FR2878172A1 - Grape berries and wastes sorting method for e.g. cleaning grape gathering, involves separating deviated waste paths into paths, adjacent to berry dropping paths, for waste berries and other waste paths, and recovering berries and wastes - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves creating an air space (9) across a monolayer (M) to deviate wastes (D) for obtaining paths, for wastes, deviated relative to grape berry dropping paths. The deviated paths are separated by separation units into paths, adjacent to the dropping paths, for waste berries and other waste paths. Grape berries (B) are recovered from the dropping paths and the adjacent paths, and wastes are recovered from the deviated paths. An independent claim is also included for a sorting installation including a grape berries and wastes sorting device.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of cleaning,

  separation or sorting of a vintage by separating grape berries from waste.

  The object of the invention is more precisely the sorting of a destemmed vintage coming out of a destemmer or coming directly from a harvesting machine equipped with an onboard stalking system.

  In a conventional manner, at the end of a de-stemming operation, whether the harvest is manual or mechanical, grape berries mixed with waste, for example in the form of leaves or debris, are obtained in particular. leaves, tips of tails (petioles), parts of stalks, mirande grains, insects, snails and various solid particles. It should also be noted the presence of more or less crushed grapes that are found in greater or lesser quantities depending on the harvest years.

  Of course, the winemaker seeks to eliminate waste from the harvest in order to improve the quality of its wine by preserving whole grains and more or less crushed grains.

  A first known solution is to use a sorting table in front of which several people are placed to manually remove the waste.

  A second solution is to use an automatic sorting system to avoid the additional cost of manual sorting. However, the known automatic systems do not make it possible effectively to distinguish between the more or less crushed waste and berries that should be conserved. In other words, it is known that the implementation of an automatic sorting system leads to a slight loss of the harvest.

  If the winemaker is willing to accept a loss of its harvest during a superabundant production, it is not the same when the volume of the harvest is below the regulatory quotas. Also, during years of low harvest, the winegrower may have to return to a manual sorting solution.

  It therefore appears the need to offer the grower, a sorting technique that optimizes the rate of rejection of waste compared to grape berries to be preserved, while providing a possibility to pass simply and quickly an automatic sorting manual sorting according to the various types of grape harvest encountered.

  The object of the invention is therefore to provide an automatic sorting process between grape berries and real waste, adapted to remove as waste only the elements considered as real waste.

  To achieve such an objective, the method according to the invention comprises the following steps: - to drop vertically in a monolayer grape berries and waste, - create a layer of air through the monolayer of berries and waste for diverting waste lighter than grape berries so as to obtain for the waste, trajectories deviated from the drop trajectories of the grape berries, - to ensure a separation between the deviated trajectories of the waste and the trajectories of fall of the berries of grapes, -assure a separation in the deviated trajectories of the waste, between, on the one hand, deviated trajectories close to those of fall of the berries corresponding to waste trajectories considered as berries of grape, and on the other hand the others trajectories of waste, - and recover on the one hand, grape berries having the trajectories of fall and close to those of fall, and other pa rt waste with deflected trajectories.

  According to an advantageous characteristic, the method according to the invention aims at adjusting the flow of air passing through the monolayer in order to control the deviation of the waste.

  In order to reduce the loss of harvest (more or less crushed berries and rejected in the waste) and to optimize the quantity of waste rejected, the method consists in separating the trajectories by means of separating means adjustable in position.

  Another object of the invention is to provide a device adapted to ensure in a simple and reliable manner the separation of berries, waste considered as real waste, such a device that can adapt or be removed quickly behind a table of vibrating sort according to the type of harvest.

