Intermediate Unloading Assembly for Horticultural Product Sorting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing horticultural product processing systems face issues with the contamination and deterioration of healthy products due to the presence of rotten items, which are not effectively evacuated until the end of the processing line, leading to space inefficiency and reduced productivity.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus with an intermediate unloading assembly that allows for early segregation of rotten products based on preset criteria, utilizing a vision system and weighing device to identify unsuitable items and divert them from the main processing line, while maintaining high productivity and modest space occupation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the unloading system is located in the third station (terminal part of the apparatus), then all information required to send each apple to the appropriate basket is available, but rotten apples travel along the entire preset path and can deteriorate healthy adjacent apples

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesorting accuracyVSAvoidcontamination from rotten apples

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediate unloading assembly at the second station that enables preliminary evacuation of rotten apples before they reach the terminal third station. The electronic control unit activates this intermediate unloading system based on vision system detection, allowing rotten apples to be removed in advance before they can contaminate healthy apples during transit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the unloading function into two separate systems: an intermediate unloading assembly at the second station for preliminary removal of defective products, and a terminal unloading system at the third station for final sorted distribution. This segmentation allows rotten apples to be evacuated early while maintaining the sorting accuracy function at the end.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Area of stationary object

If apples move in a row and mutually close along the apparatus, then space containment requirements are met, but rotten apples can deteriorate healthy adjacent apples

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace occupationVSAvoiddeterioration of healthy apples

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate unloading assembly enables preliminary action by removing rotten apples from the closely packed row before they can exert harmful effects on adjacent healthy apples. This early intervention maintains the space-efficient configuration while eliminating the contamination risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the intermediate unloading assembly is added, then rotten apples can be evacuated in advance, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveearly evacuation capabilityVSAvoidnumber of unloading systems

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate unloading assembly shares the same structural design and control mechanism as the terminal unloading system, allowing a single type of unloading mechanism to serve multiple functions at different stations. This multi-functionality approach increases productivity through early evacuation while minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Area of stationary object

If the intermediate unloading assembly is activated selectively, then space occupation is reduced, but the control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace occupationVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electronic control unit receives real-time feedback from the vision system about apple quality and selectively activates the intermediate unloading assembly only when rotten apples are detected. This feedback-based selective activation reduces space occupation by enabling early removal of defective products while managing control system complexity through automated decision-making based on sensor data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11331695B2Apparatus for treating horticultural products

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 UNITEC SPA

AI summary

An apparatus for treating horticultural products having in series at least: a first station, which includes first elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one vision system, controlled by an electronic control and management unit, for the acquisition of information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product. The apparatus further includes a second station, including second elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one device for weighing each horticultural product in transit, controlled by the electronic unit, and a third station, including third elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products. The second station includes an intermediate unloading assembly, which can be actuated selectively by the electronic unit for the early release of the horticultural products, handled by the second elements.