WO1994020230A1 - Systeme de triage optimise d'articles - Google Patents

Systeme de triage optimise d'articles Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1994020230A1
WO1994020230A1 PCT/NZ1994/000014 NZ9400014W WO9420230A1 WO 1994020230 A1 WO1994020230 A1 WO 1994020230A1 NZ 9400014 W NZ9400014 W NZ 9400014W WO 9420230 A1 WO9420230 A1 WO 9420230A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
objects
fruit
determining
packing
optimal solution
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NZ1994/000014
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Ian Richard Mccrae
Robert John Gibberd
Hamish Alexander Nigel Kennedy
Gavin Brian Reeve
Original Assignee
Horticultural Automation Limited
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Horticultural Automation Limited filed Critical Horticultural Automation Limited
Priority to AU61177/94A priority Critical patent/AU6117794A/en
Publication of WO1994020230A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994020230A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B65/00—Details peculiar to packaging machines and not otherwise provided for; Arrangements of such details
    • B65B65/003—Packaging lines, e.g. general layout
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C5/361—Processing or control devices therefor, e.g. escort memory
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C5/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or feature; Sorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
    • B07C5/36—Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
    • B07C5/38—Collecting or arranging articles in groups
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C2501/00—Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material to be sorted
    • B07C2501/009—Sorting of fruit

