WO1998033046A1

WO1998033046A1 - Improvements in automatic weighing apparatus for individual products, in particular vegetables and the like

Info

Publication number: WO1998033046A1
Application number: PCT/EP1998/000048
Authority: WO
Inventors: Angelo Benedetti; Leo Dalle Vacche; Davide Corelli Grappadelli; Luca Montanari
Original assignee: Unitec S.R.L.
Priority date: 1997-01-23
Filing date: 1998-01-07
Publication date: 1998-07-30
Also published as: AR015354A1; ITPN970006A1; IT1294114B1

Abstract

Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products (3) comprising a plurality of holding sectors moved along a conveyance path and adapted to take any suitable shape for carrying a respective product, in particular the shape of tray-like vessels (6); means adapted to weigh said holding sectors and having a plurality of weight sensors (13, 14) arranged under the path along which said holding sectors are conveyed. These holding sectors are provided with lower elements that are so arranged as to enable respective lower portions thereof to be alternatively aligned along corresponding distinct trajectories (1, m, n, o, p, q, r, s), in an equal number as the weight sensors. Said trajectories are so defined spatially as to enable each one of said lower portions to intercept and interact with a single one of said weight sensors while moving along, the subsequent lower portions being then able to alternately intercept and interact with all the weight sensors, one at a time.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMAΗC WEIGHING APPARATUS FOR INDIVIDUAL PRODUCTS, IN PARΗCULAR VEGETABLES AND THE LIKE

10

DESCRIPTION

15 The piesent invention lefers to an improved handling and automatic weighing appaiatus of individual products, said apparatus being able to be made as a part of a larger, comprehensive apparatus for transporting and selectively sorting out said individual products based on the weight thereof

20 Apparatuses for automatically selecting and correspondingly ti eating and sorting out individual oi smgled-out products, m particular fruit or vegetables in general, are known m the art which make use of particular architectures and operahng methods depending on the type of automatic sorting technique employed

25

Such a sorting task may for instance be pei formed m accordance with the weight, the size, the colom , some particular kind of defectiveness oi some particular kind of chai acteπzmg product pi operty

30 Such apparatuses aie descnbed m a number of patent disclosures, such as for instance the patent specification EP 0 406 284 to HIEBERT, the patent application US 515,313 to WARKENTIN, the patent specification US 4, 106,628 to WARKENTIN again, and many others

35 In particular, as far as automatic singling and sorting out of individual products according to the weight thereof, the patent WO 92/18258 to AUTOLINE, the patent US 4,565,254 to TERAOKA and the patent EP 0 678 738 to PANIAGUA OLAECHEA disclose various types of apparatuses and technical solutions for weighing individual products, or products grouped into individual aggregates, which employ a single load cell that is successively strained by said products as they are transferred onto said cell in an orderly sequence

In particular, the patent WO 92/18258 to AUTOLJNE discloses an apparatus which is equipped with conveying and handling means for individual or individualized products that are selectively, temporarily and sequentially lifted from then respective conveying means and weighed, as they move along together with a respective support means, by a single load cell, such products are then sorted out through appropriate unloading, collecting and conveying means depending on the detected or measured weight thereof, all said means being actuated and controlled by appropnate data storage, control and actuation devices

The above solutions are by now well known to all those who are skilled in the art and are mentioned here to the mere purpose of enabling the real purport of the present invention to be more precisely understood

While the above described solutions have proven effective and workable in view of reaching the intended aims, they however share a feature which, in view of the increasingly demanding requirements that aie continuously placed on these appai anises to enhance the productivity without affecting the weighing accuracy thereof, turns actually out to be a real, insurmountable drawback

Said drawback derives practically from the fact that

- since there is a single load cell that is employed successively,

- since a certain straining time is anyway lequired for the load cell to enable weighing to be carried out to a satisfactory extent of accuracy,

- since also the interval of space between a product and the subsequent one is a determined one, being it of course necessaiy for such an interval to be as shart as feasible in accordance with the size of the product and the conveying or supporting means thereof, - and since the weighing time and the distance between subsequent products that aie not resting on the same load cell are m this way well determined, it therefore ensues that, owing to the fact that such a load cell must of course weigh a single product at a time, the highest possible conveyance and handling rate of the system is determined by a simple relation, le rate = space/time wherein space is the interval or distance which is already determined between subsequent products, and time is the minimum time requested for each product to stay on the load cell

