FR2594794A1 - Device permitting the bunching of vegetables or plants in a continuous and automatic manner - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device permitting bunching, in an automatic and continuous manner, of vegetables or young plants, without interrupting the feed device. It consists of an assembly of two belts 1 and 2 guided by pulleys whose axes of rotation are perpendicular so as to convey the plants, while conferring on them a rotation of 90 DEG , towards the storage device. The latter, located on either side of the conveyor belts 1 and 2, consisting of a set of slides 10, 11 and of bearing pulleys, transports or immobilises the plants in order to feed, in a discontinuous manner, the system for receiving the young plants, formed by an assembly of branches 49 and 50 surrounding the bunch so as to hold it firmly. After tying-up of the bunch, the branches 49 and 50 withdraw in order to free the bunch which is then discharged towards a receiving hopper. The device according to the invention is intended particularly for the automatic and discontinuous bunching of vegetables and young plants, customarily packaged in this manner.

Description

 The present invention relates to a device for bundling vegetables or plants usually packaged in bundles and cueuillis manually. This operation takes place continuously and fully automatically, without interrupting the progress of the harvesting assembly.

 Harvesting and bunch conditioning are traditionally done manually with an average speed of execution of about fifty to seventy bales per hour and per person for the cultivation of radish.

 The device according to the invention allows the booting of one hundred to two hundred boots per hour and per element. It is possible to obtain rates multiplied by two, three, four, five or more depending on the number of picking elements working simultaneously one next to the other. Each of them is made up of a conveying system, made up of belts holding the plants by gripping either at the level of the foliage or at the level of the root. The path of the plants can be temporarily interrupted by a storage device so as to allow tying and evacuation of the finished bundle.

 This bundling device replaces existing tailing devices on mechanical harvesting sets. Figure 1 shows a side view of a booting device according to the invention. The conveying device shown in profile, in FIG. 2 comprises two belts (1 and 2), coated with a strip of foam (9) sufficiently dense to hold the plants together while being slightly deformed. Each of the belts (1 and 2) is tensioned by a first group of pulleys (3 and 4) whose axis of rotation is placed in a vertical plane.

The spacing between the two axes is such that the belts (1 and 2) coated with their foam strip (9) must come into contact with one another. The pulleys (7 and 8) ensuring the drive of the device have their axis of rotation situated in a horizontal plane. The spacing between the two axes of rotation is such that it leaves a space of about one centimeter between the two belts (1 and 2). The guide pulleys (5 and 6) are placed at the beginning of the last third of the device, the axis of the pulleys being in a horizontal plane and the spacing between them keeps the belts (1 and 2) in contact until 'at their level.

 The device thus constituted makes it possible to convey plants while imparting to them a rotational movement of 90, so as to place them in a horizontal plane at the end of the route. The pressure exerted by the belts (1 and 2) on the plants decreases as soon as they have passed the support pulleys (5 and 6) to fall to a zero value before reaching the level of the drive pulleys (7 and 8). To keep the plants in the horizontal position, a second group of belts (26 and 27) are placed parallel to the conveyor belts 1 and 2) a few centimeters from the latter. The lower belt is tensioned over three pulleys with the same characteristics as those used in the conveying device. The drive pulley (32) and the guide pulley placed in the same work plane are coaxial with the drive pulley (7 ) and the guide pulley (6) of the lower belt (2) of the conveying device. The belt (27) is tensioned on a pulley (28) whose horizontal axis of rotation is placed a few centimeters below the working plane of the drive pulley (32) and the guide pulley (29) . In this way the foliage carried by this belt is both lifted and conveyed to the storage device.

 A belt (26) is placed symmetrically on two pulleys (30 and 31). The latter are fixed on the axis of rotation of the guide pulley (5) and the drive pulley (7).

 Figure 2 shows a side view of the plant conveyor system.

 - Figure 3 shows a top view of the conveying system, surrounded by the storage device.

 The two groups of belts constituting the conveying device operate in identical fashion, which makes it possible to act with the same pressure and the same speed of translation at two different points on the plant.

 The storage device necessary to interrupt the supply to the plant reception system so as to allow bundling and evacuation takes place around the conveyor belts! 1 and 2) in the end part where the pressure decreases between the belts.

 The storage device is made up of blades (10, 11, 14 and 15) placed parallel opposite. These blades have a rectilinear part terminated at one end by a slight curvature so that they can come into contact with one another when the storage device is in the closed position (Fig. 4 and Fig. 5). In this position they prevent the movement of the plants towards the bundling device. The other end is curved outward to guide the plants between the two groups of blades. On the upper axis of rotation (13) is articulated the blades placed in the high position (11 and 15). On the lower axis of rotation (12) are fixed the blades placed in the lower position (10 and 14). The minimum spacing between the blades is determined according to the size of the part of the plants which must slide into it: roots or foliage. This spacing is constant when the storage device is in the closed position; the two blades opposite are parallel, their curved end closing the passage near the drive pulleys (7,8,31 and 32).

 Similarly, the width of each of the blades is related to the size, shape and weight of the part of the plant to be supported, i.e. around 30 to 45 millimeters for the enlarged roots of the radish and 10 to 20 millimeters for the foliage. Each set of blades is symmetrical with respect to the horizontal plane materializing the area of translation of the plants.

 The storage device comprises support pulleys (16, 17, 33 and 34) placed on the internal face of the conveyor belts (1,2, 26 and 27) a few millimeters from the drive pulleys (7,8,31 and 32). The support pulleys (16, 17, 33 and 34 can move towards one another while bringing the conveyor belts (1,2, 26 and 27) into contact. In this way the spacing being zero the plants are held firmly with no other possibility than to follow the movement imposed by the translation of the belts.

 The connection between the upper storage blades (11 and 15) and the support pulleys (17 and 33) is provided by a spacer (24) of about 60 millimeters in length and now by one of its ends having a fork, the axis of rotation of the support pulley.

The other end is connected to the fixing lugs (20 and 23) of the upper storage blades. This mobile spacer around an axis of rotation (18) simultaneously and opposite controls the movement of the upper storage blades and the support pulleys (17 and 33).

 An identical device controls the lower storage blades (10 and 14) and the support pulleys (16 and 34). By means of the spacer (25) movable around a rotational axis (19). The diameter of the support pulleys is approximately 10 to 15 millimeters. The movement of these blades is carried out on a mechanical impulse given by a feeler indicating that the optimal size of the boot has been reached.

 This device increases the pressure between the conveyor belts (1,2,26 and 27) while moving the blades apart from one another. The pressure in the contact zone is such that the plants are held firmly with no other possibility than that of following the movement imposed by the translation of the conveyor belt. When the blades approach until their ends touch the pulleys (16,17,33 and 34) move apart. The pressure between the belts rapidly decreasing the plants are no longer conveyed and come into abutment one behind the other in support between the storage blades.

 Figure 4 and Figure 5 show in profile the storage device according to the invention in the open position. Radishes can power the bundling device.

 Figure 6 and Figure 7 show in profile the storage device according to the invention in the closed position. The plants are blocked and line up one behind the other.

To be sufficient the capacity of the storage device must have a length of about twenty five centimeters.

 Depending on the forward speed, this storage capacity allows the booting process to be interrupted for the few seconds necessary for bundling, without stopping the advancement of the harvesting assembly.

All the belts in the entire system are therefore constantly in motion, excluding any clutch system. This method according to the invention provides a considerable improvement over the systems currently in existence.

 Figure 8 shows a top view of the storage device associated with the booting device.

 The drive pulleys of the various sets of conveyor belts are fixed on two axes of rotation (57 and 58) rotating in opposite directions to each other. The setting in motion of the conveying systems takes place from these two axes, the spacing of which is fixed according to the diameter of the pulleys used.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the diameter of the pulleys will be approximately 30 to 50 millimeters, in order to maintain a compact shape for the entire device.

 The device conveying the plants from the storage device to the receiving device forming the boot consists of a double set of parallel belts whose respective characteristics are common two by two, depending on their place in the device.

 The belts (35 and 16) working in the upper part of the device are guided by pulleys with a horizontal center distance of about ten centimeters. The belts (37 and 38) forming the lower part of the conveying device exceed the previous ones for the part in contact with the plants by about ten centimeters.

The distance between the pulleys guiding these two belts (37 and 38) is approximately 20 centimeters.

 The belts conveying the plants by gripping at the level of the root are covered with a deformable foam (47). The thickness of this foam is approximately 10 millimeters and covers the entire width of the belts (36 and 38-). The belts are arranged in such a way that they leave a gap of about 10 millimeters between them.

