EP4284567A1 - Procédé d'ajustement d'au moins un paramètre d'une ligne de triage d'objets tels que des fruits ou des légumes et système de triage associé - Google Patents
Procédé d'ajustement d'au moins un paramètre d'une ligne de triage d'objets tels que des fruits ou des légumes et système de triage associéInfo
- Publication number
- EP4284567A1 EP4284567A1 EP22706646.1A EP22706646A EP4284567A1 EP 4284567 A1 EP4284567 A1 EP 4284567A1 EP 22706646 A EP22706646 A EP 22706646A EP 4284567 A1 EP4284567 A1 EP 4284567A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- support
- sorting
- ejection
- passage
- station
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
- B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C2501/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material to be sorted
- B07C2501/009—Sorting of fruit
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line for objects such as fruits or vegetables, an associated sorting system and an object packaging system comprising a such a sorting system.
- a conveyor line comprises a plurality of supports which are driven in a longitudinal advancing movement by means of a chain.
- the objects in particular small objects, are each carried by a support which moves along the conveying line, first passing in front of a device - in particular a camera - for analyzing at least one sorting criterion , the analysis device being fixed and constituting a point of reference for the position of each object on the conveying line and, then, in front of one or more ejection stations arranged downstream of the analysis device.
- Each of the ejection stations is fixed with respect to the conveying line and comprises one or more ejection nozzles making it possible to eject the object from its support when said object reaches the ejection station where it must be ejected.
- Each object is ejected from the sorting line at an object ejection station from which are ejected all the objects conveyed on the conveying line and which have the same sorting criterion.
- the objects ejected at the same ejection station form a batch of objects, all the objects of this batch meeting this same sorting criterion.
- the distance separating the analysis device and the at least one ejection station varies so that the object ejection nozzle(s) of at least one ejection station is (are) activated while the object is not positioned in line with the ejection nozzle, but upstream of the ejection nozzle or downstream of the ejection nozzle. This results in an unsatisfactory ejection.
- the invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.
- the invention aims to solve these problems.
- the invention therefore aims to provide an automated method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line of objects of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables.
- the present invention relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line of objects of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, the sorting line conveying a plurality of supports, each support being intended to carry an object; the adjustment method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: driving at least one support in displacement along a longitudinal direction of advancement of the sorting line; - detection of the passage of said at least one support in front of a reference point of the sorting line;
- each ejection station Pi being intended to be able to expel said at least one support , an object carried by said at least one support, during the passage of said at least one support in front of said ejection station Pi;
- each longitudinal distance Di Di separating each ejection station Pi from the plurality of ejection stations and the reference point, from detection data of the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point and from data of detection of the passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station Pi and of the drive speed V of said at least one support on the sorting line.
- sorting line designates an object conveying line intended to allow a grouping of similar objects meeting at least one same sorting criterion from a set of heterogeneous objects, but it also designates a conveying line intended to allow distribution in space of similar objects - if necessary pre-sorted - from a homogeneous set of objects meeting at least one same criterion of sorting.
- This method makes it possible to very simply determine the longitudinal distances Di between each of the ejection stations and the reference point on the sorting line from the simple passage of an object support on the sorting line. It makes it possible to synchronize the activation of the means for ejecting objects from the sorting line of objects and the passage of the supports for said objects on the sorting line.
- the detection of the passage of the object support at the reference point and at each ejection station is carried out automatically, that is to say without human intervention, and the same is true for the determination of the different distances which , it is generally carried out by a data processing unit or processor, which represents a saving of precious time for the personnel intervening on the line with regard to manual intervention.
- the adjustment of one or more parameters of the conveying line is therefore carried out much more quickly than in the prior art.
- the operator of the sorting line can carry out such an adjustment more frequently than before and for example at regular time intervals, in particular when restarting the sorting line and/or the packaging system of objects.
- the method according to the invention makes it possible, for example at the start of the object sorting installation, to analyze the distances separating a reference point of the sorting line and each ejection station of this line of sorting.
- the method according to the invention allows the activation of the ejection station to be perfectly synchronized with the passage of the carrier support of each object having the sorting criterion corresponding to this expulsion station, whereby all the objects presenting a common sorting criterion or a sorting criterion in the same value interval, and only these objects, are expelled from the sorting line at the same sorting station upstream from which they are grouped into batches.
- the adjustment process is automated.
