Pineapple Coring and Peeling With a Stationary Circular Blade

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing machines for preparing pineapples for consumption at a point of sale are complex, require clamping units that are prone to malfunction, and complicate maintenance, and often require additional mechanisms to prevent pulp and core from getting stuck in blades, making them unsuitable for untrained users.

Innovation Solution

A machine with a coring/peeling station using a stationary circular blade and an axial pusher, combined with a mobile support element, eliminates the need for clamping units and containers, allowing for simple, reliable, and maintenance-friendly pineapple preparation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If clamping units with small and movable parts are used to hold the pineapple firmly, then positioning precision is improved, but device complexity and maintenance difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the clamping unit entirely from the system. Instead of using complex clamping mechanisms with small movable parts, the pineapple is simply pushed through the processing station by a pusher, eliminating the source of maintenance problems while maintaining adequate positioning through the pushing action itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The processing system is divided into independent functional elements: a stationary processing element (blades), a mobile pusher, and a support element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without requiring complex interactions, simplifying the overall device while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If clamping units with many movable parts are used, then positioning reliability is improved, but ease of repair worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepositioning reliabilityVSAvoidease of repair

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The clamping unit is completely extracted from the system and replaced with a simple pusher mechanism. This eliminates numerous movable parts that could malfunction or require repair, making the system highly reliable and easy to maintain while still achieving reliable pineapple positioning through the pushing action

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The pusher automatically positions and guides the pineapple through the processing station during the pushing action, eliminating the need for separate clamping and positioning mechanisms. The system performs positioning as an integral part of the processing operation rather than through dedicated complex subsystems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If concentric blades are used for peeling and coring, then processing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The processing function is segmented into a stationary circular blade element and a mobile pusher. The circular blade remains fixed while the pusher moves the pineapple through it, achieving peeling and coring efficiency without requiring complex concentric blade mechanisms with multiple moving parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the blades through the pineapple (as in concentric blade systems), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the blade stationary and moving the pineapple through it. This simplifies the device while maintaining processing efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Ease of operation

If a container is used to catch the pineapple after processing, then handling is improved, but ease of operation worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovehandlingVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The container catching mechanism is completely removed from the system. The processed pineapple is deposited directly onto a support element that facilitates easy removal and transfer to serving containers, eliminating the need for complex catching and transferring mechanisms while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4623704B1Machine and method for automatically preparing a whole pineapple for consumption at a pineapple point of sale

Publication Date: 2026.04.15 SANLUCAR FRUIT S L U

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a machine (100) for automatically preparing a whole pineapple (P) for consumption at a pineapple point of sale, the machine (100) comprising a coring/peeling station (150) for removing a core and/or a peel of the pineapple (P), wherein the coring/peeling station (150) comprises at least one circular blade (151) for separating the core and/or the peel from the pulp of the pineapple (P), an axial pusher (152) for pushing the pineapple (P) along its longitudinal axis through the at least one circular blade (151) while the circular blade (151) is stationary with respect to the surrounding of the machine (100), and a mobile support element (154) for supporting the pineapple (P) before and after being pushed through the at least one circular blade (151).