NZ236507A - Fruit-holding cup for weight-grading conveyor: shape of cup stabilises position of fruit at weighing station - Google Patents

Description

new zealand patents act, 1953 No.: 236507 Date: 17 December 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVEMENTS IN/OR RELATING N.Z. PATENT OFFICE 17 MAR 1992 RECEIVED TO WEIGHT GRADING APPARATUS DOUGLAS STEWART CLARK, a New Zealand citizen of Longlands Road, R D 5, Hastings, New Zealand hereby declare the invention for which I /-we pray that a patent may be granted to me/tts, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - - 1 . 23 6 5 0 7 This invention is concerned with a method of grading articles of fruit and apparatus used therefor. In this specification "article of fruit" means a discreet or individual fruit of the type suitable for weight grading such as kiwi fruit, apples or other fruit of acceptable shape, size and handling characteristic.

Fruit graders operate by transporting an article of fruit in an open topped single fruit receptor, ordinarily and hereafter identified as a cup, to a position where the article of fruit is discharged so that fruit of a predetermined size range are collected or graded together. Weight is the usual determining factor and more recently graders have been designed to move the fruit containing cups in a floating configuration over a load cell to determine the weight and use this measurement associated with the individual cup to discharge the fruit at the desired discharge station. This technique, coupled with an increased speed of operation, means for accurate grading it is important to ensure the fruit is in an essentially determinable and stable configuration when the cup containing the fruit is moved over the load cell.

The invention is intended to provide a method of weighing fruit which will operate to increase the predictability of the position and stability of the article of fruit in the fruit containing cups during weighing and to provide a fruit cup which will support an article of fruit in this manner during grading.

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a method of weight grading fruit, said method comprising the steps of locating an article of fruit in a fruit cup causing the fruit to move to a position in the cup so that during movement of the cup along a fruit grader the forces acting upon the article of fruit will retain the fruit in a predetermined and stable position relative to the cup.

This is achieved by providing forces acting on the article of fruit, said forces being created by gravity and vectored by the shape of the cup, to move the article of fruit to the rear of the cup so that any other position of the article of fruit relative to the cup, other than the said predetermined and stable position, results in the application of a force or series of forces to said article that will move the article of fruit into the said predetermined and stable position; and moving the cup over weighing means so that the weight of the cup and fruit in said predetermined and stable position is measured while the fruit grader is in motion.

In a further aspect the invention consists in a fruit containing cup defining a fruit holding portion to receive an article of fruit with the rear surface of the fruit receiving portion, that is the surface in the trailing position when related to the direction of travel of the cup along a fruit grader, provided with the steepest slope of all the sloping surfaces making up the fruit holding portion of the cup and with the side surfaces of the holding portion gently converging towards the front surface in use to generate forces upon an article of fruit in the cup to move the fruit to a predetermined stable position against the rear surface of the cup.

Preferably the side walls of the cup have a slightiy convex configuration when viewed from the top.

Preferably there is a sharper transition between the front wall and the side walls than exists between the rear wall and the side walls. 236507 The present invention is incorporated in fruit grading apparatus that has an arrangement of connecting the fruit cup with the cup carrier as described and claimed in my New Zealand Patent Specification No. 242009.

The preferred embodiment also uses a connection between the chain mount and carrier and a trigger mechanism as described and claimed in my New Zealand Patent Specification No. 242010.

The invention consists in the foregoing and also envisages constructions of which the following gives examples.

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a top view of two fruit cups and carriers with an associated chain mount according to the present invention with the cup and carrier on one side released in a position to discharge fruit and on the other side in a position to transport fruit; Figure 2 is a side view of the components illustrated in Figure 1 but with the cups and carriers in a position to support and transport fruit; Figure 3 is a further side view but in this instance showing the trigger released so that the cups and carrier assume the configuration at the fruit discharge position as in Figure 1; Figure 4 is a top view of a fruit cup according to the present invention; Figure 5 is an underview of the fruit cup; Figure 6 is a side view of the fruit cup; Figure 7 is a front view of the fruit cup; Figure 8 is a back view of the fruit cup; Figure 9 is a view through section AA on Figure 4; Figure 10 is a view through section BB on Figure 4; Figure 11 is a section through CC on Figure 4; Figure 12 is a top view of a cup carrier according to the present invention; Figure 13 is a first elevation of the cup carrier; Figure 14 is a second elevation of the cup carrier at right angles to the first elevation; Figure 15 is a view showing the cup and carrier assembled with a cross-section through the carrier; Figure 16 is an elevation showing the front of the cup and carrier taken in the direction of travel along the grader; and Figure 17 is a rear elevation of the cup and carrier.

