Fruit sorter by selective pressure

Abstract

The present application relates to elements and machines for the selective processing of fruits or seeds. In particular, the present application relates to a skirt having a channel in which an elastic insert is attached, having a C-shaped transverse profile and presenting a cut along its surface, which enables the selective processing of a mixture of ripe and unripe fruits or seeds by facilitating the application of individual pressure. Similarly, the present application also relates to a horizontal pulper comprising a skirt with an elastic insert, which selectively pulps ripe seeds and can be coupled to a separator module. The present application also relates to a method for the selective processing of a mixture of ripe and unripe fruits or seeds using the pulper of the present application.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of mechanics and refers to elements or machines intended for selectively processing grains or fruits. In this sense, the invention refers to a skirt with a channel in which an elastic insert with a C-shaped transverse profile is fixed, the insert having slits on its surface, and a de-pulverizing machine including the aforementioned skirt and allowing selective de-pulverization of mature grains. Background Technology

[0002] Fruits are typically sorted according to their ripeness to ensure their suitability for use or to facilitate subsequent processing, thereby obtaining a superior quality product. Performing such sorting manually, whether at harvest or at a later stage, requires a significant amount of labor and has proven to be expensive and inefficient.

[0003] In this sense, optically based devices have been developed to classify fruits according to their color, as this has proven to be a reliable indicator of ripeness for some fruits. Although recent developments in these devices have demonstrated high precision and processing speed, their cost remains a drawback.

[0004] In addition, due to the differences in hardness related to maturity, mechanical methods have been developed to grade fruits using pressure.

[0005] In this sense, patent document FR2257358A1 mentions a device for sorting objects with a certain degree of compressibility. According to this document, the device is characterized by comprising a generally cylindrical hollow body with a horizontal axis, having a ramp at its upper part for the products to be sorted to enter one by one, and having an unloading ramp on one side of its lower part for incompressible products, and on the other side for compressible products.

[0006] In the device described in document FR2257358A1, a horizontal axis houses a series of radial housings, each housing including at least one movable wall facing an opposing wall, a tool for controlling the movable wall toward the opposing wall, a tool for holding the movable wall in its closed position, and a tool for releasing the movable wall when the housing is placed in front of a discharge ramp for compressible products. In this way, compressible products are held clamped within the housings and released when the housings are placed beside the corresponding ramps, while incompressible products resist the movement of the movable walls, thus preventing the latter from being held in a closed position. Therefore, these products remain free within the housings and can fall under gravity when the housings are placed in front of the corresponding ramps.

[0007] Similarly, mechanical strategies have been developed for fruit sorting that have been combined with a pulping step, in which the pulp or peel is removed to release the seeds contained within the fruit.

[0008] Therefore, for example, in the processing of coffee beans, machines have been developed with an iron cylinder with longitudinally welded plates and a sieve, which can be made of rods or steel mesh, forming a chamber around the cylinder in a spiral shape. Coffee is fed through a hopper at the center of the cylinder, and the movement of the rotor pushes the coffee in opposite directions, dragging two streams toward outlets located at both ends of the cylinder. In this way, ripe and soft cherries are forced through the mesh, thus producing their pulp. Hard, unripe cherries refuse to pass through the mesh and are directed toward the outlets located at both ends of the cylinder.

[0009] However, this type of machine has several drawbacks, including the use of large amounts of water and poor selectivity. Poor selectivity is caused by ripe fruits not being pulped and thus mixed with unripe fruits, as well as by small unripe fruits managing to pass through the sieve and mix with pulped seeds.

[0010] Similarly, patent document US 3139919A discloses a pulping machine in which the kernels pass between multiple counterclockwise rotating discs. The pulping discs have scrapers to extract pulp from ripe coffee beans, which move between the sides of the discs and restraining members arranged on opposite sides. The spacing between the restraining members and the discs is adjusted so that only ripe coffee beans are removed, while other beans, being smaller, pass through the machine without being damaged. In this sense, this size-selective processing is not entirely effective because it does not account for the possibility of large, unripe kernels being mixed with ripe kernels.

