A device for peeling and separating ham melon and a control method thereof

Abstract

The application provides a device for peeling and separating Hami melon and a control method thereof, comprising a rack, a fruit feeding mechanism, a fruit lifting mechanism, a peeling mechanism and a separating mechanism; the fruit feeding mechanism is arranged at one end of the rack and is used for conveying Hami melons to be peeled; the fruit lifting mechanism comprises a plurality of fruit lifting assemblies and is used for piercing and fixing the Hami melons; the peeling mechanism comprises a plurality of peeling units arranged at each fruit lifting assembly and is used for cutting the skin of the Hami melons; the separating mechanism is arranged at the other end of the rack away from the fruit feeding mechanism and comprises a separating assembly and a separating driving assembly, and is used for cutting the peeled Hami melons into pieces. The application integrates peeling and separating into one, realizes the full-automatic processing of Hami melons from peeling to separating, effectively improves the production efficiency, reduces the labor cost, and reduces the risk of damage and pollution of Hami melons caused by transfer between processes.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of cantaloupe processing technology, and in particular to a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Canneries, preserve fruit producers, and jam manufacturers all need to peel and segment fresh cantaloupes when processing them into products. Traditional manual processing methods are inefficient, and the processed cantaloupes often fail to meet hygiene standards.

[0003] Currently, the peeling and segmenting processes of cantaloupes are mostly completed using separate equipment or by manual operation. Existing technologies rarely integrate automatic peeling and segmenting into a single automated device, and there is a lack of procedures for removing the stem and blossom end of the cantaloupe, requiring further manual handling. Furthermore, the transfer of cantaloupes between different processes increases the breakage rate and risk of contamination, and multiple pieces of equipment are space-consuming, costly, and cumbersome to operate. Summary of the Invention

[0004] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device and its control method, which can effectively solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention is implemented through the following technical solution: This invention provides a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device, comprising: frame; A fruit-feeding mechanism, located at one end of the frame, is used to transport cantaloupes to be peeled; The fruit-attaching mechanism includes several fruit-attaching components disposed at the upper end of the frame, the fruit-attaching components being used to pierce and secure the cantaloupe; The peeling mechanism includes several peeling units correspondingly disposed at each of the upper fruit components, the peeling units being used to cut the skin of the cantaloupe; A segmenting mechanism is located at the other end of the frame away from the fruit feeding mechanism; the segmenting mechanism includes a segmenting component and a segmenting drive component, the segmenting component is used to segment and cut the peeled cantaloupe, and the segmenting mechanism also includes a lower cutting component for removing the lower stem of the cantaloupe. A fruit-retrieving mechanism, disposed on the frame and located between the upper fruit-topping mechanism and the segmenting mechanism, is used to remove the peeled cantaloupe from the upper fruit-topping assembly and transfer it to the segmenting mechanism; the fruit-retrieving mechanism includes an upper fruit-cutting assembly for cutting off the upper stem of the cantaloupe.

[0006] As a further improvement, a lower fruit-supporting mechanism is also included, which is disposed on the frame and located below the upper fruit-supporting mechanism. The lower fruit-supporting mechanism includes a lower fruit-supporting component, a moving plate, and a third cylinder. The lower fruit-supporting component is disposed on the moving plate at the position corresponding to each of the upper fruit-supporting components. The third cylinder is disposed at both ends of the moving plate to drive the lower fruit-supporting component to move upward and support the cantaloupe from below.

[0007] As a further improvement, a fruit-retrieving mechanism is also included, which is disposed on the frame and located between the upper fruit-topping mechanism and the segmenting mechanism, for removing the peeled cantaloupe from the upper fruit-topping assembly and transferring it to the segmenting mechanism; the fruit-retrieving mechanism includes a support rod, an upper fruit-cutting assembly, a clamping assembly, and a driving assembly. The driving assembly is disposed on both side walls of the frame, and the support rod is disposed between two of the driving assemblies. The upper end of the support rod is provided with the upper fruit-cutting assembly corresponding to the position of each upper fruit-topping assembly. Several clamping assemblies are disposed on the side of the support rod near the upper fruit-topping mechanism, and the clamping assemblies are positioned corresponding to the upper fruit-topping assembly.

[0008] As a further improvement, a pushing mechanism is also included, which is disposed on the frame and located above the segmentation mechanism. The pushing mechanism includes a pushing cylinder and a pushing tube. The frame is provided with a plurality of pushing cylinders above the segmentation mechanism, and the output end of each pushing cylinder is connected to a pushing tube.

[0009] As a further improvement, the fruit feeding mechanism includes a fruit seat driving assembly disposed on the frame, and a fruit and vegetable fixing assembly is disposed on the side of the fruit seat driving assembly near the fruit-topping mechanism. The cantaloupe fixing assembly includes several base units, and a fruit clamping assembly for clamping and fixing the cantaloupe is disposed above each base unit.

