GB2417473A

GB2417473A - Conveyor with inflatable support

Info

Publication number: GB2417473A
Application number: GB0517298A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Botsman
Original assignee: CORNUCOPIA UK Ltd
Current assignee: CORNUCOPIA UK Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-25
Filing date: 2005-08-24
Publication date: 2006-03-01
Also published as: WO2006021779A3; GB0418924D0; WO2006021779A2; GB0517298D0

Abstract

A conveyor system comprises a conveyor and an inflatable body which, when inflated, supports the conveyor. The conveyor may be a belt conveyor 12, and may be entrained round a driven wheel at one end of the inflatable body, and an idler wheel at the other end. The belt may also be provided with a series of small wheels 24 at its edges, and corresponding channels 20 on the inflatable body in which the wheels may run, and may also be provided with a series of ribs which fit into corresponding grooves in the driven or idler wheels. The inflatable body may comprise a pair of elongate side limbs 14 and at least one cross-member 16, and may support a series of rollers which in turn support the belt. The cross-member may be provided with a series of openings to direct jets of air at an underside of an upper run of the conveyor, to reduce friction between the conveyor and the inflatable body.

Description

24 1 7473 Conveyor System This invention relates to a conveyor system. In

particular, the invention relates to a conveyor system which is relatively lightweight and portable, and therefore suitable for use in the transportation of, for example, fruit during the harvesting thereof. This is achieved, in accordance with the invention, by providing a conveyor system which is inflatable. Although suitable for use in such applications it will be appreciated that the conveyor system of the invention may be used in a range of other applications.

In many areas of business there is a trade-off between manual labour costs and automation of otherwise manual tasks, and manual labour is sometimes used even when a more cost-effective automated technique would be preferred. For example, in the wine producing regions of Southern France, approximately 30% of grape harvesting is performed manually despite manual harvesting being far more expensive than automated or mechanical harvesting. In Australia, although more harvesting is mechanised, manual harvesting is still undertaken. In both Australia and France, a complete switch from manual to mechanised harvesting is unlikely to occur, for example due to the grape pruning styles used not lending themselves to mechanical harvesting or, in some cases, due to the capital costs involved in making such changes. Similar comments apply in other grape producing regions, and also l apply to other crops, for example olives and soft fruits. One object ofthe invention is to allow the at least partial automation/mechanisation of such manual harvesting techniques by providing a conveyor system to transport the picked or harvested crops thereby avoiding the use of manual labour to achieve such transportation, whilst allowing manual picking or harvesting of the crops to continue.

Increasingly, particularly with soft fruits, it is desirable for the picked or harvested crop to be placed directly into the packaging in which the crops are to be sold, thereby reducing subsequent handling and packing. Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor system suitable for use with such "ready to retail" packaging.

According to the present invention there is provided a conveyor system comprising an inflatable body, and a conveyor, the inflatable body being adapted, when inflated, to support the conveyor.

The use of an inflatable body to tension the conveyor allows the conveyor system to be easily collapsable and therefore portable, and also to be of relatively low weight. As a result it can be positioned adjacent, for example, a row of grape vines from which fruit is being harvested, and used to transport the produce to an end of the row thereby avoiding the use of manual labour in such transportation.

After harvesting, the conveyor system can be deflated and moved to, for example, an adjacent row of vines, to allow harvesting to continue in a partially automated manner.

The conveyor conveniently comprises a continuous conveyor belt. The belt may be entrained around an idler wheel or roller at or near one end of the inflatable body and may be entrained around a driven wheel or roller at or close to the opposite end ofthe inflatable body. The conveyor system may include drive means for driving the driven wheel. For example a suitable motor may be provided.

Alternatively the driven wheel may be arranged to be driven by auxiliary drive means, for example from the power take-off of a tractor.

The conveyor belt may be provided with a series of small wheels at its edges, the small wheels being adapted to run in corresponding channels provided in or on the inflatable body. The conveyor belt may be provided with a series of ribs arranged to fit into corresponding grooves or channels provided in the driven wheel or roller to assist in providing traction. The ribs may comprise axles for the small wheels.