[0011] To address this, patent document AU 638294 B2 describes a pulping machine in which coffee beans pass between a drum and a tire, and pressure can be applied in a variable manner to pulp ripe coffee beans rather than unripe ones. However, this process is not entirely effective and may cause mechanical damage to the kernels.

[0012] Similarly, document BRPI0802201A2 mentions a pulping machine with a rotor that applies pressure to the coffee beans so that unripe beans do not break and thus retain their original size, which is larger than the size of the sieve openings, so that only ripe beans are pulped. This machine requires water and has very low selectivity because it does not take into account that unripe seeds may be very small and manage to pass through the sieve.

[0013] On the other hand, document WO / 2010 / 073163A2 discloses a conical spiral skirt including a vibrating elastic insert, the flexibility of which allows it to move proportionally according to the size and hardness of different coffee cherries. Similarly, this document teaches a vertical pulping machine that includes a conical spiral skirt with a vibrating elastic insert, which does not use water and is designed to receive a mixture of ripe and unripe coffee cherries, pulp the ripe coffee cherries, separate the partially pulped unripe cherries using a separator, and remove the skin from the ripe cherries.

[0014] The pressure differential applied by the elastic insert allows the outer shell of mature fruit to be broken, while only the outer shell of unripe fruit is partially demineralized. Subsequently, the seeds are separated according to their size.

[0015] In view of the above, there is a need to develop low-cost machines or devices for selective depulping of mature seeds, which can achieve high efficiency in processing mature seeds without causing mechanical damage to the seeds. Summary of the Invention

[0016] This application describes a skirt board having a skirt board body including a pulping channel in which inserts made of elastic material are placed, each insert being fixed to a support plate. Each insert is fixed in its support plate and is adjusted within the pulping channel using graded screws and springs.

[0017] Similarly, a horizontal fruit pulping machine is also described, which generally has a base frame or structure, a feed hopper, a metering feeder, a cylinder covered by a toothed sheath, and a skirt with elastic inserts, wherein the mentioned components are assembled together with pinions, pulleys, nuts and / or screws.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the fruit pulping machine can be coupled to a fruit pulping module including a size separation screen.

[0019] Thus, the skirt and machine developed in this invention utilize the hardness difference between ripe and unripe fruits, resulting in lower resistance to pericarp cracking in the case of ripe fruits. Therefore, the inventors have developed a horizontal skirt with a series of elastic inserts, the flexibility of which allows for individual selective pressure to be applied to each seed. This allows for depulping of ripe seeds to obtain the seeds contained within, while preventing processing of unripe seeds.

[0020] Seeds that have had their pulp removed are smaller than immature seeds and can be easily separated according to size using a separating sieve.

[0021] The skirt board and de-pulverizing machine of the present invention allow for the de-pulverization of mature seeds with high efficiency, minimal mechanical damage to the seeds, and low impurity content in the obtained seeds. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 The image shows a flexible C-shaped cross-section insert attached to a support plate.

[0023] Figure 2 A schematic view of a horizontal skirt panel with elastic inserts is shown.

[0024] Figure 3 A perspective view of a horizontal skirt panel assembled with elastic inserts is shown.

[0025] Figure 4 An internal view of a horizontal skirt panel assembled with elastic inserts is shown.

[0026] Figure 5 A schematic view of a pulping machine including a horizontal skirt with elastic inserts is shown.

[0027] Figure 6 A front perspective view of a pulping machine including a horizontal skirt assembled with elastic inserts is shown.

[0028] Figure 7 A front view of a pulping machine including a horizontal skirt assembled with elastic inserts is shown.

[0029] Figure 8 A left-side view of a pulping machine including a horizontal skirt assembled with elastic inserts is shown.

[0030] Figure 9 The image shows a right-side view of a pulping machine including a horizontal skirt assembled with elastic inserts.

[0031] Figure 10 A rear perspective view of a pulping machine including a horizontal skirt assembled with elastic inserts is shown.

[0032] Figure 11 A horizontal cross-section is shown of the individual selective pressing process for (a) mature beans and (b) immature beans.