[0010] As a further improvement, the base unit includes a first movable plate that is slidably disposed on the fruit seat driving assembly. A first arc-shaped clamping plate is vertically disposed on the first movable plate. A second movable plate that slides relative to the first movable plate is disposed on the first movable plate. A second arc-shaped clamping plate that corresponds to the first arc-shaped clamping plate is disposed on the second movable plate. The cantaloupe fixing assembly also includes a first cylinder disposed on both sides of the fruit seat driving assembly.

[0011] As a further improvement, a control cabinet is provided above the frame, and the fruit-topping mechanism also includes a first motor located inside the control cabinet. The drive end of the first motor is connected to a pulley assembly, which in turn drives several fruit-topping components.

[0012] As a further improvement, the fruit-topping assembly includes a second cylinder connected to a floating ball head, which is connected to a spline shaft. A bushing is fitted on the spline shaft, which can slide axially along the bushing. A plurality of pins in a circular array are provided at one end of the spline shaft away from the floating ball head. The pins are used to pierce the skin of the cantaloupe.

[0013] As a further improvement, the segmenting assembly includes a support base and a segmenter; the segmenter is provided on the support base, and a segmenting drive assembly is provided on the side of the support base away from the upper fruit-topping mechanism. The segmenting drive assembly includes a receiving plate and a lower fruit-cutting assembly. The segmenter includes a segmenting cylinder and a segmenting blade disposed inside the segmenting cylinder. Several slots are provided on the side wall of the segmenting cylinder, and through holes are provided axially inside. A piercing needle is provided on the receiving plate for piercing and fixing the cantaloupe transferred by the fruit-picking mechanism.

[0014] A control method for a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device includes the following steps: S1. Fruit delivery: The fruit delivery mechanism transports the cantaloupe to be peeled to the peeling station; S2, Top Fruit Fixing: The pin of the upper top fruit mechanism is inserted into the top of the cantaloupe, and the lower top fruit mechanism supports the bottom of the cantaloupe from below. The two work together to fix the cantaloupe in a centered position. S3. Peeling: The first motor drives the cantaloupe to rotate, and at the same time, the peeling blade unit of the peeling mechanism cuts close to the surface of the cantaloupe to complete the peeling. S4. Fruit picking and transfer: The clamping component of the fruit picking mechanism clamps the peeled cantaloupe, the upper cutting component cuts off the upper stem of the cantaloupe, and the driving component transfers the cantaloupe to the segmenting mechanism. S5, Pushing and splitting: The receiving plate of the splitting mechanism fixes the cantaloupe with needles, the lower fruit cutting component cuts off the lower stem of the cantaloupe, and the pushing mechanism pushes the cantaloupe towards the splitter to split and cut the cantaloupe into segments. S6. Discharge: The segmented cantaloupe is sent to the next process via a conveyor mechanism located below the segmentation mechanism.

[0015] The beneficial effects of this invention are: This invention integrates the peeling and segmenting functions of cantaloupe into one unit. Through the rational layout of the fruit feeding mechanism, fruit-topping mechanism, peeling mechanism, fruit-receiving mechanism, and segmenting mechanism, it achieves fully automated processing from raw material conveying and peeling to segmented output. This eliminates the need for transfer between multiple machines, effectively saving equipment space and reducing equipment procurement and maintenance costs. The coordinated operation of the fruit feeding mechanism (automatically conveying the cantaloupe), the fruit-topping mechanism (automatically centering and fixing), the peeling mechanism (automatically cutting), the fruit-receiving mechanism (automatically transferring), the segmenting mechanism (automatically segmenting and cutting), and the pushing and discharging mechanism enables a fully automated production line operation for cantaloupe peeling and segmenting, significantly improving processing efficiency and reducing manual labor intensity. The upper fruit-topping component pierces the top of the cantaloupe with a pin, working in conjunction with the lower fruit-topping mechanism to support the bottom of the cantaloupe from below, ensuring reliable centering and fixing. Simultaneously, the first motor drives the cantaloupe to rotate via a pulley system, and the peeling blade unit cuts close to the surface of the cantaloupe, ensuring even and complete peeling and reducing fruit waste. The fruit-picking mechanism uses a clamping component in conjunction with the upper cutting component. It first clamps and secures the peeled cantaloupe before cutting off the upper stem, then smoothly transfers the cantaloupe to the segmenting mechanism, avoiding bumps and contamination during manual transport. The segmenting mechanism uses a receiving plate with needles to secure the cantaloupe and cuts off the lower stem before segmenting it, further reducing the breakage rate and ensuring hygiene and safety during processing. The segmenting device directly segments the cantaloupe after peeling, integrating peeling and segmentation, which improves the efficiency and hygiene of cantaloupe processing. Attached Figure Description

[0016] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of the present invention and should not be regarded as a limitation of the scope. For those skilled in the art, other related drawings can be obtained from these drawings without creative effort.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0018] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0019] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the overall structure of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention.

