WO2013191551A1 - Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass and use of such a device for drying a mass - Google Patents

Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass and use of such a device for drying a mass Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2013191551A1
WO2013191551A1 PCT/NL2013/050441 NL2013050441W WO2013191551A1 WO 2013191551 A1 WO2013191551 A1 WO 2013191551A1 NL 2013050441 W NL2013050441 W NL 2013050441W WO 2013191551 A1 WO2013191551 A1 WO 2013191551A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
drum
mass
centrifuge
peripheral wall
inner peripheral
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2013/050441
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Leonard Te Brake
Original Assignee
Food Technology Noord-Oost Nederland B.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Food Technology Noord-Oost Nederland B.V. filed Critical Food Technology Noord-Oost Nederland B.V.
Publication of WO2013191551A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013191551A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23N—MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS
    • A23N12/00—Machines for cleaning, blanching, drying or roasting fruits or vegetables, e.g. coffee, cocoa, nuts
    • A23N12/08—Machines for cleaning, blanching, drying or roasting fruits or vegetables, e.g. coffee, cocoa, nuts for drying or roasting
    • A23N12/086—Machines for cleaning, blanching, drying or roasting fruits or vegetables, e.g. coffee, cocoa, nuts for drying or roasting with centrifuging devices
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F26—DRYING
    • F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
    • F26B5/00—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat
    • F26B5/08—Drying solid materials or objects by processes not involving the application of heat by centrifugal treatment

