System and method for monitoring and reversing rotation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (S) for monitoring and reversing rotation applied to a machine (M) provided with a processing unit and a cleaning assembly (C) for gizzards or the like. The cleaning assembly (C) comprises cleaning rollers (C1) rotated using one or more gears (C2) associated with a motor (M1) by means of a transmission element (C3) that connects one of the gears (C2) to an output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1). During operation, the cleaning assembly (C) processes the gizzards or the like in order to clean them, through the action of the cleaning rollers (C1), which are arranged in pairs, rotating in opposite directions to each other. To prevent foreign objects from remaining on the cleaning assembly (C), the system (S) momentarily reverses the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) when its rotation speed is below the normal value, aiming to expel any foreign objects from the working area. The present invention further discloses a method for monitoring and reversing the direction of rotation of a motor (M1).

Description

[0001] "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REVERSING ROTATION"

[0002]

[0001] This invention patent refers to a system and method for monitoring and reversing rotation, more specifically applied to machines for cleaning offal, such as gizzards or similar, extracted from the viscera of slaughter poultry. This system and method promotes the constant monitoring of the rotation frequency transmitted from a motor to a cleaning assembly, which is installed on the offal cleaning machine or similar, in order to identify the presence of foreign bodies on the machine's cleaning assembly and, in these cases, promote the abrupt and momentary reversal of the motor's rotation direction, so that the cleaning assembly expels the foreign bodies beyond the limits of that cleaning assembly.

[0003] History of the Invention

[0004]

[0002] Different types of equipment dedicated to processing offal from slaughtered poultry are known to those skilled in the art, including those intended for cleaning gizzards or similar parts.

[0005]

[0003] Such equipment is equipped with cleaning units that are typically configured with rollers that rotate in opposite directions to remove residual parts that protrude from the peripheral contour of each gizzard or similar, in different stages of processing these products. In this way, this equipment is able to promote the cleaning of gizzards or similar in an automated manner, during the period in which the gizzards or similar remain on the rollers of the moving cleaning unit.

[0006]

[0004] However, despite the advances achieved by existing equipment in replacing human labor with automated devices that perform repetitive work functions, so that human operators do not need to perform repetitive tasks that tend to result in repetitive strain injuries in human operators, this equipment is not capable of handling the various foreign bodies that accompany gizzards or similar items. This is because birds, while alive, tend to swallow various objects, such as stones or small metal parts, like screws, nuts and washers, or any other objects that may fall on the floor of the bird breeding area.

[0007]

[0005] In this way, these foreign bodies swallowed by the birds end up accompanying the sets of viscera extracted from these birds, concentrating especially in the gizzards. Thus, during the cleaning of these gizzards, the aforementioned foreign bodies are extracted from the gizzards and deposited on the cleaning assembly of the machine.

[0008]

[0006] Unfortunately, the presence of these foreign bodies on the machine's cleaning assembly eventually results in jams between the constantly rotating cleaning rollers, as these rollers are unable to crush the foreign bodies that may eventually be deposited on the cleaning assembly. These jams are usually momentary, but repetitive, as the foreign bodies tend to remain on the cleaning assembly for some time, until they are naturally thrown off the cleaning assembly, or, in the worst cases, until they result in the permanent jamming of the cleaning rollers.

[0009]

[0007] In any of the situations mentioned, the machine's cleaning assembly suffers damage that impairs its proper functioning. Such damage may be more subtle, resulting in a decrease in the cleaning efficiency of gizzards or similar items processed by this equipment, or it may be more significant, completely preventing the machine from functioning.

[0010]

[0008] Aiming to solve these drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a system and method for monitoring and reversing rotation, which is capable of identifying the presence of foreign bodies on the cleaning assembly of the machine and then commanding the reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor that moves the rollers of the cleaning assembly, in order to facilitate the expulsion of these foreign bodies from the area of ​​the cleaning assembly.

[0009] Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a system and method for monitoring and reversing rotation, which comprises a device for monitoring and controlling the reversal of rotation provided by the motor, this device using a sensor that monitors the speed, or frequency, of rotation of the output shaft of the motor that moves the equipment, in order to identify the occurrence of any delay resulting from interference caused by foreign bodies interacting with the cleaning rollers.