[0020] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the fruit feeding mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention.

[0021] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the top fruit mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the peeling mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the fruit-picking mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention.

[0024] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the segmenting mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention. Figure 1 .

[0025] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the segmenting mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention. Figure 2 .

[0026] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the segmentation device structure of a cantaloupe peeling and segmentation device according to the present invention.

[0027] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the segmenting mechanism and the pushing mechanism of a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to the present invention.

[0028] In the diagram: 1-Frame, 11-Control cabinet, 12-First conveyor belt, 13-Second conveyor belt, 14-Third conveyor belt, 15-Universal caster, 2-Fruit feeding mechanism, 21-Fruit seat drive assembly, 22-Fruit and vegetable fixing assembly, 221-First moving plate, 222-Second moving plate, 223-First arc-shaped clamping plate, 224-Second arc-shaped clamping plate, 225-First cylinder, 23-Fruit clamping assembly, 3-Fruit lifting mechanism, 31-Fruit lifting assembly, 311-Second cylinder, 312-Floating ball head, 313-Busset, 314-Splined shaft, 315-Ejector pin, 32-Pulley assembly, 3 3-First motor, 4-Peeling mechanism, 41-Drive unit, 42-Peeling knife unit, 5-Limit cover, 6-Lower fruit-topping mechanism, 61-Lower fruit-topping assembly, 62-Moving plate, 63-Third cylinder, 7-Fruit-picking mechanism, 71-Support rod, 72-Upper fruit-cutting assembly, 73-Clamping assembly, 74-Drive assembly, 8-Segmentation mechanism, 81-Support base, 82-Segmenter, 821-Segmentation cylinder, 822-Slot, 823-Through hole, 824-Segmentation knife, 83-Receiving plate, 831-Needle, 84-Lower fruit-cutting assembly, 9-Pushing mechanism, 91-Push cylinder, 92-Groove. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of them. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to represent selected embodiments of the invention. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0030] In the description of this invention, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0031] Reference Figure 1-11 As shown, a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device includes: a frame 1, a fruit feeding mechanism 2, an upper fruit-topping mechanism 3, a peeling mechanism 4, a lower fruit-topping mechanism 6, a fruit-retrieving mechanism 7, a segmenting mechanism 8, and a pushing mechanism 9. The frame 1 serves as the supporting structure for the entire device, preferably welded from stainless steel square tubing, and is equipped with casters 15 at the bottom for easy overall movement and positioning. A control cabinet 11 is mounted on top of the frame 1, integrating a PLC controller and corresponding drive control modules to coordinate the timing of the various mechanisms. Along the cantaloupe processing direction, the frame 1 is sequentially equipped with a first conveyor belt 12, a second conveyor belt 13, and a third conveyor belt 14. The first conveyor belt 12 is located in front of the fruit-feeding mechanism 2, receiving the cantaloupes to be peeled from the previous process. A barrier surrounds the first conveyor belt 12 to prevent cantaloupes from falling off. The cantaloupes to be peeled can be transferred to the fruit-feeding mechanism 2 by manual placement or robotic arm handling. The second conveyor belt 13 is located below the peeling mechanism 4, receiving the peels that fall during peeling and transporting them to the peel collection device. The third conveyor belt 14 is located below the segmenting mechanism 8, transporting the segmented cantaloupes to the next process.

[0032] Furthermore, the fruit feeding mechanism 2 is located at one end of the frame 1, i.e., the feeding end, and is used to receive the cantaloupes to be peeled from the previous process. The fruit feeding mechanism 2 includes a fruit seat drive assembly 21 and a fruit and vegetable fixing assembly 22. The fruit seat drive assembly 21 preferably adopts a linear guide rail and lead screw and nut pair structure, or a synchronous belt drive structure, and is driven by a motor to move back and forth along the length of the frame 1. The fruit and vegetable fixing assembly 22 is provided on the side of the fruit seat drive assembly 21 near the top fruit mechanism 3. The fruit and vegetable fixing assembly 22 includes several base units, and a fruit clamp assembly 23 is provided above each base unit for clamping and fixing the lower part of the cantaloupe.

