Stick vegetable processing equipment

Abstract

To provide an apparatus for producing lots of rod-like vegetable products by peeling and end-cutting in a short time without much labor.SOLUTION: An apparatus for processing rod-like vegetable 1 consists of a peeling device 3, a supplying device 2 and an end-cutting device 4. The supplying device 2 is coupled to the peeling device 3, and the peeling device 3 is coupled to the end-cutting device 4. The peeling device 3 cuts off the surface of rod-like vegetable while conveying it linearly and ejects the rod-like vegetable to obliquely downward from an outlet. The end-cutting device 4 has a stopper which stops the moving rod-like vegetable after being ejected obliquely downward from the peeling device 3, conveying means which conveys the rod-like vegetable upward after being stopped by the stopper, a blade, located at the side of route of the rod-like vegetable conveyed by the conveying means, for cutting ends of rod-like vegetable being conveyed upward, and ejection route forming means which leads the rod-like vegetable outward after having ends cut and being conveyed upward by the conveying means.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a processing device for stick-shaped vegetables that performs peeling and end cutting processes on spherical vegetables such as carrots. [Background technology]

[0002] A conventional stick-shaped vegetable peeling device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. Using the symbols used in Patent Document 1, in the stick-shaped vegetable peeling device disclosed in Patent Document 1, stick-shaped vegetables (carrots W) are conveyed in a straight line to centering means (25) by a push plate (19) attached to a chain (18).

[0003] The centering means (25) always aligns the central axis of the stick-shaped vegetable to a fixed position. A plurality of support means (40) are arranged in a straight line downstream of the centering means (25). In addition, a plurality of blade means (50) are arranged in a straight line on each of the left and right sides of the plurality of support means (40).

[0004] The stick-shaped vegetables that have left the centering means (25) are supported by the support means (40) and the blade means (50) and are conveyed by the pushing means (100). The pushing means (100) conveys the stick-shaped vegetables in a straight line while rotating (i.e., spinning). The skin of the stick-shaped vegetables that are moving in a straight line while rotating is cut off by the cutter (54) in the blade means (50). This completes the peeling process of the stick-shaped vegetables.

[0005] Conventionally, stick-shaped vegetables that have been peeled by a peeling device have been manually transported to the next processing stage, the end-cutting processing stage, which requires a lot of manpower and a long time to obtain the stick-shaped vegetables as finished products with their ends cut off. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6174181 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems with conventional devices, and aims to make it possible to obtain a large number of stick-shaped vegetables as products with the skin peeled and the ends cut off in a short time without requiring a lot of manpower. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The stick-shaped vegetable processing device of the present invention is a stick-shaped vegetable processing device having a peeling device that cuts off the skin of stick-shaped vegetables with a blade, a supplying device that supplies stick-shaped vegetables to the peeling device, and an end cutting device that cuts off the ends of the stick-shaped vegetables whose skins have been cut off by the peeling device, wherein the supplying device is connected to the peeling device, and the peeling device is connected to the end cutting device, and the peeling device cuts off the skin of the stick-shaped vegetables while linearly conveying the stick-shaped vegetables, and then discharges the stick-shaped vegetables. The end cutting device discharges rod-shaped vegetables diagonally downward from the opening, and is characterized by having a stopper that stops the movement of the rod-shaped vegetables that are discharged diagonally downward from the peeling device and moving, a conveying means that conveys the rod-shaped vegetables stopped by the stopper upward, a blade that is arranged at a side position of the conveying path of the rod-shaped vegetables by the conveying means and cuts the ends of the rod-shaped vegetables that are conveyed upward, and a discharge path forming means that forms a discharge path that leads the rod-shaped vegetables that have been conveyed upward by the conveying means to the outside after the ends have been cut.

