Pit-removing machine for fruit

Abstract

This utility model discloses a fruit pitting machine, mainly relating to the field of fruit processing. It includes an impact mechanism positioned above the fruit during operation. The impact mechanism comprises a lifting cylinder with a lifting impact stroke. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder has a mounting surface. A vertically extending upright is fixed centrally on the mounting surface. Two to six evenly distributed impact arms are arranged circumferentially around the upright. The bottom end of each impact arm has a pointed tip, which is conical, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, and the tip slopes inwards. Multiple tips, based on the swing of the impact arms, either converge to form a conical structure or separate into an open structure. The beneficial effects of this utility model are: reducing pressure damage to the fruit and improving fruit quality after accurate and efficient pitting.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of fruit processing, specifically a fruit pitting machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the processing and production of fruit products, if the goal is to create dried fruit, canned fruit, juice, or other products, it is necessary to remove the pits from the fruit.

[0003] For fruits with loose pits, such as apples, pears, and hawthorns, pit removal can be achieved through cutting. However, for fruits with highly lignified, hard pits, such as cherries, dates, apricots, peaches, and jujubes, pit removal is more complicated. Typically, a streamlined conveyor system is used to deliver the fruits in an orderly and targeted manner to the pitting station. A linear impact structure using a pin / column penetrates the fruit, utilizing the pit's hardness to remove the central hard core. This structure is efficient, but the impact components are mostly cylindrical, which are not sharp enough upon initial contact with the fruit pulp, causing significant damage and resulting in substantial compression and a significant reduction in the quality of the processed pulp. Utility Model Content

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fruit pitting machine that makes it easier to cut the peel, reduces the damage to the fruit from compression, and improves the quality of the fruit after accurate and efficient pitting.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model employs the following technical solution:

[0006] A fruit pitting machine includes an impact mechanism positioned above the fruit during operation. The impact mechanism includes a lifting cylinder with a lifting and lowering impact stroke. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder has a mounting surface. A vertically extending upright is fixed in the center of the mounting surface. Two to six evenly distributed impact arms are arranged around the periphery of the upright. The bottom end of each impact arm has a pointed portion. The pointed portion is a cone shape that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The pointed portion is inclined inward at the bottom end. The multiple pointed portions are brought together at the bottom end to form a cone-shaped structure or separated into an open structure based on the swing of the impact arms.

[0007] The bottom end of the upright is provided with a mounting base. There are four impact arms, each consisting of an extension, a folded plate, and a tip, all integrally formed from top to bottom. The bottom side of the folded plate is inclined outward. The top end of the folded plate is connected to the extension and forms an angle of 150-170 degrees with the extension. The bottom end of the folded plate is connected to the tip, and forms an angle of 120-160 degrees with the tip. The top side of the folded plate is hinged to the mounting base.

[0008] The tip has an arc-shaped cutting edge at its bottom.

[0009] Below the mounting surface is a lifting platform that can be raised and lowered. The lifting platform is located above the impact arm. A top block is centrally located on the lifting platform. The center of the top block has a through hole for the upright to pass through. The circumferential surface of the top block has a guide surface that contacts and mates with the bottom end of the extension. The guide surface is an inclined surface that extends outward from the top side. The bottom end of the top block has a conical head.

[0010] A limiting sleeve is provided below the top block. The limiting sleeve is fixed on the slide table. A limiting port passes through the limiting sleeve. The upper part of the extension passes through the limiting port. A guide block is fixed on the outer side of the extension. The lower side of the guide block has an outwardly inclined pushing surface. The pushing surface contacts and engages with the edge of the limiting port.

[0011] A short-range optical rod extending vertically downward is fixed on the mounting surface, and sliding sleeves that are slidably engaged with the short-range optical rod are respectively provided on both sides of the lifting platform.

[0012] The bottom of the lifting cylinder is provided with a short-stroke cylinder, and the bottom end of the short-stroke cylinder is fitted with a short-stroke lever, the bottom end of which is fixed to the lifting platform.

