Fruit de-stemming machine and method
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CRESCENZO BIAGIO
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-20
AI Technical Summary
Current strawberry de-stemming machines require significant labor, resulting in high operational costs due to their complexity and inefficiency in orienting and processing strawberries.
A fruit de-stemming machine with a supply station, orientation station using vibratory and adjustable channels to align strawberries, a handling station with a pocket conveyor, and a de-stemming station equipped with a milling cutter and control unit for precise stem removal, minimizing pulp waste and labor requirements.
The machine reduces labor costs and increases efficiency by automatically orienting and de-stemming strawberries with reduced pulp waste, utilizing a synchronized system for precise stem removal and pulp minimization.
Smart Images
Figure IB2024056703_16012025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] FRUIT DE— STEMMING MACHINE AND METHOD
[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0003] This patent application is related to Italian Patent Application No. 102023000014508 filed on July 11, 2023, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .
[0004] Technical Field
[0005] The invention relates to a fruit de-stemming machine, in particular for de-stemming strawberries.
[0006] State of the Art
[0007] In particular, the invention relates to a fruit de- stemming machine with particular reference to the de- stemming of strawberries. This process currently involves a large use of labour, which is estimated at around 75% and, therefore, has a high impact on the final cost.
[0008] Patent EP 2, 923, 586 Bl discloses a strawberry de- stemming machine, wherein the strawberry portion provided with the stem is cut from the remaining part. The machine further involves correctly placing each strawberry with respect to the cutting tool in order to try and reduce the pulp waste. This principle implies providing devices for controlling and positioning the strawberries with a given orientation inside respective pockets, arranging the strawberries in a given position with respect to the cutting line and holding the strawberries in said given position.
[0009] This method requires a pocket conveyor with selectively gripping pockets and a system for positioning the strawberries in each pocket. Because of this requirement, the machine is relatively complex.
[0010] Subject-Matter of the Invention
[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a machine that is not affected by or at least reduces the drawbacks of the prior art .
[0012] According to the invention, there is provided a fruit de-stemming machine as claimed in claim 1.
[0013] Further details and advantages of the invention are disclosed in greater detail in the claims directly or indirectly depending on claim 1.
[0014] A further object of the invention is to provide a method that is not affected by or at least reduces the drawbacks of the prior art .
[0015] According to the invention, there is provided a method as claimed in claim 11.
[0016] Further features of the invention are claimed in the dependent method claims 12 to 15.
[0017] Brief Description of the Drawings
[0018] Further features and advantages of the invention will be best understood upon perusal of the following description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, with reference to the Figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0019] - Figures 1 schematically shows, in blocks, a fruit destemming machine according to the invention;
[0020] - Figure 2 is an elevation view, with parts removed for greater clarity, of a fruit to be de-stemmed by means of the machine of Figure 1;
[0021] - Figure 3 is a schematic elevation view, with details removed for greater clarity, of a portion of the machine of Figure 1;
[0022] - Figures 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views, in particular of a detail of the machine portion of figure 2 according to cross-sectional lines IV-IV, V-V and VI-VI, respectively; and
[0023] - Figure 7 is a side elevation view, with parts removed for greater clarity and schematic parts, of a further portion of the machine of Figure 1;
[0024] Preferred Embodiment of the Invention
[0025] In Figure 1, reference number 1 indicates a fruit destemming machine, such as for example a strawberry destemming machine.
[0026] Figure 2 shows a fruit F, specifically a strawberry, which has a body 2 covered with seeds extending along an axis A and having an end provided with a stem 3 and a plurality of sepals 4 as well as a converging end opposite the stem 3. With reference to Figure 1, the machine 1 comprises a supply station 5, which is configured to release a single fruit F at regular time intervals (Figure 2) and to convey the single fruit F along a respective travelling path P; an orientation station 6, which is configured to orient the fruits received from the supply station 5. Orienting the fruits F involves placing the fruits F with the respective axes A substantially parallel to one another and with the respective stems 3 on the same side.
[0027] Downstream of the orientation station 6, the destemming machine 1 comprises a handling station 7 for advancing the fruits with the respective axes A (Figure 2) substantially vertical; and a de-stemming station 8, in which a pulp portion of the body 2 is removed together with the stem 3 and the sepals 4.
[0028] The de-stemming machine 1 comprises a control unit 9 configured to synchronize the supply station 5 and the handling station 7; to acquire signals related to the position of the fruits F (Figure 2) and to operate the handling station 7 and the de-stemming station 8 as a function of these signals.
[0029] With reference to Figure 3, the supply station 5 comprises a supply device 10, which comprises a motorized baffle 11, which allows for the passage of one single fruit F (Figure 2) through an output mouth 12 at regular time intervals and allows the fruits F to be supplied (Figure 2) to the orientation station 6 at regular time intervals.