[0009] In a second aspect of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device according to the present invention, the feeding device, the peeling device, and the end cutting device are operated by one power source.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention of the stick vegetable processing device operates the supply device and peeling device using a first power transmission system provided on one side, and operates the end cutting device using a second power transmission system provided on the opposite side to the one side. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the stick-shaped vegetable processing device of claim 1, the stick-shaped vegetables are conveyed linearly throughout the entire process, allowing the series of processes performed on the stick-shaped vegetables to be carried out stably and without variation. Furthermore, the end cutting device performs the cutting process while conveying the stick-shaped vegetables upward, so the overall shape of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device does not become too large in the horizontal direction. Thus, according to the present invention, the process from supplying carrots as raw materials to removing carrots as finished products can be carried out in a stable flow, reducing the occurrence of defective products. Moreover, the end cutting device is very small in plan view, allowing for a reduction in the installation area of ​​the device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view of an embodiment of a stick vegetable processing device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view taken along the arrow A in FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view taken along the arrow B in FIG. [Figure 4] 2 is a front view showing the internal structure of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the internal structure of FIG. 4. [Figure 6] 5 is a front view showing the internal structure of a supply device constituting the stick-shaped vegetable processing device of FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 7] 5 is a front view showing a partial structure inside a peeling device that constitutes the stick-shaped vegetable processing device of FIG. 4. FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a stick vegetable pressing device. [Figure 9] 5 is a front view showing another part of the structure of the peeling device constituting the stick-shaped vegetable treating device of FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a plan view taken along the arrow K in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a side view taken along the arrow L in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a blade unit and a stick-shaped vegetable support unit. [Figure 13] 1 is a front view showing the internal structure of an end cutting device constituting the processing device for stick-shaped vegetables according to the present invention. FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a state in which some parts are removed from the structure shown in FIG. [Figure 15] 15 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the end cutting device taken along line PP in FIG. 14. [Figure 16] 15 is a diagram showing the internal structure of the end cutting device taken along line QQ in FIG. 14. [Figure 17] FIG. 15 is an enlarged view of the main part of FIG. [Figure 18] 14 is a view mainly showing the stick vegetable pressing unit in the direction of arrow Q in FIG. 13. FIG. [Figure 19] 2 is a rear view of an end cutting device constituting the stick-shaped vegetable processing device of FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] The following describes an embodiment of a stick vegetable processing device according to the present invention. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment. Furthermore, in the drawings attached to this specification, components may be shown at different scales than in actuality in order to clearly show characteristic features.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a front view of a stick-shaped vegetable processing device according to the present invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device along arrow A in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side view of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device along arrow B in Fig. 1. The stick-shaped vegetable processing device of this embodiment is a device that cuts off the skin of carrots, which are stick-shaped vegetables, and cuts off the ends of the stick-shaped vegetables. Stick-shaped vegetables other than carrots (for example, cucumbers) can also be processed.

[0015] In these figures, stick vegetable processing device 1 has a stick vegetable supply device 2, a stick vegetable peeling device 3, and a stick vegetable end cutting device 4. In the following explanation, the stick vegetable supply device will be simply referred to as the supply device, the stick vegetable peeling device will be simply referred to as the peeling device, and the stick vegetable end cutting device will be simply referred to as the end cutting device.

[0016] The supply device 2 and peeling device 3 used in this embodiment have the same configuration as the supply device and peeling device disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent No. 6174181). The configurations of the supply device 2 and peeling device 3 will be briefly explained below, but the description in Japanese Patent No. 6174181 can be applied to the detailed configurations.

[0017] (Feeding device 2) FIG. 4 shows the internal structure of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 as seen from the front side (one side). FIG. 5 shows the internal structure of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 as seen from the back side (the side opposite to the one side). As shown in these figures, the supply device 2 has a first chain conveying device 7 as a first conveying means for stick-shaped vegetables. As shown in FIG. 6, the first chain conveying device 7 has an endless, circular chain 8 installed horizontally. The chain 8 is stretched between a drive sprocket 9 and a driven sprocket 10. The chain 8 is driven by the drive sprocket 9 and moves in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6. That is, the upper running portion of the chain 8 moves to the left side in FIG. 6 as indicated by arrow C, and the lower running portion moves to the right side in FIG. 6 as indicated by arrow D.

[0018] A plurality of (four in this embodiment) pushers 13 are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the chain 8. These pushers 13 are arranged at equal intervals from one another. The pushers 13 protrude outward. As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the supply device 2 is formed in the shape of an elongated rectangular parallelepiped. The upper surface 2a of the rectangular parallelepiped supply device 2 is formed with a V-shaped cross section that is concave downward as shown in Figure 3. Carrots W, which are rod-shaped vegetables to be processed, are placed inside the V-shape.

