FR2516486A1 - CONVEYOR WITH COMPARTMENT FOR CONVEYING OBJECTS ON A WEIGHING STATION, IN PARTICULAR FOR CLASSIFYING FRUIT - Google Patents

Abstract

COMPARTMENT CONVEYOR FOR TRANSPORTING OBJECTS TO A WEIGHING STATION. THE CONVEYOR INCLUDES COMPARTMENTS EACH OF WHICH IS INTENDED TO SUPPORT AN OBJECT TO BE WEIGHED, AND MEANS TO GET THESE COMPARTMENTS BEFORE A WEIGHING STATION WHERE EACH COMPARTMENT LIES ON THE PLATFORM 17 OF A WEIGHING DEVICE WHICH REGISTERS WEIGHT OF THE COMPARTMENT AND ITS CONTENTS. EACH COMPARTMENT IS CONNECTED TO THE MEANS OF TRANSPORT BY AN ARTICULATION WITH TWO AXES 7, 4 LOCATED IN A PRACTICALLY HORIZONTAL PLANE. APPLICATION: TRANSPORT, WEIGHING AND GRADING OF FRUITS.

Description

The present invention relates, in general, to

  industrial conveyors and more particularly, but not limited to, apparatus for transporting fruits, such as apples, and for presenting these fruits at weighing. In a known apparatus for classifying fruits, means of transport may be used which may comprise separate compartments forming a certain number of channels.

  juxtaposed along which objects, such as

  mes, bulbs and bulbs, can be transported from a power source to a succession of weighing devices In such an apparatus, each compartment is generally articulated to the transport device by a pivot located at one end of the compartment At another point in this compartment, there is a pin or stud which supports part of the weight of this compartment and its contents on the weighing device or on a fixed rail. When the compartment reaches the weighing station, the pin or the stud comes to rest on a weighing device which thus saves part of the weight of the compartment and its contents while the compartment moves around its pivot If the force exerted by the pin on a contact element, provided for this end of the weighing device exceeds a pre-set value, the element flexes and the

  compartment can turn down to empty

  In such an apparatus, weighing errors may

  occur because of variations in the position of the

  center of gravity of the object being weighed,

  port to the axis on which the compartment pivots, and relative

  to the pin that acts on the weighing mechanism.

  GB-A 1,549,785 (NRDC) discloses another model of a transport apparatus in which the individual compartments of a series of compartments carrying

  fruits are connected by connecting rods to transverse stems

  the conveyors placed one step in front of the compartment con-

  The rods, which are articulated to the trans-

  can be connected either invariably or pivotally to the compartments In the first case, the fact that the compartments rotate about a relatively long radius has the effect of attenuating the influence of the variations of

  position of the fruits in the compartments on the

  at the weighing station In the second case, if the compartment

  is supported on the weighing device so as to be stable during weighing, the position of the center of gravity of

  fruit in the compartment has no influence on the result.

  So, in both cases, the disadvantages

  of the previous apparatus are largely overcome.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide

  a transport device to further improve

  the accuracy of the previous patented device, while

  realizing a more compact device.

  According to the present invention, a transmission apparatus

  port comprises a number of compartments each of which is intended to support an object or a substance to be weighed, and means for transporting these compartments to a weighing station where the compartments may be supported, at least in part, on means of weighing, the

  means of transport including a series of trans-

  each compartment being connected to the trans-

  adjacent, for example, preceding or following this

  a joint, each hinge being pivotally connected to the conveyor and the corresponding compartment by articulation links whose axes are situated in a common plane which, at least during weighing, does not form

  not with the horizontal, an angle greater than about 100.

  Where appropriate, the two axes associated with each articulation could be arranged to be spaced along the width of the transport means (with the axes aligned in the direction of movement of the compartments in the weighing station). presently preferred embodiments of the invention, the axes

  of articulation are rather spaced in the direction of

  compartments in the weighing station.

  Advantageously, when the transverse element precedes or follows the compartment to which it is connected, this

  transversal element is located at the end of this compartment.

near or near it.

