DE102019000091B4 - Device for pruning a fruit - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (16) for trimming a fruit (10), with a contact surface (20) for a surface of the fruit (10), a knife (21) and a knife bearing, wherein the knife (21) is designed and mounted in such a way that during trimming by a single knife movement relative to the contact surface (20) a three-dimensional cutting channel (12) open at the top can be produced on the surface of the fruit (10), characterized in that the knife (21) is pivotable and has a spherically convexly curved cutting edge (26).

Description

The invention relates to a device for pruning a fruit.

The term fruit should be understood in the broadest sense here. In particular, it refers to plant-based, voluminous (as opposed to leaves), edible bodies or field, tree and shrub fruits, preferably without a continuously woody surface, with undesirable spots or sections on a surface or close to a surface. The fruit is preferably a strawberry with a green stem, from which the green stem should be removed.

So-called strawberry corers are well-known, with four metal fingers that can be moved apart against the pressure of a spring. They are pressed into the strawberry in the area of the stem to corer it and then pulled out of the strawberry with the stem after the spring pressure is released. Operating the well-known strawberry corer is cumbersome and strenuous.

The DE 1 733 121 U discloses a cigar cutter with a front opening, a side opening and a knife called a cutter on a pivoting arm. The cutter is wedge-shaped.

The DE 1 876 755 U reveals a cigar cutter with a pivoting knife and V-shaped knife blade.

DE 2 332 131 A discloses a device for cutting fruit and vegetables into predetermined shapes. Examples include oranges, lemons, tomatoes. The cut is intended to produce a shape similar to a flower blossom, i.e. a shape in which the fruit or vegetable is cut in half, but in which the side edges have a jagged shape and thus the appearance of a flower or petal. Several V-shaped blades are provided which slide on V-shaped supports and are provided with pins on their upper side which act as drivers. The pins are guided in curved paths. The blades can be moved in a radial direction by a single movement of an attachment.

The DE 34 15 691 A1 discloses a cutting device for crown-shaped cutting of fruit, with several V-shaped blades arranged in a star shape around a fruit holder. The blades sit on roof-shaped guide surfaces and can be moved linearly. Driving pins on the blades engage in spiral grooves in a rotating upper housing section. By rotating the upper housing section, all blades can be moved simultaneously in the radial direction, i.e. in the direction of the fruit holder and back again. This is an improvement of the DE 2 332 131 A known device.

The DE 20 2006 007 891 U1 discloses a cutting device for separating the core or stem, peel and pulp of a fruit, in particular a pineapple. A first cutting edge is provided on a first side for removing the core or stem and a second cutting edge is provided on a second side for cutting out the pulp.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved device for pruning a fruit, in particular for destemming strawberries.

This is achieved with a device according to claim 1. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

In particular, the device for trimming a fruit is provided with a contact surface for a surface of the fruit, with a knife and a knife bearing, the knife being designed and mounted in such a way that when trimming, a three-dimensional cutting channel that is open at the top can be produced on the surface of the fruit by a single knife movement relative to the contact surface. A channel naturally has a longitudinal direction. The intended cutting channel extends on the surface of the fruit and is open to the outside in relation to the fruit. If the knife is designed accordingly, the cutting channel can be produced by a single knife movement in the longitudinal direction of the cutting channel. In contrast to the prior art, the knife does not have to be moved in and out of the strawberry in order to separate the stem from the strawberry. The knife movement cuts a strand from the surface of the fruit that corresponds to the dimensions of the cutting channel. If the fruit is positioned appropriately on the contact surface, the separated strand contains the stem and/or another undesirable spot on the surface of the fruit. In addition, the string may contain another mass of fruit that could have remained on the fruit but is insignificant in terms of mass.

According to a further idea of the invention, the contact surface can be designed to be uncurved or concavely curved, with the cutting channel in particular having a curvature in its longitudinal direction that is opposite to a curvature of the surface of the fruit. Preferably, the contact surface is adapted to the presumed or expected curvature of the surface of the fruit, i.e. concave, especially spherically concave, so that the force acting on the fruit through the contact surface is as low as possible per area. Depending on the design of the knife and the knife movement, the cutting channel runs exclusively in a straight line or is curved in a direction deviating from the longitudinal direction, so that the cutting channel can partially or predominantly reach deeper into the fruit than without a curve.