[0013] The lifting cylinder is provided with a base that is telescopically coordinated with it at the top. The lower end face of the base is provided with a straight cylindrical inner cavity adapted to the lifting cylinder. A lifting cylinder is installed in the center of the inner cavity. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder is provided with a cylinder rod that is telescopically coordinated with it. The bottom end of the cylinder rod is fixed to the bottom of the lifting cylinder.

[0014] The lifting cylinder has a lifting rod inside, and a base that telescopically cooperates with it is located above the lifting cylinder. The lower end face of the base has a straight cylindrical inner cavity that is adapted to the lifting cylinder. A telescopic sleeve that slides up and down with the lifting rod is located in the inner cavity relative to the lifting rod. The top end of the telescopic sleeve is fixed to the top of the base.

[0015] A conveying mechanism is provided below the impact mechanism, and the conveying mechanism includes any one of a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, and a turntable conveyor.

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

[0017] The improvements to the impact mechanism achieve different effects during contact with the fruit and pit removal by changing the posture of the impact arm as it impacts the fruit downwards. When the impact arm impacts downwards, the bottom of the tip first converges to form a conical structure, concentrating the impact force to penetrate the fruit peel and reducing pressure on the top of the fruit. As it penetrates the fruit downwards, the bottom of the impact arm swings outwards, causing the tip to open into an open structure, which covers or supports the top tip of the pit, better fixing and pushing the pit, improving the success rate of separation, and ensuring product quality. Attached Figure Description

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall design of this utility model (the tip is gathered into a conical structure).

[0019] Figure 2 This is an overall schematic diagram of the present invention (the tip is opened to reveal an opening structure).

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of this utility model.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the impact component of this utility model.

[0022] The labels shown in the attached diagram:

[0023] 1. Base; 2. Lifting cylinder; 3. Mounting surface; 4. Lifting guide rod; 5. Lifting cylinder body; 6. Telescopic sleeve; 7. Upright pole; 8. Mounting seat; 9. Impact arm; 10. Extension section; 11. Folding plate section; 12. Tip section; 13. Arc-shaped cutting edge; 14. Short-stroke guide rod; 15. Lifting platform; 16. Top block; 17. Guide surface; 18. Conical head; 19. Limiting sleeve; 20. Limiting port; 21. Guide block; 22. Push surface. Detailed Implementation

[0024] The present invention will be further illustrated below with reference to specific embodiments. It should be understood that these embodiments are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that after reading the teachings of this invention, those skilled in the art can make various alterations or modifications to the present invention, and these equivalent forms also fall within the scope defined in this application.

[0025] Example:

[0026] Current pitting equipment, regardless of its feeding and conveying positioning structure, uses fixed impact components, such as impact pins, impact columns, or tubes. To eject the pit, the impact component must cover the size of the pit, or at least most of it. This makes it difficult to make the impact component itself very small relative to the fruit, resulting in a large contact area between the component and the fruit. This leads to a less sharp cutting and breaking action, causing compression of the fruit pulp and damaging its containment structure. For fruits like cherries and mandarins, where the pits are relatively large, these problems are more pronounced. Furthermore, for fruits like dried dates, whose pulp is not very crisp, this structure directly compresses the fruit, causing deformation and potentially making pitting fail.

[0027] The main improvement of the device is the impact mechanism. Other parts can achieve the same effect as our device by using any existing feeding or positioning mechanism.

[0028] For ease of description, we will simply describe the entire pitting machine by selecting one of the optional structures, including a gantry frame on which multiple impact mechanisms are installed. Below each impact mechanism is a conveying mechanism, which can be a chain plate or belt conveyor, including a conveying surface with directional movement or rotation. The conveying surface has multiple rows of positioning grooves corresponding to the pitting mechanisms. The bottom of each positioning groove has a through hole to facilitate the penetration of the upper components and the pit during impact pitting. The size of the positioning groove is adapted to the size of the fruit being processed, and the positioning groove is preferably an arc-shaped groove because most fruits are spherical or near-spherical.

