The invention relates to a system for extracting water from a mature coconut.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Various machines have been used in the past for extracting water from the tender coconuts i.e. green coconuts. However, for the extraction of water from a mature coconut, the existing techniques include the breaking of a shell of the mature coconut for extracting the water out from the mature coconut. In such techniques, the process of breaking the hard shell of mature coconut involves hammering the shell of the mature coconut with a sharp and hard surface until the coconut is cut or cracked open followed by draining of the water from the cracked/opened surface.
However, in some cases, the user might have to manually break the shell of the mature coconut by hammering the shell. This can lead to high risk of worker injury and contamination of the water. Further, the coconut shell may be broken into a number of separate pieces before the water is procured from the mature coconut. This can result in significant loss of water. Moreover, when the mature coconut is broken by this method, the only available option remains for preserving it, is to dry the coconut.
Therefore, there exists a need for a safer system for coconut water extraction that is capable of reducing user efforts.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In accordance with the purposes of the invention, the present invention as embodied and broadly described herein comprises a system for extracting water from a mature coconut. The system comprises a platform, a first pneumatic cylinder, a control unit, a loading unit, a cleaning unit and a piercing and suction unit. The platform is arranged to hold the dehusked mature coconut in a fixed manner. The first pneumatic cylinder is operably connected to the platform and is arranged to provide movement of the platform in a horizontal direction. The control unit is arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder. The loading unit has a laser

source arranged to produce a laser beam, the laser beam being adapted to align a weak eye of the mature coconut. The cleaning unit has a cleaning tool arranged to clean a top surface of the mature coconut after alignment of the weak eye of the mature coconut. The piercing and suction unit has a piercing tool arranged to pierce the weak eye of the mature coconut and a suction tool arranged to extract water from the pierced weak eye of the mature coconut through an applied vacuum.
These and other aspects will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjugation with the accompanying drawings and claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
To further clarify advantages and aspects of the invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings in accordance with various embodiments of the invention, wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary system (100) for extracting water from a mature coconut, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary control unit (103) for controlling the extraction of water from a mature coconut, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
It may be noted that to the extent possible like reference numerals have been used to represent like elements in the drawings. Further, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have been necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the drawings may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of aspects of the invention. Furthermore, the one or more elements may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and

the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.
The term "some" as used herein is defined as "none, or one, or more than one, or all." Accordingly, the terms "none," "one," "more than one," "more than one, but not all" or "all" would all fall under the definition of "some." The term "some embodiments" may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term "some embodiments" is defined as meaning "no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments."
The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.
More specifically, any terms used herein such as but not limited to "includes," "comprises," "has," "consists," and grammatical variants thereof do NOT specify an exact limitation or restriction and certainly do NOT exclude the possible addition of one or more features or elements, unless otherwise stated, and furthermore must NOT be taken to exclude the possible removal of one or more of

the listed features and elements, unless otherwise stated with the limiting language "MUST comprise" or "NEEDS TO include."
Whether or not a certain feature or element was limited to being used only once, either way it may still be referred to as "one or more features" or "one or more elements" or "at least one feature" or "at least one element." Furthermore, the use of the terms "one or more" or "at least one" feature or element do NOT preclude there being none of that feature or element, unless otherwise specified by limiting language such as "there NEEDS to be one or more ..." or "one or more element is REQUIRED."
Unless otherwise defined, all terms, and especially any technical and/or scientific terms, used herein may be taken to have the same meaning as commonly understood by one having an ordinary skill in the art.
Reference is made herein to some "embodiments." It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfill the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.
Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to "a first embodiment," "a further embodiment," "an alternate embodiment," "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "multiple embodiments," "some embodiments," "other embodiments," "further embodiment", "furthermore embodiment", "additional embodiment" or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or