According to a further idea of the invention, the cutting edge can have a partially circular profile transverse to its direction of movement.

A part-circular profile preferably extends over 30° to 180° or 30° to 120°, in particular over 40° to 90° or 50° to 70°. Depending on the profile of the cutting edge, a correspondingly shaped strand is created, which is cut out of the fruit by the knife movement.

• - aus der Ausnehmung in Richtung auf die Frucht austritt und wieder in die Ausnehmung eintritt oder
• - zumindest aus der Ausnehmung in Richtung auf die Frucht austritt oder
• - zumindest in die Ausnehmung eintritt.

According to a further idea of the invention, the contact surface can have a recess, whereby the knife during trimming

• - exits the recess towards the fruit and re-enters the recess or
• - at least emerges from the recess in the direction of the fruit or
• - at least enters the recess.

The contact surface is therefore provided in the area of the knife. The recess can accommodate at least part of the unwanted part of the fruit to be cut out and thus serves as a positioning aid.

According to a further idea of the invention, the contact surface can additionally or alternatively be provided at least laterally next to the knife, so that the contact surface supports the fruit against the knife movement during pruning. The contact surface therefore absorbs the pressure acting on the fruit during pruning. The contact surface preferably extends both in the area of the knife and next to the knife. This means an area of the contact surface that adjoins the knife movement.

According to a further idea of the invention, the recess in the contact surface can be a gap running in one direction. The gap preferably extends in the direction of the knife movement.

According to a further idea of the invention, the device can have a handle which is connected to the contact surface. The handle is the support for the contact surface and enables simple and effortless handling of the device. Preferably, the handle and contact surface are directly connected to one another. However, there can also be only an indirect connection, for example via a support or another intermediate piece.

According to a further idea of the invention, the handle can have the contact surface or a recess for the blade of the knife or the contact surface and the recess at one end. The contact surface preferably forms the end of the handle. In particular, the knife can be moved in a longitudinal plane of the handle, namely with the blade transverse to the longitudinal axis of the handle. The recess can be provided in a front side of the handle. The front side can also be designed as a contact surface or be connected to it.

According to a further idea of the invention, the knife can be stored in the handle. This absorbs the forces that occur when the knife moves as best as possible. There is also enough space in the handle to store the knife.

According to a further idea of the invention, the knife can be detachably connected to the rest of the device. The detachable connection allows the knife to be easily cleaned after use.

According to a further idea of the invention, the knife can be pivoted about a rotation axis. The rotation axis preferably runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the handle and approximately centrally, based on a thickness of the handle. The handle can have a recess in particular on the side for inserting the knife.

According to a further idea of the invention, the knife can be pivoted about a detachable pin. The pin preferably defines the axis of rotation of the knife with its longitudinal axis.

According to the invention, the knife or parts thereof, such as the cutting edge, can be made of metal, steel, non-metal, plastic, ceramic or other material, even in a composite of different materials.

According to a further idea of the invention, the pin can be inserted into the handle, namely transversely to the length of the handle, whereby the pin in the handle is secured against movement in the lengthwise direction of the pin. By releasing the pin's lock, the pin can be pulled out of the handle. The knife can then be removable. The pin preferably has a rigid thickening at one end and a compressible thickening of its cross-section at the other end, with a particularly conical outer contour. The thickening can also be movable or bendable inwards. The material and its spring properties are adapted to this. The aim is manual handling, so that the pin can be inserted into suitable holes in the handle and can be removed again by pressing on the non-rigid thickenings.

According to a further idea of the invention, a spring can be provided against whose pressure the knife can be moved. The spring is preferably mounted in the handle. It is preferably a V-shaped spring with two legs that are pressed against each other when the knife is operated, i.e. when the knife moves.

According to the invention, the spring can be made of metal, steel, non-metal, plastic or other material, even in a composite of different materials.

According to a further idea of the invention, a stop can be provided to limit the movement of the knife during trimming. The stop is preferably part of the handle. The knife has a counter stop corresponding to the stop.