[0019] In Fig. 2, a long, thin, linear groove 14 is formed on the top surface 2a of the supply device 2. This groove 14 penetrates the members that form the external shape of the supply device 2. In Fig. 6, the upper part of a pusher 13 attached to the outer circumferential surface of the chain 8 penetrates the groove 14 and protrudes outward from the top surface 2a of the supply device 2, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

[0020] (Peeler 3 / Carrot conveyor) In Figure 1, a peeling device 3 for stick-shaped vegetables is provided downstream of the supplying device 2 (on the left side of Figure 1). The peeling device 3 is connected to the supplying device 2. As shown in Figure 4, the peeling device 3 has a second chain conveying device 15 as a second conveying means for stick-shaped vegetables. As shown in Figure 7, the second chain conveying device 15 has an endless, circular chain 16 installed horizontally. The chain 16 is stretched between a drive sprocket 19 and a driven sprocket 20. The chain 16 is driven by the drive sprocket 19 and moves in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 7. That is, the upper running portion of the chain 16 moves to the right in Figure 7 as indicated by arrow G, and the lower running portion moves to the left in Figure 7 as indicated by arrow H. The traveling direction F of the carrots is the same as the moving direction H of the lower running portion.

[0021] A plurality of (six in this embodiment) pushing devices 21 are attached to the outer circumferential surface of the chain 16. These pushing devices 21 are arranged at equal intervals from one another. The pushing devices 21 protrude outward from the chain 16. As shown in FIG. 8, the pushing device 21 has a pinion gear 22 and a main body 23. A rotating member 26 is provided at the lower end of the main body 23. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) piercing pins 27 are provided on the front surface of the rotating member 26. A power transmission means 28 is provided inside the main body 23 to transmit the rotation of the gear 22 to the rotating member 26. The power transmission means 28 is formed, for example, by a gear train.

[0022] A linear rack gear is provided on the machine frame 29 of the peeling device 3 in Fig. 4. This rack gear is diagrammatically indicated by a line 30 in Figs. 7 and 8. In Fig. 8, when the lower running portion of the chain 16 moves in the direction of arrow H, the pushing device 21 attached to the chain 16 moves parallel to the same direction as indicated by arrow H. At this time, the gear 22 meshes with the rack gear 30, causing the gear 22 to rotate. The rotation of the gear 22 is transmitted to the rotating member 26 by the power transmission means 28, causing the rotating member 26 to rotate in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction as viewed from the direction of arrow J.

[0023] (Peeling device 3 / peeling section) In Fig. 4, a peeling unit 33 is provided below the second chain transport device 15. Fig. 9 is a front view of the peeling unit 33. The structure of the peeling unit 33 visible in Fig. 9 is the same as the structure of the peeling unit 33 visible in Fig. 4. Fig. 10 is a plan view of the peeling unit 33 along arrow K in Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side view of the peeling unit 33 along arrow L in Fig. 10.

[0024] In Figure 10, multiple (eight in this embodiment) carrot support units 34 are arranged linearly along the carrot conveying path M. Note that multiple (seven in this embodiment) blade units 35a are arranged linearly to the left (lower side of Figure 10) of the row of multiple carrot support units 34. Additionally, multiple (seven in this embodiment) blade units 35b are arranged linearly to the right (upper side of Figure 10) of the row of multiple carrot support units 34. The left-side blade unit 35a and the right-side blade unit 35b are functionally identical and are symmetrical in shape with respect to the linear row of carrot support units 34. To facilitate understanding of the structure, the row of carrot support units 35a on the left side of Figure 10 is omitted.

[0025] As shown in Figure 12, each carrot support unit 34 has a support post 38, a support plate 39, and a tension spring 40. The support post 38 protrudes upward from the machine frame. The support plate 39 is rotatably attached to the upper end of the support post 38. The support plate 39 has an appropriate width so that it can receive carrots, as shown in Figure 11. The tension spring 40 is suspended between the rear end of the support plate 39 and the machine frame.

[0026] The blade unit 35b (35a) has a blade support 43, a blade 44, and a tension spring 45. The support 43 is formed in a generally L-shape in plan view, as shown in FIG. 10. One end 43a of the support 43 is rotatably attached to the machine frame, and the blade 44 is fixed to the other end 43b. The blade 44 extends vertically, as shown in FIG. 12, and is fixed to the support 43 with a screw. The tension spring 45 is provided between the one end 43a of the support 43 and the machine frame, as shown in FIG. 10. The tension spring 45 elastically biases the end 43b, to which the blade 44 is fixed, toward the carrot conveying path M. This elastically biases the blade 44 toward the carrot conveying path M in its natural state.