The inflatable body conveniently includes a pair of side limbs and at least one cross-member. The side limbs and cross-member conveniently define an upper channel in which an upper run of the conveyor is located. The cross-member may be provided with a series of openings to direct jets of air at the underside of the upper run ofthe conveyor and thereby reduce friction between the conveyor and the inflatable body, in use. The side limbs may be shaped to define openings or recesses to allow access to be gained to a lower run of the conveyor located beneath the cross- member and thereby allow the lower run to be used in transportation of materials, for example packaging materials, in the reverse direction.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, illustrating part of a conveyor system in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustration part of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view illustrating a driven wheel or roller of the system of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a possible mounting for the driven wheel; Figure 5 is a view illustrating the conveyor system when not in use; Figure 6 is a view illustrating part of a modified form of the system; and Figures 7 and 8 are views illustrating a further modified embodiment.

The conveyor system illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a conveyor structure in the form of an inflatable body 10 around which is entrained a continuous belt 12 in the form of a loop. The inflatable body 10, in cross-section, includes a pair of elongate side limbs 14 which are interconnected by a cross member 16. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the body 10 is of generally "H" shaped cross-section. As shown diagrammatically, within the inflatable body 10 are located webbings or interconnecting members 18 connecting various parts of the inflatable body 10 to one another to assist in controlling the overall shape of the inflated body. These may extend continuously along the length of the inflatable body 10, or alternatively may be located, discretely, at intervals along the length of the inflatable body 10.

As shown most clearly in Figure 2, the side limbs 14 ofthe inflatable body each carry a guide channel member 20. The guide channel members 20 are flexible in the longitudinal direction of the inflatable body 10 such that, upon deflation of the body 10, the body can be, for example, rolled up and the presence ofthe channel members 20 does not impair the ability ofthe body 10 to be rolled up.

IS The belt 12 is provided, at intervals, with axle members 22. The axle members 22 are of generally square cross-section and extend across the full width or substantially the full width of the belt 12. The axle members 22 carry, at each end thereof, small wheels 24 angled to the axis of the axle members 22, the wheels 24 being received within the guide channel members 20 and serving to guide an upper run of the belt 12 for movement relative to the inflatable body 10.

The upper surface of the cross-member 16 of the inflatable body 10 is provided with a series of small openings 26 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1.

The small openings 26 allow air from the interior of the inflatable member 10 to escape therefrom and be directed towards the lower surface of the upper run of the belt 12 thus providing an air cushion between the belt 12 and the cross-member 16 reducing friction between the belt 12 and the cross-member 16 and thereby assisting in free movement of the belt 12, in use.

At one end of the inflatable member 10 is provided a driven wheel 28 for example of the type shown generally in Figure 3. The driven wheel 28 may be mounted upon the inflatable member 10 or arranged to be anchored adjacent thereto.

The driven wheel 28 shown in Figure 3 comprises a number of spokes 30 serving to support an outer shell 32. The shell 32 is provided with channels 34 extending across the full width ofthe driven wheel 28, dimensioned and positioned so as to be able to receive the axles 22 of the belt 12, in use, to assist in providing traction between the driven wheel 28 and the belt 12. As illustrated, a gear arrangement 36 is mounted at one end ofthe driven wheel 28 to allow the transmission of power to the driven wheel 28 to cause the driven wheel 28 to rotate about its axis and thereby impart movement to the belt 12.

An idler wheel (not shown) is mounted or adjacent at the other end of the inflatable body 10 to the driven wheel 28. The idler wheel is similar to the driven wheel 28. However, as the idler wheel is not used to transmit movement to the belt 12, the gear arrangement 36 may be omitted. Further, if desired, the channels 34 may also be omitted as good traction between the idler wheel and the belt 12 is of lower importance.

