GB2033213A

GB2033213A - Separating Foreign Matter from Fruits

Info

Publication number: GB2033213A
Application number: GB7935851A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Bucher Guyer AG
Current assignee: Bucher Guyer AG
Priority date: 1978-10-18
Filing date: 1979-10-16
Publication date: 1980-05-21
Also published as: AT361735B; FR2438976A1; ATA612679A; DE2845383A1

Abstract

Produce such as fruit is washed to remove foreign matter having a relatively high specific gravity (e.g. stones, sand) in a tank 2 and on an endless conveyer 4 and is then fed onto a conveyer 21 in such a manner that it falls onto and repeatedly bounces along said conveyer on its journey to a store or chopping arrangement. The falling and repeated bouncing causes foreign matter having a low specific gravity to be shaken or jolted off the items of produce into a store 27. The conveyer 21 is driven, in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the falling produce, and may be perforate with a spraying device inside it for removal of foreign matter still adhering to the produce. The endless conveyer 21 may be replaced by a pair of conveyer drums. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An Arrangement for Separating Foreign Matter from Gathered Produce in Particular Fruit The invention concerns an arrangement for separating foreign matter from produce (and in particular from fruit). More specifically, the invention relates to an arrangement for separating on the one hand foreign matter with a relatively high specific gravity, such as stones, sand and the like, and on the other hand foreign matter with a relatively low specific gravity, such as leaves, grass and the like, from produce, in particular fruit, after it has been gathered, said arrangement having a washing device which separates out the foreign matter having a high specific gravity.

With the aid of known arrangements of this kind it is possible to clean the produce to a considerable degree prior to futher processing (which may be, for example, chopping) by separating foreign matter with a relatively high specific gravity. However, it has been found that components with a relatively low specific gravity frequently remain stuck to the produce and are thus only separated partially and randomly before further processing of the produce.

The principal object of the invention is to develop the arrangement of the kind named at the start so that not only the foreign matter with a relatively high specific gravity but also that with a relatively low specific gravity can be removed from the produce satisfactorily before it is processed further.

Accordingly, the present invention consists in an arrangement for separating on the one hand foreign matter with a relatively high specific gravity, such as stones, sand and the like, and on the other hand foreign matter with a low specific gravity, such as leaves, grass and the like from gathered produce, said arrangement comprising washing means operable to separate the foreign matter with a high specific gravity from the produce by washing, said washing means including produce-conveying means at whose discharge end there is located a conveyor which is driven in rotation and onto which produce falls, said conveyor serving to detach the foreign matter with a relatively low specific gravity still adhering to said produce and carry said foreign matter away.The or each conveyor may be driven in a direction of rotation such that the part of the conveyor onto which the produce falls moves upwardly and therefore contrary to the direction of fall of said produce. In this way, a relatively considerable part of the respective surface of the or each conveyor comes into contact with the produce as it moves downwardly.

The or each conveyor is preferably perforate in order to let a liquid pass therethrough, and preferably a spraying device or devices is/are provided permitting the supply of water to the inside of said conveyor to remove any foreign matter with a low specific gravity which may still be adhering to the outside of said produce. This prevents foreign matter adhering to the outside surface of the conveyor and thereby completing a complete revolution on said surface and once again coming into contact with produce.

The or each conveyor referred to in the two preceding paragraphs may be constituted by at least one conveyor belt disposed at an angle to the horizontal. Preferably, said angle is adjustable.

Alternatively, the or each conveyor may be constituted by at least one conveyor drum. When two conveyor drums are provided, they should preferably be disposed in succession with the second one disposed at a horizontal level lower than that of the first one.

The or each conveyor is preferably adjustable in position relatively to the discharge end of said produce-elevating device.

In accordance with one embodiment of said arrangement, the or each conveyor is provided with transversely extending protrusions projecting from the surface thereof in order to facilitate the conveyance of the foreign matter with a low specific gravity to a discharge location therefor.

Said protrusions may be formed by giving the surface of the or each conveyor a ribbed or naplike surface profile.

Said washing means preferably further includes a flotation channel in which a settling tank is provided to collact the foreign matter with a high specific gravity, the produce-conveying means being provided with carriers which combine with a conveyor chute to form an upwardly inclined conveyor channel leading to said discharge end. Moreover, a device for spraying the produce during its elevation will preferably be provided in the area of said conveyor channel. An adjustable and lockable guide plate may be disposed at said discharge end for the control of the produce which is to fall onto the conveyor or the first conveyor.

The present invention will now be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which.

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a longitudinal section through one arrangement in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 shows an alternative arrangement in accordance with the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the arrangement, denoted as a whole by 1, comprises a washing device which may comprise a sieve-like supporting surface with an associated spraying device, the discharge side of said supporting surface being disposed sufficiently high in relation to a succeeding conveyor. However, as illustrated in the drawings, there is a washing device having a flotation channel 2 in which a portion of greater depth constitutes a settling tank 3 for the collection of foreign matter with a high specific gravity. A produce-elevating device comprises a conveyor indicated generally by the reference numeral 4 which coacts with a conveyor chute 5 which is trough-shaped and which extends into the settling tank 3. This chute 5 is bounded by two horizontally spaced walls 6 and 7 which are connected to one another by a bottom plate 8.