[0029] Not limited to this example, we provide another implementation structure, including a turntable that can rotate intermittently. The turntable has circumferentially distributed positioning grooves, each with a through hole at the bottom to facilitate the penetration of the upper component and the pit during impact pitting. The size of the positioning grooves is adapted to the size of the fruit being processed, and preferably, the positioning grooves are arc-shaped, as most fruits are spherical or near-spherical. One or more impact mechanisms are located above the turntable, corresponding to the positions of the positioning grooves.

[0030] The impact mechanism is mainly used to remove fruit pits by impact. The main structure includes a base 1, and a lifting cylinder 2 with a lifting impact stroke is provided below the base 1. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder 2 is provided with a mounting surface 3. The impact stroke of the lifting cylinder 2 is achieved based on the following structure:

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, the lifting cylinder 2 has two lifting rods 4 inside, with their bottom ends fixed to the bottom surface inside the lifting cylinder 2. The bottom surface of the base 1 has a cylindrical inner cavity adapted to the lifting cylinder 2. A lifting cylinder 5 is centrally installed in the inner cavity. The lifting cylinder 5 can be a pneumatic cylinder, hydraulic cylinder, or electric cylinder. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder 5 has a cylinder rod that telescopically cooperates with it. The bottom end of the cylinder rod is fixed to the bottom of the lifting cylinder 2. The lifting rods 4 on both sides of the cylinder rod are centrally located. A telescopic sleeve 6 is also symmetrically arranged in the inner cavity relative to the lifting cylinder 5. The top end of the telescopic sleeve 6 is fixed to the top of the base 1. The two telescopic sleeves 6 slide and telescopically cooperate with the two lifting rods 4 respectively, guiding the lifting stroke. This mechanism can achieve stable impact force output, ensuring efficient removal of fruit pits. The precise control of the lifting cylinder 5 makes the impact force adjustable, adapting to the pitting needs of fruits with different hardness. The design of the telescopic sleeve 6 effectively reduces friction and extends the service life of the equipment. With its compact structure and simple operation, it is suitable for automated core removal operations on large-scale production lines.

[0032] Not limited to this example, the above impact structure can also adopt other guiding structures and power structures, as long as they can achieve the lifting and lowering impact action.

[0033] The mounting surface 3 is used to fix the impact component, and the impact adopts a structure that can dynamically adjust its posture.

[0034] The impact assembly includes a centrally mounted upright 7 fixed to the mounting surface 3. The upright 7 is used to transmit impact force based on the fixed lifting cylinder 2. The upright 7 extends vertically downward, and a mounting base 8 is provided at the bottom of the upright 7. Four impact arms 9 are hinged to the mounting base 8. Each impact arm 9 is connected by a hinge and can be independently adjusted in angle. The four impact arms 9 are circumferentially distributed relative to the upright 7. This is not limited to this example; the number of impact arms 9 can be 3 or 5-6. The impact arms 9 are integrally formed metal structures, and based on their shape, they include an extension 10, a folded plate 11, and a tip 12 connected sequentially from top to bottom. The bottom end of part 10 is hinged to the mounting base 8 to realize the installation of the entire impact arm 9. The bottom side of the folding plate part 11 extends outward. The top end of the folding plate part 11 is connected to the extension part 10 and forms an angle of 150-170 degrees with the extension part 10. The bottom end of the folding plate part 11 is connected to the tip part 12. The folding plate part 11 and the tip part 12 form an angle of 120-160 degrees. The bottom ends of the tip parts 12 are close to each other, so that the folding plate part 11 and the tip part 12 form a rhomboid structure.

[0035] The pointed end 12 is tapered, wider at the top and narrower at the bottom, with an arc-shaped cutting edge 13 at the bottom for direct contact with the fruit pit. It applies impact force to ensure the pit falls off smoothly. The arc-shaped cutting edge 13 is designed to moderately increase the contact area and improve the cutting effect on the fruit peel.

