products to be cut, and which makes it possible to easily automate the movement of the products to be cut and thus cut said products continuously. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] According to the invention, a conveyor of a high-pressure liquid jet cutting machine is provided, which conveyor moves the products P to be cut under a high-pressure liquid jet issuing according to a vertical direction D of a nozzle of said cutting machine, characterized in that it comprises at least: - a plurality of continuous loops of width L and thickness E, arranged parallel to one another and each extending between two drive rollers so as to define an upper strand and a lower strand, each loop having at least two longitudinal walls, arranged such that the longitudinal walls of at least some of the upper and lower strands are perpendicular to the direction D, and - two guide members associated with at least each of the loops and arranged between two drive rollers, which make it possible to twist the upper strand of at least one associated loop so that its longitudinal wall is parallel to said direction D between the two guide members.

[0008] Advantageously, each guide member comprises two cylindrical rollers arranged on either side of the associated loop so as to be spaced apart from each other by a distance d slightly greater than the thickness E of the associated loop, each cylindrical roller being fixedly or pivotally mounted about an axis belonging to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive roller.

[0009] Preferably, the two cylindrical rollers are fixedly or pivotally mounted respectively about an axis parallel to the direction D.

[0010] According to another embodiment, each guide member includes a cylindrical roller pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the direction D and parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive roller, and is provided with a plurality of radial grooves each for receiving a loop, each radial groove having a width d slightly greater than the width E of the associated loop.

[0011] According to another embodiment, the conveyor is associated with an inlet conveyor allowing the product P to be cut to be brought onto said conveyor and / or an outlet conveyor allowing the product P to be cut to be discharged from said conveyor, each inlet or outlet conveyor comprising a plurality of continuous belts arranged parallel to one another and extending between at least one cylindrical roller pivotally mounted around an axis perpendicular to the direction D of the jet leaving the nozzle and parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive roller of the loop of the conveyor and one of the guide members of said conveyor so as to determine, respectively, an upper strand and a lower strand, at least said upper strand of the belt being placed on the cylindrical roller of the corresponding guide member between the loops.

[0012] Advantageously, each loop may be twisted so that it contacts with one of its longitudinal walls the outer wall of one of the drive rollers and with the other one of its longitudinal walls the outer wall of the other drive roller.

[0013] According to another embodiment, each loop is twisted like a Moebius ring.

[0014] Advantageously, each loop includes at least one bevel along the longitudinal edge of one of its longitudinal walls facing the jet emerging from the nozzle between said two guide members.

[0015] Preferably, each loop includes a bevel along the longitudinal edge of each of its longitudinal walls facing the jet exiting the nozzle between said two guide members.

[0016] Advantageously, the conveyor comprises adjustable tension means for each loop, which by means of an actuator make it possible to obtain an adapted and constant predetermined tension for each loop during operation and, conversely, to rapidly release said loop in order to replace it.

[0017] The invention also relates to a cutting machine comprising at least one nozzle from which a jet of high pressure liquid emerges according to a vertical direction D, including a conveyor according to the invention, characterized in that it comprises a funnel-shaped container aligned with the nozzle and placed between the upper and lower strands of the loop, allowing the collection and discharge of cutting waste liquid during the cutting phase.

[0018] Other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a conveyor according to the invention for transporting products to be cut under the nozzle of a water jet cutting machine; [Diagram 2] Schematic top view of the conveyor in FIG. [Diagram 3] Schematic diagram of a guide member of the conveyor of FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the conveyor loop of FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a conveyor according to the invention for transporting products to be cut under the nozzle of a water jet cutting machine; [Figure 6]Schematic top view of the conveyor of FIG. [Figure 7] Figure 3: Schematic diagram of a conveyor guide member [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a third embodiment of a conveyor according to the invention for transporting products to be cut under the nozzle of a water jet cutting machine; [Figure 9] Schematic top view of the conveyor of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] 1 to 3, a conveyor 1 for moving a product P to be cut under at least one nozzle 2 of a liquid jet, conventionally a water cutter, is shown in a partial schematic view, said cutter being not shown in order not to overcomplicate the drawings. A jet 3 of high pressure liquid leaves said nozzle 2 according to a vertical direction D.