[0033] Specifically, the base unit includes a first movable plate 221, which is slidably mounted on the fruit seat drive assembly 21 and can slide along the length of the fruit seat drive assembly 21. A first arc-shaped clamping plate 223 is vertically fixed on the first movable plate 221. A second movable plate 222 is disposed opposite to the first movable plate 221 and can slide laterally relative to the first movable plate 221. A second arc-shaped clamping plate 224 corresponding to the first arc-shaped clamping plate 223 is fixed on the second movable plate 222. The fruit and vegetable fixing assembly 22 also includes first cylinders 225 fixedly mounted on both sides of the fruit seat drive assembly 21. The two first cylinders 225 are respectively connected to the first movable plate 221 and the second movable plate 222. When the two first cylinders 225 extend synchronously, they push the first movable plate 221 and the second movable plate 222 closer to each other, and the first arc-shaped clamping plate 223 and the second arc-shaped clamping plate 224 jointly clamp the lower part of the cantaloupe; when the two first cylinders 225 retract synchronously, the clamping is released.

[0034] The fruit clamp assembly 23 is positioned above the base unit and has a similar structure, including two opposing grippers with flexible rubber pads to prevent damage to the cantaloupe's skin. The fruit clamp assembly 23 can be pneumatically or electrically driven to open and close, assisting in gripping the cantaloupe from above and preventing it from tipping over during transport.

[0035] Furthermore, the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3 is located at the upper end of the frame 1, specifically mounted on a mounting base within the control cabinet 11. The upper fruit-topping mechanism 3 includes several upper fruit-topping assemblies 31, each corresponding to a base unit below. The upper fruit-topping mechanism 3 also includes a first motor 33 and a pulley assembly 32. The first motor 33 is fixedly mounted within the control cabinet 11, and its output end is connected to the driving pulley of the pulley assembly 32 via a coupling. The driven pulleys of the pulley assembly 32 are fixedly connected to the outer periphery of the bushing 313 of each upper fruit-topping assembly 31, thereby simultaneously driving all upper fruit-topping assemblies 31 to rotate synchronously via belt drive.

[0036] Each apical assembly 31 has the following specific structure: it includes a second cylinder 311, the cylinder body of which is fixed to a mounting base. The piston rod of the second cylinder 311 extends downward and connects to the upper end of a floating ball head 312. The lower end of the floating ball head 312 connects to the upper end of a splined shaft 314. A bushing 313 is fitted around the splined shaft 314 and is rotatably mounted in the mounting base via bearings. The outer circumference of the splined shaft 314 is provided with external splines (i.e., axially extending keyways), and the inner hole of the bushing 313 is provided with an internal spline groove. The splined shaft 314 can slide freely along the axial direction of the bushing 313, and the splined shaft 314 and the bushing 313 maintain synchronous rotation in the circumferential direction through spline engagement. The lower end of the spline shaft 314 extends out of the bushing 313, and a plurality of annularly arranged pins 315 are fixedly installed at the end. The pins 315 are sharp and used to pierce the top of the cantaloupe (i.e., the stem end). In this embodiment, the number of pins 315 is preferably 4 to 6. When the piston rod of the second cylinder 311 extends, it pushes the floating ball head 312, the spline shaft 314 and the pins 315 downward, and the pins 315 pierce the top of the cantaloupe. At the same time, due to the universal adjustment of the floating ball head 312, it can adaptively compensate for the angle deviation of the cantaloupe placement. The first motor 33 drives the bushing 313 to rotate through the pulley group 32. The bushing 313 drives the spline shaft 314 to rotate through the spline, thereby driving the pins 315 and the cantaloupe to rotate synchronously.

[0037] Furthermore, the lower fruit-supporting mechanism 6 is disposed on the frame 1 and located below the upper fruit-supporting mechanism 3, corresponding to the position of the upper fruit-supporting mechanism 3. The lower fruit-supporting mechanism 6 includes a lower fruit-supporting assembly 61, a moving plate 62, and a third cylinder 63. The moving plate 62 is horizontally disposed along the width direction of the frame 1, and a lower fruit-supporting assembly 61 is fixedly disposed on the moving plate 62 at the position corresponding to each upper fruit-supporting assembly 31. The lower fruit-supporting assembly 61 is preferably a top column with a conical groove or flexible pad at the top, used to support the bottom (i.e., the navel end) of the cantaloupe from below. A third cylinder 63 is disposed at both ends of the moving plate 62, the cylinder body of the third cylinder 63 is fixedly mounted on the frame 1, and its piston rod extends vertically upward and is fixedly connected to both ends of the moving plate 62.

[0038] Furthermore, the peeling mechanism 4 is mounted on the frame 1 and located below the control cabinet 11, corresponding to each top fruit assembly 31. The peeling mechanism 4 includes several peeling units, each corresponding to one top fruit assembly 31 and one base unit. Each peeling unit includes a drive unit 41 and two sets of peeling blade units 42. The drive unit 41 includes a drive component, which is preferably a lead screw and slider mechanism driven by a stepper motor or servo motor, or a cylinder drive. In order to make the peeling blade unit 42 better conform to the surface of the cantaloupe, the drive unit 41 also includes a swinging component connected to each peeling blade unit 42. A telescopic spring 15 is connected between the two swinging components. The drive component drives the two sets of peeling blade units 42 to open or close, forming a structure similar to a double pendulum combination blade group.

