Pineapple Processing Device with Gravity-Assisted Auto-Feeding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pineapple processing devices do not adequately ensure a safe and hygienic operating environment for users, particularly in retail settings where untrained individuals may accidentally or recklessly interact with sharp tools, leading to potential injuries and compromised hygiene.
Innovation Solution
A pineapple processing device with a housing that restricts access to the carrier and processing unit, featuring an automatic pineapple introduction mechanism using gravity-assisted entry and a carousel loading unit, which minimizes user interaction with hardware and enhances safety and hygiene by automating the processing and packaging of pineapples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually place pineapples in the carrier inside the housing, then the device can process pineapples, but users risk contacting sharp tools and causing injuries
Solution Approach 1:
The device automatically introduces the pineapple into the carrier without requiring user intervention. The pineapple introduction mechanism self-activates to push the pineapple from the loading area through the housing into the carrier, eliminating the need for users to manually handle the pineapple near sharp tools.
Solution Approach 2:
The pineapple introduction mechanism serves as an intermediary between the user and the processing area. It transfers the pineapple from the safe loading zone into the processing zone without requiring the user to enter the hazardous area, thus mediating the interaction and preventing direct contact with sharp tools.
2Reliability
If the housing provides restricted access to protect users, then safety improves, but hygiene may be compromised due to limited cleaning access
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is segmented into multiple accessible sections with removable panels or doors that provide restricted yet manageable access. This allows users to access specific areas for hygiene purposes without compromising overall safety, enabling targeted cleaning and maintenance while maintaining protective enclosure.
3Reliability
If the device uses automatic pineapple introduction, then safety and hygiene improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pineapple introduction mechanism utilizes the pineapple's own weight and gravity to facilitate its movement into the carrier. The mechanism requires minimal actuation force and operates automatically once triggered, reducing the complexity of the driving mechanism while maintaining safety benefits.
4Use of energy by moving object
If the entrance is positioned above the carrier starting position for gravity-assisted pineapple entry, then energy consumption reduces, but the device height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device layout transitions from a horizontal arrangement to a vertical arrangement, utilizing the vertical dimension for gravity-assisted pineapple movement. The entrance is positioned above the carrier in the vertical direction, allowing pineapples to roll or slide down under gravity, reducing energy consumption while accepting increased device height.
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 solution provides a safer and more user-friendly operation by reducing the risk of accidents and maintaining hygiene, while allowing for a compact design that optimizes space usage in retail environments, enabling efficient processing and packaging of pineapples with minimal user intervention.
Implementation Method 1
the pineapple is moveable from a first position outside the housing to a second position in the at least one carrier inside the housing under the influence of gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a device (10) for processing pineapples comprising at least one carrier (7) for carrying a pineapple to be processed, and at least one processing unit for removing the outer ends from the pineapple (3) and/or for coring and peeling the pineapple (5). The at least one carrier (7) and the least one processing unit are located inside a housing (50) of the device (10). The housing (50) comprises an entrance (54), wherein the device (10) further comprises a pineapple introduction mechanism (52) configured for automatically introducing the pineapple to be processed in the housing (50) through the entrance (54) in the at least one carrier (7) inside the housing (50).