[0027] In Figure 4, a carrot centering device 48 is provided inside the stick-shaped vegetable peeling device 3, near the carrot discharge section of the first chain device 7 of the stick-shaped vegetable supply device 2. This centering device 48 is a device for aligning the center line of the carrot supplied to the peeling device 3 by the first chain device 7 with the carrot conveying path M in Figure 10. The specific configuration of this centering device 48 can be based on the structure of a centering device publicly known from Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent No. 6174181), so a detailed explanation will be omitted here.

[0028] The above is a brief explanation of the stick-shaped vegetable supply device 2 and the stick-shaped vegetable peeling device 3, but for more detailed structures, they are the same as those publicly known from Patent Document 4 (Patent No. 6174181), so please refer to that publication.

[0029] (End cutting device 4) In Figure 1, a stick-shaped vegetable end cutting device 4 is provided downstream of the peeling device 3 (on the left side of Figure 1). The end cutting device 4 is connected to the peeling device 3. A discharge passage member 49 is provided at the final end (i.e., the left end) of the peeling device 3 to discharge the carrots discharged from the peeling unit 33 toward the end cutting device 4. The carrots discharged from the peeling unit 33 are sent to the end cutting device 4 through this discharge passage member 49.

[0030] Figures 13 and 14 each show the internal structure of the end cutting device 4. Figure 13 shows the carrot holding unit 50 installed in the front part of the end cutting device 4. Figure 14 shows the structure of the rear side of the end cutting device 4 with the carrot holding unit 50 removed. The carrot holding unit 50 will be described later. In Figure 14, a carrot conveying pipe 51 is provided at the bottom of the end cutting device 4. The cross-sectional shape of the N-N cross section of this carrot conveying pipe 51 is a rectangle (i.e., a rectangular or square) with an open upper edge, as shown in partial view a. This carrot conveying pipe 51 is connected to the discharge passage member 49 provided at the final stage of the peeling device 3 in Figure 4.

[0031] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the end cutting device 4 taken along line PP in Figure 14. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the end cutting device 4 taken along line QQ in Figure 14. In Figure 14, an endless, circular chain 54 is installed in the center of the inside of the end cutting device 4. As shown in Figures 15 and 16, the chain 54 is stretched over a drive sprocket 55 and a driven sprocket 56. The chain 54 is driven by the drive sprocket 55 and rotates in the counterclockwise direction in Figure 15 (i.e., the clockwise direction in Figure 16). That is, the front running portion 54a of the chain 54 moves upward, and the rear running portion 54b moves downward.

[0032] A plurality of supports 57 (three in this embodiment) are fixed to the outer circumferential surface of the chain 54. These supports 57 are arranged at equal intervals. Each support 57 has a pair of V-shaped receiving portions, which support the carrots W.

[0033] In Figure 14, a carrot support frame 58 is provided in front of the carrot conveying pipe 51 (i.e., on the left side). The cross section of this carrot support frame 58 is U-shaped with or without corners, as shown in partial view b. The carrot support frame 58 is provided facing the chain 54, but is fixed to the machine frame or the carrot conveying pipe 51 and is immovable. The carrot support frame 58 supports carrots that slide out of the carrot conveying pipe 51. A stopper 61 is provided further to the left and in front of the carrot support frame 58. The stopper 61 is made of a flat plate. A carrot W that slides out of the carrot conveying pipe 51 is stopped when its tip hits the stopper 61. The stopped carrot W is supported by the carrot support frame 58.

[0034] Figure 17 shows an enlarged view of the upper portion of the end cutting device section 4 of Figure 14. In Figure 17, a right blade support 62 and a left blade support 63 are provided in approximately the center of the processing chamber R of the end cutting device 4. The right blade support 62 is provided on the right side of the chain 54. The left blade support 63 is provided on the left side of the chain 54. A right cutting blade 64 is fixed to the left end surface of the right blade support 62 with a fixing device such as a screw. A left cutting blade 65 is fixed to the right end surface of the left blade support 63 with a fixing device such as a screw.

