Orange segmenting mechanism

Abstract

The application discloses a citrus fruit segmenting mechanism, which comprises a segmenting assembly and a driving device. The segmenting assembly is provided with an entering citrus port and a movable end. A plurality of extendable segmenting chains are arranged between the entering citrus port and the movable end. The segmenting chains are gathered at the movable end relative to the entering citrus port. The segmenting chains are adapted to surround and contact the citrus fruits entering from the entering citrus port with gaps. The driving device is adapted to move the movable end relative to the entering citrus port, so that the segmenting chains and the citrus fruits move relatively. The two ends of each segmenting chain are connected with the entering citrus port. The two ends of the segmenting chain are adapted to bend and hang on the movable end. The citrus fruit segmenting mechanism can quickly segment the citrus fruits and other fruits, and the probability of material jamming is low. The citrus fruit segmenting mechanism is easy to maintain.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of food processing equipment technology, specifically to a segmentation mechanism for oranges. Background Technology

[0002] Fruit processing refers to the process of using fruits and berries as raw materials, treating them using physical, chemical, or biological methods (such as inhibiting enzyme activity and the activity of spoilage bacteria or killing spoilage bacteria) to produce food for preservation purposes. Through processing, fruits can have their flavor improved, their nutritional value and economic benefits increased, and their supply period effectively extended.

[0003] Oranges, as a popular fruit, usually require segmentation when processed into fruit products. Therefore, how to efficiently and rationally process and segment oranges with varying individual characteristics is an urgent problem to be solved.

[0004] However, the existing orange segmentation mechanism has the following drawbacks: due to the limitations of the structural strength and lifespan of the segmentation components, the segmentation mechanism based on the shaking principle is prone to breakage after a period of use, resulting in excessively high maintenance frequency, which can affect production efficiency and increase production costs. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One objective of this application is to provide an easy-to-maintain orange segmentation mechanism.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted in this application is as follows: an orange segmentation mechanism, comprising a segmentation component and a driving device, wherein the segmentation component is provided with an orange inlet and a movable end, and a plurality of extendable segmenting chains are provided between the orange inlet and the movable end, wherein the segmenting chains converge at the movable end relative to the orange inlet, the segmenting chains are adapted to have gaps and surround and contact the orange entering from the orange inlet, and the driving device is adapted to move the movable end relative to the orange inlet so that relative movement occurs between the segmenting chains and the orange, wherein both ends of each segmenting chain are connected to the orange inlet, and the two ends of the segmenting chain are adapted to bend and hook onto the movable end.

[0007] Furthermore, the movable end includes a positioning seat and a number of positioning blocks equal to the number of the segmented chains. The positioning blocks are adapted to be fitted and connected circumferentially along the positioning seat, and the positioning blocks are adapted to cooperate with the positioning seat to hook the segmented chains one by one.

[0008] Furthermore, the positioning block is provided with a guide groove, which is adapted to accommodate the segmented chain and guide the segmented chain to bend. The two sides of the guide groove are adapted to cooperate with the positioning seat to form a chain outlet channel, and the two ends of the segmented chain are adapted to be led out from the chain outlet channel.

[0009] Furthermore, the segmentation chain includes segmented segments and multiple elastic segments. The segmented segments are connected to the movable end, and at least two elastic segments are located at both ends of the segmentation chain and connected to the inlet.

[0010] Furthermore, the elastic segment and the segmented segment are detachably connected or fixedly connected, and the elastic segment and the inlet are detachably connected or fixedly connected; the projection of the elastic segment on the plane where the inlet is located is located outside the inner diameter of the inlet.

[0011] Furthermore, the segmented chain is provided with at least one amplifying part, the mass of the amplifying part per unit length being greater than the mass of the rest of the segmented chain per unit length; the minimum distance between the amplifying part and the movable end is not less than the diameter of the orange.

[0012] Furthermore, a guide post is provided on the movable end, the end of the guide post extends to the orange inlet, the dividing chain is arranged around the guide post, and the guide post is adapted to guide the orange to make uniform contact with the dividing chain.

[0013] Furthermore, the guide post is provided with an elastic element and a lifting device. The elastic element is adapted to cooperate with the driving device to make the lifting device reciprocate along the guide post. The end of the lifting device facing the inlet has a conical structure.