It therefore clearly emerges that, since the (minimum) space between the products is so determined along with the minimum dwelling time of the produvts on the load cell m view of ensuring the required extent of weighing accuracy, the highest possible late at which the products aie fed and conveyed is practically limited As a consequence, the same applies to the actual output, le processing and sorting capabilities of the whole plant and, conclusively, to the productivity thereof

It therefore is a main purpose of the present invention to provide a technical solution which, when applied to automatic weighing and selective sortmg-out apparatuses for individual products of the afore mentioned kind, is capable of eliminating the above described lestramt being put on the overall productivity, and therefore to the handling rate of the apparatus, without affecting the accuracy thereof

It is a further purpose of the present invention to ensure full automaticity of the weighing and sorting out operations, even at differentiated rates thereof.

All such aims shall furthermore be reached through the use of techniques, materials and component parts that are simple and readily available on the market, as well as the implementation of a plant that is able to bring about a sure increase in productivity without any significant increase in costs and any setback m overall reliability. According to the present invention these aims are reached m a handling and conveyance appaiatus foi individual products, which comprises conveying means for supporting and carrying said individual products along a conveyance path from a loading station, where said individual products enter the plant, through to an unloading station at which said products eventually leave said plant , said conveymg means comprising

- a load-bearing frame or stiucture,

- a plurality of holding sectois , which are duly aligned and moved along said conveyance path by driving means to which they are connected in an orderly mannei so as to be able to be moved along synchronously , said holding sectors being capable of being given any appropriate shape and configuration so as to enable each one of them to accomodate and carry an individual product,

- weighing means adapted to interact with said holding sectors so as to weigh each one of said pioducts, - ejection actuating means adapted to selectively interact with each one of said holding sectors, oi portions thereof, so as to cause said individual products to be ejected fiom their lespective holding sectors,

- collecting means an anged at the unloading station, le where said individual products leave the apparatus, to selectively collect the products as they are ejected by said actuating means,

- and further comprising lifting means to successively lift said holdmg sectors so as to enable them to act on said weighing means which therefore weigh, one at a time, said holding sectors inclusive of the weight of the respective products,

- said weighing means being constituted by a plurality of weight sensors arranged under the path along which said holding sectors are moving,

- said sectors being provided with lower elements that are arranged so that their lespective lower portions are aligned along corresponding distinct, substantially horizontal and parallel trajectories,

- said trajectories being so defined spatially that each one of said lower portions is capable in its movement of intercepting and interacting with only one of said weight sensors, and that the subsequent ones of said lowei portions are capable of alternately intercept and internet with all of said sensors, one at a time The invention will be more readily and clearly understood m its characteristics and advantages from the description that is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, m which

- Figure 1 is a schematical drawing showing a side view of the apparatus according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a central portion of the drawing appearing in Figure 1 , while Figure 2bis is a further enlarged view of a portion of Figure 2,

- Figure 3 is a simplified enlaiged view of a portion of the apparatus cut along the section A - A of Figure 2,

- Figure 4 is a simplified view of a portion of the apparatus cut along the section B - B of Figure 2,

- Figure 5 is a view of a different portion of the apparatus cut along the section C - C of Fιgure 2,

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of the portion that is shown circled and generally referred at " " m Figure 5,

- Figure 7 is a top view of a different embodiment of a part of a plant provided with an apparatus according to the present invention,

- Figure 8 is a plan view of the part of plant illustrated in Figure 7,

- Figures 9 and 10 are symbolic views of two different, but complementary operating modes of an apparatus according to the present invention,

- Figure 11 is a symbolic view, as ideally seen from the top, of the carts, the load cells and some other component parts illustrated in Figure 8. With leference to the above listed Figures, 1 , 2, 2bιs and 3, an apparatus according to the present invention can be noticed to comprise a load-bearing frame or structure 1 , a moving chain 2 arranged all along the path of conveyance of the individual product 3, a plurality of assemblies that carry said individual products, each one of said assemblies being represented by the zone circumscribed by the dashed closed-loop line generally referred to at Z in Figure 3 These assemblies are substantially constituted by a roller 4, a rotation shaft 5 of the respective roller, said shaft being attached to said chain through appropriate means (not shown)

