Patent Publication Number: US-2023137372-A1

Title: Fruit processing device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/263259, filed Oct. 29, 2021, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Currently, avocados and other “soft” fruit are processed manually where the corresponding pulp is required to remain intact. Not only is this a time-consuming, labor-intensive process, but it is also becoming difficult to attract workers who desire to perform this type of manual, repetitive work. Drum or roller squeeze systems currently exist that are capable of processing the avocado pulp into a paste or puree product. This processing method is not suitable where retaining chunks or solids content is required. For the US guacamole market, 30% solids or greater content is required by customers; for Asian markets, 50% or greater solids content is required. Avocado peelers exist for peeling the husk of the fruit, but do not split, pit, or dice or cut the fruit. These machines are semiautomatic and too slow to be cost effective for large-scale fruit processors. 
     Thus, there is an immediate industry need for an automated system and method of splitting and pitting the fruit and then removing the pulp from the husk in solid form. Moreover, it is desirable that the processing system be able to accommodate various size fruit with various pit sizes, without having to change machine components while processing the fruit, with minimal damage to the pulp, and with minimal pulp loss. The system and method of the present disclosure seek to achieve these results. 
     SUMMARY 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for processing fruit is provided. The apparatus includes flexible holding cups shaped for receiving a fruit; a splitting device to split the fruit while held by the holding cups, a plunger for ejecting the pit from the split fruit, a fruit pulp removal screen pressable into the holding cups to extract the fruit pulp from the fruit husk, and a collector to collect the fruit pulp extracted from the fruit husk by the removal screen. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the holding cups are shaped to resemble the shape of the fruit being processed. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the holding cups are of flexible construction to adapt to the shape and size of the fruit being processed. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the holding cups are in the form of two halves that close towards each other to retain the fruit when being split by the splitting device. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein each holding cup retains half of the fruit after being split. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein a cover extends over the holding cups to retain a fruit half in the holding cup while the plunger operates to remove the pit from the fruit. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the holding cups are located along the outer perimeter of a pair of delivery carousels that are disposed relative to each other to cause a holding cup from each delivery carousel to together hold the fruit being processed while maintaining a separation between the holding cups for passage of the splitting device during splitting of the fruit. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the holding cups are formed in the perimeters of the delivery carousels. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the fruit splitter is selected from the group consisting of a water jet, a saw, a knife. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the plunger is positioned to extend through the holding cups and is in alignment with the pit of the fruit. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the removal screen is formed in a convex exterior shape to engage into the holding cups and cause the fruit pulp to pass through the screen openings. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the removal screen forces a fruit pit remaining in the holding cup out through the husk and out through the holding cup. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the shape of the removal screen is selected from a shape selected from the group consisting of: the shape of the holding cup, the shape of the fruit, the shape of a prolate semi-spheroid, a semi-spherical shape. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the removal screens are located along the outer perimeter of a removal carousel, the removal carousel rotating in synchronization with a corresponding delivery carousel to place a removal screen in registry with a holding cup. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a toggle assembly to toggle the removal screen within a holding cup to shear the fruit pulp from the husk. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the removal screen is adapted to carry the fruit husk away from the holding cup. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a husk remover to remove the husk from the removal screen. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the husk overlies the removal screen and the husk remover forces the husk off the removal screen by pressing against the portion of the husk overlying the removal screen. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the husk remover is selected from the group consisting of a water jet, an air jet, a plunger. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising a roller positioned to roll against the convex side of a holding cup to extract the husk from the holding cup if the husk remains within the holding cup after the fruit pulp is extracted from the husk. 
     A method is provided for processing fruit. The method includes placing a fruit in two adjacent holding cups shaped for together receiving the fruit, splitting the fruit while held by the holding cups, ejecting the pit from the split fruit, pressing removal screens into the split fruit to remove the fruit pulp from the husk by forcing the fruit pulp through the screen openings, and collecting the fruit pulp extracted from the fruit husk. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the removal screens are toggled relative to the holding cups to shear the fruit pulp from the fruit husk. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising splitting the fruit with a device selected from the group consisting of a water jet, a saw, a knife. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising using a plunger to push the pit from the split fruit. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising pressing the removal screen into the holding cup so that the husk becomes attached to the removal screen. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising removing the husk from the removal screen. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, wherein the husk is removed from the removal screen by applying a water jet, an air jet, or a plunger against the husk. 
