US 2012/0070555 A1 · Continuous Fruit Pitting By Singularization of Fruit Pieces

Abstract

Described is a pitting machine, system and process that singularizes or individualizes fruit pieces, such as cherries, olives, dates and plums and that attempts to remove pits and pit material from each fruit piece. A conveyor comprises depressions, wells or receptacles for accepting fruit pieces for processing. The conveyor accepts fruit pieces into wells, passes the fruit pieces into a pitting area wherein the pitting machine removes pit material from the fruit pieces by a matrix of punching needles or pitting needles. The matrix moves in an oscillatory fashion in synchronization with generally continuous movement of the fruit pieces engaged in the conveyor. The singularization enables easier and better processing, sorting, and quality checking of fruit pieces. Quality checking may be done before and after pitting of fruit pieces. Quality checking may include desired color and size of each fruit piece. Quality checking virtually ensures successful or sufficient removal of pits and pit material. Any fruit piece that fails quality checking can be ejected or rejected from the conveyor.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A pitting machine for removing pit material from fruit pieces, the pitting machine comprising:

a conveyor comprising a plurality of conveyor links, wherein each conveyor link of a plurality of conveyor links comprises a set of wells for accepting a fruit piece, wherein each well is contiguous with a needle aperture of sufficient size to accept passage of a pitting needle through the respective well and through a corresponding needle aperture, and wherein the conveyor is capable of continuously operating;
and
a punching head comprising a matrix of pitting needles positioned near the conveyor, the punching head and a corresponding portion of the conveyor forming a fruit pitting area, wherein the punching head is capable of intermittently aligning with the corresponding portion of the conveyor, and wherein the punching head is capable of intermittently punching the matrix of pitting needles through the wells and through corresponding needle apertures of the wells of the corresponding portion of the conveyor, the punching of the matrix of pitting needles thereby attempting to remove pit material from fruit pieces which reside in respective wells of the corresponding plurality of conveyor links.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Continuous Fruit Pitting By Singularization of Fruit Pieces

Life of this patent

Continuous Fruit Pitting By Singularization of Fruit Pieces

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20