AU2003200237B2

AU2003200237B2 - Conveyor

Info

Publication number: AU2003200237B2
Application number: AU2003200237A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ivan H. Shaw
Original assignee: I H & J A Shaw Pty Ltd
Current assignee: I H & J A Shaw Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-22
Filing date: 2003-01-22
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-22
Also published as: AU2003200237A1

Description

11251AU

ORIGINAL

Complete Specification Applicant: I H J A Shaw Pty Ltd Title: Conveyor Address for Service: LESICAR PERRIN, 49 Wright Street, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: Conveyor FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a conveyor. In particular the present invention relates to a conveyor arrangement used in the transport of harvested vine fruit, for example, raisins and grapes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vine fruit is routinely harvested by mechanical means. In the case of raisins the fruit is allowed to ripen and dry on long pendulous shoots. At harvest the dried fruit is mechanically removed by gentle shaking of the vine to encourage the fruit to drop.

The fruit is collected on a sloping tray that directs the fruit into a conveyor. In turn, the conveyor transports the fruit to a larger collecting bin.

Vine fruits such as raisins and grapes are relatively soft and can be damaged or split when handled. This is, in some cases, of little consequence. Thus, for wine makers where the grapes are to be immediately crushed following harvest, the splitting of the skins to release the juice may not cause any harm. In the case of dried grapes, it is important not to split the skin by crushing as the fruit is very sticky when broken and where fruit spills on to the handling and transporting equipment, the viscous nature of the product means that it is likely to adhere to the equipment and possibly interfere with the smooth operation of the equipment. This is particularly the case where dried grapes lodge under the rollers of conventional elevators. Furthermore, the fruit is also acidic in nature and prolonged exposure to an acid environment may result in corrosion damage to metallic parts of the equipment.

The conveyor assembly of the present invention offers an alternative to existing conveyor designs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore according to the present invention there is provided a conveyor assembly including: A conveyor assembly including: a flexible conveyor belt attached to a drive chain and being driven for rotation within a support frame; a plurality of spaced apart collecting bins attached to the conveyor belt, said conveyor bins being adapted to collect and hold fruit harvested on to the belt; and wherein the conveyor belt is attached to side walls of the collecting bins and longitudinal ends of the conveyor belt are upturned to form extended side walls of the conveyor the belt folding around corners in the support frame in use.

Thus, the flexible conveyor belt serves to provide an additional means to hold the fruit in the conveyor. Importantly, as the conveyor moves around corners the belt is able to form folds. This can be compared with more conventional conveyor arrangements where surfaces slide over one another to accommodate corners and such like in the path of the conveyor. In these cases it is all too easy for fruit to become trapped between adjacent plates of a conveying system. Dried fruit, such as raisins are particularly prone to becoming lodged in equipment and, given the sticky, viscous nature of the fruit they can lead to interruption of the operation of the conveyor, or, in some cases potentially cause damage to the equipment.

The conveyor is preferably an endless belt conveyor attached to which are a plurality of spaced apart collecting bins adapted to collect and carry harvested fruit products. In one form of the invention an endless belt conveyor is attached to pair of parallel chain assemblies having a series of spaced apart carrier bars extending therebetween, said carrier bars serving to attach the conveyor to the chain assemblies.

Preferably, each carrier bar is attached to the endless belt by means of a pair of connectors that pass through both the belt and the bars, said carrier bars being arranged at evenly spaced intervals along the length of the belt Preferably, the conveyor includes a frame member within which the endless belt and attached collecting bins travel, the frame member being mounted on a trailer so as to be attachable to a vehicle. The frame member may include therein channels in which the chain assemblies run and wherein the frame member is generally rectangular and includes curved corners to allow each chain assembly move easily within the frame.

In a preferred form of the invention the collecting bins are each open topped and generally trapezoidal in shape having a base, sides, a back and an inclined front face, said collecting bins being connected to the belt through the back thereof.

