FR2887479A1 - DIMENSIONAL CALIBRATION DEVICE FOR SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL OR OVOID OBJECTS SUCH AS FRUIT - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for calibrating (1) dimensionally objects (2) of substantially spherical or ovoid shape such as fruits, comprising: - a series of pairs (3i, i = 1 to n) of rollers parallel to each other driven in translation in a longitudinal direction (XX '), - each pair (3i) comprising a first bi-conical roller (4i), and a second cylindrical roller (5i), and interconnected at their ends by connecting rods (6) adapted to be articulated in rotation relative to the axis of said first roller, the empty space between said first and second respective rolls of two successive pairs defines a succession of compartments (7) in the axial transverse direction (YY '). said objects are deposited between and above two pairs of successive rolls (3i, 3i + 1) objects of a size less than or equal to a given size are recovered below said compartments (7). And increasing the inclination of said connecting rods (6) makes it possible to recover objects of increasing size as the pairs of rollers move.

Description

The present invention relates to a dimensional calibration device

  objects of substantially spherical or ovoid shape such as fruits and more particularly small fruits such as small tomatoes called cherry tomatoes, cherries, grapes beans, plums such as mirabelle plums, olives, or kumquats.

  By dimensional calibration is meant here the sorting of objects according to their size.

  The term "substantially spherical objects" here means objects having a substantially circular cross-section in at least two substantially perpendicular planes whose equatorial section plane and substantially ovoidal objects of objects having a substantially circular or oval section in the equatorial section plane and a section substantially respectively oval or circular in a plane substantially perpendicular to the equatorial section plane.

  Oval is here understood to be a shape with rounded contours but somewhat elongated in one direction, and by equatorial section of said object, the section of larger surface in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction passing substantially through the peduncle, which direction of the peduncle most often corresponds to the major axis defining the largest dimension of said object especially for small fruits.

  For objects, especially small fruits, it is difficult to sort and calibrate by weight and it is preferred to perform dimensional calibration because sensitivity and accuracy are superior.

  Dimensional sizing of small objects, especially berries, raises several difficulties. First of all, because of their small size, the quantity of objects to be calibrated for a given weight of objects is necessarily greater and therefore the calibration relative to a given weight of products is longer than for large objects. . On the other hand, the correct positioning of said objects for reliable and accurate calibration is more difficult. Finally, in general, these objects are more fragile than objects of larger size, which brings an additional difficulty.

  Various dimensional sizing systems for small fruits are known, such as vibrating screen systems for which the sieve mesh corresponds to the size of the fruit to be sorted. But this system is inefficient in terms of yield and has a tendency to damage the fruits.

  A system is also known in which two strips arranged face to face perpendicularly and flowing in a longitudinal direction are scrolled, said two strips being at progressive diverging spacing so that along said longitudinal direction in which said strips extend, one can recover underneath larger sized objects. This system with diverging bands does not allow to obtain a very reliable and accurate calibration because the calibration is done on only the variation in distance between two opposite points of the fruit corresponding to the two points of contact of the object with respectively the two bands. In addition, the flow rate of this type of device is not satisfactory.

  Finally, there are known devices for dimensionally calibrating objects of substantially spherical shape such as fruits, comprising: a series of cylindrical roller pairs, of identical diameters axially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in translation in a longitudinal direction; displacement, - each pair comprising a first roller, and a second roller, parallel, cylindrical and of identical diameter, substantially tangent, and interconnected at their ends by rods adapted to be articulated in rotation relative to the axis of said first roller, said rods being inclined below or aligned with the straight line connecting two so-called first rolls of 2 successive pairs of rollers, and - the distance between the axes of two first rolls of 2 said successive pairs of rollers being constant.

  This type of roller calibration device also has the disadvantage of offering calibration only on two opposite points of the surface of the objects corresponding to the points of contact with the cylindrical surfaces of said two rollers between which the fruits are deposited. On the other hand, when two relatively larger fruits are arranged side by side fairly close together, they may find that a smaller fruit is superimposed between and over the two larger objects and can be found sorted by mistake with larger fruits. In total, this type of device is not satisfactory in terms of accuracy and reliability of the calibration.

  The object of the present invention is to provide an improved roller calibration device which has a greater precision and reliability of dimensional calibration on the one hand, while avoiding any deterioration of said fruits by contact between them and / or during contact with the device in operation.

  More particularly, another object of the present invention is to provide a device and method for calibrating said objects according to a size corresponding to the value of the largest dimension of said objects at their equatorial section, that is to say in the case of substantially spherical or ovoid objects, the dimension of their equatorial diameter or respectively greater equatorial diameter.

  To this end, the present invention provides a device for dimensionally calibrating objects of substantially spherical or ovoid shape such as fruits comprising: a series of pairs of rollers axially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in translation in a longitudinal direction; X '' displacement comprising at least a horizontal portion, - each pair comprising a first roller, and a second roller, parallel, preferably substantially tangent, and interconnected at their ends by rods adapted to be articulated in rotation relative to to the axis of said first roller, said rods being inclined below or aligned with the straight line connecting said two said first rolls of two successive pairs of rollers corresponding to said horizontal portion of their longitudinal direction of displacement, - the distance between the axes of two first rolls of 2 said pairs of successive rolls being constant.

  The device according to the invention is characterized in that: a) at least one of said first and second rolls of each pair is non-cylindrical and the empty space resulting from the spacing between said respective first and second rolls of two pairs successive defines a succession of compartments of the hollow-bottomed cell type, side by side in the axial transverse direction (YY '), and b) when said objects are deposited by gravity between and above two pairs of successive rollers the objects of a caliber less than or equal to a given caliber is recovered below said compartments if the size of the bottom of said compartments is sufficient to let objects of this caliber pass, and c) the increase of the inclination of said rods relative to said longitudinal longitudinal direction of translation of said pairs of rollers during their course makes it possible to retrieve, as the case may be, objects of calibres cro issrants as the pairs of rollers move in the said horizontal portion of their course.

