Productivity improvement device for power peelers

Abstract

To provide a shaping or cutting machine, especially a skinner which rapidly stop a gripping roller so as to prevent a hand of an operator from being dragged by a blade.SOLUTION: In a machine, an operator hand-feeds a material to be cut or shaped toward a blade. The machine includes: hand proximity detection devices which are provided for operator safety; a machine-vision across a monitored volume before the blade; and conduction sensing devices. The blade is mounted on a rapidly retractable frame. Power from release of a spring physically moves the blade to a safe position if a hand is sensed. A gripping roller is driven by a rapidly stoppable motor.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention is a forming machine in which an operator manually feeds material to be cut or formed toward a blade. Or in cutting machines, adding hand sensing and blade retraction improves machine safety. One embodiment has a thin plate mounted directly above and in line with the gripping roller. A meat, poultry or fish skinning machine with a long skinning blade. The operator cuts the product through the blade. It is not uncommon for people to injure their hands when applying heat to objects. If we could reduce these injuries, we could increase productivity. can be improved. [Background technology]

[0002] (definition) A de-rinder is the name of a type of skinning machine.

[0003] Unsafe Proximity means that a worker's hand or glove is in contact with a blade. This is a term used to describe an area that is dangerously close to or in contact with a

[0004] A forming or cutting machine in which the operator manually feeds the material to be cut or shaped towards the blade Electric peelers are widely used in the food industry, for example in meat processing and wood processing. It is well known in the industry and is widely used to cut and peel or dehusk layers from workpieces. For example, for meat, fish, poultry and pork, Please refer to "Wnsend®" or "Griselli" brand peelers. Skinners include those that handle whole pig carcasses, those that handle hand-held objects, and those that are fed by conveyors. The worker often places his or her hand over the object to be peeled and then With the help of a moving platform at A moving platform is typically required to maintain a surface speed. The powered gripping roller is a device that detects when a hand is in a dangerous place and reacts accordingly. Most machines have relied on contact sensing to stop the rollers.

[0005] The operator's hands are not much different from the material they are peeling, so the Conventionally, conductive gloves have been made with a woven metal mesh on the inside as a protective layer. has been used. With a surface speed of 1 meter per second, a conductive layer (used for sensing purposes) and a working Assuming that the glove is 1 mm thick between the person's body and the glove, it will take 1 mm from the time contact is detected. However, the roller stop time of 10 seconds, which is relatively difficult, is desired. The material is non-rigid and continues to move toward the blade even when the moving platform stops. There are times when this happens.

[0006] Efficient automatic retraction of blades of debarking machines etc. when a dangerous situation is detected There is no known publication that teaches this.

[0007] In Patent Document 1 (Donwoo (April 2, 2020)), a tentacle detection unit is a gripping roller. The peeler is described as including a light source and a "light receiver" on opposite sides of the upper portion of the peeler. The blade roller is configured to detect the approach of a worker's hand toward the blade roller. The description is of a position where the light source and detector face each other and the light passing between them is potentially dangerous. The control unit of the gripping roller motor is When it detects that a person's hand is approaching the blade roller, it stops the roller from rotating. It is composed of:

[0008] Patent Document 2 (McCullough (December 28, 1993)) describes a touch detection unit. The knit is attached to the left and right conductive gloves, each of which contains a motor, a clutch, and a metal mesh. The present invention relates to a peeling machine having a roller and a knife blade, and an electrical connection. The roller momentarily disengages from the motor to prevent pinching of the finger or glove edge. This mechanism provides a mechanism for reversing the movement of the glove and the tooth feed roller, knife blade, etc. The injury is triggered by contact with components of the dehairing machine, including the blade or other parts.

[0009] Patent Document 3 (Grasselli and McCullough (priority date October 1988) 4)) describes a peeling machine. Electrical contact between the worker and the conductive gloves worn by the worker is Care is taken to maintain connectivity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Korean Patent No. 102096621 [Patent Document 2] US Patent No. 5,272,946 [Patent Document 3] European Patent Application Publication No. 0362947 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] These problems are particularly relevant to machines known as dehullers or peelers. Considering the problem that the early warning provided by the antimicrobial glove sensor activation device is insufficient, The solution appears to be optical monitoring of the volume in front of the blade.

[0012] The gripping roller stopping mechanism and even the reversing mechanism are not effective enough to protect the hands. Given this, the appropriate solution is to retract the blade when a danger is detected. It seems that.

[0013] A related challenge is to move the blade and its supports in a time frame as short as 20 milliseconds. Using a physical mechanism with sufficient power to move it from an extended working position to a retracted position The question is how to perform blade retraction.