[0039] The peeling knife unit 42 is connected to the output end of the drive unit 41. The peeling knife unit 42 adopts a swing structure, which can automatically adjust the cutting angle according to the shape of the cantaloupe to achieve contour peeling. This allows the peeling knife to adaptively conform to the surface of the cantaloupe during the cutting process. Specifically, the peeling knife unit 42 includes a tool holder, a blade holder, and blades. The blade holder is rotatably connected to the tool holder via a rotating component (such as a lug engaging a pin), allowing the blades to adaptively swing with the contour of the cantaloupe surface for contour peeling. A guide plate is provided at the upper end of the tool holder, and a corresponding arc-shaped plate is provided at the upper end of the blade holder. Together, they form a V-shaped guiding system, guiding the cantaloupe to the center position during peeling to prevent deviation. A balance bar and a connecting rod are also provided between the tool holder and the frame, forming a parallelogram mechanism to ensure that the blades maintain a constant cutting angle during the lifting and lowering cutting process. A shim is provided between the blades and the blade holder, allowing the user to quickly adjust the blade extension height by changing shims of different thicknesses to flexibly control the peeling thickness. In addition, the blade has an inclined wing plate on the side away from the cutting edge to guide the peeled skin to slide away from the flesh, preventing the skin from re-adhering to the flesh surface and ensuring clean separation. The control cabinet 11 of the frame 1 is equipped with a limit cover 5 at the position corresponding to each top fruit assembly 31. The limit cover 5 is cylindrical or trumpet-shaped and is used to radially limit the cantaloupe during the peeling process to prevent it from shaking.

[0040] Furthermore, the fruit-retrieving mechanism 7 is mounted on the frame 1 and located between the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3 and the segmenting mechanism 8, and is used to remove the peeled cantaloupe from the upper fruit-topping assembly 31 and transfer it to the segmenting mechanism 8. The fruit-retrieving mechanism 7 includes a support rod 71, an upper fruit-cutting assembly 72, a clamping assembly 73, and a drive assembly 74.

[0041] Drive assemblies 74 are provided on both side walls of the frame 1. The drive assemblies 74 are preferably synchronous belt linear modules or sprocket drive modules. The sliding direction of the two drive assemblies 74 is set along the length direction of the frame 1 (i.e., from the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3 to the segmenting mechanism 8). A support rod 71 is provided between the two drive assemblies 74. The two ends of the support rod 71 are fixedly connected to the sliding ends of the two drive assemblies 74, so that the drive assemblies 74 can drive the support rod 71 to reciprocate along the length direction of the frame 1.

[0042] The upper end of the support rod 71 is provided with an upper fruit cutting component 72 corresponding to the position of each upper fruit-topping component 31. Specifically, a number of auxiliary supports are provided on the side of the support rod 71 away from the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3. The upper fruit cutting component 72 is fixed on the auxiliary supports. The upper fruit cutting component 72 includes an upper cutting plate and an upper driving component. The upper driving component can be a cylinder or an electric cylinder. Its output end is connected to the upper cutting plate. The upper cutting plate can be set as a flat shovel and baffles are provided on both sides. The upper cutting plate is used to cut off the fruit stem of the cantaloupe (i.e., the fruit stem part around the piercing part of the thimble 315) and to receive the cut fruit stem part to prevent it from falling into the second conveyor belt 13 or falling out of the frame 1.

[0043] The support rod 71 has several clamping components 73 on one side near the upper fruit-topping mechanism 31, and the clamping components 73 are positioned corresponding to the upper fruit-topping component 31. The clamping component 73 includes two opposing arc-shaped claws, and the inner side of the arc-shaped claws is provided with a flexible pad. The arc-shaped claws can adapt to most cantaloupe shapes. The clamping component 73 is pneumatically driven to open and close, and is used to clamp peeled cantaloupes and can adapt to cantaloupes of different sizes.

[0044] Furthermore, the segmentation mechanism 8 is located at the other end of the frame 1, away from the fruit feeding mechanism 2. The segmentation mechanism 8 includes a segmentation component and a segmentation drive component.

[0045] The segmenting assembly includes a support base 81 and a segmenter 82. The support base 81 is fixedly mounted on the frame 1, and the segmenter 82 is mounted on the support base 81. The segmenter 82 includes a segmenting cylinder 821 and segmenting blades 824 disposed within the segmenting cylinder 821. The segmenting cylinder 821 has a cylindrical structure and is connected to the support base 81 by bolts or magnetic attraction. Several slots 822 are formed on its side wall for connecting the segmenting blades 824. The slots 822 are evenly distributed around the side wall of the segmenting cylinder 821 to ensure that the cantaloupe is evenly segmented. A through hole 823 is formed axially inside the segmenting cylinder 821 to accommodate the cantaloupe to be peeled. The splitting blade 824 is fixedly installed inside the splitting cylinder 821 through the slot 822, and its blade is installed inside the through hole 823. The number of splitting blades 824 is determined according to the required number of splits (such as 6, 8 or 10).