[0036] The swing adjustment of the impact arm 9 can change the convergence shape of the four tips 12, resulting in the following two layouts for the four tips 12:

[0037] During puncture, the lower end of the impact arm 9 swings inward, causing the bottom ends of the tip 12 to converge to form a conical structure, concentrating the impact force to penetrate the peel, and combined with the arc-shaped blade 13, it is easier to cut and break the peel layer.

[0038] After penetrating the fruit peel, the lower end of the impact arm 9 swings outward, and the tip 12 unfolds to form a petal-like opening at the bottom, thus accommodating the pointed end of the pit and providing a certain degree of envelopment. This effectively pushes the pit downward, improving the success rate of separation. Furthermore, the arc-shaped blade 13 facilitates the separation of the pit from the fruit pulp, reducing pressure damage to the pulp and protecting its integrity. This design not only improves pitting efficiency but also significantly reduces pulp loss, ensuring product quality.

[0039] The following structure is adopted for the coordinated control of the swing angle of the impact arm 9:

[0040] Two short-stroke optical rods 14 are fixed vertically downward on the mounting surface 3 and are symmetrically arranged relative to the upright 7. The upright 7 is provided with a lifting platform 15 near the upper edge of the mounting surface 3, which cooperates with its vertical movement. The two sides of the lifting platform 15 are respectively provided with sliding sleeves that slide and engage with the short-stroke optical rods 14. The sliding sleeves cooperate with the short-stroke optical rods 14 to guide the vertical movement of the lifting platform 15. In terms of power, a short-stroke cylinder can be used for driving. The short-stroke cylinder is fixedly installed on the mounting surface 3 or the bottom of the lifting cylinder 2. The bottom end of the short-stroke cylinder is provided with a short-stroke lever that cooperates with it. The bottom end of the short-stroke lever is fixed to the lifting platform 15. Not limited to this example, the short-stroke lever can also be driven by other power structures to drive the lifting platform 15 to move up and down. The center of the lifting platform 15 is provided with a top block 16. The center of the top block 16 is provided with a through hole for the upright 7 to pass through. The upright 7 and the through hole are rectangular cross sections and remain stable in the circumferential direction. The peripheral surface of the top block 16 is provided with a corresponding guide surface 17 corresponding to the inner end face of the upper end of each extension 10. The guide surface 17 is an inclined surface extending outward from the top side. The bottom end of the top block 16 is provided with a conical head 18, which is easy to insert between the bottom ends of each impact arm 9. When the lifting seat moves downward, the top block 16 is inserted downward between the four impact arms 9, which opens and separates the bottom ends of the guide arms, thereby causing the tip 12 of the bottom end of the impact arm 9 to close into a conical structure, concentrating the penetrating force.

[0041] A limiting sleeve 19 is provided below the top block 16. The limiting sleeve 19 is fixed to the slide table and can be fixed by setting a connecting structure at the corner. The limiting sleeve 19 is designed as a square structure based on the use of 4 sets of impact arms 9 in this example. A limiting port 20 passes through the limiting sleeve 19. The limiting port 20 is square, and each side is set with the impact arm 9 on the same side. A guide block 21 is fixed on the outer side of the top of the extension 10. The lower side of the guide block 21 has an outwardly inclined push surface 22. The push surface 22 cooperates with the edge of the limiting port 20. When the lifting platform 15 moves upward, the limiting port 20 presses the push surface 22, so that the bottom end of the impact arm 9 is centered towards the upright 7, and the tip 12 of the bottom end opens.

[0042] Through the above structure, the swing state of the impact arm 9 can be changed by the short-range lifting motion of the lifting seat relative to the upright 7. When preparing to perform the de-nuting operation, its actions include:

[0043] The lifting cylinder 2 is at the top of its stroke, ready to perform the core removal operation. At this time, the lifting platform 15 is at the bottom of its stroke, the top block 16 is inserted between the four impact arms 9, and the tip 12 is closed into a cone shape to concentrate the penetrating force.