- the passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station is detected by electromagnetic interaction between the fixed ejection station Pi and said at least one moving object support on the sorting line when said at least one support d the object passes in front of the ejection station Pi; there is thus no contact between the support of objects and the ejection station, and the detection of the passage is carried out automatically during the advance of the support along the sorting line, when it reaches the ejection station concerned;
- each ejection station Pi The passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station Pi is detected by electromagnetic interaction between a mobile element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station Pi; the implementation of the detection of the passage is carried out in a very simple way from a fixed element (detector) of the station ejection and a mobile element of the support which is the element to be detected;
- the mobile element carried by said at least one support is a magnet and the fixed element associated with the ejection station is a Hall effect sensor; these elements form a preferred embodiment because the bringing together of the moving magnet and the fixed Hall effect sensor produces on the latter a measurable voltage at the terminals of the sensor;
- Said at least one support chosen to carry out each detection step carries an object.
- Said at least one object support which is used for the steps of detecting passage in front of the reference point and in front of each ejection device is adapted to be able to carry an object; thus the adjustment method according to the invention makes use of existing elements of the sorting line of the system for packaging such objects and, in this case, uses one of the object supports which is used for sorting of these objects, subject to a few structural modifications which do not call into question its use as an object support. Moreover, nothing prevents said at least one object support which is used for the passage detection steps from carrying an object or being free of any transported object;
- the adjustment of at least one parameter is performed during adjustment operations implemented on the sorting line prior to object sorting operations; advantageously, the determination of the distances can be carried out during the adjustment operations, which therefore does not require interrupting the normal operation of the sorting line to carry out these measurements.
- the adjustment of at least one parameter can be realized in real time during object sorting operations;
- each support is formed by two bi-cones arranged one behind the other on the sorting line in the direction of advancement, the two bi-cones being adjacent to each other so as to define between them a housing for receiving the object to be carried, each bi-cone comprising two portions arranged transversely with respect to the line for sorting objects and each formed by a cone mounted free in rotation, the two cones having their apex screwed -notice ;
- a support structure is particularly suitable for object supports and can be easily used for the implementation of the invention. Other types of support are possible.
- They may be, for example, supports in the form of buckets, each bucket being sized to be able to receive an object, each object being able to be evacuated from the bucket by tilting/overturning the bucket. They may be, for example, supports in the form of a conveying hand, each object conveyed by a conveying hand being capable of being released from the conveying hand by tilting the conveying hand and/or by tilting fingers forming said conveying hand.
- it may be a mat with studs suitable for holding the objects in place on said mat as the conveyor moves;
- the objects conveyed for the purposes of their packaging belong to the group of fruits and vegetables. It can be any type of fruit and/or vegetable which is suitable for being able to withstand such sorting operations.
- the objects can be berries.
- the objects are objects of small dimensions or of small size, such as for example blueberries or cherries, that is to say of dimensions and mass adapted to allow ejection of the objects in a ejection station of the objects by a flow of air emitted by a nozzle of the ejection station.
- the passage of said at least one support is detected in front of a reference point located along the sorting line.
- the reference point is a fixed point on the sorting line whose position on the sorting line is fixed and determined.
- the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point is detected by acquisition and analysis of images of said at least one support, said at least one support being provided with a pattern identifiable by means sorting line image acquisition and analysis.
- the sorting line reference point is equipped with a device for detecting the passage of said at least one support in front of the sorting line reference point.
- the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point is detected by any means, said at least one object support being provided with an identifier capable of being identified by the detection device.
- the passage of said at least one object support past the reference point can be detected by electromagnetic interaction between the fixed detection device and said at least one moving object support on the sorting line when said at least one support d 'object passes in front of the reference point; there is thus no contact between the support of objects and the detection device, and the detection of the passage is carried out automatically during the advance of the support along the line, when it reaches the point of reference.
- the fixed detection device can be equipped with a Hall effect sensor, said at least one mobile object support being equipped with a magnet.
- the device for detecting the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point of the sorting line being a device for acquiring and analyzing images
- the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point located along the sorting line is detected by means of the image acquisition and analysis device, in particular by means of an acquisition device and image analysis comprising a camera, this device being fixed relative to the sorting line.
- said object support may have a pattern - in particular a colour-identifiable pattern.
- the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point is detected by acquisition and analysis of images of said at least one support, said at least one support being provided with a pattern identifiable by means of sorting line image acquisition and analysis.
- nothing prevents detecting the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point by any other means suitable for this purpose.
- a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line use is made to detect the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point , the sorting line device intended to analyze the objects conveyed by the sorting line in order to determine the sorting criterion for the objects conveyed by the sorting line and proceed to their sorting.
