The present invention generally relates to processing 5 of fruits and particularly to
processing of pineapples. The present invention more particularly relates to an apparatus
for peeling and cutting of pineapple fruits.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
10 Various apparatuses are known for cutting substantially spherical fruits and
vegetables like citrus fruits into portions suited for cooking or eating with an assembly of
radially disposed cutting blades, such as the one disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat.
No. 4,569,280.
The pineapple peeling and cutting is usually carried out by workers on a large
15 scale. At present this process is either done by knives and traditional device Baithi. At
some places slicing machine and peeling -coring machine is used to make pineapple slices
for caning but there is no provision for peeling and chopping that is required for pulping
and extracting juice.
The peeling and chopping process is carried out manually and the physical
20 activities of the workers deteriorates after few hours of their work. Further the peeling
process and the cutting process are carried out separately which is very time consuming.
As such, there is no solution for simultaneous peeling and chopping of pineapple
fruits on a large scale. In view of the foregoing, there is a need to develop an apparatus
that is capable of speedy peeling and cutting of pineapples without much wastage.
25
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for
processing fruits, wherein the fruit is pineapple.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for simultaneous
30 peeling and cutting of pineapples.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that
eliminates drudgery of traditional repetitive processes of pineapple peeling.
2
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that reduces
effective time of peeling and chopping the pineapples.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that ensures
uniform and effective peeling of pineapples and thus reducing the wastage due to tiredness
5 and hurriedness of workers.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for processing
pineapples is provided. The apparatus comprises a base plate 2 to be adapted on a
horizontal surface, a cutting mechanism, a pressing arrangement, and a safety plate 18.
The cutting mechanism is present over the base plate 2. The cutting mechanism comprises
10 a circular aperture and a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. The pressing arrangement is
present over the cutting mechanism.
The cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises a circular blade and perpendicular
fitted blades having an aperture in the centre.
The pressing arrangement comprises a spring 8, a central shaft 12 and a horizontal
15 press plate 10. The press plate 10 is attached with a lower end of the central shaft 12 and
both are fitted in a casing 20 placed vertically above the cutting mechanism.
The casing 20 is fitted on a vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16 with a
help of an internal gear.
The gear is rotated by a movement of the handle 16 which further moves the
20 central shaft 12 and press plate 10 in vertically downward direction.
The fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement while the handle 16 is
moved in a downward direction.
The safety plate is placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from
displacement.
25 The apparatus comprises a vertical shaft, wherein the vertical shaft 14 is fixed on
the base plate.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and
understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the
accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following
30 descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details
thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and
modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing
from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
3
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the
following description when read with reference to 5 the accompanying drawings. In the
drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the
several views:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for processing pineapples,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
10 FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the cross-fitted blade arrangement 6,
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic showing the placement of the safety plate, according to
an embodiment of the present invention.
15
DETAILED DESCRPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
20 The various embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for
processing of the fruits wherein the fruit is pineapple. The processing is done over a large
scale. The apparatus provides simultaneous cutting and peeling of the fruits in one
instance. The apparatus is fast and easy to handle.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for processing
25 pineapples, comprises a base plate 2 to be adapted on a horizontal surface. A cutting
mechanism present over the base plate 2 comprises a circular aperture and a cross-fitted
blades arrangement 6. A pressing arrangement and a safety plate 18. The pressing
arrangement is present over the cutting mechanism.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cross-fitted blades
30 arrangement 6 comprises a circular blade and perpendicular fitted blades fixed over the
aperture of the base plate.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing arrangement
comprises a spring 8, central shaft 12 and a horizontal press plate 10. The central shaft 12
4
is the main part of the pressing mechanism. The Press plate 10 is attached with the lower
end of the central shaft 12 and both are fitted in a casing 20 placed vertically above the
cutting mechanism. There is an internal gear (not shown) pivoted inside the casing which
rotates when the hand lever or handle 16 is rotated. A teeth like grooves, on the central
shaft, is engaged with the internal gear. When the 5 gear is rotated by the lever 16, the
central shaft 12 and press plate 10 move vertically downward. Initially, there is a gap
between the press plate and the cutting mechanism where the pineapple disc is placed.
After pressing pineapple disc, when the lever 16 is pulled down, the central shaft 12 and
press plate 10 moves down. The plate 10 presses pineapple disc over the cutting
10 mechanism. when the plate 10 completely presses it over the blades 6, the spring 8,
surrounding the shaft 12, is fully compressed and tries to re-bounce to its original length.
