Canning machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a canning machine for a foodstuff product ( 2 ), such as tuna fish or similar, comprising a conveyor belt ( 1 ) suitable for carrying the foodstuff product ( 2 ) into a compressing and shaping device, a pair of dies ( 14 ) suitable for shearing two cakes ( 22 ) from each portion ( 12 ) of the foodstuff product ( 2 ) and a pair of ejecting pistons ( 20 ) suitable for pushing said cakes ( 22 ) of into cans ( 19 ). Said compressing and shaping device comprises a compression channel ( 7 ) inside which is arranged a shaping member ( 8 ) provided on the bottom thereof with a separating wedge ( 13 ) and a pair of side shaping members ( 15 ) slidably arranged in a sliding channel ( 16 ) which intersect perpendicularly the compression channel ( 7 ). Each side shaping member ( 15 ) has an end provided with a semi-cylindrical concavity suitable for penetrating in the compression channel ( 7 ) by sliding between one die ( 14 ) and the bottom of the shaping member ( 8 ).

1 . A canning machine for a foodstuff product ( 2 ) such as tuna fish or similar, comprising a conveyor belt ( 1 ) suitable for carrying the foodstuff product ( 2 ) into a compressing and shaping device comprising a knife ( 11 ) suitable for cutting substantially parallelepipedal portions ( 12 ) of the foodstuff product ( 2 ) and a compression channel ( 7 ) which is closed at one end thereof by means of a shaping member ( 8 ) provided at the bottom thereof with a separating wedge ( 13 ) and at the other end by a compactor ( 9 ) slidable in the compression channel ( 7 ), said machine further comprising a pair of dies ( 14 ) an a pair of ejecting pistons ( 20 ) suitable for pushing two cakes ( 22 ) of tuna fish into cans ( 19 ), characterized in that said compressing and shaping device also comprises a pair of side shaping members ( 15 ), arranged slidably inside the two wings of a sliding channel ( 16 ) which perpendicularly intersects compression channel ( 7 ), each side shaping member ( 15 ) having one end provided with a semi-cylindrical concavity suitable for penetrating into the compression channel ( 7 ) by sliding between one die ( 14 ) and the bottom of the shaping member ( 8 ), the outlet of the two wings of the sliding channel ( 16 ) onto the compression channel ( 7 ) being provided with shutters ( 21 ) which can be opened.  
     
     
         2 . Machine according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said dies ( 14 ) have cutting edges provided with substantially rectilinear profile with a curvature of a quarter of a circle at one end.  
     
     
         3 . A machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said separating wedge ( 13 ) has arched side profiles which delineate quarters of a circle.  
     
     
         4 . A machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said shaping member ( 8 ) is slidable inside the compression channel ( 7 ).