The horizontal distance between the wails 6 and 7 roughly matches the width of the conveyor 4.

As can be seen from the drawing, the conveyor 4 comprises two endless driving elements 9 which are driven by paired driving rolls 11, 12 which are fixed on a shaft 10 which is driven by an electric motor (not illustrated). The lower end of the conveyor 4 includes freely rotatable guide rolls 13, 14 and extends into the water in the settling tank 3.Carriers or blades 1 5 are fixed to the driving elements 9 by means shafts 1 6 each of which is controllably pivotai about its axis at right angles to the direction of conveyance and, to this end, the shafts 1 6 supporting the carriers 1 5 are provided with levers (in a manner not shown) which permit the establishment of a control pattern such as is known per sue in agriculture or horticulture with so-called belt carrier turning systems.In the conveyor arrangement shown, the lower runs 18 of the driving elements 9 form a conveyor channel 1 9 with the bottom plate 8 of the chute 5 and the carriers 1 5 only extend roughly to or to points just short of the bottom plate 8; the water conveyed upwards by said carriers 1 5 can thus flow back into the settling tank 3. At the discharge end of the conveyor channel 19, there is an adjustable and lockable guide plate 20 which serves to guide the produce, which has been moved away from the settling tank 3 with the aid of the conveyor 4, as it leaves the conveyor channel 19 onto a conveyor 21.In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 1, the conveyor 21 comprises a conveyor belt 24 disposed at an angle of about 450 to the horizontal and guided over rolls 22, 23; the angle of 450 is not critical and is, in any case, adjustable. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figure 2 the conveyor 21 is constituted by two rotatable conveyor drums 25, 26 which are disposed adjacent to one another, the drum 25 having a greater diameter than the drum 26.

The direction of movement of the conveyor belt 24 around its rolls 22, 23 or the directions of rotation of the conveyor drums 25, 26 is/are so chosen that the part of the conveyor 21 onto which the produce falls moves upwards against the direction of fall. It is possible to adjust the position(s) of the conveyor belt 24 or the conveyor drums 25 and 26 relative to the discharge end of the washing device or to the conveyor 4 foilowing it.

A receptacle 27 (Figure 1) is disposed under the conveyor belt 24 to collect the foreign matter with a low specific gravity detached from the surfaces of the produce. The lower end of the conveyor belt 24 is followed either by a storage bin 28 to take the produce freed from the foreign matter or directly by a chopping arrangement (not illustrated). In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the conveyor drums 25, 26 work in a fashion similar to that just explained with reference to Figure 1 but with funnel-shaped ducts 29 and 30 to carry the foreign matter away to a container which is not shown. Moreover, in the Figure 2 the conveyor drums 25 and 26 may be followed by a storage container 28 to take the cleaned produce or directly by a chopping arrangement.

The conveyor belt 24 and at least one of the conveyor drums 25, 26 (for example, the drum 25 as illustrated) is fitted with transversely extending protrusions 31 projecting from the surface and facilitating the conveyance of the foreign matter with a low specific gravity, which protrusions can be formed by giving the respective surface of the conveyor belt 24 and said at least one drum a ribbed or naplike surface profile.

In the area of the upwardly inclined conveyor channel 19, there is a device for spraying a liquid on the produce which has been moved out of the channel 2, which device comprises a fluid line 32 extending from the channel 2 or from the tank 3 to a nozzle 33 by way of a recirculation pump 34; in fact, as can be seen in the drawings, the line 32 is connected to a chamber 35 which is separated from the remainder of the tank 3 by a strainer 36 so that foreign matter cannot be sucked up as well.

Both the conveyor belt 24 and the conveyor drums 25, 26 are expediently designed (preferably in the manner of sieves) to let water through and are fitted, in a manner not shown, with a spraying device or devices permitting the supply of water to the respective insides thereof, whereby the removal of foreign matter with a low specific gravity still possibly adhering to the outsides of the produce is ensured.

The described arrangement works as follows: The produce, particularly fruit, which is brought in by motor vehicle or the like, is first conveyed to a storage silo from which it is fed into the flotation channel in which a first part of the cleaning process is effected. In this preliminary washing of the produce, the material with a high specific gravity relative to the liquid (water) is washed off and becomes separated from the produce by sinking and passes into the settling tank 3. The materials with a lower specific gravity, such as grass, leaves twigs and the like, float on the surface or remain attached to the floating produce. As shown in the Figures, the carriers or blades 1 5 provided in rows enter the washing liquid roughly perpendicularly to the surface of the liquid due to the operation of their attitudecontrol system, pick up some of the produce (see particularly the illustration in Figure 2) and guide it into the conveyor channel 19. As it is moved along the conveyor channel 19, the produce is sprayed with the liquid emerging from the nozzle 33 and is thereby cleaned further by washing.