The fruit grader as illustrated in the preferred embodiment has been designed for grading small fruit such as kiwi fruit but it would also be suitable for grading apples, stone fruit of various types and could be adapted for use in grading other ranges of fruit by varying the dimensions without departing from the principles contained in the grader as disclosed herein.

There is significant advantage to be gained by producing the components employed in the present fruit grading apparatus as suitably moulded plastic components. These components would of course be formed from appropriate plastics material meeting the acceptable strength and hygiene requirements. 236 507 N ? ! ■ r ,JT OFFICE ! 2 1 SEP 1994 RECEIVED 236507 With reference to Figures 1-3, a conveyor chain 1 has mounted thereon a chain mount 2 which in turn carries on each side cup carriers 3. The cup carriers in turn each support a fruit carrying cup 4.

The cup 4 is more particularly illustrated in Figures 4 through to 11 of the drawings. The cup has been designed to support fruit "in a stable configuration as it is being transported along the conveying distance so that the fruit is less likely to have any independent dynamic component as it is being moved over the load cell to ensure a more accurate measurement of weight is achieved.

The cup is a moulded plastics cup having a generally square upper periphery with a fruit holding portion 5 defined by a rear wall 6, a front wall 7 and two side walls 8. The rear wall 6 provides the abutment surface against which the fruit will assume its rest position in the cup dining transportation along the grader. The shapes of the side walls 8 and front wall 7 are designed so that the fruit will have components of force tending to move it back against the rear or support wall 6 both after the fruit has been loaded in the cup and if any forces are generated tending to move the fruit away from the wall 6.

A number of features have been included to achieve this. The side walls 8 converge, particularly towards the base thereof, as they move in and merge with the front wall 7. The front wall 7 is shaped so that it is not as steep as the rear wall 6 and merges with the base to again generate a force moving the fruit to a stable position in the cup.

T OFFICE 2 1 SEP 1994 r it. C P.'.K'ED 936507 The side walls 8 when viewed from the top have a slight convex configuration. This has the additional advantage of facilitating removal of the fruit once the cup has reached the discharge position and is released so that the fruit is tipped out of the cup.

The various faces converge smoothly one into the other but at the front corners a sharper section of convergence is established as is illustrated in Figure 11.

On the undersurface of the cup are moulded contact points 9, 10 and 11 which in use will engage a load cell as the fruit cup is being transported along the conveying distance. The support point 9 is formed with a wall 12 reinforced back to the cup with a gusset wall 13 and having an open recess 14 defined by an outwardly directed wall 15.

The two points 10 and 11 are established on a wall 16 with a V recess 16a therein. Projecting at right angles from the ends of the walls 16 are walls 17 each defining a recess 18 having inwardly directed shoulders or hooks 19 at the lower end thereof. The undersurface of the shoulders or hooks 19 are inclined to provide a cam face and there is a sufficient resilience in the components so that the shoulders or hooks 19 can be moved apart upon a force being applied to these cam faces.

The carrier 3 is more particularly illustrated in Figures 12 to 14 of the accompanying drawings and the carrier 13 is also a moulded plastics component establishing an essentially rectilinear frame which will engage with —— M 7. : ■ r :;\T OFFICE 2 1 SEP 19M £jb a fruit cup 4 so that the cup is supported in association with the carrier but has a floating configuration to allow for the weighing step.

The carrier has two support rails 20 and 21 essentially parallel one with the other and spaced to engage on either side of the cup and extending between the head 22, that is the end of the carrier to engage against the chain mount, and the end 23 completing the carrier cage as a stable configuration. The head 22 has two arms 24 that cany pivot projections 25 each to engage in an aperture in the chain mount. A secondary wall 26 is provided in the head 22 parallel to part of the wall 25 and together these walls define a recess in which the chain mount member can move when pivotally associated with the pivot projections 25 with the groove operating as a keeper to retain the relative assembled position between the chain mount and the carrier. The head 22 also includes a trigger engaging bar 27 centrally in the front face. The trigger bar 27 is rounded and designed for a clip over association with a trigger as will be described further hereafter. The top of the supports 20 and 21 are shaped so that in association with the undersurface of the hook or shoulders 19 they will assist with the cam action to enable easy assembly.

Figures 15 to 17 show the cup and cup carrier assembled. With reference to Figure 15 it will be seen that the assembly may be achieved quickly and easily. The cup 4 has the recess 14 which can be hooked over the support on the carrier. The cup can then be rotated downwardly so that the shoulders on the undersurface of the hooks 19 engage with the top of the other support. Pressure engages the support in the slots 18, that easily 236507 completing the assembly. It will be appreciated that this assembly is both quick and simple and requires no fabrication or additional assembly steps to produce the floating or lost motion connection desired between the cup carrier and the cup. The configuration of the carrier allows for eithfer handed assembly as is necessary for the cups on either side of the chain mount.