The above mentioned rollers are arranged in succession along said chain in the path of conveyance of said products 3, so that what is generally termed a holding sectoi m the art is piactically created between each and any pan of adjacent lolleis, each said holdmg sector being actually formed by an assembly of variously shaped, integrated devices adapted to convey, form the carrying element for the weighing of, and possibly unload the individual product being handled

Following devices can m particular be noticed to be used in the embodiment illustrated m the above mentioned Figures - a cradle-like element 6 that materially supports the respective individual product when the latter is lifted from the respective holding sectoi ,

- an ejection actuating device 7 provided with own actuation means (not shown) and adapted to exert on the respective product a pushing force as required to eject the product out of the sector defined by the respective rollers

Each one of said ciadle-like elements 6 is provided m its lower portion with an actuation means 8, typically a vertical rod or preferably a staple, as shown in the Figures, adapted to raise the respective element when it is appropriately pushed upwards

Said cradle-like elements aie capable of taking at least two vertically distinct positions, le a lowered position and a raised one In the first one of said positions the individual pioduct is earned along only by the respective pair of I oilers and is raised with lespect to the ciadle, while in the second such position said cradle lifts the respective product which therefore is obviously separated from the respective rollers

A driving means 20 is furthermore provided, which is connected to said rods 8 and is adapted to drive them along such a trajectory as to cause the respective cradle-like elements to move along at the same speed and in the same direction as said holding sectors, while however maintaining their loweied vertical position as described above

For the illustration in Figure 3 to be more readily and clearly understood it may be useful to explain that the reference numeral 8 is used to generally indicate the actuation means of each cradle-like element 6, wheieas the reference numerals 9 and 10 aie used to indicate the two lower portions of subsequent and alternated means 8, as this may be still moie clearly appreciated by examining, and comparing with each other, Figure 2bιs and Figure 3

Said lower portions 9 and 10 preferably terminate on their bottom side with two respective castors 90 and 100 adapted to reduce friction between said actuation means 8 and the lespective engagement oi pushing elements that will be described below

Said vertical rods and the respective lower portions 9, 10 aie arranged in a manner that the lespective sliding castors 90, 100 of subsequent and contiguous rods are aligned along two distinct trajectories X and Y, as shown m Figures 3 and

4, which are substantially parallel, horizontal and rectilinear at least in the weighing zone that will be described further on

Parallelly to and below said two trajectories X and Y there aie arranged respective ascending ramps 11 , 12 that can be best seen and identified in Figure 6, whose upper borders 11A and 12A, respectively, aie protruding, through respective measurement plates 15 and 16 and corresponding load transmission elements 15a and 16a, onto respective weighing units 13, 14, usually formed by load cells, which are adapted to deliver an electric signal corresponding to the measuied weight

The general architecture, the size and the pioportions of the described elements are such that said two ramps 11 and 12 are intercepted by said sliding castors 90 and 100, respectively, moving along said two trajectories X and Y, at a lespective point which is spatially defined and fixed with respect to the structure of the apparatus

The operation of the apparatus is as follows with reference to the architecture and the geometry of the described devices, which are clearly illustrated in the Figuies 3 thiough to 6, said lowei castors 90, 100 of contiguous cradle-hke elements intercept the lespective ramp 11 , 12 which dπves them upwards theieby raising the lespective cradle-like element that therefoie moves away from its lowered position to take its raised position

In such raised position, the respective product 3 is lifted by the rollers that supported and earned it forwards up to this point, so that it now rests only on the respective ciadle-like element When owing to the action of the driving means 20 the cradle-like elements 6, due to the interference and the resultmg upwards movement of the I espective lower portions against the respective I amps 11 and 12, move forwaid until they eventually weigh on the i elated measurement plates 15 and 16 and, theiefoie, on the corresponding load cell 13 or 14, said load cell measures the aggregate weight of the individual product and the ciadle-like element that supports it, and sends the corresponding signal to an appropriate control unit (not shown)

This unit operates according to traditional modes and is therefore capable of subti acting fiom such measured weight the known and constant weight of the cradle-element, thereby identifying the net weight of the individual product, to which also the relative position thereof along the conveyance path is associated When said product is then furthei conveyed up to a position m front of the outlet station that is essentially formed by a series of collection bays, each one of which is defined to collect products having a weight situated within pre-defined limits, the product is pushed and ejected by the corresponding ejection means 7 when it is just moving m front of the bay to which its previously so identified net weight actually corresponds

