GB2559812A

GB2559812A - Apparatus for orientating tapered vegetables such as parsnips

Info

Publication number: GB2559812A
Application number: GB1702797.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Munns Barrie; John Udell Andrew
Original assignee: Mundell Eng Ltd
Current assignee: Mundell Eng Ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-21
Filing date: 2017-02-21
Publication date: 2018-08-22
Also published as: GB201702797D0

Abstract

Apparatus for orientating parsnips comprises a conveyor 5 to convey the parsnips P towards and away from an orientator 6, the conveyor comprising tracks 7A, 7B between which the parsnips are held, the apparatus arranged such that a forward side of the held parsnips contact the orientator to rotate misorienatated parsnips towards a preferred configuration. The orientator is arranged to move laterally away from a plane on with the tracks carrying the parsnips lie. Also disclosed is a method of orientating parsnips.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Mundell Engineering Ltd

18-20 Commercial Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 8QP, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Barrie Munns Andrew John Udell (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

TPT Cambridge

Toll Drove, MANEA, Cambridgeshire, PE15 0JX, United Kingdom (51) INT CL:

A23N 15/04 (2006.01) A23N 15/00 (2006.01) (56) Documents Cited:

GB 1307024 A EP 1964796 A1

SU 001171006 A1 US 3942629 A

US 3823815 A

JPH06209750 (58) Field of Search:

INT CLA23N

Other: WPI & EPODOC (54) Title of the Invention: Apparatus for orientating tapered vegetables such as parsnips Abstract Title: Apparatus for orientating tapered vegetables such as parsnips (57) Apparatus for orientating parsnips comprises a conveyor 5 to convey the parsnips P towards and away from an orientator 6, the conveyor comprising tracks 7A, 7B between which the parsnips are held, the apparatus arranged such that a forward side of the held parsnips contact the orientator to rotate misorienatated parsnips towards a preferred configuration. The orientator is arranged to move laterally away from a plane on with the tracks carrying the parsnips lie. Also disclosed is a method of orientating parsnips.

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- 1 Apparatus for Orientating Tapered Vegetables Such as Parsnips

The present invention is directed to apparatus for orientating tapered vegetables such as parsnips.

Subsequent to harvesting, root vegetables are commonly topped and/or tailed by a 5 cutting machine. It is typically necessary that all of the vegetables are presented to the cutting machine in the same orientation.

GB 1122806 describes orientating apparatus that includes a V-grooved pulley wheel onto which carrots are deposited. The width of the groove’s opening is selected to be smaller than the heads of the carrots but wider than their tails.

GB 1218751 describes apparatus including an inclined belt onto which carrots are fed. Carrots that do not fall onto the belt aligned tail first, roll under gravity towards that orientation by virtue of their tapered shape.

GB 1559476 describes grading apparatus in which carrots are fed onto a pair of rollers. As the separation distance of the rollers increases, the tail of the carrot drops such that the carrot is oriented vertically. Once the spacing between the rollers is larger than the carrot’s head, the carrot drops between the rollers into a chute.

The apparatus of GB1349737 includes divergent carrier members. When a carrot is orientated tail first between the carrier members, the pending tail engages a vibrating trough to retard forward movement of the tail. The intention is that this reorients the carrot headfirst. The carrot then drops into the downward sloping trough once the carrier members have diverged sufficiently. This system relies on all of the carrots protruding significantly below the carrier members to engage the trough and may not reorientate truncated or very short carrots, e.g. those that have been pre-cut or

-2damaged. Further, it relies on there being sufficient friction between the tip of the carrot and the downward sloping trough to cause the carrot to pivot.

A problem with the prior art systems is that they are unable to compensate for the variations in shape, size and weight of tapered vegetables. Consequently, it is typically necessary to employ multiple people to oversee the outputted vegetables before they reach the topper in order to reorient vegetables missed by the apparatus.

The present invention was conceived to provide apparatus that more effectively reorients tapered vegetables, particularly parsnips.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for orientating tapered vegetables, such as for example parsnips. The apparatus may comprise a conveyer arranged to convey the parsnips towards and/or away from an orientator. The conveyor may comprise spaced apart tracks between which the parsnips are held. The orientator may be arranged to contact the parsnips so as to cause misoriented parsnips to rotate about the orientator into a preferred orientation. The orientator may be arranged to contact a forward side of the held parsnips.