Definitions

  • This invention relates to optimisation analysis and in particular, but not solely, to a method of optimising monetary returns from the packing of fruit having a price distribution which may be non-uniform.
  • variable apple weights there are, however, added considerations which affect the monetary return from a packed carton, such as: 1) variable apple weights,
  • apples are sorted into classes depending on their weight and each class may have a different unit price
  • the invention consists in a method of determining an optimal solution for packing a plurality of objects based on at least one particular characteristic of said objects and predetermined constraints comprising the steps of: (i) for each said object, obtaining an indication of the value of said at least one particular characteristic of each said object;
  • the invention consists in sorting apparatus in which objects to be sorted are conveyed on conveying means to an analysis station comprising: detection means for determining an indication of the value of at least one particular characteristic of each said object arriving at said analysis station; sorting means which receive objects from said analysis station; control means to determine an optimal solution for sorting said objects using said values determined by said detection means, said control means programmed to carry out the steps of: i) for each said object, obtaining an indication of the value of said at least one particular characteristic of each said object; ii) carrying out an analysis of said at least one particular characteristic of said objects; iii) organising said objects into optimal groups for packing by utilising the results of said analysis and predetermined constraints, and iv) controlling said sorting means so as to implement the computed organisation.
  • Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a fruit sorting/grading system incorporating the present invention
  • Figure 2 is a flow diagram of the sorting algorithm utilised in Figure 1.
  • Figure 3 is a graph of an example price distribution for Braeburn apples to be utilised in the sorting algorithm of Figure 2;
  • Figure 4 is a graph of an example of a sorted fruit distribution for Braeburn apples where sorting has been based on minimum carton weight
  • Figure 5 is a graph of an example of a sorted fruit distribution for Braeburn apples where sorting has been carried out by the execution of the sorting algorithm of Figure 2.
  • a produce packing/sorting production line is shown in which incoming produce, for example fruit arrive in bins 1 in the direction of arrow 2 to be tipped onto infeed conveyors 3, 4, 5 and 6.
  • the fruit is transported to the start of an endless conveyor 7 where individual items of fruit are assigned to individual "cups" or “fruit carriers” attached to conveyor 7.
  • the conveyor 7 is fitted with an endless circuit of fruit carriers in multiple lanes (for example 8 lanes) which carry the fruit in the direction of arrow 8 to a weighing or sizing station (not shown) which may comprise a load sensing section or an optical recognition section.
  • the fruit is ejected from the individual carriers (usually by the actuation of solenoid valves in co-operation with a carrier ejection mechanism) at determined positions along the conveyor 7 so that fruit are directed to appropriate drop points 20, corresponding to their grade (as will soon be defined), to be packed in cartons on carton conveyor 22.
  • the packed cartons on carton conveyor 22 are then weighed at weighing station 21 where a printer which is preferably an Ink-Jet printer 23 produces a label to be attached to the packed and weighed carton.
  • An overall control system supervises the entire operation of the packing/sorting set up with the aid of independent computer terminals 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 all linked by a Local Area Network (LAN) 15.
  • Control electronics 16 connect various inputs and outputs with the LAN including bin tipping input/output 17, infeed input/output 18 and sizer input/ output modules 19 to the network of computer terminals.
  • Each computer terminal may be assigned an individual task such as machine control terminal 9, quality analysis terminal 10, reject analysis terminal 11, carton control 13, stock control terminal 14 and user input/output computer terminal 12.
  • the present invention lies in the area of sorting the individual items of fruit into cartons so that the monetary value obtained from a given lot of fruit when packed into cartons is maximised.
  • An optimising system utilises the fact that not all items of fruit or produce (for example apples) are identical in size and as a result there is a price distribution and different classes of apples are priced accordingly. It has been found that by actively distributing fruit with respect to the final value of the packed carton (rather than with respect to the final weight of the packed carton), it is possible to improve returns from a given lot of fruit.
  • apples are graded according to a "count” which is simply the number of fruit in a carton. In other words a count of 100 means that there will normally be 100 apples in a carton of grade "100".
  • the term “grade” will be used to mean the name of the class of apple while “count” will be used to refer to the actual number required to fill a carton in a given grade. For example grade "100" has a count of 100.
  • size is defined as the grade index starting from the grade with the highest count.
  • the highest count for Braeburn apples is 216, therefore, size(0) refers to grade "216".
  • the following table illustrates the relationship between grade, count and size:
  • the first step is to classify fruit into grades and the second step is to pack graded fruit into cartons.
  • This distinction is made since several cartons may be filling simultaneously for each grade. Once an apple is assigned to a grade it needs to be packed into one of the cartons currently filling for that grade. For example, grade "113" for Braeburn apples often may have three cartons filling at once as it is a very common fruit size. Occasionally, due to packing errors the number of apples in a packed box may vary by one or two apples, however this is relatively rare. In each carton there are trays which contain the fruit, making it easier to pack cartons and maintain a substantially constant count. These trays occur in up to sixteen configurations corresponding to sixteen possible grades and are manually placed into cartons on the packing lines.
  • No more than 3% of packed cartons for each grade may be underweight and no cartons may be overweight. Any underweight cartons must be within 0.5kg of the minimum carton weight limit, otherwise the cartons in the grade are rejected.
  • - Mixed sizing must not occur - that is, no large apples with significantly greater diameter than the smallest apple in a carton is permitted (this is primarily to prevent bruising of fruit since large apples jut out of trays causing high points which are pressurised by adjacent trays within a carton).
  • the last sizing guideline is open to variation since it is qualitative, and rests on quality control within a packhouse to ensure the problem does not occur.
  • Mixed sizing is detected by removing the largest and smallest apples from a tray and visually comparing the two diameters.
  • the current method used to overcome mixed sizing is to set maximum and minimum fruit weights within a grade since diameter is correlated closely with weight. These control limits on apple weight may be set by sizer manufacturers or the packhouse management. There are recommendations from the Apple and Pear Marketing Board as to what region the control limits should lie in but these are not in any way stringent.
  • the sorting algorithm of Figure 2 is implemented in computer software and executed by one of the computer terminals 9 to 12 connected to the LAN.
  • the sorting algorithm is initiated at block 30.
  • Carton weight constraints and other parameters such as the value distribution of apple grades are read at block 40 and required average fruit weights for each grade are then determined. If the fruit were to be sorted by a characteristic other than weight then this characteristic would replace each occurrence of weight in Figure 2.
  • the weight collection routine at block 31 involves the procurement of each individual weight of fruit on the conveyor.
  • the method of weighing is preferably by passing each carrier over a load-cell, the weight is determined by a computer terminal which keeps a record of each item of fruit and its associated weight by indexing each item of fruit.
  • a computer terminal which keeps a record of each item of fruit and its associated weight by indexing each item of fruit.
  • a buffer zone on the grader which is an area on conveyor 7 immediately after the weighing section, is set aside to contain fruit which are currently being analysed by the sorting algorithm.
  • the buffer may be 2 to 100 rods in length (a rod being the historical term given to a row of cups on the conveyor).
  • the buffer enables a large number of weights to be stored so that the sorting algorithm may then carry out an analysis on the distribution of these weights and the fruit may be then packed according to their grade.
  • Analysis time is an important factor when using a system including a buffer zone. It is so important because the packing system continuously operates at speeds of up to 800 rods per minute or more and each item of fruit must be analysed and indexed with its intended location (that is the grade and carton that it will go into) by the time it has traced through the buffer.
  • cutoff(i) is defined as the first apple in size(i). Cutoff(0) points to the lowest weight, and the last cutoff points to a large fictitious weight at the heavy end of the line. All the other grade cutoffs point to the first fruit above their particular size minimum weight.
  • Decision block 36 determines whether the average fruit weight would violate the initially determined value by having moved the fruit into adjacent grades in block 35. The value of the packed carton is determined and a decision made as to whether the monetary value has increased or decreased. If it is found that the average carton weight is still within constraints and the monetary value has not decreased then control is returned to block 35 wherein an attempt is made to move the cutoffs between each grade up one more weight. This loop then continues.
  • block 37 is entered wherein each apple is marked for a particular drop depending on which grade it has been assigned in the course of the algorithm.
  • Carton weight information is then updated along with other information such as the number of cartons completed.
  • Control then returns to block 30 wherein a new batch of weights is collected corresponding to a new group of apples in the buffer section of conveyor 7.
  • the present system incorporating the present invention accumulates a large amount of information about the produce being sorted and this information may also be used, for example, for historical comparative studies, stock control or to compare different varieties of fruit weight distribution.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Special Articles (AREA)