According to a further idea of the invention, the knife can have a cutting holder on which a cutting edge is held, wherein the cutting holder is movably mounted on the knife bearing and the cutting holder in particular has a pressure surface, namely for the placement of a finger or a hand of an operator. The knife movement is carried out by pressure on the pressure surface.

The knife bearing is, for example, the removable pin in the handle. The cutting holder has a suitable hole at one end to accommodate the pin. The cutting edge is provided at the opposite end. The cutting holder can have the counter stop and a recess for the spring on the side.

According to a further idea of the invention, the elongated handle can have a knife with a contact surface at each end. The contact surface and/or knife at one end can differ in size and shape from the contact surface and/or the knife at the other end, so that fruits of different sizes can be trimmed with the same device.

In particular, the fruit is placed on its surface for trimming on a contact surface and, using a knife with a curved or beveled cutting edge, a three-dimensional cutting channel is created on the top, i.e. open to the surface of the fruit, with a single knife movement. Placing the fruit on the contact surface enables precise positioning. By reducing trimming to just one knife movement, economical work is possible. Using the knife with a specially shaped cutting edge enables processing with little waste in just one movement.

The knife movement can be carried out along a path that is concavely curved relative to a chord to the circumference of the fruit. The knife movement described refers in particular to the movement of the cutting edge. The chord is a straight line that intersects the surface of the fruit at two points. The knife movement runs along a path that is concavely curved relative to the straight line. This means that the path of the knife movement penetrates deeper into the fruit between the points of intersection with the surface than the chord. In all cases, the fruit can be trimmed with a single knife movement.

The open cutting channel may have a maximum depth that is less than 50% of the total height of the fruit in that region, in particular less than 25% of the total height of the fruit. Preferably, the maximum depth of the cutting channel is between 10% and 30% of the total height of the fruit.

The open cutting channel may have a width that is less than 60% of the width of the fruit. Preferably, the width is 20 to 50% of the width of the fruit.

The fruit can be provided with a three-dimensional cutting channel on the top, namely open towards the surface of the fruit. In particular, the fruit is a strawberry, pineapple, mango, tomato, potato, pear, apple or peach. Preferably, the cutting channel runs across the area where the green stem of the strawberry was previously. In addition, the fruit can have the features resulting from the device described above.

• 1a eine beschnittene Frucht in der Seitenansicht, nämlich eine Erdbeere, mit oberseitig vorgesehenem Schnittkanal nach Entfernung eines Erdbeerstrunks,
• 1b die Frucht gemäß 1a in einer Ansicht von oben,
• 2a eine Vorrichtung zum Beschneiden der Frucht in perspektivischer Darstellung und ohne Messer,
• 2b die Vorrichtung gemäß 2a in anderer Ansicht,
• 3a die Vorrichtung gemäß 2a, jedoch mit Messer,
• 3b die Vorrichtung gemäß 3a in anderer Ansicht,
• 4a die Vorrichtung gemäß 3a in Seitenansicht und mit eingedrücktem Messer,
• 4b die Vorrichtung gemäß 3a in einer anderen Seitenansicht,
• 5a die Vorrichtung gemäß 3a mit ausgefedertem Messer,
• 5b die Vorrichtung gemäß 5a in anderer Ansicht,
• 6a die Vorrichtung der 4b, jedoch mit zwei Messern und Anlageflächen, nämlich für unterschiedlich große Früchte,
• 6b die Vorrichtung gemäß 6a in anderer Seitenansicht und ebenso mit ausgefederten Messern,
• 7 die Vorrichtung gemäß 4a in einem Längsschnitt und mit kugelförmiger Frucht,
• 8a das Messer in einer Stirnansicht,
• 8b das Messer in einer perspektivischen Darstellung,
• 8c das Messer in Seitenansicht,
• 8d das Messer in einer weiteren perspektivischen Darstellung.