  Roll means a surface of revolution defined by the rotation relative to a transverse axis of a rectilinear generatrix or not extending at least partly in a said transverse direction.

  Said compartments are able to receive a single object of the caliber corresponding to the position of the pairs of rollers corresponding to it and make it possible to avoid superpositions of objects in the space between the first and second rollers which may lead to calibration errors if a small caliber object is positioned above two larger and closer objects said rods allow the distance between the axes of said first and second rollers of each pair is constant, and said second roller is adapted to be rotated relative to the axis of the first roller of the same pair by inclination of the rods relative to the horizontal.

  The inclination by rotation of said connecting rods implies the inclination of the plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers of each pair with respect to the plane passing through the axes of the first two successive rollers, and thus makes it possible to drive these objects by gravity into a said compartment between the second roller of said pair and said first roller of an adjacent pair. And, on the other hand, the variation of this inclination makes it possible to vary the minimum spacing between the second roll of a pair and the first roll of the adjacent pair (spacing corresponding to the bottom of said compartment) and thus to vary the size of the funds. said compartments.

  The respective diameters of said first and second rollers and the distance (D) between the axes of two first rolls of said two pairs of successive rollers provide a spacing between the first roll of a pair and the second roll of an adjacent pair such that said compartments preferably have an empty bottom irrespective of the inclination of the connecting rods. More preferably, the spacing of said rollers is smaller than the smallest possible gauge when the rods are horizontal, and only an additional spacing resulting from a tilting of the rods allows the passage of calibrated objects.

  By their fall by gravity, said objects are positioned in said compartments with the peduncle upwards and most often the direction of the substantially vertical peduncle and said spacing forming the empty bottom of the compartments makes it possible to calibrate said fruits according to their equatorial diameter.

  In a first embodiment particularly advantageous for calibrating objects of substantially circular equatorial section: said first roller is non-cylindrical and defines a succession of axially collinear bi cones 10, each cone being formed by 2 truncated cones opposite, with their small and / or large common base, preferably their large common base, and - said second roll is cylindrical, of diameter less than the largest diameter of said first roll.

  These so-called first bi-conical rollers form a succession of diabolo-like shapes with alternately pointed projections and grooves or recesses. In section in an axial plane, said pointed and recessed portions form an additional angle R of the angle at the vertex y of said truncated cones.

  Thus, up to a certain limit value (a max) of inclination of the connecting rods, the space between said first and second rollers of each pair or of two successive pairs defines a series of compartments whose section in a plane passing through the axes of said first and second rollers comprises 3 segments forming a triangle whose sides coincide with the generatrices of said second roll and 2 said cone trunks of the compartment. And the calibration of a said substantially spherical or ovoid object is then made by a contact thereof with the walls defining the compartments at 3 points at said 3 triangular segments. Only objects whose caliber corresponds to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the circle inscribed in said triangle defined by the section of the compartment are recovered below said compartment.

  This 3-point dimensional calibration provides increased reliability and accuracy of calibration compared to the prior devices, since, in particular, a triangle can contain only a single inscribed circle, that is to say tangent in its 3 sides.

  According to a second variant of embodiment more particularly advantageous for calibrating objects of substantially oval equatorial section: said first roller is non-cylindrical and defines a succession of axially collinear bi cones, each cone being formed by two truncated opposite cones, with their small base and / or large common base, preferably their large common base, and - said second roll is non-cylindrical, and comprises a succession of: toric grooves in front of the recesses at said small bases of the cones of said first roll and cylindrical portions opposite the projections at said large bases of the cones of said first roller.

  It will be understood that the generatrix of said second non-cylindrical roll comprises a succession of circular arcs and portions of straight lines.

  This second embodiment is particularly advantageous for calibrating objects having an equatorial section of substantially oval shape in a caliber corresponding to the largest dimension of their equatorial section. Indeed, with said second cylindrical rollers according to the first embodiment, said objects of substantially oval equatorial section tend to be positioned and calibrated in said compartments between first and second rolls according to their small dimension of equatorial section. It will be understood that according to said second variant, said arcs of the generator of said second O-shaped impression rollers have a greater radius of curvature than that of objects of substantially oval section at the contact of the object with said O-cavity, so that said objects have a single point of contact with said second roll and the calibration, if it is no longer in a triangle because its base is now circular, is nevertheless still in three points.

  In both embodiments, the limit value of the inclination of the connecting rods which determines compartments having three points of contact with objects, depends on the respective diameters of the large and small bases of the cones, the distance or spacing between the steps. in point, as well as the distance between the axes of said first and second rollers of the same pair and the diameter of said second rollers.

  In a particular embodiment, said first rollers are driven in translation by two endless chain conveyors cooperating with both ends of their axes.

  Preferably, said first and second rollers are rotated about their respective axes in opposite directions.

  Thus, said objects are positioned more easily in the compartments with their equatorial section plane substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes of said rollers.

  Advantageously, the space between said first and second rollers of the same pair comprises a cover piece so that said object deposited on said cover piece between said first and second rollers of a pair is driven by gravity into a said compartment between the second roller of said pair and said first roller of an adjacent pair. The covering piece is preferably a flat piece forming an inclined plane, preferably still made of plastic. Its shape follows the outline of the generatrix of the first non-cylindrical roll on one side and arrives on the other side just above tangency of the second roll.

