Portioner mist management assembly
AssigneeJohn Bean Technologies Corporation
InventorsHarrison T. Gill, Erick A. Sorenson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Mist management systems are configured for a processing machine having a portioning station configured to portion a workpiece within an enclosed portioner housing having a first side wall extending along the portioning station, a second side wall, at least one hood portion between the first side wall and the second side wall, and at least one end wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, using at least one liquid jet cutter and a conveyor configured to move the workpiece in a longitudinal direction beneath the at least one liquid jet cutter.
Claims20
A mist management system for a processing machine having a portioning station configured to portion a workpiece within an enclosed portioner housing having a first side wall extending along the portioning station, a second side wall, at least one hood portion between the first side wall and the second side wall, and at least one end wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, using at least one liquid jet cutter and a conveyor configured to move the workpiece in a longitudinal direction beneath the at least one liquid jet cutter, wherein mist is generated within the enclosed portioner housing during operation of the at least one liquid jet cutter, the mist management system comprising:
- a plurality of baffles positioned beneath the at least one liquid jet cutter and the conveyor, the plurality of baffles extending across a width of the conveyor, each baffle of the plurality of baffles having a length that is parallel to the longitudinal direction and being arranged at an angle offset from horizontal.
A mist management system for a processing machine having a portioning station configured to portion a workpiece within an enclosed portioner housing having a first side wall extending along the portioning station, a second side wall, at least one hood portion between the first side wall and the second side wall, and at least one end wall between the first side wall and the second side wall, using at least one liquid jet cutter and a conveyor configured to move the workpiece in a longitudinal direction beneath the at least one liquid jet cutter, wherein mist is generated within the enclosed portioner housing during operation of the at least one liquid jet cutter, the mist management system comprising:
- a tray secured within the enclosed portioner housing beneath the at least one liquid jet cutter and the conveyor, the tray being downwardly angled and configured to direct a waterjet of the liquid jet cutter toward a low pressure plenum chamber positioned external to the first side wall of the enclosed portioner housing.
A method of managing mist within a processing machine, comprising:
- conveying a workpiece along a conveying direction of a portioning station of the processing machine, the portioning station comprising an enclosed portioner housing having a first side wall extending along the portioning station, a second side wall, at least one hood portion between the first side wall and the second side wall, and at least one end wall between the first side wall and the second side wall;
- activating at least one liquid jet cutter within the portioner housing;
- portioning the workpiece using the at least one liquid jet cutter;
- creating a low pressure chamber in pneumatic communication with the portioning station through at least one orifice of the first side wall of the enclosed portioner housing;
- and
- directing air toward the low pressure chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.