- the distance Di traveled by said object support between the reference point equipped with the image acquisition and analysis device and each ejection station is thus precisely determined.
- the present invention also relates to a system for sorting objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, comprising at least one sorting line equipped with a plurality of object supports, each support being intended to carry an object, the object supports being moved along a longitudinal direction of advancement of the sorting line, the sorting line comprising:
- each ejection station Pi being intended to eject objects each carried by their support and being located at a distance Di with respect to the reference point;
- the system being characterized in that it comprises: a device for detecting the passage of at least one object support in front of the reference point; - A device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station;
- a computer device configured to determine the different longitudinal distances Di between the ejection stations of the plurality of ejection stations Pi and the reference point from detections of passages of said at least one object support in front of the point of reference and in front of each ejection station and the drive speed V of said at least one object support.
- the sorting system which is conventionally used for sorting fruit and/or vegetables into batches requires few modifications for it to be able to implement the invention. It suffices to provide and integrate passage detection devices in front of the reference point and in front of each ejection station and a computer device comprising a data processing unit, adapted to receive passage detection data and to calculate each distance Di.
- the computer device is capable of transmitting instructions for ejecting an object from its object support at the precise moment of its passage in front of the station for ejecting objects having the same sorting criterion and the grouping into batch of these objects with the same sorting criterion.
- the device for detecting the passage of at least one object support in front of the reference point can simply be produced by a camera which itself forms the reference point of the sorting line.
- each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station Pi comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station and which are both capable of cooperate with each other with or without contact.
- the movable element carried by said at least one support can cooperate mechanically by contact with the fixed element associated with the ejection station;
- each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station Pi comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station and which are both capable of cooperate with each other by electromagnetic interaction -by detection of a magnetic field produced by the mobile element- when the mobile element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object support in front of the workstation ejection.
- the movable element carried by said at least one support comprises at least one magnet and the fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one Hall effect sensor;
- each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station Pi comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station and which are both capable of communicate with each other by radio frequency when the mobile element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object support in front of the ejection station.
- the mobile element carried by said at least one support comprises at least one electronic component capable of transmitting data by radiofrequency - in particular a microcircuit, or chip or RFID tag - and the fixed element associated with the workstation.
- ejection comprises at least one electronic component capable of receiving data by radio frequency - in particular an RFID reader;
- each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station comprises: o a fixed element associated with the ejection station, said fixed element is a photoelectric cell comprising an emitter of a beam of at least one electromagnetic wave and a sensor of said at least one electromagnetic wave placed facing said transmitter, and; o a movable element carried by said at least one support, the movable element being arranged to interrupt the transmission of the beam between the transmitter and the sensor; the beam of said at least one electromagnetic wave being interrupted when the movable element is interposed between the transmitter and the sensor of the photoelectric cell.
- the fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one photoelectric cell comprising an emitter of a beam of at least one electromagnetic wave and a photosensitive sensor arranged so that the movable element carried by said at least one support cuts said beam due to the passage of said at least one support in front of the ejection station;
- the fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one device for acquiring at least one image of said at least one medium passing in front of the ejection station and in that the object sorting system comprises a unit for analyzing and processing said images adapted to detect the passage of said at least one support in front of the ejection station;
- each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station comprises a mobile element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station, the mobile element having a color particular and the fixed element comprising a colorimeter;
- each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station, the movable element comprising a heat source and the fixed element comprising an infrared (IR) wave detector;
- IR infrared
- the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point can be of any kind. It may comprise a mobile element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the reference point, the mobile element and the fixed element being capable of cooperating with each other by electromagnetic interaction when the mobile element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object support past the fixed reference point.
- the movable element can have a magnet and the fixed element can include a Hall effect sensor.
- the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point may comprise a mobile element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the reference point, the mobile element and the element fixed being able to cooperate with each other by radio frequency when the mobile element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object support in front of the fixed reference point.
- the mobile element can present an identifier - in particular an RFID identifier - and the fixed element can comprise an RFID identifier reader;
- the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point comprises a fixed device - in particular a fixed camera - for acquiring at least one image of said at least one support passing in front of the reference point, disposed along the sorting line and which forms the reference point, the image acquisition device - in particular the camera - being adapted to determine the passage of said at least one object in front of the reference point.