  It will be understood that: if said connecting rods are inclined such that said first roller is positioned above and downstream of said second roller of the same torque with respect to the longitudinal direction of advancement of said pair, said object is driven by gravity in a compartment between the second roller of said pair and said first roller of a following pair, and - if said rods are inclined such that said first roller is positioned above and upstream of said second roller of a same pair relative to at the longitudinal direction of advancement of said pair, said object is driven by gravity into a compartment between the second roller of said pair and said first roller of a preceding pair.

  Advantageously, the calibration device according to the invention comprises at least one evacuation conveyor, preferably of the treadmill type, extending in a transverse direction, disposed below said pairs of rollers, mats whose width corresponds to the length of said horizontal portion of displacement of said pairs of rollers, and preferably comprise separating elements parallel to each other extending in said transverse direction delimiting zones of objects of different sizes.

  In a preferred embodiment, said second rollers comprise on their axes at their ends inclination rollers or pads which cooperate with guide elements whose distance relative to said longitudinal direction of horizontal translation determines the inclination of said connecting rods. .

  It is therefore the shape and / or the position of said guide elements with respect to said tilt rollers which determines the spacing of said respective first and second rolls of 2 successive pairs of rollers, and therefore the size of the calibrated objects 10 recovered.

  In an alternative embodiment, said guide element comprises a plane inclined with respect to said longitudinal direction of horizontal translation.

  In this case, the inclination of the connecting rods and the spacing of said roll are carried out in a progressive and continuous manner so that said calibrated objects are also released continuously throughout the path of said rollers in said horizontal portion with caliber increasing steadily as you progress.

  In another variant embodiment, said guide element comprises a series of parallel horizontal planes arranged in steps.

  In this case, the inclination of the connecting rods and the spacing of said rollers vary discontinuously. This makes it possible to adjust the positioning of said objects in the discharge mats arranged below said rollers in the middle of different zones delimited by separators, each zone corresponding to a different size.

  Advantageously, according to another variant embodiment, said guide element comprises a mobile part consisting of a series of parallel horizontal planes arranged in a staircase, said movable part being able to be displaced in translation in said longitudinal direction on a fixed part consisting of an inclined plane on which said movable portion rests, so as to adjust the spacing of said first and second rolls of said two successive pairs. In this case it is necessary to move the separator elements of the evacuation belt as the displacement of the movable part on the fixed part.

  The present invention also provides a method for dimensionally calibrating objects of substantially spherical or ovoid shape according to the invention, characterized in that said objects are deposited by gravity between and over two successive pairs of rollers of a said sizing device and recovers objects of a caliber less than or equal to a given caliber (dl) below said compartments.

  This is understood to be compartments whose bottom dimension is sufficient to let objects of this caliber.

  More particularly, the minimum spacing of said rollers between the second roll of said pair and said first roll of an adjacent pair is smaller than the smallest gauge of said objects to be calibrated when the rods are horizontal, and only one additional spacing resulting from an inclination connecting rods gives rise to the evacuation of calibrated objects.

  Preferably, said calibrated objects are recovered below said compartments in said horizontal portion of the path of said pairs of rollers, the inclination of said rods being such that said compartments have three points of contact with said calibrated objects.

  More preferably, said objects are deposited between and over two successive pairs of rollers of a said calibration device, from a regulated supply device as defined hereinafter (hereinafter also referred to as a regulating device). supply), if necessary two said pairs of rollers at the base of said upward inclined portion of the path of said pairs of rollers.

  In an embodiment variant, substantially circular or substantially circular equatorial objects such as cherry tomatoes, cherries, mirabelle plums or grained grapes are sized using a device with a second cylindrical roller according to the invention. invention as defined above.

  In another embodiment, substantially ovoid objects of substantially oval equatorial section are sized such as olives, some ovoid cherries (in fact, most cherries) or kumquats using a second non-roll device. cylindrical according to the invention, as defined above. lo

  The device and method according to the invention are particularly advantageous for calibrating smaller sized berries in their equatorial section, that is to say of less than 5 cm in size, or even less than 3.5 cm.

  Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the light of the following detailed description with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 in which: FIG. 1 shows a side view of a calibration device according to FIG. invention 1, comprising: a regulated feeder 1-4, and a calibration device comprising an inclined initial portion 1-1 and a horizontal portion 1-2.

  - Figure 2 shows a top view of a pair said first and second rollers over its entire width.

  FIG. 3 represents a view from above of two said first successive rolls with a spherical object 2 housed in a compartment 7, between a said first roll 4i of a first pair 3i and a said second roll 5i + 1 of the following pair 3i 1.

  FIG. 4 is a sectional view in an axial plane joining the two axes 4'i and 4'i + 1 of FIG. 3, but showing a greater spacing of said first roll 4i and second roll 5i + 1 capable of calibrate larger fruits.

  - Figure 4A shows a variant of Figure 4 with a compartment 7 adapted to receive objects 2 of substantially oval equatorial section calibrated according to their large equatorial diameter, with said second non-cylindrical rollers having toric impressions 5-1.

  - Figure 5 shows a side view detailing the calibration of an object 2 by passing through the gap between two successive pairs of rollers by rotation of said rods 6, and - Figure 5a shows a view along AA of Figure 5.

  6A, 6B, 6C and 6D respectively represent successive pairs of rollers with their axes in horizontal position and a minimum spacing between two pairs of rollers (FIG 6A), rods in an inclined position with a mean spacing able to calibrate medium-sized objects (Fig. 6B), a maximum 3-point calibration distance 2887479 >> (Fig. 6C), and a maximum evacuation distance of the remaining (uncalibrated) objects after the calibration zone, maximum separation discharge corresponding to an inclination at 90 of said rods relative to the horizontal direction of translation of the axes of said first rollers (Figure 6D).