[0035] As can be seen from Fig. 15, the right cutting blade 64 is a single, flat, approximately rectangular blade with its lower end inclined at an angle. As can be seen from Fig. 16, the left cutting blade 65 in Fig. 17 is also a single, flat, approximately rectangular blade with its lower end inclined at an angle. The lower tips of the right cutting blade 64 and the cutting blade 65 are adjusted to be in approximately the same position. The stopper 61 described with reference to Fig. 14 extends to the left cutting blade 65 in Fig. 17.

[0036] The left blade support 63 remains stationary during the process of cutting the ends of the carrots W. However, the left blade support 63 can move left and right while being guided by a linear guide member 68 fixed to the machine frame, and after moving in this manner, it is fixed in a stationary position. By moving the fixed position of the left blade support 63, the cutting length of the carrots cut by the left cutting blade 65 can be changed according to the operator's wishes.

[0037] The right blade support 62 is movable left and right while being guided by a linear guide member 69 fixed to the machine frame. A tension spring 70 is provided below the right blade support 62. Due to the action of this tension spring 70, the right blade support 62 is elastically biased in a direction approaching the chain 54 (to the left in Figure 17) in its natural state. A guide surface 71 is formed on the lower part of the surface of the right blade support 62 that faces the chain 54. This guide surface 71 is inclined so that its lower end is far away from the chain 54 and its upper end is close to the chain 54.

[0038] In Figure 14, when the front running portion 54a of the chain 54 moves upward, the support tool 57 also moves upward. The carrot to be cut is then transported upward by the upwardly moving support tool 57. When the transported carrot W reaches the right cutting blade 64 and left cutting blade 65 in Figure 17, both the left and right ends of the carrot W are cut by these cutting blades 64, 65. During this cutting, the tip of the thin side of the carrot W (the left end in Figure 17) moves upward while abutting against the stopper 61. This ensures that the left tip of the carrot W is cut with a consistent cutting margin. Furthermore, as the carrot W moves upward, the rear end of the thick side of the carrot W (the right end in Figure 14) hits the guide surface 71 of the right blade support 62, pushing the right blade support 62 outward. This ensures that the right tip of the carrot W is cut with a consistent cutting margin, even when the length of the carrot W varies. The cut ends are stored in storage boxes 674a and 674b placed at the bottom of the end cutting device 41 in FIG.

[0039] Figure 18 is a view of the carrot presser unit 50 as viewed along arrow Q in Figure 13. In Figure 18, the carrot presser unit 50 includes a carrot presser rod 74, a guide rod 75, and an air cylinder 76. The carrot presser rod 74 may be a cylindrical or rectangular tubular member. The guide rod 75 extends vertically. The air cylinder 76 is typically a mechanical element that extends or retracts an output shaft 76a by drawing air through an air intake (not shown). However, this embodiment does not aim for such a primary use. Instead, the body of the air cylinder 76 is simply fixed to a machine frame 77 and suspended downward without drawing or discharging air. If the air cylinder 76 does not draw or discharge air, the output shaft 76a would extend downward at a constant pressure.

[0040] In Figure 14, when the front running portion 54a of the chain 54 moves upward, the carrot W is lifted upward by the support 57. At this time, in Figure 18, the carrot presser bar 74 of the carrot presser unit 50 moves upward while being pushed up by the carrot W. At this time, the presser bar 74 presses the carrot W with appropriate pressure, preventing the carrot W from moving unnecessarily. This allows both ends of the carrot W to be stably cut by the cutting blades 64, 65 in Figure 17. When the carrot W rises to a predetermined height, in Figure 18, the presser bar 74 rotates outward about the fulcrum 78 so as not to interfere with the upward movement of the carrot W.

[0041] Figure 19 shows the rear structure of the end cutting device 4. This structure is the opposite side of the front structure of the end cutting device 41 shown in Figure A. In Figure 19, a discharge passage member 79 is provided at the top of the end cutting device 41. This discharge passage member 79 forms a discharge path S for carrots above the chain 54, as shown in Figures 15 and 16. After the cutting process in Figure 17, the carrots W as products are transported to the top of the chain 54 and passed through the discharge path S, where they are discharged to the outside as indicated by arrow T in Figure 19.