- said at least one object support has a colored pattern and the fixed camera is adapted to be able to perform a colorimetric analysis of said at least one object support;
- the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point comprises an infrared wave detector (IR) arranged along the sorting line, forming the point of reference and adapted to detect the passage of said at least one object support carrying a heat source in front of the reference point;
- IR infrared wave detector
- each support is formed by two bi-cones arranged one behind the other on the sorting line in the direction of advancement, the two bi-cones being arranged adjacently in order to define between them a housing for receiving the object to be carried, each bi-cone comprising two portions arranged transversely and each formed by a cone which is mounted free to rotate, the two cones having their tops facing each other;
- the system comprises a computer device comprising a unit for processing data and determining distances Di.
- the invention also relates to an installation for packaging objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, of the type comprising a system for sorting objects according to the invention.
- the invention also relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a line for sorting objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, a system for sorting objects and a packaging installation for such objects characterized, in combination or not, by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.
- the various characteristics mentioned above or below should not be considered as closely or inextricably linked to each other, the invention possibly relating to only one of them.
- Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a sorting line of objects chosen from the group consisting of fruits and vegetables in a first state of progress of the sorting line of said objects;
- FIG. 2 Figure 2 is a simplified perspective view of the sorting line shown in Figure 1, in a second state of progress of the sorting line;
- Figure 3 is a simplified perspective view of the sorting line shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, in a third state of progress of the sorting line;
- Figure 4 is a simplified perspective view of an object support for a sorting line of objects in the upstream position of a station for ejecting objects from a sorting line according to a mode of realization of the invention
- Figure 5 is a simplified perspective view of an object support of an object sorting line in the position for detecting the passage of said support in the object ejection station of the sorting line shown Figure 4;
- Figure 6 is a simplified perspective view of an object support of an object sorting line in the object ejection position in the sorting line object ejection station shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, and;
- Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an object sorting line according to the invention.
- a line 1 for sorting objects of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group consisting of fruits and vegetables, in a first state of progress of the sorting line for said objects is represented in a simplified manner by Figure 1 .
- the sorting line 1 comprises a conveyor 2 comprising a chain 3 driven in movement in a longitudinal direction 5 of movement of the conveyor 2 and a plurality of adjacent bi-cones 4, mounted integral with the chain 3 and driven in movement by the chain 3
- Two successive bi-cones 4 arranged one behind the other on the conveyor 2 of the sorting line 1 define between them a housing 9 to receive an object 7 to be carried chosen from the group of fruits and vegetables and form a support 6 of said object.
- Each bi-cone 4 comprises two portions 10 arranged transversely with respect to the object sorting line and each formed by a cone mounted free in rotation, the two cones having their tops facing each other.
- a single object 7 has been shown for the sole purpose of simplifying the drawing. Indeed, during an object sorting phase, each support 6 -or at least a majority of supports 6- is occupied by an object 7, the scroll rate of the chain 3 and of each support 6 being able to reach a value of 3000 steps (replacement of a given support by the immediately adjacent upstream support) per minute.
- Sorting line 1 includes a fixed reference point 11 with respect to sorting line 1.
- At least one device 8 for measuring at least one magnitude representative of each object passing in front of the reference point 11 for the purposes of their sorting.
- At least one detection device 8 can be a camera adapted to form a digital image of each object 7 passing through the reference point 11 .
- the object packaging system comprises a computer device adapted to receive each data provided by the measuring device 8, to analyze each data according to at least one object sorting criterion and to determine the ejection station at which the The object 7 analyzed by the computing device must be ejected.
- the computing device determines the time required for the analyzed object 7 to travel the distance Di between the reference point 11 and the ejection station at which the object 7 must be ejected.
- the computer device is adapted to receive each digital image formed by the measuring device 8, to analyze each digital image according to at least one object sorting criterion and to determining the ejection station at which the object 7 analyzed by the computing device must be ejected, to form a batch of objects expelled from the sorting line at the same ejection station and grouped into batches of objects with the same sorting criterion.
- Line 1 for sorting objects of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group consisting of fruits and vegetables, in a second state of progress of line 1 for sorting said objects is represented in a simplified manner in Figure 2.
- the object 7 has reached a first ejection station 12 located at a distance from the reference point 11 and within a period not corresponding to the distance from the reference point 11 and the period calculated by the computer device for this object, whereby the object 7 is not ejected from the sorting line 1 to the ejection station 12.
- Line 1 for sorting objects of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group consisting of fruits and vegetables, in a third state of progress of line 1 for sorting said objects is represented in a simplified manner. in Figure 3.
- the object 7 has reached a second ejection station 12' located at a distance from the reference point 11 and within a time which corresponds to the distance from the reference point 11 and to the time calculated by the computer device for this object is ejected from line 1 of sorting.
