Strawberry De-calyxing Machine with Adjustable Rotating Blades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic machines for strawberry processing are inefficient and costly, as they remove a significant portion of the fruit during de-calyxing and cutting, leading to high waste and longer processing times compared to manual methods.
Innovation Solution
An automatic machine with a continuous plane motion conveyor belt and adjustable cutting blades that align strawberries precisely for minimal waste, using a cutting unit with rotating blades optimized for calyx removal and adjustable blade distance to minimize fruit loss, and a compact design for efficient strawberry processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If automatic machines use deep cutting for de-calyx and leaves removing, then the calyx and leaves are effectively removed, but a considerable part of the fruit is removed leading to high waste
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting blades are designed to be movable and adjustable rather than fixed. The blades can be positioned at different distances from each other and adjusted to match the diameter of the strawberry, allowing precise control over the cutting depth and width to minimize fruit waste while effectively removing the calyx and leaves
Solution Approach 2:
The machine allows dynamic adjustment of cutting parameters including blade distance, cutting depth, and blade angle. These parameters can be modified based on strawberry size and type, enabling optimal cutting precision for different fruits while minimizing waste material removal
2Productivity
If manual equipment is used for de-calyx and cutting, then fruit waste is minimized, but processing time increases and production efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting process is divided into multiple independent blade elements that can operate simultaneously. The calyx removal and fruit cutting are performed by separate blade sets, allowing parallel processing operations that increase productivity without requiring excessive removal of fruit material
Solution Approach 2:
The movable blades can be rapidly adjusted and repositioned for different cutting patterns and depths. This dynamic capability allows the machine to quickly adapt to different strawberry sizes and cutting requirements, maintaining high processing speed while minimizing waste through precise control
3Ease of operation
If automatic machines use depression and blowing systems to position strawberries, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex depression and blowing positioning systems are replaced by a simpler direct mechanical positioning approach. Strawberries are positioned using straightforward mechanical guides and supports that align the fruit with the cutting blades, achieving adequate positioning accuracy without the complexity of pneumatic systems
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of investing in complex and expensive pneumatic positioning systems, the machine uses simple, inexpensive mechanical positioning elements that are easy to manufacture and replace. These include basic guides, supports, and alignment features that provide sufficient positioning accuracy at low cost
Data Source
AI summary
This invention refers to an automatic machine for strawberry processing to de-calyx and remove the leaves and cut in pieces; it is used in the agro-alimentary industry, in processing industry and in canning industry; and it could be suitable also for processing of other products similar to strawberry. The machine is composed of a conveyor belt (1) at closed loop design, where one or more operators feed manually in vertical with the leaves and the calyx up in the holes (5) of each fruit-holder element (3) of the conveyor belt which moves continuously to bring the fruits, so placed, to the processing station composed of a frame where a header plate (14) reciprocates in horizontal and vertical, controlled and adjusted by sensors which lead the three processing operations done by the machine: strawberries alignment, de-calyxing and fruit ejection. In particular, the de-calyxing takes place through two cutting units (30) side by side composed of six rotating spindles (31) each one equipped with a rotating cutting head composed of two blades (32), optimized in their conformation and size, and wherein the opened tips penetrate to a adjusted depth, on the strawberry, around the calyx, and then close, during the penetration and the cutting, so to eliminate precisely the calyx with a minimum of straw berry fruit.