     In any of the embodiments described herein, further comprising removing a husk that remains in a holding cup by flexing the holding cup to dislodge the husk from the holding cup. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying FIGURE, which schematically illustrates an exemplary fruit processing apparatus and method of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following description and in the accompanying drawing, corresponding systems, assemblies, apparatus, and units may be identified by the same part number, but with an alpha suffix. the descriptions of the parts/components of such systems assemblies, apparatus, and units that are the same or similar are not repeated so as to avoid redundancy in the present application. 
     The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings, where like numerals reference like elements, is intended as a description of various embodiments of the disclosed subject matter and is not intended to represent the only embodiments. Each embodiment described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration and should not be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The illustrative examples provided herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the precise forms disclosed. Similarly, any steps described herein may be interchangeable with other steps, or combinations of steps, in order to achieve the same or substantially similar result. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that many embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of the specific details. In some instances, well known process steps have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure various aspects of the present disclosure. Further, it will be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure may employ any combination of features described herein. 
     The present application may include references to “directions,” such as “forward,” “rearward,” “front,” “back,” “ahead,” “behind,” “upward,” “downward,” “above,” “below,” “horizontal,” “vertical,” “top,” “bottom,” “right hand,” “left hand,” “in,” “out,” “extended,” “advanced,” “retracted,” “proximal,” and “distal.” These references and other similar references in the present application are only to assist in helping describe and understand the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the present invention to these directions. 
     The present application may include modifiers such as the words “generally,” “approximately,” “about,” or “substantially.” These are meant to serve as modifiers to indicate that the “dimension,” “shape,” “temperature,” “time,” or other physical parameter in question need not be exact, but instead may vary as long as the function that is required to be performed can be carried out. For example, in the phrase “generally circular in shape,” the shape need not be exactly circular as long as the required function of the structure in question can be carried out. 
     A fruit processing apparatus  8  is disclosed in the FIGURE as including, in basic form, a chute  10  through which fruit  12  travel from a supply source and into one of a series of holding cups  14 , or simply cups  14 , positioned around the perimeter of a first rotating indexing delivery wheel or carousel  16 . A second rotating indexing delivery wheel or carousel  18  is located side by side the first delivery carousel  16 . The second delivery carousel  18  also includes a series of cups  14  positioned around its perimeter. Two corresponding cups  14  from the rotating delivery carousels  16  and  18  close towards each other to cooperatively form a cavity to retain the fruit  12  therein. However, a small separation remains between the two cups  14  through which passes a splitting device  20  for splitting the fruit in two sections or halves  12 A, with one section/half remaining within each of the two cups  14 . As the delivery carousels  16  and  18  continue to rotate, the two cups  14  separate from each other after the splitting of the fruit, whereupon covers  22  extend over the cups  14  to retain the fruit halves  12 A therein. 
     A pitter  24  in the form of a plunger projects forwardly through the fruit husk  36  and against the fruit pit  26  to eject the pit from the fruit. A rotating indexing removal wheel or carousel  30  is positioned adjacent and in close proximity to each of the delivery carousels  16  and  18 . A series of radially outwardly projecting removal screens  32  are positioned around the perimeters of the removal carousels  30 . The removal screens  32  are configured to press into the fruit halves  12 A disposed in the holding cups  14  to force the fruit pulp  38  out through the screen openings  34 , thereby to extract the fruit pulp  38  from the husk  36  in the form of cubes or other desirable shapes. 
     If, after the extraction of the fruit pulp  38 , the husk  36  remains in the cup  14 , a roller  40  presses against the convex surface of the cup to eject the husk  36  from the cup. If, on the other hand, the husk  36  is transferred to a removal screen  32 , the husk is ejected from the removal screen by an air blast or other means. 
     Next describing the fruit processing apparatus  8  in more detail, fruit  12  is delivered to the chute  10  in single file from a V belt conveyor  50  or other delivery mechanism wherein the fruit has been or is singulated so as to enter the chute one at a time. This enables each fruit  12  to be loaded on to a cup  14  by gravity as the cup is rotating near the top of the carousel  16 . Although not essential, the cups  14  may be shaped to generally correspond to the shape of the fruit. For example, if the fruit is oblong in shape, the cups may also be oblong in shape in the direction of the circumference of the delivery carousels  16  and  18 . However, if the fruit is substantially spherical in shape, then the cups  14  may be generally semi-spherical in shape. 