further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.
Any particular and all details set forth herein are used in the context of some embodiments and therefore should NOT be necessarily taken as limiting factors to the attached claims. The attached claims and their legal equivalents can be realized in the context of embodiments other than the ones used as illustrative examples in the description below.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary system (100) for extracting water from a mature coconut, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The system (100) comprises a platform (101), a first pneumatic cylinder (102), a control unit (103), a loading unit (104), a cleaning unit (105), and a piercing and suction unit (106). The platform (101) has a clamping mechanism (101-A) arranged to hold the mature coconut in a fixed manner. The first pneumatic cylinder (102) is operably connected to the platform (101) and is arranged to provide movement of the platform (101) in a horizontal direction. The control unit (103) is arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102). The loading unit (104) has a laser source arranged to produce a laser beam, the laser beam being adapted to align a weak eye of the mature coconut. In an example, the weak eye of the mature coconut can be identified by checking the major segment formation on the top surface of the mature coconut after removal of an outer husk of the mature coconut. In an implementation, the weak eye of the mature coconut is manually identified by a user. In another implementation, the weak eye of the mature coconut is identified using an image capturing device, for example, an optical camera (not shown in the Figure).
The cleaning unit (105) has a cleaning tool (107) arranged to clean the mature coconut after alignment of the weak eye of the mature coconut. In one example, the cleaning tool (107) can be a cleaning brush attached to a motor for cleaning the top
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surface of the mature coconut. In one example, the cleaning brush can be a nylon brush. In an implementation, the control unit (103) comprises an on-off switch (103-A) arranged to power the cleaning tool (107) on and off during the cleaning process.
The piercing and suction unit (106) has a piercing tool (108) arranged to pierce the weak eye of the mature coconut and a suction tool (109) arranged to extract water from the weak eye of the mature coconut through an applied vacuum. In an implementation, the system (100) further comprises a suction pump (110) for creating the vacuum for suction. In an implementation, the control unit (103) further comprises an on-off switch (103-B) arranged to power the suction pump (110) on and off after the piercing of the weak eye and during the suction of the coconut water. In one example, the material used for making the piercing tool and the suction tool can be food grade material SS304, as it can easily pierce the weak eye of the mature coconut.
In an implementation, the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109) are one and integral part. In such implementation, the piercing tool (108) can be a hollow rod which also facilitates the suction of the water out of the mature coconut. Use of the integrated piercing and suction tool (109) prevents any type of contamination in the extracted water.
In an implementation, the control unit (103) further comprises a first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and a second pneumatic control valve (103-D) for controlling the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102). The first pneumatic control valve (103-C) is arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102) to provide the movement of the platform (101) from the loading unit (104) to the cleaning unit (105). The second pneumatic control valve (103-D) is arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102) to provide the movement of the platform (101) from the cleaning unit (105) to the piercing and suction unit (106).
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In an implementation, the cleaning unit (105) further comprises a second pneumatic cylinder (111) operably connected to the cleaning tool (107). The second pneumatic cylinder (111) can be arranged to provide movement of the cleaning tool (107) in a vertical direction. Accordingly, the control unit (103) may comprise a third pneumatic control valve (103-E) arranged to control the movement of the second pneumatic cylinder (111) in the vertical direction.
In an implementation, the piercing and suction unit (106) further comprises a third pneumatic cylinder (112) operably connected to the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109). The third pneumatic cylinder (112) can be arranged to provide movement of the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109) in a vertical direction. Accordingly, the control unit (103) may comprise a fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) arranged to control the movement of the third pneumatic cylinder (112).
In an implementation, the system (100) further comprises a container (113) for collecting the extracted water by the suction tool (109) through the applied vacuum.
In an implementation, the system (100) further comprises an air compressor (114) arranged to collect compressed air. The air compressor (114) may comprise a plurality of air ducts arranged to provide the compressed air thus collected. Accordingly, the control unit (103) may comprise a control valve (103-G) arranged to control the release of the compressed air from the air compressor (114) to the plurality of air ducts. In an example, the air compressor (114) has a maximum delivery pressure of 8 bar and can sufficiently deliver the working pressure i.e. 3 bar. Thus, the air used in the first pneumatic cylinder (102), the second pneumatic cylinder (111), and the third pneumatic cylinder (112) for providing movement in the specified direction is supplied by the air compressor (114).
Figure 2 illustrates an exemplary control unit (103) for controlling the extraction of water from a mature coconut, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. As described earlier, the control unit (103) comprises a cleaning brush control switch (103-A), a coconut water suction switch (103-B), a first pneumatic
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control valve (103-C), a second pneumatic control valve (103-D), a third pneumatic control valve (103-E), and a fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F). The inlets of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C), the second pneumatic control valve (103-D), the third pneumatic control valve (103-E), and the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) are operably connected with the plurality of air ducts in the air compressor (114). The control unit (103) further comprises a control valve (103-G) for controlling the release of compressed air from the air compressor (114) to the plurality of air ducts, whenever required.
The first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) control the release of the compressed air from the air compressor (114) to the first pneumatic cylinder (102) through the plurality of air ducts. Accordingly, when lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) are moved forward (as indicated by up arrow having horizontal pattern fill in the Figure), the compressed air flows to the first pneumatic cylinder (102) and moves the platform (101) from the loading unit (104) to the cleaning unit (105) and from the cleaning unit (105) to the piercing and suction unit (106) respectively. Alternatively, when the lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) are moved backward (as indicated by down arrow having horizontal pattern fill in the Figure), the compressed air present in the first pneumatic cylinder (102) is released and moves the platform (101) back to its original position. Further, when the lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) remains neutral, the compressed air present in the first pneumatic cylinder (102) remains constant and no compressed air flows from the air compressor (114) to the first pneumatic cylinder (102).