[0021] Without departing from the scope of the invention, the direction D of said jet 3 may be more or less inclined to the vertical, so that terms such as, for example, vertical, horizontal, upward or downward will be appropriate.

[0022] Furthermore, although only a single nozzle 2 is shown in the drawings, it goes without saying that a cutting machine associated with a conveyor 1 according to the invention may comprise several nozzles 2 .

[0023] The conveyor 1 comprises a number of continuous loops 4 arranged parallel to one another and extending between two cylindrical drive rollers 5 .

[0024] 3, each of these loops 4 defines an upper strand 6 and a lower strand 7 extending between two drive rollers 5, respectively above and below said two drive rollers 5. Furthermore, each loop 4 has a cross section of approximately rectangular shape, the length and width of which respectively determine the width L and thickness E of the loop 4, the latter comprising two longitudinal walls 8 connected by two side walls 9.

[0025] 1-2, each loop 4, at least at the level of each of said drive rollers 4, is arranged on one of its side walls, i.e. one of its longitudinal walls 8 is in contact with the outer wall 10 of said drive roller 5. The longitudinal walls 8 of at least some of the upper strands 6 and of the lower strands 7 are perpendicular to the direction D of the high pressure liquid jet 3 emerging from the nozzle 2.

[0026] As used herein, by "having a generally rectangular shape" it is to be understood that the cross section of each loop 3 is not strictly limited to a rectangular shape, and the angles of said cross sections may not be exact right angles, but may be rounded, chamfered or beveled without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Moreover, by "parallel" is to be understood the fact that the elements or parts of elements of the conveyor 1 according to the invention form an angle between them of between 0° and 20°. Similarly, by "perpendicular" is to be understood the fact that the elements or parts of elements of said conveyor 1 form an angle between them of between 70° and 110°.

[0028] The conveyor 1 according to the invention further comprises at least two guide members 11 associated with at least each of the loops 4 and arranged between the two drive rollers 5. These two guide members 11 make it possible to twist the upper strand 6 of at least one associated loop 4 by 90°, so that said upper strand 6 is oriented on its edge between said two guide members 11, i.e. its longitudinal wall 8 is parallel to the direction D of the liquid jet 3 emerging from the nozzle 2 between said two guide members 11.

[0029] In this configuration, the product P to be cut can be placed on top of the upper strand of loops 4 between said two guide members 11. The movement of the drive roller 5 thus drives each loop 4, moving the product P to be cut under the nozzle 2 between said two guide members 11 and accelerating the cutting of said product P by the jet 3.

[0030] It will be appreciated that this configuration makes it possible to achieve continuous automation of the cutting of the products P, either directly or by association via other conveyors, conventionally of the roll type, and that at the end of the conveyor 1 there is a station for preparing the products P to be cut and for packaging the cut products P.

[0031] Furthermore, twisting the upper strand 6 of each loop 4 by 90° makes it possible to obtain a stable support of the product P to be cut, without the risk of damaging the loop 4, since, between said two guide members 11, the latter upper strand 6 is located at the edge and has the narrowest wall, i.e. one of the side walls 9 facing the jet 3 emerging from the nozzle 2.

[0032] Moreover, in order to further limit the impact of the water jet exiting the nozzle 2 on the upper strand 5 between said two guide members 11, each loop 4 is provided with at least one bevel 12 along the longitudinal edge of one of its longitudinal walls 8 facing the jet 3 exiting the nozzle 2 between said two guide members 11. Preferably, each loop 3 is provided with a bevel 12 along the longitudinal edge of its longitudinal wall 8 facing the jet 3 exiting the nozzle 2 between said two guide members 11 (see Figure 3).

[0033] 1 to 3, each guide member 11 comprises two cylindrical rollers 13 arranged on either side of the associated loop 4, spaced apart from each other by a distance d slightly greater than the thickness E of the associated loop 4, so as to allow the passage of the upper strand 6 of the loop 4 and to hold said upper strand 6 on its edge between said two guide members 11. Each of the two cylindrical rollers 13 is pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the direction D of the jet 3 leaving the nozzle 2, the axis of each of the two cylindrical rollers 13 belonging to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive roller 5. Advantageously, the height of the cylindrical rollers 13 is less than or equal to the width l of each loop 4.

