Adjustable Curved Knife Mechanism for Dynamic Seed Centering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current seed removal machines from fruits and vegetables cannot accurately position a curved knife at the center of varying fruit dimensions in real-time, leading to inefficient seed extraction.
Innovation Solution
A machine with an adjustable mechanism that includes a rotating rod with a curved knife, where an adjusting mechanism allows for automatic positioning of the curved knife at the center of each product, regardless of its dimensions, using a feeler and linkage mechanism to adjust the stroke of the rod based on the product's dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the stroke of the rod is adjusted at the start of the production cycle for fruits of substantially the same dimensions, then the machine structure remains simple, but the curved knife cannot be positioned at the centre of fruits with varying dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic adjusting mechanism where the stroke of the rod can be automatically modified for each individual fruit based on its dimensions. The mechanism includes a feeler that contacts the fruit and a linkage system that translates fruit dimension variations into corresponding rod stroke adjustments, enabling the curved knife to adapt its positioning depth dynamically for each fruit regardless of size variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjusting mechanism operates autonomously by utilizing the fruit's own dimensions as the input for adjustment. The feeler contacts the fruit surface and the linkage mechanism automatically converts this physical contact into the appropriate rod stroke adjustment, eliminating the need for external measurement devices or manual intervention for each fruit.
2Manufacturing precision
If meticulous selection of fruits is performed in advance, then the curved knife can be positioned correctly, but the production time increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The adjusting mechanism performs the positioning adjustment action immediately before the seed removal operation for each individual fruit. The feeler contacts the fruit and the linkage mechanism adjusts the rod stroke in real-time just prior to the curved knife engaging the fruit, ensuring correct positioning without requiring advance selection or preprocessing of the fruits.
3Productivity
If the rod stroke is fixed for all fruits, then the machine operation is simple and fast, but the curved knife becomes off-centred for fruits of different dimensions leading to improper seed removal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the stroke parameter of the rod dynamically based on the dimensions of each individual fruit. The linkage mechanism translates variations in fruit size into corresponding changes in rod stroke length, ensuring that the curved knife maintains proper centring and cutting depth for each fruit regardless of size variations, thereby maintaining both speed and reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A machine for removing seeds, including:a rotating rod (11) that is movable between a first position, in which it is found outside of a product (P), and a second position, in which it can be inserted in a product (P);a curved knife (12) associated with the rotating rod (11);an adjusting mechanism (20) structured so as to adjust the second position of the rotating rod (11) with respect to at least one dimension of the product (P) being processed.