  - Figures 7, 8 and 9 are side views of a calibration device according to the invention showing a discharge conveyor 1-3 below the horizontal portion 1-2 of the calibration device, with an oblique linear guide 12 conferring a progressive and continuous increase in the spacing between two successive pairs of rollers (FIG. 7) and discontinuously varying increases (FIGS. 8 and 9).

  - Figure 10 shows a top view of said third bi-conical rollers of a control device 1-4 and said pairs of first and second rollers in the extension.

  FIG. 11 is a top view of a device according to the invention comprising a regulated feed device 1-4, a calibration device 1-1, 1-2 and a transversal discharge device 1-3 with a cylinder. 17 for the transfer of objects between the regulated feed device 1-4 and the initial inclined portion 1-1 of the calibration device.

  - Figures 12A and 12B show in side view and respectively seen from above the regulated supply device 1-4, powered by objects 2 and the initial zone at the base of the inclined portion 1-1 of the calibration device 1 wherein said first and second rollers of the same pair are axially aligned and thus maximally brought together to allow stabilization of the objects to be calibrated in their compartment.

  The device 1 for dimensionally calibrating objects 2 of substantially spherical or ovoid shape such as fruits according to the invention comprises a series of pairs 3i, i = 1 to n of rollers axially parallel to each other and capable of being driven in translation in a longitudinal displacement direction XX 'comprising at least a horizontal portion 1-2.

  Each pair 3i comprising a first roller 4i, and a second roller 5i, parallel, substantially tangent, and interconnected at their ends by connecting rods 6 adapted to be articulated in rotation relative to the axis of said first roller, said rods being inclined below or aligned with the straight line connecting two so-called first rolls of 2 pairs of successive rollers corresponding to said horizontal portion 1-2 of their longitudinal direction of displacement XX '.

  The distance D between the axes of two first rollers 4i, 4i + 1 of 2 said pairs of successive rolls 3i, 3i + 1 is constant.

  Said first roll is non-cylindrical and defines a succession of axially collinear bi cones, each cone being formed by two truncated opposite cones 4-1, 4-2, alternatively with a large common base 44 and their common small base 4-3. or close to each other opposite.

  These bi-conical rollers form a succession of protruding steps in angular point 4-5 and angular grooves or recesses 4-6 in section in an axial plane with additional angles 13 of the angles at the top y of said truncated cones. In fact, the angle 13 is rounded at said outer recesses 4-6 to said first bi-conical rollers 4i, when said small bases 4-3 of the truncated cones 4-1, 4-2 are not common but spaced close to each other. in vis-à-vis. The generatrix portion between the two so-called small bases 4-3 may constitute a circular arc generating at this level a toric surface of revolution. On the other hand, the salient steps 4-5 forming the tips of said bi-conical rollers are not here rounded because said truncated cones 4-1, 4-2 have their large common base 4-4. Again, notches 4-5 may be slightly rounded.

  Said second roll 5i is smaller in diameter than the largest diameter of said first roll.

  The empty space resulting from the spacing between said first and second respective rolls of two successive pairs defines a succession of compartments 7 of the hollow-bottomed cell type 7-1, side by side in the axial transverse direction (YY ').

  When said objects are deposited by gravity between and above two pairs of successive rollers (3i, 3i + 1, with i + 1) the objects are positioned with their equatorial section plane substantially perpendicular to the plane passing through the axes of said first and second rolls and are thus calibrated according to the dimension of their equatorial section. Objects of a caliber less than or equal to a given caliber (dl) are recovered below said compartments (7) if the dimension of the bottom (7-1) of said compartments is sufficient to allow objects of this given caliber to pass. and increasing the inclination of said rods with respect to said horizontal longitudinal translation direction of said pairs of rollers during their course makes it possible to recover, as the case may be, objects of increasing size as the displacement progresses. pairs of rollers in the said horizontal portion of their path.

  Said compartments are able to receive a single object of the caliber corresponding to the position of the pairs of rollers corresponding to it and make it possible to avoid superpositions of objects in the space between the first and second roll which may lead to calibration errors if a object of small caliber is positioned above two larger and closer objects The non-rectilinear generatrix of said first non-cylindrical roller has a shape consisting of a succession of troughs 4-6 which partially delimit the space between said first and second rollers of each pair or of two successive pairs and the shape of said generator defines in part the cellular shape of said compartments.the said compartments having: - an empty bottom delimited by the generatrix of the 2 rollers in the plane passing through their 2 axes, and side walls in elevation with respect to said plane passing through the two axes of the two corresponding rollers. one part for two of them to the projections 4-5 forming said recesses 4-6 of the non-cylindrical shape of said non-cylindrical roller and secondly for a third to a portion of the cylindrical or non-cylindrical surface of said second roller.

  The variation of the inclination of the plane passing through the axes of the first and second rolls of each pair with respect to the plane passing through the axes of two successive first rolls, results in a variation of the distance D1 between the axes of the first roll. a pair and second roll of the next pair and therefore a variation in the size of said compartments.

  The respective diameters of said first and second rollers and the distance (D) between the axes 4'i, 4'i + 1 of two first rollers 4i, 4i + 1 of 2 said successive pairs of rollers 3i, 3i + 1 provide spacing between the first roll of a pair and the second roll of an adjacent pair such that said compartments 7 have an empty bottom 7-1 regardless of the inclination of the rods. The spacing of said rollers is smaller than the smallest possible gauge when the rods are horizontal (Fig.6A), and only an additional spacing resulting from tilting of the rods allows the passage of calibrated objects (Figs 6B and 6C).

  The inclination by rotation of said connecting rods implies the inclination of the plane passing through the axes of the first and second rollers of each pair with respect to the plane passing through the axes of the first two successive rollers, and thus makes it possible to drive these objects by gravity into a compartment between the second roll of said pair and said first roll of an adjacent pair and, secondly, the variation of this inclination makes it possible to vary the minimum distance between the second roll of a couple and the first roll of the couple adjacent (corresponding to the empty bottom 7-1 of said compartment) and thus vary the size of the funds of said compartments.

