AUTOMATED AVOCADO PROCESSING SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD

1 . An automated avocado processing system comprises:

a holding assembly to hold an avocado;

a loading assembly to load one avocado into the holding assembly from a plurality of avocados;

a cutting assembly to cut the avocado into parts while the avocado is held in the holding assembly; and

a food collection assembly to sort and collect edible parts from nonedible parts of the avocado.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the holding assembly comprises a plurality of portions, and the plurality of portions are movable relative to one another to form an avocado-capture zone.

3 . (canceled)

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cutting assembly further comprises at least one opposing blade for cutting the avocado into a first part and a second part.

5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising at least one of a motor and an actuator operable to separate the first part from the second part.

6 . (canceled)

7 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising at least one elongate member arranged to penetrate at least one of the first part and the second part of the avocado.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each of said first half and second half comprises a first tool operable to extract the flesh from the skin.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the first tool comprises a pair of rotating members.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the rotating members are separated by a gap having an adjustable size, and spring loaded to prevent the gap from freely spreading.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each rotating member comprises a gripping feature.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein each pair of rotating members are controllable to turn such that when a skin-side of an avocado half is in contact with the pair of rotating members, the skin is drawn into the gap, and the flesh is extracted from the skin.

13 . (canceled)

14 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the loading assembly comprises a hopper adapted to receive a plurality of avocados.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The system of claim 14 , further comprising a drum for metering the avocados from the hopper to the loading assembly.

19 . (canceled)

20 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the loading assembly further comprises an orientation assembly for centering a main axis of the avocado along a target axis and presenting the avocado to the cutting assembly.

21 . (canceled)

22 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the centering mechanism comprises radially adjustable opposing funnel-shaped members.

23 . The system of claim 20 , wherein the orientation assembly comprises a release mechanism arranged below the centering mechanism.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . (canceled)

27 . (canceled)

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

30 . (canceled)

31 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the food collection and holding assembly is configured as a retractable drawer.

32 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a tracker arranged on a consumable component for tracking usage of the consumable component.

33 . (canceled)

34 . (canceled)

35 . (canceled)

36 . (canceled)

37 . The system of claim 1 further comprising a computing device, power supply, and a plurality of sensors programmed and operable to control the loading, cutting and food collection assemblies.

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . (canceled)

41 . A method for processing an avocado comprises the steps of:

engaging the avocado in a separable fixture;

cutting the avocado;

pulling the avocado apart into a first part and second part; and

depitting the avocado.

42 . (canceled)

43 . The method of claim 41 , further comprising extracting the flesh from the skin.

44 .- 59 . (canceled)