GB2121322A

GB2121322A - Separating agricultural produce from other materials

Info

Publication number: GB2121322A
Application number: GB08305144A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ron Feller; David Nahir; Charles C Coble
Original assignee: Israel Ministry of Agriculture
Current assignee: Israel Ministry of Agriculture
Priority date: 1982-05-25
Filing date: 1983-02-24
Publication date: 1983-12-21
Also published as: IL65872A0; AU562013B2; AU1195683A; GB2121322B; DE3306769A1; NL182376B; NL182376C; GB8305144D0; NL8300744A; DE3306769C2; IL65872A

Abstract

In an apparatus for separating agricultural produce from other materials an unsorted mixture of the produce and materials are caused to impinge upon a generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area at a generally uniform velocity and in a direction which is not normal to the tangent to the roller surface at the impingement location area.

Description

roller surface at the impingement location area; first produce collecting apparatus for collecting separated agricultural produce; first material collecting apparatus for collecting a mixture of some agricultural product and other materials; a second generally cylindrical separation roller; second apparatus for causing the mixture from said first material collecting apparatus to impinge upon the second generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area in a direction which is not normal to the tangent to the roller surface at the impingement location area; second product collecting apparatus for collecting separated agricultural produce and second material collecting apparatus for collecting other materials separated from the agricultural produce.

Additionally or alternatively the multiple stage separation apparatus may provide uniform feeding velocity, single layer feed and oppositely directed horizontal components of velocity of impingement and impingement location area.

The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of separation apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figs. 2A and 2B are respective top view and side view illustrations of separation apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is a detailed side view illustration indicating a roller cleaning knife assembly.

Reference is now made to Fig. 1 which illustrates in schematic, diagrammatic form, separation apparatus constructed and operative in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The separation apparatus comprises a feeding conveyor 10 which is provided with an eccentric roller 12 or other suitable means for providing vibration of the conveyor surface to provide a single layer of unsorted mixture of agricultural produce, such as potatoes, and other undesired materials, such as stones and clods. The vibration of the surface of feeding conveyor 10 is also operative to sift out loose soil and clods through the conveyor surface itself.For this purpose the conveyor surface may be formed in such a way as to define interstices therein for passage therethrough of such loose soil and clods which then fall onto a chute 14 and are directed away from the agricultural produce for removal.

The carrying surface 16 of conveyor 10 moves generally in a direction indicated by an arrow 1 8 and applies a driving force to the objects carried thereon having a component in the direction indicated by arrow 1 8. This driving force causes the unsorted mixture to leave the forward end 20 of the conveyor in a predetermined trajectory and to impinge within a generally predetermined range of directions on the surface of a generally cylindrical separation roller 22. Roller 22 is typically formed of 6 mm thick steel and is driven in rotation in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow 24.

The unsorted material tends to impinge on roller 22 within a predetermined general area, hereinafter termed the impingement location area.

It is a particular feature of the present invention that the direction of impingement of the unsorted material is not normal to the tangent to the surface of roller 22 at the impingement location area. The additional vector component of force thus provided has been found to significantly enhance separation efficiency. Preferably, the material impinges on roller 22 at an angle of between 30--450 from the horizontal.

It is a further particular feature of the present invention that in contrast to the sliding chutes employed in the prior art, the feeding conveyor 10 supplies the unsorted mixture for impingement onto the separation roller 22 at a generally uniform velocity. An additional feature, already noted, is that a single layer of unsorted mixture is supplied by the feeding conveyor 10. A further feature, which will be mentioned further hereinafter, is that the feeding speed is within a range which has been found empirically in apparatus having the above mentioned features, to prevent interference between impinging materials and materials which have already bounced off of the separation roller 22. These features taken individually and in combination enable a high quality of separation to be provided.

It is additionally noted that in the illustrated embodiment, the feeding conveyor 10 imparts a horizontal velocity to the unsorted mixture, in clear contrast to certain prior art teachings, such as the aforesaid British Patent 4684 of 1909. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated, the horizontal component of the impinging velocity of the unsorted mixture is oppositely directed to the horizontal component of the velocity of the impingement location area of the separation roller 22. Alternatively, the horizontal components may be in the same direction.

The agricultural produce, such as potatoes, rebounds farther from the roller and is collected on a conveyor belt 30, while the remainder of the unsorted mixture falls onto a conveyor belt 32.

Since the initial separation stage may not succeed in removing all of the agricultural produce from the unsorted mixture, conveyor belt 32 is directed to a second separation roller 34, whose operation is similar in all respect to the operation of roller 22, including preferably, the specification of the relationship of the incident direction of the mixture as being not normal to the tangent to the roller impingement location area. The agricultural produce is collected on a conveyor belt 36, while the refuse is collected on a conveyor belt 38.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A and 2B which together illustrate separation machinery constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

For ease of understanding, elements which are shown in Fig. 1 will be identified by the same SPECIFICATION Separating apparatus and method The present invention relates to agricultural machinery generally and more particularly to apparatus for separating agricultural products from other materials.