  Up to a certain maximum value of inclination of the connecting rods (FIG 6C), the space between said first and second rolls of each pair or of two successive pairs defines a series of compartments whose section in a plane passing through the axes said first and second rollers comprise three segments forming part of a triangle whose sides coincide with the generatrices of said second roll and said two truncated cone sections of the compartment. And the calibration of said objects is done by a contact thereof with the walls delimiting the compartments at 3 points A1, B1, C1 or A2, B2, C1 at said 3 triangular segments. Only objects whose caliber corresponds to a diameter smaller than the diameter of the circle inscribed in said triangle defined by the section of the compartment are recovered below said compartment.

  According to a first variant shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5A, more particularly advantageous for calibrating objects of substantially circular equatorial section, said second roller 5i is cylindrical.

  In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the largest diameters D1 max that can be calibrated are determined not only by the maximum value of inclination of the connecting rods (6C), but also by the value of the angles at the apex of said truncated cones. and angle [3] of angular tip projecting steps 4-5, so that two objects of maximum size can be accommodated in adjacent compartments 7.

  FIG. 4A shows a second variant in which said second non-cylindrical rollers have toric cavities 5-1 and whose generatrix has a succession of circular arcs connected by straight portions corresponding respectively and successively to said indentations. O-rings 5-1 and cylindrical portions 5-2 of said second rolls. As shown in this FIG. 4A, this type of second roller is particularly suitable for positioning and calibrating objects of substantially oval equatorial section in a caliber corresponding to the largest dimension of their equatorial section, insofar as the curvature of said circular arcs is of greater radius than that of said ovoid objects at their contact with said second rollers, so that this contact is made at a single point Cl. The calibration of said ovoid objects is always done in 3 points A2, B2 and C1, as shown in FIG. 4A.

  Said first rollers 4i are driven in translation by two endless chain conveyors 14 cooperating with the two ends of their axes 4i-1.

  Said first rollers 4i are driven in rotation by rotation rollers 10 axially fixed to the ends of said first rollers, said rotation rollers 10 cooperating by friction with a non-slip belt or slideway 13 extending in said direction of movement (XX ' ), especially above said rotation rollers.

  It is thus possible to adjust the speed of rotation of the first roller by adjusting the linear speed of movement of said belt relative to that of the chain conveyors. If their linear velocities are identical, the rotational speed of said first rolls is zero.

  Said first and second rollers of the same pair cooperate in rotation via gears 9-1, 9-2 located at the ends of their respective axes, so that the rotation of said first rollers causes that of said second rollers to rotate. reverse.

  Thus, an object retained in a said compartment between a first roll of a couple and the second roll of a couple of the adjacent is raised. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to avoid the jamming of said object between said first and second rolls of two consecutive pairs and, on the other hand, the stabilization of said objects which are thus rotated on themselves and favor their positioning with their largest equatorial section diameter substantially perpendicular to the plane of the axes of said rollers.

  More specifically, the first rollers 4i are equipped at one of their two ends with a cylindrical gear 9-1 and a rotation roller 10 having the same axis as the axis 4i-1 that of the first roll to which they are united. Each second roller 5i comprises at one end a cylindrical gear 9-2 also integral and of the same axis as said second roller, located on the same side as the cylindrical gear 9-1 with which it co-operates as a gear.

  The rotation of the first roller 4i on itself by rolling and friction of said rotation roller 10 below the anti-slip strip 13 implies the rotation of the second roller 5i on itself but in the opposite direction by the cooperation of the two cylindrical gears 9 -1 and 9-2.

  Outside said gear 9-1 and at each end of said first rollers is fixed a connecting rod 6 which can be articulated freely in rotation about the axis 4i-1 of said first rollers 4i. The other end of the connecting rods 6 is integral and serves as support for the axis 5i-1 of said second rollers 5i on which is mounted at least at one end a said tilting roller 11, the rotations of all the rollers 10, 120 cylindrical gears 9-1,9-2, first and second rollers 4i, 5i and inclination rollers 11 are respectively connected in rotation regardless of the inclination of the rods 6.The rotation of the rods 6 around the axis 4i is free end.

  Said second rollers 5i comprise on their axes 5'i-1 at their ends tilt rollers 11 which cooperate with planar guide elements 12 whose distance relative to said longitudinal direction of horizontal translation (XX ') determines the inclination of said rods.

  As the pairs of rollers progress in translation, the guide elements 12 move away from the chain 14, causing the inclination of the connecting rods 6 and increasing the distance between said second roll 5i + 1 and first roll 4i.

  The space between said first and second rollers of the same pair 3i is covered with a flat cover piece 8 fixed to each end of the rollers on said rods 6, forming an inclined plane and ensuring the connection between said rollers while allowing the rotation of said rollers so that said object deposited on said cover piece between said first and second rolls of a pair is gravity-driven in a said compartment 7 between the second roll of said pair and said first roll of a couple adjacent. The piece 8 follows the contour of the generatrix of the non-cylindrical roller on one side and arrives on the other side just above in tangency of the cylindrical roller, but without touching the generatrices of said cylindrical and non-cylindrical rollers.

  Said rods are inclined such that said first roller is positioned above and upstream of said second roller of the same torque with respect to the longitudinal direction of advancement of said pair, said object is driven by gravity into a compartment between the second roll of said pair and said first roll of a preceding pair.