[0014] The final challenge was to move the gripping roller quickly enough to prevent the operator's hand from being dragged by the blade. Regarding stopping.

[0015] A first object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing a malfunction when an operator's hands are dangerously close to the blade. The objective of the present invention is to provide a quick blade retraction function for use with shaping tools that The specific purpose is to detect when a glove is in close proximity to a knife blade and pull the blade away from the glove. By stopping the rollers, the debarking machine (also called peeling machine) provides safety to the operator. The objective is to provide a safe working environment, while a further objective is to provide at least an alternative choice for the debarker. The aim of the project is to provide a means to the public. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] In a first broad aspect, the present invention provides a machine for forming an article held by an operator. The machine has a chassis and is in a run position on a blade mounting base. The blade is supported on the workpiece, and the workpiece is advanced in a direction toward the blade at a feed rate. The machine is configured to detect when an operator's hand is dangerously close to the blade. a proximity sensing device that, when detected, The blade is driven at a speed greater than the feed speed by using the power obtained from the energy stored in the The blade is physically moved backwards at speed from the direction of the operating position to the safe position. activating a retraction mechanism adapted to place the

[0017] Optionally, the only sensing device is the OFF switch.

[0018] Preferably, the internal energy storage and release device is a mechanical energy storage device stored within the elastic body. It relies on energy to physically retract the blade.

[0019] Preferably, the elastic object is a spring.

[0020] More preferably, the elastic body is a compression spring.

[0021] Preferably, the elastic body is a compressible spring, the first end of which is connected to the first actuator. The body has a second end secured to a shaft of the first actuator and in use and in an operating position. When the spring is pressed, the spring is compressed by the first actuator and held in compression by the retaining teeth. The teeth are then held in place by a second actuator.

[0022] Preferably, the second actuator is driven by a signal (SIGN AL) and upon receiving a signal, withdraws the retaining teeth, thereby releasing the compression spring; Forces the motion of an axis.

[0023] Optionally, the first actuator may rely on a holding current to maintain the spring in a compressed state. good.

[0024] Preferably, a mechanical linkage is provided between the shaft and the physically driven blade to control the movement of the shaft. constructed and arranged to translate the blade movement into a physical retreat of the blade on the blade mount. and the retraction device components are supported from the machine chassis.

[0025] Optionally, the blade is positioned in a safe position, out of reach of the operator and safe from injury from the blade. Retreat until

[0026] In a second broad aspect, the machine is a peeling or dehulling machine having a blade, The blade is supported in an operating position and is used to shape the workpiece to be peeled or dehulled. The workpiece is then moved by the operator onto powered gripper rollers which carry the workpiece against the blade. The operating position is parallel to and adjacent to the upper surface of the gripping roller, and the second brake The hand position or safety position is located just behind the gripping roller and prevents the operator's hands from shaking during use. The blade will automatically shut down as soon as the proximity sensing device detects that it is dangerously close to the Physically retreat to that position.

[0027] Preferably, the machine is adapted to move the blade from the safe position to a third position or cleaning position relative to the blade. a manual mechanism adapted to move the device to a position, the mechanism being adapted, when raised, to: An accessory that can push the blade mount upward and away from the gripping roller. Includes a removable handle.

[0028] In a first sub-embodiment, the proximity sensing device senses the blade from both sides of the gripping roller. Through a window in the end, a monitoring bolt located in front of the blade and parallel to the axis of the gripping roller is The optical detection device includes a plurality of television-type cameras that view the image, and the proximity sensing device means adapted to interpret an output of the camera when in use, At least one hand wearing a glove that is in close proximity and has a contrasting color to the workpiece When it detects a portion of the signal, it generates a signal.

[0029] Preferably, there are two cameras concealed on either side of the machine, and the field of view of all cameras is within the grasp of the The monitoring volume is directed through windows at both ends of the support roller.

[0030] In one option, the proximity sensing device may be any conductive part of the machine, including the blade. a device responsive to the conduction of electricity through the conductive glove from the It is adapted to:

[0031] Preferably, the movement of the blade from the operating position to the safe position is detected by a detection device that detects a dangerous situation. It begins within 20 ms of optical detection and is completed within 35 ms.

[0032] In a second sub-embodiment, the motor of the gripping roller is connected to a motor controller. A toothed roller that can stop the roller within 10 to 15 milliseconds after the roller receives a signal. The device includes a controllable motor having a drive belt.