By engaging the forward facing side of the parsnip, i.e. the side that faces the direction in which the parsnip is conveyed by the conveyer, as opposed for example a downward facing side of the tail, the apparatus is more able to accommodate and reorientate parsnips of varying lengths and widths.

Because many of the parsnips will be held, e.g. suspended between the tracks such that each parsnip’s primary axis is not parallel with the direction conveyed by the conveyer, the orientator may be arranged to engage (at least some of) the parsnips at a point between the parsnip’s two ends.

-3 The conveyor may be arranged to hold the parsnip such that either the tail or head are leading. The conveyer tracks are favourably arranged such that the parsnip, upon contact with the orientator, will pivot about their contact point with the tracks into a preferred orientator, and further may be retained in the preferred orientation by the tracks. To facilitate this, the tracks may be arranged move and/or flex away from the parsnip.

The conveyer may be arranged to convey the parsnips towards the orientator. The conveyor may be arranged to convey the parsnip against the orientator. The conveyer may be arranged to convey the parsnip over the orientator. Most favourably the conveyor is arranged to carry the parsnips towards, against and past the orientator. Nevertheless, in other embodiments the conveyer may act only to convey the parsnip away from the orientator once contacted by the orientator. Alternatively or additionally, the orientator may be arranged to move towards and contact the parsnip held by the conveyor which itself may be moving towards the orientator. In another embodiment the conveyer may only be caused to move the parsnip away from the orientator following the parsnip contacting the orientator.

The tracks may be spaced apart such that as conveyed, the parsnip’s tapered end lies below the parsnip’s head in a space between (e.g. directly between or below) the tracks.

The conveyor favourably comprises a pair of spaced apart continuous tracks. The tracks most favourably comprise belts though may comprise chains or other elongate members.

The tracks are favourably arranged to travel within a vertical plane. This reduces the width, i.e. the floor space occupied by the conveyer thus enabling more conveyors to be arranged side-by-side for a given floor space.

-4The conveyer may be arranged to carry the parsnips in single file. To facilitate this, the apparatus may include a vibrating feeder that carries un-orientated parsnips in single file from a hopper to a first end of the conveyer.

The orientator may be arranged between two ends of the conveyor.

The orientator may extend above the tracks. This helps the orientator to reorient shorter or more truncated parsnips. Favourably the orientator comprises an end portion, which when the orientator is in a rest position, protrudes downwardly, e.g. to provide an inverted hook. This helps the orientator engage the parsnips, particularly truncated parsnips reducing the likelihood of them sliding across the orientator rather than pivoting over it.

The orientator may be arranged to move or deflect in response to contact with the parsnip, e.g. as a result of the parsnip being conveyed against it. The orientator may be arranged to rotate in response to contact with the parsnip.

The orientator may be arranged to move in response to contact with the parsnip in a 15 latemal direction away from a plane in which the tracks lie. Favourably, the orientator may be arranged upon contact with the parsnip to rise relative to the parsnip. This action allows the tail of truncated parsnips travelling tail first to pass under an upper portion of the orientator. In this way the orientator can ‘catch’ the tail of the parsnip to inhibit unintended sliding of the parsnip tail first over the orientator. The orientator may comprise a hooked end that provides a free edge to facilitate pivoting of the parsnip.

The orientator may be arranged upon contact with the parsnip to lower relative to the parsnip. This makes it easier for parsnips, particularly lightweight or truncated parsnips, to pass over the orientator.

- 5 The orientator may be arranged to move in a lateral direction away from a plane in which the tracks lie and then subsequently in an opposite direction. Favourably the orientator may be arranged upon contact to initially rise, then lower relative to the parsnip. The orientator may be arranged upon contact to move from a position in which it extends above tracks to a position in which its uppermost point lies in line or below the tracks. This enables the orientator to engage truncated parsnips travelling tail first, which have little if any body extending below the tracks, and that would otherwise ride over the top of the orientator without rotation, whilst preventing them from becoming trapped against the orientator.