  Advantageously, the distance between the center of

  pivots and the center of the length of the joint is appro-

  In the alternative, this distance can be between about 1/8 and 7/8 of the pitch. The joint or some of the joints,

  can or can advantageously house one or more

  or similar, which may be moved manually or by other means and which carry information relating to the contents of the corresponding compartment or to

  a compartment having a fixed relationship to that compartment.

  Advantageously, the compartments are intended

  born to be partially supported by means of

  display acting on, or carried by, means of transport or components carried by means of transport

  or moving in a fixed ratio with the means of trans-

  Harbor. Alternatively, each compartment could be supported by a pin or by an element projecting from the side of the compartment and which is arranged to slide or roll along a fixed surface, supporting

  compartment, except when it is desired to weigh or

to cull its contents.

  In another variant, each compartment is

  supported by a latch or other member mounted on, or

  another component placed on the side of the compartment

  and carried by the means of transport.

  Preferably, the apparatus also comprises means for recording the weight of a compartment and its contents, the arrangement being such that during the

  the center of gravity of the compartment and its

  held is practically level above the weighing area

effective means weighing.

  Preferably, the apparatus also comprises means for rotating the objects in the compartments in order to

  facilitate a full determination of the other characteristics

  objects at one or more additional locations.

provided in the apparatus.

4 2516486

  The invention also includes a facility for classifying fruit, including a compliant transport apparatus

to the present invention.

  In most if not all of the practical embodiments of the invention, the means for transmitting

  port include an endless conveyor with the upper strand

  Loaded compartments Unless otherwise specified

  contrary, the following description should be considered

  as referring to this active part of the strand of the

l O voyeur.

  Other features and advantages of the

  The following description will be apparent from the following description

  by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

  FIG. 1 is a plan view of a compartment

  situated on the upper end of a conveyor, that is,

  say on its active strand; Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 are side views showing a compartment in various attitudes; FIG. 6 represents a compartment without the bars connecting them to the conveyor. FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively a lateral and plan view of a compartment with a modified articulation; Fig. 9 is a side view of another modification; and Figures 10 and 11 are side views

  another embodiment, represented at two

  different from its operation.

  In any case, it is assumed that the conveyor moves in the direction of the arrow A. Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 6, it can be seen that the upper face of the compartment 1 comprises a hollow central portion 2 intended to receive the apple or other object to be transported It can, as shown, have openings 3 and 3 'formed to allow means (not shown) placed under the conveyor, to rotate the object being transported while it is examined to determine its quality or

-16,486

  other characteristics Suitable means for this

  end can include two endless bands, arranged in parallel

  to the longitudinal axis of the conveyor, under a line of compartments, so that a portion of the apple for example, which protrudes through the openings 3 and 3 'comes from

  in contact with the bands These bands could be

  at different speeds and, if necessary, in different directions from those of the conveyor to

  rotate the fruits placed in the compartments.

  In this case, the movement of one or both bands may be intermittent or the speed of these bands may be variable to vary.

  the speed or axis of rotation of the fruits.

  Each compartment is placed generally between two transverse rods 4 and 4 'which are connected to

  two or more strings or bands (not shown)

part of the conveyor.

  The compartment is placed longitudinally,

  relative to the transverse rods, by means of bars

  5 and 5 'which can advantageously be coupled

  by a transverse element, outlined by dashes in 6.

  As a variant, the lateral bars and the connecting elements

  transversal sound could be made up of a piece

  continuous wire wrapping, at least partial-

  around the transverse rod 4 '.

  The bars 5 and 5 'are mounted so as to

  pivot freely on the transverse rod 4 'and are

  abutments by means of pivots 7 and 7 'with the compartment cor-

respondent of the conveyor.

  A lip 8 or other protruding part of the front edge of the compartment is provided to support

  the front of it on the rod 4 'while the back corner

  compartment is supported by the latch 9 which is hooked on the rod 4 This latch is articulated in 10 to

  compartment and is normally held in the attitude

  the latch 9 may be placed on or near

  the axis of the compartment to reduce the tendency to

  or a second identical latch could be placed at the other rear corner of the compartment.

  these two latches could be coupled.

  Alternatively, one or more latches could be pivotally mounted on the bars 5 and / or 5 ', on a similar axis In this case, the springs He could

  be mounted between the bars and one or more latches.