[0046] The segmenting drive assembly is located on the support base 81 on the side away from the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3 (i.e., behind the segmenter 82). The segmenting drive assembly includes a receiving plate 83 and a lower fruit-cutting assembly 84. The receiving plate 83 is located behind the segmenter 82 and is equipped with a piercing needle 831. The piercing needle 831 is vertically positioned on the receiving plate 83 and corresponds to the center position of the through hole 823 of the segmenter 82, used to pierce and fix the cantaloupe transferred by the fruit-picking mechanism 7. The receiving plate 83 can be driven by a cylinder or an electric cylinder to reciprocate horizontally. The receiving plate 83 is equipped with baffles around its perimeter to support the cut-off fruit stem portion. The lower cutting component 84 is located above the receiving plate 83. It includes a lower cutting plate and a lower driving component. The structure of the lower cutting plate is similar to that of the upper cutting plate, both being flat shovels. The main body of the cantaloupe is separated from both ends by quickly extending the cutting plate. The lower cutting component 84 is used to cut off the fruit stem (i.e., the navel end) at the bottom of the cantaloupe.

[0047] Furthermore, the pushing mechanism 9 is disposed on the frame 1 and located above the segmenting mechanism 8. The pushing mechanism 9 includes a pushing cylinder and a pushing cylinder 91. The frame 1 is provided with a number of pushing cylinders above the corresponding segmenting mechanism 8. The cylinder body of the pushing cylinder is fixedly installed on the frame 1, and its piston rod extends vertically downward. The output end of each pushing cylinder is connected to a pushing cylinder 91. The pushing cylinder 91 has a cylindrical structure and is adapted to the through hole 823. Its lower end face is provided with a groove 92 in the axial direction. The shape of the groove 92 corresponds to the number of segmenting blades 824, so that during the process of pushing the cantaloupe to segment, it can pass through the through hole 823 to avoid interference with the segmenting blades 824, so that the peeled cantaloupe can pass completely through the segmenter 82.

[0048] The present invention also provides a control method for a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device, specifically including the following steps: S1. Fruit Delivery: The fruit delivery mechanism 2 transports the cantaloupe to be peeled to the peeling station; specifically, it transports the cantaloupe to be peeled to the fruit delivery station. The controller drives the first cylinder 225 to operate, driving the first moving plate 221 and the second moving plate 222 to slide relative to each other, so that the first arc-shaped clamping plate 223 and the second arc-shaped clamping plate 224 clamp the lower part of the cantaloupe from both sides, while the fruit clamping assembly 23 clamps the side part of the cantaloupe from both sides. The fruit seat driving assembly 21 is activated, moving the fruit and vegetable fixing assembly 22 along the length of the frame 1 to the peeling station (i.e., directly below the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3). After reaching the peeling station and both the upper fruit-topping assembly 31 and the lower fruit-topping assembly 61 have penetrated the cantaloupe to be peeled, the fruit clamping assembly 23 and the first cylinder 225 are released in sequence, completing the fruit delivery, and the fruit delivery mechanism 2 returns to its original position to wait for the next fruit delivery.

[0049] S2. Fruit fixing: The pin 315 of the upper fruit fixing mechanism 3 pierces the top of the cantaloupe, and the lower fruit fixing mechanism 6 supports the bottom of the cantaloupe from below. The two work together to fix the cantaloupe in a centered position. Specifically, the controller simultaneously controls the second cylinder 311 and the third cylinder 63 to extend, so that the pin 315 pierces the top of the cantaloupe, pushes the moving plate 62 to move upward, drives the lower fruit fixing assembly 61 to move upward and contact the bottom of the cantaloupe, and supports the cantaloupe from below to fix the cantaloupe in a centered position.

[0050] S3. Peeling: The first motor 33 drives the cantaloupe to rotate, while the peeling blade unit 42 of the peeling mechanism 4 cuts close to the surface of the cantaloupe, completing the peeling process. Specifically, the controller controls the first motor 33 to start, which drives the spline shaft 314 to rotate via the pulley group 32, driving the cantaloupe to rotate at a set speed. At the same time, the drive unit 41 pushes the peeling blade unit 42 towards the surface of the cantaloupe, so that the peeling blade is in contact with the surface of the cantaloupe for cutting. During the peeling process, the controller controls the extension of the drive unit 41 in real time according to the preset peeling trajectory (which can be obtained through teaching or offline programming), so that the peeling blade cuts evenly along the contour of the cantaloupe surface. After peeling is completed, the controller controls the drive unit 41 to drive the peeling blade unit 42 back to the initial position, and the first motor 33 stops rotating.

