Snipping machine to trim ends from french beans etc. - improves prod. yield by limiting trimmed length to constant dimension

摘要

Bean snipping machine is for trimming off the two ends of french beans etc. The machine comprises two similar, horizontal conveyors located in parallel symmetry one above the other and driven in opposite directions. Each conveying band is made up of transverse partition jaws which are spaced adjustably in the direction of conveyor travel. Beans are gravity fed on to the top run of the upper conveyor so that each bean falls, longitudinal axis upright, into the gap between an adjacent pair of jaws. Passage of the bean through the gap is arrested by a horizontal stop plate under the conveyor band. As the conveyor moves on, the jaws close in to grip the bean which is carried over a cutter which trims off the lower end of the bean projecting below the jaws. The conveyor then inverts the beans through 180 deg. to start its return run. The jaws are opened and beans drop into jaw caps of the lower conveyor. The untrimmed end of each bean now meets the stop plate and is subsequently trimmed off by a cutter. The upper and lower conveyor drives are synchronised to obtain a clean transfer. Used for trimming the ends from french beans etc. in prepn. for canning and freezing. The length trimmed from the end of each bean is always the same. Less prod. is wasted so yield is higher than when rotary drum snippers are used.