Figures 2 and 3 illustrate the relationship between the chain mount, the cups and carriers and the trigger. The chain mount is also a moulded plastics component and has two dependent parallel walls 28 that are spaced to fit neatly as a press fit over the wider links in the link chain. The links in the link chain have projections 29 that are designed to engage in apertures 30 through the walls 28 so that a simple assembly technique is possible by pressing the mount over the chain and allowing the projections 29 to locate in the apertures 30. In this way a simple and yet effective association between the chain and the chain mount is provided. The chain mount 2 has walls 31 projecting on either side thereof with a base or floor 32 between these walls. An aperture 33 is located in the floor 32 and apertures 34 are located through the walls 31 in a position to provide pivotal engagement with the pivot projections 25 on the carrier 3.

For assembly therefor the pivot projections 25 are engaged through the apertures 34 and the chain mount rotated into a configuration so that the walls 31 pass between the walls 24 and 26 in the carrier. In this way the assembly between the chain mount and the carrier can be achieved again to : OFFICE 2 1 SEP 1994 RECEIVED 236 50 produce an operable assembly but without any additional fabrication or fixing components being needed.

A trigger 35 is also a moulded plastic component The trigger 35 has a C shaped head 36 designed to engage and clip over the bar 27 on the front of the carrier to allow association between the clip and the carrier and also to form a pivotal association so that the trigger 35 can rotate relative to the bar 27. The trigger 35 engages, through the aperture 33 in the floor 32 and the trigger has a shoulder 37 that is designed to engage beneath the edge of the aperture adjacent the chain in a position as is illustrated in Figure 2. The trigger 35 also includes protruding side wings 38 which operate as stops by engaging under the floor 32 when the trigger has been released.

The trigger 35 and the carrier and cup in the release position is illustrated in Figure 3. The trigger is caused to move to a position so that the shoulder 37 disengages from beneath the floor 32 and in such a position the weight of the cup and carrier will cause the cup and carrier to pivot about the chain mount on the pivot projections 25 to assume the configuration as depicted in Figure 3. The stops 38 engage under the floor to restrict further movement and the cup can be reset by moving the trigger down and forward so that it assumes the position again as shown in Figure 2.

The present invention provides a comprehensive fruit grading apparatus which efficiently and effectively supports the fruit during weighing, which has a convenient assembly arrangement between the cup carrier and the cup and which has an assembly between the chain mount and the carrier and trigger > OirriCE 2 1 SEP 1994 ~~~ RECEIVED to allow for the components to be operatively connected without any separate joining or fabricating piece or action needed.

Claims (8)

236507 - 12- WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A method of weight grading fruit, said method comprising the steps of locating an article of fruit in a fruit cup causing the fruit to move to a position in the cup so that during movement of the cup along a fruit grader the forces acting upon the article of fruit will retain the fruit in a predetermined and stable position relative to the cup by providing forces acting on the article of fruit, said forces being created by gravity and vectored by the shape of the cup, to move the article of fruit to the rear of the cup so that any other position of the article of fruit relative to the cup, other than the said predetermined and stable position, results in the application of a force or series of forces to said article that will move the article of fruit into the said predetermined and stable position; and moving the cup over weighing means so that the weight of the cup and fruit in said predetermined and stable position is measured while the fruit grader is in motion.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cup is supported with a floating configuration between a cup carrier and the cup.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the weight measured determines the discharge position of the fruit contained in the cup. M I * a : '' * 236507 - 13 -

4. A method of weight grading including the step of supporting the fruit in a fruit cup when performed substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. \

5. A fruit containing cup defining a fruit holding portion to receive an article of fruit with the rear surface of the fruit receiving portion, that is the surface in the trailing position when related to the direction of travel of the cup along a fruit grader, provided with the steepest slope of all the sloping surfaces making up the fruit holding portion of the cup and with the side surfaces of the holding portion gently converging towards the front surface in use to generate forces upon an article of fruit in the cup to move the fruit to a predetermined stable position against the rear surface of the cup.

6. A fruit containing cup as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the side walls of the fruit holding portion of the cup have a slightly convex configuration when viewed from the top.

7. A fruit containing cup as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein there is a sharper transition between the front wall and the side wall of the fruit holding portion of the cup than exists between the rear wall and the side walls of the fruit holding portio a of the cup. 3 o 5 u17 9

8. 10. f A fruit containing cup as claimed in any one of Oaims 5 to 7 wherein the undersurface of the cup includes protruding portions upon which the cup in motion may be supported for weighing. A fruit holding cup as claimed in any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the undersurface of the cup includes attachment means to all the cups to be attached with a lost motion action to a cup carrier. A fruit holding cup as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cup is moulded in a suitable plastics material. A fruit holding cup when constructed arranged and operable substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. dated this v^day of m 7 patent office mar ^32 received