This invention relates to a machine for deseeding a mango or similar fruit. More specifically, the invention relates to a machine for removing the seed of a mango separating the latter into two substantially equal parts.

Currently, in the sector for processing mangos the need is strongly felt of removing the seed from the mango whilst limiting to a maximum the waste of pulp.

In fact, the prior art devices for removing the seed of the mango tend to leave a considerable quantity of pulp attached to the seed when it is removed.

Structurally, a prior art traditional device comprises a pair of vertical blades which, in a plan view, delimit between each other a substantially elliptical opening to reproduce the shape of the cross section of a seed of a mango. A centering device equipped with a deformable crown is positioned above the blades.

The deformable crown has a central seat designed to house a mango and support it above the blades.

A vertical pusher can be actuated to push the mango to interfere with the blades in a fashion guided by the centering device.

The latter is shaped so that if the mango is positioned correctly vertical, the seed will pass between the blades when the vertical pusher is lowered. The cut which the blades form is, therefore, rectilinear and consequently the pulp of the mango which occupies the space defined by the vertical projection of the seed remains adhered to the latter and is eliminated with it.

The problem at the basis of this invention is to reduce the loss of pulp of mangos in the traditional machines for deseeding a mango.

The main aim of this invention is to make a machine for deseeding a mango which resolves this problem overcoming the drawbacks of the traditional machines described above.

The aim of this invention is therefore to provide a machine for deseeding a mango which is easily adaptable to the shape and to the dimensions of the seed of the mango to be deseeded.

Another aim of this invention consists in making a machine for deseeding a mango which is structurally simple and easy to use.

This aim, as well as these and other aims which will emerge more fully below, are attained by a machine for deseeding a mango according to appended claim 1 .

Detailed features of the machine for deseeding a mango according to the invention are indicated in the corresponding dependent claims.

Further features and advantages of the invention will emerge more fully from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a machine for deseeding a mango according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a simplified diagram of a machine for deseeding a mango according to the invention;

- Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a detail of a machine for deseeding a mango relative to a cutting apparatus and a pusher;

- Figure 3 shows the detail of Figure 2 in a cross section through the line Ill-Ill of Figure 4;

- Figure 4 shows the detail of Figures 2 and 3 in a cross section through the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

- Figure 5 illustrates the action of the cutting apparatus of Figures 2 to 4 on a mango seen according to the cross section of Figure 4;

- Figure 6 illustrates a simplified diagram of a plan view from above of a detail relative to the first blades of the cutting apparatus of Figures 2 to 5;

- Figure 7 illustrates a simplified diagram of a perspective view of a variant of the detail of Figure 6.

With particular reference to the above-mentioned drawings, the numeral 100 denotes in its entirety a machine for deseeding a mango comprising at least one cutting apparatus 10 having:

- an internal passage A configured to be crossed by a mango 200 along an axis of passage B;

- a centering device 1 1 defining a seat which is in communication with the passage A and is configured to be engaged by a first end of a mango 200. The machine 100, according to this invention, has a peculiarity in that the cutting apparatus 10 comprises:

- two first blades 12, 13 placed inside the passage A and each provided with a cutting edge 12a, 13a oriented to cut a mango 200 which is inserted in the passage A through the seat;

- a frame 14 to which the first blades 12, 13 are connected in a way movable at least along a first transverse direction C which is perpendicular to the axis of passage B;

- first elastic means 15 connected to the first blades 12, 13 to counteract their mutual divergence.

The cutting apparatus 10 being configured in such a way that when a mango 200 is passed through the passage A, the first blades 12, 13 penetrate into the pulp of the mango 200 until it comes into contact with the seed 201 of the mango 200 which consequently diverges the first blades 12, 13 in contrast with the first elastic means 15, the first blades 12, 13 then scrape the surface of the seed 201 pushed against the latter by the first elastic means 15.

In other words, when the mango 200 is pushed through the passage A, the centering device guides it so as to feed coaxially to the axis of passage B in such a way that in succession:

- the end of the mango 200 enters into contact with the first blades 12 and 13 which sink into the pulp until reaching the seed 201 .

The further feeding of the mango 200 along the axis of passage B causes the seed 201 to penetrate between the first blades 12 and 13 which advantageously are shaped to allow the tip of the seed 201 to penetrate between them.

The first blades 12 and 13 slide on the surface of the seed 201 scraping and separating the pulp 202 of the mango 200 from it, as the mango is pushed through the passage A.

The first elastic means push the cutting edge 12a and 13a of the first blades 12 and 13 into contact with the surface of the seed 201 so that the pulp 202 is almost completely removed from the seed 201 when the mango is cut completely into two parts by the first blades 12 and 13.

Advantageously, the cutting apparatus 10 comprises two guide walls 16a and 16b designed to subdivide the passage A, downstream of the first cutting blades 12 and 13 along the axis of passage B, into three channels 17a, 17b and 17c, a central channel 17a for discharging the seed and two side channels 17b and 17c for discharging each of the two halves of the mango.