  The device according to the invention comprises at least one conveyor belt 1-3 extending in a transverse direction YY 'disposed just below said rollers, whose width corresponds to at least a part of the length of said horizontal portion moving said rollers. Said belt comprises parallel separating elements 15 extending in said transverse direction YY 'delimiting zones intended to receive objects of increasing size.

  In FIG. 7, said guide element 12 comprises an inclined plane 121 with respect to said longitudinal direction of horizontal translation, the inclination of which can be modified by an adjustment system 12-3. The fruits are thus released indifferently from A to G and the positioning of the separators 15 can remain fixed whatever the setting, the difference in diameter of the fruits released between two consecutive outputs is a function of the 12-3 setting of the inclination of the inclined guide element 12,12-1.

  In FIGS. 8 and 9, said guide element comprises a series of parallel horizontal planes arranged in steps 12-2. The fruits are released punctually and relatively more precisely in the corridors between A and B, B and C, C and D, D and E, E and F F and G. This allows to adjust the positioning of said objects in the conveyor belts disposed below said rollers in the middle of different areas delimited by separators, each zone corresponding to a different gauge.

  In FIG. 8 each horizontal plane can be adjusted in height independently of the others by a regulation system 12-4 making it possible to adjust the value of the gauges according to the different corridors between the points A to G, the separating elements can remain fixed according to the settings.

  In FIG. 9, said guide element comprises a movable part consisting of a series of parallel horizontal planes arranged in steps 12-2, said movable part being able to be displaced in translation in said longitudinal direction on a fixed part consisting of an inclined plane 12-3 on which said movable portion rests, so as to adjust the spacing of said first and second rolls of said two successive pairs.

  In this case, if necessary, all the inclinations of the connecting rods and therefore the corresponding gauges of all the channels bounded by the separating elements 15 are necessarily and systematically changed together. It is thus necessary to move the separating elements 15 of the conveyor belt to take into account and follow the movement of the steps of the stairs, which should preferably be substantially perpendicular to the middle of the corridors between the separating elements 15.

  Beyond said guide element 12-1, the rods are no longer retained and adopt a 90 inclination allowing the evacuation of all the remaining objects, whether stuck or not evacuated according to their size, before the end stroke of said pairs of rollers or in their horizontal portion of course. Said remaining uncalibrated objects are then recovered in a last corridor of said carpet 1-3.

  In FIG. 1, the device according to the invention advantageously comprises an initial inclined portion of direction of displacement in which the respective axes of the different first and second rolls of the different pairs of rollers are aligned and move in a translational direction. inclined relative to the horizontal rising slope, followed by a said horizontal portion 1-2 in which the increase of the inclination of said rods relative to said longitudinal longitudinal direction of translation of said pairs of rollers during their course it makes it possible to recover, if necessary, objects of increasing size as the pairs of rollers move in the said horizontal portion of their course.

  In said initial inclined portion, said objects are not evacuated but objects stabilize in said compartments by gravity. In the case where initially there would inadvertently misfeed and overlap objects at the time of their removal between two pairs of successive rollers, the excess objects fall back between the other previous pairs.

  Said objects can be supplied in bulk directly to the foot of said initial inclined portion or in the absence of said initial inclined portion at the beginning of said horizontal portion of the calibration device.

  In FIGS. 1, 11, 12A, 12B, the device according to the invention advantageously comprises a regulated supply device 1-4 of the first pair of rollers in said objects intended to separate the objects between them in the two longitudinal directions XX 'and transverse YY ', and transfer them into the compartments of a first said pair of rollers below, device comprising a succession of third rollers 16 in rotation arranged parallel and regularly spaced, whose axes of rotation 16-1 extend in the said transverse direction YY 'perpendicular to said longitudinal direction XX' corresponding to the translation displacement direction of said third rollers, and the translational displacement speed of said third rollers being synchronized with that of said first and second roll couples, said third rolls being preferably bi-conical rolls consisting of 2 truncated cones opposed with their small 16-3 and / or large bases 16-2 common preferably aligned with those 4-3, 4-4 said first rollers. In FIG. 10, said third rolls consist of opposite cone-shaped trunks having a large common base 16-2, i.e. an outward point, their small bases 16-3 being common or facing one another. at a certain distance, so that the hollow formed at the intersection of two truncated cones is less angular.

  Thus, the spaces between two said third successive rolls comprise a series of cells 23 side by side in the transverse direction, which form receptacles able to contain a single object 2 which will then be transferred into a said compartment between the two rollers of a first said pair of the calibration device.

  To do this, the speed of travel of the first chain conveyors 21 of the regulating device 1-4 is synchronized with the running speed of the second chain conveyors 14 pairs of rollers 3i. This kinematic connection is made by means of a mechanical connection of the first rotating gears 21-1 of said first conveyors 21 and the second rotating gears 14-1 of said second chain conveyors 14, using a belt transmission 22 mounted on the respective axes 14-2 and 21-2 of said gears 14-1 and 21-1.

  The transfer of said objects between the regulated feed device 14 and said first pair of rollers below is accompanied and controlled by means of a foam cylinder 17. The foam cylinder 17 is also rotated using a transmission belt 17-1 connecting the rotary gear 21-1 of said chain conveyor 21 of the regulated feed device 1-4. In FIG. 1, this transfer is done on the first pair of rolls 3i at the base of the rising inclined portion 1-1 of the calibration device.

  Said third rollers are driven in translation by two endless chain conveyors 21 cooperating with the ends of the axes 16-1 of said third rolls.

  Each of said third rollers is rotated about its axis by friction of a web or shoe 19 fixed above the end of each said third roll and extending along the length of the regulated feed device. 1-4.

  In FIG. 11, a top view is shown of the assembly of the installation 15 comprising: a power regulating device 1-4; a transfer device consisting of a foam cylinder which ensures the transfer of the objects 2 between the power regulating device 1-4 and the base of the inclined portion 1-1 of the calibration device 1, - an evacuation belt 1-3 below the horizontal portion 1-2 of the calibration device.