[0014] Furthermore, the main body of the orange inlet is circular, and the end of the guide post extends through the center of the orange inlet to the outside of the orange inlet.

[0015] Furthermore, the driving device includes a first swing assembly, a second swing assembly, and a driver. The first swing assembly is connected to the driver and the movable end. The driver is adapted to swing the movable end through the first swing assembly. The second swing assembly is connected to the support and the movable end. The second swing assembly is adapted to guide the movable end to swing in a direction other than the swing direction of the first swing assembly.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application are as follows:

[0017] 1. The orange segmenting mechanism of this application passively segments oranges by controlling the shaking of the segmenting chain. After the orange enters the segmenting mechanism, the shaking of the segmenting chain, combined with the pressure generated by the orange's own weight, allows the segmenting chain to smoothly embed into the orange or follow the gaps between the segments until the orange is completely segmented. Compared with active cutting methods such as blades, this mechanism requires no additional drive source except for the drive device that controls the shaking of the segmenting chain. The structure is simpler, the cost is lower, and the installation difficulty is also lower. In addition, this mechanism optimizes the arrangement and connection of the segmenting chain, making the segmenting chain more durable and able to withstand more shaking, thereby achieving a longer service life, further reducing the cost of use and the number of maintenance.

[0018] 2. The orange segmentation mechanism of this application is equipped with a lifting device. The up and down movement of the lifting device continuously pushes the oranges being segmented away from the segmentation chain, thereby solving the possible jamming situation between the oranges and the segmentation chain, and effectively improving the segmentation efficiency of the segmentation chain on the oranges, thus improving the production and processing efficiency. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 This is an overall structural view according to a preferred embodiment of the present application;

[0020] Figure 2 This is a front view of a segmented component according to a preferred embodiment of this application;

[0021] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram showing the splitting of the active end of a segmented component according to a preferred embodiment of this application;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a preferred embodiment according to this application. Figure 2 A cross-sectional view along the AA direction;

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the connection between the positioning block and the segmentation chain according to a preferred embodiment of this application.

[0024] In the diagram: 1. Split assembly; 11. Inlet; 12. Movable end; 121. Positioning seat; 122. Positioning block; 1221. Guide groove; 1222. Chain outlet channel; 123. Guide post; 1231. Elastic element; 1232. Lifter; 13. Split chain; 131. Split segment; 132. Elastic segment; 133. Amplifier; 2. Drive device; 21. First swing assembly; 22. Second swing assembly; 23. Driver. Detailed Implementation

[0025] The present application will be further described below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be noted that, without conflict, the various embodiments or technical features described below can be arbitrarily combined to form new embodiments.

[0026] In the description of this application, it should be noted that the directional terms such as "center", "lateral", "longitudinal", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", and "counterclockwise" indicate the orientation and positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. They should not be construed as limiting the specific protection scope of this application.

[0027] It should be noted that the terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification and claims of this application are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0028] The terms “comprising” and “having”, and any variations thereof, in the specification and claims of this application are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, for example, a process, method, system, product, or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are explicitly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not explicitly listed or that are inherent to such process, method, product, or device.

[0029] The following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, further illustrates this application:

[0030] like Figures 1 to 5 As shown, this application provides an orange segmentation mechanism, including a segmentation component 1 and a driving device 2. The segmentation component 1 is provided with an orange inlet 11 and a movable end 12. Multiple extendable segmenting chains 13 are provided between the orange inlet 11 and the movable end 12. The purpose of the extendable segmenting chains 13 is to prevent the segmenting chains 13 from being pulled and breaking during the movement of the movable end 12, and at the same time, it can also increase the swaying amplitude of the segmenting chains 13. The segmenting chains 13 are constricted at the movable end 12 relative to the orange inlet 11 to ensure that the segmenting chains 13 can fit against the surface of the orange and generate a certain pressure. The segmenting chains 13 are suitable for surrounding and contacting the orange entering from the orange inlet 11 with gaps. The driving device 2 is suitable for moving the movable end 12 relative to the orange inlet 11 so that the segmenting chains 13 and the orange can move relative to each other. Since the orange is relatively soft, the segmenting chains 13 can gradually embed into the orange pulp to achieve segmentation or segment along the gaps between the orange segments.