Preferably, in a first embodiment, the cutting edges 12a, 13a have a mutual distance which, along a second transverse direction D, increases from a first minimum value E up to a maximum value F and, then, decreases to a second minimum value G in order to substantially reproduce the shape of the section of a seed 201 of a mango 200, the second transverse direction D is perpendicular to the first transverse direction C and to the axis of passage B.

Figure 6 shows an example of a possible embodiment of the cutting edges 12a and 13a, and of the blades 12 and 13 seen in a direction parallel to the axis of passage B, according to the first embodiment,.

The maximum value F of the distance has been exaggerated in this drawing with respect to the minimum values E and G to render the drawing more intelligible.

Basically, the maximum value may be 2-10mm, however selected to guarantee the penetration, between the blades, of the seed 201 of a mango 200 which is pushed, in use, through the passage A.

Advantageously, machine 100 comprises at least a pusher 19 which faces the seat and is movable at least along the axis of passage B to push a mango 200, that engages the seat, inside the passage A.

In general, in this embodiment, the cutting apparatus 10 advantageously comprises guide means, denoted in their entirety with numeral 20, connected to the frame 14 and to the first blades 12, 13.

The guide means 20 are configured for guiding the first blades 12, 13 with respect to the frame 14 according to a composite motion which advantageously comprises:

- a translation H along the first transverse direction C; - a rotation J with respect to an axis parallel to the second transverse direction D.

The first elastic means 15 advantageously cooperate with the guide means 20 for guiding the first blades 12, 13 to scrape a seed 201 of a mango 200 when a mango 200 is passed through the passage A.

The guide means 20 advantageously comprise:

- guides 21 fixed to the frame 14 and extending along a first transverse direction C, preferably the guides 21 comprising slots made on walls of the frame 14 such as, for example, visible in the accompanying drawings; - sliders 22 each extending from each side end of the first blades 12, 13 and engaging one of the guides 21 so as to slide in this along the first transverse direction C, preferably the sliders 22 comprising pins inserted in a slidable and rotatable manner in the above-mentioned slots;

- at least a kinematic mechanism 23 connecting the sliders 22 of a first 12 of the first blades 12, 13 to the sliders 22 of the second of the first blades

12, 13; the kinematic mechanism 23 being configured to constrain the first blades 12, 13 to move in a mirror-like pattern;

The first elastic means 15 are advantageously connected to the sliders 22 to counteract the mutual distancing of the first blades 12, 13.

More specifically, the elastic means 15 are preferably connected to the blades through the kinematic mechanism 23.

In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the kinematic mechanism 23 advantageously comprises two pairs of connecting rods 24a, 24b and 25a 25b.

The connecting rods 24a, 24b e 25a 25b of each pair are joined in a mutually rotatable fashion by means of a pivot 26a, 26b.

Moreover, each pair has a connecting rod 24a, and 25a pivoted to the slider 22 of a first 12 of the first blades 12 e 13 and the other connecting rod 24b and 25b is pivoted to the slider 22 of the second 13 of the first blades 12 and 13.

The pivots 26a, 26b are advantageously connected to a connecting member 27 to coordinate the movement of the sliders 22.

The kinematic mechanism is advantageously configured in such a way as to guide the first blades 12 and 13 according to a roto-translating movement, during the passage of a seed 201 of a mango 200 between them, such as to maintain the cutting edges 12a and 13a in contact with the outer surface of the seed 201 to remove from this the pulp 202 of the mango.

The elastic means 15 preferably comprise at least one helical spring fixed to the frame 14 and to one of the pivots 26a or 26.

According to a second preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of example, but without limiting the scope of the invention, in Figure 7, the cutting apparatus 10 advantageously comprises guide means, denoted in their entirety with numeral 120, connected to the frame 14 and to the first blades 12, 13 for guiding them according to a tilting motion.

In detail, the guide means 120 are configured for guiding the first blades 12, 13 with respect to the frame 14 according to a tilting motion according to corresponding axes of rotation M and, N.

According to the second embodiment, the first blades 12, 13 are mounted on pins 121 , 122 which extend parallel to the second transverse direction D and which are fixed to walls of the frame 14 in a rotatable fashion so as to define the axes of rotation M, N of the first blades 12 and 13.

Advantageously, the pins 121 e 122 are connected mechanically to rotate in a mirror-like and synchronised fashion.

For example, each of the pins 121 and 122 may have at least one toothed element 123 and 124, for example two toothed elements 123 and 124 for each pin 121 , 122, as shown in Figure 7.

The toothed elements 123 of the first pin 121 mesh with the toothed elements of the second pin 122 in such a way as to render mirror-like and synchronised the rotation of the pins 121 and 122, and of the respective first blades 12 and 13 with respect to the axes of rotation M and N.

