Electric motor driven abrasive roller peeler and cleaning machine

Abstract

A machine for peeling and cleaning fruits and vegetables using a plurality of rotating abrasive rollers which are each driven by an electric motor. The machine has a frame with a pair of end plates that rotatively carry the rollers. Each motor is carried by an end plate and coupled to a roller solely to drive only that roller. In one preferred embodiment, the motor is coupled to a gear reducer that preferably is a cycloidal gear reducer having an output shaft coupled to one end of a roller and which has an output shaft axis of rotation generally coaxial with the axis of rotation of the roller. In another preferred embodiment, the motor can be directly coupled to the roller with its output shaft axis of rotation generally coaxial with the roller axis of rotation. To control operation and speed of the abrasive rollers, the motors are controlled by a motor controller that preferably is a variable frequency electric motor drive. Where the machine uses an auger to urge food product through the machine, the auger can be driven by an electric motor whose operation and speed preferably is controlled by a variable frequency electric motor drive. Where the machine is a rotating cage machine, the cage can be driven by an electric motor whose operation and speed preferably is controlled by a variable frequency electric motor drive. Each motor preferably is a three phase alternating current electric motor.