Further, the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) controls the release of the compressed air from the air compressor (114) to the second pneumatic cylinder (111) through the plurality of air ducts. Accordingly, when a lever of the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) is moved forward (as indicated by up arrow having horizontal pattern fill in the Figure), the compressed air flows from the air
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compressor (114) to the second pneumatic cylinder (111) and moves the piston in the downward direction and thereby positions the cleaning tool (107) to clean the dehusked coconut. Alternatively, when the lever of the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) is moved backward (as indicated by down arrow having horizontal pattern fill in the Figure), the compressed air present in the second pneumatic cylinder (111) is released and moves the cleaning tool (107) back to its original position. Further, when the lever of the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) remains neutral, the compressed air present in the second pneumatic cylinder (111) remains constant and no compressed air flows from the air compressor (114) to the second pneumatic cylinder (111).
The fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) controls the release of the compressed air from the air compressor (114) to the third pneumatic cylinder (112) through the plurality of air ducts. Accordingly, when a lever of the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) is moved forward (as indicated by up arrow having horizontal pattern fill in the Figure), the compressed air flows from the air compressor (114) to the third pneumatic cylinder (112) and moves the piston in the downward direction and thereby positions the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109) over the weak eye of the mature coconut. Alternatively, when the lever of the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) is moved backward (as indicated by down arrow having horizontal pattern fill in the Figure), the compressed air present in the third pneumatic cylinder (112) is released and moves the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109) back to its original position. Further, when the lever of the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) remains neutral, the compressed air present in the third pneumatic cylinder (112) remains constant and no compressed air flows from the air compressor (114) to the third pneumatic cylinder (112).
The process of extracting water from the mature coconut can be explained as follows. For extracting water, a mature coconut is firstly de-husked in accordance with a method as known in the art. Then, a weak eye of the de-husked mature coconut is manually identified. After identifying the weak eye of the mature coconut, the laser source is switched ON so as to emit a laser beam. The mature
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coconut is then loaded on the platform (101). In an implementation, prior to the loading of the mature coconut, the platform (101) is already present at the loading unit (104). In such implementation, the lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) are present in the neutral position. In another implementation, prior to the loading of the mature coconut, the platform (101) is not present at the loading unit (104). In such implementation, the platform (101) is automatically moved to the loading unit (104) upon switching ON of the laser source. Further in such implementation, the lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) are first moved to the backward position and then to the neutral position.
Further, the mature coconut is loaded in such a way that the weak eye of the mature coconut is aligned with the laser beam and then the mature coconut is clamped properly on the platform (101). After alignment of the weak eye of the mature coconut in the direction of the laser beam, the laser source is switched OFF.
Further, the lever of the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) and the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) are also moved to the neutral position. After loading the mature coconut on the platform (101), the lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) is moved forward and thus the platform (101) is moved from the loading unit (104) to the cleaning unit (105). Thereafter, the lever of the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) is moved forward so that the cleaning tool (107) moves in a vertically downward direction and over the mature coconut. Then, the cleaning tool (107) is switched ON by the cleaning brush control switch (103-A) for cleaning the top surface of the mature coconut.
After cleaning the top surface of the mature coconut, the cleaning tool (107) is switched OFF by the cleaning brush control switch (103-A) and the lever of the third pneumatic control valve (103-E) is moved backward so that the air from the second pneumatic cylinder (111) is released. Accordingly, the cleaning tool (107) comes to its original position.
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Further, the lever of the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) is moved to the forward position and thus the platform (101) is moved from the cleaning unit (105) to the piercing and suction unit (106). Thereafter, the lever of the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) is moved forward so that the piercing and suction tool (109) moves in a vertically downward direction and over the mature coconut. The piercing tool (108) is then actuated by actuating the pneumatic control valve (103-F) for piercing the weak eye of the mature coconut. In an implementation, the coconut water suction switch (103-B) controls the suction of the water from the mature coconut.
After the weak eye of the mature coconut is pierced, the suction pump (110) is switched ON by the coconut water suction switch (103-B) for creating a vacuum. The suction tool (109) then extracts the water from the weak eye of the mature coconut through the applied vacuum. The extracted water is then collected in a container (113). After the water has been completely extracted from the coconut, the suction tool (109) is switched OFF and the lever of the fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) is moved backward so that the air from the third pneumatic cylinder (112) is released.
After the completion of the process, the lever of the first pneumatic control valve (103-C) and the second pneumatic control valve (103-D) are also moved to the backward position so that the platform (101) can be moved back to the loading unit (104). Accordingly, the dewatered coconut is unloaded from the platform (101) and another mature coconut may be loaded for the next extraction process.
While certain present preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. Clearly, the invention may be otherwise variously embodied, and practiced within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