The separation of agricultural products such as potatoes from clods and stones has long been recognized as a practical goal of designers of agricultural machinery. For example, in Agricultural Engineering Record, published by the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Silsoe, Bedfordshire, U.K. at pp 35 43 there appears a discussion of efforts, albeit unsuccessful, to design separation of this type. In this article, it is mentioned that differences in specific gravity and differences in resilience was considered to be suitable bases for differentiating between the agricultural products and other materials. At pages 37 and 38 of the article there appears a description of experiments carried out using a plywood roller onto which were dropped, after sliding on a chute, a mixture of potatoes and stones while the roller rotated slowly.Some separation occurred but only with regularly shaped potatoes and stones, which does not occur in nature.

Additional experiments were carried out using a delivery chute along which the stones and potatoes slid into engagement with the roller at a location about one o'clock on a roller rotating counterclockwise for separation onto opposite sides of the roller. Both plywood and steel sheathed rollers were employed. Unacceptable results were obtained. A two stage double roller separator was also constructed and tested on this basis.

Acceptable sorting was not achieved and experiments using rollers were abandoned.

It is noted that in all of the roller experiments, the material to be sorted impinged on the roller in a direction generally normal to the tangent of the rdller at the impingement location.

It is also noted that the sliding feeding of the unsorted mixture did not provide uniform velocity of the stones and potatoes, since some tend to roll and others tend to slide.

British Patent 4684 of 1909 describes a system for sorting materials in which the materials to be separated are caused to be driven vertically downward into engagement with a rotating roller.

In U.S. Patent 1,692,343, materials to be separated are thrown against a stretched resilient fabric. U.S. Patent 1,641,492 teaches the use of a resilient conveyor from which potatoes bounce off for separation thereof. U.S. Patent 2,666,524 employs a resilient ramp for separation.

French Patents 95,161 and 1,513,792 describe potato sorting apparatus which does not employ a rotating roller.

Separation of agricultural produce from spurious materials by non-mechanical methods is also known, as exemplified by U.S. Patent 3,675,769 which describes electronic sorting and separating apparatus.

The present invention seeks to provide apparatus for separating agricultural produce from clods, stones and similar agricultural material which is highly efficient and simple to construct and which overcomes the deficiencies of prior art separation apparatus.

There is thus provided in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention apparatus for separating agricultural produce from other materials comprising a generally cylindrical separation roller; and apparatus for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural product and other materials to impinge upon the generally cylindrical separating roller at an impingement location area in a direction which is not normal to the tangent to the roller surface at the impingement location area.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the invention apparatus is provided for producing rotation of the separation roller. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotation of the roller is in such a direction that the impingement location has a downward component of motion.

Additionally in accordance with the above embodiment of the invention, the impingement direction also has a downward component of motion.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided apparatus for separating agricultural produce from other materials comprising a generally cylindrical separation roller; and apparatus for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other material to impinge upon the generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area at a generally uniform velocity. Additionally in accordance with this embodiment of the invention, a single layer of unsorted mixture is supplied along a conveyor belt into engagement with the separation roller at a velocity which minimizes interference between the impinging and bouncing materials.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the conveyor is operative to feed the unsorted mixture at a speed of preferably between 0.2 and 0.5 meters/sec.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the direction of rotation of the roller surface at the impingement location area and the direction of impingement have oppositely directed horizontal components of velocity. Alternatively the horizontal components of velocity may be in the same direction.

Further in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention there is provided multiple stage apparatus for separating agricultural produce from other materials comprising a first generally cylindrical separation roller; first apparatus for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon the generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area in a direction which is not normal to the tangent to the reference numerals as appear in Fig. 1. The apparatus of Figs. 2A and 2B comprise a base 9 onto which is mounted feeding conveyor 10 and eccentric roller 12. The separation roller 22 is bearing mounted onto chassis 9.An electric motor 11 is coupled by means of a drive belt 13 to feeding conveyor 10 and roller 12 for driving thereof in coordinated motion as well as driving of a side elevator 15, whose function will be described hereinafter. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the position of the forward end 20 of the feeding conveyor 10 relative to the roller is such that the impingement location area will be 30--450 from the horizontal on the roller.

Conveyor belt 30 is driven by an electric motor 31. Above belt 30 there extends chute 14 for small diameter refuse disposal. Conveyor belt 30 discharges in a produce storage location (not shown).

It is noted that feeding conveyor 10 is preferably a bar-type conveyor which defines interstices as described hereinabove in connection with Fig. 1.

Conveyor belt 32 may be any suitable type of conveyor belt and is driven by an electric motor 33 via a drive belt 35. Second separation roller 34 is also driven by motor 33 via belt 35. Conveyor belt 36 which receives the agricultural produce from second roller 34 is driven by an electric motor 37 and discharges onto side elevator 15, mentioned above. Side elevator 15, in turn discharges onto belt 30. Refuse conveyor belt 38 is driven by an electric motor 39 and transports the refuse to a removal location (not shown).

