Aloe vera transport peeling and slitting apparatus

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of fruit and vegetable transportation and processing, and discloses an aloe transportation, peeling and cutting equipment; a hoisting transportation line is sequentially provided with a feeding area, a peeling area, a cutting area and a discharging area along the conveying direction of the hoisting transportation line; a clamp is arranged on the moving end of the hoisting transportation line, the clamp acts on the root of the aloe to be peeled, the cutting area is provided with at least a root cutting unit and a receiving unit, the root cutting unit performs a cutting action on the peeled aloe leaves to cut off the connection between the clamping section and the peeled section, so that the peeled section falls into the receiving unit under the action of gravity; the discharging area is used for receiving the clamping section separated by the root cutting unit; the clamping section is finally removed and placed in the cutting area, forming a new process path of trimming retention, vertical peeling and root cutting separation, so that the clamping section acts as a natural "process handle" in the whole peeling process, which not only guarantees the stability of the overhanging posture, but also avoids the pollution or damage risk caused by the direct contact of the cutter with the product gel area.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of fruit and vegetable transportation and processing technology, specifically relating to an aloe vera transportation, peeling, and slicing device. Background Technology

[0002] As an important economic crop, the quality of aloe vera gel products is highly dependent on the processing method of peeling and slicing. In current industrial production, aloe vera leaves after being drained are generally processed and slicing using flat conveyor belts or roller-type horizontal conveying mechanisms. However, this friction-driven flat processing mode reveals insurmountable systemic defects when faced with the unique characteristics of aloe vera, such as high viscosity and high water content.

[0003] First, the gel juice continuously seeping out during the peeling process forms an uneven lubricating film at the conveying interface, causing the blades to frequently slip, drift, and even stick together in the horizontal direction. This not only leads to uncontrolled peeling thickness and a significantly increased rate of residual peel, but also forces the production line to frequently stop to clean the accumulated mucus, severely restricting the efficiency and stability of continuous production. Second, the mixed waste liquid (containing yellow water, oxidized mucus, and peel debris) that cannot be naturally drained on the horizontal surface will spread laterally with the material and be repeatedly crushed into the subsequent cutting tool area, causing cross-contamination and enzymatic browning of the fresh gel wound surface, directly affecting the product purity, color, and safety indicators.

[0004] A deeper problem lies in the fact that, to combat the transport instability caused by the mucus, existing equipment often has to increase clamping pressure or feed speed. This causes significant mechanical damage to the soft, thin-walled aloe vera gel tissue, leading to cell rupture, degradation of active ingredients, and a decrease in yield. Furthermore, the necessary trimming processes after leaf yellowing (such as removing leaf tips, removing lateral thorns, and re-cutting the base) are often separated from the peeling station in traditional layouts. During the multi-station transfer and temporary storage of semi-finished products, the exposed fresh wounds are highly susceptible to oxidation, dehydration, and microbial contamination, significantly reducing the effectiveness of the initial yellowing process. In addition, the planar conveyor structure itself has numerous gaps, rollers, and baffles, which are difficult to clean thoroughly once the mucus accumulates and solidifies. Long-term operation can easily lead to the formation of biofilm contamination sources, making it difficult to meet the cleanliness requirements of food-grade or cosmetic-grade production. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to provide an aloe vera transportation, peeling and slicing device to solve the problems existing in the background art.

[0006] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the technical solution of the present invention is an aloe vera transportation, peeling, and slicing device, including a hoisting transport line. The hoisting transport line is sequentially arranged with a loading area, a peeling area, a slicing area, and a unloading area along its own conveying direction. A clamp is provided on the moving end of the hoisting transport line. The clamp acts on the root of the aloe vera to be peeled, so that the aloe vera leaf remains vertically suspended throughout the transportation process, and divides the aloe vera leaf into a clamping section held by the clamp and a peeling section detached from the clamp. The slicing area is provided with at least a root cutting unit and a receiving unit located below the root cutting unit. The root cutting unit performs a cutting action on the peeled aloe vera leaf to sever the connection between the clamping section and the peeling section, so that the peeling section falls into the receiving unit under the action of gravity. The unloading area is used to receive the clamping section separated by the root cutting unit.