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a centrifuge for centrifuging a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like, comprising:
  • Such a centrifuge is per se known and is applied in the food industry for drying vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like after the vegetables have been washed.
  • a per se known centrifuge comprises a first conveyor belt for supplying the mass to the drum and a second conveyor belt for discharging the mass from the drum.
  • the first conveyor belt is arranged displaceably between a first position, in which the first conveyor belt is located at a distance from the drum, and a second position in which the first conveyor belt extends into the drum.
  • the first conveyor belt is filled in each case with a fresh quantity of mass for centrifuging while the first conveyor belt is located in its first position.
  • the first conveyor belt is displaced to its second position in order to supply the fresh quantity of mass for centrifuging to the drum, this still at the reduced rotation speed of the drum.
  • the first conveyor belt is displaced back to its first position, where it is filled once again, and the rotation speed of the drum is increased to said suitable rotation speed.
  • the above described, per se known centrifuge has a number of drawbacks.
  • the first drawback is that the rotation speed at which the drum rotates while the mass is being supplied and discharged is temporarily reduced and increased again for drying purposes, and this switching between the two rotation speeds requires extra energy.
  • a second drawback is that the first conveyor belt cannot be filled during the displacement between its first position and its second position, which results in additional time and cost.
  • a third drawback is that emptying of the drum takes place in batches, while other processes such as washing of the mass are continuously running processes.
  • the centrifuge of the type stated in the preamble has for this purpose the special feature according to the invention that:
  • the drum has a form widening in the direction of the discharge means such that during centrifuging the mass present in the drum is displaced from the supply means to the discharge means .
  • the mass in the drum is driven toward the inner peripheral wall of the drum. If the mass is held according to the invention some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum and the drum has a form widening in the direction of the discharge means, the mass is transported in the direction of the discharge means during centrifuging, whereby the mass can be supplied continuously to the drum and discharged continuously from the drum during centrifuging .
  • the drum can rotate continuously here at one rotation speed, i.e. the rotation speed suitable for drying the mass. This rotation speed lies for instance between 80 and 600 revolutions per minute .
  • the means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum comprise fixedly disposed gas supply means for supplying a gas under pressure via the perforations to the inner peripheral wall of the drum over a part of the periphery thereof such that in this part of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall the mass is held at said distance by the gas under pressure.
  • the gas is supplied via the perforations to the inner peripheral wall of the drum in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the inner peripheral wall of the drum.
  • the gas blows the mass away from the peripheral wall so that the mass is held at said distance.
  • the water present in the mass is also held at said distance here so that the water cannot leave the drum in the part of the periphery where the gas is supplied.
  • the mass with water will be pressed in the usual manner against the wall of the drum so that in the other part of the periphery the water will leave the drum via the perforations.
  • the gas supply means are fixedly disposed, wherein the drum rotates relative to the gas supply means, the gas will always be supplied to a different part of the inner peripheral wall of the drum.
  • the mass will thus de displaced each time from and to the peripheral wall, wherein in the part of the peripheral wall where gas is supplied the mass is held said distance from the wall, wherein the mass will displace in the direction of the discharge means, and wherein in the other part of the periphery the mass is pressed against the wall so that the water is flung from the mass and will leave the drum via the perforations.
  • gas supply means as means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum is that the water present between different parts of the mass, for instance between lettuce or spinach leaves, will rearrange itself among the mass when this mass is held said distance from the wall by the gas.
  • the water in the other part of the periphery will hereby be flung from the mass more easily so that the mass is dried more quickly and/or better with the centrifuge according to the invention than with the per se known centrifuge .
  • the gas is supplied continuously or at least substantially continuously.
  • the gas supply means are configured for this purpose to supply the gas (substantially) continuously.
  • the part of the periphery to which the gas is supplied is preferably between 5 - 40% of the total periphery and the other part of the periphery to which no gas is supplied is therefore preferably between 60 - 95% of the total periphery of the drum.
  • the gas under pressure is preferably air.
  • the air has a slight overpressure, for instance between 0.03 - 0.10 bar.
  • the gas supply means comprise two gas chambers fixedly disposed opposite each other on the outer side of the drum and each extending along the length of the drum over a determined part of the periphery of the peripheral wall for the purpose of supplying the gas under pressure in two mutually opposite parts of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall such that the mass is held at said distance in the two mutually opposite parts of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall by the gas under pressure.
  • the gas chambers preferably seal against the drum in substantially airtight manner.
  • the gas supply means can each comprise a number of gas chambers, such as three or four gas chambers.
  • the gas chambers are preferably arranged distributed over the periphery of the drum on the outer side thereof, preferably such that the angle between two successive gas chambers is always the same.
  • the gas supply means can also comprise one gas chamber extending along the length of the drum over a part of the periphery of the drum.
  • the discharge means preferably comprise a cylindrical wall connecting to the drum.
  • the wall has on its underside an opening under which transport means are disposed for transporting the mass from the centrifuge.