[0031] Apart from the drive device 2 that controls the shaking of the dividing chain 13, this mechanism requires no additional drive source, making it simpler in structure, lower in cost, and easier to install. Compared to blade dividing, it also offers higher safety.

[0032] To improve the durability of the split chain 13, both ends of each split chain 13 are connected to the inlet 11. The two ends of the split chain 13 are suitable for bending and hooking onto the movable end 12. Compared with the traditional split chain 13, which directly connects the two ends to the inlet 11 and the movable end 12 respectively, the two ends of the split chain 13 are subjected to more severe tension when shaking, and are prone to breakage. Each breakage requires machine downtime for maintenance, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive. After the above-mentioned optimized design, the force-bearing area of ​​the split chain 13 at the movable end 12 can be effectively increased. When the movable end 12 is moving, the split chain 13 can quickly transmit or disperse the force generated by the movement at the movable end 12 to other parts, thereby reducing the probability of breakage due to material fatigue, and can withstand more shaking, thus obtaining a longer service life, further reducing the use cost and the number of maintenance.

[0033] It is worth noting that the orange inlet 11 is usually located above the movable end 12. The orange can enter through the orange inlet 11 and move towards the movable end 12 by gravity without external assistance. When a mechanism is set to guide the orange into the orange inlet 11, the arrangement between the orange inlet 11 and the movable end 12 can be adjusted and changed.

[0034] It is worth noting that the inlet 11 preferably uses a ring-shaped structural component, which can guide the opening of the dividing chain 13, so that the dividing chain 13 can wrap around the orange more evenly, making the orange segments more uniform, and reducing the probability that adjacent dividing chains 13 are embedded in the orange in the same position.

[0035] like Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, the segment chain 13 is fixed to the movable end 12 as follows: the movable end 12 includes a positioning seat 121 and a number of positioning blocks 122 equal to the number of segment chains 13. The positioning blocks 122 are adapted to be fitted and connected around the positioning seat 121. The positioning blocks 122 are adapted to cooperate with the positioning seat 121 to hang the segment chains 13 one by one. The arrangement of the positioning blocks 122 and the positioning seat 121 facilitates the installation and fixing of the segment chains 13. Under normal circumstances, it is only necessary to first connect both ends of the segment chain 13 to the inlet 11, and then use the positioning blocks 122 to hang and fix the free hanging part of the segment chain 13 to the positioning seat 121.

[0036] It is worth noting that, if necessary, the position of the segment chain 13 can be estimated first by using the positioning block 122 for hanging and fixing, and then the two ends of the segment chain 13 can be connected to the inlet 11. The former installation method is preferred, but not a necessary installation method.

[0037] The positioning block 122 is provided with a guide groove 1221, which is adapted to accommodate the segmented chain 13 and guide the segmented chain 13 to bend. The two sides of the guide groove 1221 are adapted to cooperate with the positioning seat 121 to form a chain outlet channel 1222. The two ends of the segmented chain 13 are adapted to be led out from the chain outlet channel 1222. The guide groove 1221 can increase the contact area between the segmented chain 13 and the positioning block 122, thereby making it easier for the segmented chain 13 to distribute the force.

[0038] In some embodiments, the guide groove 1221 is disposed at one end of the positioning block 122, and the other end of the positioning block 122 can be fixedly connected to the positioning seat 121 by fasteners, so that the positioning block 122 can be stably fitted into the positioning seat 121.

[0039] like Figure 5 In the embodiment shown, the guide groove 1221 is set to face away from the inlet 11 when the positioning block 122 is installed, so that the positioning block 122 can use the guide groove 1221 to pre-attach the dividing chain 13 during installation, avoiding the dividing chain 13 from detaching from the positioning block 122 during the installation process, effectively reducing the installation difficulty, improving the installation efficiency and installation safety.

[0040] In at least one embodiment, the segmented chain 13 includes a segmented segment 131 and a plurality of elastic segments 132. The segmented segment 131 is connected to the movable end 12, and at least two elastic segments 132 are located at both ends of the segmented chain 13 and connected to the inlet 11. The elastic segments 132 are used to increase the stretchability of the segmented segment 131 and play a buffering role to prevent the segmented segment 131 from being directly pulled and broken when the movable end 12 moves.