[0033] In a broader aspect, the gripping rollers include a combination clutch and brake device. The device is driven by a motor through a spindle shape and has internal splines It is adapted to match the external splines on the axis of the gripping roller and provides a braking surface against a stationary surface. a first end of the spindle adapted to provide a gripping surface against the orbiting surface; and a central portion, the central portion being adapted to engage the first actuator. The movement of the rotor shaft shifts the connection, forcing it against either end. The internal splines maintain contact with the gripper roller shaft while the gripper roller is being pulled away from the motor. The system is adapted to be able to stop independently of the [Brief description of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment showing the gripper roller and blade in an operating position. [Figure 1a] FIG. 2 is a close-up view of FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the gripper roller and blade when in a safe position. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the gripping roller and blade when in a cleaning position. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the knife retraction mechanism when in the safe position. [Figure 4a] FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a latchable crankshaft arm secured to axle 406. [Figure 4b] FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a knife support frame including a stop. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a drive motor and a roller separated from each other. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an oblique view of the entire peeling machine with one side cover removed. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine vision configuration. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 9A and 9B (as Figs. 9a and 9b) are diagrams of two modes of the dog clutch of embodiment 2. [Figure 10]FIG. 11 is a side view of the main components of the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 shows the components in the operating position. [Figure 12] FIG. 13 shows each component in a safe position. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 illustrates the blade retraction components. [Figure 14] FIG. 1 shows an array of optical beam sensors for glove detection. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0035] The description of the invention provided herein is given by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The word "include" should not be construed as limiting the scope or extent of the present invention. "comprise" and "comprises" or "comprises" Variations such as "comprising" include the listed options, integers or steps. but does not imply the exclusion of any other options, integers or steps. It should be understood that each document, reference, patent application or patent application cited herein is not an official document of the present invention. Xue is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. However, the cited materials or any reference to information in this specification implies that the material or information is part of the common general knowledge. or was known in New Zealand or any other country. You shouldn't.

[0036] Table 1 (herein) is an example timing measurement for embodiment 1.

[0037] The invention is a cutting or shaping machine. A particular example is a peeling or dehulling machine. The structure of the machine is designed to be safe, as workers' hands may be seriously injured by the sharp blades. No. The gripping rollers can also catch workers' hands or catch their gloves. Workers may slip and become fatigued. The present invention provides a quick blade retract feature. The potential energy stored in the spring is used to move the mass, including the blades, at the appropriate time. Provides a burst of power strong enough to displace the blade from the operator's hand The blade retraction is performed in such a way that the operator's hands are not in danger of coming into contact with the blade within the monitored area. The system begins when the hand is optically detected as being in close proximity to the sensor. In this case, as is well known in the art, the metal mesh glove completes a circuit to signal a hazardous condition. Touch sensing is a secondary option, but it is not recommended to rely on the physical security that touch sensing provides. There is also a worker, and the skinner preferably provides both visual and touch sensing. A peeler is contemplated, but it would be useful to have no sensing device on the hand or glove.

[0038] (Embodiment 1) A newer embodiment 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8. Figure 6 shows a peeling machine according to the present invention. 6 is a perspective view of the peeling machine 600, in which a portion of the structural chassis 605 is visible. The equipment is intact, except for the side safety cover that has been removed. , on the left side, near a number of user controls 604. The work surface is at a convenient height and the peeling knife 107 is positioned above the rollers to place the article to be peeled. (not shown here) to carry the friction-inducing ridges, teeth away from the operator The upper portion of the powered gripping roller 110 includes an arm 408 that is part of the retraction mechanism. , beam 409 and second arm 413 are visible. A box ( 701, 702) are aligned in the visual tunnel. The machine can communicate the status of the gripping roller and blade to the workpiece. and a "bone bin" (not shown) for cutting waste that passes between the

[0039] Functionally, the machine has three modes, described as "positions."

[0040] "Operating position" refers to the machine when in working mode. Figure 1 shows the machine in a vertical plane 1 is a cross-sectional view of the roller, showing the blade support 108, the gripping roller 110, and the cleaning roller 1 12 and part of Fig. 1a clearly shows the relationship between the blade and the roller in this mode. The blade is held in a position similar to that in prior art debarking machines. The position of the blade 107 relative to the gripping roller 110 is vertical when in the operating position. Shown at approximately 5 degrees to the entrance side.

[0041] The "safe position" (Figure 2) causes the blade 107 to retreat sharply away from the operator, Post-retract mode of the machine after holding the blade in a position that limits damage to the operator The blade edge is now about 45° to the right of the gripping roller in a vertical direction, It is close to, and virtually out of reach. See "Table 1 Timing Data" below. As such, the blade will detect the presence of gloves within the monitored area 18 minutes after one or more cameras detect the presence of gloves within the monitored area. The vehicle began to move backwards about 1000 s after the accident and reached a safe position about 35 ms after the accident. In accordance with the present invention, a fast, effective and reversible transition from the rest position to the safe position is provided.

