Multi-dipping Station for Fruit Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

The preparation of fruit arrangements for special occasions is time-consuming due to the need for manual assembly and handling, especially during high-demand events like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day, where large volumes of orders require extensive manual labor to maintain consistency and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a dipping vat with a tray that allows multiple fruit items to be coated simultaneously, featuring a dipping tray with skewers for holding fruit, a retention rack for elevated support, and a vibrating mechanism to remove excess coating, enabling efficient and consistent mass production of fruit components for arrangements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If manual assembly and handling of fruit arrangements is used, then consistency and quality can be maintained, but preparation time and labor requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconsistency of fruit arrangement qualityVSAvoidpreparation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the fruit arrangement creation process into separate modules: a dipping station for coating fruit components, a vibration station for excess coating removal, and an assembly station for arranging coated fruits. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and enables parallel processing of multiple fruit types simultaneously, reducing overall preparation time while maintaining quality consistency through standardized coating procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system controls coating parameters such as coating substance flow rate, dipping depth, and vibration intensity to ensure consistent coating thickness and quality across multiple fruit items. By standardizing these parameters, the system achieves both efficient mass production and consistent quality without requiring manual assembly for each individual fruit component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If multiple fruit items are coated simultaneously, then productivity increases, but coating uniformity and consistency may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of fruit components processedVSAvoidcoating uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The dipping station includes multiple independent dipping wells or compartments, each capable of coating specific fruit items separately while operating simultaneously. This allows parallel processing of multiple fruit types without compromising coating uniformity, as each compartment can be optimized for its specific fruit size and shape while maintaining consistent coating parameters across all compartments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces a vibration mechanism as an intermediary step between dipping and assembly. The vibration station uniformly distributes excess coating from all dipped fruit items, ensuring consistent coating thickness regardless of the number of items being processed simultaneously. This intermediary vibration process standardizes the coating appearance and quality across high-volume production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If excess coating is removed manually, then coating precision is improved, but labor requirements and preparation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoating thickness controlVSAvoidpreparation speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The vibration mechanism automatically removes excess coating from dipped fruit items through controlled oscillation, eliminating the need for manual coating removal. The vibration station uses mechanical oscillation to naturally shed excess coating material, providing consistent coating thickness control while maintaining high processing speeds suitable for mass production during peak demand periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This system allows for the efficient and consistent coating of multiple fruit specimens, reducing preparation time and labor, while minimizing waste by allowing excess coating to be vibrated back into the vat, thus enhancing productivity during peak demand periods.

Implementation Method 1

a vibrating mechanism to remove excess coating

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentUS8991328B2Multi-dipping station

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 EDIBLE IP LLC

AI summary

A system for coating fruit with a substance utilizing a vat that stores a coating substance which can be applied via a dipping process. A dipping cover having a rim is provided for engaging an upper rim of the vat. A dipping tray carries a plurality of fruit items and includes a plurality of receptacles for carrying the fruit items. The dipping tray has a profile smaller than the interior of the vat allowing the dipping tray to be lowered so that the coating substance contained within the interior of the vat may engage the fruit. The dipping cover is configured for supporting the dipping tray in an elevated position once the fruit has been coated allowing excess coating to be vibrated off the dipped fruit.