[0030] The orientation station 6 comprises an orientation device comprising a frame 13; a support 14 connected to the frame 13 by means of an adjustment device 15 for adjusting the inclination of the support 14 around an axis Al; a channel 16 connected to the support by means of at least two elastic supports 17, specifically cushioned toggles; and an actuator 18 for inducing a vibration to the channel 16.
[0031] In this specific case, the actuator 18 comprises a motor 19 and an eccentric 20.
[0032] Each elastic support 17 comprises three rods hinged to one another, to the channel and to the support 14 around respective hinge axes parallel to one another and to the axis Al. Each hinge is provided with springs and dampers so as to make the vibration less rough.
[0033] The axis Al is transverse to the extension of the channel 16 and the adjustment of the support 14 around the axis Al allows the inclination of the channel 16 to be adjusted between -15° and 15° .
[0034] This configuration allows the channel 16 to undergo a vibration with a component parallel and a component perpendicular to the axis of the channel so as to advance the fruits F in a travelling direction D.
[0035] The width of the cross-sectional area of the channel 16 ranges from a maximum value to a minimum value along the travelling path of the fruits F and decreases in the travelling direction D of the fruits F.
[0036] Specifically, the channel 16 has a first segment, in which the cross-sectional area progressively decreases from a maximum value to a minimum vale, and a second segment, where the cross-sectional area remains constant at the minimum value.
[0037] With reference to Figure 3, in the first segment, where the cross-sectional area of the channel 16 is at the maximum value or close to the maximum value, the fruit F can place itself with its axis A in any position with the respect to the travelling direction, even in transverse position as shown in Figure 3.
[0038] With reference to Figure 4, the progressive decrease in the cross-sectional area of the channel 16, together with the vibratory movement of the channel 16, causes the fruit F to progressively align its axis A with the travelling direction D, until it reaches the configuration shown in Figure 5, in which the channel 16 has a minimum cross- sectional area and the axis F of the fruit F is substantially aligned with the travelling direction D. As a matter of fact, the channel 16 initially has a very flat C shape, whereas, in the output area, it has a very marked U-shaped layout with side walls parallel to one another. Experimental tests carried out in laboratories showed that the greatest part of the fruits F progressively assume a position in the channel 16 with the respective stems arranged on the same side, namely the fruits F are aligned and equally oriented.
[0039] Downstream, the handling station 7 comprises a pocket conveyor 21, which has a plurality of pockets 22, each configured to house a respective fruit F with the respective axis A in a substantially vertical position and the stem 3 oriented upwards. The pockets 22 are all the same and have the shape of a truncated cone so that they are configured to house fruits with a different diameter, with the consequence that fruits F with a larger diameter project from the pocket 22 to a greater extent than fruits F with a smaller diameter.
[0040] The transfer between the orientation station 6, namely the channel 16, and the handling station 7, namely the conveyor 21, takes place by means of a chute 23.
[0041] The arrangement of the fruits F inside the channel 16 under dry conditions involves the stem 3 being located upstream with reference to the travelling direction D.
[0042] Tests showed that the orientation of the fruits F with the stem 3 on the same side depends on the inclination of the channel 16.
[0043] Experimental tests carried out with lubrication of the channel 16 with water inside the channel 16 showed an improvement in the advancement of the fruits along the channel 16.
[0044] In case the stems are located downstream, the chute 23 is replaced by a drum (not shown in the accompanying Figures) to tip-turn the fruits F and place them with the respective stems 3 oriented upwards .
[0045] With reference to Figure 7, the conveyor 21 is advanced in a stepped manner along the travelling path P, along which the de-stemming unit 8 and at least part of the control unit 9 are located.
[0046] The de-stemming station 8 comprises a de-stemming device 24, which comprises a milling cutter 25 with the shape of a truncated cone, which can rotate around a rotation axis A2 and is mounted on a carriage 26, which is vertically movable between a rest position shown with a solid line and a work position shown with a broken line in Figure 7. The carriage 26 comprises a locking tool 27 for locking the fruit F in the respective pocket 22 during the milling operation. The locking tool 27 is connected to the carriage 26 by means of elastic elements 28.
[0047] The control unit 9 comprises a vision system 29 for acquiring images relating to the fruits F inside the respective pockets 22 and an image processing device 30 configured to process the images and acquire two signals: a first signal SI relating to the position of the stem 3, in other words, the first signal SI indicates whether the stem 3 is oriented upwards or whether the stem 3 is oriented downwards and, therefore, is not detected in the images, and a second signal S2 relating to the extent of the projection of the fruit F from the upper edge of the respective pocket 22.