  To achieve such an objective, the device according to the invention comprises a sorting chamber at the top of which is arranged a passage opening for a monolayer of grape berries and waste falling vertically, - means of creation within the sorting chamber, with an air gap passing through a direction of flow given the monolayer of grape berries and waste to divert waste lighter than berries of grapes so as to obtain for waste, trajectories deviated from the drop trajectories of grape berries, - first separation means arranged in the sorting chamber, downstream of the means for creating the air knife, in consideration of the direction of flow of the blade of air, to ensure a separation between the deflected trajectories of the waste and the trajectories of falling berries, - second separation means arranged in the sorting chamber, downstream of the first ers separating means in consideration of the direction of flow of the air space, so as to ensure a separation between the deviated trajectories similar to those of fall of the bays and corresponding to trajectories of waste considered as berries grapes, and on the other hand, the other trajectories of waste, means for recovering grape berries from trajectories of fall and trajectories close to those of falling, and means of recovery of waste.

  In order to reduce the loss of harvest (bays more or less crushed and rejected in the waste) and to optimize the quantity of waste rejected, the first and / or second separation means are adjustable in height and / or inclination and / or according to the direction of circulation of the air space.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the first separation means are made by a plate inclined in the opposite direction of the direction of flow of the air space, and supported at each end by flanges delimiting the sides of the enclosure of sorting.

  According to another preferred embodiment, the second separation means are formed by a flap supported at each end by the flanges.

  Advantageously, the means for creating an air knife comprises a blow nozzle adjustable in thickness and / or in position with respect to the passage opening of the monolayer of waste and berries, this nozzle being fed by a fan with a variable air flow.

  For example, the sorting chamber comprises a deflection wall placed opposite the blower nozzle of the air gap in order to convey the waste towards the recovery means.

  According to an exemplary embodiment, the means for recovering grape berries are constituted by a hopper forming part of an elevator.

  In order to facilitate the establishment and removal of the sorting device according to the invention with respect to a vibrating sorting table, the sorting device comprises a mobile carrying frame equipped with wheels and locking means in position.

  Another object of the invention is to propose an installation comprising: at least one vibrating sorting table at the outlet of which falls vertically according to a monolayer, the berries of grapes and the waste, and a sorting device disposed in such a way that the monolayer of grape berries and waste passes through the passage opening of the sorting chamber.

  According to a first example of application, the sorting device according to the invention is fed directly by a vibrating sorting table.

  According to a second example of application in which the sorting rate is increased, the sorting device according to the invention is fed with waste and grape berries by a vibrating sorting table equalization powered by a vibrating sorting table.

  According to one embodiment, the vibrating sorting table has a table connected to motor means for printing at the table a repetitive movement to advance the grape berries and waste from its entry to its exit, the exit of the table being provided with a grid that allows grapes and small waste to pass through, which are collected by a delivery tray from which the monolayer falls vertically, the grid opening into a relatively large waste collection tank that the grid did not let pass.

  Various other characteristics appear from the description given below with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of non-limiting examples, embodiments of the subject of the invention.

  Figure 1 is a top view of an embodiment of an installation using a sorting device according to the invention.

  Figure 2 is an elevational view showing a portion of the installation illustrated in FIG. 1.

  Figure 3 is an elevational view showing an embodiment of a sorting device according to the invention.

  As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 3, the object of the invention relates to a device 1 adapted to ensure in a harvest, the sorting between grape berries B and waste D. As it appears more specifically in FIG. 3, the device 1 comprises a frame 2 preferably equipped with wheels 3 and means 31 for locking the frame in a fixed position acting for example on the wheels. It should be understood as will become more clearly apparent from the description, that such a sorting device 1 can be easily moved to be located at the output of a vibrating sorting table in the general sense, at the exit of which vertically drops a monolayer M of particles or elements consisting of grape berries B and waste D. It should be understood that grape berries B and waste D are distributed during their fall substantially in a monolayer of a given width for example of the order of 950 mm. It is considered that grape berries B and waste D fall vertically in the same plane even if such elements do not extend strictly in a plane.

  The sorting device 1 according to the invention comprises a sorting chamber 4, supported by the frame 2 at the top of which is arranged a passage opening 5 for the monolayer M of berries of grapes and waste falling vertically.