Favourably, the orientator is moved by a force exerted by the moving parsnip engaged against the orientator. Alternatively, the apparatus may comprise means (e.g. an actuator) to move the orientator upon or in expectation of contact with the parsnip.

The orientator may be arranged to rotate upon contact with a parsnip about a pivot that lies below a contact point of the orientator with the parsnip.

The apparatus may comprise bias means to bias the orientator back towards a rest position following displacement by contact with a parsnip.

The orientator may be positioned between the tracks to engage parsnips held between the tracks. The orientator may be positioned nearest most a terminus of the pathway for parsnips provided by the conveyor. The orientator may be positioned so as to be spaced from the terminus of the pathway by less than a parsnips length e.g. equal or less than 20 cm from the end, more favourably equal or less than 10 cm from the end. Although it is preferred that the tracks will hold the parsnips in the preferred orientation once reoriented, this feature minimises the possibility of reoriented parsnips from rotating back in to misorientation before leaving the tracks.

The orientator may comprise an engagement member that contacts the parsnips to cause pivoting of misoriented parsnips towards a correct orientation. The engagement

-6member may be arranged to rotate about an axis that is non-coincident with the engagement member. This allows a shallow arc of rotation of the engagement member to facilitate travel of the parsnips over the orientator.

The orientator may be arranged such that a tail portion of a parsnip conveyed toward 5 the orientator tail first, can pass beyond a portion of the orientator before being rotated about the orientator. Favourably the orientator is arranged such that the tail portion of the parsnip conveyed towards the orientator tail first, can pass beyond an axis of rotation of the orientator before being rotated around the orientator. Expressed another way, the orientator may be arranged such as to provide a space adjacent (e.g.

below) the engagement member, between the tracks, in which a tail portion of an approaching parsnip may pass. Favourably the space lies between the engagement member and the axis of rotation of the engagement member such that a portion of the tail may pass beyond the axis of rotation of the orientation member before being pivoted. This allows the orientator to contact parsnips conveyed tail first, at a point nearer the top of the head of the parsnip.

This is of benefit for orientating longer parsnips that may otherwise become stuck against the orientator as a result of the mass of the parsnip lying below the tracks.

The engagement member may, when the orientator is in the rest position, include a free end portion that extends towards parsnips held by the conveyer to be contacted.

This provides a convenient means to cause the engagement member to rise relative to the parsnip when the orientator is rotated.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for orientating parsnips, the method comprising conveying parsnips towards and/or away from an orientator using a conveyor comprising tracks between which the parsnips are held; and causing a forward side of the held parsnips to contact the orientator to bring about rotation of misoriented parsnips towards a preferred orientation.

-7 The invention will now be described by example with reference to the following figures in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus for processing parsnips shown with a 5 parsnip about to engage an engagement member of an orientator;

Figure 2 is the perspective view of Fig 1 showing the orientator rotated following contact by the parsnip;

Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig 1 taken from an opposite side of the apparatus;

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of apparatus showing a parsnip about to engage the engagement member;

Figure 5 is the side sectional view of Fig 4 showing the engagement member rotated as a result of engagement with a parsnip;

Figure 6 is a close up perspective view of the orientator of the conveyer about to be 15 contacted by a parsnip;

Figure 7 is an alternative perspective close up view of the orientator deflected by a parsnip;

Figure 8 is an end-on view looking from the direction of the chute towards the feeder;

Figures 9A-9E are side views illustrating a correctly orientated parsnip passing over the orientator; and

- 8 Figure 10A-9E are side views illustrating a relative long misoriented parsnip being re-oriented over the orientator; and

Figs 11A - 11E are side views illustrating a truncated misoriented parsnips being reoriented over the orientator.

