Continuous Quantitative Spraying Structure for Fruit Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional post-harvest fruit sterilization methods, such as soaking and intermittent manual spraying, lead to excessive use of sterilants, environmental issues, and inefficiencies in large-scale processing, hindering energy conservation and environmental protection.
Innovation Solution
A continuous quantitative spraying structure for sterilizing fruits, featuring a track with equally spaced trays and a system of rollers and nozzles that ensures precise and uniform application of sterilants, with excess sterilant collection and real-time monitoring to optimize dosing and reduce waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soaking sterilization method is used, then sterilization effect is achieved, but sterilant is excessively used causing environmental pollution and fruits require long drying time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fruit from the soaking environment and applies sterilization through targeted spraying. The fruit is conveyed through a spraying chamber where sterilant is applied directly to the fruit surface, eliminating the need for bulk soaking and subsequent long drying periods. This reduces sterilant usage while maintaining sterilization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous conveying and spraying operation. Fruits are continuously moved along a conveyor track while passing through multiple spraying sections, ensuring uninterrupted sterilization processing. This continuous operation improves efficiency compared to batch soaking methods and reduces overall sterilant consumption through precise application.
2Ease of operation
If intermittent manual spraying is used, then some sterilization is achieved, but continuous spraying sterilization cannot be achieved and efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves automatic operation through a control unit that coordinates the conveyor, rolling mechanism, and spraying nozzles. The control unit receives signals from position sensors and automatically activates the spraying system when fruits are in the correct position, eliminating the need for manual operation while maintaining ease of use through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates position sensors that detect the location of fruits on the conveyor and provide feedback to the control unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that spraying is activated at the appropriate moment when fruits are in the spraying chamber, enabling precise quantitative spraying and continuous operation without manual intervention.
3Quantity of substance
If quantitative spraying is not achieved, then sterilization may be insufficient or sterilant may be excessively used, but accurate fruit location is required for quantitative spraying
Solution Approach 1:
The rolling mechanism serves multiple functions: it positions the fruit for spraying, ensures uniform coating of sterilant by rotating the fruit, and maintains fruit stability during conveyance. This multi-functional approach achieves quantitative spraying control without requiring separate complex positioning systems, as the rolling mechanism itself provides the necessary fruit location and orientation.
4Manufacturing precision
If fruits are not rolled during spraying, then spraying may be incomplete, but rolling requires additional mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the conveying function and the rolling function into a single integrated mechanism. The rolling elements are incorporated into the conveyor system, allowing fruits to be conveyed and rolled simultaneously through the spraying chamber. This merging of functions achieves uniform spraying coverage without requiring separate complex rolling mechanisms, as the same structural elements perform both conveyance and rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
A continuous quantitative spraying structure for sterilization of harvested fruits is provided. The continuous quantitative spraying structure includes a track provided thereon with equally spaced trays for conveying fruits, where the trays each include a circular tray body; a central part of the tray body is provided with a central hole allowing the fruit to fall off; a bottom part of the central hole is provided with two parallel rollers; an inner bottom surface of the tray body is provided with a flap; an inner end of a central shaft of the roller passes through the flap, and is fixed to a rolling wheel; a bearing is provided between the roller and the flap; the track is provided with a spraying sterilization section; the spraying sterilization section is sequentially provided with 3 to 4 sets of sterilization nozzles above a tray conveying route.