  The sorting device 1 also comprises means 8 for creating, inside the sorting chamber 4, an air knife 9 adapted to pass through the monolayer M in a direction of flow represented by the arrow F in FIG. the illustrated example. These means of creation 8 are constituted by a blowing nozzle 11 connected by a pipe 12 to a fan 13 carried by the frame 2. Preferably, the fan 13 has a variable air flow rate. Advantageously, the blast nozzle 11 is adjustable in opening in order to control the thickness of the air knife 9 but also in position relative to the passage opening 5. The nozzle 11 is thus adjustable in height and / or in spacing with respect to the monolayer and / or inclination in the direction perpendicular to the direction of circulation of the air gap, to prevent the grape berries and waste from touching the nozzle while ensuring that the flow of air allows a diversion of the waste inside the sorting chamber 4.

  Indeed, it must be considered that the air space 9 is adapted to divert the lighter waste than the grape berries so as to obtain for the waste D, trajectories deviated from the trajectories of fall of grape berries B It should be noted that the drop trajectories of grape berries can be more or less deflected by the flow of air depending on whether these berries are more or less crushed, for example. Be that as it may, it must be considered that the waste D is deviated relatively compared to grape berries B which pursue either their gravitational fall trajectory or a trajectory slightly deviated from the vertical.

  According to another characteristic of the invention, the sorting device 1 comprises first separation means 21 arranged in the sorting chamber 4 downstream of the blowing base 11 in consideration of the flow direction F of the blade of FIG. air 9. These separation means 21 make it possible to ensure a separation between the deflected trajectories of the waste D and the trajectories of fall of the grape berries B. Of course, these separation means 21 are located at a level lower than the plane extension of the air knife 9.

  These separation means 21 thus make it possible to sort out, on the one hand, the particles and a priori those corresponding to grape berries and having trajectories going beyond the separation means 21 and, on the other hand, the particles considered as waste, having trajectories going beyond or exceeding the means of separation 21. The particles namely grapes B arrested by the separation means 21 are directed to an outlet 22 while the other particles continue their journey to inside the sorting chamber 4.

  According to an advantageous embodiment variant and in order to reduce the loss of harvest (bays more or less crushed and rejected in the waste) and to optimize the quantity of waste discharged, these separation means 21 are adjustable in height and / or according to the direction of circulation of the air space and / or inclination in the direction perpendicular to the direction of circulation of the air space. In fact, it should be understood that the position of the separation means 21 inside the sorting chamber 4 makes it possible to control the quantity of the preserved grape berries and consequently the eliminated waste. Thus, the displacement of the separation means 21 in the direction of flow of the air knife 9 reduces the rate of rejection of waste by increasing the rate of recovered grains.

  In an exemplary embodiment, these separation means 21 are made by a plate inclined in the opposite direction of the direction of flow of the air knife and in the example, extended beyond its upper edge 211 by an edge grave. This inclined plate 21 is supported at each end by flanges 23 delimiting the sides of the sorting chamber 4. It must be considered that the upper edge 211 of the inclined plate 21 constitutes the means of separation between the trajectories of waste D and the trajectories of the preserved grape berries B. It should be noted that the inclined plate 21 also serves to channel or control the flow of the air knife 9.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the sorting device 1 comprises second separation means 31 arranged in the sorting chamber 4 downstream of the first separation means 21 in consideration of the direction of flow of the blade. air 9. These separation means 31 thus ensure a separation between on the one hand deviated trajectories adjacent trajectories bays stopped by the inclined plate 21 and corresponding to trajectories of waste considered grape berries and on the other hand other waste paths.

  According to a preferred embodiment feature and in order to reduce the loss of harvest (bays more or less crushed and rejected in the waste) and to optimize the quantity of waste rejected, these second separation means 31 are adjustable in height and / or according to the direction of movement of the air knife and / or inclination in the direction perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air knife 9. According to an embodiment characteristic, these separation means 31 are constituted by a flap supported at each end flanges 23. It must be considered that the flap 31 is thus a means for stopping particles with trajectories similar to grape berries B stopped by the inclined plate 21. In fact, some crushed berries and some berries whole berries cross the inclined plate 21 being pushed by the air flow. However, these berries heavier than the waste have a trajectory falling quickly after the inclined plate 21 while the waste retain a more horizontal trajectory. The particles arrested by the shutter 31 are not considered as waste but are considered as grape berries B can be preserved. The particles arrested by the flap 31 are directed towards an outlet 32. The waste whose trajectories go beyond or exceed this flap are considered as true waste D. The sorting device 1 also comprises means 40 for recovering the berries grapes from fall trajectories and trajectories close to those of fall. In other words, the means 40 recover grape berries from the outlets 22, 32 delimited upstream respectively of the inclined plate 21 and the flap 31.

