Oscillating Destemmer Box with Virtual Pivot Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing winemaking equipment struggles with efficient removal of grape stems during the destemming process, particularly when using mechanical harvesting machines without a destemming unit, as stationary scrapers provide minimal vertical movement, leading to inadequate separation and potential impact on wine taste.
Innovation Solution
A destemmer design featuring a chassis with a box supported by a frame, an eccentric drive, and upper and lower links that create a virtual pivot axis upstream of the inlet, allowing for both pivoting and translational movement, enhancing the oscillating motion and separation efficiency without occupying significant space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a stationary scraper is used for destemming, then the device structure is simple and space occupation is minimal, but the separation efficiency is insufficient due to minimal vertical movement
Solution Approach 1:
The scraper box is transformed from a stationary structure to a dynamically oscillating one through the linkage mechanism. The box oscillates back and forth within the frame, creating enhanced vertical movement that significantly improves the separation efficiency between grape clusters and stems while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces oscillating motion in a vertical dimension to the traditionally horizontal stationary scraper. By adding this vertical oscillation dimension through the linkage mechanism, the device achieves much better separation performance without requiring a completely complex restructuring of the basic scraper design.
2Productivity
If the box moves oscillatingly with large amplitude, then the separation efficiency improves, but the space occupation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oscillating box is nested within the stationary frame structure. The box moves back and forth within the confines of the frame, utilizing the vertical space efficiently without requiring additional horizontal footprint. This nesting arrangement allows large oscillation amplitude for good separation while keeping the overall space occupation minimal.
Solution Approach 2:
The oscillation motion is directed vertically within the frame rather than horizontally outward. By confining the large-amplitude oscillating motion to the vertical dimension inside the frame, the device achieves excellent separation efficiency without increasing its horizontal space occupation.
3Productivity
If the virtual pivot axis is positioned upstream of the inlet, then the oscillating motion is optimized for separation, but the link structure requires precise positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual pivot axis position is determined by the geometric configuration of the linkage mechanism itself rather than requiring external adjustment or precise manual positioning. The intersection of the upper and lower link axes naturally creates the virtual pivot point upstream of the inlet, allowing the mechanism to self-optimize its oscillating motion for separation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the geometric parameters of the linkage (link lengths, attachment points), the position of the virtual pivot axis is adjusted to the optimal location upstream of the inlet. This parameter optimization enhances the oscillating motion characteristics for better separation while the precise positioning is achieved through design rather than operation.
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
This design improves the separation of grape clusters from stems and other materials, ensuring effective removal of stems while minimizing space requirements and maintaining wine quality by optimizing the motion of the scraper within the winemaking equipment.
Implementation Method 1
an eccentric drive connected to the box for moving the box oscillatingly inside the frame
Implementation Method 2
the longitudinal axis of each upper link and the longitudinal axis of each lower link intersect at a virtual pivot axis positioned upstream of the intake port
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a destemmer (14) for use in winemaking equipment comprising a frame (16), a box (18) supported by the frame (16), and an eccentric drive (20) connected to the box (18). The box (18) includes an inlet orifice (36) for receiving the grape bunches. At least one upper connection (52) interconnects the box (18) and the frame (16), with each upper connection (52) comprising a first end (56) pivotally connected to the frame (16) and a second end (58) pivotally connected to the box (18). At least one lower connection (54) interconnects the box (18) and the frame (16), with each lower connection (54) comprising a first end (62) pivotally connected to the frame (16) and a second end (64) pivotally connected to the box (18).The longitudinal axis (60) of each upper link (52) and the longitudinal axis (66) of each lower link (54) intersect at a virtual pivot axis (68) which is positioned upstream of the inlet orifice (36) of the box (18), taken with respect to a direction of movement (50) of the grains and of a MOG material through the box (18) from the inlet orifice (36).