Hazelnut Pre-Cleaning System Segmentation for Contaminant Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current pre-cleaning systems for hazelnuts are inadequate in effectively removing foreign substances like dust, small decorticated hazelnuts, and substances with different specific weights, such as stones and soil, which hinders efficient operation in hazelnut processing plants.

Innovation Solution

A pre-cleaning system comprising multiple separation units: a first unit for sieving foreign substances by size, a second unit using artificial air flow to separate low-density particles, and a third unit using air flow and convection to separate high-density substances, ensuring thorough purification of unshelled hazelnuts before processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple separation units are added to remove all types of foreign substances, then purification effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurification effectivenessVSAvoidsystem structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pre-cleaning system is divided into three independent separation units, each handling a specific type of foreign substance removal: first separation unit for size-based sieving, second separation unit for low-density particle removal via air flow, and third separation unit for high-density substance separation via convection. This segmentation allows each unit to specialize in removing specific contaminants while maintaining overall system manageability and effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If manual inspection and removal of foreign substances is performed, then purification quality is improved, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepurification qualityVSAvoidprocessing throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Manual inspection and removal operations are completely replaced by an automated mechanical system comprising three separation units. The first unit uses mechanical sieving, the second unit employs pneumatic separation via air flow, and the third unit utilizes convective separation. This mechanical automation maintains high purification quality while dramatically increasing processing throughput and eliminating the bottleneck of manual operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service purification where the hazelnuts automatically pass through multiple separation stages without human intervention. Foreign substances are removed through the combined action of sieving, air flow, and convection processes that operate continuously as hazelnuts move through the system, achieving both high quality and high productivity simultaneously.

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

The system efficiently separates and removes various foreign substances, improving the processing efficiency by reducing human intervention and increasing the throughput of cleaned hazelnuts, ensuring they are presented to the market without devaluation.

Implementation Method 1

at least one first separation unit where the foreign substances, which are outside the acceptable dimensions of unshelled hazelnut, are sieved and separated

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSieving: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

at least one second separation unit which can provide separation of foreign substances, which have specific weight lower than the specific weight of acceptable unshelled hazelnut, by means of an artificial air flow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAir flow separation: Aerodynamic Heating

Implementation Method 3

at least one third separation unit which can provide separation of foreign substances, which have specific weight higher than the specific weight of unshelled hazelnut, by means of artificial air flow and convection

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11890648B2Pre-cleaning system for providing purification of hazelnut from foreign substances

Publication Date: 2024.02.06 BALSU GIDA SANAYI & TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI

AI summary

A pre-cleaning system is provided. The pre-cleaning system is for providing purification of unshelled hazelnut at least partially from foreign substances before processing of unshelled hazelnut. The improvement of the pre-cleaning system is that the pre-cleaning system includes at least one first separation unit where the foreign substances, which are outside the acceptable dimensions of unshelled hazelnut, are sieved and separated, at least one second separation unit positioned in the vicinity of said first separation unit and which can provide separation of foreign substances, which have specific weight lower than the specific weight of acceptable unshelled hazelnut, by means of an artificial air flow provided in at least one flow path provided thereon, at least one third separation unit positioned in the vicinity of said second separation unit and which can provide separation of foreign substances, which have specific weight higher than the specific weight of unshelled hazelnut.