A system (100) for extracting water from a mature coconut, the system
comprising:
a platform (101) having a clamping mechanism (101-A) arranged to hold the mature coconut in a fixed manner;
a first pneumatic cylinder (102) operably connected to the platform (101) and being arranged to provide movement of the platform in a horizontal direction;
a control unit (103) arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102);
a loading unit (104) having a laser source arranged to produce a laser beam, the laser beam being adapted to align a weak eye of the mature coconut;
a cleaning unit (105) having a cleaning tool (107) arranged to clean a top surface of the mature coconut after alignment of the weak eye of the mature coconut; and
a piercing and suction unit (106) having a piercing tool (108) arranged to pierce the weak eye of the mature coconut and a suction tool (109) arranged to extract water from the pierced weak eye of the mature coconut through an applied vacuum.
2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit (103)
comprises:
a first pneumatic control valve (103-C) arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102) to provide the movement of the platform (101) from the loading unit (104) to the cleaning unit (105); and
a second pneumatic control valve (103-D) arranged to control the movement of the first pneumatic cylinder (102) to provide the movement of

the platform (101) from the cleaning unit (105) to the piercing and suction unit (106).
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cleaning unit (105) further comprises a second pneumatic cylinder (111) operably connected to the cleaning tool (105) and arranged to provide movement of the cleaning tool (105) in a vertical direction.
4. The system (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control unit (103) comprises a third pneumatic control valve (103-E) arranged to control the movement of the second pneumatic cylinder (111).
5. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the piercing and suction unit (106) further comprises a third pneumatic cylinder (112) operably connected to the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109), wherein the third pneumatic cylinder (112) is arranged to provide movement of the piercing tool (108) and the suction tool (109) in a vertical direction.
6. The system (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control unit (103) comprises a fourth pneumatic control valve (103-F) arranged to control the movement of the third pneumatic cylinder (112).
7. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
an air compressor (114) arranged to collect compressed air.
8. The system (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the air compressor (114)
comprises a plurality of air ducts arranged to provide the compressed air thus
collected.

9. The system (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the control unit (103) comprises a control valve (103-G) arranged to control the release of the compressed air from the air compressor (114) to the plurality of air ducts.
10. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the weak eye of the mature coconut is identified by checking a major segment formation on the top surface of the mature coconut after removal of an outer husk of the mature coconut.