Fruit Orientation System for Precise Suture Alignment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fruit orientation systems for automatic pitting, such as those described in PCT/IT2012/000209 and US 6,691,854, fail to ensure that the suture plane of fruits like peaches is positioned parallel to the vertical cutting plane, leading to imperfect cuts due to the variability in visibility of the stalk cavity and lack of precise suture line detection.

Innovation Solution

A machine comprising a fruit recognizing station that detects the suture line and calculates the dihedral angle between the suture plane and the cutting plane, using a camera and programmable logic controller to rotate fruits to align the suture plane parallel to the cutting plane, and a removing station for fruits with non-detectable suture lines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If automatic orientation using orienting elements is used, then fruits are oriented automatically, but the suture plane is not positioned parallel to the cutting plane due to blind positioning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic orientationVSAvoidsuture plane alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of the suture line position using a vision system before the cutting operation. This allows the control system to calculate the required rotation angle in advance and position the fruit correctly before it reaches the cutting plane, ensuring precise alignment while maintaining automatic operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The vision system continuously monitors the fruit's suture line position and provides feedback to the control system. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the rotation mechanism to achieve precise alignment of the suture plane with the cutting plane, resolving the contradiction between automation and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If blind positioning based on stalk cavity is used, then the system is simple to operate, but the positioning accuracy is insufficient for perfect cuts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation simplicityVSAvoidsuture line detection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical blind positioning method (based on stalk cavity contact) with an optical vision system that detects the suture line position. This substitution maintains ease of operation while dramatically improving measurement precision, allowing perfect cuts through accurate suture line detection and alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If all fruits are processed through orientation station, then no fruits are removed, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefruit processing throughputVSAvoidorientation processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The vision system detects the suture line position for all fruits, but the rotation mechanism is activated only for fruits that require alignment correction. Fruits already properly aligned pass through without rotation, reducing processing time while ensuring all fruits receive appropriate orientation treatment when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

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

Ensures that all fruits are accurately oriented and cut, with those without visible suture lines being removed, allowing for perfect pitting by aligning the suture plane parallel to the cutting plane, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of the cutting process.

Implementation Method 1

a fruit recognizing station for detecting the suture line of each fruit, suitable to detect the position of the vertical suture plane

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photography

Implementation Method 2

each gripping unit individually comprising a motor bearing on its shaft a gripper adapted to grip and rotate a fruit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3116329B1Machine for recognizing ang orienting fruit, and corresponding method

Publication Date: 2021.05.05 FOOD MACHINERY CRESCENZO

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

A machine for recognizing and orienting fruits, especially peaches, for their automatic pitting, has a fruit flight conveyor (1) up to a cutting station (6) in which a vertical cutting plane is provided, the fruit flights (4) being shaped with a number of recesses (7) in which fruits (P) are positioned with fruit suture plane thereof, containing a suture line (Is), being arranged vertically. A fruit recognizing station (8) is suitable to detect the position of the vertical suture plane, and to calculate an angle (a) between the suture line (Is) and the cutting line (It), or to communicate information of non detection. An orientation station (16) is adapted to receive information on the dihedral angle, and to control a respective gripping unit (17) to grip and rotate a fruit to a final position, or to remove from the fruit lane. Further a method is described.