Fruit Pitting Head Assembly for Gentle Pit Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for removing pits from soft and juicy fruits like dates, prunes, cherries, and apricots are labor-intensive, damage the fruit, and pose food safety risks, leading to high operational costs and reduced product quality.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with a pitting head assembly featuring a gripper and plucker assembly, driven by mechanical energy, efficiently removes pits by grabbing the fruit and the pit end, synchronized by actuator cams, and includes a conveyor system with electronic control for automation and safety features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual pitting methods are used, then labor flexibility is maintained, but labor intensity increases and food safety risks arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanual operation flexibilityVSAvoidpitting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical pitting operations with an automated mechanical system consisting of a gripper assembly, plucker assembly, and actuator cams. This substitution eliminates manual labor while maintaining controlled mechanical action for pit removal, thereby improving productivity without sacrificing operational precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The automated system performs pitting operations independently without human intervention. The gripper and plucker assemblies automatically grasp the fruit and pit, extract the pit through coordinated movement, and release the pitted fruit, enabling the system to serve itself in the pitting process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Extent of automation

If punch-type pitters are used, then automation is introduced, but fruit damage increases and product quality decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepitting automation levelVSAvoidfruit skin and flesh damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The pitting function is divided into two separate assemblies: a gripper assembly that holds the fruit and a plucker assembly that removes the pit. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function, with the plucker designed to extract only the pit while the gripper protects the fruit during handling, thereby reducing overall fruit damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The plucker assembly acts as an intermediary tool between the pit and the fruit flesh. Instead of directly applying force to extract the pit (which causes damage), the plucker gently engages with the pit and pulls it out, serving as a mediating mechanism that protects the fruit from harmful mechanical stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If legacy indexing machines are used, then mechanical pitting is attempted, but effectiveness decreases for softer fruits and labor remains high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical pitting implementationVSAvoidpitting effectiveness for soft fruits

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic, adjustable gripping and plucking mechanisms that can adapt to the specific characteristics of different fruit types. The actuator cams provide controlled, variable-speed movement that allows the gripper and plucker to gently handle soft fruits while maintaining effective pit extraction, overcoming the limitations of static legacy machines.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

The apparatus significantly reduces labor costs, minimizes fruit damage, enhances food safety, and ensures high-quality pitted fruits, addressing the inefficiencies of manual and legacy pitting methods.

Implementation Method 1

synchronized by actuator cams

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCam mechanism: Cam

Implementation Method 2

a device that converts an electrical energy input into a mechanical energy output and is operatively coupled with the pitting head assembly to drive the gripper assembly and the plucker assembly

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentUS20260007159A1Method and Apparatus for Pitting Fruit

Publication Date: 2026.01.08 ASHLOCK CO

AI summary

A pitting head assembly of an apparatus that grabs onto a fruit (e.g., Medjool or other date) with a gripper assembly in the pitting head assembly and further grabs onto an end portion of the pit near the calyx of the fruit with a plucker assembly in the pitting head assembly. The gripper and plucker assemblies move away from each other to remove the pit from the fruit and may be cleaned after pitting a number of fruits. A process for pitting a fruit comprising orienting the fruit, grabbing the fruit with a gripper assembly, grabbing an end portion of a seed of the fruit, and moving the gripper assembly and the plucker assembly away from each other.