  According to a preferred embodiment, these recovery means 40 are constituted by a hopper forming part of an elevator 41 for bringing the berries to a subsequent processing station. Preferably, such an elevator is also supported by the frame 2.

  D waste whose trajectories go beyond the separation flap 31 are collected by recovery means 45 constituted for example by a tray. Of course, the recovery means 45 can be mechanized using for example a transport conveyor.

  It should be noted that the sorting chamber 4 advantageously comprises a deflection wall 47 placed opposite the blast nozzle 11 and constituting the upper part of the sorting chamber 4. This deflection wall 47 thus makes it possible to channel the waste towards the tank 45. It should be noted that the sorting chamber 4 may be delimited downstream of the flap 31 and in its continuity, a bottom plate 46 bringing the waste D in the tank 45.

  The sorting device 1 according to the invention makes it possible to implement a particularly efficient sorting method. Indeed, from a monolayer M of particles consisting of grape berries and waste, falling vertically, the method according to the invention aims to create an air gap 9 through the monolayer M to divert lighter waste than grapes berries so as to obtain for the waste, trajectories deviated from the trajectories of fall of the berries of grapes. The method then consists in ensuring the separation by the plate 21 between the deviated trajectories of the waste and the drop trajectories of the grape berries B. In a complementary manner, the method according to the invention also aims to ensure separation by a flap 31 in the deviated trajectories of waste between, on the one hand, deviated trajectories close to the drop trajectories of grape berries and corresponding to trajectories of waste considered as grape berries and on the other hand, the other trajectories of waste. This second separation keeps healthy grapes that have not been stopped by the plate 21 or more or less crushed grapes. The grapes having the trajectories close to the fall trajectories are recovered together for treatment while the waste is recovered for disposal.

  Of course, the airflow of the air knife 9 can be adjusted to control the deviation of the waste. In the same direction, the plate 21 and the flap 31 are advantageously adjustable in position in order to control the rate of rejection of waste.

  The sorting device 1 according to the invention can thus be placed easily at the outlet of a vibrating sorting table from which falls vertically in a monolayer M grape berries and waste.

  In the example illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sorting device 1 is disposed at the outlet of a vibrating sorting table 50 fed with waste and berries by a vibrating sorting table 60. This vibrating sorting table 50 allows to spread on a layer berries and waste while increasing the processing capacity of the harvest. This vibrating equalization sorting table 50 comprises a frame 51 preferably made mobile by wheels 52 and equipped with means 53 for locking in a fixed position. This frame 51 comprises a table 54 connected to the drive means 55 for printing at the table a repetitive movement to advance the grape berries and waste from its entry E to its output. The exit of the table 54 comprises a grid 56 for passing through, grape berries and small waste that are recovered by a delivery tray 57 extending from the table 54 to a lower level with respect to Table 54. The plate 57 brings the grape berries and waste to an outlet 58 from which they fall vertically in a monolayer M. It should be noted that the gate 56 opens into a tank 59 for collecting relatively bulky waste that the gate 56 did not pass.

  This equalizing vibrating sorting table 50 is input fed by a vibrating sorting table 60 known per se. Of course, it should be noted that the device 1 according to the invention can be mounted directly at the outlet of the vibrating sorting table 60 able to deliver a monolayer M of grape berries and waste.

  The invention is not limited to the examples described and shown because various modifications can be made without departing from its scope.

