Apparatus and method for fruit decapping
AssigneeAgrobot Inc.
InventorJuan Bravo Trinidad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fruit decapping apparatus and method, particularly suited for strawberries. The fruits items (100) are placed by a robotic arm (200) in a lateral aperture (310) of a plate (300), leaving the calyx (120) and the main body (130) below the plate (300). When the robotic arm (200) pulls from the peduncle (110), the plate (300) also pulls from an elastic connection (500). This movement is detected by a sensor (600) which activates a pair of blades (800) solidarily disposed under the lateral aperture (310) of the plate (300).
Claims14
A decapping apparatus for fruits having a peduncle, a calyx and a main body;
- the decapping apparatus comprising:
- a plate horizontally arranged and comprising at least a lateral aperture at one of the plate edges, and wherein the plate is attached to a base through at least one elastic connection, so that the plate is displaceable relative to the base;
- an automated robotic arm adapted to retrieve the fruit by its peduncle and place said peduncle in the lateral aperture leaving the calyx and main body below the plate;
- and to pull the fruit from its peduncle;
- at least a sensor adapted to detect a relative movement between the plate and the base;
- and
- cutting means comprising at least one pair of blades adapted to at least partially cut the calix out from the main body when the relative movement is detected.
A method of decapping fruits having a peduncle, a calyx and a main body;
- the method comprising:
- retrieving fruits, by the peduncle with an automated robotic arm;
- placing said fruits in a lateral aperture of a plate, leaving the calyx and the main body below the plate;
- pulling from the peduncle so that the main body is pressed against the plate and the plate is moved,
- detecting the movement of the plate;
- and
- activating cutting means comprising at least one pair of blades to at least partially cut the calyx when movement of the plate is detected.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.