Abstract:
A device configured for the removal of pits from fruits such as cherries. The device features a planar rotating circular disk which rotates on an incline. A ramp deposits fruit on a top surface of the disk at a lower portion of the incline which keeps the fruit from moving with the surface of the disk. Depressions in the disk engage with individual fruit which is carried to a needle punch which translates through the fruit and an aperture communicating through the depression and the disk to push the pit out the fruit. An elastic member pulls the pits from the needles.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/253,785 filed on Oct. 21, 2009. The disclosed method relates to pitting of produce products such as cherries and olives. More particularly, it relates to a simplified pitting device adapted for use by small farms, home-growers and collectives, for pitting of produce products requiring such. The device provides a cost-effective means to replace the time consuming hand-pitting method, yet provides the speed and cost reductions that only the economy of scale that mechanization can provide. It does so at a cost significantly less than commercial pitting machines placing it within the financial reach of such small concerns. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Pitting of fruits such as cherries and olives has been a time-consuming factor for small and large commercial growers for many decades. In order to employ a fruit such as cherries for preserves, salads, or pies and the like, the fruit once picked, must be processed to remove the pit at the center of the fruit which in nature functions as a seed. 
     Conventionally, pitting machines are employed by large companies and large grower cooperatives possessing the financial wherewithal to purchase or lease the machines capable of removing the pit from cherries and the like. Many such pitting devices are only leased to users and also require a royalty payment per pound of fruit that has been de-pitted, in addition to lease payments. While large expensive machines may work well for such large suppliers and food processors, small concerns such as family farms and organic food producers growing their own produce do not have that financial capability to purchase and lease the expensive conventional machinery. Such small growers are at the mercy of the larger processors for their fruit or have had to find other means to de-pit such foods should they wish to sell it for increase profit. 
     Hand pitting is a particularly expensive and time-consuming process if employees are used who must be paid. Further the workers are subject to repetitive injuries to their hands and fingers due to the actions required to de-pit fruit such as cherries. Family concerns not paying family members to pit still must take valuable time from other chores to remove the pits from produce they process so they can be cooked in pies and preserves or provided to local restaurants at increased prices. 
     Consequently, there is an unmet need for a pitting device, which is simple in operation to thereby minimize maintenance costs, and also has a very short learning curve for small users. Such a device should be inexpensive enough for small concerns to own and use and provide sufficient mechanization to speed up the pitting process and allow increase production for cooking and provision to restaurants and the like which is a mainstay of small producers. Mechanically, such a device needs to be simple in construction to allow for user maintenance as well as to provide for reduced chance of equipment failure that simplicity in design affords. 
     With respect to the above, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the pitting invention herein in detail or in general, it is to be understood that the device and mode of operation disclosed herein is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components or the steps set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The various methods and combinations of components of the pitting apparatus of the disclosed invention are capable of other embodiments, and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, all of which will be obvious to those skilled in the art once the information herein is reviewed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for other pitting machines and the like, for carrying out the several purposes of the present disclosed device and method. It is important, therefore, that the embodiments, objects and claims herein, be regarded as including such equivalent methodology and operational components insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contemplates a novel solution to the provision of an inexpensive yet highly productive pitting machine for small farms and homes and the like. Such farms frequently have a compressed air supply on the property for other reasons and in the favored mode of the device herein, such availability of compressed air has been taken advantage of to impart simplicity to the device in construction and operation. Employing compressed air, the device requires no electric motors or sensors and instead employs the simplicity of mechanical components for registering positions of the fruit to be pitted as well as operating the other components of the device. Of course those skilled in the art will realize that many of the components herein have electrically driven counterparts, and as such, the employment of such alternative means for powering and operating the device are anticipated within the scope of this invention. 
     The device employs a disk which is rotationally engaged to a frame and has a plurality of lines of apertures radially spaced about the center point of the disk. A feed chute is provided for the fruit to be deposited upon the disk. The chute slants downward toward the disk which rotates on an inclining plane around its rotational engagement to the frame. By providing the chute for cherries and the like at a downward angle which deposits the fruit at a deposit position on the disk and rotating the disk in a plane that is inclining relative to the point of intersection of the chute and the disk, a means to maintain a supply of fruit at the deposit position is provided. Since the fruit is unable to roll up the incline of the disk, it settles in a group at the deposit position on the disk. The rotating disk, with the radially disposed rows of apertures continually rotates in increments under the backward rolling fruit some of which will fall into the apertures in each radially disposed lines of apertures. Thus, the user simply pours the fruit on the chute and it piles upon the rotating disk at the bottom unable to move up the incline of the disk when rotating. The apertures rotating under the pile of fruit in the deposit position are each sized to hemispherically engage under the bottom half of an individual respective piece of fruit, and thereafter carry it up the inclining disk and around the axis as the disk rotates. 