  • the supply means extend into the drum, wherein the supply means extend to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum for the purpose of supplying the mass to the drum close to the inner peripheral wall.
  • the supply means preferably extend to a position just inside the drum so that the mass is dried over the greatest possible part of the length of the drum.
  • the supply means comprise an L-shaped conveyor belt, a first part of which is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the drum and a second part of which is disposed transversely of the longitudinal direction of the drum, which second part extends to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum.
  • the L-shaped conveyor belt can for instance comprise two conveyor belts disposed in the form of an L.
  • the drum has for instance a frustoconical form.
  • the gas supply means comprise in practical manner at least one fan.
  • the gas supply means comprise at least two fans, these fans being configured to each supply gas to the inner peripheral wall of the drum at a different part of the length of the drum.
  • the two parts together preferably cover the whole length of the drum.
  • An advantage of this embodiment is that the pressure of the supplied gas can be substantially the same along the length of the drum.
  • the device can comprise any desired number of fans, each configured to supply gas to the inner peripheral wall of the drum at a different part of the length of the drum.
  • the different parts can optionally partially overlap each other .
  • the invention also relates to the use of such a device for drying a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like.
  • use is made of a centrifuge as according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the use comprises of supplying the gas substantially
  • the use comprises of rotating the drum at a substantially continuous rotation speed.
  • figure 1 is a perspective front view of the centrifuge according to the invention.
  • figure 2 is a transparent view of the centrifuge of figure i;
  • figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the centrifuge of figure 1
  • FIG 4 is a perspective side view of a centrifuge according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • Figures 1-3 show a centrifuge 1 for drying vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like. Any vegetable suitable for drying in a centrifuge can be dried in centrifuge
  • Centrifuge 1 comprises a substantially horizontally disposed, perforated, frustoconical centrifuging drum 2.
  • Drum 2 is driven rotatingly at a continuous rotation speed of between about 80 - 600 revolutions per minute, this rotation speed being suitable for drying the mass .
  • Vegetables present in drum 2 are pressed against the inner peripheral wall of the drum by the rotation of drum 2, wherein water present in and/or between the vegetables leaves drum 2 via the perforations so that the vegetables are dried.
  • a cylindrical casing 3 for collecting the water flung from the vegetables.
  • Casing 3 can optionally take a frustoconical form adapted to drum 2.
  • a conveyor belt 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of drum 2 is disposed at a supply end of drum 2 and a conveyor belt 5 extending transversely of the longitudinal direction to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 is disposed at an end of conveyor belt 4 directed toward drum 2.
  • conveyor belt 4 is loaded with vegetables, after which conveyor belt 4 transports the vegetables to conveyor belt 5.
  • Conveyor belt 5 then transports the vegetables to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 so that the vegetables are displaced in simple manner by the wall of drum 2.
  • Two air chambers 6 are arranged fixedly on either side of drum 2.
  • Two fans 7 carry air under pressure, for instance air with an overpressure of between 0.03 - 0.10 bar, to air chambers 6, which air is supplied via the perforations in drum 2 to the inner peripheral surface thereof.
  • Air chambers 6 comprise side walls 8 extending to a position close to drum 2 so that air chambers 6 seal in substantially airtight manner against drum
  • drum 2 has a frustoconical form and widens in a direction away from conveyor belts 4, 5, the width 9 of side walls 8 decreases over the length of drum 2.
  • the vegetables in the area of each air chamber 6 are blown some distance away from the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 so that, due to the widening frustoconical form of drum 2, the vegetables in these areas are transported in the direction away from conveyor belts 4, 5.
  • the vegetables are pressed against the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 as described above for the purpose of removing water present in and/or between the vegetables.
  • a conveyor belt 11 extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of drum 2 is arranged at a discharge end of drum 2 for discharging the vegetables from drum 2.
  • the vegetables are caught by a cylindrical wall 10 connecting to drum 2, which wall 10 has an opening 12 on its underside for loading the vegetables onto conveyor belt 11.
  • drum 2 is suspended in bearing-mounted manner on only one side, i.e. its infeed side. Less wear can hereby occur than if the drum were suspended in bearing-mounted manner on two sides.
  • FIG 4 shows centrifuge 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Only the differences with centrifuge 1 of figures 1 - 3 will be discussed hereinbelow, reference further being made to the figure description associated with figures 1 - 3. Corresponding components are designated here with the same reference numerals.
  • Centrifuge 1 of figure 4 has one air chamber 6 which is disposed on the upper side of drum 2. It will be apparent that air chamber 6 can be disposed at a random location along the periphery of drum 2. Three fans 7 supply air under pressure, for instance air with an overpressure of between 0.03 - 0.10 bar, to air chamber 6, which air is supplied via the perforations in drum 2 to the inner peripheral surface thereof. Air chamber 6 comprises side walls (not shown in figure 4) extending to a position close to drum 2 so that air chamber 6 seals in substantially airtight manner against drum 2. The three fans 7 are each connected via conduits 13 to a different area of drum 2, distributed along the length of drum 2. An advantage hereof is that the pressure of the supplied gas is substantially the same along the length of drum 2. Instead of three fans with three connecting conduits 13 which connect to air chamber 6, the centrifuge can comprise any desired number of fans with any desired number of connecting conduits. The number can for instance be chosen in accordance with the length of drum 2.
  • conveyor belt 11 is further arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of drum 2.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Molecular Biology (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
  • Centrifugal Separators (AREA)

