Strawberry Calyx Removal via Rotating Positioning Rollers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strawberry cutting machines either waste edible portions or fail to remove the calyx from strawberries of varying sizes and orientations, leading to reduced quality in jam or compote production.
Innovation Solution
A strawberry cutting machine with a receiving hopper, positioning rollers, and folding paddles that rotate to position strawberries for precise calyx removal, along with transversal cutting means and displacement mechanisms to ensure consistent cutting regardless of strawberry size or orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If strawberries are placed in different positions within the spaces, then the machine can process multiple strawberries simultaneously, but the calyces are cut transversally wasting edible portion and leaving part of calyx uncut
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using positioning rollers to orient strawberries in a specific position before the cutting operation. The rollers rotate to place strawberries in a pre-calyx cutting position or calyx cutting position, ensuring proper orientation before the blade engages, thus preventing transverse cutting and waste
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the positioning rollers - that mediate between the random placement of strawberries and the precise cutting operation. These rollers act as a mediator to orient and position strawberries correctly, enabling both high productivity and precision cutting
2Ease of operation
If the machine uses clamping rollers to grip the strawberry by the sepal, then the cutting operation can be performed, but strawberries without a sepal cannot be clamped and the calyx cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing positioning rollers that can handle all types of strawberries regardless of sepal presence. The rollers use friction and rotation to grip and orient strawberries, providing a universal solution that works for both strawberries with and without sepals, unlike the specialized clamping mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical clamping system (which relies on mechanical interlocking with the sepal) with a friction-based rotational positioning system. This replacement allows the machine to handle strawberries without sepals by using surface friction and rotation rather than mechanical clamping
3Adaptability or versatility
If the machine processes strawberries of varying sizes, then it can handle different strawberry dimensions, but consistent positioning and cutting orientation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by using rotatable positioning rollers that can adapt to different strawberry sizes. The rollers rotate to orient each strawberry individually based on its dimensions, providing dynamic adjustment that maintains consistent cutting orientation across varying strawberry sizes rather than using fixed positioning
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a strawberry cutting machine that can cut off the calyces of strawberries for subsequent use of the remaining fruit, either for making jam, compote or for plain consumption, wherein said machine properly and automatically cuts off the strawberry calyx regardless of strawberry size.