[0042] The "cleaning position" will now be described. FIG. 3 shows the gripping roller 110 and the cleaning roller 110 in the "cleaning position". 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the blade 107 pivoting and rising high above the roller. The machine preferably includes a safety interlock, which prevents the machine from being powered down and restarted. Extend the blade as shown until the actuator stops and the blade moves to the safe position. There is no physical access to the handle to lift it.

[0043] The mechanism that provides the cleaning position is shown on the right side of Figure 4. The knife assembly is mounted inside the chassis. A knife support frame is provided from a pivotable handle 432 secured to the side of the platform. 414 on a spring-loaded beam 430 supported to a central attachment point on the The handle 432 can be pulled from the first locking position on the arc-shaped guide plate 433. 413. The knife support frame 414 is then returned to the edge frame 414 along the path defined by the arm 413. and then into the second, higher locking position 43 4, which allows the knife blade to be raised for cleaning or replacement etc. The tension spring 431 on the inside of the beam can be used to hold the The support frame 414 is always pulled downward.

[0044] The dehuller can start and stop normally. During start-up, the energy storage mechanism While the blade is charging, it is raised from the safe position to the operating position. Once in the operating position, the debarker becomes sensitive to deviations in the operator's hands as described below. When the machine is stopped normally, the debarker can also quickly return to the safe position. enters, the blade is no longer exposed, or the energy storage and release mechanism is otherwise discharged. This makes it safe for maintenance personnel.

[0045] These timing results from the dehuller prototype are of great value in terms of the mechanical design of the present invention. The knife retraction is an event detected by the machine vision camera. The data is illustrative and may vary by region. Note that this is not a standard. Future versions may change the duration or require The matter may be eased.

[0046] [Table 1] Note 1: The "Conductive Glove Event" option takes less time, but this process requires manual intervention. It starts with the connection between the bag and the blade, and then the glove is damaged. Note 2: The blade accelerates during retraction and when the frame 416 hits the stop 206, it takes about 3 meters per second. Speeds above about 2 meters per second are the maximum possible speeds of a gloved hand. It is believed to exceed the limits of normal circulation and follows a curved path.

[0047] The current prototype moves a 15 kg mass 0.026 meters in 0.014 seconds. After detecting the operator's hand, the mass of the blade and the blade support moves away from the operating position. To accelerate to approximately 3 meters per second and enter the reverse or safe position, use 7.1 kW units. Approximately 100 joules are required.

[0048] (Blade retreat) Figure 4 is an oblique view of the blade movement mechanism. A 6mm plate (for example) has been removed from this view. The steel enclosure chassis is shown in Figure 6 as 605. This mechanism keeps inertia low. While the blade is moving backward, the stored energy held in the compression spring 202 is released. This explains the rapid conversion of energy into kinetic energy effectively.

[0049] A preferred actuator is a solenoid 303 with teeth 302 extended (FIG. 4A). Because it is a holding current, it transmits stable power, can be reused repeatedly, and can generate potential energy. The cost of storing the battery is low. Reversal is a "fail-safe" event. By maintaining the power, the teeth are kept extended. The teeth support has an over-center mechanism. No mechanism is used. Any event that interrupts the holding current, such as cutting off power to the peeling machine, The teeth 302 retract and the debarker blade is driven at normal speed by the energy of the spring 202. When the hand of the operator is detected, the holding current is cut off. can be.

[0050] The energy storage and release device is at the bottom left and is connected to the knife support by beam 409. The coupling allows the solenoid assembly 200 to pivot. 202 surrounds the shaft 203 of the first pneumatic actuator 201 and is spring-loaded. It is used to apply load (compression). The spring is fixed to the actuator body and the shaft. The shaft is constrained between the collar 204 which is attached to the shaft. The shaft terminates in a clevis and is latchable. It articulates with the crankshaft arm 301 (hidden, but shown in elevation in FIG. 4a). FIG. 4a shows a pivot joint 20 connected to a clevis of an actuator 201. 3a, which includes a movable tooth 302 that retracts into a latch mechanism 304 (partially shown) and a collar When the spring 202 under 204 is no longer constrained, the axle is released via keyed joint 406a. The spring energy is transmitted along the first arm of the item to rotate the shaft 406. do.

[0051] The movement of the teeth 302, which are extended in FIG. 11 and retracted in FIG. 12, is the same as that of the previous embodiment. The details are given below.

