Pneumatic Cushion for Soft Fruit Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fruit harvesting methods, including mechanized devices, often cause internal and external damage to soft fruits like raspberries and blueberries, leading to rapid decay and reduced preservation time, especially when using plastic reception trays in air tunnels for fresh consumption.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of pneumatic cushions on mechanized fruit harvesters, featuring a plastic reception tray covered with a food-grade rubber membrane and a mechanism for air supply under pressure, providing a soft and damage-free reception for harvested fruits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plastic reception trays are used in air blast harvesting devices, then harvesting efficiency is improved, but fruit quality deteriorates due to internal and external contusions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies this principle by covering the rigid plastic reception tray with a flexible rubber membrane. The membrane acts as a protective layer that deforms under impact, absorbing the shock of falling fruit while the rigid tray maintains its structural support function. This combination allows efficient harvesting with air blast while preventing fruit contusions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines two different materials with complementary properties: a rigid plastic tray for structural strength and support, and a flexible rubber membrane for shock absorption and fruit protection. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by allowing the rigid component to enable efficient harvesting while the flexible component prevents fruit damage.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber membrane is added to reception tray, then fruit protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the reception tray and protective membrane into a single integrated assembly. The rubber membrane is stretched over and attached to the plastic tray, creating a unified structure that combines support and protection functions. This merging approach minimizes additional complexity while achieving fruit protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The use of a thin rubber membrane adds minimal complexity compared to more complex cushioning systems. The membrane can be easily stretched and attached to the rigid tray, creating a simple yet effective protective layer that doesn't significantly increase device complexity.
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 pneumatic cushions enable efficient, damage-free harvesting by cushioning the fall of fruits, ensuring they remain intact and extend their preservation time, with a design that is easy to construct, maintain, and operate, while being economically viable and ecologically safe.
Implementation Method 1
pneumatic cushions designed as reception trays covered with rubber lining and with air under pressure pumped in between (air inlet on one side and air outlet on the other side of the trays)
Implementation Method 2
allowing for a soft reception of harvested fruit
Data Source
AI summary
Pneumatic cushions for soft reception of harvested fruit on mechanized fruit harvesters, comprise an assembly that includes a reception tray and a rubber membrane, wherein the whole assembly has a polygonal shape. The rubber membrane is stretched over the upper side and side edges of the reception tray, and attached to the side surfaces of the tray. The membrane is glued around the entire side perimeter of the tray and may be secured by means of a safety tape. On the part opposite to the sides, on the bottom of the tray, are fitted blow-holes for release of air from underneath the membrane. On the corner of the tray, formed by sides, is fitted a mechanism for revolving connection of the tray to the support and to air supply pipe.