Separator Scraper Motion for Complete Pomace Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing separating machines struggle to completely separate pomace from pits in olive oil waste due to pomace adherence to the jacket, leading to inefficiencies and incomplete cleaning, which reduces the separation process's effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A separating machine with a scraping device featuring a transmission group, scraping members, and guides that perform an alternating axial movement to completely clean the external surface of the separator member, ensuring all pomace is removed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If rotating scraping components are used to remove pomace from the jacket, then some pomace can be removed, but complete cleaning of the external surface cannot be achieved due to dead points

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseparation efficiencyVSAvoidcleaning completeness
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping components are made axially movable rather than fixed, allowing them to move along the length of the jacket. This dynamic movement enables the scraping components to access and clean previously unreachable dead points on the jacket surface, achieving complete cleaning while maintaining high separation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The scraping components are introduced with axial movement capability, adding a third dimension (axial position) to the cleaning process. This dimensional change allows the scraping components to reach all surfaces of the jacket, including the dead points that were inaccessible with only rotational movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If the jacket accumulates pomace during separation, then the separation process can continue, but the efficiency of the separation process is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous operation capabilityVSAvoidseparation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraping components continuously remove pomace from the jacket surface during the separation process, preventing accumulation before it can reduce efficiency. This preliminary cleaning action maintains separation efficiency throughout continuous operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The scraping components operate continuously during the separation process, providing uninterrupted cleaning action. This continuous removal of pomace ensures that the jacket surface remains clean and efficient throughout the entire operation, maintaining both continuous operation capability and high separation efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 machine achieves complete separation of pomace from pits, optimizing the separation process by ensuring the external surface of the separator member is thoroughly cleaned, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the separation process.

Implementation Method 1

a rotor (24) connected to said first motor (23) and able to rotate internally to said separator member (22), moving said waste material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

a scraping device (5) coupled to said separator member (22) and capable of scraping said external surface (221a) of said separator member (22), removing the pomace deposited on said external surface (221a)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical scraping: Abrasion

Data Source

PatentEP4091459B1Separating machine for the processing of material
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 CLEMENTE SRL
  • EP4091459B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4091459B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to a separating machine (M) for the processing of heterogeneous material comprising a separating device (2), provided with a pierced surface (221) which develops along a development axis (X), capable of containing a heterogeneous material and capable of causing the separation of said heterogeneous material in a first component and a second component and the pouring of said first component through said pierced surface (221), said machine being characterized in that it comprises a scraping device (5), slidably coupled to and in contact with said pierced surface (221) of said separating device (2), capable of moving along a direction parallel to said development axis (X), to remove said first component from said pierced surface (221).