System and method of de-stemming produce
First Claim
1. A de-stemming apparatus for de-stemming produce having a pod, a stem, and a calyx, comprising:
- a first conveyor unit having a top surface configured to convey the pod;
a second conveyor unit having a first portion proximate to the first conveyor unit and having a second portion disposed at an angle of greater than zero and less than 60 degrees relative to the first conveyor unit, a first portion of the first conveyor unit in parallel with the first portion of the second conveyor unit to define a gap between the first portion of the first conveyor unit and the first portion of the second conveyor unit;
the first portion of the second conveyor unit and the second portion of the second conveyor unit defining a pivot point;
a third conveyor unit arranged with the top surface of the first conveyor unit in parallel with a bottom surface of the third conveyor unit to define an opening to engage the pod between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit; and
at least one driving unit configured to drive at least one of the first conveyor unit, the second conveyor unit, and the third conveyor unit to convey the produce from a first point of the de-stemming apparatus past the pivot point to a second point of the de-stemming apparatus with the pod engaged in the opening between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit, and with the stem engaged by the second portion of the second conveyor unit, the at least one driving unit further configured to generate a separation force between the pod and the stem to separate at least a portion of the stem and at least a portion of the calyx from the pod during conveyance of the produce between the first point and the second point with the pod engaged in the opening between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit, and with the stem engaged by the second portion of the second conveyor unit.
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Abstract
Systems and methods of de-stemming produce are provided. An apparatus can process an item of produce having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion. The apparatus can include at least one first conveyor unit that can convey the first portion of the item of produce in a first direction. The apparatus can include at least one second conveyor unit that can convey the second portion of the item of produce in a second direction that differs from the first linear direction by between zero and 90 degrees to generate a separation force between the first portion of the item of produce and the second portion of the item of produce that separates the first portion from the second portion.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A de-stemming apparatus for de-stemming produce having a pod, a stem, and a calyx, comprising:
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a first conveyor unit having a top surface configured to convey the pod; a second conveyor unit having a first portion proximate to the first conveyor unit and having a second portion disposed at an angle of greater than zero and less than 60 degrees relative to the first conveyor unit, a first portion of the first conveyor unit in parallel with the first portion of the second conveyor unit to define a gap between the first portion of the first conveyor unit and the first portion of the second conveyor unit; the first portion of the second conveyor unit and the second portion of the second conveyor unit defining a pivot point; a third conveyor unit arranged with the top surface of the first conveyor unit in parallel with a bottom surface of the third conveyor unit to define an opening to engage the pod between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit; and at least one driving unit configured to drive at least one of the first conveyor unit, the second conveyor unit, and the third conveyor unit to convey the produce from a first point of the de-stemming apparatus past the pivot point to a second point of the de-stemming apparatus with the pod engaged in the opening between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit, and with the stem engaged by the second portion of the second conveyor unit, the at least one driving unit further configured to generate a separation force between the pod and the stem to separate at least a portion of the stem and at least a portion of the calyx from the pod during conveyance of the produce between the first point and the second point with the pod engaged in the opening between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit, and with the stem engaged by the second portion of the second conveyor unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 21, 22)
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18. An apparatus for processing an item of produce having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion, comprising:
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at least one first conveyor unit, at least one second conveyor unit, and at least one third conveyor unit; the at least one first conveyor unit having a top surface in parallel with a bottom surface of the at least one third conveyor unit to define an opening to engage the first portion of the item of produce between the top surface of the at least one first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the at least one third conveyor unit to convey the first portion of the item of produce in a first linear direction, a first portion of the at least one second conveyor unit and a second portion of the at least one second conveyor unit defining a pivot point; and the at least one second conveyor unit configured to convey the second portion of the item of produce in a second linear direction that differs from the first linear direction by less than 45 degrees to generate a separation force between the first portion of the item of produce and the second portion of the item of produce, with the first portion of the item of produce engaged in the opening, to separate the first portion from the second portion, the first portion of the at least one second conveyor unit in parallel with a first portion of the at least one first conveyor unit to define a gap between the first portion of the at least one first conveyor unit and the first portion of the at least one second conveyor unit. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An apparatus for processing produce, comprising:
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means for conveying produce having a pod and a stem from a first point past a pivot point to a second point with the pod fixed in a first trajectory and the stem fixed in a second trajectory that deviates from the first trajectory by an angle greater than zero and less than 45 degrees to generate a separation force between the pod and the stem that separates at least a portion of the stem from the pod during conveyance from the first point through the second point, the means for conveying the produce comprising; a first conveyor unit, a second conveyor unit, and a third conveyor unit; the first conveyor unit having a first portion in parallel with a first portion of the second conveyor unit to define a gap between the first portion of the first conveyor unit and the first portion of the second conveyor unit; the first portion of the second conveyor unit and a second portion of the second conveyor unit arranged to define the pivot point; and a top surface of the first conveyor unit in parallel with a bottom surface of the third conveyor unit to define an opening to engage the pod between the top surface of the first conveyor unit and the bottom surface of the third conveyor unit.
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Specification