     In addition, the cups  14  may be composed of a flexible, but durable, material so as to conform or adapt to the size and exterior shape of the fruit  12 . The cups  14  may be mounted to the outer perimeter of the delivery carousels  16  and  18 . In this regard, the cups are attached in place so as to provide clearance behind the cups to enable the cups to conform to the shape of the fruit  12 . Alternatively, the cups may be integrally constructed as part of the delivery carousels  16  and  18 . In this alternative configuration, clearance is provided behind the base of the cups to allow the cups to flex or otherwise conform to the shape of the fruit  12 . 
     The delivery carousels  16  and  18  are depicted as having twelve cups  14  each. However, the number of cups associated with each of the delivery carousels  16  and  18  may be fewer in number or greater in number depending on various factors, for example, the size of the fruit  12  being processed and the speed of operation of the processing system  8 . 
     The delivery carousels  16  and  18  are rotated on axles  52 , which are in turn powered by a drive system in a synchronized manner so that the cups  14  of the carousels align with each other when the cups come together, as discussed below. 
     As the fruit  12  travels from the top of carousel  16  and downwardly towards carousel  18 , the fruit is held within the cups  14  of carousel  16  by a cover  54  extending from the end of the chute  10 . As shown in the FIGURE, the cover  54  is curved to correspond to the curved perimeter defined by the fruit being carried in the cups  14 . The cover  54  terminates at a location just short of the delivery carousel  18 , whereupon the fruit  12  is captured by the cups  14  of both delivery carousels  16  and  18 . 
     As noted above, when the two corresponding cups  14  are positioned at their closest locations relative to each other, they cooperatively form a cavity for retaining and holding the fruit  12  therein. However, the holding cups  14  of the delivery carousels  16  and  18  do not actually touch each other, but rather a small gap or slot exists there between. The splitting device  20  passes through the gap between the cups  14  to split the fruit  12  into two sections or halves  12 A. 
     The splitting device  20  can take various forms. For example, the splitting device can be in the form of a high-speed water jet that passes through the gap. As further examples, the splitting device can be in the form of a saw or a knife. If a knife, it can be in the form of a rotating blade that is capable of quickly passing through the gap. 
     Curved covers  22  extend along the perimeter of delivery carousels  16  and  18  from the splitting gap to a location close to the perimeter of the removal carousels  30  to retain the fruit sections  12 A in corresponding cups  14 . The covers  22  can continue to extend along a portion of the removal carousels  30  as shown in the FIGURE. The covers  22  need not be of solid construction, but can be in the form of, for example, spaced apart rails so that the fruit pits  26  can pass through the covers (between the rails) when ejected by the pitter  24 . 
     The pitter  24  is illustrated as being in the form of a plunger extending through the holding cup  14  and the husk  36  to impact against the fruit pit  26 , causing the pit to be ejected through the cover  22  to fall downwardly into a disposal location. A collection bin or other receptacle system can be used to collect the pits  26  for disposal or for use, such as compost. The pitter  24  can take forms other than as illustrated. Also, a slot or other configuration of opening can be formed in the cup to allow clearance for the plunger when extended to eject the pit  26 . 
     The removal carousels  30  rotate on axles  56  in synchronization with the delivery carousels  16  and  18  so that removal screens  32  coincide with the locations of the cups  14 . As such, a removal screen  32  engages into a holding cup  14  as the delivery carousel  16  and  18  and the removal carousels  30  continuously rotate. The axles  56  may be driven by the same drive system used to drive axles  52 . 
     The removal screens  32  can be of various shapes or configurations. As one example, as shown in the FIGURE, the removal screen  32  is generally semi spherical in shape so as to generally match the shape of the holding cup  14 . If the cup  14  is of a different shape, such as in the form of a prolate semi-spheroid, then the removal screen can be correspondingly shaped. The screen will be made of stainless steel or other hygienic material (round, flat or geometrical). The openings in the screen can be of various sizes and geometric shape, depending on the intended use of the pulp. 