Structurally, the first blades 12 and 13 extend from the pins 121 and 122 in a mirror-like fashion with respect to plane passing through the axis of passage B and through the second transverse direction D, and they move close to each other until touching at the respective cutting edges 12a, 13a. Preferably, the first blades 12 and 13 are concave with respect to the axis of passage B in such a way as to scrape effectively the convex surface of the seed 201 when the mango 200 is forced through the cutting apparatus 10.

In the transverse direction D the blades 12 and 13 preferably extend by a width which substantially corresponds the average width of a seed of a mango.

Preferably, the width is substantially between 3 cm and 8 cm and preferably approximately equal to 5 cm. The cutting apparatus 10 advantageously comprises second blades 28, 29 which protrude inside the passage A from opposite positions.

The second blades 28, 29 are advantageously positioned, along the axis of passage B, between the seat and the first blades 12, 13.

Moreover, the second blades 28, 29 are preferably configured to make cuts on opposite sides of a mango 200, the cuts being aligned, along the axis of passage B, to the first blades 12, 13 to facilitate the penetration of the latter in the pulp 202 of the mango 200.

Advantageously, the cutting apparatus 10 comprises:

- supports 30, 31 for the second blades 28, 29 configured to allow the second blades 28, 29 a translational movement along the axis of passage B and/or a rotational movement around an axis parallel to the first transverse direction C;

- second elastic means 32 designed for counteracting the translational movement and/or the rotational movement.

The second blades 28 and 29 may have a sharp rectilinear edge or, alternatively, the second blades 28 and 29 may consist of discs having a sharp perimeter with a curved cutting edge, such as, for example, shown in Figure 7 in with a dashed line.

In that case, the blades 28 and 29 will preferably be rotatable with respect to their centre to facilitate the cutting of opposite sides of a mango during its insertion through the cutting apparatus 10.

The centering device 1 1 advantageously comprises:

- two centering members 33, 34 connected to the cutting apparatus 10 and mirrored with respect to a plane passing through the axis of passage B and through the second transverse direction D and tilting with respect to axes of tilting K, L parallel to the second transverse direction D.

The centering members 33, 34 advantageously each have a concave edge 33a, 33b.

The concave edges 33a, 33b are shaped in such a way as to define the seat for a mango 200 so as to keep it coaxial with the axis of passage B. Advantageously, third elastic means 34 contrast the tipping of the centering members 33 and 34.

The machine 100 preferably comprises a processing apparatus provided with a plurality of the cutting apparatuses 10 and a plurality of pushers 19 defining corresponding work stations.

The processing apparatus, shown for example in Figure 6, advantageously comprises means for actuating, in succession, the pushers 19 of successive work stations.

The work stations can be organized, for example, according to a circular or straight-line processing line.

Figure 6 shows, by way of a non-limiting example, a machine 100 where the work stations are arranged in a circular processing line.

In this example, the stations are subjected to a rotation M which moves them in sequence between the following positions:

- a loading position N in which a mango 200 is positioned in the seat of the cutting apparatus 10 beneath the pusher 19;

- an engaging position P, in which the pusher 19 engages the mango 200 and starts to push it through the passage A of the cutting apparatus 10; - a processing position Q, in which the pusher 19 pushes the mango 200 through the passage A in which the mango 200 is firstly cut by the second blades 28 and 29 and then cut by the first blades 12 and 13;

- an unloading position R, in which the seed 201 and two halves of pulp 202 of the mango 200 are discharged from the cutting apparatus 10.

From an operational point of view, when the mango 200 is loaded in the seat of the cutting apparatus 10 it faces the second blades 28 and 29, as shown in Figure 3.

Due to the action of the pusher 19 the mango 200 moves forward in the passage A and is cut laterally by the second blades 28 and 29, and then enters into contact with the first blades 12 and 13, as shown in Figure 4. The further forward movement of the pusher 19, in the passage A, determines firstly the engagement of the first blades 12 and 13 with the seed 201 and, then, the sliding of the first blades 12 and 13 on the surface of the seed 201 so that the pulp 202 is separated from it, as shown in Figure 5.

The first blades 12 and 13 diverge and rotate in such a way that the cutting edges 12a and 13a remain in contact with the surface of the seed 201 until completion of the cutting of the mango 200 which is followed by the discharging of the seed through the central channel 17a and of two parts of the pulp 202 through the side channels 17b and 17c.

The invention as it is conceived is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the appended claims.

Further, all the details can be replaced by other technically-equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent forms and dimensions, can be varied according to the contingent requirements and the state of the art.

Where the constructional characteristics and the technical characteristics mentioned in the following claims are followed by signs or reference numbers, the signs or reference numbers have been used only with the aim of increasing the intelligibility of the claims themselves and, consequently, they do not constitute in any way a limitation to the interpretation of each element identified, purely by way of example, by the signs or reference numerals.