Title of Invention

A DEVICE FOR CUTTING FRUITS

Abstract

This invention relates to a device for cutting fruits like lemons and other similar fruits, which are cut by the machine into pieces continuously. The device for cutting fruits I comprising a hopper (1) mounted onto the main frame (2) of the machine; channels (7) are provided for transporting the fruits to the cutter assemblies (8) with the help of the chains (9) provided in the channels; the said cutting assembly is provided with cutting means; a drive V pulley (14) is secured with the shaft (15) of the motor (13) for rotating a main shaft (16) having a big V pulley (17) mounted thereon at the end towards the motor side; a common chain is provided passing over a plurality of the sprockets mounted on plurality of shafts.

Full Text

TITLE: A DEVICE FOR CUTTING FRUITS FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a device for cutting fruits. The fruits are for example lemons and other similar fruits, which are cut by the machine into pieces continuously. The machine has its application preferably in the pickle industries. BACKGROUND OF INVENTION There are various kinds of cutting and slicing devices are known in the art for cutting lemon and other similar fruits. Some of the conventional devices are manual as well as motor operated. One of the conventional lemon cutting machines developed by CFTRI, Mysore, comprises a continuous circular cutting device for cutting lemon and other similar fruits. The lemon flows into the pockets of the centralizing disc due to the gradient of the inlet chute. The whole lemon is cut into four pieces when the centralizing disc carrying the lemon moves against the multi-edged cutter. The lemons, cut into four pieces, are dropped on to the outlet chute when the centralizing disc moves away from the multi-edged cutter. The outlet chute discharges the cut lemon into the tray/vessel. The machine can be operated with or without electric power. It has a capacity of cutting lemon at the rate of 100-150 Kg/hr. Another lemon cutting machine developed by Vishwakarma Industries, Kolhapur, India comprises grading means for grading the dumped lemons, into five different sizes. Graded lemons automatically go to the respective units where they are cut into eight pieces of equal size. All the parts are made of stainless except frame. The machine has a capacity of cutting lemon at the rate of 750 Kg/hr, this machine is electric operated. Yet another device disclosed in the US patent No.5241902, comprises a plurality of blades. An inner guide having a longitudinal axis and an outlet surface, an outer guide having a longitudinal axis and inner and outer surfaces, and a plurality of blade drive means for rotating each of the blades are provided to cut the fruit into the desired shape. Both the inner and outer guides have a plurality of longitudinally extending apertures equal to the number of blades. The apertures are disposed in each guide's outer surface and each aperture in a guide's surface is circumferentially spaced from each other aperture in that guide surface. The apertures in the outer guide are also arranged such that they are aligned with the inner guide apertures. The inner guide is spaced from the outer guide inner surface to form a longitudinally extending annular aperture. The blades are disposed such that a portion of each blade extends through each outer guide aperture and into the annual aperture. The inner guide outer surface and the outer guide inner surface cooperate to guide both whole and broken fruit to the rotating blade portions in the annular aperture so that the fruit can be cut into the desired shape. The outer guide also forms a barrier between the annual aperture and the blade drive means to avoid contamination of the fruit. Still another fruit cutting machine disclosed in US patent No.4777872, comprises an inclined roller-type conveyor belt extending between an open-bottom hopper-type loading stations to an interdigitated rotary knife-type of cutting station served by a comb-type of slice-unloading station. The hopper is open not only upwards and downwards, but also downstream, and the rollers and annually corrugated and made to rotate the hopper immediately downstream of the hopper, so as to load the conveyor belt with a single-depth layer of fruit oriented long axis transversally of the conveyor. At the cutting station, the knives on the upper knife drum spike the fruit in a row and transfer those fruit from the conveyor into the nip between the upper and lower knife drums where the knives on both drums cooperate to slice the fruit. By preference, the knives are disk-shaped with regular patterns of small teeth regularly interrupted by individual larger teeth. Another fruit cutting device disclosed in US patent No.4, 646,632 comprises an upward-sloping carrying run of an endless conveyor which is made of a succession of rollers mounted to chains entrained about sprockets. The rollers have flexible disk-like fins progressively increasing and decreasing diameter from fin to fin so that the olives tend to settle into pockets and orient with their lengths crosswise of the belt as the rollers are rotated. The belt conveys the olives into a shaft of slicing disks. Olive slices are received between