With reference to the Figures there is shown apparatus for processing tapered parsnips. The apparatus comprises a vibrating feeder 1, orientating apparatus 2 and a chute 3. The vibrating feeder 1 feeds un-orientated parsnips P, i.e. a mixture of head first and tail first, from a hopper (not shown) in single file to the orientating apparatus 2. The orientating apparatus 2 orientates the parsnips such that most if not all are outputted into the chute 3 head first. The chute 3 carries the orientating parsnips away, e.g. under gravity, from the orientating apparatus 2. When in use, the apparatus of Fig 1 typically forms part of a larger system for processing parsnips that may include a cutting machine for topping and/or tailing the parsnips The chute 3 may output the parsnips onto a belt running in a direction transverse to the chute 3 such that the parsnips are ejected onto the belt and carried towards the cutting machine with their longitudinal axes lying transverse to the movement of the belt. The vibrating feeder 1 and chute 3 are both of conventional form and so will not be described here in further detail.

The orientating apparatus 2 comprises a frame 4 that carries a conveyer 5 and orientator 6.

The conveyor 5 comprises a pair of parallel continuous (endless) travelling belts 7A 7B that run across a set of rollers 8 driven by a motor 9. The rollers 8 lie substantially in a vertical plane such that the belts 7A 7B travel within said vertical plane. This reduces the overall width of the conveyor 5 and thus reduces the floor space occupied by the orientating apparatus 2 as compared to an arrangement in which the belts 7A 7B run in a generally horizontal plane. This is of particular benefit when it is wished to operate multiple apparatus together side by side to feed a single cutting machine.

-9The belts 7A 7B are of cable like form (as opposed to planer form), having a surface with a relatively high co-efficient of friction so as to minimise unwanted slippage between the belts and parsnip. Synthetic plastics cable belts are suitable. The cables are favourably arranged to flex away from one another and/or be slightly compressible in order to facilitate pivoting of the parsnips about the point of contact with the belts 7A 7B.

A portion of the belts’ 7A 7B route around the rollers 8 defines a pathway 5A about which the parsnips are conveyed from the feeder 1 to the chute 3.

The conveyor 5 may further comprise guide members 5B (see Fig 8 - omitted from the other figures for clarity) that run alongside and outward of belts 7A 7B to retain the parsnips between the belts 7A 7B.

The spacing between the belts 7A 7B can be selected by a user of the apparatus depending on the expected and/or desired size of the parsnips to be orientated. Parsnips having a width greater than a threshold width are retained between the belts

7A 7B and carried towards the orientator 6. Parsnips with a width below the threshold fall between the belts 7A 7B where they may be conveyed away by an seperate belt system (not shown). As such the apparatus can also be used to grade the parsnips.

The frame includes a pair of spaced yoke arms 4A about which the orientator 6 is pivotally mounted so as to sit between the belts 7A 7B. The orientator 6 is pivotally mounted to the frame 4 about an axis that lies below the belts 7A 7B.

As seen most clearly in Figs 6 & 7, the orientator 6 comprises a support frame 6A mounted to the yoke arms 4A so that most or all of the frame 6A sits substantially underneath the pathway 5A. The support 6A comprises a pair of spaced support arms

6B that carry, when the orientator is at rest, an engagement member 6C in the pathway 5 A as an obstacle to the passage of parsnips carried by the conveyer 5.

- 10 At rest, the support arms 6B have upper and lower ends. The lower ends of each support arm 6B carry a biasing weight 6D - though it is possible only one arm carries a bias weight). The engagement member 6C is carried between the upper ends of the support arms 6B such as to extend up from the frame 6A between and above the belts

7A 7B. The support arms 6B are pivotally mounted to respective yoke arms 4A between the engagement member 6C and bias 6D.

The orientator 6 is arranged to pivot relative to the frame 4 such that the engagement member 6C rotates in a substantially vertical plane that lies between the belts 7A 7B and favourably parallel with the pathway 5A.

When in a rest position, the engagement member 6C also extends generally in a direction parallel with the pathway 5A towards the approaching parsnips. The engagement member 6C is curved so that a free end portion 6CA of the engagement member 6C extends downwardly to form an inverted hook shape terminating with a free edge 6CB

When in operation, the belts 7A 7B act to carry, in single file, un-orientated parsnips (i.e. travelling either head or tail first) deposited by the vibrating feeder 1 between the spaced belts 7A 7B towards, against and over the engagement member 6C.

The parsnips are carried such that, for at least those orientated tail first, their forward facing side contacts the engagement member typically at a point between the ends of the parsnip.