This tends to push the central shaft 12 and lever handle 16 to their initial positions as both
are engaged with each other. As the lever 16 is slowly released, the shaft 12 and the lever
16 moves to their initial position due to spring re-bounce.
15 According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing arrangement is
fixed and supported on the vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a safety plate is placed
around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from displacement.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a
20 vertical shaft, wherein the vertical shaft 14 is fixed on the base plate.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for processing pineapples,
according to an embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 1, the
apparatus comprises a base plate 2. The base plate is adapted to be placed on a horizontal
surface. The base plate 2 is fixed on a horizontal plane surface 4. The apparatus further
25 comprises a cutting arrangement. The cutting mechanism made up of a cross-fitted blades
arrangement 6. The cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises atleast two types of
blades, firstly, a circular blade and secondly, perpendicular fitted blades arranged over
base plate aperture. The cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 is fixed on the base plate 2. The
cutting arrangement is present over the base plate. The apparatus further comprises a
30 pressing arrangement. The pressing arrangement is present over the cutting arrangement.
The pressing arrangement is fixed on a vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16.
The vertical shaft is fixed on the based plate 2. The handle 16 is aligned with the spring
mechanism 8. There is an internal gear (not shown) pivoted inside the casing which rotates
5
when the hand lever or handle 16 is rotated. A teeth like grooves, on the central shaft, is
engaged with the internal gear. When the gear is rotated by the lever 16, the central shaft
12 and press plate 10 move vertically downward. Initially, there is a gap between the press
plate and the cutting mechanism where the pineapple disc is placed. After pressing
pineapple disc, when the lever 16 is pulled down, 5 the central shaft 12 and press plate 10
moves down. The plate 10 presses pineapple disc over the cutting mechanism. when the
plate 10 completely presses it over the blades 6, the spring 8, surrounding the shaft 12, is
fully compressed and tries to re-bounce to its original length. This tends to push the central
shaft 12 and lever handle 16 to their initial positions as both are engaged with each other.
10 As the lever 16 is slowly released, the shaft 12 and the lever 16 moves to their initial
position due to spring re-bounce.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing mechanism
moves in downward direction when the handle 16 is pressed in downward direction. The
fruit disc or the fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. A safety plate 18 is
15 placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from displacement. The safety
plate 18 helps to place the fruit properly over the blade and prevent the hand from directly
coming in contact with the sharp blades.
The fruits especially the pineapple fruit is first cut into discs, and the discs are
placed on the cutting segment. The blade with aperture enables the peeled pineapple to
20 pass through. The cross-sectional blade cuts the pineapple disc into four pieces and
removing the peels from the circumference.
FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the cross-fitted blade arrangement 6,
according to an embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 2, the crossfitted
blades arrangement 6 comprises atleast two types of blades, firstly a circular blade
25 and secondly, perpendicular fitted blades having an aperture in the centre. The cutting
mechanism made up of a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. The blade with aperture
enables the peeled pineapple to pass through while the circular blade peels the fruit
covering. The blade arrangement comprises changeable circular blades that can be easily
press fitted over/removed from two straight cross -fitted blades. A sets of different
30 diameter blades are provided which can easily be changed according to different diameter
of pineapple discs.
6
The safety plate 18 helps to place the fruit properly over the blade and prevent the
hand from directly coming in contact with the sharp blades. The blade with aperture
enables the peeled pineapple to pass through.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic showing the placement of the safety plate, according to
an embodiment of the present invention. With 5 respect to FIG. 3, the handle is pulled down
which in turn moves the spring mechanism 8 in a downward direction. The fruit disc or
the fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. A safety plate 18 is placed
around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from any displacement.
The blade with aperture enables the peeled pineapple to pass through.
10 The arrangement of circular blades over straight cross fitted blade is unique. This
ensure that thick pineapple disc is peeled and chopped in four pieces simultaneously while
eliminating the drudgery of traditional repetitive processes of pineapple peeling. The
present invention reduces effective time of peeling and chopping the pineapples. The
different diameter changeable blades ensure effective peeling and reduction in wastage.
15 As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may
easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential
characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely
illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims
rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore
20 intended to be embraced therein.

Claims:1.