Further, connecting plates on the outer surface of the upturned sides of the conveyor belt, preferably secure the collecting bins to the edges of the belt, and wherein the shape DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 illustrates in schematic perspective view a single sided harvester incorporating a conveyor in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the conveyor shown in figure 1; Figure 3 depicts a cross-sectional view of the conveyor of figure 2; Figure 4 a detail of the chain of the conveyor; and Figure 5 illustrates in schematic perspective view a double sided harvester incorporating a conveyor in accordance with the invention; DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Shown in the drawings are harvesters 12 and 13 incorporating a conveyor 10 in accordance with the invention. The harvesters 12,13 are of a type generally available for the harvesting of dried fruit especially raisins. The harvesters 12,13 will not be described in detail herein, and it is sufficient to note that the devices includes a vertically arranged rotating spindle 14 to which are attached a plurality of beater arms 16. The beater arms 16 are oscillated gently against vines to thereby release fruit. The fruit thus harvested is collected in lowermost collecting plates 18 that are inclined and inturn deliver the fruit into the conveyor 10. In the case of the single sided harvester 12 depicted in figure 1 a single spindle 14 is located on one side of the conveyor 10, whereas in the case of the double sided harvester 13 shown in figure 5 a pair of spindles 14 are located one on either side of the conveyor 10. Details of the conveyor 10 are similar in each case and the following description is applicable to both the arrangements shown in The conveyor 10, is housed in a frame member 22. Conveniently, the arrangement is mounted on a trailer 15 so as to be attachable to a vehicle.

The conveyor 10 includes an outer, generally rectangular support frame 22 that houses a conveyor 10. As seen in figures 1 and 2 the support frame has curved guides 21 at corners of the frame 22 to allow the conveyor 10 to move easily within the support frame 22. The support frame 22 is arranged generally vertically.

The conveyor 10 includes a conveyor belt 24 is formed of a flexible sheet material that 24 be formed of any suitable plastics material of appropriate strength such polypropylene. The conveyor belt 24 travels within the support frame 22 and, as can be seen in figure 2. Because the belt is flexible, as the conveyor moves around corners the belt is able to form folds as shown in figure 2. This compares with conveying arrangements where movement Attached to the underside of the belt 24 are a series of spaced apart carrier bars The carrier bars 25 are arranged so as to each run transversely between short ends of the belt 24. Each carrier bar 25 is attached to the conveyor belt 24 by means of a pair of connectors 29 that pass through both the belt 24 and the bars 25. Further, the carrier bars 25 are arranged at evenly spaced intervals along the length of the belt 24. The carrier bars 25 are connected at their ends to parallel chain assemblies 28 located on either side of the conveyor belt 24 as shown in figure 4.

The chain assemblies 28 run in channels 30 in the support frame 22. The chain assemblies 28 are driven and, inturn drive the conveyor belt 24 around the support frame 22 via the drive cog 23. The carrier bars 25 are attached to the chain assembly through support brackets 31 that extend from the chain assemblies 28.

The carriers 25 serve to both support the underside of the conveyor belt 24 and to assist in the carriage of the belt 24 within the support frame 22.

Secured between ends of the conveyor belt 24 are a series of collecting bins 32.

The collecting bins 32 are spaced apart along the length of the conveyor belt 24.

The collecting bins 32 are attached through the conveyor belt 24 by means of the connectors 29. Thus, the collecting bins 32 are coincident with the carrier bars Where thought desirable, the space between adjacent collecting bins 32 can be increased by using an internal spacer 33 rather than a carrier bin 32.

The collecting bins 32 are each open topped and generally trapezoidal in shape having a base 34, sides 36, a back 38 and an inclined front face 40. The bins 32 are connected to the conveyor belt 24 through the back 38. In addition, the bins 32 are somewhat narrower than the width of the conveyor belt 24 and the belt 24 is upturned at its edges and connected to the sides 36 of the bins 32. Connecting plates 42 on the outer surface of the upturned sides of the conveyor belt 24, secure the bins to the edges of the belt 24. The shape of the connecting plates 42 is similar to the side profile of the collecting bins 32.

