Adjustable timing mechanism for shrimp processing machine cutter assembly
DCFirst Claim
1. A cutter assembly for a shrimp processing machine, comprising:
- a pivotable cutter arm having a first and second ends;
a cutting blade mounted to the cutter arm;
a rotatable cam wheel having a cam surface, the second end being in engagement with the cam wheel, engagement of the second end with the cam surface causing the cutter arm to pivot and move the cutting blade, the cam wheel having an internal aperture with a plurality of internal gear teeth extending radially inwardly from the internal aperture;
a driven gear having a plurality of gear teeth extending radially outwardly from the driven gear, the driven gear teeth being adapted to mesh with the cam wheel gear teeth; and
a biasing member maintaining the cam wheel gear teeth into engagement with the driven gear teeth.
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Abstract
A timing mechanism for a shrimp processing machine including a cam wheel having a recess therein adapted to receive an end of a cutter bar to which a cutting blade is rotatably mounted. Rotation of the cam wheel causes the cutter bar, and the cutting blade to move. The cutter bar and blade are positioned proximate a main gear wheel to which shrimp are mounted, such that movement of the cutter bar and cutting blade causes the cuts to be placed into each shrimp. The timing mechanism includes mating gear teeth on the cam wheel and indexing gear mounted proximate the cam wheel. The cam wheel and indexing gear are held into engagement by the biasing force of a spring. The indexing gear may be disengaged from the cam wheel to allow the cam wheel to be rotated to change the timing of the cutting blade.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A cutter assembly for a shrimp processing machine, comprising:
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a pivotable cutter arm having a first and second ends;
a cutting blade mounted to the cutter arm;
a rotatable cam wheel having a cam surface, the second end being in engagement with the cam wheel, engagement of the second end with the cam surface causing the cutter arm to pivot and move the cutting blade, the cam wheel having an internal aperture with a plurality of internal gear teeth extending radially inwardly from the internal aperture;
a driven gear having a plurality of gear teeth extending radially outwardly from the driven gear, the driven gear teeth being adapted to mesh with the cam wheel gear teeth; and
a biasing member maintaining the cam wheel gear teeth into engagement with the driven gear teeth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of adjusting cutting blade timing on a shrimp processing machine, comprising the steps of:
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disengaging external gear teeth of a drive gear by linearly sliding the drive gear away from internal gear teeth of a cam wheel;
rotating one of the drive gear and cam wheel relative to the other of the drive gear and cam wheel; and
automatically re-engaging the gear teeth of the drive gear with the internal gear teeth of the cam wheel.
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10. A method of adjusting cutting blade timing on a shrimp processing machine, comprising the steps of:
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disengaging gear teeth of a drive gear from gear teeth of a cam wheel by compressing a spring holding the drive gear and cam wheel in engagement;
rotating one of the drive gear and cam wheel relative to the other of the drive gear and cam wheel; and
re-engaging the gear teeth of the drive gear with the gear teeth of the cam wheel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A shrimp processing machine, comprising:
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a main drive wheel;
a plurality of clamp assemblies on the main drive wheel each adapted to hold and release shrimp;
a shell breaking mechanism proximate the main drive wheel and adapted to break shrimp shells;
a meat picking mechanism proximate the main drive wheel and adapted to pull meat from the shrimp shells; and
a cutting assembly proximate the main drive wheel and adapted to cut the meat of each shrimp, the cutting assembly making cuts at timed intervals, the timing of the intervals being adjustable by a toothed adjustment mechanism and wherein the cutting assembly further includes a spring biased adjustment mechanism having a drive shaft, a cam wheel mounted to the drive shaft, an indexing gear mounted to the drive shaft and a spring mounted to the drive shaft, the cam wheel and indexing gear both including gear teeth, the spring biasing the gear teeth of the indexing gear and cam wheel into engagement. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification