Discrete Conveyance Unit for Blueberries Using Rotating Support Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conveyance units for fruit and vegetable products, such as blueberries, face challenges in discrete movement and handling, requiring multiple units along automated lines, complex assembly, and incompatibility with product dimensions, leading to increased complexity and stress on the products.
Innovation Solution
A discrete conveyance unit featuring a central plate and axially symmetrical supporting elements that can be cyclically moved along an automated line, allowing for individual support and rotation of blueberries, enabling precise positioning and handling without damaging the products, and allowing for easy assembly and disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple conveyance units are distributed in series along the automated line to process a high number of blueberries, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and assembly work increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple blueberry conveyance functions into a single integrated unit. The central plate with multiple supporting elements arranged in series allows one conveyance unit to handle multiple blueberries sequentially, eliminating the need for multiple separate conveyance units distributed along the line. This merging approach maintains productivity while reducing device complexity and assembly requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyance unit is designed as a multi-functional device that can simultaneously support and convey multiple blueberries through different operational phases. The central plate serves as a universal platform that coordinates the movement of several supporting elements, allowing one unit to perform the work of multiple traditional conveyance units.
2Ease of operation
If conventional conveyance units are used to move blueberries discretely, then individual product handling is achieved, but the set spacings imposed by entraining means are incompatible with blueberry dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting elements are designed to be rotatable on the central plate, allowing dynamic adjustment of their positions and orientations. This rotational capability enables the supporting elements to adapt to the specific dimensions of blueberries, accommodating individual product variations while maintaining discrete handling. The dynamic configuration allows optimal spacing that matches blueberry dimensions rather than being constrained by fixed entraining means spacings.
Solution Approach 2:
Each supporting element is individually configurable through rotation, allowing local adaptation to the specific needs of each blueberry position. The axially symmetrical design of supporting elements provides localized optimization for cradling blueberries, with each element's orientation independently adjustable to match product dimensions and ensure proper individual handling.
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple conveyance units are installed along the line to ensure discrete conveyance, then product checking and sizing functionality is improved, but assembly iterations and installation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple conveyance units into a single integrated unit with multiple supporting elements. This central plate configuration provides all necessary conveyance positions for product checking and sizing in one unit, eliminating the need to install multiple separate units along the line. The result is reduced assembly iterations and simplified installation while maintaining the required manufacturing precision for product inspection.
4Device complexity
If conventional conveyance units with fixed spacings are used, then structural simplicity is maintained, but versatility for optimal blueberry conveyance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The supporting elements are designed with rotational freedom on the central plate, transforming the structure from static to dynamic. This allows the simple central plate structure to achieve versatile configurations by rotating supporting elements to optimal positions. The structural simplicity of the central plate is maintained while gaining adaptability through the dynamic reconfiguration capability of the rotatable supporting elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A discrete conveyance unit for blueberries and similar fruit or vegetable products that can be installed in series along a processing line for blueberries, or similar fruit or vegetable products, includes a central plate, which can be moved cyclically along at least one portion of the line. The unit further includes a plurality of axially symmetrical supporting elements which are coupled to respective opposite lateral edges of the plate. Each adjacent pair of elements defines a respective support and accommodation seat for a corresponding blueberry, or similar fruit or vegetable product, so as to allow its discrete conveyance along the at least one portion of the line.