[0042] (Drive system) In Figure 4, an electric motor 80 is installed as a power source on the front side (one side) of the stick-shaped vegetable peeling device 3. This motor 80 drives and rotates the drive sprocket 19 of the second chain conveying device 15 in Figure 7. This rotation is transmitted to the driven sprocket 20 by the chain 16. The rotation of the driven sprocket 20 is transmitted to the intermediate chain 81 shown in Figure 4, which causes the intermediate chain 81 to move in a circular motion. The circular motion of this intermediate chain 81 drives and rotates the drive sprocket 9 of the first chain conveying device 7 in the stick-shaped vegetable supplying device 2 shown in Figure 6. This rotation causes the chain 8 to move in a circular motion. In this way, the operation of the supplying device 2 and the operation of the peeling device 3 are handled by the drive system installed on the front side (one side) of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 in Figure 4.

[0043] In Fig. 5, a gear train 83 is connected to a rotary drive shaft 82 extending from the output shaft of the motor 80 in Fig. 4. The drive sprocket 55 of the chain 54 in the end cutting device 4 in Fig. 15 is driven and rotated via this gear train 83. This rotation causes the chain 54 to move in a circular motion, transporting the carrots W. In this way, the operation of the end cutting device 4 is controlled by the drive system installed on the back side of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 in Fig. 5 (i.e., the side opposite to the one side).

[0044] In other words, in this embodiment, the supply device 2 and the peeling device 3 are operated by a first power transmission system provided on one side (front side), and the end cutting device 4 is operated by a second power transmission system provided on the opposite side (back side) from the one side.

[0045] As described above, in this embodiment, the single motor 80 installed on the front side of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 shown in Fig. 4 controls all of the operations of the supply device 2, peeling device 3, and end cutting device 4. This allows for low manufacturing costs.

[0046] Furthermore, the movements of the supply device 2, peeling device 3 and end cutting device 4 are realized by mechanical connections such as gear trains, so the timing of the operations of each device is perfectly synchronized without any discrepancies.

[0047] (operation) Since the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 of this embodiment is configured as described above, the operator first places the carrots W to be processed on the right end of the V-shaped recess in the upper surface 2a of the supply device 2 in Fig. 4. The placed carrots W are pushed and conveyed linearly by the pusher 13 that moves in a circular motion together with the chain 8, and then carried to the centering device 48. The centering device 48 aligns the center line of the carrot with the carrot conveying path M in Fig. 10.

[0048] The carrots are then pushed by pushing device 21, which moves linearly together with the lower running part of chain 16 in Fig. 7, and are conveyed linearly along carrot conveying path M in Fig. 10 inside peeling device 3 in Fig. 4. At this time, piercing pin 27 in Fig. 8 is inserted into the rear end of the carrot. Since piercing pin 27 rotates as pushing device 21 moves linearly, in Fig. 10 the carrots move linearly along conveying path M while rotating on their own axes.

[0049] The carrot thus moving advances on the receiving plate 39 of the carrot support unit 34 and is sandwiched on both sides by the tip portions of the blade support pair 43. Blades 44 are fixed to the tip portions of the blade support 43, so that the left and right blades 44 cut off the skin of the carrot as it moves along the conveyor path M while rotating on its own axis (see Figure 10). In this way, the peeling process is carried out.

[0050] The carrots thus peeled are then placed in the discharge passage member 49 shown in Figure 4. Because the discharge passage member 49 is tilted diagonally downward, the carrots flow into the carrot conveying pipe 51 due to the inertial force from the peeling unit 33 and their own weight, and then proceed to the stopper 61 in Figure 14 where they are stopped. At this time, the carrot support frame 58 firmly supports the carrots W.

[0051] Next, the carrots W are conveyed upward by the support 57, which moves upward together with the front running part 54a of the chain 54. When the conveyed carrots W reach the right cutting blade 64 and the left cutting blade 65 in Figure 17, both ends of the carrots W are cut by those blades. The carrots W, with both ends cut off, are then conveyed to the top of the chain 54 and further passed through the discharge path S to be discharged to the outside as indicated by the arrow T in Figure 19.

[0052] As described above, according to this embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, carrots are supplied in a linear fashion by the supply device 2, and the peeling process is carried out while the carrots are conveyed in a linear fashion by the peeling device 3. The peeled carrots then flow in a linear fashion below the end cutting device 4, where they are stopped in a predetermined position by the stopper 61 (Figure 14), and then both ends of the carrots are cut off while they are conveyed upward by the chain 54.