  During its passage on the weighing device, the compartment is supported by the surfaces 12 and 12 'making

  part of its underside In this position, the compartment

  is raised slightly by the platform 17 of the

  Weighing, as seen in Figure 3, so that the lip 8 and the latch 9 are no longer in contact with the transverse rods Since the pivots 7 and 7 'and the rod 4' are substantially in the same plane horizontal and that the vertical component of the mass of the bars 5

  and 5 'is constant, accurate weighing can thus be achieved

  A known weighing device for this purpose is a platform

  shape, supported by springs and having a transducer

  inductive displacement transducer installed between the platform and the base, and delivering an electrical signal based on

  of the mass supported damping means are generally

normally provided.

  The protuberance 13 and the upper surface 14 of the tabs carrying the latches hold properly

  the compartment reversed with respect to rods 4 and 4 '

  the return path of the conveyor.

  When it is desired to unload the contents of

  other than at the end of the conveyor path, a knocker 15 is placed so as to meet the arm 16

  latch 9, as shown in Figure 4.

  In this case, the latch is forced to pivot, against the pull of the spring 11 thus allowing the compartment to rotate, as shown in FIG.

  5, to empty out the forces that exert themselves on the

  such that the compartment pivots downwards to the point that, when the latch returns to its normal position relative to the compartment, it is no longer in contact with

  the cross rod 4 A pin, a ramp or a wheel

  lette (not shown) placed under the conveyor can be used to lift the compartment so that the latch

  9 hangs on the cross rod 4.

  The knocker 15 is normally part of a series of like elements disposed along the unloading section of the machine and is transferred to its active position by an electromagnet or other positive means.

  when it is appropriate to unload an object at a particular position

ticular.

  FIG. 9 represents an embodiment variant where the same numerical references as before were

  used to designate similar parts of the compartment

  The difference between this last embodiment and that described above is that the lateral bars 5, 5 'extend only about half

  the length of the compartment The operation of this va-

  The embodiment is the same as that described above with respect to the preceding embodiment, a spring (which is not visible in FIG.

  previously, to hold the latch 9 in the atitude rep-

  felt until it is moved by the knocker 15

(see Figure 4).

  In another variant (not shown), the latch device described above is replaced by a

  ankle or other element, projecting laterally

  from a point towards the rear of one of the lateral bars 5 or of the compartment 1 and which is arranged

  to slide along a fixed rail, thereby supporting

  if the compartment, s-auf when one wishes to weigh or evacuate its contents A small rotating member could be provided

  to prevent wear from sliding.

  In another variant (not shown), the compartment could be supported, if necessary, by a latch or a similar member mounted on, or acting on, another component placed along the compartment and carried by the conveyor, as it is describes, for example,

  in GB-A-1,549,785 (NRDC).

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  GB-A-1,548,301 (NRDC) discloses an apparatus for grading fruit, wherein pushbuttons mounted in a support block are used to form a mechanical escort memory for retaining information relating to the quality or other characteristics of the fruit being transported to

  the weighing station or which are transported to and / or

  loaded at the desired point of delivery of the contents of

  If applicable, the same kind of memory of

  This could be combined with one of the

  side of the apparatus according to the present invention, as

  shown, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 8, where the reference

  Figure 18 shows the combination of a side bar and a block of pushbuttons, while references 19 and 20 designate push-buttons. These can be depressed manually to indicate the decision to

  the quality operator, for example, -or very little

  may be operated by electrical or mechanical means.

  Figures 10 and 11 show another embodiment which differs from those described so far in that

  the compartment is articulated on the transverse rod followed

  boast 4 'instead of the previous one 4.

  The various parts of this embodiment are similar or identical to those described above and the same reference numerals have been used to designate them. The position of the pivots 7, 7 'is again left to choose in order to allow the use of bars, 5 'more or less long, depending on the case. Apart from the fact that the compartment pivots around the transverse rod 4 '(towards the position shown in FIG. 11), the only significant difference with respect to the previous embodiments is that the repositioned latch 9 comprises an arm 16, which is raising above the compartment instead of extending below and which is intended to come into contact with a knocker 15 whose

  new position is judiciously chosen.