     Rotation of the disk is in radial increments such that each individual radially positioned row of apertures, all of which are equidistant from adjacent rows, is placed in an individual sequentially registered position around the axis with each incremental rotation of the disk. This rotation of the disk is imparted by a cylinder engaged to a member having a pin at a distal end sized to engage notches formed in the circumference of the disk. Air driving the cylinder causes it to pull the disk forward to the next incremental position of each single rotation of the disk around its axis. Once pulled forward, the member extending from the air cylinder releases its engagement on the notch to which it is engaged, and moves rearward on the circumference of the disk to engaged a trailing notch operatively positioned to cause the rows of apertures to move to their incremental registered positions radially around the axis of the disk. 
     Because the recesses holding individual fruits in the rows of depressions on the disk, sequentially move to positions of registered positioning of the rows around the axis of the disk, the cherries or other fruit occupying the rows may be sequentially processed to remove the pits from their centers. An aperture communicates from the bottom surface of the disk, opposite the recessed surface. 
     At one incremental position of each row containing cherries or fruit in the depressions, the fruit is pitted by a plurality of air driven translating pitting needles which are driven through each respective fruit and through its aperture communicating through the disk with each respective depression. Adjacent to the underside of each such aperture is a rubber or other flexible member having a plurality of apertures therein dimensioned to engage the star-shaped pit needles passing through the apertures. The flexible member using star-shaped apertures therein configured to hug the star-shaped pit needles passing therethrough, and allow the pit being pushed to pass through, but to pull it off the pit needle as it is being retracted. The flexible resilient member thus provides a means to pull the pits from the distal end of the pit needles as the pit needles reverse translation in a reciprocating movement. 
     So pulled, the pits fall into a collection container. Optionally, but preferred, an optical system will monitor each aperture in each depression through which the pit needles pass, and ascertain if a pit is rejected. For each aperture and depression combination where a pit is counted, the remaining fruit is pushed or blown from its depression into a collection container for good fruit. Should the optic sensors sense that a pit has not been pushed from the fruit by the pitting needle, that individual fruit will be pushed or blown to a different collection container for reprocessing. In this fashion, it is determined that all fruit is pitted before moving from the device. 
     As noted, removal of the pitted and un-pitted fruit from their respective depressions may be accomplished by air jets blowing during an incremental stop on the rotation after the pit removal has been accomplished. Or mechanical means in reverse of the pitting needles may be employed to push each fruit up from its engagement in an individual depression. 
     Biased members are provided as an additional means to maintain the disk in individual registered positions as it rotates around its access. 
     The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the pitting device herein. This is provided in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other pitting devices of similar operation for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. 
     In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways all of which are considered to be within the scope of this patent. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     The Objects of the Invention 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a simple yet reliable pitting device for employment on small farms and the like. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide such a pitting device that is simple in mechanical design to minimize maintenance and allow it to be user serviced. 
     The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the invention. These objects should be construed to be merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by applying the disclosed method and device in a different manner or by modifying the invention within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. 
         FIG. 1  depicts an overhead perspective view of the device showing the rotationally engaged disk and readily extending rows of depressions and communicating apertures. 
         FIG. 2  shows the plurality of translating pitting needles which align with a row of fruit settled into the depressions and translate to push pits from the fruit. 
         FIG. 3  shows the bottom view of the device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  depicts the distal end of the member employed to rotate the disk by engagement within slots incrementally formed in the perimeter to provided means for registered incremental positioning of the rows circling the disk axis during rotation. 
         FIG. 4   a  depicts the planar resilient member having apertures adapted to slidably engage the pitting needles and insure removal of pits. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings of  FIGS. 1-4 , wherein similar parts of the invention are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen in  FIG. 1  an overhead perspective view of the device  10  showing the rotationally engaged disk  12  rotating at an incline on its axis  41  engaged to the crossbar  29  which in turn is engaged to the frame  13 . 