Abstract

Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like, comprising: - a perforated centrifuging drum with a more or less horizontally disposed rotation axis; - supply means for supplying the mass to the drum, and - discharge means for discharging the mass from the drum; wherein: - means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum are added to the drum, and - the drum has a form widening in the direction of the discharge means such that during centrifuging the mass present in the drum is displaced from the supply means to the discharge means. The invention further relates to the use of such a centrifuge for the purpose of drying a mass.

Description

CENTRIFUGE FOR CENTRIFUGING A MASS AND USE OF SUCH A DEVICE FOR DRYING A MASS
The invention relates to a centrifuge for centrifuging a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like, comprising:
- a perforated centrifuging drum with a more or less horizontally disposed rotation axis;
- supply means for supplying the mass to the drum, and - discharge means for discharging the mass from the drum.
Such a centrifuge is per se known and is applied in the food industry for drying vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like after the vegetables have been washed. Such a per se known centrifuge comprises a first conveyor belt for supplying the mass to the drum and a second conveyor belt for discharging the mass from the drum. The first conveyor belt is arranged displaceably between a first position, in which the first conveyor belt is located at a distance from the drum, and a second position in which the first conveyor belt extends into the drum. During centrifuging of a determined quantity of mass, wherein the drum rotates at a rotation speed suitable for drying the mass, the first conveyor belt is filled in each case with a fresh quantity of mass for centrifuging while the first conveyor belt is located in its first position. Once the determined quantity of mass has dried sufficiently the rotation speed at which the drum rotates is temporarily reduced, and the drum is rotated in a vertical plane such that the end of the drum where the second conveyor belt is arranged lies at a lower position than the end where the first conveyor belt is arranged so that the mass drops out of the drum onto the second conveyor belt and is thereby discharged. Once the drum is substantially empty, the drum rotates in the vertical plane back to its position in which the rotation axis is substantially horizontal. At that moment the first conveyor belt is displaced to its second position in order to supply the fresh quantity of mass for centrifuging to the drum, this still at the reduced rotation speed of the drum. After the mass has been supplied to the drum the first conveyor belt is displaced back to its first position, where it is filled once again, and the rotation speed of the drum is increased to said suitable rotation speed.
The above described, per se known centrifuge has a number of drawbacks. The first drawback is that the rotation speed at which the drum rotates while the mass is being supplied and discharged is temporarily reduced and increased again for drying purposes, and this switching between the two rotation speeds requires extra energy. A second drawback is that the first conveyor belt cannot be filled during the displacement between its first position and its second position, which results in additional time and cost. A third drawback is that emptying of the drum takes place in batches, while other processes such as washing of the mass are continuously running processes.
It is an object of the invention to at least partially obviate the above stated drawbacks. It is a particular object of the invention to provide a centrifuge of the type stated in the preamble with which the mass can be dried in a continuously running process .
The centrifuge of the type stated in the preamble has for this purpose the special feature according to the invention that:
- means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum are added to the drum, and
- the drum has a form widening in the direction of the discharge means such that during centrifuging the mass present in the drum is displaced from the supply means to the discharge means .
Because of the centrifugal force the mass in the drum is driven toward the inner peripheral wall of the drum. If the mass is held according to the invention some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum and the drum has a form widening in the direction of the discharge means, the mass is transported in the direction of the discharge means during centrifuging, whereby the mass can be supplied continuously to the drum and discharged continuously from the drum during centrifuging . The drum can rotate continuously here at one rotation speed, i.e. the rotation speed suitable for drying the mass. This rotation speed lies for instance between 80 and 600 revolutions per minute .
In an embodiment of the centrifuge according to the invention the means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum comprise fixedly disposed gas supply means for supplying a gas under pressure via the perforations to the inner peripheral wall of the drum over a part of the periphery thereof such that in this part of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall the mass is held at said distance by the gas under pressure.