- the computing device activates the ejection device, whereby the object 7 is ejected from the sorting line 1 to the ejection station 12'.
- each support of object of the sorting line is moved along a longitudinal direction of advancement of the sorting line and at a predetermined speed V by means of a chain of the object conveyor.
- the adjustment method according to the invention is implemented prior to any sorting step, the object supports of the sorting line being devoid of conveyed objects. However, nothing prevents the adjustment method according to the invention from being implemented when at least one object support part conveys objects.
- each support of objects driven in displacement at the predetermined speed V passes in front of a reference point equipped with a device for detecting the passage of at least one support of objects.
- the device for detecting the passage of an object support can be a detector of an electromagnetic interaction between the fixed detection device located at the fixed reference point and said at least one moving support on the sorting line when said at least one object support passes in front of the reference point.
- Said at least one object support can be equipped with a magnet and the detection device can be a Hall effect sensor.
- the device for detecting the passage of an object support in front of a fixed reference point of an object sorting line can be a fixed image acquisition device located at the fixed reference point and said at least one support moving on the sorting line can be an object support provided with an identifier capable of being identified from images formed by the fixed device for acquiring pictures.
- the object support may be a colored support, of a color distinct from the other supports of the sorting line, the fixed image acquisition device being suitable for acquiring a plurality of digital images making it possible to determine , by analysis of these digital images, the moment of passage of the colored support in front of the reference point.
- the fixed image acquisition device Since the fixed image acquisition device is a camera, it transmits the images of the plurality of images to a computer unit (computer) 20 for controlling the system, comprising at least one digital image analysis processor making it possible to determining a time to of passage of said object support in front of the reference point of the object sorting line.
- a computer unit for controlling the system, comprising at least one digital image analysis processor making it possible to determining a time to of passage of said object support in front of the reference point of the object sorting line.
- FIG. 4 An object support 6 moving in a direction 5 of longitudinal advancement of the sorting line and approaching an ejection station 12 upstream is shown in FIG. 4.
- the mobile object support 6 with respect to the sorting line is formed of a central body 17 provided with 2 pairs of bi-cones 4 arranged laterally with respect to the longitudinal direction of movement of the object support, each pair of bi-cones 4 forming a lateral housing 9 intended to receive an object.
- the ejection station 12 mounted fixed with respect to the sorting line comprises on the one hand a fixed element integrally associated with the ejection station 12, the fixed element being provided with a sensor 14 chosen to be able to detect the passage of the object support 6 in front of the ejection station 12, by detecting the interaction electromagnetic of the magnet 13 of the support and of the Hall effect sensor 14 of the post 12 of detection.
- the magnet 13 of the support is at a distance from the Hall effect sensor 14 and the advance of the support 6 object along the line 1 sorting is not detected by the sensor 14 Hall effect.
- the magnet 13 of the support 6 of the object extends short distance of the Hall effect sensor 14 from the ejection station 12.
- the voltage value at the terminals of the Hall effect sensor 14 is maximum and corresponds to the passage of the object support 6 as close as possible to the Hall effect sensor 14.
- the Hall effect sensor 14 transmits to an electronic card 16 (“Air Machine Output Card, CSMA”) of the ejection station, the electrical voltage data measured at the terminals of the Hall effect sensor 14 .
- the maximum voltage value determined by the electronic card 16 corresponding to the moment of passage of the magnet 13 in front of, as close as possible to and opposite the sensor 14.
- the information concerning the maximum voltage value is transmitted to an electronic card 18 (“ Air Machine Outlet Management Card, CGSMA”) by each CSMA electronic card 16 associated with an ejection station 12 .
- the processor of the "CGSMA” electronic card 18 calculates, from the data received from the fixed image acquisition device of the reference point and the data received from each "CSMA” electronic card 16, the value of the delay tn - to elapsed between the moment (to) of passage of the object support in front of the reference point and the moment (tn) of passage of the object support in front of the ejection station “n”.
- the CGSMA electronic card 18 centralizes the information transmitted by the CSMA electronic card 16 and transmits this data to a control unit 20 of the object packaging system via an interface 19 comprising an electronic control card in return.
- the control unit 20 Given the predetermined value of the speed V of movement of the object supports 6 on the sorting line 1, the control unit 20 calculates the distances Di between the reference point 11 of the sorting line 1 and each station 12 Pi ejection line 1 sorting objects. From the values Di determined during the method according to the invention for adjusting at least one parameter of a line 1 for sorting objects 7 of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables, the control unit 20 orders, during object sorting operations, the activation of the object ejection means from the ejection station 12 corresponding to the sorting criterion of the object carried by the object support, during the passage of the object carried by the object support in front of the ejection nozzles.