A typical surface speed for rotation of rollers 22 and 24 is about 0.6 m/sec. while the typical feeding speeds of conveyors 10 and 32 are between 0.2 and 0.5 meters/sec.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 which illustrates a roller cleaning knife 40 which engages rollers 22 and 34 for cleaning thereof. It is noted that the knife 40 is an elongate sheet of a suitable metal which is spring biased against the roller surface and in a direction facing the direction of rotation of the roller surface, which direction is indicated by arrow 24. Knife 40 is supported on a support bracket 42 which in turn is pivotably mounted onto a shaft 44 which is fixed onto the base 9. A spring 46 provides desired spring biasing of the knife against the roller.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

1. Apparatus for separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones, said apparatus comprising a generally cylindrical separation roller; means for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon said generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area in a direction which is not normal to the tangent of the roller surface at said impingement location area.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 and also comprising means for causing rotation of said separation roller.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 and wherein the rotation of said separation roller is in a direction such that the impingement location has a downward component of motion.

4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and wherein said separation roller is formed of steel.

5. Apparatus for separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones, said apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical separation roller; and means for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon said generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area at a generally uniform velocity.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 and also comprising means for causing rotation of said separation roller.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 and wherein the rotation of said separation roller is in a direction such that the impingement location has a downward component of motion.

8. Apparatus according to any one of claims 5 to 7 and wherein said separation roller is formed of steel.

9. Apparatus for separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones, said apparatus comprising: a generally cylindrical separation roller; and means for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon said generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area at a velocity having a horizontal component.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 and also comprising means for causing rotation of said separation roller.

11. Apparatus according to either of claims 9 or 10 and wherein the rotation of said separation roller is in a direction such that the impingement location has a downward component of motion.

12. Apparatus according to any one of claims 9 to 11 and wherein said separation roller is formed of steel.

1 3. Multiple stage apparatus for separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones, said apparatus comprising: a first generally cylindrical separation roller; first apparatus for causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon said separation roller at an impingement location area; first produce collecting means for collecting separated agricultural produce located at first location relative to said first roller; remainder conveying means for receiving the remainder of said unsorted mixture and located at a second location relative to said first roller; a second generally cylindrical separation roller; said remainder conveying means being operative for causing said remainder to impinge upon said second separation roller at an impingement location area;; second produce collecting means for collecting separated agricultural produce located at a first location relative to said second roller; and refuse collecting means for collecting refuse separated from said agricultural produce and located at a second location relative to said second roller for disposal.

14. Multiple stage apparatus according to claim 13 and wherein said first apparatus is operative to cause said unsorted mixture to impinge upon said separation roller at said impingement location area in a direction which is not normal to the tangent to the roller surface at said impingement location area.

1 5. Multiple stage apparatus according to either of claims 13 or 14 and wherein said first apparatus is operative to cause said unsorted mixture to impinge upon said separation roller at said impingement location area at a generally uniform velocity.

16. Multiple stage apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 1 5 and wherein said first apparatus is operative to cause said unsorted mixture to impinge upon said separation rollers at said impingement location area with a velocity including a horizontal component.

17. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 1 6 and also comprising means for causing rotation of at least one of said first and second separation rollers.

18. Apparatus according to any one of claims 13 to 17 and also comprising means for vibrating said unsorted mixture for shifting out of relatively small diameter particulate matter prior to impingement and producing a single layer of said unsorted mixture.

19. Multiple stage apparatus according to claim 16 and wherein said horizontal component is oppositely directed to the horizontal component of velocity of said impingement location area.

20. Apparatus according to claim 18 as dependent on claim 13 and wherein the rotation of said at least one of said first and second separation rollers is in a direction such that the impingement location has a downward component of motion.

21. Apparatus according to any one of claims 14 to 20 and wherein at least one of said separation rollers is formed of steel.

22. A method of separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones including the step of causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon a generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area in a direction which is not normal to the tangent to the roller surface at said impingement location area.

23. A method according to claim 22 and also comprising vibrating said unsorted mixture to produce a single layer thereof for impingement on said separation roller.

24. A method of separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones including the step of causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon a generally cylindrical separation roller at an impingement location area at a uniform velocity.

25. A method according to claim 24 and also comprising vibrating said unsorted mixture to produce a single layer thereof for impingement on said separation roller.

26. A method of separating agricultural produce such as potatoes from other materials such as clods and stones including the step of causing an unsorted mixture of agricultural produce and other materials to impinge upon a generally cylindrical separation ro!ler at an impingement location area at velocity including a horizontal component.

27. A method according to claim 26 and also comprising vibrating said unsorted mixture to produce a single layer thereof for impingement on said separation roller.

28. A method of separating agricultural produce from other materials, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings.

29. Apparatus for separating agricultural produce from other materials, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by reference to the accompanying drawings.