The gas is supplied via the perforations to the inner peripheral wall of the drum in a direction substantially perpendicularly of the inner peripheral wall of the drum. The gas blows the mass away from the peripheral wall so that the mass is held at said distance. The water present in the mass is also held at said distance here so that the water cannot leave the drum in the part of the periphery where the gas is supplied. In the other part of the periphery, where no gas is supplied, the mass with water will be pressed in the usual manner against the wall of the drum so that in the other part of the periphery the water will leave the drum via the perforations. Because the gas supply means are fixedly disposed, wherein the drum rotates relative to the gas supply means, the gas will always be supplied to a different part of the inner peripheral wall of the drum. During one revolution of the drum the mass will thus de displaced each time from and to the peripheral wall, wherein in the part of the peripheral wall where gas is supplied the mass is held said distance from the wall, wherein the mass will displace in the direction of the discharge means, and wherein in the other part of the periphery the mass is pressed against the wall so that the water is flung from the mass and will leave the drum via the perforations.
Another advantage of the gas supply means as means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum is that the water present between different parts of the mass, for instance between lettuce or spinach leaves, will rearrange itself among the mass when this mass is held said distance from the wall by the gas. The water in the other part of the periphery will hereby be flung from the mass more easily so that the mass is dried more quickly and/or better with the centrifuge according to the invention than with the per se known centrifuge .
It will be apparent that in the centrifuge according to the invention the gas is supplied continuously or at least substantially continuously. The gas supply means are configured for this purpose to supply the gas (substantially) continuously.
The part of the periphery to which the gas is supplied is preferably between 5 - 40% of the total periphery and the other part of the periphery to which no gas is supplied is therefore preferably between 60 - 95% of the total periphery of the drum.
The gas under pressure is preferably air. The air has a slight overpressure, for instance between 0.03 - 0.10 bar.
In a practical embodiment of the centrifuge according to the invention the gas supply means comprise two gas chambers fixedly disposed opposite each other on the outer side of the drum and each extending along the length of the drum over a determined part of the periphery of the peripheral wall for the purpose of supplying the gas under pressure in two mutually opposite parts of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall such that the mass is held at said distance in the two mutually opposite parts of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall by the gas under pressure. The gas chambers preferably seal against the drum in substantially airtight manner.
Two mutually opposite gas chambers provide the advantage that the load of the mass on the drum is distributed symmetrically over the periphery of the drum. Instead of two gas chambers, the gas supply means can each comprise a number of gas chambers, such as three or four gas chambers. The gas chambers are preferably arranged distributed over the periphery of the drum on the outer side thereof, preferably such that the angle between two successive gas chambers is always the same.
When a symmetrical load is not required, the gas supply means can also comprise one gas chamber extending along the length of the drum over a part of the periphery of the drum.
In order to prevent the mass at the discharge end of the drum being flung out of the drum, the discharge means preferably comprise a cylindrical wall connecting to the drum. The wall has on its underside an opening under which transport means are disposed for transporting the mass from the centrifuge.
In an embodiment of the centrifuge according to the invention the supply means extend into the drum, wherein the supply means extend to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum for the purpose of supplying the mass to the drum close to the inner peripheral wall.
Supplying the mass close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum enables the mass to be displaced in simple manner by the wall of the drum.
The supply means preferably extend to a position just inside the drum so that the mass is dried over the greatest possible part of the length of the drum.
In practical manner the supply means comprise an L-shaped conveyor belt, a first part of which is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the drum and a second part of which is disposed transversely of the longitudinal direction of the drum, which second part extends to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum.
The L-shaped conveyor belt can for instance comprise two conveyor belts disposed in the form of an L.
The drum has for instance a frustoconical form. The gas supply means comprise in practical manner at least one fan.
In an embodiment of the centrifuge according to the invention the gas supply means comprise at least two fans, these fans being configured to each supply gas to the inner peripheral wall of the drum at a different part of the length of the drum. The two parts together preferably cover the whole length of the drum. An advantage of this embodiment is that the pressure of the supplied gas can be substantially the same along the length of the drum. Instead of two fans the device can comprise any desired number of fans, each configured to supply gas to the inner peripheral wall of the drum at a different part of the length of the drum. The different parts can optionally partially overlap each other .
The invention also relates to the use of such a device for drying a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like.
In an embodiment of the use according to the invention use is made of a centrifuge as according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the use comprises of supplying the gas substantially
continuously.