  With regard to the latch 9, it should be noted that in the situation shown in FIG. 10, the point of attachment of the spring 11 to the latch 9 is situated slightly below the imaginary line joining the pivot 10 to the point of attachment. upper spring 11, so that it solicits the latch 9 upwards

  to bring it to the position shown in Figure 10.

  After separation, the cross rod automatically returns to the notch of the latch 9 when it encounters it, then slides along the inclined surface of the latch at the beginning of the return path of the compartment in the opposite direction to the direction of the latch. arrow A of 1a

figure 10.

  It is easy to understand that the apparatus described above

  generally includes several tracks each of which

has many compartments.

  Although the embodiment of the invention, shown and described above, is primarily intended for use with apples, it is readily apparent that other objects, such as onions, bulbs, etc., for example, could also be used. be transported, where appropriate, by judiciously modifying, where appropriate,

  the dimensions and / or the shape of the compartments shown.

  As indicated above, in the definition of

  nition of the present invention, the conveyor which is the object could also be used to transport

  substances rather than objects

  for this purpose could, for example, be virtual-

  identical to those shown, except that the compartments

  would not be punctured, to prevent the substance from escaping during transport and weighing.

  the posterior edges of the compartments will, preferably

  also a kind of pouring lip to help regulate the evacuation of the substance when the compartment is tilted to the position

Figure 5.

  It will be appreciated that, in order to minimize weighing errors, it is generally desirable that the friction between the sliding surfaces of the compartment and the weighing device be relatively small, that the webs be as horizontal as possible during

2 2516486

he

  weighing, and that these bars are relatively long

  to minimize their inclination during weighing, thus minimizing the vertical component of the pulling force. 2 l 2516486

Claims (8)

  1 Conveyor or conveyor, characterized   rised in that it includes a number of compartments   each of which is intended to support an object or substance   it must be weighed, and means for transporting the compartments in front of a weighing station where these compartments can be supported, at least in part, on a device   weighing, the means of transport including a series of   transversal elements (4, 4 ', 5, 5', 6), each compartment.   being connected to the adjacent transverse element by an articu-   corresponding articulation, each articulation being pivotally connected to the conveyor and to the corresponding compartment by pivoting links whose axes (7, 7 ') are situated in a common plane which, at least during the weighing, is   an angle not exceeding about 100 in relation to the horizontal   tal. Transport apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse element precedes or   follows the compartment to which it is connected.   3 Transport apparatus according to the claim   2, characterized in that the transverse element is   located at the end of the compartment or near it.   4 Transport apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the distance   between the center of pivoting and the center of the length of the joint is between 1/8 and 7/8 of the pitch   separating the transverse elements.   Transport apparatus according to any one   of the preceding claims, characterized in that P'ar-   or some joints have one or more   any buttons (19, 20) or the like which can be moved manually or by other means to retain information relating to the contents of the corresponding compartment or a compartment having a   fixed relationship with said compartment.   6 Transport apparatus according to any one   than the preceding claims, characterized in that   the compartments are intended to be partially supported 12 2516486   by hooking means acting on or carried by the means of transport or by components carried by the means of transport or moving in a fixed ratio with the means of transport or by a latch (9) or by a another member mounted on, or acting on, another component placed along the compartment and carried by the means of transport.   7 Transport apparatus according to any one of   Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each   part is supported by a pin or other element protruding from the side of the compartment and which is   arranged so as to slide or roll along a surface   this fixed, thus supporting the compartment, except when   wants to weigh or evacuate the contents of the compartment.   8 Transport apparatus according to any one   than the preceding claims, characterized in that   it further comprises means for recording the weight of a compartment and its contents, the arrangement being such that during weighing, the center of gravity of the compartment and its contents is practically level.   above the actual weighing area of the weighing equipment.   9 Transport apparatus according to any one   than the preceding claims, characterized in that   it also includes means for rotating the objects in the compartments to facilitate a complete examination of the other features of the objects at one or more locations or at one or more additional positions provided in the device.   Plant to classify fruits,   characterized in that it includes a transport apparatus   as specified in any one of the claims preceding.