[0011]

[0010] It is also an objective of the present invention to provide a system and method for monitoring and reversing rotation, which monitors the frequency of passage of identifying reading elements arranged along a peripheral region of a rotating element, such as a cylindrical disc, which is installed on the motor's output shaft, in order to identify any delay in the frequency of passage of these identifying elements through a reading region of the sensor.

[0012]

[0011] Advantageously, the present invention provides a system and method for monitoring and reversing rotation, which offers a simplified solution for promoting the expulsion of foreign bodies that appear on the gizzard cleaning assembly or similar, in order to preserve the physical integrity of the machine and make the gizzard cleaning operation or similar more efficient, avoiding the need to interrupt the machine's operation for maintenance of its cleaning assembly.

[0013]

[0012] Schematic figures of particular embodiments of the invention are presented below, whose dimensions and proportions are not necessarily the actual ones, since the figures are only intended to didactically present its various aspects, whose scope of protection is determined only by the scope of the appended claims.

[0014] Description of the Figures

[0015]

[0013] Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, applied in a gizzard cleaning machine (M) or similar (not illustrated); Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, showing a cleaning assembly (C);

[0016] Figure 3 illustrates a perspective view of another example of embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, showing another cleaning assembly (C);

[0017] Figure 4 illustrates a perspective view of another example of embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, showing another cleaning assembly (C);

[0018] Figure 5 illustrates a perspective view of an example embodiment of the device (D) of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 6 illustrates a perspective view of another example of an embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, applied in a gizzard cleaning machine (M) or similar (not shown);

[0020] Figure 7 illustrates a perspective view of another example of an embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, showing a cleaning assembly (C);

[0021] Figure 8 illustrates a perspective view of another example of embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, showing another cleaning assembly (C);

[0022] Figure 9 illustrates a perspective view of another example of embodiment of the system (S) of the present invention, showing another cleaning assembly (C);

[0023] Figure 10 illustrates a perspective view of another example of an embodiment of the device (D) of the present invention.

[0024] Description of the Invention

[0025]

[0014] The present invention discloses a rotation monitoring and reversal system (S), the system (S) being applied in a gizzard or similar cleaning machine (M) (not shown). Said machine (M) is equipped with a processing unit (not shown) and a cleaning assembly (C) for gizzards or similar (not shown), said cleaning assembly (C) comprising cleaning rollers (C1) rotated from one or more gears (C2) associated with a motor (M1) by means of a transmission element (C3) that connects one of the gears (C2) with an output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1).

[0026]

[0015] It will be understood that the cleaning assembly (C) may be configured by different mechanisms capable of acting in different stages during the processing and cleaning of gizzards or similar (not illustrated), such as the stages of viscera cleaning, primary cleaning or re-processing, so that its respective cleaning rollers (C1) may also be configured in different ways, according to each application need, as exemplified by figures 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and 9. Thus, depending on the specific configuration of each cleaning assembly (C), which may have different quantities of different models of cleaning rollers (C1), the number of gears (C2) required for transmitting the rotation provided by the motor (M1) may also vary accordingly.

[0027]

[0016] During normal machine operation (M), the output shaft (M2) assumes a normally constant rotational speed, which defines a reference value that can be previously registered in the processing unit (not shown) and which is intermittently and momentarily reduced by the occasional presence of foreign bodies (not shown) between the cleaning rollers (C1). Thus, while the cleaning assembly (C) acts in the processing for cleaning gizzards or similar (not shown), by the action of the cleaning rollers (C1) which are arranged in pairs, rotating in opposite directions to each other, any foreign body (not shown) may cause jams, or decelerations, in the rotation of the cleaning rollers (C1), consequently resulting in a reduction in the rotational speed of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1).

[0028]

[0017] To prevent foreign bodies (not shown) from remaining on the cleaning assembly (C), impairing the correct functioning of the machine (M) and possibly causing damage to it, the rotation monitoring and reversal system (S) comprises a device (D) for monitoring and controlling the rotation reversal provided by the motor (M1), wherein the device (D) communicates with the processing unit (not shown) and acts on the momentary reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) when its rotation speed is below the normal value.Thus, if the device (D) detects a reduction in the normal rotational speed performed by the motor (M1), a signal is sent from the device (D) to the processing unit (not shown), which commands the immediate reversal of the direction of rotation provided by the motor (M1), in order to expel any foreign bodies (not shown) that are between the cleaning rollers (C1) out of the working area of ​​the cleaning assembly (C).