In an embodiment of the use according to the invention the use comprises of rotating the drum at a substantially continuous rotation speed.
The invention will be further elucidated on the basis of figures shown in a drawing, in which:
figure 1 is a perspective front view of the centrifuge according to the invention;
figure 2 is a transparent view of the centrifuge of figure i;
figure 3 is a perspective rear view of the centrifuge of figure 1, and
figure 4 is a perspective side view of a centrifuge according to a second embodiment of the invention. Figures 1-3 show a centrifuge 1 for drying vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like. Any vegetable suitable for drying in a centrifuge can be dried in centrifuge
1. Centrifuge 1 comprises a substantially horizontally disposed, perforated, frustoconical centrifuging drum 2. Drum 2 is driven rotatingly at a continuous rotation speed of between about 80 - 600 revolutions per minute, this rotation speed being suitable for drying the mass . Vegetables present in drum 2 are pressed against the inner peripheral wall of the drum by the rotation of drum 2, wherein water present in and/or between the vegetables leaves drum 2 via the perforations so that the vegetables are dried. Arranged around drum 2 is a cylindrical casing 3 for collecting the water flung from the vegetables. Casing 3 can optionally take a frustoconical form adapted to drum 2.
A conveyor belt 4 extending in the longitudinal direction of drum 2 is disposed at a supply end of drum 2 and a conveyor belt 5 extending transversely of the longitudinal direction to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 is disposed at an end of conveyor belt 4 directed toward drum 2. For supply of vegetables to drum 2 conveyor belt 4 is loaded with vegetables, after which conveyor belt 4 transports the vegetables to conveyor belt 5. Conveyor belt 5 then transports the vegetables to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 so that the vegetables are displaced in simple manner by the wall of drum 2.
Two air chambers 6 are arranged fixedly on either side of drum 2. Two fans 7 carry air under pressure, for instance air with an overpressure of between 0.03 - 0.10 bar, to air chambers 6, which air is supplied via the perforations in drum 2 to the inner peripheral surface thereof. Air chambers 6 comprise side walls 8 extending to a position close to drum 2 so that air chambers 6 seal in substantially airtight manner against drum
2. Because drum 2 has a frustoconical form and widens in a direction away from conveyor belts 4, 5, the width 9 of side walls 8 decreases over the length of drum 2. By supplying the air to drum 2 the vegetables in the area of each air chamber 6 are blown some distance away from the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 so that, due to the widening frustoconical form of drum 2, the vegetables in these areas are transported in the direction away from conveyor belts 4, 5. In the other areas the vegetables are pressed against the inner peripheral wall of drum 2 as described above for the purpose of removing water present in and/or between the vegetables. During one revolution of drum 2 the vegetables will thus displace radially inward each time from the peripheral wall of drum 2 in the area of each air chamber 6, and toward the peripheral wall of drum 2 in the other areas. The vegetables are in this way transported a little further in the direction away from conveyor belts 4, 5 during drying in the area of each air chamber 6.
A conveyor belt 11 extending transversely of the longitudinal direction of drum 2 is arranged at a discharge end of drum 2 for discharging the vegetables from drum 2. In order to prevent the vegetables transported in the direction of conveyor belt 11 during drying from being flung out, the vegetables are caught by a cylindrical wall 10 connecting to drum 2, which wall 10 has an opening 12 on its underside for loading the vegetables onto conveyor belt 11.
The figures show that drum 2 is suspended in bearing-mounted manner on only one side, i.e. its infeed side. Less wear can hereby occur than if the drum were suspended in bearing-mounted manner on two sides.
Figure 4 shows centrifuge 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. Only the differences with centrifuge 1 of figures 1 - 3 will be discussed hereinbelow, reference further being made to the figure description associated with figures 1 - 3. Corresponding components are designated here with the same reference numerals.
Centrifuge 1 of figure 4 has one air chamber 6 which is disposed on the upper side of drum 2. It will be apparent that air chamber 6 can be disposed at a random location along the periphery of drum 2. Three fans 7 supply air under pressure, for instance air with an overpressure of between 0.03 - 0.10 bar, to air chamber 6, which air is supplied via the perforations in drum 2 to the inner peripheral surface thereof. Air chamber 6 comprises side walls (not shown in figure 4) extending to a position close to drum 2 so that air chamber 6 seals in substantially airtight manner against drum 2. The three fans 7 are each connected via conduits 13 to a different area of drum 2, distributed along the length of drum 2. An advantage hereof is that the pressure of the supplied gas is substantially the same along the length of drum 2. Instead of three fans with three connecting conduits 13 which connect to air chamber 6, the centrifuge can comprise any desired number of fans with any desired number of connecting conduits. The number can for instance be chosen in accordance with the length of drum 2.
In figure 4 conveyor belt 11 is further arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction of drum 2.
It is noted that the invention is not limited to the above discussed exemplary embodiments but also extends to other variants within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

