Apparatus and method for pitting drupes

A device for pitting drupes, the device comprising:

• at least one support member to receive a drupe, the at least one support member having at least one opening;
• and
• at least one knife for pitting the drupe, the at least one knife defining an internal bore for permitting a fluid to pass axially through a tip of the knife and favoring ejection of a pitted element from the drupe;
• the at least one knife and the at least one support member being movable with respect to one another;
• wherein the at least one knife is connected to a knife actuator, the knife actuator displacing the at least one knife, the knife actuator connected to a punch that comprises a punch piston and a punch base, the punch base comprising a manifold distributing the fluid to the internal bore of the at least one knife;
• wherein the at least one knife comprises a fluid inlet on a side surface that connects to the internal bore, the internal bore comprising a longitudinal bore extending to the tip of the knife and a radial bore connected to the longitudinal bore and the fluid inlet.

A method for pitting drupes, the method comprising:

• placing at least one drupe on a support member comprising at least one opening;
• and
• inserting at least one knife into the at least one drupe and injecting a fluid through an internal bore of the at least one knife and out through a tip of the at least one knife to eject a pit out of the at least one drupe and through the at least one opening, the at least one knife comprising a spring for absorbing shocks and preventing damage of the at least one knife, the spring surrounding a part of the at least one knife in a slide fit relation;
• wherein the at least one knife is connected to a knife actuator, the knife actuator displacing the at least one knife, the knife actuator connected to a punch piston that comprises a manifold, the manifold distributing the fluid to the internal bore of the at least one knife, the at least one knife being connected to the punch piston;
• wherein a plurality of knives are connected to the punch piston and the manifold distributes air to the plurality of knives, the manifold being in fluid flow communication with the internal bore of the knives;
• and
• wherein the punch piston comprises an inlet for receiving the fluid such that the inlet is in fluid flow communication with the manifold, and wherein the manifold is in fluid flow communication with a plurality of outlets that are in fluid flow communication with the plurality of knives.

A method for pitting drupes, the method comprising:

• placing at least one drupe on a conveyor comprising at least one support member, wherein the at least one drupe is placed on the at least one support member and wherein the at least one support member comprises an opening;
• activating a knife actuator connected to at least one knife to position the at least one knife into the at least one drupe, the at least one knife defining an internal bore for permitting a fluid to pass through a tip of the at least one knife;
• and
• injecting fluid axially through the tip of the at least one knife to eject a pit and/or residues out of the at least one drupe and through the opening;
• wherein the knife actuator displaces the at least one knife, the knife actuator being connected to a punch that comprises a punch piston and a punch base, the punch base comprising a manifold, the manifold distributing the fluid to the internal bore of the at least one knife, the at least one knife being connected to the punch piston;
• wherein a plurality of knives are connected to the punch base and the manifold distributes air to the plurality of knives, the manifold being in fluid flow communication with the internal bore of the knives;
• and
• wherein the punch base comprises an inlet for receiving the fluid such that the inlet is in fluid flow communication with the manifold, and wherein the manifold is in fluid flow communication with a plurality of outlets that are in fluid flow communication with the plurality of knives.