[0007] Preferably, the clamp includes a contoured jaw, the inner contour of which has a flat limiting surface adapted to the ventral side of the aloe vera leaf and an arc-shaped guide surface adapted to the dorsal side of the aloe vera leaf. The flat limiting surface and the arc-shaped guide surface cooperate to form a directional clamping space for defining the orientation of the aloe vera leaf.

[0008] Preferably, the clamp includes a base and clamping arms symmetrically arranged on both sides of the base; each clamping arm includes a pair of telescopic arms and an elastic limiting band, the telescopic arms are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the base; the elastic limiting band is tensioned between the telescopic arms of the same clamping arm, and the two elastic limiting bands are arranged opposite each other to form a clamping space for clamping the root of the aloe vera leaf.

[0009] Furthermore, the telescopic arm is a transmission rack slidably mounted on the base, with two transmission racks on the same clamping arm arranged parallel and opposite to each other; the clamping arm also includes a transmission gear and a linear drive component, the transmission gear being rotatably connected to the moving end of the linear drive component and simultaneously meshing with the two transmission racks, the linear drive component driving the transmission gear to move, and through the meshing transmission between the transmission gear and the two transmission racks, the two transmission racks move synchronously towards each other following the transmission gear; when any transmission rack stops due to contact with the aloe vera leaf, the transmission gear continues to move and drives the other transmission rack to continue moving until it contacts the aloe vera leaf, so that the two transmission racks form an adaptive envelope clamping of the aloe vera leaf.

[0010] Furthermore, the transmission rack includes a rigid force transmission section and an elastic buffer section connected sequentially along the direction of motion. An axial guide structure is provided between the rigid force transmission section and the elastic buffer section, so that the elastic buffer section is compressed and deformed only along the direction of motion of the transmission rack when it is compressed.

[0011] Furthermore, the elastic limiting band can be detachably installed on the rigid force transmission section, and the surface of the elastic limiting band is provided with anti-slip texture or flexible protrusions.

[0012] Furthermore, the clamp is rotatably connected to the moving end of the hoisting transport line via a rotating shaft; the clamp also includes an attitude detection unit and a control unit. The attitude detection unit can acquire information on the asymmetrical radial elastic force generated by the elastic limiting bands on both sides due to the difference in the contours of the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the aloe vera leaf; the control unit can determine whether the current clamping attitude meets the preset orientation conditions based on the asymmetrical radial elastic force information, and drive the clamp to rotate around the rotating shaft when it is determined that the conditions are not met, until the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the aloe vera leaf are respectively aligned with the preset orientation reference.

[0013] Furthermore, the attitude detection unit includes a flexible pressure sensor array fitted to the inner side of the elastic limiting band. The flexible pressure sensor array is configured to collect pressure distribution data on the contact surface between the elastic limiting band and the aloe vera leaf in real time. The control unit is configured to calculate the radial elastic force difference between the ventral side and the dorsal side based on the pressure distribution data, and determine that the current orientation state has not met the preset orientation condition when the radial elastic force difference exceeds a preset threshold range.

[0014] Furthermore, a turning zone is provided between the feeding zone and the peeling zone, and a drive gear ring is coaxially fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the clamp; a drive motor communicating with the control unit is provided in the turning zone, and a drive gear meshing with the drive gear ring is installed on the output shaft of the drive motor; the control unit is configured to control the drive motor to drive the drive gear to rotate when it is determined that the current clamping posture has not reached the preset orientation condition, and drive the clamp to rotate around the rotating shaft to align with the preset orientation reference through the drive gear ring.

[0015] The main technical effects of this invention are reflected in the following aspects: This invention provides a stable, clean, and geometrically consistent physical foundation for vertical suspension hoisting by constructing a standardized pre-treatment system that includes draining and trimming the ends (preserving the clamping section). This fundamentally solves the problem of unreliable clamping of natural aloe vera leaves due to morphological variations and mucus interference. Traditional processes, which directly clamp untrimmed leaves, easily lead to slippage or excessive pressure damage. This innovation, however, after draining to remove contaminants, only performs standardized trimming on the root while deliberately preserving the integrity of the clamping section, making it the sole load-bearing carrier for the entire subsequent hoisting process.