Claims
1. Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like, comprising:
- a perforated centrifuging drum with a more or less horizontally disposed rotation axis;
- supply means for supplying the mass to the drum, and
- discharge means for discharging the mass from the drum; characterized in that:
- means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum are added to the drum, and
- the drum has a form widening in the direction of the discharge means such that during centrifuging the mass present in the drum is displaced from the supply means to the discharge means .
2. Centrifuge as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for holding the mass some distance from the inner peripheral wall of the drum comprise fixedly disposed gas supply means for supplying a gas under pressure via the perforations to the inner peripheral wall of the drum over a part of the periphery thereof such that in the part of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall the mass is held at said distance by the gas under pressure.
3. Centrifuge as claimed in claim 2, wherein the gas supply means are configured to supply the gas substantially continuously.
4. Centrifuge as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the gas supply means comprise two gas chambers fixedly disposed opposite each other on the outer side of the drum and each extending along the length of the drum over a determined part of the periphery of the peripheral wall for the purpose of supplying the gas under pressure in two mutually opposite parts of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall such that the mass is held at said distance in the two mutually opposite parts of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall by the gas under pressure.
5. Centrifuge as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the gas supply means comprise a gas chamber fixedly disposed on the outer side of the drum and extending along the length of the drum over a determined part of the periphery of the peripheral wall for the purpose of supplying the gas under pressure in a part of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall such that the mass is held at said distance in the part of the periphery of the inner peripheral wall by the gas under pressure.
6. Centrifuge as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the discharge means comprise a cylindrical wall connecting to the drum, which wall has an opening on its underside, wherein transport means are disposed under the opening for transporting the mass from the centrifuge.
7. Centrifuge as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the supply means extend into the drum, and wherein the supply means extend to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum for the purpose of supplying the mass close to the inner peripheral wall.
8. Centrifuge as claimed in claim 7, wherein the supply means comprise an L-shaped conveyor belt, a first part of which is disposed in the longitudinal direction of the drum and a second part of which is disposed transversely of the longitudinal direction of the drum, which second part extends to a position close to the inner peripheral wall of the drum.
9. Centrifuge as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the drum has a frustoconical form.
10. Centrifuge as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 2-9, wherein the gas supply means comprise at least one fan.
11. Centrifuge as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gas supply means comprise at least two fans, these fans being configured to each supply gas to the inner peripheral wall of the drum at a different part of the length of the drum.
12. Use of a centrifuge for centrifuging a mass, for instance vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage and the like as claimed in any of the claims 1-11 for the purpose of drying the mass .
13. Use as claimed in claim 12, wherein use is made of a centrifuge according to at least claim 2 or 3, comprising of supplying the gas substantially continuously.
14. Use as claimed in claim 12 or 13, comprising of rotating the drum at a substantially continuous rotation speed.
PCT/NL2013/050441 2012-06-20 2013-06-20 Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass and use of such a device for drying a mass WO2013191551A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2009035 2012-06-20
NL2009035A NL2009035C2 (en) 2012-06-20 2012-06-20 CENTRIFUGE FOR CENTRIFUGING A MASS AND USE OF SUCH A MASS DRYING DEVICE.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013191551A1 true WO2013191551A1 (en) 2013-12-27