An apparatus for processing pineapples, comprises:
a base plate 2 to be adapted on a horizontal surface;
a cutting mechanism, wherein the cutting mechanism is present over the base plate 2, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a circular aperture and a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6;
a pressing arrangement, wherein the pressing arrangement is present over the cutting mechanism; and
a safety plate 18.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises:
a circular blade; and
perpendicular fitted blades having an aperture in the centre.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing arrangement comprises:
a spring 8;
a central shaft 12; and
a horizontal press plate 10, wherein the press plate 10 is attached with a lower end of the central shaft 12 and both are fitted in a casing 20 placed vertically above the cutting mechanism.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing 20 is fitted on a vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16 with a help of an internal gear.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gear is rotated by a movement of the handle 16 which further moves the central shaft 12 and press plate 10 in vertically downward direction.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement while the handle 16 is moved in a downward direction.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a safety plate is placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from displacement.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a vertical shaft, wherein the vertical shaft 14 is fixed on the base plate.
, Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to processing of fruits and particularly to processing of pineapples. The present invention more particularly relates to an apparatus for peeling and cutting of pineapple fruits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various apparatuses are known for cutting substantially spherical fruits and vegetables like citrus fruits into portions suited for cooking or eating with an assembly of radially disposed cutting blades, such as the one disclosed in the specification of U.S. Pat. No. 4,569,280.
The pineapple peeling and cutting is usually carried out by workers on a large scale. At present this process is either done by knives and traditional device Baithi. At some places slicing machine and peeling -coring machine is used to make pineapple slices for caning but there is no provision for peeling and chopping that is required for pulping and extracting juice.
The peeling and chopping process is carried out manually and the physical activities of the workers deteriorates after few hours of their work. Further the peeling process and the cutting process are carried out separately which is very time consuming.
As such, there is no solution for simultaneous peeling and chopping of pineapple fruits on a large scale. In view of the foregoing, there is a need to develop an apparatus that is capable of speedy peeling and cutting of pineapples without much wastage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, the primary object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for processing fruits, wherein the fruit is pineapple.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for simultaneous peeling and cutting of pineapples.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that eliminates drudgery of traditional repetitive processes of pineapple peeling.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that reduces effective time of peeling and chopping the pineapples.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that ensures uniform and effective peeling of pineapples and thus reducing the wastage due to tiredness and hurriedness of workers.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for processing pineapples is provided. The apparatus comprises a base plate 2 to be adapted on a horizontal surface, a cutting mechanism, a pressing arrangement, and a safety plate 18. The cutting mechanism is present over the base plate 2. The cutting mechanism comprises a circular aperture and a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. The pressing arrangement is present over the cutting mechanism.
The cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises a circular blade and perpendicular fitted blades having an aperture in the centre.
The pressing arrangement comprises a spring 8, a central shaft 12 and a horizontal press plate 10. The press plate 10 is attached with a lower end of the central shaft 12 and both are fitted in a casing 20 placed vertically above the cutting mechanism.
The casing 20 is fitted on a vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16 with a help of an internal gear.
The gear is rotated by a movement of the handle 16 which further moves the central shaft 12 and press plate 10 in vertically downward direction.
The fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement while the handle 16 is moved in a downward direction.
The safety plate is placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from displacement.
The apparatus comprises a vertical shaft, wherein the vertical shaft 14 is fixed on the base plate.
