Automated Cucumber Loading with Rotating Movable Chutes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for packaging cucumber sections in jars are inefficient due to the need for manual loading and alignment, with outer sections collapsing inward and variations in size and shape causing uneven filling, making it difficult to maintain the desired quantity and orientation of cucumber sections.

Innovation Solution

An automated system comprising a cutting assembly, movable chutes, and a depositing assembly that rotates cucumber sections to ensure the cut faces are adjacent to the container wall, using dividers to create compartments and a containment mechanism to retain sections in place, allowing for high-speed and efficient loading of cucumber sections into containers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual loading methods are used to position cucumber sections, then orientation control can be achieved, but productivity is low and labor intensity is high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorientation controlVSAvoidloading speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The cucumber is divided into multiple sections by a cutting assembly with multiple blades, allowing automated processing of individual sections while maintaining proper orientation through the segmented structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Movable chutes serve as intermediary structures that receive cut cucumber sections and guide them into containers with controlled orientation, eliminating the need for manual positioning while ensuring proper placement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If automated cutting and loading is implemented, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveloading speedVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting assembly serves multiple functions by incorporating multiple blades that can cut cucumbers into different section configurations (slices, spears, halves) from a single cucumber, reducing the need for multiple separate cutting operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The chutes are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing them to be positioned and angled to accommodate different container types and sizes, providing adaptability without requiring entirely different equipment for each container configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Manufacturing precision

If outer cucumber sections are packed first, then container wall alignment is achieved, but sections collapse inward before inner sections are packed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment with container wallVSAvoidstructural stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-positions cucumber sections in movable chutes with controlled orientation before depositing them into containers, ensuring that sections are placed against the container wall in the desired orientation without collapsing, by maintaining structural support during the transfer process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Adaptability or versatility

If cucumber sections of varying sizes and shapes are used, then adaptability to natural product variation is maintained, but uniformity of filling and orientation becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandling product variationVSAvoiduniformity of filling

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The cutting assembly applies different cutting patterns to different portions of the cucumber based on its natural shape and size variations, creating sections that are uniformly oriented and sized relative to each other while accommodating the overall variation in the original cucumber dimensions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8663723B2Method for automated loading of food articles into containers

Publication Date: 2014.03.04 KRAFT FOODS GROUP BRANDS LLC

AI summary

The illustrative method and apparatus provides a more efficient system for automated slicing and loading of food articles into containers. The apparatus includes at least one cutting assembly and at least two chutes and depositing assemblies. The apparatus may include a positioning receptacle that aligns the food articles with a knife set and a driving arm that advances the food article into engagement with the knife set. The chutes may include a movable chute portion, which moves from alignment with the knife set to alignment with the containers, and a chute extension. Openings for the sliced food sections, which extend through the movable chute portion and the chute extension, have a cross section that changes to rotate the orientation of the food sections passing therethrough. Once deposited into the containers, the food sections are oriented with at least some cut faces of the food article adjacent the container wall.