Claims (12)

  1 - Process for sorting between grape berries (B) and waste (D), characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - to fall vertically in a monolayer (M) grape berries and waste, - create an air space (9) through the monolayer (M) of grape berries and waste to divert waste lighter than grape berries so as to obtain for the waste, trajectories deviated from the trajectories of drop grape berries, - ensure a separation between the deviated trajectories of the waste and the trajectories of falling grape berries, - ensure a separation in the deviated trajectories of waste, between, on the one hand, the trajectories deviated from those of falling bays corresponding to waste trajectories considered as grape berries, and secondly the other trajectories of waste, - and recovering on the one hand, grape berries having the trajectory s of fall and close to those of fall, and on the other hand waste with deviated trajectories.   2 - Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists in adjusting the flow of air passing through the monolayer (M) to control the deviation of the waste.   3 - Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it consists in separating the trajectories by means (21, 31) of separation adjustable in position.   4 - Device for sorting between berries (B) and waste (D) characterized in that it comprises: - a sorting chamber (4) at the top of which is arranged a passage opening 25 (5); ) for a monolayer (M) of grape berries and waste falling vertically, means (8) for creating inside the sorting chamber (4) an air gap (9) passing through a flow direction given the monolayer (M) of grape berries and waste to divert waste lighter than grape berries so as to obtain for the waste, trajectories deviated from the drop trajectories of the berries, - first separation means (21) disposed in the sorting chamber (4), downstream of the means (8) for creating the air gap, in consideration of the direction of flow of the air gap, to ensure a separation between the deviated trajectories of waste and the trajectories of fall of berries, second separation means (31) arranged in the sorting enclosure (4), downstream of the first separation means (21) in consideration of the direction of flow of the air gap, so as to ensure separation between deviated trajectories close to those of falling bays and corresponding to trajectories of waste considered as grape berries, and secondly, the other trajectories of waste, means (40) for recovering grape berries from trajectories of fall and trajectories close to those of fall, and means (45) of waste recovery.   - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the first (21) and / or second (31) separating means are adjustable in height and / or inclination and / or in the direction of movement of the air knife ( 9).   6 - Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the first separation means (21) are formed by a plate inclined in the opposite direction of the flow direction of the air knife, and supported at each end by flanges (23) defining the sides of the sorting chamber.   7 - Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the second separation means (31) are formed by a flap supported at each end by the flanges (23).   8 - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means (8) for creating an air gap (9) comprises a blowing nozzle (11) adjustable in thickness and / or in position relative to the opening passage (5) of the monolayer (M) of waste and berries, this nozzle (11) being fed by a fan (13) having a variable air flow.   9 - Device according to claims 4 and 8, characterized in that the sorting chamber (4) comprises a deflection wall (47) placed facing the blower nozzle (11) of the air gap in order to drive. waste to the recovery means (45).   - Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the recovery means (40) of the berries (B) are constituted by a hopper forming part of an elevator (41).   11 - Device according to one of claims 4 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a movable carrier frame (2) equipped with wheels (3) and locking means in position (31).   12 - Sorting plant characterized in that it comprises: at least one vibrating sorting table (50, 60) at the outlet of which falls vertically according to a monolayer (M), grape berries and waste, and a sorting device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 11, arranged so that the monolayer (M) of grape berries and waste passes through the passage opening (5) of the sorting chamber ( 4).   13 - Installation according to claim 12, characterized in that the vibrating sorting table is a vibrating sorting table (60) directly feeding the sorting device according to the invention or a vibrating sorting table equalization (50) fed in waste and grape berries by a vibrating sorting table (60), this vibrating sorting table (50) for distributing on a layer, berries and waste.   14 - Installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the equalizing vibrating sorting table (50) comprises a table (54) connected to the motor means (55) for printing the table a repetitive movement to advance the bays of grapes and waste from its entry to its exit, the exit of the table being provided with a grid (56) which allows the grapes and the small waste which are recovered by a delivery tray (57) to pass through. the outlet (58) from which falls monolayer (M) vertically, the gate (56) opening into a reservoir (59) for collecting relatively bulky waste that the grid has not passed.