Abstract

Système de triage d'objets tels que des pommes, et de conditionnement de ces objets dans des boîtes contenant des pommes ayant des calibres sensiblement identiques. Le système optimise le processus de conditionnement de manière à maximiser la valeur des boîtes remplies à partir d'un même lot de pommes. Le système reçoit des informations concernant la répartition des prix des pommes de différents calibres et utilise ces informations ainsi que d'autres informations afin de choisir la boîte où chaque pomme sera déposée. Le système fonctionne en direct et reçoit les fruits d'un transporteur (7) portant une pluralité d'éléments cupuliformes dont chaucun peut accueillir une seule pomme. Un réseau local (15) d'ordinateurs personnels commande le fonctionnement du système, et assure l'acceptation en entrée des calibres et du poids de chaque fruit individuel par l'intermédiaire de postes de pesage ou de reconnaissance optique, et l'éjection de chaque fruit en un point situé le long du transporteur (7), chaque point correspondant à une boîte respective remplie en fonction de la solution déterminée par l'algorithme d'optimisation qui est également mis en ÷uvre dans un ordinateur personnel branché sur le réseau local.
PCT/NZ1994/000014 1993-03-03 1994-03-03 Systeme de triage optimise d'articles WO1994020230A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU61177/94A AU6117794A (en) 1993-03-03 1994-03-03 Optimal article grading system

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NZ247053 1993-03-03
NZ24705393 1993-03-03

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994020230A1 true WO1994020230A1 (fr) 1994-09-15

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ID=19924284

Family Applications (1)

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PCT/NZ1994/000014 WO1994020230A1 (fr) 1993-03-03 1994-03-03 Systeme de triage optimise d'articles

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU6117794A (fr)
WO (1) WO1994020230A1 (fr)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999028057A1 (fr) * 1997-11-28 1999-06-10 Peter Nagler Procede de groupement automatise d'objets
FR2811964A1 (fr) * 2000-07-21 2002-01-25 Compucal Procede de suivi d'emballage de produits tels que des fruits
FR2812857A1 (fr) * 2000-08-09 2002-02-15 Materiel Arboriculture Procede et dispositif de calibrage et de conditionnement de fruits a faible temps de conservation
WO2002026610A1 (fr) * 2000-09-29 2002-04-04 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Procede a base de regles destine a l'emballage de bobines de fibre
WO2002072428A1 (fr) * 2001-03-06 2002-09-19 Fps Food Processing Systems B.V. Systeme pour le tri prealable de produits tels que des fruits et le remplissage de caisses avec lesdits produits
EP1318075A1 (fr) * 2001-12-07 2003-06-11 Materiel Pour L'arboriculture Fruitiere (M.A.F.) S.A. Procédé et dispositif de calibrage et de conditionnement de fruits à faible temps de conservation
US6996948B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2006-02-14 Sealed Air (Nz) Limited Apparatus and method for use in packing meat cuts
NL1028620C2 (nl) * 2005-03-24 2006-09-27 Greefs Wagen Carrosserie Werkwijze en inrichting voor het verpakken van aubergines en andere kwetsbare groenten en/of fruit.
WO2008002985A3 (fr) * 2006-06-28 2008-09-25 Monsanto Technology Llc Système et procédé de tri d'objets de petite taille
WO2012106494A1 (fr) * 2011-02-02 2012-08-09 Laitram, L.L.C. Système et procédé de tri d'articles et de mélange de manière sélective d'articles triés
CN108348963A (zh) * 2015-05-06 2018-07-31 康派克技术有限公司 用于分拣物品的装置和方法