[0034] The axes of said two cylindrical rollers 13 are not parallel to the direction D of the jet 3 emerging from the nozzle 2 but may be inclined relative to the nozzle 2 without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0035] A person skilled in the art will have no difficulty in determining the size and relative position of the cylindrical rollers 13 depending on the size of each loop 4 .

[0036] 5 to 7 show a conveyor 21 according to a second embodiment of the invention. This conveyor 11 differs from the conveyor 1 described above only in that it comprises a guide member 22 different from the guide member 11 described above. Each guide member 22 thus comprises a cylindrical roller 23 pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to the direction D of the jet 3 leaving the nozzle 2 and in the direction of movement of the loops 4, and each comprises a number of radial grooves 24 for receiving a loop 4. It should be understood that in the described configuration, the axis of rotation of each cylindrical roller 23 is also parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive roller 5. Each radial groove 24 has a width d slightly greater than the width E of the associated loop 4 so as to allow the passage of the upper strand 6 of the loop 4 and to hold the portion 12 of said upper strand 6 at its edge. Advantageously, the depth of each radial groove 24 is less than or equal to the width L of each loop 4.

[0037] Although Figures 5 to 7 show that each guide member 22 of the conveyor 21 includes a cylindrical roller 23 having a plurality of radial grooves 24, it will be appreciated that each guide member 22 may include a plurality of cylindrical rollers arranged coaxially with one another and each having one or more radial grooves 24 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0038] A person skilled in the art would have no difficulty in determining the dimensions of the radial grooves 24 depending on the dimensions of each loop 4 .

[0039] For reasons of limiting friction and wear, cylindrical rollers 13 and 23 are preferably pivotally mounted, although, of course, said cylindrical rollers 13 and 23 may also be fixedly mounted without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0040] Advantageously, the conveyors 1, 21 comprise adjustable means, not shown, which provide tension to each loop 4, making it possible, by means of actuators such as, for example, air or hydraulic cylinders, to obtain a predetermined, adapted and constant tension during the operation of each loop 4, and, conversely, to rapidly release said loop 4 in order to replace it.

[0041] Furthermore, in contrast to FIG. 4 , each loop 4 may be twisted during installation so that it contacts the outer wall 10 of one of the drive rollers 5 with one of its longitudinal walls 8 and the outer wall 10 of the other drive roller 5 with the other of its longitudinal walls 8.

[0042] Similarly, according to another embodiment, each loop 4 may be twisted like a Moebius ring during its manufacture.

[0043] It will be understood that the conveyor 1, 21 according to the invention can not only be used to continuously translate the product P to be cut under the jet 3 of high-pressure liquid from the nozzle 2, but can also contribute to cutting said product P by moving it back and forth under said jet 3, especially in the case of a nozzle 2 that moves only transversely to the loop 4.

[0044] According to a third embodiment, shown in figures 8 and 9, the conveyor 21 of figures 5 to 7 can be associated with an inlet conveyor 25 allowing the products P to be cut to be introduced onto said conveyor 21 and / or an outlet conveyor allowing the cut products P to be discharged from said conveyor 21. Each inlet conveyor 25 or outlet conveyor 26 comprises a number of continuous belts 26 arranged parallel to one another and extending between at least one cylindrical roller 27 pivotally mounted around an axis perpendicular to the direction D of the jet 3 emerging from the nozzle 2 and parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive roller 5 of the loop 4 of the conveyor 21 and one of the guide members 22 of said conveyor 21, each of which defines an upper strand 28 and a lower strand 28, at least said upper strand 28 of the belt being arranged on a cylindrical roller 23 of the corresponding guide member 22 between said loops 4. Advantageously, the belt 26 has a circular cross section. It will be appreciated that with this particular configuration, the inlet conveyor 25 or the outlet conveyor is perfectly synchronized with the conveyor 21, thereby facilitating transitions with another upstream or downstream conveyor, since the areas before or after the area where the loop 4 twists vertically are not particularly stable due to the gradual twisting.

[0045] Finally, the cutting machine associated with the conveyors 1, 21 is advantageously vertically aligned with the nozzle 2 and is equipped with a container 14 in the form of a funnel arranged between the upper strand 6 and the lower strand 7 of the loop 4 so as not to damage said lower strand 7, said container 14 being conventionally connected to a pipe, advantageously flexible but not shown, allowing the discharge of cutting waste liquid during the cutting phase.