Further features of the invention emerge from the description and from the claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. They show:

• 1a a cut fruit in side view, namely a strawberry, with top intended cutting channel after removal of a strawberry stem,
• 1b the fruit according to 1a in a view from above,
• 2a a device for trimming the fruit in perspective view and without a knife,
• 2 B the device according to 2a in another view,
• 3a the device according to 2a , but with a knife,
• 3b the device according to 3a in another view,
• 4a the device according to 3a in side view and with the knife pressed in,
• 4b the device according to 3a in a different side view,
• 5a the device according to 3a with extended knife,
• 5b the device according to 5a in another view,
• 6a the device of 4b , but with two knives and contact surfaces, namely for different sized fruits,
• 6b the device according to 6a in a different side view and also with extended knives,
• 7 the device according to 4a in a longitudinal section and with spherical fruit,
• 8a the knife in a front view,
• 8b the knife in a perspective view,
• 8c the knife in side view,
• 8d the knife in another perspective view.

In 1a A strawberry is shown as fruit 10. After harvesting, this has a green strawberry stalk (not shown) on its upper side 11, which is to be removed before serving. To do this, a cutting channel 12 is made in the fruit 10 using a suitable knife, which runs transversely to a vertical axis 13, is open at the top and is spherically concavely curved, i.e. has a curvature both relative to its longitudinal direction 14 and relative to its transverse direction 15.

The cutting channel 12 is just wide and deep enough to safely remove the strawberry stem (not shown). In the direction of the vertical axis 13, the cutting channel 12 has a depth of approximately 10 to 30% of the height of the fruit 10. The width of the cutting channel 12 in the transverse direction 15 is approximately 20 to 50% of the width of the fruit 10. In its longitudinal direction 14, the cutting channel 12 extends over 60 to 100%, in particular 70 to 90% of the dimensions of the fruit 10 in this direction.

A device 16 for trimming the fruit 10 and for forming the cutting channel 12 is based on the shape of an ice scraper for portioning ice cream balls and has an elongated handle 17 with ends 18, 19, a contact surface 20 and a knife 21. The handle 17 is rod-shaped and is provided with several cross-sectional reductions 22 for better handling.

The contact surface 20 is arranged at the end 19, is concave for receiving and supporting the fruit 10 and has a recess 23 inside in the area of the end 19 for the exit and entry of the pivoting knife 21. The contact surface 20 extends around the recess 23 and also with a partial surface 24 laterally next to the recess 23.

The contact surface 20 is adapted to the expected external shape of the fruit 10 so that the fruit 10 can rest as closely as possible on the contact surface 20 in order to distribute the forces occurring during trimming over as much surface area as possible. The partial surface 24 absorbs in particular the forces acting on the fruit 10 due to the movement of the knife 21 and is positioned behind the recess 23 in the pivoting direction S of the knife 21.

The knife 21 is inserted into a cavity 25 of the handle near the contact surface 20 and is held there pivotably, see in particular 7 . The knife 21 is approximately L-shaped overall, with a cutting edge 26 and a cutting holder 27. The cutting edge 26 is spherically convexly curved to match the cutting channel 12, see in particular 8b A front cutting edge 28 has a part-circular profile, which can extend, for example, over 30 to 70°, as can the cutting edge 26 itself.

The cutting holder 27 has a counter stop 29 and a recess 30. The counter stop 29 works together with a stop 31 in the handle 17. The handle 17 has a recess 32 corresponding to the recess 30 of the knife 21. The two recesses 30, 32 together form the cavity 25 for receiving a compression spring 33, which here is preferably a V-shaped bent sheet metal and lies in the recesses 30, 32 in such a way that the knife 21 is moved out of the handle 17, provided no counter pressure is applied.

At the free end 34 of the cutting holder 27, the knife 21 is provided with a bore 35, the axis D of which runs transversely to a plane spanned by the cutting holder 27 and the cutting edge 26, see 8a and 8b . The handle 17 has cross holes 36 in the area of the recess 32 that match the hole 35, see 2a , 2 B . The knife 21 can be inserted laterally into the handle 17, namely into the recess 32, until the holes 35, 36 are aligned along the axis D. A pin 37 is then inserted into the holes 35, 36, which preferably has a handle eyelet 38 at one end and a compressible thickening 39 at the other end. The latter is also slightly conical, so that the pin 37 can be pushed into the holes 35, 36 with little pressure and, after emerging from the hole 36, slightly increases the effective cross section of the thickening 39 and thus holds the pin 37 in the holes 35, 36. To remove the pin 37, the thickening 39 must be compressed manually. The pin 37 can then be pulled out. Holes 35, 36 and pin 37 form a pivot bearing for the knife 21.

