Grape Destemming Cage with Spikeless Zone
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing grape destemming machines often crush berries excessively, leading to reduced quality and increased production of free juice, while failing to effectively separate stalks from berries without damaging the grapes.
Innovation Solution
A destemming machine design featuring a rotating cage with a spike shaft that includes a zone without spikes near the grape inlet, internal deflectors, and a helical spike arrangement, allowing berries to enter without bursting and stalks to be evacuated efficiently, along with a variable speed drive system and a V-shaped hopper for gentle grape loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the shaft with spikes rotates at high speed to effectively separate stalks from berries, then the separation efficiency is improved, but the berries are excessively crushed and their integrity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The spike shaft is divided into multiple functional zones along its length: an acceleration zone with spikes near the inlet, a transition zone with fewer spikes in the middle, and an evacuation zone with spikes near the outlet. This segmentation allows different sections to perform different functions - accelerating berries gently at first, then providing stronger propulsion for stalk evacuation, thereby maintaining berry integrity while achieving effective separation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the spike shaft have different spike densities and configurations. The acceleration zone has higher spike density for gentle propulsion, while the evacuation zone has optimized spike arrangement for stalk removal. This local differentiation ensures that berries receive appropriate mechanical action at each stage without excessive crushing.
2Ease of operation
If deflectors are added to the cage to move grapes along the shaft, then the transport of berries is improved, but the operation of the spike shaft points is disturbed and berries may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The deflectors are positioned specifically in the transition zone where they guide berries along the shaft without interfering with the spike shaft operation in the acceleration and evacuation zones. This strategic placement extracts the transport function from the spike shaft itself, allowing the spikes to focus on separation while deflectors handle gentle guidance.
3Productivity
If the cage has perforations throughout its length to allow berry passage, then the separation function is improved, but the acceleration of fruits is slowed due to shearing stress
Solution Approach 1:
The cage is divided into different perforation zones: the acceleration zone has reduced or no perforations to minimize shearing stress and allow faster berry acceleration, while the separation and evacuation zones have appropriate perforations for stalk passage. This segmentation allows the acceleration zone to function without the speed-limiting effect of continuous perforations.
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 machine minimizes berry crushing, preserves berry integrity, and enhances the separation of stalks from berries, reducing free juice production and maintaining high-quality grape processing.
Implementation Method 1
the spiked shaft being a rotating shaft arranged inside the cage... the tips of the spike shaft are arranged in a helix on the shaft... The free ends of the spikes thus constitute a drive means for moving the grapes along the cage
Implementation Method 2
the cage is internally equipped with deflectors integral in movement with the perforated partial delimitation wall of the cage, at least a part of said deflectors being arranged around the spikeless area of the spiked shaft
Implementation Method 3
a cage with a perforated wall, the perforations of which are able to let the grape berries pass and to retain at least some of the stalks
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~5
AI summary
Grape destemming machine (1) comprising a frame (2), a cage (3) with a wall (4) perforated with perforations (5) adapted for the passage of grape berries and a shaft (6) with points (7), said cage (3) being a rotating cylindrical cage having an open end (8) for the admission of grapes into the cage (3) and an opposite end for the discharge of destemmed stems, and the shaft (6) with points (7) being a rotating shaft disposed inside the cage (3) coaxially with the axis (XX') of rotation of the cage (3). The shaft (6) with points (7) has, from its end arranged on the side of the grape intake opening (8) of the cage (3) towards its opposite end, a zone (10) without points (7) followed by a zone (11) with points (7) and the cage (3) is internally equipped with deflectors (12) fixed in movement to the perforated wall (4) of the cage (3), and arranged around the zone (11) without points of the shaft (6) with points (7).