Pineapple Portioning Machine With Shutter-Guided Compartment Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing machines for preparing pineapples at a point of sale either spoil the pineapple pieces if not consumed immediately or are designed for industrial use and inefficient in packaging pineapple pulp, and are not suitable for untrained customers.
Innovation Solution
A machine and method for preparing a whole pineapple into multiple servings, featuring processing stations for end and core removal, cutting into slices and segments, and loading into compartments with a horizontal shutter system for controlled release and deflector elements to prevent spoilage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If pineapple pieces are released into a single recipient, then the preparation process is simple, but the pineapple pieces risk spoiling and being wasted if not eaten at the same time
Solution Approach 1:
The single recipient is divided into multiple compartments separated by partition walls, allowing pineapple pieces to be stored in separate sections. This segmentation enables users to consume pieces from one compartment without affecting the freshness of pieces in other compartments, thereby reducing waste while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If a horizontal shutter is used to control pineapple piece release, then pieces can be held above the recipient, but the shutter mechanism adds device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The horizontal shutter acts as an intermediary mechanism between the cutting area and the recipient compartments. It provides controlled release of pineapple pieces into the compartments while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure that can be easily operated or automated, balancing reliability with acceptable complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pineapple pieces are loaded into multiple compartments, then pieces can be consumed over multiple servings, but the loading process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The loading device is designed to handle multiple recipient types (single compartment or multi-compartment with partitions) using the same basic mechanism. The device can adapt its operation to accommodate different serving requirements without requiring fundamentally different loading mechanisms, thereby achieving versatility while controlling complexity.
4Productivity
If the machine is designed for industrial mass processing, then processing efficiency is high, but the machine is not suitable for untrained customers at a point of sale
Solution Approach 1:
The machine is designed to automatically perform the complex tasks of pineapple preparation, including cutting, core removal, and piece distribution into compartments. This automation allows untrained customers to simply load the whole pineapple and receive pre-portioned servings without needing to understand or perform complex manual operations, thereby maintaining high productivity while ensuring ease of operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a machine for automatically preparing a whole pineapple (P) for consumption at a pineapple point of sale, the machine comprising a number of processing stations (110, 150) for removing a top end of the pineapple (P), a bottom end of the pineapple (P), a peel of the pineapple (P) and/or a core of the pineapple (P); a cutting station (160) for cutting the pineapple (P) into a plurality of pineapple pieces; a loading device (200) for loading the pieces into at least one recipient (191) having at least two compartments (192) separated by at least one partition wall (193); at least one horizontal shutter (190), the horizontal shutter (190) being movable between a closed position holding the pineapple pieces above the recipient (191) and an open position letting the pineapple pieces fall into the recipient (191); and at least one deflector element (210) for deflecting the falling pineapple pieces from an upper edge of the at least one partition wall (193) of the at least one recipient (191). The invention further relates to a method for automatically preparing a whole pineapple (P) for consumption at a pineapple point of sale using the machine.