Family

ID=48793508

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NL2013/050441 WO2013191551A1 (en) 2012-06-20 2013-06-20 Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass and use of such a device for drying a mass

Country Status (2)

Country Link
NL (1) NL2009035C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2013191551A1 (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105231470A (en) * 2015-08-14 2016-01-13 李陶胜 Automatic environment-friendly Chinese chestnut stir-frying machine

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456659A (en) * 1966-01-11 1969-07-22 Hobart Corp Apparatus for treating food articles
FR2700925A1 (en) * 1993-02-02 1994-08-05 Freeze Agro Ingenierie Centrifugal wringer for food products, especially hardwoods.
EP1623633A2 (en) * 2004-08-06 2006-02-08 Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc. Process for single-stage heat treatment and grinding of mustard bran, and product and its uses

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3456659A (en) * 1966-01-11 1969-07-22 Hobart Corp Apparatus for treating food articles
FR2700925A1 (en) * 1993-02-02 1994-08-05 Freeze Agro Ingenierie Centrifugal wringer for food products, especially hardwoods.
EP1623633A2 (en) * 2004-08-06 2006-02-08 Kraft Foods Holdings, Inc. Process for single-stage heat treatment and grinding of mustard bran, and product and its uses

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN105231470A (en) * 2015-08-14 2016-01-13 李陶胜 Automatic environment-friendly Chinese chestnut stir-frying machine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NL2009035C2 (en) 2013-12-23

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US8234795B2 (en) Vertical drum drier
KR100804135B1 (en) Washing machine for grain
US20210404742A1 (en) Spinning dryer system and methods for use
CN104432434B (en) Vegetable automatic dewatering unit
EP1132031A2 (en) Method and apparatus for processing food products
KR20130001190A (en) Processing apparatus for vegetables
WO2013191551A1 (en) Centrifuge for centrifuging a mass and use of such a device for drying a mass
CN103551236B (en) Continuous airtight nitrogen sealed wet material post-processing system
KR200454932Y1 (en) Fruit sorting and washing device
CN207482939U (en) A kind of rice transmitting device
CN207417756U (en) A kind of conveying mechanism of air drying agent
US20060289348A1 (en) Centrifugal press for drying wet, respectively moist, graded product
CN205214170U (en) Automatic discharging equipment that spin -dries of washing hot pepper
CN108971107A (en) A kind of Chinese medicine cleaning drying integral machine
CN209459356U (en) A kind of cereal processing particle centrifugal drying device
EP1774860A1 (en) Continuous centrifugal drainer for vegetables
US3094860A (en) Rotary drum apparatus for the processing of articles
KR20060029755A (en) Drier of cleaning farm produce
WO2023053155A1 (en) Centrifugal dryer machine
US2499457A (en) Continuous centrifugal drier
RU100201U1 (en) CAROUSEL DRYER
EP2136171A2 (en) Centrifugal machine
US5581904A (en) Centrifugal dryer
CN113525772A (en) Quick air-dry facility of konjaku food bag
CN205425683U (en) Drum -type dried tofu air dryer

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application

Ref document number: 13737446

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1

NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: DE

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase

Ref document number: 13737446

Country of ref document: EP

Kind code of ref document: A1