[0052] An arm 408 fixed to the shaft 406 is connected to an energy storage and release device in the debarking machine, The blade support mechanism includes the edge frame 416 and the knife support plate 108. The beam 409 is pivotally connected at its upper end to another Pivotable on a short arm 410 fixed to a laterally rotatable shaft 412 (hardly visible) The transversely rotatable shaft 412 is connected to the surrounding shaft 412 by bearings 411 at both ends. The arm 413 fixed to the shaft 412 is supported by the edge frame 416. are pivotally connected.

[0053] FIG. 4b shows details of the knife support including the edge frame 416. 14 is pivotally mounted about pivot P2 so that edge frame 416 is in position. It is possible to clean even if it is fixed in position. (The 815 on the left is a strip light, the 110 11 is a gripping roller, and 112 is a cleaning roller. The edge frames are on both sides and are symmetrical. Axle 412 transmits the retraction motion across the knife support frame. The end of the arm 410 is fixed to a transverse shaft 412, which is also fixed to the shaft. The arm 413 is pivotally connected at P1 to rotate. 2 will trace a trajectory centered on axis 412. On the left side of FIG. The part projecting downward from the pivot P4 supports the pivot P5 and also supports the pivot P6 when the machine is in the operating position. When the edge frame 416 is pressed against the stop 417, it engages metal-to-metal with the stop 417. The transverse pivot P4 is centered on the pivot P3 which is connected by a short arm 418. All pivots P1 to P4 are constrained to move in an arc. The curved path taken by the blade during retraction is defined by the arms 413 and 418. When away from the operating position, the blades It must move backwards, clear the surface of the gripping roller, then move forwards and stop in a safe position. The safe position is close to the gripping rollers so that a human hand cannot touch the blade while it is moving. There's no time to be pinned under the do.

[0054] When the machine enters the safe position, the platform 416 is conveyed through the beam 409 The edge frame 416 actively retreats (moves right and down) due to the impulse generated by the Overshooting is prevented by collision with two stops, one of which is shown as 206. These are currently rubber domes mounted on vertically adjustable supports. These absorb the remainder of the kinetic energy used by the machine to reach the safe position. The free movement of the linkage back to the spring 202 allows the blade to oscillate about the safe position. The tension in the spring 430 can cause vibrations that are undesirable. Helps to prevent.

[0055] Internal fiber optic full beam sensor when the machine starts or returns to operating position Use the knife support platform to ensure that the path of subsequent movement is clear. Arm 414 and blade are in safe position. Reset pneumatic actuator The motor 201 is energized and compresses the spring 202. The power supply for the solenoid 303 is supplied via a relay. The power supply is turned on by a relay and a relay is used to buffer and isolate the controller.

[0056] On the other hand, the pneumatic actuator 415 moves the arm 415a outwardly relative to a part of the chassis. This arm supports the solenoid 303 and its latch assembly 304. The latch assembly is secured to the plate 305 and they pivot together about an axis 406. 304 includes a tooth 302 that is pivotally mounted so that its movement brings it into an operating position. Whenever the latchable crankshaft arm rotates, the teeth engage the latchable crankshaft arm. The extension of the cam 301 can be freely inserted into the retaining position behind the protrusion 302a. At least one of the plates 305 is preferably made of a piece of low friction, strong material. The second effect of tilting the switch assembly is that motion is transmitted through beam 409 to edge frame 416. The ends of the frame 416 are fitted with two stops 417, one on each side. The stop 417 is pressed against the blade when it is in the operating position and is secured to the chassis. This provides accurate positioning of the blade.

[0057] Teeth 302 extend while the solenoid is energized and define the duration of the run position. The latchable crankshaft arm 301, which is fixed on the shaft 406, is now compressed. The beam 409 holds the nib against the pressure applied by the spring 202. When the shaft 406 connected to the blade support rotates counterclockwise with respect to FIG. 4a, the blade 10 7 and the blade support are put into the "running" position (see Figures 1 and 2).

[0058] (Drive and stop of gripping roller) See FIG. 5. Stopping the gripper rollers is a useful function prior to maintenance and can be used during operation. This is a backup for operator safety. The current preferred option for gripper roller rotation. The solution is to use a dedicated motor 501 which is a servo motor with a controller. The selected motor is used to rotate the gripper rollers at the optimum speed selected according to the material being processed. The Ethernet protocol controlled motor controller is connected to a hazard detector. The rotation can be stopped in 10 to 15 milliseconds after receiving a signal from the The motor 501 is a type AM8052-3F10 (manufacturer: The motor is housed within the chassis of the dehuller and is driven by a tine. The motor is connected to the roller via a rubber belt 502 and a belt tension adjustment pulley. The cleaning roller 112 is driven by a timing belt 113. The cleaning roller is a conventional one. The low inertia roller drives the support roller 110 (FIG. 4b). In the peeling machine, the cleaning roller is not included and the belt drive configuration is changed accordingly. Or the cleaning roller can be replaced by a horizontal axis. , including an elongated well 815 for a strip light, and one of the mirrors 710a and the machine and a window 811 that is used to detect the operator's hands with vision.

