Melon Flesh Rind Separator with Brush Finisher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing watermelon juice products often have an 'off' flavor and amber or yellow color due to the inclusion of watermelon rind, leading to a fishy odor and flavor, which is not desirable for a high-quality melon extract.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that separates melon flesh from the rind while leaving a predetermined depth of flesh attached, using a steamer, chopper, and finishers with brushes to extract juice, ensuring the rind is removed without compromising the red color and flavor of the melon extract.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the entire watermelon including rind is used to produce juice, then the production process is simple and material utilization is high, but the juice develops a fishy odor and flavor with amber or yellow color
Solution Approach 1:
The watermelon is divided into two distinct parts: the rind and the flesh. The separation device mechanically segments the watermelon by rotating it against stationary blades that cut through the rind while leaving the flesh intact. This segmentation allows the flesh to be processed separately from the rind, preventing the fishy odor and flavor that would otherwise contaminate the juice.
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful rind portion is extracted and removed from the watermelon processing stream. The separation device extracts the rind by cutting it away from the flesh, and the rind is then discarded or set aside. This extraction eliminates the source of the fishy odor and flavor, allowing only the clean flesh to be juiced.
2Productivity
If the entire watermelon including rind is used to produce juice, then production efficiency is maintained, but the juice color becomes amber or yellow instead of red
Solution Approach 1:
The watermelon is segmented into rind and flesh components through mechanical cutting. The flesh, which contains the desired red pigments, is separated from the rind. This segmentation enables selective processing of only the flesh portion, preserving the red color while maintaining efficient production through automated separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The rind portion is extracted and removed from the processing stream before juicing. By extracting and discarding the rind, the source of the amber or yellow coloration is eliminated, ensuring that only the red-colored flesh contributes to the final juice color.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If melon flesh is completely removed from rind, then juice quality is maximized, but more flesh is wasted with the rind
Solution Approach 1:
The separation process applies different treatment to different parts of the watermelon. The stationary blades are positioned and angled to cut only through the rind layer while stopping before removing significant flesh. This local quality approach ensures that the rind is completely separated while the majority of the valuable flesh remains attached and available for juicing.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation device performs a partial cutting action that removes only what is necessary (the rind) without going excessive into the flesh. By controlling the blade depth and angle, the system achieves sufficient separation to eliminate rind contamination while minimizing flesh removal, thus avoiding excessive waste.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for preparing a melon juice concentrate, such as watermelon juice concentrate, includes a finisher with brushes for separating melon flesh from melon rind including leaving at least 1/16 inch flesh on the rind and screens for separating juice from flesh. The apparatus also includes a steamer to reduce bacteria count on whole melon, a chopper for chopping melons into pieces less than about 16 inches square, an extractor for extracting juice from the flesh, and an evaporator for concentrating melon juice to form melon juice concentrate. The steamer includes a cylinder frame, steam jets directing steam through apertures in the cylinder frame at whole melon therein, and a motivator to move the whole melon along the cylinder frame. The apparatus can also process cantaloupe, honeydew melon, and other melon.