[0016] This invention employs a fully vertical suspension and hoisting processing mode. Utilizing the characteristic that the direction of gravity aligns with the long axis of the blade, it fundamentally eliminates the possibility of a lubricating film forming at the transport interface from the gel sap. This effectively solves persistent problems such as frequent slippage, positioning drift, and uncontrolled peeling thickness during horizontal transport. Because the blade is suspended only by the root clamping section and does not contact any horizontal surface, the mixed waste liquid generated during peeling can naturally flow downwards along the blade surface and fall directly into the collection tank. This avoids the risk of cross-contamination and enzymatic browning caused by lateral diffusion or repeated crushing of the waste liquid into the cutting tool area.

[0017] The final removal of the clamping segment is moved to the slitting zone, forming a new process path of trimming and preservation, vertical peeling, and root cutting separation. This allows the clamping segment to act as a natural "process handle" throughout the peeling process, ensuring the stability of the suspended posture and avoiding the risk of contamination or damage from direct contact between the cutting tool and the finished gel area. The root cutting action in the slitting zone is essentially a logical continuation and functional loop of the preceding end-to-end flat cutting: because the clamping segment already has a regular geometric shape and a clean surface, the root cutting unit can achieve a flat cut and precise positioning without overcoming the resistance of irregular tissue. This ensures that the peeling segment falls vertically into the storage unit in a stable posture at the moment of detachment, eliminating gel loss caused by entanglement and tearing. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Structural diagram of the clamp; Figure 3 for Figure 1 Structural diagram of the middle clamping arm; In the diagram: 1. Lifting and transport line; 2. Clamp; 21. Base; 22. Transmission rack; 23. Transmission gear; 24. Linear drive component; 25. Elastic limit band; 26. Drive gear ring; 27. Drive gear; 28. Clamping arm. Detailed Implementation

[0019] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to make the technical solution of the present invention easier to understand and master. In the embodiments, it should be understood that the terms "middle," "upper," "lower," "top," "right side," "left end," "above," "back," "center," etc., indicating the orientation or positional relationship are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention, 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, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. In addition, unless otherwise specified in this specific embodiment, the connection or fixing method between components can be achieved by bolt fixing, pin fixing, or pin connection commonly used in the prior art, etc., and therefore will not be described in detail in this embodiment.

[0020] The aloe vera transport, peeling, and slicing equipment in this embodiment uses a closed-loop hoisting transport line 1 as its main frame, which is divided into five functional stations along the transport direction: a loading area, a turning area, a peeling area, a slicing area, and a unloading area. A special clamp 2 is installed on the moving end of the hoisting transport line 1. This clamp 2 only acts on the root of the aloe vera leaf to be processed, lifting the leaf off the ground upon entering the loading area and maintaining a vertically suspended posture in all subsequent stations. This posture fundamentally eliminates contact between the leaf and the horizontal transport interface, preventing the formation of a lubricating film of gel juice on the transport surface. This effectively solves problems such as frequent slippage, positioning drift, adhesion and accumulation, and uncontrolled peeling thickness caused by the liquid film. Simultaneously, the direction of gravity is aligned with the long axis of the leaf, allowing the mixed waste liquid generated during peeling to naturally flow downwards along the leaf surface and fall directly into the collection tank below. This avoids the risk of cross-contamination and enzymatic browning caused by the lateral diffusion or repeated crushing of waste liquid into the blade area. In addition, the vertical layout not only significantly reduces the equipment's footprint, but also eliminates the inherent gaps, rollers, and other unsanitary corners of planar conveyor structures, greatly reducing the risk of biofilm contamination and fully meeting the cleanliness requirements for food-grade and cosmetic-grade production.