In use, where the conveyor system is to be used to allow the automation of the transportation of grapes from a row of vines to a position at an end of the row of vines, the inflatable body 10 carrying the belt 12 is laid alongside the row of vines and is inflated using a suitable blower. Once so inflated, the inflatable body 10 serves to support and tension the belt 12. The driven wheel 28 is rotated using a suitable power source, for example a battery operated motor or using a suitable output from, for example, a tractor. The rotation of the driven wheel 28 causes the belt 12 to move relative to the inflatable body 10. Manual labour is conveniently used to pick the grapes from the vines, the harvested grapes being placed upon the moving belt 12, the belt 12 conveying the produce to an end ofthe row of vines. If desired, the end of the conveyor system may be positioned immediately above a suitable collection hopper or vehicle so as to allow the picked grapes to be collected directly in a suitable container. As mentioned hereinbefore, the belt 12 is supported on the inflatable body by means of the wheels 24 associated therewith and by the driven and idler wheels. Additionally, the supply of air to the underside of the belt 12 serves to support the belt 12.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the belts 12 include a lower, return run which extends beneath the cross-member 16. Conveniently, the inflatable body 10 includes a connecting web 28 extending between the side members 14 thereby avoiding direct contact between the return run of the belt 12 and the ground surface upon which the conveyor system is located.

Once harvesting ofthe grapes from the row of vines has been completed, the inflatable body 10 is deflated and can then be rolled up, complete with the belt 12 ready for deployment adjacent, for example, another row of grape vines.

By using a conveyor structure of inflatable form, rather than a solid structure, the system can be relatively lightweight and collapsible, and is thereby relatively easy to move and store.

Although the description hereinbefore is of the use of the conveyor system in the transportation of grapes from a row of vines, it will be appreciated that the invention may be used in a number of other applications. For example the conveyor system may be used in the transportation of soft fruit, for example, strawberries or raspberries. It is becoming increasingly common for such produce to be packed into the containers in which the produce is to be sold for example by a supermarket, by the pickers as the produce is harvested. The conveyor system of the present invention is suitable for use in the transportation of such picked produce in the ready for retail' packaging. The produce so packed and transported by the conveyor system can then be packed into larger transportation containers once the produce has reached the end of the conveyor system. Clearly, where 'ready for retail' packaging is used, the pickers must be supplied with suitable packaging materials at intervals. As shown in Figure 1, the side limbs 14 ofthe inflatable body may be provided, at intervals, with openings 38 allowing access to be gained to the lower run ofthe belt 12 thereby allowing the lower run ofthe belt 12 to be used in the transportation of, for example, such packaging materials in the reverse direction to that in which the picked produce is transported.

Other applications in which the conveyor system may be used include the harvesting of olives from a row of olive trees. Current harvesting techniques for IS olives typically involve spreading a suitable netting or other collection device beneath an olive tree and then using sticks or poles to knock the olives from the tree, the olives falling on to the collection netting or the like ready for collection and transportation. Instead of using such a technique, two or more of the conveyor systems according to the invention could be located adjacent a row of olive trees to collect the olives falling from the trees as the harvesters use sticks or poles to knock the olives from the trees, the conveyor systems being used to transport the harvested olives to a suitable collection point.

Further possible uses include maritime and emergency relief applications.

S The conveyor system may be of a range of dimensions. For example, it is envisaged that the conveyor belt be of a width sufficient to allow the transportation of field trays of 400 x 600 mm dimensions. It is envisaged that the conveyor system be of a length of at least 20 metres, and could be as much as 100 metres, or indeed more than this. Typically, the inflatable body will be of a durable, lightweight plastics material having welded or chemically bonded seams to render the body substantially airtight. The wheels used to support the belt 12 are preferably of neoprene, sealed for life form. It is envisaged that the wheels 24 be located at approximately 8 metre intervals. However, the actual spacing may vary depending upon the required overall length of the conveyor system. The wheels 24 may be semi-steerable to allow slight deviation of the path followed by the belt 12 to one side or another ofthe conveyor system, where desired, to suit the locations occupied by the pickers.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification to the driven wheel shown in Figure 3. In the arrangement of Figure 4, the driven wheel 28 is supported in an Aframe 40, the frame 40 being designed so as to house an electric motor geared to drive the driven wheel at a desired speed. Suitable bearings are provided to allow the driven wheel 28 to rotate relative to the A-frame 40. In order to allow the insertion or removal of the belt 12 to or from the drive wheel 28, the A-frame 40 includes a hinged part 42.