  FIGS. 11 and 12A show that: in the inclined portion 1-1 of the calibration device 1, the space between two successive pairs of rollers 3i is in the minimum position of a zero inclination of the rods relative to the straight line passing through the axes of two first consecutive pairs of bi-conical rollers, and - in the horizontal portion 1-2 of the calibration device, the inclination of the connecting rods 6 relative to the straight line passing through the axes of two first bi-conical rollers of two consecutive pairs, horizontal line, increases from 0 to a max, in particular from 0 to 55 above the conveyor belt 1-3, and - in the terminal part of the horizontal portion 1-2 beyond the elements guide controlling the inclination of said rods 6, the rods 6 adopt a maximum inclination, namely 90, and therefore the space between two consecutive pairs of rollers is maximum, until the return of said pairs of rollers at the base of the portion inclined 1-1 , as represented in FIG. 12A, where they are repositioned in the position of minimum distance between two successive pairs of rollers.

  In FIG. 11, an installation illustrative of the following dimensions is represented: L1 = length of the rolls of the feed control device 1-4 = length of the rollers of the sizing device 1-1, 1-2 : L1 = 0.6 m - height h1 of the feed control device 1-4 = 1.06 m - height h2 of the base of the inclined portion 1-1 of the sizing device = height of the conveyor belt 1-3 = 0.9 m - overall width of the calibration device L2 = 1.5 m - width of the conveyor belt L3 = 1.6 m - overall length of the installation L = 3.4 m A As an illustration, a calibration device according to FIGS. 3 and 4 of the following dimensions is used: roller length L1 = 0.6 m diameter of the first bi-conical rollers 4: diameter of the large base D2 = 60 mm , E diameter of the small base d2 = 30 mm - diameter of the second cylindrical roller d3 = 30 mm - distance between two compartments 7, P = 30.6 mm - axial distance between two successive first rollers D = 95.25 mm - the axial distance between the first roll 4i and the second roll 5i + 1 of two successive pairs 3i and 3i + 1, D1 is such that the calibres of the calibrated objects are : minimum size (a = 0) = 17 mm (fig. 6A) (D1 = D1 min = 47 mm) - medium gauge (u = 45) = 32 mm (fig 6B) - maximum gauge of calibrated objects = 40 mm (fig.6C) (D1 = max D1) - gauge maximum opening (a = 90) = 46 mm In the embodiment shown in Figures 6A to 6C with rollers of the above dimensions, said guide elements 12 are adjusted so that said rods 6 adopt a inclination relative to the horizontal from 0 to amax = 55 in said horizontal portion 1-2 of the calibration device.

  Given the small diameter of said second cylindrical rollers 5i, it is preferable that these are made of hard material, in particular of metal such as anodized aluminum, because plastic deformation can occur in the center of the cylindrical rollers, causing calibration errors.

  Calibration of a batch of commercial cherry tomatoes announced to be of a caliber of equatorial diameter ranging from 22 to 30 mm and from this lot, 6 batches of different sizes were sorted namely: first batch of size dl: to 22 m - second batch of size dl: 22 to 24 mm - third batch of size dl: 24 to 26 mm - fourth batch of size dl: 26 to 28 mm - fifth batch of size dl: from 28 to 30 mm - sixth batch of dl size: more than 30 mm Calibration tests have also been successfully carried out for olives, grapes, cherries, mirabelle plums and kumquats.

Claims (22)