[0041] In some embodiments, the segment 131 is preferably made of a beaded chain, and the elastic segment 132 is preferably made of a tension spring and connected to both ends of the segment 131. The uneven surface of the beaded chain can improve the efficiency of segmenting orange segments.

[0042] In some embodiments, the elastic segment 132 is preferably made of elastic cord.

[0043] The elastic section 132 and the segment 131 are detachably connected or fixedly connected, and the elastic section 132 and the inlet 11 are detachably connected or fixedly connected.

[0044] In some embodiments, the elastic segment 132 and the dividing segment 131 are fixedly connected, and the elastic segment 132 and the inlet 11 are detachably connected. Since the connection between the elastic segment 132 and the dividing segment 131 has a large range of motion, it is easy for the two to separate due to the movement of the dividing segment 131. The fixed connection can ensure the connection stability between the elastic segment 132 and the dividing segment 131. The connection between the elastic segment 132 and the inlet 11 is affected by the deformation of the elastic segment 132 itself and is not easy to move with each other. Therefore, a detachable connection is preferred. Since the breakage will only occur in the dividing segment 131, when the dividing segment 131 breaks, it is only necessary to remove the elastic segment 132 connected to the dividing segment 131 to remove the dividing segment 131 together.

[0045] like Figure 4 In the embodiment shown, the projection of the elastic segment 132 on the plane of the orange inlet 11 is located outside the inner diameter of the orange inlet 11, which can reduce the probability of structural interference between the orange and the elastic segment 132 when the orange is fed into the orange inlet 11, thereby protecting the orange from damage.

[0046] In some embodiments, the dividing chain 13 is provided with at least one amplification part 133, the mass of the amplification part 133 per unit length is greater than the mass of the rest of the dividing chain 13 per unit length, the amplification part 133 is used to increase the swaying amplitude of the dividing chain 13, which can prevent the dividing chain 13 from being embedded in the orange pulp and unable to generate relative movement, thereby reducing the dividing efficiency.

[0047] In some embodiments, the amplification part 133 may use a counterweight ball, the smooth surface of which can reduce contact damage during orange cutting.

[0048] In some embodiments, the minimum distance between the amplification part 133 and the movable end 12 is not less than the diameter of the orange, thereby reducing the frequency of contact between the amplification part 133 and the orange and reducing contact damage during orange cutting.

[0049] In some embodiments, the number of amplification parts 133 is one. Since the amplification parts 133 are too large, reducing the number of amplification parts 133 can reduce contact damage during orange cutting.

[0050] In some embodiments, the amplification part 133 is disposed on the segment 131 to increase the sway amplitude of the segment 131.

[0051] In some embodiments, a guide post 123 is provided on the movable end 12, with the end of the guide post 123 extending to the orange inlet 11. The dividing chain 13 is arranged around the guide post 123. The guide post 123 is suitable for guiding the orange to make uniform contact with the dividing chain 13. The guide post 123 can be inserted into the central gap of the orange, guiding the orange in without damaging the orange pulp as much as possible. The guide post 123 is connected to the movable end 12. When the guide post 123 moves with the movable end 12, it can drive the orange to move relative to the dividing chain 13, thereby improving the dividing efficiency.

[0052] In some embodiments, the top of the guide post 123 is arc-shaped to make the feeding of oranges smoother.

[0053] In some embodiments, the guide post 123 is provided with an elastic element 1231 and a lifter 1232. The elastic element 1231 is adapted to cooperate with the drive device 2 to make the lifter 1232 reciprocate along the guide post 123. During the lifting process, the lifter 1232 can continuously push the orange to move, thereby increasing the relative range of movement between the dividing chain 13 and the orange, improving the dividing efficiency, and at the same time preventing the dividing chain 13 from getting stuck in the orange pulp.

[0054] In some embodiments, the elastic element 1231 is a spring.

[0055] In some embodiments, the lifting device 1232 has a conical structure at the end facing the orange inlet 11 to avoid damaging the orange. The conical structure can press outward from the center gap of the orange during the pushing process, so that the orange that is not fully segmented can be segmented more quickly.

[0056] The main body of the orange inlet 11 is circular. The end of the guide post 123 extends through the center of the orange inlet 11 to the outside of the orange inlet 11, so that the orange can be inserted into the guide post 123 before entering the orange inlet 11, reducing the difficulty of feeding and improving the smoothness of feeding. The guide post 123 extends from the center, which can reduce the probability of interference between the orange and the orange inlet 11.