[0021] It is worth noting that the reason why this embodiment can use clamp 2 to vertically lift and process aloe vera leaves throughout the entire process is fundamentally due to the synergistic effect of the leaching and base trimming processes, which create a stable, clean, and geometrically consistent physical foundation for the clamping section. Freshly harvested aloe vera leaves have varying root shapes and irregular cuts, and continuously exude high-viscosity yellow sap. If clamped directly, not only will the distribution of clamping force be uncontrollable due to the discrete shape, but it is also easy to slip off due to mucus lubrication or to force excessive pressure to damage the tissue in order to prevent slippage. At the same time, the anthraquinone substances in the yellow sap will contaminate the contact surface of clamp 2, and long-term accumulation will form a biofilm, which will affect the reliability of clamping and violate the requirements of clean production. After standardized leaching treatment, the yellow sap is fully drained and removed, the surface of the clamping section is restored to dryness and cleanliness, the liquid film interference is eliminated, and the elastic limiting band 25 can achieve reliable gripping through pure mechanical friction. More importantly, the simultaneous base trimming is not simply deburring or cleaning, but specifically refers to performing standardized end-to-end trimming only on the blade root (and tail) after the yellowing process, without removing the clamping section itself. This process precisely removes the irregular blade base remaining after yellowing, smooths the cut end face, and removes any remaining side thorns, unifying the geometric contours, cross-sectional dimensions, and surface flatness of all blade clamping sections within the design tolerance range, while deliberately preserving the integrity of the clamping section, making it the sole force-bearing carrier for subsequent vertical hoisting. This consistency in shape after the dual treatment of "yellowing + end-to-end trimming (preserving the clamping section)" allows the straight limiting surface and curved guide surface of the contoured clamp to precisely fit the ventral and dorsal features of each blade. The adaptive envelope clamping mechanism can achieve a stable envelope with minimal force without having to deal with extreme shape variations, and the elastic force difference signal collected by the intelligent orientation system is also free from noise interference, ensuring accurate and efficient attitude judgment. Therefore, it is precisely by removing the "stickiness" and "dirt" through the process of applying yellow liquid, and by cutting the ends flat to unify the "shape" and "size" while retaining the clamping section as a process link, that the two processes together transform the natural, discrete biological raw materials into standardized input objects suitable for operation by precision clamps. This allows the disruptive processing mode of vertical suspension hoisting to transform from a theoretical concept into a stable and implementable engineering reality, completely eliminating the dependence on planar conveying friction drive and achieving low-damage, high-cleanliness, and continuous high-quality production of aloe vera gel.

[0022] Unlike the traditional process of draining, cutting off the ends (clamping sections), and peeling, this application innovatively places the final removal of the clamping sections in the slitting area, forming a completely new process path of draining, trimming the ends (retaining the clamping sections), vertically lifting and peeling, and root cutting to separate the clamping sections. At the end of the specific processing flow, the root cutting unit in the slitting area performs a cutting action on the peeled aloe vera leaves to sever the connection between the clamping sections and the peeled sections, allowing the peeled sections to fall naturally into the storage unit below under gravity; the unloading area is used to receive the clamping sections separated by the root cutting unit. The root cutting action here is essentially a logical continuation and functional loop of the aforementioned "end-to-end flattening" process: the end-to-end flattening before loading is to construct a standardized clamping section that fits the clamp 2, while the root cutting in the slitting area precisely peels the clamping section, which has completed its mission, from the finished gel. Since the clamping segment has been given a regular geometric shape and a clean surface during the pre-treatment, the root cutting unit does not need to overcome the resistance of irregular tissue when performing separation. The cut is flat and the positioning is accurate. This avoids cutting deviation or tool jamming caused by the distortion of the clamping segment shape, and ensures that the peeling segment can fall vertically in a stable posture at the moment of detachment, eliminating gel loss or secondary contamination caused by snagging or tearing.

[0023] This adjustment to the process sequence is profoundly technically necessary: ​​if the clamping section were removed before loading, the traditional method would be used, causing the vertical lifting to lose its support point, making the entire suspended processing mode unworkable. Retaining the clamping section until after peeling ensures the stability of the vertical posture throughout the process and allows it to act as a natural "process handle" during peeling, avoiding the risk of contamination or damage from direct contact between the cutting tool and the finished gel area. Simultaneously, because the clamping section remains under the protection of clamp 2, it is not exposed to waste liquid or the cutting tool environment in the peeling area until it is cleanly separated in the slitting area, further enhancing the hygiene and safety of the finished product. Thus, from draining and flattening the ends (retaining the clamping section) to vertical lifting, peeling, and root cutting separation, the entire process chain forms a complete technical system with the "standardized clamping section" as its core link. This truly achieves controllability, cleanliness, and efficiency throughout the entire aloe vera gel processing process, marking a fundamental shift from "adapting to raw materials" to "reconstructing process logic."