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3939928A (en) * 1972-08-12 1976-02-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Ishida Koki Seisakusyo Weighing method and apparatus
GB2067862A (en) * 1979-12-24 1981-07-30 Yamato Scale Co Ltd Weighing device
SU1100014A1 (ru) * 1983-01-06 1984-06-30 Ленинградский Институт Авиационного Приборостроения Устройство дл сортировки деталей на группы
US4765124A (en) * 1985-07-20 1988-08-23 Nambu Electric Co., Ltd. Egg sorting and packing device

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3939928A (en) * 1972-08-12 1976-02-24 Kabushiki Kaisha Ishida Koki Seisakusyo Weighing method and apparatus
GB2067862A (en) * 1979-12-24 1981-07-30 Yamato Scale Co Ltd Weighing device
SU1100014A1 (ru) * 1983-01-06 1984-06-30 Ленинградский Институт Авиационного Приборостроения Устройство дл сортировки деталей на группы
US4765124A (en) * 1985-07-20 1988-08-23 Nambu Electric Co., Ltd. Egg sorting and packing device

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
DERWENT ABSTRACT, Accession No. 85-036809/06, Class P43; & SU,A,1 100 014 (LENGD AVIAT INSTR), 30 June 1984. *

Cited By (19)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1999028057A1 (fr) * 1997-11-28 1999-06-10 Peter Nagler Procede de groupement automatise d'objets
US6374984B1 (en) 1997-11-28 2002-04-23 Imt Robot Ag Method for the automated grouping of objects
FR2811964A1 (fr) * 2000-07-21 2002-01-25 Compucal Procede de suivi d'emballage de produits tels que des fruits
WO2002008060A1 (fr) * 2000-07-21 2002-01-31 Materiel Pour L'arboriculture Fruitiere Procede de conditionnement de lots de produits tels que des fruits
FR2812857A1 (fr) * 2000-08-09 2002-02-15 Materiel Arboriculture Procede et dispositif de calibrage et de conditionnement de fruits a faible temps de conservation
US6996948B2 (en) 2000-08-22 2006-02-14 Sealed Air (Nz) Limited Apparatus and method for use in packing meat cuts
US6912441B2 (en) 2000-09-29 2005-06-28 Invista North America S.A.R.L. Rule-based method for packaging spools of fiber
WO2002026610A1 (fr) * 2000-09-29 2002-04-04 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Procede a base de regles destine a l'emballage de bobines de fibre
WO2002072428A1 (fr) * 2001-03-06 2002-09-19 Fps Food Processing Systems B.V. Systeme pour le tri prealable de produits tels que des fruits et le remplissage de caisses avec lesdits produits
EP1318075A1 (fr) * 2001-12-07 2003-06-11 Materiel Pour L'arboriculture Fruitiere (M.A.F.) S.A. Procédé et dispositif de calibrage et de conditionnement de fruits à faible temps de conservation
NL1028620C2 (nl) * 2005-03-24 2006-09-27 Greefs Wagen Carrosserie Werkwijze en inrichting voor het verpakken van aubergines en andere kwetsbare groenten en/of fruit.
WO2008002985A3 (fr) * 2006-06-28 2008-09-25 Monsanto Technology Llc Système et procédé de tri d'objets de petite taille
US9387518B2 (en) 2006-06-28 2016-07-12 Monsanto Technology Llc Small object sorting system and method
US11084064B2 (en) 2006-06-28 2021-08-10 Monsanto Technology Llc Small object sorting system and method
US11897003B2 (en) 2006-06-28 2024-02-13 Monsanto Technology Llc Small object sorting system and method
WO2012106494A1 (fr) * 2011-02-02 2012-08-09 Laitram, L.L.C. Système et procédé de tri d'articles et de mélange de manière sélective d'articles triés
CN103328119A (zh) * 2011-02-02 2013-09-25 莱特拉姆有限责任公司 用于对制品进行分级并且选择性地对分级制品进行混合的系统和方法
US8985341B2 (en) 2011-02-02 2015-03-24 Laitram, L.L.C. System and method for grading articles and selectively mixing graded articles
CN108348963A (zh) * 2015-05-06 2018-07-31 康派克技术有限公司 用于分拣物品的装置和方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU6117794A (en) 1994-09-26

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