[0059] (Machine Vision) A high frame rate color video camera is required for detecting unexpected objects in the monitored volume. The machine is equipped with a processor that processes the video stream to generate an alarm signal. It includes a programmable device (signal processing means) and is capable of performing communication, power-on testing, safety testing, and erasure testing. The video components and signal processing means manage the load of the energy storage and release devices. The device listed in the applicant's PCT application (application number PCT / NZ2017 / 050044) The signal processing step includes: Contrasting differences within adjacent pixels in images collected by any one or more color cameras detecting a color or hue and, if sufficient pixels are found in one or more cameras, and generating a signal. At least in the meat industry, workers wear blue gloves. It is common for the red hand to have a sharp edge and provide a good contrast to the material being cut. The bags may be suitable for woodworking applications.

[0060] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the optical components of the debarking machine as seen by the operator. FIG. The cross-section A-A of the debarking machine is shown. A pair of cameras is installed on both sides of the machine. Camera 701 and camera 702 are depicted on the right side of FIG. 7, while camera 703 and camera 704 are depicted on the right side of FIG. , (703, 704) are depicted sealed in their cases. (705 and 706 are shown) are windows 81 in plate 810 from the monitoring volume. After passing through 1, it is deflected by a 45 degree mirror 710a in the casing 710 and then sealed. The image is received through tunnel 608 (deleted on the right). The volume is in sector 812, parallel to and directly above gripping roller 110 on the left side of FIG. The monitoring volume 81 extends from above the roller axis toward the inside by approximately 50 degrees. 6 height can be about 10~35mm (under software control), which allows easy operation If the person's hand is on a path that will lead to contact with the knife, initiate a response, but do not If it is above and safe, it will not initiate a response. It is illuminated by an enclosed attached high intensity strip light source. It is extended by a tunnel. The length of the optical path through the surveillance volume provides the depth of field, which allows the left or right side of the center of the surveillance volume to be The right glove is also reasonably well focused, and high quality hue information is available for discrimination.

[0061] Two cameras, one on each side, might be enough, but using four cameras It will be useful as a backup for problems such as objects flying into windows. Development of closer and farther zoning within the surveillance zone to prevent braking / reversing events The cost of the camera is small compared to the cost of injury. Instruct workers to clean windows and light sources. If hands or peeling materials are not available, , it should appear black to the camera. The "foggy" phenomenon indicates that the window is dirty.

[0062] Using antenna 603 (FIG. 6), it is possible to detect (for example) an abnormal number of deviations in the worker's movements. You can inform the person responsible.

[0063] (Embodiment 2) This version of the peeler is an early prototype of the first embodiment and also includes gripping rollers. and measures to stop the conductive glove from contacting the glove as the primary triggering event. and a device for optically sensing the hand that is used. The second embodiment employs the same spring device for the storage and release of internal energy. The configuration assumes a conventional AC induction motor with substantial angular momentum and provides a coupling device. do.

[0064] This embodiment includes an AC induction electric motor 1006, a reduction drive 1005, and a belt , a pulley, and the like. The knife blade 107 is mounted near the surface of the gripping roller 110. The blade edge is parallel to the axis of rotation of the roller. When the user presses the button, the present invention physically goes into a safety mode and almost instantly unsheathes the blade of the knife 107. 108a, while the roller 110 is separated from the induction motor 1006 and Brake 52 is applied. Figures 11 and 12 show the driving and safety modes of this embodiment. is shown diagrammatically as explained below.

[0065] As with the first embodiment, the energy is optimized to rapidly transfer stored force. A spring 202 is used that is releasable when the dehuller is in the operating mode. The shaft 203 is held in compression by the teeth 302 (FIG. 11). The tooth 302 is held in a leftward position by the protrusion 301 which is held in place by the 303 is held in place by latch 304 as long as magnetizing current is supplied to solenoid 303. This is the fail-safe configuration. The spring is supported by the face of the actuator 201 and the shaft. The second embodiment is shown in FIG. As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1, the preferred spring is stiff so that shaft 203 extends and the dehuller is in safety mode. Once in the zone, the applied force is substantially reduced.