Whilst conveyed by the travelling belts 7A 7B the parsnips are suspended between the belts 7A 7B at a point between the top of the parsnip’s head and base of its tail. The tapered shape of parsnips means that the narrower tail end of the parsnips will sit, under gravity, lower than the wider head. Depending on the length and extent of the taper, the tail may sit directly between the belts 7A 7B, or extend below them. Typically most of the head of the parsnips will lie above the belts 7A 7B. Stubbier

- 11 parsnips, e.g. those with truncated tails, as a result of damage or earlier processing, are likely to ride on the belts 7A 7B with little of the parsnip body extending below the belts 7A 7B. Longer more tapered parsnips are likely to be carried with more tail protruding beneath the belts 7A 7B.

Figs 9A - 9E illustrate the passage over the engagement member of a longer tapered parsnip approaching head first. Its head will be drawn against an upper portion of the engagement member 6C (Fig 9A) causing the orientation means 6 to rotate about pivot in the direction of the parsnip’s travel along pathway 5A (Fig 9B) The orientator 6 continues to rotate until lowering (Figs 9B, 9C) so as to be level or below belts 7A 7B. The force of the belts 7A 7B draws the parsnip headfirst over the engagement member 6C (Fig 9D), the taper of the parsnip meaning that its tail, which extends downwardly behind it, slides without significant resistance over the engagement member 6C before being deposited into chute 3 (Fig 9E).

Once the force from a parsnip against the engagement member 6C is removed, the orientator 6 rotates back about the pivot with yoke arms 4A towards its rest position under the biasing action of the biasing weights 6D.

With reference Fig 10A, a longer tapered parsnip approaching tail first is drawn such that the tail, which is depending below the tracks 7A 7B, passes below the engagement member 6C between the arms 6B of frame 6A. As such a lower portion of the parsnip lies directly beneath and beyond the engagement member 6C and also beyond the pivot, before the parsnip contacts the engagement member 6C. Because of this, the parsnip contacts the engagement member 6C at a point nearer the top of the head of the parsnip, reducing the likelihood of the tail jamming against the engagement member 6C.

The continued force of conveyed parsnip against the engagement member 6C causes the orientation means 6 to rotate about it’s pivoted connection with yoke arms 4A such that engagement member 6C rotates away (Fig 10B) from the parsnip until it no longer lies above the belts. The drawing force of the belts 7A 7B acting on the head

- 12 end of the parsnip above the contact point of the parsnip against the engagement member 6C urges the parsnip to rotate around the engagement member (typically pivoting about the parsnip’s point of support with the belts 7A 7B and/or the free edge 6CB) such that the head end of the parsnip is carried over the engagement member 6C first with the tail trailing (Fig 10D). The tracks convey the reoriented parsnip to the end of the pathway 5C before depositing it into chute 3 (Fig 10E).

A truncated parsnip approaching head first will be drawn by the conveyer against and over the engagement member 6C in the same way as a longer head-first parsnip as illustrated in Figs 9A-9E. With reference to Fig 11, when a truncated parsnip approaches tail first, the forward facing surface of the tail, which may be the end face of the tail, contacts the engagement member 6C (rather than passes under it as the longer tailed parsnip does). The tail may engage the contact member either below the free edge 6CB or above it (Fig 11 A). As the engagement member 6C rotates in response to said contact, the free edge of the downward extending portion 6CA rises (Fig 11B) which allows the tail of parsnips that engaged the downward extending portion 6CA above the free edge to move beneath the free edge 6CB to engage the upwardly portion of the engagement element 6C (Fig 11C). This inhibits parsnips that engage above the free edge from sliding over the top of engagement member 6C without rotating. As the belts 7A 7B draw the parsnip further towards the chute 3, continued rotation of the orientator 6 causes the engagement member 6C to lower below its starting position and below the tracks (Fig 1 ID). The force of the belts 7A 7B on the parsnip now being between the contact point of the parsnip with the engagement member and the top of the head, results in the parsnip pivoting about its contact point with the belts so as to rotate around the free edge 6CB as the head end of the parsnip is drawn over the engagement member 6C first with tail following (Fig 11E).