[0029]

[0018] Furthermore, it will be understood that the processing unit (not illustrated) can be defined by any equipment known in the state of the art, such as a programmable logic controller, which has the capacity to receive and process data and / or information shared by other components of the machine (M), in order to control the operation of the motor (M1), for example, by means of a frequency inverter. Thus, the means for carrying out this type of operation are widely known in the state of the art and are even applied in machines intended for the same purposes as the machine (M) of this invention.

[0030]

[0019] As illustrated by figures 1 to 5, in a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the device (D) comprises a rotating element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and provided with a peripheral face (10), which comprises identification elements (11) distributed along the peripheral face (10) in a position aligned with the reading area of ​​a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with the rotating element (1).

[0031]

[0020] In this way, the rotation element (1) follows the rotation speed imposed by the motor (M1), and the sensor (2) is strategically positioned in such a way that its reading region remains constantly aligned with the peripheral face (10), so as to follow the passage of identification elements (11) through this reading region of the sensor (2).

[0021] Thus, from the known normal speed for the rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1), and consequently of the rotation element (1), the sensor (2) performs constant readings of the frequency of passage of the identification elements (11) through the same reference point.If any delay is detected, in relation to the expected passage frequency, considering the expected time for an identification element (11) to reach the position previously occupied by its predecessor, the sensor (2) sends a signal to the processing unit (not shown) to command the immediate and momentary reversal of the direction of rotation provided by the motor (M1).

[0032]

[0022] Furthermore, it will be understood that the number of identification elements (11) arranged along the peripheral face (10) may vary according to the number of readings to be performed by the sensor (2) during each complete turn performed by the rotation element (1), so that such variation implies proportional adjustments in the parameters considered in the calculations performed by the processing unit (not illustrated).

[0033]

[0023] Also preferably, as illustrated by figure 5, the device (D) should comprise a support element (3) for holding the sensor (2), which is preferably configured with an inductive type sensor. It will also be understood that such support element (3) may assume any convenient configuration to keep the sensor (2) firmly positioned in front of the peripheral face (10) of the rotating element (1), which may be configured with a cylindrical disc.

[0034]

[0024] As illustrated by figures 6 and 10, in a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the device (D) comprises a rotating element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and provided with a reading reference body (1a), such as a cylindrical disc, which comprises identification openings (1b) distributed along the peripheral region of the reading reference body (1a) in a position aligned with the reading area of ​​a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with the rotating element (1).

[0025] Furthermore, the sensor (2) is preferably configured by any sensor, or combination of sensors, capable of emitting and capturing light beams, being exemplarily configured by an inductive sensor and a photoelectric sensor. Such sensor (2) is provided with identification regions (2a) aligned with the passage region of the identification openings (1b) during the rotation of the rotating element (1).Thus, the aforementioned identification regions (2a) operate in alignment with each other, positioning themselves on both sides of the reading reference body (1a) so that the light beams, emitted by one of the identification regions (2a) and captured by the other, are periodically blocked by the reading reference body (1a), whenever there is no identification opening (1b) positioned between the ends of the identification regions (2a), as the rotation element (1) is rotated.

[0035]

[0026] In this way, the rotating element (1) follows the rotational speed imposed by the motor (M1), and the sensor (2) is strategically positioned in such a way that its reading region remains constantly aligned with the passage region of the identification openings (1 b), so as to follow their passage through the reading region of the sensor (2).

[0036]

[0027] Thus, from the known normal speed for the rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1), and consequently of the rotation element (1), the sensor (2) performs constant readings of the frequency of passage of the identification openings (1b) through the same reference point. If it identifies any delay, in relation to the expected frequency of passage, considering the expected time for an identification opening (1b) to reach the position previously occupied by its predecessor, the sensor (2) sends a signal so that the processing unit (not illustrated) commands the immediate and momentary reversal of the direction of rotation provided by the motor (M1).