The legs of the A-frame 40 are telescopic thereby allowing the height of the driven wheel 28 and the end of the belt 12 to be adjusted. Further, the telescopic legs may be used as spikes to allow anchorage of the Aframe to the ground.

Where the arrangement shown in Figure 4 is used, then the conveyor system need not be used in combination with a tractor of other form of external power supply for the drive wheel.

Figure 5 illustrates one form of the conveyor system when not in use. As illustrated in Figure 5, a trailer 44 is provided on which is located a reel 46 adapted to carry the inflatable member 10 and belt 12 when the inflatable member 10 is deflated. The hub of the reel 46 is conveniently rotatable so as to allow it to serve as the idler wheel or roller, in use, the periphery ofthe reel being anchored, in use, to the ground using suitable spikes or the like. The trailer 44 further carries a motor adapted to driven the drive wheel and a fan, blower or compressor arrangement for supplying air under pressure to the inflatable member to allow the inflation thereof.

The motor could be an electric motor driven from a suitable power source, for example a battery. A gas, oil, petrol, LEG or diesel powered engine may be provided to driven an alternator for charging the battery. Alternatively, such an engine may be employed directly to drive the driven wheel and/or blower. Although Figure 5 illustrates one form of trailer suitable for use in the storage and transportation ofthe conveyor system, it will be appreciated that the number of other designs are possible.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative design for the inflatable body of the conveyor structure. Again, as the conveyor structure is inflatable, it can easily be collapsed for transportation and storage, and is of low weight. When inflated, it provides rigidity to the system which would otherwise require the provision of a solid, rigid conveyor structure.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a further embodiment incorporating many of the features described hereinbefore which will not be described in further detail. In the arrangement of Figures 7 and 8, rather than using axles mounted on the conveyor belt, a series of rollers 22a mounted on the body 10 are used to support both the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt.

Although the description hereinbefore is of the use of the conveyor system in the transportation of produce, it will be appreciated that the conveyor system may be used in the transportation of a wide range of other products. The invention should not, therefore, be restricted to the transportation of food products. Further, although a specific form of conveyor arrangement is shown, a number of modifications or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A conveyor system comprising an inflatable body, and a conveyor, the inflatable body being adapted, when inflated, to support the conveyor.

2. A system according to Claim 1, wherein the conveyor comprises a continuous conveyor belt.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the belt is entrained around an idler wheel or roller at or near one end of the inflatable body and around a driven wheel or roller at or close to the opposite end of the inflatable body.

4. A system according to Claim 3, further comprising drive means for driving the driven wheel.

5. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the conveyor belt is provided with a series of small wheels at its edges, the small wheels being adapted to run in corresponding channels provided in or on the inflatable body.

6. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the conveyor belt is provided with a series of ribs arranged to fit into corresponding grooves or channels provided in the driven wheel or roller to assist in providing traction.

7. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the inflatable body supports a series of rollers supporting the conveyor belt.

8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable body includes a pair of side limbs and at least one crossmember.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the side limbs and cross-member define an upper channel in which an upper run of the conveyor is located.

10. A system according to Claim 9, wherein the cross-member is provided with S a series of openings to direct jets of air at the underside of the upper run of the conveyor and thereby reduce friction between the conveyor and the inflatable body, in use.

11. A system according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the side limbs are shaped to define openings or recesses to allow access to be gained to a lower run of the conveyor or located beneath the cross-member and thereby allow the lower run to be used in transportation of materials in the reverse direction.