[0048] When the first signal SI does not detect the presence of the stem 3 oriented upwards, the de-stemming device 24 is not activated and the fruit F turned upside-down is removed from the conveyor 21 and sent back to the supply station 5 (Figures 1 and 3) . As a matter of fact, the handling device 7 comprises a gripping and transferring device, not shown in the accompanying Figures, for retrieving the upside-down fruit F and transferring it to the supply device 5 (Figures 1 and 3) .
[0049] If, on the contrary, the stem 3 is detected, the destemming device 24 is activated and, by means of the signal S2, the travel of the carriage 26 and of the milling cutter 25 is predetermined so as to minimize the pulp sacrifice needed to remove the stem 3 and the sepals 4. The smaller the extent of the projection of the fruit F from the edge of the pocket 22, the greater the travel of the carriage 26 and of the milling cutter 25.
[0050] According to a variant which is not shown herein, the machine comprises a plurality of parallel channels and the pocket conveyor 21 has a number of pockets next to one another crosswise to the travelling direction to as to provide multi-line de-stemming machines.
[0051] Finally, the subject-matter of the invention disclosed herein can clearly be subject to changes and further variants, without for this reason going beyond the scope of protection of the appended claims.
Claims
CLAIMS1. A fruit de-stemming machine, in particular for destemming strawberries, the machine (1) comprising:- a pocket conveyor (7) configured to advance fruits (F) along a given path (P) and having a plurality of pockets (22) , each of which is configured to house and advance a respective fruit (F) with the axis (A) of the fruit (F) vertical through a de-stemming station (8) ; and- an orientation station (6) , which is configured to transfer equi-oriented fruits (F) with axes (A) parallel to each other to the pocket conveyor (21) and comprises:- a channel (16) having a cross-sectional area such as to allow passage of a single fruit (F) through said cross-sectional area in a travelling direction (D) of the fruits (F) ;- at least one vibration device (17, 18) for inducing a vibration to the channel (16) with a vertical vibratory component and a horizontal vibratory component .
2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width of the cross-sectional area of the channel varies between a maximum value and a minimum value in the travelling direction (D) of the fruits (F) in particular the width of the channel (16) progressively decreases in the travelling direction (D) of the fruits .
3. The machine as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the channel (16) is inclined at an angle between - 15° and 15° .
4. The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vibration device (17; 18) comprises an actuator (18) and a plurality of elastic supports (17) of the channel (16) for controlling the vibration, in particular said elastic supports (17) comprise cushioned toggles.
5. The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and comprising a supply device (10) configured to supply fruits (F) to said channel (16) at predetermined intervals .
6. The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and comprising a control unit (9) comprising a vision system (29) configured to acquire images of the fruit (F) within the respective pocket (22) and an image processing device (30) configured to output a plurality of signals (SI, S2) related to the position of the fruit (F) .
7. The machine as claimed in claim 6, and comprising a de-stemming station (8) , which is arranged along the pocket conveyor (21) and comprises a de-stemming device (24) , which comprises a milling cutter (25) configured to mill the portion of the fruit (F) connected to the stem (3) , and a carriage (26) movable between a raised rest position and a lowered operating position, in which the milling cutter (25) enters the pulp of the fruit (F) near the stem (2) .
8. The machine as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein said signals (SI, S2) comprising a first signal (SI) correlated with the orientation of the fruit (F) to selectively activate the de-stemming station (8) .
9. The machine as claimed in any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said signals comprising a second signal (S2) correlated to the amount of protrusion of the fruit (F) relative to the edge of the pocket (22) to control the depeeling station (8) .
10. The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pocket (22) has a truncated cone shape.
11. A method of de-stemming fruits, in particular strawberries, the method comprising:- arranging the fruits (F) with their respective axes (A) parallel to each other and equi-orient ing them along a channel (16) ;- transmitting a vibration to the channel (16) ;- transferring the equi-oriented fruits (F) within respective pockets (22) configured to maintain the fruit (F) with its axis (A) vertical;- advancing the fruits (2) arranged in their respective pockets (22) at a de-stemming station (8) ; and- removing the stem (3) from each fruit (F) at the de- stemming station (8) within the respective pocket (22) .
12. The method as claimed in claim 11, and comprisingmilling a portion of the fruit pulp (F) in proximity to the stem (3) using a milling cutter (25) .
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, and comprising acquiring a plurality of signals (SI, S2) related to the position of the fruit (F) within the respective pocket (22) and controlling the milling cutter (25) according to said signals (SI, S2) .
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein said signals comprise a first signal (SI) correlated to the orientation of the fruit (F) to selectively actuate said milling cutter (25) .
15. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein said signals comprising a second signal (S2) related to the amount of protrusion of the fruit (F) relative to the edge of the pocket (22) to control the travel of said milling cutter (25) .