[0057] The drive device 2 includes a first swing assembly 21, a second swing assembly 22, and a driver 23. The first swing assembly 21 connects the driver 23 and the movable end 12. The driver 23 is adapted to swing the movable end 12 through the first swing assembly 21. The driver 23 is preferably a motor. The second swing assembly 22 connects a support and the movable end 12. The support can be an object such as a frame that is stationary relative to the inlet 11. The second swing assembly 22 is adapted to guide the movable end 12 to swing in a direction other than the swing direction of the first swing assembly 21.

[0058] In some embodiments, the first swing assembly 21 and the second swing assembly 22 are composed of at least one ball joint.

[0059] In some embodiments, the first swing component 21 causes the movable end 12 to swing actively up and down under the control of the driver 23, and the second swing component 22 can guide the movable end 12 to swing passively left and right.

[0060] The basic principles, main features, and advantages of this application have been described above. Those skilled in the art should understand that this application is not limited to the above embodiments. The embodiments and descriptions in the specification are merely the principles of this application. Various changes and modifications can be made to this application without departing from its spirit and scope, and all such changes and modifications fall within the scope of the claims. The scope of protection claimed by this application is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A citrus segmenting mechanism, characterized by: The application relates to a citrus fruit feeding device, which comprises a split assembly and a driving device, wherein an inlet is arranged on the split assembly, a movable end is arranged between the inlet and the split assembly, a plurality of stretchable split chains are arranged between the movable end and the inlet, the split chains are gathered at the movable end relative to the inlet, the split chains are adapted to surround and contact the citrus fruits entering from the inlet with gaps, the driving device is adapted to move the movable end relative to the inlet so that the split chains and the citrus fruits move relative to each other, two ends of each split chain are connected with the inlet, and at least a pearl chain structure is arranged between the two ends of the split chain, which is adapted to bend and hang on the movable end.

2. A citrus segmenting mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The movable end comprises a positioning seat and positioning blocks with the same number as the split chains, the positioning blocks are adapted to be embedded and connected in the circumferential direction of the positioning seat, and the positioning blocks are adapted to hang the split chains by matching the positioning seat.

3. A citrus segmenting mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein: A guide groove is arranged on the positioning block, the guide groove is adapted to accommodate the split chains and guide the split chains to bend, two sides of the guide groove are adapted to match the positioning seat to form a chain outlet channel, and the two ends of the split chains are adapted to be led out from the chain outlet channel.

4. A citrus segmenting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein: The split chain comprises split segments and a plurality of elastic segments, the split segments are connected with the movable end, and at least two elastic segments are arranged at the two ends of the split chain and are connected with the inlet.

5. A citrus segmenting mechanism as claimed in claim 4 wherein: The elastic segments are detachably connected or fixedly connected with the split segments, the elastic segments are detachably connected or fixedly connected with the inlet, and the projection of the elastic segments on the plane where the inlet is located is located outside the inner diameter of the inlet.

6. A citrus segmenting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein: At least one amplification part is arranged on the split chain, the mass per unit length of the amplification part is greater than that of the remaining part of the split chain, and the minimum distance between the amplification part and the movable end is not less than the diameter of the citrus fruit.

7. A citrus segmenting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein: A guide column is arranged on the movable end, the end of the guide column extends to the inlet, the split chains are arranged around the guide column, and the guide column is adapted to guide the citrus fruits to uniformly contact the split chains.

8. A citrus segmenting mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein: An elastic member and a lifting device are arranged on the guide column, the elastic member is adapted to cooperate with the driving device to reciprocally lift the lifting device along the guide column, and the end of the lifting device towards the inlet is in a conical structure.

9. A citrus segmenting mechanism as claimed in claim 7 wherein: The main body of the inlet is circular, and the end of the guide column extends to the outside of the inlet through the center of the inlet.

10. A citrus segmenting mechanism as defined in claim 1, wherein: The driving device comprises a first swing assembly, a second swing assembly and a driver, the first swing assembly connects the driver and the movable end, the driver is adapted to swing the movable end through the first swing assembly, the second swing assembly connects a support and the movable end, and the second swing assembly is adapted to guide the movable end to swing in a direction other than the swinging direction of the first swing assembly.

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