- the support 6 of the object In the position of the support 6 of the object being moved along the direction 5 of longitudinal advancement of the sorting line as shown in Figure 6, the support 6 of the object is shown in a remote position downstream of the ejection station 12, the object support 6 moving in the direction of a separate downstream ejection station on the sorting line.
- the distance separating the magnet 13 from the object support 6 (mobile) and the Hall effect sensor 14 from the ejection station 12 (fixed) is such that the magnet 13 is no longer detected by the sensor 14.
- the ejection nozzles 15 of the ejection station 12 are positioned so that an air flow capable of being produced by the ejection station 12 is directed onto the housing 19 of the support 6 of the object and is adapted to be able to eject an object carried by the support 6 of the object.
- a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a line 1 for sorting objects of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group of fruits and vegetables is shown in Figure 7 in which the line 1 sorting is represented schematically by a dotted straight line.
- An object support 6 devoid of any transported object is represented in different successive positions along the line 1 of sorting, moving at a speed V in the direction 5 of longitudinal advancement of the line 1 of sorting.
- the object support 6 has a magnet 13 arranged to be able to cooperate with the Hall effect sensor 14' coupled to the ejection station 12.
- the object supports supporting objects.
- An adjustment of at least one parameter is then carried out in real time.
- an object support called adjustment support 6, approaching the reference point 11 of the object sorting line 1
- the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 in front of the reference point 11 generates digital data representative of the position of said adjustment support 6 by compared to reference point 11.
- These digital data are transmitted to an electronic card 18 equipped with a processor and software 19 for analyzing these digital data, which determine the moment to of passage of said adjustment support opposite the point 11 of reference.
- the moment to of passage of said adjustment support opposite the reference point 11 is communicated to a computer control unit 20 of the object packaging system, indicating that said support is at the reference point 11, denoted "O" in FIG. 7.
- the detection device 8 can be a camera adapted to form a plurality of digital images of said support 6 for adjustment in movement along the line 1 of sorting.
- the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 is a device also allowing an analysis of each object carried by the object supports of the object sorting line, with a view to their sorting according to a determined sorting criterion.
- the device for analyzing the objects carried by the object supports with a view to their sorting is used as a device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 at the reference point 11 of the sorting line 1.
- Said adjustment support 6 is provided with at least one identifier that can be located without contact by the detection device 8 .
- At least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be a magnetic identifier, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising a magnetic reader.
- at least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be a magnet, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising a Hall effect sensor.
- At least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be an electronic component capable of transmitting data by radiofrequency -in particular microcircuits or RFID tags-, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising at least an electronic reader capable of receive data by radio frequency -in particular comprising at least one RFID reader-
- At least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 can be a component with an optical reading code - in particular a bar code component, a two-dimensional code component such as a QR code or a three-dimensional code, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising at least one optical reader - in particular a bar code reader, a QR code reader, a three-dimensional code reader - of the type of an optical reader comprising a high-speed matrix sensor definition.
- At least one identifier can also be a colored pattern arranged on said adjustment support, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising a colorimeter and/or a camera adapted to detect the presence of the colored pattern of said adjustment support 6 at the reference point 11 of line 1 of sorting.
- a second phase (Ph2) of the method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line of objects said adjustment support 6 approaching a first station Pi of object ejection from object sorting line 1, the Hall effect sensor 14 of the first object ejection station Pi produces digital data representative of the position of the magnet of said adjustment support 6 with respect to at the first ejection station Pi.
- These digital data are collected on an electronic card 16 of the first ejection station Pi and transmitted to an electronic card 18 fitted with a processor and software 19 for analyzing these digital data, which determine the time ti of passage said adjustment support facing the first ejection station Pi.
- the moment ti of passage of said adjustment support facing the first ejection station Pi is communicated to a computer unit 20 for controlling the object packaging system which calculates the time (ti - to) of travel of said support of adjustment between the reference point 11 and the first ejection station Pi and the distance Di between the reference point 11 and the first ejection station Pi, taking into account the speed V of displacement of said adjustment support on the line 1 yard.
- a third phase (Pho) of the method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line of objects the adjustment support 6 approaching a second station P2 of object ejection from object sorting line 1, the Hall effect sensor 14 of the second object ejection station P2 produces digital data representative of the position of the magnet of said adjustment support 6 with respect to at the second ejection station P2.