Therefore the minimum diameter of the roots that can be transported corresponds to this spacing. Roots with a larger diameter can be transported between the two belts; the foam accepting by its deformation root diameters of between 10 and 30 millimeters
The width of these belts (36 and 38) corresponds to the average length of the harvested roots, ie 35 to 40 millimeters for the radish. This first group of belts is placed in the axis of the storage blades (11 and 10).
In parallel with the plant storage device by the root, a second set of belts (36 and 37) covered with a strip of deformable foam (48) transports the plants by their leaves so as to keep them firmly in a horizontal position. thickness of the foliage measuring about 5 millimeters, the belts (36 and 37) in their common part are in contact with each other. The foam strip (48) covering the belts (35 and 37) should be approximately 5 millimeters thick.

 Figure 9 is a section along AA 'showing the diameter and location of the different pulleys driving the system.

Each pulley has a specific belt, the width, thickness and type of foam covering it correspond to a very specific function. The less dense and therefore more easily deformable mosses adapt to the range of diameters of the roots harvested. The densest yet deformable mosses (48) are reserved for belts conveying the plants by their foliage. The diameters of the different pulleys mounted on the two drive axes (57 and 58) rotating in opposite directions, are fixed relative to each other, taking into account their roles and the thickness of the foam covering the belts that By taking the radius of the largest pulley (43) as the reference radius, the characteristics of the different pulleys are as follows
- the drive pulleys (39 and 40) and tension (41 and 42) acting on the belts (36 and 38) with a width of about 30 to 40 millimeters have a radius equal to that of the largest pulley (43 or 44) reduced by 10 millimeters.

 - the drive pulleys (7,8,31 and 32) acting on the belts (1,2, 26 and 27) of the feed device have a radius equal to that of the largest pulley (43 or 44) reduced of 5 millimeters. Their width is about 10 to 15 millimeters.

 - the drive pulleys (43 and 44) and tension (45 and 46) acting on the belts (35 and 37) are taken as reference.

 The distance between the pulleys guiding the upper belts (35 and 36) is approximately 100 millimeters while that of the lower belts (37 and 38) reaches 200 millimeters.

 This difference is explained by the fact that the belts in the low position will have a role in the evacuation of the finished boots and that this arrangement is necessary to accommodate the binding device which is inserted between the two belts.

 The radishes conveyed between the belts (35,36,37 and 38) are stored in a device made up of several pliers (49,50 and 51) retaining then enclosing the radishes to form a bunch. The movement of these pliers is controlled by the descent of the support (54) of the stapling system which acts sequentially on the three different pliers.

 The support of the stapling device (54) consists of a metal angle, arranged vertically between the two upper supply belts (35 and 36) of the booting device. The support for the stapling device (54) has on each side a groove (55) flared in its lower part and forming an angle of approximately 1500. The difference in level between the highest point and the lowest point of the groove corresponds to the displacement which the angle must travel to allow the binding device to staple the elastic link which will be used to bind the boot.

 The upper branch (49) of the plant retention device comprises two pins (56). These two nipples are placed in each of the grooves dug in the support of the stapling device. The upper branch (49) and the clamping tab (51) are mounted on the same axis of rotation (53). They consist of a curved part corresponding to an arc of approximately 1900 for the upper branch and approximately 400 for the clamping tab.

 When the support (54) begins its descent, the groove gradually pushes the upper branch (49) through the pins (56), to a position corresponding to the top of the angle of the groove. The support simultaneously pushes the tab (51) completely closing the device.

 Figure 10 shows the profile device in the standby position.

 Figure 11 shows a side view of the device tightens when stapling the link.

 When the support (54) reaches the lowest part, the groove has brought the stud towards the front of the device completely lifting the upper branch (49). At the same time the base of the support presses on the lower branch (50). This consists of a slightly concave part of about ten centimeters, terminated by a curved end so as to follow the shape of the boot. This branch is movable around an axis of rotation located just under the upper part of the belt (38) vertical to the axis of the tension pulleys (41 and 45) of the upper conveyor belts to the receiving device. The end under the lower conveyor belts (37 and 38) is connected to the upper part of a spring working in traction and fixed at a point on the frame connecting all the elements. The rotation of the lower branch is limited so that it protrudes a few millimeters from the lower conveyor belts from the plumb of the tension pulleys 41 and 43) and so as to completely disappear under the lower conveyor belts when the boots.

 The decision to carry out the bottling operation obeys a feeler responsible for providing an impulse at a given time chosen by the user.