[0037]

[0028] Furthermore, it will be understood that the number of identification openings (1b) arranged along the peripheral region of the reference reading body (1a) may vary according to the number of readings to be performed by the sensor (2) during each complete revolution performed by the rotation element (1), so that such variation implies proportional adjustments in the parameters considered in the calculations performed by the processing unit (not illustrated).

[0038]

[0029] In addition, the present invention also provides a method for monitoring and reversing the direction of rotation of a motor (M1). This method is also applied in a gizzard or similar cleaning machine (M) (not shown) which is equipped with a processing unit (not shown) and a cleaning assembly (C), comprising cleaning rollers (C1) rotated from one or more gears (C2) associated with a motor (M1) by means of a transmission element (C3) that connects one of the gears (C2) with an output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1), wherein the output shaft (M2) assumes a normally constant rotational speed that defines a reference value registered in the processing unit (not shown) and which is intermittently and momentarily reduced by the occasional presence of foreign bodies (not shown) between the cleaning rollers (C1).

[0039]

[0030] Thus, the aforementioned method comprises the following steps:

[0040] (a) determination of a nominal value of the rotational speed to be practiced by the motor (M1) during the normal operation of the cleaning assembly (C) and motor drive (M1) for rotation of the output shaft (M2) at the determined speed;

[0041] (b) monitoring the rotational speed of the motor's output shaft (M2) (M1), by means of a device (D), until a reduction in the monitored rotational speed is identified in comparison with the nominal value of the rotational speed determined in the previous step;

[0042] (c) sudden and momentary reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1);

[0043] (d) reversing the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1); (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) until the machine (M) is deactivated.

[0044]

[0031] Preferably, in a first embodiment of the invention, the monitoring of the rotational speed of the output shaft (M2) by the device (D), during step (b), is performed by a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with a rotational element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and provided with a peripheral face (10), which comprises identification elements (11) distributed along the peripheral face (10) that rotates in front of the reading area of ​​the sensor (2), which identifies the periodic passage of the identification elements (11).

[0045]

[0032] Alternatively, in a second embodiment of the invention, the monitoring of the rotational speed of the output shaft (M2) by the device (D), during step (b), is performed by a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with a rotation element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and equipped with a reference reading body (1a) configured by a cylindrical disc, which comprises identification openings (1b) distributed along the peripheral region of the reference reading body (1a) that rotates in front of the reading area of ​​the sensor (2), which identifies the periodic passage of the identification openings (1b)

[0046]

[0033] Thus, it will be understood that the monitoring carried out during step (b) can be parameterized so that any significant amount of delay in the period between two subsequent readings, carried out by the device (D), is sufficient for the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1) to be reversed, as determined by step (c).

[0047]

[0034] Furthermore, in an alternative embodiment of this invention, in addition to the steps (a) to (e) previously defined, said method of monitoring and reversing rotation may comprise the following additional steps, following step (e):

[0048] (f) emergency deactivation of the machine (M) and the motor (M1), if step (e) occurs three times during a time interval shorter than a period previously determined and registered in the processing unit (not illustrated);

[0049] (g) activation of an alert device indicating the emergency deactivation of the machine (M) and the motor (M1), until manual removal of any foreign bodies located on the cleaning rollers (C1) occurs;

[0050] (h) drive the motor (M1) to rotate the output shaft (M2) at the speed determined in step (a);

[0051] (i) repetition of step (e), until it is repeated three times during a time interval shorter than a period previously determined and registered in the processing unit (not illustrated);

[0052] (j) repeating steps (f) to (i) until machine (M) is switched off.

[0053]