- These digital data are collected on an electronic card 16' of the second ejection station P2 and transmitted to the electronic card 18 of the object packaging system, which determines the moment t2 of passage of said adjustment support facing the second station. Ejection P2.
- the time t2 of passage of said adjustment support opposite the second ejection station P2 is communicated to the computer unit 20 for controlling the object packaging system which calculates the travel time (t2 - to) of said support. adjustment between the reference point 11 and the second ejection station P2 and the distance D2 between the reference point 11 and the second ejection station P2, taking into account the speed V of movement of said adjustment support on sorting line 1.
- n th phase (Phn) of the method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line of objects said adjustment support 6 approaching an n th position Pn of object ejection from line 1 of object sorting, the Hall effect sensor 14 of the n th object ejection station Pn produces digital data representative of the position of the magnet of said support 6 of adjustment with respect to the n th ejection station Pn.
- These digital data are collected on a 16” electronic card of the n th ejection station Pn and transmitted to the electronic card 18 of the object conditioning system, which determines the moment tn of passage of said adjustment support opposite the n th Pn ejection station.
- the time tn of passage of said adjustment support facing the nth ejection station Pn is communicated to the computer unit 20 for controlling the object packaging system which calculates the travel time (tn - to) of said support adjustment between the reference point 11 and the n th ejection station Pn and the distance Dn separating the reference point 11 and the n th ejection station Pn, taking into account the speed V of displacement of said support of adjustment on sorting line 1.
- the invention may be subject to numerous variants and applications other than those described above. In particular, it goes without saying that, unless otherwise indicated, the various structural and functional characteristics of each of the embodiments described above should not be considered as combined and/or closely and/or inextricably linked to each other, but to the opposite as mere juxtapositions.
- the structural and/or functional characteristics of the various embodiments described above may be the subject, in whole or in part, of any different juxtaposition or any different combination.
- the number of ejection stations of an object packaging system according to the invention can vary according to the number of distinct batches of objects to be grouped together.
Landscapes
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
- Apparatuses For Bulk Treatment Of Fruits And Vegetables And Apparatuses For Preparing Feeds (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| RS20260097A RS67691B1 (sr) | 2021-01-27 | 2022-01-26 | Postupak za podešavanje najmanje jednog parametra linije za sortiranje objekata kao što je voće ili povrće i povezani sistem za sortiranje |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2100761A FR3119105B1 (fr) | 2021-01-27 | 2021-01-27 | Procédé d’ajustement d’au moins un paramètre d’une ligne de triage d’objets tels que des fruits ou des légumes et système de triage associé |
| PCT/FR2022/050146 WO2022162313A1 (fr) | 2021-01-27 | 2022-01-26 | Procédé d'ajustement d'au moins un paramètre d'une ligne de triage d'objets tels que des fruits ou des légumes et système de triage associé |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP4284567A1 true EP4284567A1 (fr) | 2023-12-06 |
| EP4284567B1 EP4284567B1 (fr) | 2025-11-19 |
| EP4284567C0 EP4284567C0 (fr) | 2025-11-19 |
Family
ID=75539502