[0024] Preferably, the clamp 2 is the core actuator for vertical hanging processing, and its structural design directly addresses the pain point in the background technology of "increased clamping pressure leading to mechanical damage". Specifically, the clamp 2 includes a rigid base 21 and clamping arms 28 symmetrically arranged on both sides of the base 21. Each clamping arm 28 consists of a pair of telescopic arms, a transmission gear 23, a linear drive component 24, and an elastic limiting band 25. The telescopic arms are implemented by transmission racks 22 slidably arranged on the base 21. The two transmission racks 22 on the same clamping arm 28 are arranged parallel and opposite to each other, with their tooth surfaces facing each other. The transmission gear 23 is rotatably connected to the moving end of the linear drive component 24 (such as an electric push rod or cylinder) and simultaneously meshes with the two transmission racks 22. The elastic limiting band 25 is tensioned between the ends of the two transmission racks 22 on the same clamping arm 28. The elastic limiting bands 25 on both sides of the clamping arm 28 are relatively enclosed to form a clamping space for clamping the root of the aloe vera leaf.

[0025] The specific clamping process is as follows: After the aloe vera leaf is fed into the feeding area and positioned within the clamping space, the control unit triggers the linear drive component 24 to operate. The moving end of the linear drive component 24 drives the transmission gear 23 to move along the guide groove of the base 21. Since the transmission gear 23 simultaneously meshes with the two transmission racks 22 on the left and right sides, in the initial stage, the two transmission racks 22 move synchronously towards each other under the gear drive, causing the elastic limiting bands 25 on both sides to gradually approach the root of the aloe vera. The key innovation here lies in the "adaptive envelope" mechanism: because the cross-section of the aloe vera root is not perfectly symmetrical or a regular geometry, when either side's drive rack 22 (and its connected elastic limiting band 25) first contacts the aloe vera leaf surface and encounters resistance, that side's rack will stop moving because the resistance is greater than the driving force. However, the drive gear 23 is not locked; driven by the continuing-moving linear drive component 24, it rolls along the stopped rack's tooth surface and transmits all the driving force to the still-moving rack on the other side, driving that side's rack to continue approaching the aloe vera leaf until it also completely adheres to the leaf surface. Ultimately, the two elastic limiting bands 25, with their respective independent stroke endpoints, form a tight, uniform, and pressure-free envelope clamping around the aloe vera root. This adaptive envelope clamping mechanism completely abandons the traditional method of relying on preset fixed clamping force or rigid limiting. The magnitude of the clamping force is entirely determined by the contour reaction force of the aloe vera root itself, rather than being imposed from the outside. This means that regardless of the thickness or shape of the aloe vera root, clamp 2 can achieve a stable grip with the minimum necessary force for a "just right fit," fundamentally avoiding the mechanical damage problems caused by the forced increase in clamping pressure to resist slippage due to mucus in the prior art, such as cell rupture, degradation of active ingredients, and decreased yield. At the same time, this ability to adapt independently on both sides allows clamp 2 to be compatible with aloe vera raw materials of different varieties and growth stages, eliminating the need for frequent tooling changes or parameter adjustments, significantly improving the equipment's flexible production capacity and raw material adaptability.