These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for processing pineapples, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the cross-fitted blade arrangement 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic showing the placement of the safety plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The various embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for processing of the fruits wherein the fruit is pineapple. The processing is done over a large scale. The apparatus provides simultaneous cutting and peeling of the fruits in one instance. The apparatus is fast and easy to handle.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for processing pineapples, comprises a base plate 2 to be adapted on a horizontal surface. A cutting mechanism present over the base plate 2 comprises a circular aperture and a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. A pressing arrangement and a safety plate 18. The pressing arrangement is present over the cutting mechanism.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises a circular blade and perpendicular fitted blades fixed over the aperture of the base plate.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing arrangement comprises a spring 8, central shaft 12 and a horizontal press plate 10. The central shaft 12 is the main part of the pressing mechanism. The Press plate 10 is attached with the lower end of the central shaft 12 and both are fitted in a casing 20 placed vertically above the cutting mechanism. There is an internal gear (not shown) pivoted inside the casing which rotates when the hand lever or handle 16 is rotated. A teeth like grooves, on the central shaft, is engaged with the internal gear. When the gear is rotated by the lever 16, the central shaft 12 and press plate 10 move vertically downward. Initially, there is a gap between the press plate and the cutting mechanism where the pineapple disc is placed. After pressing pineapple disc, when the lever 16 is pulled down, the central shaft 12 and press plate 10 moves down. The plate 10 presses pineapple disc over the cutting mechanism. when the plate 10 completely presses it over the blades 6, the spring 8, surrounding the shaft 12, is fully compressed and tries to re-bounce to its original length. This tends to push the central shaft 12 and lever handle 16 to their initial positions as both are engaged with each other. As the lever 16 is slowly released, the shaft 12 and the lever 16 moves to their initial position due to spring re-bounce.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing arrangement is fixed and supported on the vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a safety plate is placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from displacement.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus comprises a vertical shaft, wherein the vertical shaft 14 is fixed on the base plate.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the apparatus for processing pineapples, according to an embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 1, the apparatus comprises a base plate 2. The base plate is adapted to be placed on a horizontal surface. The base plate 2 is fixed on a horizontal plane surface 4. The apparatus further comprises a cutting arrangement. The cutting mechanism made up of a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. The cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises atleast two types of blades, firstly, a circular blade and secondly, perpendicular fitted blades arranged over base plate aperture. The cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 is fixed on the base plate 2. The cutting arrangement is present over the base plate. The apparatus further comprises a pressing arrangement. The pressing arrangement is present over the cutting arrangement. The pressing arrangement is fixed on a vertical shaft 14 and connected with a handle 16. The vertical shaft is fixed on the based plate 2. The handle 16 is aligned with the spring mechanism 8. There is an internal gear (not shown) pivoted inside the casing which rotates when the hand lever or handle 16 is rotated. A teeth like grooves, on the central shaft, is engaged with the internal gear. When the gear is rotated by the lever 16, the central shaft 12 and press plate 10 move vertically downward. Initially, there is a gap between the press plate and the cutting mechanism where the pineapple disc is placed. After pressing pineapple disc, when the lever 16 is pulled down, the central shaft 12 and press plate 10 moves down. The plate 10 presses pineapple disc over the cutting mechanism. when the plate 10 completely presses it over the blades 6, the spring 8, surrounding the shaft 12, is fully compressed and tries to re-bounce to its original length. This tends to push the central shaft 12 and lever handle 16 to their initial positions as both are engaged with each other. As the lever 16 is slowly released, the shaft 12 and the lever 16 moves to their initial position due to spring re-bounce.
According to an embodiment of the present invention, the pressing mechanism moves in downward direction when the handle 16 is pressed in downward direction. The fruit disc or the fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. A safety plate 18 is placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from displacement. The safety plate 18 helps to place the fruit properly over the blade and prevent the hand from directly coming in contact with the sharp blades.
The fruits especially the pineapple fruit is first cut into discs, and the discs are placed on the cutting segment. The blade with aperture enables the peeled pineapple to pass through. The cross-sectional blade cuts the pineapple disc into four pieces and removing the peels from the circumference.
FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the cross-fitted blade arrangement 6, according to an embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 2, the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6 comprises atleast two types of blades, firstly a circular blade and secondly, perpendicular fitted blades having an aperture in the centre. The cutting mechanism made up of a cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. The blade with aperture enables the peeled pineapple to pass through while the circular blade peels the fruit covering. The blade arrangement comprises changeable circular blades that can be easily press fitted over/removed from two straight cross -fitted blades. A sets of different diameter blades are provided which can easily be changed according to different diameter of pineapple discs.
The safety plate 18 helps to place the fruit properly over the blade and prevent the hand from directly coming in contact with the sharp blades. The blade with aperture enables the peeled pineapple to pass through.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic showing the placement of the safety plate, according to an embodiment of the present invention. With respect to FIG. 3, the handle is pulled down which in turn moves the spring mechanism 8 in a downward direction. The fruit disc or the fruit is placed on the cross-fitted blades arrangement 6. A safety plate 18 is placed around the fruit disc in order to prevent the fruit from any displacement.
The blade with aperture enables the peeled pineapple to pass through.
The arrangement of circular blades over straight cross fitted blade is unique. This ensure that thick pineapple disc is peeled and chopped in four pieces simultaneously while eliminating the drudgery of traditional repetitive processes of pineapple peeling. The present invention reduces effective time of peeling and chopping the pineapples. The different diameter changeable blades ensure effective peeling and reduction in wastage.
As will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present embodiment is, therefore, to be considered as merely illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.