[0033] Figure 12 A side view shows an individual selective pressing process for mature and unripe beans using a "piano" configuration.

[0034] Figure 13 The present invention illustrates a fruit pulping machine coupled to a seed size sorting module. Detailed Implementation

[0035] First, it should be noted that the terminology used in this draft specification must be understood within the technical field of this invention, and always in its broadest and non-limiting sense.

[0036] according to Figure 1 The present invention relates to an insert (A1) characterized in that it has a C-shaped cross-section profile, a seed inlet area (A1'), and a cut (A1'') along its surface. The insert (A1) is fixed to a support plate (A2).

[0037] Preferably, the insert is made of an elastic or flexible material, selected according to the hardness of the seeds or fruits to be processed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the insert is made of rubber.

[0038] On the other hand, the support plate (A2) is preferably made of rigid metal or non-metal material to support the load of the plug.

[0039] The space defined by the cuts (A1'') made on the surface of the insert (A1) is now referred to below as the individual pressure portion. In this sense, the distance y between each cut (A1'') is modified according to the diameter of the seed or fruit to be processed, so that the seed or fruit occupies the area of ​​a single individual pressure portion.

[0040] Similarly, and according to Figure 2 The skirt of the present invention includes a skirt body (A3) having a pulp removal channel (A4).

[0041] The skirt body is made of any rigid metal or non-metal material capable of withstanding working loads. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the skirt body is made of a material with corrosion and wear resistance.

[0042] On the other hand, the number of de-fruiting channels in the horizontal skirt will vary depending on the amount of seeds or fruits to be processed and the capability of the machine installing the skirt. Therefore, in one embodiment of the invention, the skirt body has one to ten de-fruiting channels. In a preferred embodiment, the skirt body has one to six de-fruiting channels. More preferably, the skirt body has one to three de-fruiting channels.

[0043] The insert (A1) is attached to each de-pulping channel (A4) and secured to the support plate (A2). The insert is assembled into the de-pulping channel of the skirt body using springs (A5) and grading screws (A6), allowing for easy alignment of the insert position according to the size of the seeds to be processed.

[0044] The assembled skirt panels can be Figure 3 and Figure 4 As can be seen, it shows an internal view of the skirt panel.

[0045] Now, as Figure 5 As shown, the horizontal skirt can be integrated into a fruit pulping machine, which includes the aforementioned horizontal skirt (A), feed hopper (B), feeder or distributor (C), cylinder covered by a toothed sheath (D), and base frame or structure (E). All components are assembled using pinions, pulleys, nuts and / or screws.

[0046] In particular, the components constituting the fruit pulping machine, such as the feed hopper (B), feeder (C), cylinder (D), and base frame (E), are preferably made of any rigid metal or non-metal material that supports the working load.

[0047] On the other hand, such as Figure 5 and Figure 10 As can be seen, the cylindrical sheath is characterized by a series of teeth or protrusions on its entire surface.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, and as Figure 5 As shown, the operating mechanism of the feeder (C) is achieved by assembling it onto the frame (E) through a single drive chain pinion (1), bearing housing (2), radial shaft seal (3), and deep groove ball bearing (4).

[0049] Similarly, the operating mechanism of the cylinder (D) is achieved by a double drive chain pinion (15), a locking nut (10), a locking washer (11), a deep groove ball bearing (6) (12), a radial shaft seal (13), a locking ring (14), and a retaining ring (8), which are assembled with a pulley system including a single V-belt pulley (9), a double V-belt pulley (7), and a fixed shaft as a pulley support to the base frame (E).

[0050] In one embodiment of the invention, the above-mentioned components are connected by a socket head cap screw and a locking washer.

[0051] Regarding the operating mechanism of the aforementioned machine, the seeds or fruits to be processed enter the machine through the feed hopper (B) and pass through the distributor (C), which, when rotating, regulates the feeding of the fruits into the machine. The seeds fall onto the cylinder (D), which, when rotating, drives these seeds into the pulping channel located in the skirt plate (A), and squeezes them as they move along the individual pressure section of the elastic insert (A1).