  1. Device for calibrating (1) dimensional objects (2) of substantially spherical or ovoid shape such as fruits, comprising: - a series of pairs (3i, i = 1 to n) of rollers axially parallel to each other and 5 adapted to be driven in translation in a longitudinal direction (> 0 (1) of displacement comprising at least one horizontal portion (1-2), - each pair (3i) comprising a first roller (4i), and a second roller (5i) ), parallel, preferably substantially tangent, and interconnected at their ends by rods (6) able to be articulated in rotation with respect to the axis of said first roller, said rods being inclined below or aligned with the straight line connecting two said first rolls of 2 pairs of successive rollers corresponding to said horizontal portion (1-2) of their longitudinal direction of displacement (XX ''), - the distance (D) between the axes (4'i, 4'i + 1 ) of two first rollers (4i, 4i + 1) of 2 said torque s of successive rollers (3i, 3i + 1) being constant, this device being characterized in that: a) at least one of said first and second rollers (4i, 51) of each pair is non-cylindrical and the empty space resulting from the spacing between said respective first and second rolls of two successive pairs defines a succession of compartments (7) of the hollow-bottomed cell type (7-1), side by side in the axial transverse direction (YY '), and b) when said objects are deposited by gravity between and above two pairs of successive rollers (3i, 3i + 1) objects of a size less than or equal to a given size are recovered below said compartments (7) if the dimension the bottom (7-1) of said compartments is sufficient to let objects of this caliber pass, and c) increasing the inclination (d) of said connecting rods (6) relative to said longitudinal longitudinal direction of translation of said couples (3i) rolls in the Bear of their course can retrieve where appropriate objects (2) of increasing sizes as the movement of the pairs of rollers in said horizontal portion of their course.   2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that: -ledit first roll (4i) is non-cylindrical and defines a succession of axially collinear bi cones, each cone being formed by 2 truncated cones opposite (4-1.4- 2), with their small base (4-3) and / or large common base (4-4), preferably their large common base, and - said second roll (5i) is cylindrical, of diameter less than the largest diameter of said first roll.   3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that: - said first roll (4i) is non-cylindrical and defines a succession of axially collinear bi cones, each cone being formed by 2 truncated cones opposite (4-1.4 -2), with their small base (4-3) and / or large common base (4-4), preferably their large common base, and --the second roll (5i) is non-cylindrical, and comprises a succession of: O-ring grooves (5-1) opposite the recesses (4-6) at said small bases (4-3) of the cones of said first roll (4i) and, cylindrical portions (5-2) facing the projecting portions (4-5) at said large bases (4-4) of the cones of said first roll.   4. Device according to one of claims 1 or 3 characterized in that said first rollers (4i) are driven in translation by two endless chain conveyors (14) cooperating with the two ends of their axes (4i-1).   5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that said first and second rollers are rotated about their respective axes (4i-20 1.5i-1) in the opposite direction.   6. Device according to claim 5 characterized in that said first rollers (4i) are driven in rotation by rotation rollers (4a) axially fixed to the ends of said first rollers, said rotation rollers (10) cooperating by friction with a belt or anti-slip slide (13) extending in said direction of movement () O ').   7. Device according to claim 6 characterized in that said first and second rollers of the same pair cooperate in rotation via gears (9-1,9-2) located at the ends of their respective axes, so that the rotation of said first rollers causes that of said second rollers in the opposite direction.   8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the space between said first and second rollers of the same pair (3i) comprises a cover piece (8) so that said object deposited on said lap member between said first and second rolls of a torque is gravity-driven in a said compartment (7) between the second roller of said pair and said first roller of an adjacent pair.   9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that it comprises at least one discharge conveyor (1-3), preferably of the treadmill type, extending in a transverse direction (YY '). disposed beneath said rollers, mats whose width corresponds to the length of said horizontal portion of displacement of said rollers, and preferably comprise separating elements (15) parallel to one another extending in said transverse direction (YY ') delimiting zones of objects of different sizes.   10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the said second rollers (5i) comprise on their axes (5'i) at their ends tilting rollers (11) or pads which cooperate with elements guide (12) whose distance relative to said longitudinal direction of horizontal translation () O ') determines the inclination of said connecting rods.   11. Device according to claim 10 characterized in that said guide member comprises an inclined plane (12-1) with respect to said longitudinal direction of horizontal translation.   12. Device according to claim 10 characterized in that said guide element comprises a series of parallel horizontal planes arranged in steps (12-2).   13. Device according to claim 12 characterized in that said guide member comprises a movable portion consisting of a series of parallel horizontal planes arranged in steps (12-2), said movable part being able to be displaced in translation in said direction. longitudinal on a fixed part consisting of an inclined plane (12-3) on which said movable portion rests, so as to adjust the spacing of said first and second rolls of said two successive pairs.   14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13 characterized in that it comprises an initial portion (1-1) inclined direction of displacement in which the respective axes (4'i, 5'i) of different first and second rollers (4i, 5i) of the different pairs of rollers (3i) are aligned and move in an inclined translation direction (1-1) with respect to the upwardly inclined horizontal, followed by a said horizontal portion (1 -2) in which the increase of the inclination of said connecting rods with respect to said longitudinal longitudinal direction of translation of said pairs of rollers during their course makes it possible to retrieve, as the case may be, objects of increasing size as the displacement progresses. pairs of rollers in said horizontal portion of their path.   15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 14 characterized in that it comprises a regulated supply device (1-4) of the first pair of rollers (3i) in said objects for separating the objects from each other in the two longitudinal directions (XX ') and transverse ()' Y '), and transfer them into the compartments of a first said pair of rollers below, device comprising a succession of third rollers (16) in rotation arranged parallel and regularly spaced whose axes of rotation (16-1) are in said transverse direction (YY ') perpendicular to said longitudinal direction (XX') corresponding to the translation displacement direction of said third rollers, and the translational movement speed of said thirds rollers being synchronized with that of said pairs of first and second rollers, said third rollers preferably being bi-conical rolls consisting of 2 trunks s opposite cones with their small (16-3) and / or large bases (16-2) common preferably aligned with those (4-3, 4-4) of said first rollers.   16. Device according to claim 15 characterized in that the transfer of said objects between the regulated feed device (1-4) and said first pair of rollers below is accompanied and controlled by means of a foam cylinder ( 17).   17. Method for dimensionally calibrating objects (2) of substantially spherical or ovoid shape using a device according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said objects are deposited in gravity between and by above two pairs of successive rollers of a said calibration device and retrieves objects of a caliber less than or equal to a given size below said compartments.   18. A method according to claim 17 characterized in that the minimum spacing of said rollers between the second roll of said pair and said first roll of an adjacent pair is smaller than the smallest size of said objects to be calibrated when the rods are horizontal, and only an additional spacing resulting from an inclination of the rods gives rise to the evacuation of calibrated objects.   19. The method of claim 17 or 18, characterized in that recovers said calibrated objects below said compartments (7) in said horizontal portion (1-2) of the course of said pairs of rollers (3i), the inclination (a) said connecting rods (6) being such that said compartments (7) have three points of contact (a1, b1, c1 a2, b2, c2) with said calibrated objects.   20. Method according to one of claims 17 to 19 with the aid of a device according to one of claims 15 or 16, characterized in that said objects are deposited between and over two pairs of successive rolls of a said calibration device, from a said regulated supply device.   21. Method according to one of claims 17 to 20 with the aid of a device according to one of claims 2 and 4 to 16, characterized in that one caliber substantially spherical objects or substantially equatorial section circular such as cherry tomatoes, cherries, mirabelle plums or grapes in grain using a said device with a second cylindrical roller.   22. Method according to one of claims 17 to 20 with the aid of a device according to one of claims 3 to 16, characterized in that one caliber substantially ovoid objects with substantially oval equatorial section such that olives, certain ovoid cherries or kumquats using a said second non-cylindrical roll device.