[0051] S4. Fruit Transfer: The clamping component 73 of the fruit-picking mechanism 7 clamps the peeled cantaloupe, the upper cutting component 72 cuts off the upper stem of the cantaloupe, and the drive component 74 transfers the cantaloupe to the segmenting mechanism 8. Specifically, the controller controls the drive component 74 to move the support rod 71 to a position close to the upper fruit-topping mechanism 3, so that the clamping component 73 is aligned with the peeled cantaloupe. The clamping component 73 closes to clamp the cantaloupe body. The second cylinder 311 retracts, causing the ejector pin 315 to exit from the cantaloupe, and the third cylinder 63 retracts, causing the lower fruit-topping component 61 to return to its original position. The upper drive component actuates, causing the upper cutting plate to extend and cut off the upper stem of the cantaloupe and receive the cut stem. The drive component 74 drives the support rod 71 to move along the length of the frame 1, transferring the cantaloupe to the top of the segmenting mechanism 8.

[0052] S5. Splitting: The receiving plate 83 of the splitting mechanism 8 fixes the cantaloupe with the piercing needle 831. The lower cutting component 84 cuts off the lower stem of the cantaloupe. The pushing mechanism 9 pushes the cantaloupe towards the splitter 82 to split it into segments. Specifically, the controller drives the pushing cylinder to extend and contact the top of the cantaloupe, pushing the cantaloupe downwards towards the piercing needle 831 of the receiving plate 83. The clamping component 73 maintains a closed clamping state on the cantaloupe. When the piercing needle 831 penetrates the cantaloupe... When the melon reaches the bottom, the controller pauses or slows down the push cylinder's movement. At this time, the controller controls the lower drive component to move, causing the lower cutting plate to extend and cut off the lower stem of the melon. The controller controls the lower cutting component 84 and the receiving plate 83 to retract, exposing the segmenter 82. At the same time, the controller controls the push cylinder to continue moving, pushing the melon towards the segmenter 82 until the push cylinder 91 moves to the bottom of the segmenter 82, ensuring that the melon is completely segmented and cut by the segmenter 82. The controller then controls the push cylinder to return the push cylinder 91 to its original position.

[0053] S6. Discharge: The segmented cantaloupe is sent to the next process through the conveying mechanism (i.e., the third conveyor belt 14) located below the segmenting mechanism 8; specifically, when the controller controls the push cylinder to retract, the third conveyor belt 14 is started to transport the segmented cantaloupe slices to the next process.

[0054] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention. Various modifications and variations can be made to the invention by those skilled in the art. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, or improvements made within the spirit and principles of the invention should be included within the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device, characterized in that, include: Rack (1); Fruit feeding mechanism (2) is set at one end of the frame (1) and is used to transport cantaloupes to be peeled; The fruit-attaching mechanism (3) includes several fruit-attaching components (31) disposed at the upper end of the frame (1), the fruit-attaching components (31) being used to pierce and fix the cantaloupe; The peeling mechanism (4) includes several peeling units correspondingly disposed at each of the upper fruit assembly (31), the peeling units being used to cut the skin of the cantaloupe; The segmentation mechanism (8) is located at the other end of the frame (1) and away from the fruit delivery mechanism (2); the segmentation mechanism (8) includes a segmentation component and a segmentation drive component. The segmentation component is used to segment and cut the peeled cantaloupe. The segmentation mechanism (8) also includes a lower fruit cutting component (84) for cutting off the lower stem of the cantaloupe. The fruit-removing mechanism (7) is set on the frame (1) and located between the upper fruit-topping mechanism (3) and the segmenting mechanism (8), and is used to remove the peeled cantaloupe from the upper fruit-topping component (31) and transfer it to the segmenting mechanism (8); the fruit-removing mechanism (7) includes an upper fruit-cutting component (72) for cutting off the upper stem of the cantaloupe.

2. The cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a lower fruit-supporting mechanism (6), which is set on the frame (1) and located below the upper fruit-supporting mechanism (3). The lower fruit-supporting mechanism (6) includes a lower fruit-supporting component (61), a moving plate (62) and a third cylinder (63). The lower fruit-supporting component (61) is set on the moving plate (62) at the position corresponding to each upper fruit-supporting component (31). The third cylinder (63) is set at both ends of the moving plate (62) to drive the lower fruit-supporting component (61) to move upward and support the cantaloupe from below.