The pivoting action that causes the contact member 6C to lower upon continued contact with the parsnip acts to ease the passage of lighter parsnips over the engagement member 6C reducing the likelihood of them becoming jammed against

- 13 the engagement member. Similarly the curved face of the upper portion 6CB provides a gradient that eases the head end of parsnips over the orientator 6.

Once the orientator 6 has rotated sufficiently that the engagement members 6C is below the belts, the direction of rotation of the orientator (downwards) no longer matches the direction that the parsnip is conveyed by the belts. Consequently the engagement member 6C resists being further rotated by the force of the parsnip against it, as such the continued drawing force of the track on the parsnip towards the chute 3 encourages the parsnip to pivot around the contact member 6C, e.g about their contact points with the belts 7A 7B.

The belts 7A 7B may be of a planer form rather than cylindrical. Where a planer belt is used, the surface of the belts facing one another may be arranged to extend at an angle way from vertical such that the lower edges of the belts are closer than the top edges. A preferred angle is around 15 degrees from vertical as this approximates the typical degree of taper of a parsnip. The belts 7A 7B may not be parallel so long as they still are able to carry and favourably convey the parsnips against and over the engagement member 6C. The conveyer 5 may use track means other than belts to convey the parsnips, such as chains.

It is favourable that the conveyor 5 comprises separate spaced apart tracks though it may be possible that the tracks are defined by a single track element, e.g. of a ‘U’ shape arranged such that the parsnips are suspended and drawn by the free upper end portions of the track element.

Further, although it is preferred that both tracks are powered to travel together at substantially the same speed. It is possible that only one track is powered. Where this is the case, the other track may be provided by a series of rollers.

- 14 It is possible, in an alternative embodiment for the orientation means 6 to include a linear actuating means to move the engagement member 6C linearly up and down instead or in addition to it rotating.

The apparatus described above may further comprise a gate (not shown) controlled by 5 a sensing device arranged to ensure parsnips are spaced apart when deposited onto the conveyor. This ensures the orientator 6 has sufficient opportunity, following displacement by a parsnip, to return to a rest position before contact by the next parsnip.

The engagement member 6C may provide a free end portion that extends downwardly without being curved in shape.

The engagement member 6C need not extend above the tracks 7A 7B nor comprise a downwardly extending portion 6AC. Nevertheless, omission of these features is less preferred as the apparatus will be less effective at re-orientating parsnips of varying shape, size and weight.

Although preferred that parsnips contact the engagement member with their tails lying below their heads, it may be possible to arrange the tracks to carry the parsnips with their longitudinal axis lying substantially horizontally. This could be done, for example, by arranging the tracks such that the parsnip are rotated from a vertical towards a horizontal orientation whilst conveyed towards the orientator. The orientator may then be arranged on one side of the vertically aligned tracks.

Although the examples above relate to the orientation of parsnips it is possible that the invention may be applicable to other tapered vegetables. It should be noted that carrots are typically far less tapered than parsnips, often being more cylindrical in shape. As such many of the problems of orientation associated with parsnips are not encountered with carrot processing.

- 15 Although it is typically expected that the orientating apparatus will be used in conjunction with a vibrating feed 1 and a chute 3, this may not always be the case.

Claims

1. Apparatus for orientating parsnips, the apparatus comprising a conveyer arranged to convey the parsnips towards and/or away from an orientator; the conveyor comprising tracks between which the parsnips are held, the apparatus

5 arranged such that a forward side of the held parsnips contact the orientator to rotate misoriented parsnips towards a preferred orientation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the conveyer is arranged to convey the parsnips towards the orientator.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the conveyer is arranged to 10 convey the parsnips against the orientator.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein the conveyer is arranged to convey the parsnips over and beyond the orientator.

5. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is arranged to move laterally away from a plane in which the tracks carrying the parsnips lie.

15

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the orientator move laterally away in response to contact by one of the parsnips.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 or 6 wherein the orientator is arranged to move laterally away in a first direction from a plane in which the tracks carrying the parsnips lie, and subsequently to move laterally to the plane in an opposite direction

20 to the first direction.