[0066] At the end of the gripping cylinder 110, a dog clutch and a local brake are included. The specification uses a two-state power transmission device called a "dog brake." 1 is a combined clutch and brake device 50 for a rotor. It is bounded by a central plane 56. The first end face 51 has a spindle shape with disk-shaped ends 58 and 59. There are clutch teeth (54 in FIG. 9b) and a braking surface such as pad 52a on the second end face 52. Yes. It can be mounted on one of the spindles. (Of course, the dog clutch teeth 54 can be replaced by a friction clutch lining.) As shown in Figures 9a and 9b, The physical movement of the dog brakes drives the debarker along the continuously engaged splined shaft. The rollers of the machine are connected by internal splines 53 via teeth 54 to the motor or brake (opposite surface 52), thereby stopping only the roller in a disengaged state from the motor. The complementary side of the clutch (teeth not shown) is a pulley driven by a motor. Always connected to 1010.

[0067] An engagement fork 405 pivotally connected to the shaft 203 engages the dog brake 50. The spindle is positioned to slide axially along the in-axis. The fork 405 includes an engaging fork contact surface 57 between the fork 405 and the engaging fork 405. The surface of the fork 405 is made of a low friction rubbing surface. Alternatively, a ball bearing unit may be used to act as a thrust bearing. The end face 52 has a friction generating surface intended to rub against an opposing portion of the machine frame; (For example) Brake pad composite material, cast iron, steel frame, plastic material or friction generating brake For food hygiene reasons, a dust-free sector may be used. The pads are preferably used for this machine. Worn pads can be replaced with the entire spindle. can be quickly replaced.

[0068] By removing the current to the solenoid 303 and removing the teeth 302, the spring 202 When released, the safety mode is initiated. The released energy is transferred via a linkage By energizing the shaft 203 and the movement of the fork 405, the dog clutch 50 is always in a sprung state. The roller 405 is pressed against the other end of the fork 405 while connected to the roller axis via the in 53. First, the dog clutch teeth 54 are disengaged. Then, the second end face 52 is engaged. Braking pressure is applied by the mating fork 402 into frictional contact with the fixed braking surface of the machine. The rotating part that needs to be braked is held by a gripping cylinder 110 having an axis and a slidably attached The brake pressure is applied by the lever mechanism 401 / 402 as shown in FIG. This is provided by a spring 202 which is connected via 403 to an engagement fork 405 .

[0069] The knife mount is shown in FIG. 1 as a cross-section through a sheath 108a which surrounds a preferred knife 107. 11 and 12. Optionally, the knife may have a curved cross section similar to the sheath. and accommodates a retraction motion applied by a pivotally mounted lever. FIG. 1 shows the details of the retractable knife mount, where 202 is the actuator spring; When released, it provides the force that pushes the clevis transfer pivot 400 forward quickly. acts on pivot beam 402 which pivots about 403. This motion is mediated by the transverse rods or The pipe 402A carries the load across the machine, and the pivot beam 402R also moves, providing a lateral load. The knife 107 (hidden) is moved into the sheath 108a by an arcuate motion around the head 402A. Make them retreat.

[0070] At the same time, the motion of the shaft 203 is coupled to the fork at the dog brake 50, as shown in FIG. and execute the schematic configuration of FIG. 12, where 109, 109A are parts of a fixed frame. 1010 is a driven pulley. 50 is a dog clutch with engaged dog clutch teeth. 405 is the engaging fork in the operating position, and the pulley The drive force is maintained from the roller 101 through the spline 53 from the roller 101. The pivot 400 (axis shown by dashed line) transmits the linear motion of the beam 401 to the engagement fork 4 05 to the required inclination for the driving mode or safety mode. A also acts as a friction generating area when the dog brake moves to the braking position. 202 and the reload actuator 201 are solenoids, as described earlier in this section. Wait for 304 to be de-energized and for the teeth to be extracted from assembly 303.

[0071] FIG. 14 shows a series of proposed sensors positioned to detect objects approaching the blade 107. The layout of the color-sensing optical sensors 1401 and 1402 is shown. The proximity of a hand may be detected using a conductive glove, and a conductive glove configuration may be preferred or implemented. As described above for form 1, both may be used.

[0072] Upon detection of a hazard, the safety mode is entered. The control circuitry The current passing through the winding of the nodule 303 is cut off, so that the spring 202 now has teeth 302 The knife is then pulled out and released from the restraint, extending the shaft 203 through the collar 204, and the knife is then attached to the The dog brake is mechanically moved backward and moved to the braking position. A relay or variable speed drive and braking resistor are used together to cut off power to the drive motor. The dog brakes allow the rollers to be separated from the motor and drive It stops more quickly, independent of the moving parts.