3. The cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a fruit-retrieving mechanism (7), which is set on the frame (1) and located between the upper fruit-topping mechanism (3) and the segmenting mechanism (8), for removing the peeled cantaloupe from the upper fruit-topping assembly (31) and transferring it to the segmenting mechanism (8); the fruit-retrieving mechanism (7) includes a support rod (71), an upper fruit-cutting assembly (72), a clamping assembly (73) and a drive assembly (74). The drive assembly (74) is provided on both sides of the frame (1), and the support rod (71) is provided between the two drive assemblies (74). The upper end of the support rod (71) is provided with the upper fruit-cutting assembly (72) corresponding to the position of each upper fruit-topping assembly (31). The support rod (71) is provided with a number of clamping assemblies (73) on the side close to the upper fruit-topping mechanism (3), and the clamping assembly (73) is corresponding to the position of the upper fruit-topping assembly (31).

4. The cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a pushing mechanism (9), which is set on the frame (1) and located above the splitting mechanism (8). The pushing mechanism (9) includes a pushing cylinder and a pusher (91). The frame (1) is provided with a plurality of pushing cylinders above the splitting mechanism (8), and the output end of each pushing cylinder is connected to a pusher (91).

5. The cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fruit delivery mechanism (2) includes a fruit seat drive assembly (21) disposed on the frame (1). The fruit seat drive assembly (21) is provided with a fruit and vegetable fixing assembly (22) on the side near the fruit-topping mechanism (3). The cantaloupe fixing assembly (22) includes several base units. Each base unit is provided with a fruit clamp assembly (23) for clamping and fixing the cantaloupe.

6. The cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The base unit includes a first movable plate (221) that is slidably disposed on the fruit seat drive assembly (21). A first arc-shaped clamping plate (223) is vertically disposed on the first movable plate (221). A second movable plate (222) that slides relative to the first movable plate (221) is disposed on the first movable plate (221). A second arc-shaped clamping plate (224) that corresponds to the first arc-shaped clamping plate (223) is disposed on the second movable plate (222). The cantaloupe fixing assembly (22) also includes a first cylinder (225) disposed on both sides of the fruit seat drive assembly (21).

7. The cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, A control cabinet (11) is provided above the frame (1). The fruit-topping mechanism (3) also includes a first motor (33) located in the control cabinet (11). The drive end of the first motor (33) is connected to a pulley group (32), which is connected to drive several fruit-topping components (31).

8. A cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 7, characterized in that, The fruit-top assembly (31) includes a second cylinder (311), which is connected to a floating ball head (312). The floating ball head (312) is connected to a spline shaft (314). A bushing (313) is fitted on the spline shaft (314). The spline shaft (314) can slide axially along the bushing (313). A plurality of pins (315) in a ring array are provided at one end of the spline shaft (314) away from the floating ball head (312). The pins (315) are used to pierce the skin of the cantaloupe.

9. A cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The segmentation assembly includes a support base (81) and a segmenter (82); the segmenter (82) is provided on the support base (81), and a segmentation driving assembly is provided on the side of the support base (81) away from the upper fruit-topping mechanism (3). The segmentation driving assembly includes a receiving plate (83) and a lower fruit-cutting assembly (84). The segmenter (82) includes a segmentation cylinder (821) and a segmentation knife (824) provided in the segmentation cylinder (821). Several slots (822) are provided on the side wall of the segmentation cylinder (821), and through holes (823) are provided in the interior along the axial direction. A piercing needle (831) is provided on the receiving plate (83) for piercing and fixing the cantaloupe transferred by the fruit-picking mechanism (7).

10. A control method for a cantaloupe peeling and segmenting device as described in any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: S1. Fruit delivery: The fruit delivery mechanism (2) delivers the cantaloupe to be peeled to the peeling station; S2, Top fruit fixing: The pin (315) of the upper top fruit mechanism (3) is inserted into the top of the cantaloupe, and the lower top fruit mechanism (6) supports the bottom of the cantaloupe from below. The two work together to achieve the centering and fixing of the cantaloupe. S3, Peeling: The first motor (33) drives the cantaloupe to rotate, and at the same time, the peeling knife unit (42) of the peeling mechanism (4) cuts close to the surface of the cantaloupe to complete the peeling; S4. Fruit transfer: The clamping component (73) of the fruit-picking mechanism (7) clamps the peeled cantaloupe, the upper cutting component (72) cuts off the upper stem of the cantaloupe, and the driving component (74) transfers the cantaloupe to the segmenting mechanism (8). S5, push and split: the receiving plate (83) of the splitting mechanism (8) fixes the cantaloupe with the needle (831), the lower fruit cutting component (84) cuts off the lower fruit stem of the cantaloupe, and the pushing mechanism (9) pushes the cantaloupe to the splitter (82) to split and cut the cantaloupe. S6. Discharge: The split cantaloupe is sent to the next process through the conveying mechanism located below the splitting mechanism (8).

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