     From its intersection across a portion of the disk  12  locating below the lower end of the ramp  14  where fruit is deposited, the disk  12  rotates around its axis  41  at an inclined angle relative to the bottom of the ramp  14  and the level surface supporting the frame  13 . The incline of the surface of the disk  12  creates collection area on the top of the disk  12  in front of the ramp  14 . The incline of the disk  12  is adjustable and provides a means to adjust the force urging the fruit toward the collection area. This is because gravity acting on the fruit due to the incline of the disk  12  is sufficient to provide a means to urge the fruit deposited on the disk  12  from the ramp  14 , to roll backward toward the ramp  14  during each increment of rotation of the disk  12  around the axis. The urging of the fruit by the inclination of the disk  12  and gravity acting on the fruit, provides a means to form a group or pile of fruit, to collect on the disk  12  in the collection area front of the ramp  14 . 
     The frame  13  employs members  17  to adjust the angle of the crossbar  29  providing the support for the axis of the disk  12 . An adjustment of the member  17  in its connection to the frame  13  provides a means to tip the crossbar  29  relative to the frame  13  and the level support surface, and thereby adjust the incline angle of the disk  12  riding on the axis  41  on the substantially level axis of the crossbar  29 . This means to adjust the urging of the fruit against the direction of rotation of the disk  12  during deposit from the ramp  14  is most preferred as the type of fruit, and the speed of the disk  12  during processing, may require an adjustment of the angle to increase or decrease the urging of the processed fruit to area at the bottom of the ramp  14 . This gathering of the fruit keeps pieces from rotating on the disk  12  unless they are in an individual recess  18  which has sufficient connection to overcome the force of the rearward bias from the incline of the disk  12 . Heavier fruit or faster speeds of the disk  12  would require more incline to keep the collecting fruit at the bottom of the ramp  14  from starting to rotate with the disk  12  outside of an engagement with a recess  18 . 
     As noted, under the fruit collected in a pile at the bottom of the ramp  14  and on the top surface of the disk  12 , are positioned individual rows  16  of recesses  18  equidistantly radially positioned around the disk  12 . The recesses  18  rotate around the axis  41 , with each incremental rotational movement of the disk  12 . 
     The incrementally rotating disk  12 , with the radially disposed rows  16  of recesses  18  continually rotates in radial increments under the rearward or backward biased fruit. Because of the incline, the disk surface  12  will slide under the gathered fruit unless the individual pieces fall into the recesses  18  passing under the pile of fruit urged to the bottom of the ramp  14 . 
     In use, the user simply pours the fruit on the ramp  14  and gravity deposits the fruit upon the disk  12  where it forms a pile upon the upwardly angling rotating disk  12 . This provides a means to prevent the fruit from rotating on the disk  12  around the axis  41  unless a piece of fruit is positioned within a recess  18 . 
     The recesses  18  rotating under the pile of fruit in the deposit position at the bottom of the ramp  14 , are each sized to hemispherically engage under the bottom of an individual respective piece of fruit, and thereafter carry it around the axis  41  and up the incline situated within an engagement with the rotating disk  12 . Only fruit engaged within recesses  18  will overcome the rearward urging caused by the angled disk  12  and will therefor continue around the axis engaging as the disk  12  to the frame. For different sized fruit, or different speed devices, a plurality of disks  12  may be provided with different sized recesses  18  to accommodate different types and sizes of fruit and different numbers of radially positioned rows  16 . Thus the device  10  can be sold as a kit including a plurality of disks  12  or available disks  12  each adapted to rotate on the axis  41  and each having a different configuration of the recesses  18  to accommodate processing of fruit. Such configurations adaptations can include more or less recesses  18  per row  16 , more or less rows per disk  12 , different sized hemispheric recesses  18  to accommodate larger or smaller fruit, and combinations thereof. In this fashion one device  10  is employable for a plurality of different fruits such as olives, cherries, or other fruits with pits. 
     During operation and rotation the disk  12  it rotates in individual radians such that each individual radially positioned row  16  of recesses  18 , is placed in an individual sequentially registered position in rows  16  around the axis  41  with each incremental rotation of the disk. A favored means to impart the rotation of the disk is through the employment of a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder  20  with a conventional extending cylinder member engaged to a member  22 . The member in turn has a pin  24  at a distal end which is sized to engage notches  26  formed in the circumference of the disk  12 . 