[0044] When the lifting cylinder 2 performs its downward impact stroke and the tip 12 pierces the skin of the fruit below, the lifting seat is activated to rise. The top block 16 rises accordingly, the guide block 21's pushing surface 22 is pressed, and the bottom of the impact arm 9 gradually opens, widening the opening of the tip 12 to enclose the top of the pit, facilitating its downward pushing. As the lifting cylinder 2 continues to press down, the pit is smoothly pushed out of the fruit, completing the pitting operation. The entire process is precise and efficient, ensuring the fruit remains intact. After the lifting cylinder 2 resets, the top block 16 re-inserts between the impact arms 9, and the tip 12 closes again, ready for the next pitting operation. This design cleverly utilizes mechanical linkage to achieve precise pit separation, improve operational efficiency, and ensure fruit quality.

Claims

1. A machine for de-stoning fruit, characterized in that, The device includes an impact mechanism positioned above the fruit during operation. The impact mechanism comprises a lifting cylinder with a lifting and lowering impact stroke. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder has a mounting surface. A vertically extending upright is fixed in the center of the mounting surface. Two to six evenly distributed impact arms are arranged circumferentially around the upright. The bottom end of each impact arm has a pointed portion. The pointed portion is a cone shape that is wider at the top and narrower at the bottom. The pointed portion is inclined inward at the bottom end. Based on the swing of the impact arm, the bottom ends of the multiple pointed portions either come together to form a cone-shaped structure or separate to form an open structure.

2. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom end of the upright is provided with a mounting base. There are four impact arms, each consisting of an extension, a folded plate, and a tip, all integrally formed from top to bottom. The bottom side of the folded plate is inclined outward. The top end of the folded plate is connected to the extension and forms an angle of 150-170 degrees with the extension. The bottom end of the folded plate is connected to the tip, and forms an angle of 120-160 degrees with the tip. The top side of the folded plate is hinged to the mounting base.

3. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tip has an arc-shaped cutting edge at its bottom.

4. The machine according to claim 2, characterized in that, Below the mounting surface is a lifting platform that can be raised and lowered. The lifting platform is located above the impact arm. A top block is centrally located on the lifting platform. The center of the top block has a through hole for the upright to pass through. The circumferential surface of the top block has a guide surface that contacts and mates with the bottom end of the extension. The guide surface is an inclined surface that extends outward from the top side. The bottom end of the top block has a conical head. A limiting sleeve is provided below the top block. The limiting sleeve is fixed on the slide table. A limiting port passes through the limiting sleeve. The upper part of the extension passes through the limiting port. A guide block is fixed on the outer side of the extension. The lower side of the guide block has an outwardly inclined pushing surface. The pushing surface contacts and engages with the edge of the limiting port.

5. The machine according to claim 4, characterized in that, A short-range optical rod extending vertically downward is fixed on the mounting surface, and sliding sleeves that are slidably engaged with the short-range optical rod are respectively provided on both sides of the lifting platform.

6. The fruit pitting machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom of the lifting cylinder is provided with a short-stroke cylinder, and the bottom end of the short-stroke cylinder is fitted with a short-stroke lever, the bottom end of which is fixed to the lifting platform.

7. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting cylinder is provided with a base that is telescopically coordinated with it at the top. The lower end face of the base is provided with a straight cylindrical inner cavity adapted to the lifting cylinder. A lifting cylinder is installed in the center of the inner cavity. The bottom end of the lifting cylinder is provided with a cylinder rod that is telescopically coordinated with it. The bottom end of the cylinder rod is fixed to the bottom of the lifting cylinder.

8. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lifting cylinder has a lifting rod inside, and a base that telescopically cooperates with it is located above the lifting cylinder. The lower end face of the base has a straight cylindrical inner cavity that is adapted to the lifting cylinder. A telescopic sleeve that slides up and down with the lifting rod is located in the inner cavity relative to the lifting rod. The top end of the telescopic sleeve is fixed to the top of the base.

9. The machine according to claim 1, characterized in that, A conveying mechanism is provided below the impact mechanism, and the conveying mechanism includes any one of a belt conveyor, a chain conveyor, and a turntable conveyor.

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