[0052] like Figure 11 As shown in the cross-sectional view of (a), when different parts of the elastic insert (A1) are squeezed against each other, mature seeds with low hardness and low compressive strength will not be able to produce displacement toward the interior of the insert part in which they are located, so their shells will crack and the pulp will be removed.

[0053] On the other hand, and such Figure 11 As shown in the cross-sectional view in (b), when pressed against different parts of the elastic insert (A1), the immature seeds, characterized by high hardness and high compressive strength, will cause displacement toward the interior of the insert part in which they are located, thus preventing the pulp from being removed.

[0054] same, Figure 12 The side view demonstrates the selective processing via a "piano" configuration, in which mature seeds are demineralized (each demineralized mature seed yields two seeds) because they cannot displace the portion of the insert they belong to, while immature seeds are able to displace them and thus leave the machine intact.

[0055] Therefore, the C-shaped geometry or C-shaped lateral profile of the plug (A1) plays a decisive role in the individual selective suppression process, as does the dimensional variation of its geometry. In this sense, and again see... Figure 11 (a) It should be noted that distances x and z can be modified to calibrate the necessary pressure applied to each individual pressure component to make it move.

[0056] For example, when the distance x is large, the pressure that must be applied to ensure the displacement of the individual pressure component is smaller. Conversely, when the distance x is small, the pressure that must be applied to move the individual pressure component will be larger.

[0057] Therefore, the aforementioned size changes are determined based on the hardness of the fruit or seeds to be processed.

[0058] Those familiar with this problem, by virtue of their knowledge, will be able to adjust the dimensions of the C-shaped transverse profile based on the hardness of the seeds or fruits to be selectively processed. Therefore, the knowledge of those proficient in this field will be sufficient to create different configurations of inserts (A1) based on the seeds or fruits to be processed.

[0059] Therefore, depending on the size and firmness of the seeds or fruits to be processed, modifications can be made in any or several of the following aspects:

[0060] - Select the elastic material for manufacturing the insert (A1).

[0061] - The x and z dimensions of the plugin's C-geometry.

[0062] - Define the distance between incisions (A1'') in the individual pressure area, and / or

[0063] - The distance between the insert (A1) and the cylinder (D) can be calibrated using the spring (A5) and the adjusting screw (A6).

[0064] All of the above means that the skirt board and pulping machine of the present invention can be used to process any seed containing internal seeds or fruit that can be pulped.

[0065] Therefore, this technology can be used as long as the seeds or fruits to be processed have an exocarp with a distinguishable firmness due to their ripeness. For example, the developed technology can be used to process coffee beans, cherries, plums, neem, lychees, Japanese loquats, etc.

[0066] In one embodiment of the invention, the pulping machine is connected to a classifier module, such as... Figure 13 As shown, demineralized seeds are separated from whole, immature seeds. In one embodiment of the invention, the module may include a size separation element, such as a sieve with elongated perforations, allowing only demineralized seeds smaller than whole, immature seeds to pass through.

[0067] Finally, in one embodiment, the invention also relates to a method for selectively processing a mixture of unripe and ripe fruits, comprising the following steps:

[0068] a) Provide a mixture of immature and ripe fruits or seeds;

[0069] b) Selectively process the mixture in a fruit pulping machine;

[0070] c) Separate mature, pulp-free fruits from intact, unripe fruits or seeds by size through sieving;

[0071] Step b) is performed in a fruit pulping machine with a skirt panel comprising a C-shaped cross-section profile, as described herein. Example

[0072] The following embodiments are intended to illustrate the technical advantages of the present invention, but are by no means intended to limit its scope.

[0073] In this regard, as described above, a horizontal pulping machine was constructed, featuring a skirt with a flexible insert having a C-shaped cross-section. To evaluate the performance of the developed selective individual pressure technology, processing tests were conducted on a mixture of ripe and unripe coffee beans, wherein the unripe coffee beans comprised more than 20% by weight, using a pulping machine incorporating the following technology:

[0074] 1. A horizontal cylinder with the individual selective pressure skirt of the present invention.

[0075] 2. A horizontal cylinder with a fixed skirt.