In use, as the conveyor belt 24 is moved around within the support frame 22, the collecting bins 32 are on their back side 38 as the conveyor belt 24 moves along the lowermost part of the support frame 22. In this position, as the conveyor belt 24 passes under the spindle 14 and collecting plates 18 the harvested fruit falls into the spaces between adjacent collecting bins 32. As the conveyor belt 24 moves around the frame 22 to run vertically the bins are moved to a generally horizontal position and collect the fruit as it falls into them under the influence of gravity. The fruit is collected on an endless belt arrangement 26. The belt 26 is angled outwardly with respect to the plane of the support frame 22 and is able to deliver any fruit thereon to a collection vessel (not shown) placed by the side of the support frame 22.

As the belt 24 travels around the corners of the frame 22 the belt is folded as shown in figure 2. The folds in the belt 24 open out as the belt rounds the corner and are thus temporary. The folds therefore do not trap or crush any of the fruit. Similarly, the arrangement of the side connecting plates 42 and bins 32 with the belt 24 therebetween is also designed to discourage any fruit from becoming trapped in the conveyor. Thus, any instances of interference with the machinery by fruit are minimised.

The invention has been described by way of example. The examples are not, however, to be taken as limiting the scope of the invention in any way. Modifications and variations of the invention such as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A conveyor assembly including: a flexible conveyor belt attached to a drive chain and being driven for rotation within a support frame; a plurality of spaced apart collecting bins attached to the conveyor belt, said conveyor bins being adapted to collect and hold fruit harvested on to the belt; and wherein the conveyor belt is attached to side walls of the collecting bins and longitudinal ends of the conveyor belt are upturned to form extended side walls of the conveyor the belt folding around corners in the support frame in use.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the flexible conveyor belt serves to provide an additional means to hold fruit in the conveyor and whereby as the conveyor moves around corners the belt is able to form folds to thereby retain fruit without crushing or trapping fruit in the conveyor.

3. A conveyor according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said conveyor is an endless belt conveyor attached to which are a plurality of spaced apart collecting bins adapted to collect and carry harvested fruit products.

4. A conveyor according to claim 3, wherein said endless belt conveyor is attached to pair of parallel chain assemblies having a series of spaced apart carrier bars extending therebetween, said carrier bars serving to attach the conveyor to the chain assemblies.

A conveyor according to claim 3, additionally including a frame member within which the endless belt and attached collecting bins travel, said frame member being mounted on a trailer so as to be attachable to a vehicle.

6. A conveyor according to claim 5, wherein said frame member includes therein channels in which the chain assemblies run and wherein the frame member is generally rectangular and includes curved corners to allow each chain assembly move easily within the frame.

7. A conveyor according to claim 7, wherein the chain assemblies are driven and, inturn drive the conveyor belt around the support frame.

8. A conveyor according to claim 6, wherein each carrier bar is attached to the endless belt by means of a pair of connectors that pass through both the belt and the bars, said carrier bars being arranged at evenly spaced intervals along the length of the belt.

9. A conveyor according to claim 8, wherein said collecting bins are attached through the conveyor belt by means of the connectors, whereby the collecting bins are coincident with the carrier bars.

A conveyor according to claim 9, in which collecting bins are each open topped and generally trapezoidal in shape having a base, sides, a back and an inclined front face, said collecting bins being connected to the belt through the back thereof.

11. A conveyor according to claim 9, wherein connecting plates on the outer surface of the upturned sides of the conveyor belt, secure the collecting bins to the edges of the belt, and wherein the shape of the connecting plates is similar to the side profile of the collecting bins.

12. A harvester including a conveyor according to any one of the preceding claims.

13. A conveyor as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated: 22/01/03 IH JA Shaw Pty Ltd By their Patent Attorneys Lesicar Perrin