The knife 21 has a pressure surface 40 in the area of the cutting holder 27. An operator holds the handle 17 in his hand and presses the pressure surface 40 with his thumb in order to pivot the knife 21 about the axis D and to move the cutting edge 26 along the recess 23 to form the cutting channel 12. The return movement of the knife 21 is carried out by the force of the compression spring 33.

As in the 6a , 6b As can be seen, the handle 17 can also be provided with a knife 21 and a contact surface 20 at both ends. The knives 21 and the contact surfaces 20 are preferably of different sizes so that the device 16 can be used to process fruits 10 of different sizes.

List of reference symbols:

10

fruit

11

Top

12

Cutting channel

13

Vertical axis

14

Longitudinal direction

15

Transverse direction

16

contraption

17

Handle

18

End

19

End

20

Contact surface

21

Knife

22

Cross-sectional reductions

23

Recess

24

Subarea

25

cavity

26

Cutting

27

Cutting holder

28

Cutting edge

29

Counter-attack

30

Recess (knife)

31

attack

32

Recess (handle)

33

Compression spring

34

free end

35

drilling

36

Drilling

37

Pen

38

Handle eyelet

39

thickening

40

Printing area

S

Panning direction

D

axis

Claims (17)

Device (16) for trimming a fruit (10), with a contact surface (20) for a surface of the fruit (10), a knife (21) and a knife bearing, wherein the knife (21) is designed and mounted in such a way that during trimming by a single knife movement relative to the contact surface (20) a three-dimensional cutting channel (12) open at the top can be produced on the surface of the fruit (10), characterized in that the knife (21) is pivotable and has a spherically convexly curved cutting edge (26). Device (16) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the contact surface (20) is designed to be uncurved or concavely curved, wherein in particular the cutting channel (12) has a curvature in its longitudinal direction which is opposite to a curvature of the surface of the fruit (10). Device (16) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the cutting edge (26) has a partially circular profile transverse to its direction of movement. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the contact surface (20) has a recess (23) and that the cutting edge (26) of the knife (21) during trimming - emerges from the recess (23) in the direction of the fruit (10) and re-enters the recess (23) or - at least emerges from the recess (23) in the direction of the fruit (10) or - at least enters the recess (23). Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the contact surface (20) is provided at least laterally next to the knife (21), so that the contact surface (20) supports the fruit (10) against the knife movement during pruning. Device (16) according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the recess (23) in the contact surface (20) is a gap running in one direction. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized by a handle (17) which is connected to the contact surface (20). Device (16) according to Claim 7 , characterized in that the handle (17) has at one end the contact surface (20) or a recess (23) for the cutting edge (26) of the knife (21) or the contact surface (20) and the recess (23). Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized by a handle (17) in which the knife (21) is mounted. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the knife (21) is detachably connected to the device (16) in the rest. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that the knife (21) is pivotable about a rotation axis (D). Device (16) according to Claim 11 , characterized in that the knife (21) can be pivoted about a detachable pin (37). Device (16) according to Claim 12 , characterized in that the pin (37) is inserted into a handle (17), namely transversely to the longitudinal extension of the handle (17), and that the pin (37) is secured in the handle (17) against a longitudinal movement of the pin (37). Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 13 , characterized by a spring (33), against the pressure of which the knife (21) is movable. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 14 , characterized by a stop (31) for limiting the knife movement during trimming. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 15 , characterized in that the knife (21) has a cutting holder (27) on which the cutting edge (26) is held, that the cutting holder (27) is movably mounted on the knife bearing and that the cutting holder (27) in particular has a pressure surface (40), namely for the placement of a finger or a hand of an operator. Device (16) according to one of the Claims 1 until 16 , characterized in that an elongated handle (17) has a knife (21) with a contact surface (20) at each end.

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