[0026] Furthermore, to ensure the smoothness of the clamping process and the hygiene compliance of long-term operation, this embodiment features a refined design for the transmission rack 22 and the elastic limiting band 25. The transmission rack 22 is not a single rigid body, but rather consists of two sections connected sequentially along the direction of motion: a "rigid force transmission section" and an "elastic buffer section." A precise axial guiding structure (such as guide posts, guide sleeves, or dovetail grooves) is provided between the two sections to ensure that the elastic buffer section, when compressed, can only undergo compressive deformation along the direction of motion of the transmission rack 22, without lateral buckling or torsional instability. The elastic limiting band 25 is detachably installed at the end of the rigid force transmission section via clips, bolts, or magnetic attraction. Its inner surface (the side in contact with the aloe vera) is molded with anti-slip textures or an array of flexible protrusions. The introduction of the elastic buffer section is equivalent to connecting a mechanical "soft landing" element in series within the rigid transmission chain. At the moment the clamping action is completed, even if the linear drive component 24 has a certain overshoot or positional error, the elastic buffer section can absorb excess kinetic energy through its own compression deformation, preventing rigid impact from being directly transmitted to the aloe vera tissue, further reducing the risk of cell damage at the microscopic level. The axial guide structure ensures the purity of the buffering behavior, avoiding rack jamming or tooth dislodgement due to lateral forces, and ensuring the reliable repeatability of the adaptive envelope mechanism. On the other hand, the detachable design of the elastic limit band 25 is a direct solution to the problem of "difficult-to-clean hygiene dead corners" in the background technology. During production batch switching or daily maintenance, operators can remove the limit band contaminated with mucus within seconds for soaking and cleaning or high-temperature disinfection, or even directly replace the spare part, without the need for complex disassembly of the clamp 2 body. The anti-slip texture or flexible protrusions on the surface not only increase the static friction coefficient with the aloe vera root, effectively preventing micro-slippage caused by its own weight or vibration when suspended vertically, but also the material hardness is much lower than that of the aloe vera skin, providing sufficient friction without causing indentations or damage, thus achieving the dual goals of "anti-slip" and "material protection".

[0027] As another important preferred feature of clamp 2, the inner contour of its clamping space is not a simple plane or cylinder, but a specially designed contoured structure that closely matches the morphology of the aloe vera leaf. Specifically, one inner wall of the clamping space is a flat limiting surface, the geometry of which matches the ventral surface of the aloe vera leaf (usually relatively flat); the other inner wall is an arc-shaped guide surface, the radius of curvature of which matches the dorsal surface of the aloe vera leaf (usually convex). The flat limiting surface and the arc-shaped guide surface together form an asymmetrical directional clamping space. Utilizing the natural morphological asymmetry of the aloe vera leaf, it provides passive pre-orientation in the initial stage of clamp 2 closure. When the aloe vera leaf is inserted into the clamping space at any angle, its dorsal surface will naturally slide along the arc-shaped guide surface and tend to conform, while the ventral surface will be constrained by the flat limiting surface, thus ensuring that the leaf is roughly within the correct orientation range before the clamping force is applied. This greatly reduces the burden on the subsequent active orientation system, shortens the orientation time and rotation angle, and improves the overall line cycle time. More importantly, it provides a unified and reliable geometric benchmark for subsequent trimming processes (such as cutting off leaf tips, removing lateral thorns, and re-cutting the base), avoiding the problems of repeated exposure, oxidation and water loss, and microbial contamination caused by the chaotic orientation of semi-finished products during multi-station transfer and temporary storage in the prior art, so that the yellowing effect of the early stage can be completely preserved to the final product.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, to achieve precise alignment of the ventral and dorsal sides of the aloe vera leaf, the clamp 2 is rotatably connected to the moving end of the lifting and transport line 1 via a rotating shaft, giving it the freedom to rotate around a vertical axis. The core of the attitude detection unit is a flexible pressure sensor array fitted to the inner side of the elastic limiting band 25. This array can collect pressure distribution data on the contact surface between the elastic limiting band 25 and the aloe vera leaf in real time and at high resolution. After receiving this data, the control unit integrates the pressure values ​​on the ventral and dorsal sides respectively to obtain the radial elastic force values ​​on both sides and calculates the difference. If the difference exceeds a pre-calibrated threshold range, it is determined that the current clamping posture has not met the preset orientation condition. When orientation correction is needed, the equipment performs a rotational action in a specially designed turning zone between the feeding area and the peeling area. A drive gear ring 26 is coaxially fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the clamp 2. A servo drive motor communicating with the control unit is fixedly installed in the turning zone, and an active gear 27 precisely meshing with the drive gear ring 26 is mounted on its output shaft. The control unit determines the rotation direction based on the sign of the aforementioned elastic force difference, and determines the rotation angle based on the magnitude of the difference and a preset algorithm, then issues a command to control the drive motor. The motor drives the clamp 2 to rotate precisely around its axis through the meshing of the drive gear 27 and the drive gear ring 26, until the elastic force difference fed back by the flexible pressure sensor array returns to the threshold range, indicating that the ventral and dorsal sides of the aloe vera leaf are aligned with the preset orientation references. At this point, the motor stops, and the clamp 2 locks into its current position and enters the peeling area. Regarding the meshing transmission between the drive gear ring 26 and the drive gear 27 (the drive gear 27 can move with the motor), and the locking and releasing actions of the clamp 2 (the latching structure), their specific mechanical structure and control logic are all within the scope of mature existing technology in this field, and therefore their internal structural details will not be elaborated here.