[0053] In this way, the carrots are transported linearly throughout the entire process, allowing the series of processes performed on the carrots to be carried out stably and without variation. Furthermore, the end cutting device 4 cuts the carrots while transporting them upward, so the overall shape of the stick-shaped vegetable processing device 1 does not become too large in the horizontal direction. As described above, according to this embodiment, the process from supplying carrots as raw materials to removing carrots as finished products can be carried out in a stable flow, thereby reducing the occurrence of defective products. Moreover, the end cutting device 4 is very small in plan view, allowing for a reduction in the installation area of ​​the device.

[0054] (Other embodiments) Although the present invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments and can be modified in various ways within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. For example, the object to be treated is not limited to carrots, but can also be cucumbers or other stick-shaped vegetables. In the above embodiment, both ends of the carrot are cut using the left and right cutting blades 64, 65 in FIG. 17, but instead of this configuration, only one end of the carrot may be cut. In the above embodiment, the ends of the carrots are cut using the cutting blades 64 and 65, which are fixed blades in FIG. 17. However, instead, the ends of the carrots may be cut using a rotating cutting blade. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 1: rod-shaped vegetable processing device, 2: supply device, 2a: upper surface, 3: peeling device, 4: end cutting device, 7: first chain conveying device, 8: chain, 9: driving sprocket, 10: driven sprocket, 13: pushing tool, 14: groove, 15: second chain conveying device, 16: chain, 19: driving sprocket, 20: driven sprocket, 21: pushing device, 22: pinion gear, 23: main body, 26: rotating member, 27: piercing pin, 28: power transmission means, 29: machine frame, 30: rack gear, 33: peeling unit, 34: carrot support unit, 35a: left blade unit, 35b: right blade unit, 38: support, 39: receiving plate, 40: tension spring, 43: blade support, 43a: one tip, 43b: other tip, 44: Blade, 45: Tension spring, 48: Carrot centering device, 49: Discharge passage member, 50: Carrot presser unit, 51: Carrot conveying pipe, 54: Chain, 54a: Front running part, 54b: Rear running part, 55: Drive sprocket, 56: Driven sprocket, 57: Support, 58: Carrot support frame, 61: Stopper, 62: Right blade support, 63: Left blade support, 64: Right cutting blade, 65: Left cutting blade, 67a, 67b: Storage box, 68: Linear guide member, 69: Linear guide member, 70: Tension spring, 71: Guide surface, 74: Carrot presser bar, 75: Guide bar, 76: Air cylinder, 76a: Output shaft, 77: Machine frame, 78: Fulcrum, 79: Discharge passage member, 80: Electric motor, 81: Intermediate chain, 82: Rotating drive shaft, 83: Gear train

Claims

1. a peeling device that cuts off the skin of stick-shaped vegetables with a blade; a supply device that supplies stick-shaped vegetables to the peeling device; An end cutting device that cuts the ends of the stick-shaped vegetables whose skins have been cut off by the peeling device. the feeding device is coupled to the peeling device; the peeling device is connected to the edge cutting device; The peeling device cuts off the skin of the stick-shaped vegetable while conveying the stick-shaped vegetable in a straight line, and further discharges the stick-shaped vegetable obliquely downward from a discharge opening, The end cutting device is a stopper for stopping the movement of the stick-shaped vegetable that is discharged obliquely downward from the peeling device; a conveying means for conveying the stick-shaped vegetable stopped by the stopper upward; a blade disposed at a side position of the conveying path of the stick-shaped vegetables by the conveying means, for cutting the ends of the stick-shaped vegetables conveyed upward; a discharge path forming means for forming a discharge path for guiding the rod-shaped vegetables, which have been conveyed upward by the conveying means after the ends have been cut, to the outside; A stick-shaped vegetable processing device comprising:

2. 2. The stick vegetable processing device according to claim 1, wherein the feeding device, the peeling device, and the end cutting device are operated by a single power source.

3. 3. The stick vegetable processing device according to claim 2, wherein the supply device and the peeling device are operated by a first power transmission system provided on one side, and the end cutting device is operated by a second power transmission system provided on the side opposite to the one side.

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