     The removal screen  32  is mounted on an open swivel base  60  to support the removal screen as the screen enters into the fruit husk  36 , thereby pressing through the fruit pulp. This action of the removal screen causes the fruit pulp to pass though the screen openings and fall downwardly through the open base  60  and into a pulp collection area. In this regard, the base  60  is toggled relative to the husk  36  to shear the pulp from the husk. The toggling can be accomplished via a cam system operating between the base  60  and the carousel  30 , by an actuator acting on the base  60 , or by another system. Partitions  62  can be positioned below the open base  60  to direct the removed fruit pulp  38  to the collection area. 
     Through this process, the fruit pulp  38  is divided into shapes having a cross-section corresponding to the shape of the openings in the removal screen. For example, if the screen openings are square in shape, the fruit pulp  38  will be square in cross-section. As such, the fruit pulp  38  when removed from the husk will be divided generally into cubes or cube-like shapes. On the other hand, if the screen openings are triangular in shape, the fruit pulp is divided into shapes having a triangular cross section. 
     The machine can also be adapted with different screens to produce fruit slices, halves, or full or depth-controlled segments. For example, if larger fruit is being processed, the removal screen system could be designed to penetrate part way into the husk and then the screen toggled so that cube-shaped pieces (or other shapes) of the pulp are formed, and then penetrating to the husk to cut a second set of cube-shaped pieces from the pulp. 
     If the pitter  24  fails to remove the fruit pit  26  from the fruit half  12 A, the removal screen  32  presses the pit through the husk  36  and then out through the holding cup  14  for disposal. 
     Once the fruit pulp has been separated, the husk  36  is removed from the holding cup  14 . In this regard, if the husk  36  remains in the holding cup  14 , a roller  40  is used to roll against the convex side of the holding cup to sufficiently flex or otherwise deform the holding cup as shown in the FIGURE, which causes the husk to detach from the cup. The detached husk  36  is directed to a husk collection area for disposal. In this regard, a partition  70  can be used to help direct the detached husk  36  to the collection area. 
     If the husk  36  does not remain within the cup  14 , but instead is transferred to the removal screen  32 , the husk can be removed from the removal screen, for instance, by directing a blast of air through the open base  60  of the removal screen, thereby to detach the husk from the removal screen, causing the husk to fall downwardly into the collection area. Again, in this regard, the partition  70  can be used to direct the detached husk to the collection area. 
     After removal of the husk  36  from the removal screen  32 , the screen is cleaned before it again functions to remove the fruit pulp  38  from the fruit sections  12 A. In this regard, a wiper  72  can be used to wipe the pulp from the exterior of the screen. Also, pressurized air or water can be directed to and through the removal screen to remove any fruit pulp that may have lodged on the screen. Thereafter, the removal screen  30  continues along a rotational path to encounter a removal cup  14  to repeat the process of harvesting the fruit pulp  38 . 
     While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
     For example, although one set of delivery carousels  16  and  18 , with corresponding removal carousels  30 , are shown in the FIGURE, to increase production, one or more further sets of delivery carousels  16  and  18 , along with corresponding removal carousels  30 , can be located in adjacent relationship to the depicted carousels  16 ,  18 , and  30 . The one or more further sets can be driven by the same axles  52  and  56 . 
     A desired production speed is to process at least two fruits (item  12 ) per second. It is possible that this production level can be met with one set of delivery carousels  16  and  18  and corresponding removal carousels  30 . But, if need be, or if a higher production level is desired, as noted above additional sets of delivery and removal carousels can be used. 
     Also, the present apparatus and method can be used to process various types of fruits, including for example, avocados, kiwi, mango, melons and cantaloupe. Each of these types of fruits have a substantial husk. The present disclosure can be used with other types of fruits with or without substantial husks, such as papaya, or even with vegetables, such as squash or pumpkin. If the fruit/vegetable does not have a pit, but instead has seeds at its center, the pitter  24  can be replaced with a scraper or other tool to remove the seeds prior to collecting the fruit pulp. 
     In addition, the removal screen can be configured as a series of curved, parallel spaced-apart blades that cut the fruit pulp  38  into slices as the removal screen is pressed into the husk. The slices are removed from the husk as the blades are toggled relative to the husk in the manner described above. If the toggling occurs about a horizontal axis, the blades can be disposed in a vertical orientation, so that the slices are sheared from the husk during the toggling. 
     Further, the removal screen can be configured to cut the fruit pulp into halves, quarters, etc. as desired. The removal screen thus configured can be operated in the same manner as described above.