Horticultural Product Basin with Surface Flow Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for emptying horticultural product crates into water basins often fail to effectively separate horticultural products from extraneous items like leaves and twigs, leading to handling issues and quality problems during processing and packaging.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus with a basin filled with liquid and a surface flow system that intercepts and removes floating items by directing a spillway flow towards a second conveyor belt, which filters and conveys away the items, ensuring they are not re-mixed with the products and are efficiently removed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If crates are overturned into water basins to empty horticultural products, then products are easily offloaded and separated, but extraneous items like leaves and twigs are also introduced into the basin and remain mixed with products
Solution Approach 1:
The basin is divided into two functional zones: a first zone for receiving and separating sunken extraneous items, and a second zone for receiving horticultural products. This spatial segmentation allows different types of items to be automatically separated by their buoyancy characteristics, with leaves and twigs remaining in the first zone while fruits sink to the second zone.
Solution Approach 2:
A removal means is provided that selectively extracts and removes extraneous items from the water basin, particularly from the first zone where they accumulate. This extraction process prevents contamination of the horticultural products and eliminates the need for manual cleaning interruptions.
2Productivity
If a grid is used to intercept floating items, then some leaves are removed, but the grid does not intercept all floating items and requires manual removal interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the natural buoyancy properties of extraneous items to automatically separate them from horticultural products without requiring manual intervention. The removal means automatically extracts floating items as they accumulate in the first zone, enabling continuous operation without stopping the processing line.
3Device complexity
If extraneous items are allowed to accumulate in the basin, then handling is simplified, but product quality deteriorates due to interference during processing and packaging
Solution Approach 1:
The basin is divided into two functional zones: a first zone for receiving and separating sunken extraneous items, and a second zone for receiving horticultural products. This spatial segmentation allows different types of items to be automatically separated by their buoyancy characteristics, with leaves and twigs remaining in the first zone while fruits sink to the second zone.
Solution Approach 2:
A removal means is provided that selectively extracts and removes extraneous items from the water basin, particularly from the first zone where they accumulate. This extraction process prevents contamination of the horticultural products and eliminates the need for manual cleaning interruptions.
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 effectively separates horticultural products from extraneous items, improving handling and processing efficiency by preventing interference and maintaining product quality, while being simple and cost-effective to implement.
Implementation Method 1
not only the horticultural products are introduced into the crates but also other extraneous items which usually are captured and intercepted during the harvest, and that therefore are automatically associated with the single products during their transport and handling
Implementation Method 2
An apparatus with a basin filled with liquid and a surface flow system that intercepts and removes floating items by directing a spillway flow towards a second conveyor belt
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Apparatus for emptying containers (100,101) filled with horticultural products (50) and comprising a basin with an open top side (1) and filled with water, operating means (2A,2B,4) of the containers, and arranged at a level higher than the top liquid level (L) in the basin, in order to move the containers over a defined area and to rotate them to offload its content, collecting means (5,6) placed in the lower part of the basin and partially outside of it, and that collect the horticultural products from the bottom of the basin and lift them up to an emersion level, and that uses means apt to deviate the leaves (51) from the central surface of the liquid towards a surface area adjacent to a definite wall (15) of the basin, and to remove them from that area. Said means comprise a horizontal spillway opening (16), prolonged, arranged along said wall and to a height slightly lower than the liquid level, and pumps which spurt small water spouts almost horizontally, which form on the liquid surface a surface flow directed towards said prolonged opening, and filters of the drained water through said opening; said filters comprise a flexible belt conveyor (17), which is prolonged, extended for a closed path and in a continuous motion and which operates as a sieve, placed outside the basin and below said spillway opening that intercepts and filters the water and the leaves falling from said spillway opening.