Part of the leaves or grass carried along from the channel 2 is detached in the process. After leaving the conveyor channel 19, the produce drops onto the guide plate 20 and thence onto the conveyor 21 by which it is conveyed either to the storage container 28 or to the chopping arrangement. During its journey to this storage container 28 or to said chopping arrangement, the produce is frequently turned and comes into contact with the surface of the conveyor several times, and in the process, the foreign matter with a lower specific gravity becomes detached from the produce. Said foreign matter is carried along with the conveyor before finally dropping off this and passing into the receptacle 27 or into the container via the ducts 29 and 30.The separation of the foreign matter with a relatively low specific gravity from the surface of the produce under the influence of its own weight is promoted by the protrusions 31 on the conveyor systems 21 and also by the further washing which is obtained when the embodiment includes the supply of liquid to the insides of the ccnveyor 21.

With the aid of the guide plate 20, whose attitude is adjustable and lockable, the point of discharge of the produce onto the conveyor 21 after leaving the conveyor channel 1 9 can be chosen at will to suit the quantity of produce involved and/or the degree of soiling thereof.

We have actually found that the dropping of the produce onto the conveyor 21 and the non smooth movement of the produce down said conveyor 21 are adavantageous for separation of the foreign matter having a relatively low specific gravity from the produce. Tied up with this is the fact that the spacing between the delivery device 4 and the conveyor 21 should be neither too large nor too small; the optimum spacing must be found empirically. However, it can be stated that, if said spacing is too large, each item of produce only bounces once on the conveyor 21 so that only one opportunity arises for the said foreign matter to be shaken jolted off said item; on the other hand, if the spacing is too small, the items of produce simply roll down the conveyor 21 with said foreign matter being less likely to be shaken or jolted off.It is important that each item of produce should repeatedly bounce on the conveyor 21 on its ,ourney to the storage bin 28 therefore, and this repeated bouncing can be ensured also by the adjustability of the conveyor 21. As already stated, the foreign matter of relatively low specific gravity shaken or jolted off the produce remains on the conveyor 21 until it either drops off or is washed off.

Of course, if it is economical to do so, more than one conveyor 21 may be provided (for example, two or more conveyors 21 in succession) in order to improve the extent to which said foreign matter having a relatively low specific gravity is removed from the produce.

As the drawings are diagrammatic, the sizes and the relative proportions of the various integers which combine to make up the embodiments illustrated are not to be taken as having been illustrated with accuracy.

Claims

1. An arrangement for separating on the one hand foreign matter with a relatively high specific gravity, such as stones, sand and the like, and on the other hand foreign matter with a low specific gravity, such as leaves, grass and the like from gathered produce, said arrangement comprising washing means operable to separate the foreign matter with a high specific gravity from the produce by washing, said washing means including produce-conveying means at whose discharge end there is located a conveyor which is driven in rotation and onto which produce falls, said conveyor serving to detach the foreign matter with a relatively low specific gravity still adhering to said produce and carry said foreign matter away.

2. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the or each conveyor is driven in a directin of rotation such that whe part of the conveyor onto which the produce falls moves upwardly and therefore contrary to the direction of fall of said produce.

3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the or each conveyor is perforate in order to let a liquid pass therethrough, and wherein a spraying device or devices is/are provided permitting the supply of water to the inside of said conveyor to remove any foreign matter with a low specific gravity which may still be adhering to the outside of said produce.

4. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the or each conveyor is constituted by at least one conveyor belt disposed at an angle to the horizontal.

5. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the or each conveyor is such that the angle of inclination thereof to the horizontal is adjustable.

6. An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the or each conveyor is constituted by at least one conveyor drum.

7. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 6, wherein two conveyor drums are provided in succession, the second of which is disposed at a horizontal levei lower than that of the first one.

8. An arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the or each conveyor is adjustable in its position relatively to the discharge end of said produce-conveying means.

9. An arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding Claims, wherein the or each conveyor is provided with transversely extending protrusions projecting from the surface thereof in order to facilitate the conveyance of the foreign matter with a low specific gravity to a discharge location therefor.

10. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said protrusions are formed by giving the surface of the or each conveyor a ribbed or naplike surface profile.

11. An arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding Claims wherein said washing means further includes a flotation channel in which a settling tank is provided to collect the foreign matter with a high specific gravity, and wherein the produce-conveying means is provided with carriers which combine with a conveyor chute to form an upwardly inclined conveyor channel leading to said discharge end.

12. An arrangement as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10, wherein said produce-conveying means comprises a sieve-like supporting surface and an associated spraying device which acts as the washing means.

13. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 11, wherein a device for spraying the produce during its elevation is provided in the area of said conveyor channel.

14. An arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding Claims, wherein an adjustable and lockable guide plate is disposed at said discharge end.

15. An arrangement for separating foreign matter from gathered produce, constructed, arranged and operable substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 or Figure 2 of the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

1 6. Any features of novelty, taken singly or in combination, of the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.