[0035] A person skilled in the art will readily perceive, from the description, various ways of carrying out the invention without departing from the scope of the claims accompanying this descriptive report.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, wherein the system (S) is applied in a gizzard cleaning machine (M) which is equipped with a processing unit and a cleaning assembly (C), comprising cleaning rollers (C1) rotated from one or more gears (C2) associated with a motor (M1) by means of a transmission element (C3) that connects one of the gears (C2) with an output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1), wherein the output shaft (M2) assumes a normally constant rotational speed that defines a reference value registered in the processing unit and which is intermittently and momentarily reduced by the eventual presence of foreign bodies between the cleaning rollers (C1), characterized by comprising a device (D) for monitoring and controlling the rotation reversal provided by the motor (M1),whereby device (D) communicates with the processing unit and momentarily reverses the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) when its rotational speed is below the normal value. 2 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (D) comprises a rotation element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and provided with a peripheral face (10), which comprises identification elements (11) distributed along the peripheral face (10) in a position aligned with the reading area of ​​a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with the rotation element (1). 3 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, according to claim 2, characterized in that the device (D) comprises a support element (3) for holding the sensor (2). 4 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, according to any one of claims 2 to 3, characterized in that the sensor (2) is configured with an inductive sensor and a photoelectric sensor. 5 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the rotation element (1) is configured by a cylindrical disc. 6 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (D) comprises a rotation element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and provided with a reference reading body (1a), preferably configured by a cylindrical disc, which comprises identification openings (1b) distributed along the peripheral region of the reference reading body (1a) in a position aligned with the reading area of ​​a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with the rotation element (1). 7 - “ROTATION MONITORING AND REVERSAL SYSTEM”, according to claim 6, characterized in that the sensor (2) is configured by a photoelectric sensor provided with identification regions (2a) aligned with the passage region of the identification openings (1b) during the rotation of the rotation element (1). 8 - “METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REVERSING ROTATION”, the method being applied to a gizzard or similar cleaning machine (M) equipped with a processing unit and a cleaning assembly (C), comprising cleaning rollers (C1) rotated from one or more gears (C2) connected to a motor (M1) by means of a transmission element (C3) connecting one of the gears (C2) to an output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1), wherein the output shaft (M2) assumes a normally constant rotational speed that defines a reference value registered in the processing unit and which is intermittently and momentarily reduced by the occasional presence of foreign bodies between the cleaning rollers (C1), characterized by comprising the following steps: (a) determination of a nominal value of the rotational speed to be practiced by the motor (M1) during the normal operation of the cleaning assembly (C) and motor drive (M1) for rotation of the output shaft (M2) at the determined speed; (b) monitoring the rotational speed of the motor's output shaft (M2) (M1), by means of a device (D), until a reduction in the monitored rotational speed is identified in comparison with the nominal value of the rotational speed determined in the previous step; (c) sudden and momentary reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1); (d) reversal of the direction of rotation of the output shaft (M2) of the motor (M1); (e) repeating steps (b) to (d) until machine (M) is deactivated. 9 - “METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REVERSING ROTATION”, according to claim 8, characterized in that the monitoring of the rotation speed of the output shaft (M2) by the device (D), during step (b), is carried out by a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with a rotation element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and provided with a peripheral face (10), which comprises identification elements (11) distributed along the peripheral face (10) that rotates in front of the reading area of ​​the sensor (2), which identifies the periodic passage of the identification elements (11). 10 - “METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REVERSING ROTATION”, according to claim 8, characterized in that the monitoring of the rotation speed of the output shaft (M2) by the device (D), during step (b), is carried out by a sensor (2) positioned in alignment with a rotation element (1) installed on the output shaft (M2) and equipped with a reference reading body (1a), preferably configured by a cylindrical disc, which comprises identification openings (1b) distributed along the peripheral region of the reference reading body (1a) that rotates in front of the reading area of ​​the sensor (2), which identifies the periodic passage of the identification openings (1b). 11 - “METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REVERSING ROTATION”, according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor (M1), during step (c), is abruptly accelerated until it reaches the same rotational speed as the normal direction of rotation of the motor (M1). 12 - “METHOD FOR MONITORING AND REVERSING ROTATION”, according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized by comprising the following additional steps, following step (e): (f) emergency deactivation of the machine (M) and the motor (M1), if step (e) occurs three times during a time interval shorter than a period previously determined and registered in the processing unit; (g) activation of an alert device indicating the emergency deactivation of the machine (M) and the motor (M1), until manual removal of any foreign bodies located on the cleaning rollers (C1) occurs; (h) drive the motor (M1) to rotate the output shaft (M2) at the speed determined in step (a); (i) repeating step (e) until it is repeated three times within a time interval shorter than a period previously determined and registered in the processing unit; (j) repeating steps (f) to (i) until machine (M) is switched off.

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