 This pulse will first close the storage device. After a short latency time, allowing the radishes located after the storage device to join the boot and therefore completely free up the space necessary for the operation of the binding system. The booting procedure will take place in the order described above, ending with the evacuation of the boot.

 - Figure 12 shows a side view of the device in the evacuation phase of the boot.

 According to a preferred embodiment, the device described above will be mounted on a self-propelled chassis with as many elements as there are rows to be harvested at once.

 The device according to the invention is particularly intended for bunching in a mechanical and automatic way of growing radishes.

Claims (10)

 1) Device for automatically and continuously bundling plants such as radishes, usually packaged in bundles; characterized in that it comprises a conveyor system consisting of two groups of belts each, imparting to the plants a rotation of 900 while bringing them to a storage system located on either side of these belts. The storage system can block or release the plants conveyed by two other groups of belts following the storage system and places it in alignment. The reception of the plants is carried out by a clamp consisting of an upper branch and a lower branch and a clamping tab whose movement is controlled by the support of the stapling device.  2) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the two belts (1 and 2) conveying the plants by their collar are placed on a first group of tension pulleys (3 and 4) whose axes of rotation are placed vertically in a plane perpendicular to the path of the plants. The second group of pulleys (7 and 8) ensuring the setting in motion of the belts (1 and 2) have their axes of rotation placed horizontally in the same vertical plane, perpendicular to the path of the plants. Therefore the contact strip is vertical at the tension pulleys (3 and 4) and horizontal from the guide pulleys (5 and 6) placed at the beginning of the last third of the course of the belts (1 and 2).  3) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterized in that the pressure maintained in the contact zone between the conveyor belts (1,2,26 and 27) is constant up to the level of the guide pulleys (5, 6.29 and 30) then decreases to the drive pulleys (7,8,31 and 32). The spacing between the belts being at this level of about 10 millimeters.  4) Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bundling system consists of 4 storage blades fixed on an axis of rotation at one of their ends and arranged in pairs in parallel on both sides other of the conveyor belts in the area delimited by the guide pulleys (5 and 6) and the drive pulleys (7 and 8) and by 4 support pulleys (16, 17, 33 and 34) acting on the spacing of the conveyor belts (1,2,26 and 27). The support pulleys are connected to the storage blades by mobile spacers around an upper axis of rotation (18) and a lower axis of rotation (19).  5) Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the opening and closing of the storage device is controlled by means of a probe responsible for evaluating the size of the boots. The opening of the storage blades tightens the support pulleys towards each other in order to bring the two conveyor belts into contact. Closing the storage blades blocks the passage of plants and spreads the pulleys so that the belts (1 and 2) and (26 and 27 can move away from each other.  6) Conveying device according to claim 1 characterized in that the storage device is extended by a group of 4 belts, coated with foam of different thickness and density. The distance between the pulleys carrying the lower belts (37 and 38) is greater than that of the pulleys carrying the upper belts (35 and 36) by at least 100 millimeters. The two axes of rotation (57 and 58) carrying the drive pulleys of the belts in the upper position and the drive pulleys of the belts in the lower position, rotate in opposite directions and ensure the movement of all the belts.  7) Device according to claim 6 characterized in that the diameter of the drive pulleys (7,8,31,32,39,40,43 and 44) is a function of the spacing between the contact strips of the belts varying from O to about 10 millimeters and the thickness of the foam strip approximately between 5 and 10 millimeters.  8) Device according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a receiving system placed immediately after the upper conveyor belts (35 and 36), movable about an axis of rotation (53) horizontal for the upper branch (49 ) and the clamping lug (51) and for the lower branch (50) around a horizontal axis (52).  9) Device according to claim 8 characterized in that the movement of the upper branch (49) is guided by two pins (56) sliding in the grooves (55) of the movable support of the stapling device.  The clamping tab (51) rotating around the axis (53) closes to tighten the boots under the action of the movable support of the stapling device.  10) Device according to any one of the preceding claims characterized in that a spring tends to slightly exceed the lower branch above the level of the lower conveyor belts (37 and 38) so as to free the plants from the movement of the belts while filling the retention system. The latter consists of the upper branch (49) corresponding to an arc of about 1900, the clamping tab corresponding to an arc of about 400 and the lower branch corresponding to an arc of around 1300. The diameter of the ring-shaped retention device is equal to that of a bunch of radishes.