[0046] Likewise, the conveyor 1, 21 according to the invention is advantageously integrated into a water jet cutting machine, but may also be integrated into other types of cutting machines, such as for example a laser cutting machine.

[0047] Finally, it goes without saying that the above-described embodiments of the conveyor 1, 21 according to the invention are merely specific examples of the invention and are in no way limiting.

Claims

1. A cutting machine comprising at least one nozzle (2) and a conveyor (1, 21), A jet (3) of high pressure liquid is emitted from said nozzle (2) in a vertical direction D, said conveyor (1, 21) moves the product P to be cut under said high-pressure liquid jet (3) and comprises a plurality of continuous loops (4) of width L and thickness E, arranged parallel to one another and each extending between two drive rollers (5) so as to define an upper strand (6) and a lower strand (7), each loop (4) having at least two longitudinal walls (8), arranged so that the longitudinal walls (8) of at least some of said upper strands (6) and lower strands (7) are perpendicular to said direction D; The conveyor (1, 21) includes at least two guide members (11, 22) associated with at least each of the loops (4) and arranged between the two drive rollers (5), which guide members (11, 22) allow the upper strand (6) of the at least one associated loop (4) to twist so that its longitudinal wall (8) is parallel to the direction D between the two guide members (11, 22). A cutting machine characterized by:

2. 2. A cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each guide element (11) comprises two cylindrical rollers (13) arranged on either side of the associated loop (4) at a distance d slightly greater than the thickness E of the loop (4), each cylindrical roller (13) being fixedly or pivotally mounted about an axis belonging to a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the drive roller (5).

3. 3. Cutting machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the two cylindrical rollers (13) are respectively mounted fixedly or pivotally about axes parallel to the direction D.

4. 2. A cutting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each guide member (22) comprises a cylindrical roller (23) pivotally mounted about an axis perpendicular to said direction D and parallel to the axis of rotation of said drive roller (5), and is provided with a plurality of radial grooves (24) each for receiving a loop (4), each radial groove (24) having a width d slightly greater than the width E of the associated loop (4).

5. The conveyors (1, 21) are associated with an inlet conveyor (25) that allows the product P to be cut to be introduced onto the conveyor (21) and / or an outlet conveyor that allows the product P to be removed from the conveyor (21), each inlet conveyor (25) or outlet conveyor (25) being a plurality of continuous belts (26) arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the direction D of the jet (3) coming out of the nozzle (2) and connected to the drive rollers of the loops (4) of the conveyor (21).

5. A cutting machine according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a continuous belt (26) extending between at least one cylindrical roller (27) pivotally mounted about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the conveyor (5) and one of the guide members (22) of the conveyor (21) so as to define an upper strand (28) and a lower strand, respectively, at least the upper strand (28) of the belt being disposed on a cylindrical roller (23) of the corresponding guide member (22) between the loops (4).

6. 6. Cutting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each loop (4) is twisted so that it comes into contact with one of its longitudinal walls (8) against the outer wall (10) of one of the drive rollers (5) and with the other one of its longitudinal walls (8) against the outer wall (10) of the other drive roller (5).

7. A cutting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each loop (4) is twisted like a Moebius ring.

8. 6. Cutting machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each loop (4) comprises at least one bevel (12) along the longitudinal edge of one of its longitudinal walls (8) facing the jet (3) emerging from the nozzle (2) between the two guide members (11).

9. 9. A cutting machine according to claim 8, characterized in that each loop (4) comprises a bevel (12) along the longitudinal edge of each of its longitudinal walls (8) facing the jet (3) emerging from the nozzle (2) between the two guide members (11).

10. A cutting machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the conveyor (1, 21) is provided with adjustable tensioning means for each loop, which enable an actuator to obtain a predetermined tension for each loop (4) that is adapted and constant during operation of the loop (4), and conversely, enable rapid release of the loop (4) in order to replace the loop (4).

11. A cutting machine as described in any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is provided with a funnel-shaped container (14) vertically aligned with the nozzle (2) and positioned between the upper strand (6) and the lower strand (7) of the loop (4), which allows for the collection and discharge of cutting waste liquid during the cutting stage.

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