- 17

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the orientator moves laterally to the plane in an opposite direction to the first direction, in response to continued contact of one of the parsnips against the orientator

9. Apparatus according to any claim 5-8 wherein the orientator is arranged to 5 rotate in response to contact with the parsnip conveyed by the conveyor.

10. Apparatus according to any claim 5 to 9 comprising biasing means to bias the orientator back towards an initial position following displacement by the conveyed parsnip.

11. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is

10 positioned between the tracks.

12. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator comprises an engagement member that extends laterally between the tracks so as to provide a surface for contacting the parsnips that lies on the same side of the tracks as heads of the parsnips carried by the tracks.

15

13. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator comprises an engagement member that extends directly between the tracks, so as to provide a surface for contacting the parsnips, that lies on both sides of the tracks.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13 wherein, when in a rest position, a portion of the engagement member extends towards a parsnip carried by the conveyer

20 that it is to contact.

15. Apparatus according to any claim 12-14 wherein the engagement member provides a hook.

- 18

16. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator comprise an engagement member that directly contacts the parsnips, the orientator arranged to rotate about an axis that is non-coincident with the engagement member.

17. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is arranged

5 such that a tail portion of a parsnip conveyed toward the orientator tail first, can pass beyond a portion of the orientator before being rotated about the orientator.

18. A method for orientating parsnips, the method comprising conveying parsnips towards and/or away from an orientator using a conveyor comprising tracks between which the parsnips are held, the orientator arranged to move laterally away from a

10 plane in which the tracks carrying the parsnips lie; and causing the held parsnips to contact the orientator to rotate misoriented parsnips towards a preferred orientation.

20 02 18

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1702797.0 Examiner: Bryony Barcelo

18. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the orientator is arranged such that the tail portion of the parsnip conveyed towards the orientator tail first, can pass beyond an axis of rotation of the orientator before being rotated around the orientator.

10

19. A method for orientating parsnips, the method comprising conveying parsnips towards and/or away from an orientator using a conveyor comprising tracks between which the parsnips are held; and causing a forward side of the held parsnips to contact the orientator to rotate misoriented parsnips towards a preferred orientation.

20 02 18

AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWS

Claims

5 arranged such that the held parsnips contact the orientator to rotate misoriented parsnips towards a preferred orientation; wherein the orientator is arranged to move laterally away from a plane in which the tracks carrying the parsnips lie

10 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the conveyer is arranged to convey the parsnips against the orientator.

5. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator move 15 laterally away in response to contact by one of the parsnips.

6. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is arranged to move laterally away in a first direction from a plane in which the tracks carrying the parsnips lie, and subsequently to move laterally to the plane in an opposite direction to the first direction.

20

7. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator moves laterally to the plane in an opposite direction to the first direction, in response to continued contact of one of the parsnips against the orientator

20 02 18

8. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is arranged to rotate in response to contact with the parsnip conveyed by the conveyor.

9. Apparatus according to any previous claim comprising biasing means to bias the orientator back towards an initial position following displacement by the

5 conveyed parsnip.

10. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is positioned between the tracks.

11. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator comprises an engagement member that extends laterally between the tracks so as to provide a

10 surface for contacting the parsnips that lies on the same side of the tracks as heads of the parsnips carried by the tracks.

12. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator comprises an engagement member that extends directly between the tracks, so as to provide a surface for contacting the parsnips, that lies on both sides of the tracks.

15

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12 wherein, when in a rest position, a portion of the engagement member extends towards a parsnip carried by the conveyer that it is to contact.

14. Apparatus according to any claim 11-13 wherein the engagement member provides a hook.

20

15. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator comprise an engagement member that directly contacts the parsnips, the orientator arranged to rotate about an axis that is non-coincident with the engagement member.

16. Apparatus according to any previous claim wherein the orientator is arranged such that a tail portion of a parsnip conveyed toward the orientator tail first, can pass beyond a portion of the orientator before being rotated about the orientator.

17. Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the orientator is arranged such that 5 the tail portion of the parsnip conveyed towards the orientator tail first, can pass beyond an axis of rotation of the orientator before being rotated around the orientator.