[0073] While shaft 203 is in the leftward position, it is pivotally mounted at 403 and engages The first lever 401, which terminates in a loop 405, is forked into a constriction along the spindle 50. The spindle is held by the spindle dog teeth 54 and the dog clutch (not shown). In normal mode, the engagement forks maintain engagement with the dog teeth. It is not necessary to maintain a large pressure to maintain the dog clutch. When a friction clutch is used, the clutch requires a holding pressure.

[0074] (advantage) 1. The de-skinning machine is designed to prevent injury to the hand, instead of only operating after the glove and blade come into contact. It has a mechanism that can measure

[0075] 2. The retraction of the blade is fast enough to avoid contact between the glove and the blade.

[0076] 3. Even if contact sensing is used with metal mesh gloves, the blade retracts quickly, so contact Minimize subsequent damage.

[0077] 4. The retraction mechanism is compact, inexpensive, reliable and can be used many times.

[0078] 5. The reverse mechanism can be easily reset after a safety stop, allowing operation to continue. No part of it will be damaged or require replacement.

[0079] 6. The safety stop may be used as the normal end-of-shift stop.

[0080] 7. The machine operator must feed the product to be trimmed onto the feed rollers for optimal performance. It can be handled and moved freely.

[0081] Further embodiments In the above embodiment, the strain is within its elastic limit, but is about 100 J. The present inventors use a spring that acts as a reservoir to rapidly transfer the potential energy of the I think a more conservative solution is probably more reliable. For example, the compression mentioned above The spring and solenoid latch have been subjected to approximately 50,000 cycles. As shown below.

[0082] The compressible spring can be replaced by a coil spring that is tensioned by torsion. Presumably, the spring can be wound around the axis 412 in a compact design with less moving mass. Alternatively, to replace the shaft 409 and the components that drive it, A leaf spring may possibly be used in the knife support frame 416. Using the same pivot beam and pivots P1-P4 as in Fig. 1, the path taken by the blade during retraction is would be able to control.

[0083] There are inelastic options available that can transfer kinetic energy almost instantly. A standard blank .22 cartridge used in the ".t" nail gun holds approximately 45 J of potential energy. However, the replacement of the cartridge and the destruction of food by combustion gas Contamination is a problem. Cylinders filled with flammable gas and air for explosion (e.g. gas-powered (such as those used in pruning shears) is possible but probably not safe or reliable enough.

[0084] Some may prefer not to include machine vision and rely solely on proximity testing of conductive gloves. The fast retraction of the blade provides some protection to metal mesh gloves. obtain.

[0085] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. You will understand that this is not likely to be the case.

Claims

1. A peeling machine or dehulling machine, said peeler or dehuller protects a worker's gloved hands from injury when holding articles of meat, fish or poultry material in said peeler or dehuller; The dehuller or peeler has a chassis, a front side of which is a worker's position, a rotatable gripping roller driven by a motor, and a blade supported on a blade mount positioned parallel to and behind the gripping roller; in use, the article is advanced at a feed rate from the worker's position towards the blade by rotation of the gripper rollers while the article is held against the gripper rollers by the worker; the dehuller or peeler includes a surveillance volume having a length along the blade, a height from the blade, and a width extending from a blade edge toward the worker's position; the peeling or dehulling machine includes an actuator for driving and stopping the gripping rollers to protect the gloved hands of a worker from injury; the peeling or dehulling machine comprises an optical detection device having at least two color video cameras and including video signal processing means adapted to interpret all images captured by the color video cameras and generate a signal to be sent to the actuator to stop the gripping rollers if a gloved hand having a color contrasting with the color of the article is detected in one or more images captured by the color video cameras in a position adjacent to the blade, the color video camera is positioned to view the surveillance volume through windows on either side of the dehuller or peeler in the direction of the length, the windows being adjacent each end of the gripping roller; Each window is disposed at a first end of a corresponding sealed tunnel; Each sealed tunnel has a length; each sealed tunnel terminates at a second end, at which at least one of the color video cameras is disposed; each color video camera having a lens focused on the surveillance volume through the sealed tunnel and the window; Peeling or dehulling machine.

2. A 45° inclined mirror is disposed between the first end and the second end of each sealed tunnel; 2. The dehuller or peeler of claim 1, wherein each window provides a view of a respective field of view reflected by the mirror to the color video camera, whereby the mirror and the sealed tunnel together extend the length of the optical path and increase the depth of focus within the monitoring volume.

3. A peeling or dehulling machine as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the peeling or dehulling machine is provided with two color video cameras at the second end of each sealing tunnel.

4. A peeler or dehuller as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuator comprises a motor controller adapted to control rotation of the motor during use, and the gripping roller during use can be stopped within 15 milliseconds after receiving the signal from the optical detection device.

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