[0076] 3. Horizontal cylinder with rubber skirts

[0077] 4. Vertical cylinder with fixed skirt board

[0078] 5. Cast disc with fixed channel

[0079] 6. Vertical cylinder with vibratory elastic insert

[0080] In these tests, the performance of each of the above techniques was analyzed based on the following variables:

[0081] - The power required per ton of fruit during processing, measured in horsepower (HP).

[0082] - Efficiency of separating unripe fruit, i.e., the percentage by weight of unripe fruit that was not removed from the pulp and was therefore subsequently successfully separated.

[0083] - Mechanical damage to depulped seeds is the percentage by weight of the kernel that has experienced some form of physical damage. For coffee beans, physical damage is considered to be the partial or complete loss of the pericarp (endocarp) or the partial loss of the kernel (seed).

[0084] - Impurities in demineralized seeds refer to the percentage by weight of the outer shell or pulp present in the demineralized seeds.

[0085] - Seed loss in the pulp is equivalent to the percentage by weight of seeds that are washed away with the pulp and therefore cannot be recovered.

[0086] Table 1 summarizes the results obtained for each variable mentioned in each of the evaluated technologies:

[0087] technology Power (HP) / Fruit Tons Efficiency of separating unripe fruit Average damage % of seeds after pulp removal Impurities in demineralized seeds Seed loss in pulp % 1 0.8 100% 0.2% 0.50% 0% 2 0.8 80% 3% 5% 2% 3 0.8 90% 2% 10% 3% 4 0.8 90% 2% 3% 0% 5 1 85% 3% 5% 2% 6 0.8 95% 1% 5% 0%

[0088] Table 1. Results obtained during the processing of a mixture of ripe and unripe coffee beans using different techniques.

[0089] Given the above, it is clear that the individual selective pressure technique achieves excellent selectivity in separating immature fruits, greatly reduces mechanical damage to seeds obtained from pulping mature fruits, and reduces the percentage of impurities in pulped seeds.

[0090] Similarly, while achieving all these technological advantages, it maintains the same or lower power requirements as other technologies and guarantees 0% seed loss in the pulp.

[0091] Finally, it is worth noting that the economical equipment investment per ton of process for individual selective pressure technology can be 50% less than that of other technologies that include waterless separation of unripe fruit.

Claims

1. A skirt (A) for the selective processing of a mixture of ripe and unripe drupes, comprising: - a skirt body (A3) having a de-pulping channel (A4); - inserts (Al) characterized by having a C-shaped cross-section, having a drupe entry zone (Al') in the front and individual pressure portions on the surface of the insert generated by transverse incisions (Al''), and fixed on a support plate (A2); wherein the number of C-shaped cross-section profile inserts (Al) is equal to the number of de-pulping channels (A4), and wherein the C-shaped cross-section profile inserts (Al) are coupled into the de-pulping channels (A4); wherein the transverse incisions (Al'') are made at equal distances on the surface of the C-shaped cross-section profile inserts (Al).

2. The skirt (A) according to claim 1, wherein the C-shaped cross-section profile inserts (Al) are attached to the support plate (A2) and engaged in the de-pulping channels (A4) by springs (A5) and graduated screws (A6).

3. The skirt (A) according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the C-shaped cross-section profile inserts (Al) are made of elastic or flexible material.

4. A de-pulping machine, comprising: - a feed hopper (B); - a feeder or distributor (C); - a cylinder (D) covered by a toothed sheath; - a chassis or structure (E); and - a skirt (A) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The de-pulper of claim 4, wherein The elements are assembled by pinions, pulleys, nuts and / or screws.

6. A method for selectively processing a mixture of unripe and ripe fruits, comprising the steps of: a) providing a mixture of unripe and ripe fruits or drupes; b) subjecting the mixture to selective processing in a de-pulping machine; c) separating the ripe de-pulped fruits from the whole unripe fruits or drupes by size through a sieve; wherein stage b) is performed in a machine comprising a feed hopper (B); a feeder or distributor (C); a cylinder (D) covered by a toothed sheath; a chassis or structure (E); and a skirt (A) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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