[0029] This system transforms the physical characteristic of the difference in contour between the ventral and dorsal surfaces of aloe vera leaves—originally considered a "disruptive factor"—into a sensor signal source for directional control, achieving integrated perception and decision-making. Compared to traditional machine vision recognition solutions, this system requires no additional light source, camera, or complex image processing algorithms. It is unaffected by environmental factors such as workshop lighting, moisture, and splattering slime, offering faster response, lower cost, and higher reliability. Decoupling the directional action to an independent turning zone avoids disturbances to clamping stability that might occur during dynamic rotation at the clamping station. It also fully utilizes idle time on the conveyor line to complete the orientation, without disrupting the main processing cycle, ensuring efficient and smooth operation of the entire line. The "coaxial fixed connection" and "gear meshing" transmission method ensures rotational accuracy and rigid torque transmission, maintaining effective meshing even under swaying conditions, completely overcoming the positioning failure problem caused by transmission instability in previous technologies. Finally, the precisely oriented aloe vera leaves enter the subsequent peeling and slitting processes with an absolutely uniform posture, laying a solid foundation for automated, standardized, and high-quality production.

[0030] Finally, after completing the aforementioned posture preparation based on the "standardized clamping section," the aloe vera leaf enters the peeling area, which is the key station for the vertical suspension processing mode to exert its core efficiency. Unlike traditional horizontal conveying peeling, which relies on roller friction and is easily affected by liquid film interference, the peeling area in this embodiment relies entirely on the leaf's own gravity suspension posture and the stable reference provided by clamp 2 for operation. The peeling tool assembly is arranged vertically, and its cutting depth and trajectory are based on the geometric center of the clamping section of clamp 2 as the dynamic reference origin, rather than on the unstable conveying surface or the outer edge of the leaf. Since the clamping section has a highly consistent cross-sectional size and surface flatness after being treated with leaching and cut flat at both ends, and maintains a rigid vertical posture throughout, the peeling tool can maintain constant cutting parameters without frequent adaptive adjustments, fundamentally eliminating problems such as uneven peeling thickness, gel residue, or over-cutting caused by leaf bending, slippage, or positioning drift. More importantly, the mixed waste liquid generated during the peeling process (including epidermal debris, residual yellow liquid, and a small amount of gel juice) is naturally guided downwards along the long axis of the blade under gravity, falling directly into the independently set waste liquid collection tank below. Throughout the process, it does not laterally intersect with the blade edge, the contact surface of clamp 2, or the subsequent clean area. This "top-down" unidirectional flow field design completely blocks the path of waste liquid accumulation and biofilm formation at roller gaps, baffles, or belt joints in traditional equipment, significantly reducing the risk of enzymatic browning and microbial contamination. Simultaneously, because the blade is always in an unsupported, suspended state, the peeling blade only applies radial cutting force to the epidermis, without the additional squeezing or shear stress from the horizontal conveying mechanism. This maximizes the protection of the integrity of the internal gel tissue and cell structure, avoiding juice seepage and quality deterioration caused by mechanical damage.

[0031] Of course, the above are just typical examples of the present invention. In addition, the present invention may have many other specific embodiments. All technical solutions formed by equivalent substitution or equivalent transformation fall within the scope of protection claimed by the present invention.

Claims

1. An aloe vera transportation, peeling, and slicing device, characterized in that, The system includes a hoisting and conveying line, which is sequentially equipped with a loading area, a peeling area, a slitting area, and an unloading area along its conveying direction. The moving end of the hoisting and conveying line is equipped with a clamp, which acts on the root of the aloe vera to be peeled, so that the aloe vera leaves remain vertically suspended throughout the conveying process, and divides the aloe vera leaves into a clamping section held by the clamp and a peeling section that is released from the clamp. The slitting area is provided with at least a root cutting unit and a storage unit located below the root cutting unit. The root cutting unit performs a cutting action on the peeled aloe vera leaf to sever the connection between the clamping section and the peeled section, so that the peeled section falls into the storage unit under the action of gravity. The unloading area is used to receive the clamping section separated by the root cutting unit.