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP22706646.1A Active EP4284567B1 (fr) | 2021-01-27 | 2022-01-26 | Procédé d'ajustement d'au moins un paramètre d'une ligne de triage d'objets tels que des fruits ou des légumes et système de triage associé |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US12544800B2 (fr) |
| EP (1) | EP4284567B1 (fr) |
| CN (1) | CN117042892A (fr) |
| AU (1) | AU2022214403A1 (fr) |
| CA (1) | CA3206048A1 (fr) |
| CL (1) | CL2023002221A1 (fr) |
| ES (1) | ES3061513T3 (fr) |
| FR (1) | FR3119105B1 (fr) |
| IL (1) | IL304583A (fr) |
| MX (1) | MX2023008653A (fr) |
| PL (1) | PL4284567T3 (fr) |
| RS (1) | RS67691B1 (fr) |
| WO (1) | WO2022162313A1 (fr) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL318776A (en) * | 2022-08-04 | 2025-04-01 | Unitec Spa | Assembly for transportation and unloading of fruit and vegetable products |
Family Cites Families (16)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3980180A (en) * | 1974-11-20 | 1976-09-14 | Jamieson John A | Transmissive article sorting apparatus |
| US4262807A (en) * | 1978-11-24 | 1981-04-21 | Durand-Wayland, Inc. | Process and apparatus for weighing and sorting articles |
| US4254877A (en) * | 1979-11-05 | 1981-03-10 | Fmc Corporation | Weight sizing apparatus |
| NZ199446A (en) * | 1981-03-06 | 1984-12-14 | Maki Mfg Co Ltd | Grading articles by weight-conveyor with electronic weigher |
| US5267654A (en) * | 1992-05-26 | 1993-12-07 | Durand-Wayland, Inc. | Article-holding cup and sorting apparatus |
| US5513740A (en) * | 1994-02-24 | 1996-05-07 | Sunkist Growers | Optoelectronic object spacing method |
| JPH10152219A (ja) * | 1996-11-21 | 1998-06-09 | Ishii Ind Co Ltd | 搬送物仕分け装置 |
| CN101486033B (zh) * | 2009-03-09 | 2012-07-25 | 中国农业大学 | 一种小果型果品分检装置及板栗分检方法 |
| FR2966369A1 (fr) * | 2010-10-20 | 2012-04-27 | Jean Baptiste Vye | Dispositif de detection et de tri d'objets sur tapis convoyeur |
| KR101686617B1 (ko) * | 2015-08-17 | 2016-12-14 | 주식회사 한성엔지니어링 | 과일 패키징 시스템 |
| EP3502019B1 (fr) * | 2017-12-19 | 2020-06-10 | Fives Intralogistics S.p.A. Con Socio Unico | Procédé pour commander des machines de tri et machine de tri |
| EP3502020B1 (fr) * | 2017-12-19 | 2020-06-10 | Fives Intralogistics S.p.A. Con Socio Unico | Machine de tri |
| CN210146485U (zh) * | 2019-05-17 | 2020-03-17 | 新郑市正好枣业有限公司 | 一种多级红枣分拣机 |
| CN210618577U (zh) * | 2019-08-29 | 2020-05-26 | 郑州轻工业学院 | 基于机器视觉和plc控制的水果分拣与大小分级包装系统 |
| CN211160759U (zh) * | 2019-10-16 | 2020-08-04 | 湖州师范学院 | 一种用于单粒分布待分选物筛选的分选装置 |
| CN110681603B (zh) * | 2019-11-06 | 2024-07-23 | 西北农林科技大学 | 一种小型果蔬气动自动分选机 |
-
2021
- 2021-01-27 FR FR2100761A patent/FR3119105B1/fr active Active
-
2022
- 2022-01-26 US US18/274,163 patent/US12544800B2/en active Active
- 2022-01-26 AU AU2022214403A patent/AU2022214403A1/en active Pending
- 2022-01-26 CN CN202280011980.8A patent/CN117042892A/zh active Pending
- 2022-01-26 RS RS20260097A patent/RS67691B1/sr unknown
- 2022-01-26 EP EP22706646.1A patent/EP4284567B1/fr active Active
- 2022-01-26 MX MX2023008653A patent/MX2023008653A/es unknown
- 2022-01-26 PL PL22706646.1T patent/PL4284567T3/pl unknown
- 2022-01-26 ES ES22706646T patent/ES3061513T3/es active Active
- 2022-01-26 CA CA3206048A patent/CA3206048A1/fr active Pending
- 2022-01-26 WO PCT/FR2022/050146 patent/WO2022162313A1/fr not_active Ceased
-
2023
- 2023-07-19 IL IL304583A patent/IL304583A/en unknown
- 2023-07-27 CL CL2023002221A patent/CL2023002221A1/es unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CL2023002221A1 (es) | 2024-02-09 |
| US12544800B2 (en) | 2026-02-10 |
| PL4284567T3 (pl) | 2026-03-09 |
| AU2022214403A9 (en) | 2024-07-18 |
| WO2022162313A1 (fr) | 2022-08-04 |
| IL304583A (en) | 2023-09-01 |
| CN117042892A (zh) | 2023-11-10 |
| CA3206048A1 (fr) | 2022-08-04 |
| RS67691B1 (sr) | 2026-02-27 |
| FR3119105A1 (fr) | 2022-07-29 |
| MX2023008653A (es) | 2023-10-05 |
| AU2022214403A1 (en) | 2023-08-10 |
| EP4284567B1 (fr) | 2025-11-19 |
| FR3119105B1 (fr) | 2023-01-20 |
| EP4284567C0 (fr) | 2025-11-19 |
| ES3061513T3 (en) | 2026-04-06 |
| US20250001461A1 (en) | 2025-01-02 |
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