Spring-Loaded Fruit Pitter for Shape-Preserving Pit Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fruit pitters fail to effectively remove pits while retaining the food's shape and are not conveniently designed for storage or operation.
Innovation Solution
A Fruit Pitter with a cylindrical barrel, plunger, and spring mechanism that allows for one-handed operation, retaining the food's shape by using a pit removal shaft and ejection chamber, ensuring easy cleaning and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional pit removal device is used, then the pit can be removed from the fruit, but the basic shape of the food is damaged and the device is difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the pit removal function from the food contact area. The hollow barrel creates a defined workspace where the pit can be extracted through a restricted aperture, while the food body remains undisturbed. The pit removal shaft is segmented to allow precise positioning and minimal intrusion into the food structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow barrel acts as an intermediary structure that contains the pit removal process. By confining the operation within the barrel's hollow space, the device protects the external shape of the food while still allowing effective pit extraction through the aperture mechanism.
2Reliability
If a complex mechanism is used to remove the pit, then the pit removal is effective, but the device becomes difficult to operate and store
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger mechanism provides dynamic, one-handed operation. By allowing the user to apply pressure in a single direction (pushing the plunger), the device converts a potentially complex multi-step operation into a simple, intuitive motion that is easy to perform and control.
Solution Approach 2:
The pit removal shaft is extracted through a restricted aperture in the barrel, creating a focused extraction path. This design simplifies the operation by providing a clear, direct mechanism for pit removal without requiring complex adjustments or multiple components.
3Reliability
If a large or irregularly shaped device is used, then the pit removal function is adequate, but the device becomes difficult to store
Solution Approach 1:
The plunger and pit removal shaft are nested within the hollow barrel structure. When not in use, the movable components can be retracted into the barrel's hollow space, creating a compact, space-efficient design that is easy to store while maintaining full functionality during operation.
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
Efficiently removes pits from fruits like cherries and olives, maintaining the food's shape and facilitating easy storage and cleaning, enhancing usability in both formal and informal settings.
Implementation Method 1
a spring with the pit removal shaft therethrough where the spring is placed between the plunger and the retention plate to provide return force to the plunger after the plunger has been depressed
Data Source
AI summary
A Fruit Pitter is disclosed where a plunger and shaft are slidably disposed within a generally cylindrical barrel. The shaft contains a pit engaging end that serves to cut and push a pit through a food item and expel the pit into a pit ejection chamber. The plunger is spring actuated for ease of operation. The food item rests in an opening in the barrel and remains there throughout the pit removal operation until a user removes the food item from the Fruit Pitter. The pit ejection chamber keeps the pit retained until it can be disposed of, and further serves to reduce splattering while the Fruit Pitter is in use.