2. The aloe vera transportation peeling and cutting equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamp includes a contoured jaw, the inner contour of which has a flat limiting surface adapted to the ventral side of the aloe vera leaf and an arc-shaped guide surface adapted to the dorsal side of the aloe vera leaf. The flat limiting surface and the arc-shaped guide surface cooperate to form a directional clamping space for limiting the orientation of the aloe vera leaf.

3. The aloe vera transportation peeling and cutting equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The clamp includes a base and clamping arms symmetrically arranged on both sides of the base; each clamping arm includes a pair of telescopic arms and an elastic limiting band, and the telescopic arms are spaced apart along the conveying direction of the base; The elastic limiting band is tensioned and connected between the telescopic arms of the same clamping arm, and the two elastic limiting bands are arranged opposite each other to form a clamping space for clamping the root of the aloe vera leaf.

4. The aloe vera transportation peeling and cutting equipment as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The telescopic arm is a transmission rack slidably mounted on the base, with two transmission racks on the same clamping arm arranged parallel and opposite to each other; the clamping arm also includes a transmission gear and a linear drive component, the transmission gear being rotatably connected to the moving end of the linear drive component and meshing simultaneously with the two transmission racks. The linear drive component drives the transmission gear to move. Through the meshing transmission of the transmission gear and the two transmission racks, the two transmission racks move synchronously towards each other following the transmission gear. When either transmission rack stops due to contact with the aloe vera leaf, the transmission gear continues to move and drives the other transmission rack to continue moving until it contacts the aloe vera leaf, so that the two transmission racks form an adaptive envelope clamping on the aloe vera leaf.

5. The aloe vera transportation peeling and cutting equipment as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The transmission rack includes a rigid force transmission section and an elastic buffer section connected sequentially along the direction of motion. An axial guide structure is provided between the rigid force transmission section and the elastic buffer section so that the elastic buffer section is compressed and deformed only along the direction of motion of the transmission rack when it is compressed.

6. The aloe vera transportation peeling and cutting equipment as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The elastic limiting band can be detachably installed on the rigid force transmission section, and the surface of the elastic limiting band is provided with anti-slip texture or flexible protrusions.

7. The aloe vera transport peeling and slicing device as described in any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that, The clamp is rotatably connected to the moving end of the hoisting and transport line via a rotating shaft; The fixture also includes an attitude detection unit and a control unit. The attitude detection unit can acquire information on the asymmetric radial elastic force generated by the elastic limiting bands on both sides due to the difference in the contours of the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the aloe vera leaf. The control unit can determine whether the current clamping posture meets the preset orientation conditions based on the asymmetric radial elastic force information, and drive the clamp to rotate around the pivot when it is determined that the conditions are not met, until the ventral and back surfaces of the aloe vera leaf are respectively aligned with the preset orientation reference.

8. The aloe vera transport peeling and slicing equipment as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The attitude detection unit includes a flexible pressure sensor array that is fitted to the inner side of the elastic limiting band. The flexible pressure sensor array is configured to collect pressure distribution data on the contact surface between the elastic limiting band and the aloe vera leaf in real time. The control unit is configured to calculate the radial elastic force difference between the ventral side and the dorsal side based on the pressure distribution data, and determine that the current orientation state has not met the preset orientation condition when the radial elastic force difference exceeds a preset threshold range.

9. The aloe vera transport peeling and cutting equipment as described in claim 7, characterized in that, A turning zone is provided between the feeding zone and the peeling zone, and a drive gear ring is coaxially fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the fixture; The turning zone is equipped with a drive motor that is communicatively connected to the control unit. The output shaft of the drive motor is equipped with a drive gear that meshes with the drive gear ring. The control unit is configured to control the drive motor to drive the drive gear to rotate when it is determined that the current clamping posture has not reached the preset orientation condition, and drive the clamp to rotate around the rotating shaft to align with the preset orientation reference through the drive gear ring.

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