Design and experimental research of haw core removal machine based on buoyancy orientation mechanism

• Published in: Journal of food process engineering Vol. 44; no. 2
• Main Authors: Xie, Ming‐Li, An, Zi‐Jun, Xu, Li‐Zhong, Cao, Wei‐Hua, Sheng, Rong‐Xin, Yang, Yue
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.02.2021
• ISSN: 0145-8876; 1745-4530
• DOI: 10.1111/jfpe.13616

In order to solve the problems of the labor cost and the low mechanization level in the intensive processing of the haw products, a haw core removal machine based on the buoyancy orientation was designed, which solved the two key technical problems including the oriented conveying and the core removal in its coring process. The effects of different cutting edge structures on the force on the pulp and the shape of the final pulp were studied, and the effects of the haw's own shape and the medium flow velocity on the orientation righting rate were analyzed. The results showed that the ratio of height to diameter had a direct effect on the orientation righting rate of hawthorn, and the two unstable equilibrium points could be improved by increasing the flow velocity of the medium. The prototype experiment showed that the buoyancy oriented conveying was a feasible and effective method in the processing of the small‐scale fruit with the uniaxial symmetry such as the haw. In the same scale of the haw core removal processing, its production capacity could be increased by about 30%. The research results provided a basis for the follow‐up improvement of the automatic haw core removal machine. Practical applications The traditional haw deep processing enterprises mostly use manual or semi‐automatic equipment for the haw core removal, which greatly restricts the production efficiency of enterprises. The present study provides an automatic haw core removal processing equipment based on the buoyancy orientation mechanism and gives the optimal cutting edge structure. The experimental results show that the main factors affecting the haw orientation and centering are the shape of the haw and the flow velocity. Furthermore, on the basis of orthogonal experiment, the process parameter surface of the orientation righting rate is established, which can provide reference for the subsequent design of the haw core removal machine and the optimization of the process parameters in the production process.