slicing disks and an assisting roller pushes in the remainder of any olive only partially sliced through, except that contact of the slicing disks with any pit still contained in an olive pushes that olive more deeply into a respective inter-roller pocket by flexing the respective roller fins. As separate locations along the conveyor, a comb pulls the olive slices out from between the slicing disks, and the pocket-entrapped pit-containing olives are dislodged. DISADVANTAGES OF THE PRIOR ART There are disadvantages associated with conventional devices. One of the main disadvantages is that some of conventional device for cutting fruits are complex in construction and heavy in weight. Another disadvantage is that some of the conventional device can cause accidents during the manual cutting operation of the fruits. Yet another disadvantage is that some of the conventional fruit cutting devices are complicated and the maintenance thereof is very costly also skilled people are required to maintain the same. Still another disadvantage is that the conventional fruit cutting devices do not produced better quality of fruits slices/cut pieces. A further disadvantage is that the blades of the conventional fruit cutting devices are not long lasting; they need replacement after particular timing. Another disadvantage is that conventional fruit cutting devices are complicated and heavy and require more power to operate the same. Yet another disadvantage is that skilled labour is required to operate the machine. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, there is provided a device for cutting fruits comprising a hopper adapted to be mounted at one corner of the main frame, a plurality of channels being provided to receive the fruits from said hopper and convey the same to the feeding means provided between the outlet of the said channels and inner of the cutting means, adapted to be operated by an electric motor mounted at the bottom of the said frame, rotary knives adapted to be rotated by said motor being provided near the bottom end of said cylinder for cutting the fruits into eight pieces when pushed towards the outlets of the said cutting means, a main shaft having a plurality of pulleys mounted thereon being supported on the main frame so as to provide a drive to a second shaft having a plurality of sprockets mounted thereon for providing the rotational movement to the different components of the device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION In accordance with this invention, the fruit-cutting device has a hopper mounted on the main frame of the machine at one corner thereof. A channel being is provided just below each outlet provided in said hopper for facilitating the transportation of the fruits to the cuttings mean with the help of a chain disposed into said channels. A motive means for example an electric motor is provided near the bottom of said frame for providing the rotational movement to the different components of the machine through an arrangement of a plurality of gears and chains provided with plurality of the shafts secured with the main frame of the machine rotatably. The hopper has a big conical hopper for storing the fruits therein and a small conical hopper provided below said big hopper in an opposite direction and disposed in a cylindrical hopper provided at the bottom thereof. The outlets are provided in the hopper provided at the bottom. Cutting means has a piston disposed into a cylinder. An opening is provided in the middle of the cylinder so as to receive the fruits from the channels. A knife is provided near the bottom end of each cylinder such that to cut the fruits into four pieces. The rotary knives are provided adjacent to the bottom end of said cylinder such as to cut the fruit into two pieces. Thus the fruit is cut into eight pieces. Means adapted to be operated by the motor are provided between the channels and the cylinders so as to feed the fruits one by one. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fruits cutting device according to a preferred embodiment is herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 shows the isometric view of the fruit-cutting device Fig. 2 shows the isometric view of the device without frame Fig. 3 shows the right side view of the device Fig. 4 shows the left side view of the device Fig. 5 shows the top view of the fruit cutting device DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Referring to the drawings particularly Fig. 1, a device for cutting fruits has a hopper (1) adapted to be mounted at one corner of the main frame (2) of the machine. Wherein the hopper (1) has an upper conical hopper (3) mounted on a lower conical hopper (4) in the opposite direction, the said lower conical hopper (4) is disposed in a bottom cylindrical hopper (5) such that the lower conical hopper (4) remains free to be rotated for pushing the fruits into the outlets (6) provided at one side of the cylindrical hopper for the supply of the fruits into the channels (7) and the said channels (7) are provided for transporting the fruits to the cutter assemblies (8) respectively with the help of the chains (9) provided in the channels, the said cutter assembly (8) has a piston (10) disposed in the respective cylinder (11) of the assembly. Wherein cutter / knife (not shown) is provided at the lower end of each cylinder (11) for cutting the fruits into four pieces. A rotary knife (12) is provided just below the lower end of the cylinder of the cutter assembly (8) for further cutting of the already cut fruits into eight pieces, is provided by means of bevel gears set and adapted to be rotated by means of a motor (13) mounted at the bottom of the main frame (2) of the machine, a drive V pulley (14) is secured with the shaft (15) of the motor (13) for rotating a main shaft (16) having a big V pulley (17) mounted thereon at the end towards the motor side, a small pulley (18) is mounted on the said shaft (16) at the other end thereof for rotating a second shaft (19) mounted on the main frame (2) of the machine. Wherein big pulley (20) is secured with the shaft (19) for receiving the rotary motion from the small pulley (18), a sprocket (21) is provided on the shaft (19) at the end towards the big pulley (20) for rotating gear box (22) through a sprocket (23) mounted on the shaft (24) of the gear box (22), the said gear box (22) is provided to rotate the conical hopper (4) provided in the hopper (5) of the hopper assembly (1), a second sprocket (25) is mounted on the shaft (19) for providing rotational movement to a third shaft (26) through a sprocket (27) secured therewith, a pair of sprocket (28) is provided with a fourth shaft (29) having a pair of sprocket (30) mounted thereon for rotating the chains (9) disposed in the respective channels (7) for carrying the fruits or the similar fruits to the cutting means. Cutting means of the present invention comprises a piston (10) and cylinder (11) assembly having an inlet at the middle portion thereof for facilitating the entry of the fruits therein. A cutting knife is disposed in the bottom portion of the piston (10) cylinder (11) assembly for cutting the fruits into four pieces and another pair of rotary knives (12) is provided just below the bottom end of the piston (10) cylinder (11) assembly for further cutting of the fruits into eight pieces when the cut fruit is pushed downwardly by the entry of the other fruit into the cylinder (11) assembly. The rotary knives are secured at the bottom end of the respective vertical shaft (31) adapted to be rotated by means of the respective sets of the bevel gears (32) provided at the top end of the vertical shafts (31) and fifth horizontal shaft (33) supported on the main frame (2) of the machine. A sprocket (34) is mounted at one end of the fifth horizontal shaft (33) such that to receive the drive by a common chain (35) passing over a plurality of sprockets (36, 37 and 38) mounted on the sixth shafts (39), second shaft (19) and seventh (40) respectively such to transmit the same to the bevel gears (32), sprocket (36) mounted on the shaft fifth (39) provides the up and down movement to the pistons of the piston (10) cylinder (11) assembly through a crank assembly (41) provided with the sixth shaft (39), sprocket (37) is mounted on the second shaft (19), in which the main shaft to provide the drive to all the shafts, sprocket (38) is provided to give support to the chain (33) such that to provide to and fro movement to a pair of semi-circular components (43) secured with the eight horizontal shafts (44) adapted to be actuated by the cam pulley (42) through a connecting rod (45) and the semi circular components are provided for pushing the fruits into the inlet of the cutting assembly. During the operation of the machine the months or the similar fruits are put into the upper hopper having outlets near the bottom end thereof. The fruits come down into the lower cylindrical hopper due to rotational movement of the lower conical hopper. The fruits present in the lower cylindrical hopper tends to move towards the outlets provided therein and come down in the conveying channels and travel towards the inlet of the piston-cylinder assembly due to the movement of the chains provided in the channels. The fruit is first cut into four pieces due to the pressure exerted by the entry of the other fruit and downward movement of the piston. The process of entering of the fruits in the piston-cylinder assembly continues due to the movement of the respective parts of the machine and the cutting of the fruits takes place continuously. The fruit is cut into four pieces in the lower portion of the cylinder and into eight pieces when it is about to come out from the cylinder by the rotary knife. claim: 1. A device for cutting fruits like lemons and other similar fruits, which are cut into pieces comprising; a hopper (1) mounted onto the main frame (2) of the machine; channels (7) are provided for transporting the fruits to the cutter assemblies (8) with the help of the chains (9) provided in the channels; the said cutting assembly is provided with cutting means; a drive V pulley (14) is secured with the shaft (15) of the motor (13) for rotating a main shaft (16) having a big V pulley (17) mounted thereon at the end towards the motor side; a common chain is provided passing over a plurality of the sprockets mounted on plurality of shafts. 2. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in claim 1 wherein cutting means comprises a piston (10) and cylinder (11) assembly having an inlet at the middle portion thereof for facilitating the entry of the fruits thereon. 3. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a cutting knife is disposed in the bottom portion of the piston (10) cylinder (11) assembly for cutting the fruits into four pieces and another pair of rotary knives (12) is provided just below the bottom end of the piston (10) cylinder (11) assembly for further cutting of the fruits into eight pieces when the cut fruits is pushed downwardly by the entry of the other fruits into the cylinder (11) assembly. 4. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the rotary knives are secured at the bottom end of the respective vertical shaft (31) adapted to be rotated by means of the respective sets of the bevel gears (32) provided at the top end of the vertical shafts (31) and fifth horizontal shaft (33) supported on the main frame (2) of the machine. 5. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein main shaft has a big V pulley and a V small pulley for receiving the drive from the motor and transmit the same to said second shaft and a common chain is provided passing over a plurality of the sprockets mounted on fifth, sixth, second and eight shafts and the device. 6. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the hopper (1) comprising an upper conical hopper (3) mounted on a lower conical hopper (4) in the opposite direction; the said lower conical hopper (4) is disposed in a bottom cylindrical hopper (5) such that the lower conical hopper (4) remains free to be rotated for pushing the fruits into the outlets (6) provided at one side of the cylindrical hopper for the supply of the fruits into the channels (7). 7. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the cutter assembly (8) has a piston (10) disposed in the respective cylinder (11) of the assembly, wherein cutter / knife (not shown) is provided at the lower end of each cylinder (11) for cutting the fruits into four pieces; a rotary knife (12) is provided just below the lower end of the cylinder of the cutter assembly (8) for further cutting of the already cut fruits into eight pieces, is provided by means of bevel gears set and adapted to be rotated by means of a motor (13) mounted at the bottom of the main frame (2) of the machine, 8. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein small pulley (18) is mounted on the said shaft (16) at the other end thereof for rotating a second shaft (19) mounted on the main frame (2) of the machine, wherein big pulley (20) is secured with the shaft (19) for receiving the rotary motion from the small pulley (18), 9. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein sprocket (21) is provided on the shaft (19) at the end towards the big pulley (20) for rotating gear box (22) through a sprocket (23) mounted on the shaft (24) of the gear box (22), the said gear box (22) is provided to rotate the conical hopper (4) provided in the hopper (5) of the hopper assembly (1), 10. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein second sprocket (25) is mounted on the shaft (19) for providing rotational movement to a third shaft (26) through a sprocket (27) secured therewith, a pair of sprocket (28) is provided with a fourth shaft (29) having a pair of sprocket (30) mounted thereon for rotating the chains (9) disposed in respective channels (7) for carrying the fruits to the cutting means. 11. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein sprocket (34) is mounted at one end of the fifth horizontal shaft (33) such that to receive the drive by a common chain (35) passing over a plurality of sprockets (36, 37 and 38) mounted on the sixth shafts (39), a second shaft (19) and seventh (40) respective such to transmit the same to the bevel gears (32). 12. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein sprocket (36) mounted on the shaft fifth (39) provides the up and down movement to the pistons of the piston (10) cylinder (11) assembly through a crank assembly (41) provided with the sixth shaft (39), sprocket (37) is mounted on second shaft (19), wherein the main shaft have to provide the drive to all the shafts. 13. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein sprocket (38) is provided to give support to the chain (35) during the rotation of the chain on the different sprockets (34, 36, 37 and 38). 14. A device for cutting fruits as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein cam pulley (42) is provided at outer end of the fifth shaft (33) such that to provide to and fro movement to a pair of semi-circular components (43) secured with the eight horizontal shafts (44) adapted to be actuated by the cam pulley (42) through a connecting rod (45) and the semi circular components are provided for pushing the fruits into the inlet of the cutting assembly. 15. A device for cutting fruits such as herein described and exemplified. Dated this 14th day of December 2006 `

Documents:

807-che-2004-abstract.pdf

807-che-2004-claims.pdf

807-che-2004-correspondnece-others.pdf

807-che-2004-correspondnece-po.pdf

807-che-2004-description(complete).pdf

807-che-2004-drawings.pdf

807-che-2004-form 1.pdf

807-che-2004-form 26.pdf

807-che-2004-form 3.pdf

807-che-2004-form 5.pdf