     Compressed air driving the extending arm portion of the cylinder  20  causes it to force the disk  12  forward to the next incremental position of a notch  26  to rotate the disk  12  in increments equal to the radians of the rows  16  and thereby rotating the disk  12  around the axis  41 . Compressed air is preferred as a means to rotate the disk  12  as most small processors have it on site. However, those skilled in the art will realize that a DC electric motor or other means to slide the member  22  to engage notches  26  may be employed as a means to rotate the disk  12 . Alternatively, an electric motor and electronic registration of the disk to correct positioning can also be employed as a means to rotate the disk  12  in increments around the axis  12  substantially equal to the sections defined by the rows  16 . 
     Once it has induced rotation of the disk  12 , the member  22  extending from the air cylinder releases its engagement on the notch  26  to which it is engaged, and moves rearward on the circumference of the disk  12 , to engage a trailing notch  26 , operatively positioned to cause the rows of recesses  18  to radially move around the axis  41  in increments equal to their incremental registered positions on the disk  12  and around the rotational axis  41 . 
     Because the recesses  18  holding individual fruits in the rows  16  on the disk  12 , sequentially move to registered positions around the axis  41 , the cherries or other fruit occupying the recesses  18  may be sequentially processed to remove the pits from their centers. An aperture  19  communicates from the bottom surface  21  of the disk  12 , opposite the recesses  18  in the top surface of the disk  12 . 
     At one incremental position of each row  16  containing cherries or fruit in the recesses  18 , the fruit is pitted by a plurality of powered needles  30  such as air driven translating pitting needles  30  which are driven by an air drive  31 ,through each respective fruit and through the aperture  19  communicating through the disk  12  with each respective recess  18 . 
     Adjacent to the underside of each such aperture  19  is a rubber or other flexible member  23  having a plurality of shaped apertures  25  therein dimensioned to slidably and cooperatively engage the exterior of the star shaped pitting needles  30  passing through the apertures  19  and the aligned shaped apertures  25 . The flexible member  23  contacting the star-shaped apertures  25  therein hugs the star-shaped needles  30  passing therethrough, and allows the pit to pass through one direction, but form an aperture too small to allow it to pass in the other direction. The small flexible blade portions  32  formed in apertures of the flexible member  23  conform to the shape of the stare-shaped needles  30  and hug its surface during translation and thereby pull the pit from the pitting needles  30  as they translate away from engagement therethrough. 
     So pulled, the pits fall into a collection container under the bottom surface  21 . Optionally but preferred, an optical system or other sensor  45  or other means to monitor pit removal, will monitor each aperture  19  from each recess  18  as the pit needles  30  pass, and ascertain if a pit has been accounted for by using light and or cameras and software adapted to the task. 
     For each aperture  19  and recess  18  combination where a pit is counted, the remaining fruit is pushed or blown using air jets  46  operatively connected to the air supply to remove the fruit that is now depitted from its depression  18  and into a collection container for good fruit. Should the sensors  45  sense that a pit has not been pushed from the fruit by the pitting needle  30 , that individual fruit ascertained to not have a pit removed, will be pushed or blown to a different collection container for reprocessing. In this fashion, it is determined that all fruit is pitted before moving from the device  12 . 
     Switching in the preferred mode is performed by air switches which operate based on the position of the disk  12  and the notches  26  in the registered radial positions. Those skilled in the art will realize that other means for switching may be employed such as electrical and such is anticipated. Due to the simplicity of using compressed air to operate the device  12 , and since most small farms and producers have a compressed air supply, the use of compressed air and air switching is especially preferred. 
     Biased flexible members  32  such as formed of spring steel, are provided as an additional means to maintain the disk  12  in individual registered positions or radial positions around the axis  41 . The members  32  have surfaces adapted to engage with the notches  26  in the disk  12  and provide a means to only allow one-way rotation in the direction away from the ramp  14  and toward the needles  30 . The Biased members  32  settling into the notches  26  may also be used as mechanical means to trip air switches (not shown) to cause the needles  30  to translate through the fruit to remove the pits. Of course other means to engage the notches  26  may be employed to temporarily hold the disk  12  in position and such is anticipated. 
     While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of the disclosed method of employing a rotating disk and pitting needles to pit fruit been described herein, with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure and it will be apparent that in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without the corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. It should be understood that such substitutions, modifications, and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all such modifications and variations are included within the scope of the invention as defined herein. 
     Further, the purpose of the herein disclosed abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.