No further description is given here of the general operation of the apparatus and special devices that are used in connection therewith, since these are either well-known to or easily imaginable by those skilled m the art

It will at this point be appreciated that the circumstance of having a constructive architecture as described above, le two distinct ramps (or two distinct ascending paths on a single and same physical ramp), two respective load cells, as well as the peculiarity of two different alignments of the lower portions of successive cradle-like elements, makes it possible for successive products lifted by the respective cradle-like elements to be alternatively sorted and placed on either one of the weighing units and this practically is equivalent to the circumstance of considering the contiguous products as being separated, to the purposes of the weighmg process, by a distance which, when measured along the two parallel tiajectoπes X and Y, is the double of the actually existing one

It will be appreciated that the afore mentioned two ascending ramps 11 and 12 may constructively consist even by a single physical ramp, which is however adequately laige and so ananged as to be capable of interacting with said lower portions in the above described manner

This therefore enables measurement plates 15 and 16 for both load cells 13 and 14, respectively, to be adopted which are twice as long as the ones that would otherwise be allowed It practically ensues that, for the same measuring performance, which, all other conditions being equal, clearly depends on the weighmg time, the rate at which the pioduct and the related cradle-like element move along on either one of the measurement plates 15 or 16 as the case may be can be doubled owing exactly to the afoie cited fact that said plates aie twice as long as the ones that would be otherwise allowed

It will quite obviously be appreciated that, conclusively, such a doubling of the processmg speed directly leads to a halving of the processing time with a corresponding increase in the productivity of the whole plant and a substantially unaltered weighing accuracy

At this point of the description it clearly emerges that the actual aim of boosting the productivity of the plant can not only be reached through the above described example of embodiment, but also, and much more so, through an apparatus which is provided with three oi more load cells and correspondingly sized and adapted m its structuie and functional assemblies, considering that theoretically, all other constructive conditions and functional performance capabilities being equal, the conveyance and, therefore, the sorting speed, and as a result the productivity, is m direct proportion with the number of weighing units provided according to the above given teaching

All those skilled in the art will also appreciate that such an increase in the piovision of such weighing units will meet with an obvious limit m a generally overgrown complexity of the machine and the actual performance capabilities of the other functional parts thereof

The above description illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but it will be appreciated that a number of different constructive configurations may exist which however still make use of the teachings of the present invention For instance, the described ramps can be replaced by step-like elements and the actuating means may be implemented through the use of devices that m different manners raise the succesive cradle-like elements and place them on the corresponding load cell

It is further possible for a solution to be conceived in which also said plurality of ejection devices 7 ai ranged m the space cieated between contiguous rollers may be eliminated and replaced with suitable unloading devices that would ideally be provided m an equal number as the collection bays arranged at the outlet or unloading station of the apparatus, said unloading devices bemg in this case disconnected fiom said conveyance means (le 1 oilers) and having a position which is constant with respect to said bays This devices, which aie preferably integral with the structure of the apparatus, aie further provided with appropriate actuation and control means adapted to operate them whenever an individual product with a pre-determmed weight passes in front of the product collection bay that is associated to a product weight range comprising the weight of the product which happens to be m front of that bay in that moment

A variant of the apparatus accoidmg to the piesent invention may also be conceived to make use of the solution illustrated m Figure 13 of the afore cited patent WO 92/18258, in which the holdmg sectors of the apparatus are formed by pairs of lolleis spaced m the same manner as desciibed above, and m which there is piovided a cup-like element, generally indicated at 13 m the cited patent specification, m each space created between each pair of contiguous rollers, said cup-like element being capable of being given a preferable shape of cross-strips

Said cup-like element may be provided with selectively actuatable means to selectively tilt it on a side so as to cause the product contained therein to be unloaded by gravity It will be readily appreciated that such a cup-like element is an alternative to the afore mentioned cradle-like elements, with the possible variant that, m this case, the cup may also be used as an ejection device and is of course provided on its lower side with elements which, substantially arranged and operating in the manner as described above, are adapted to intercept the weight sensor

To the objection that may be easily raised by a superficial reader of this description, according to which apparatuses are alieady known m the art m which each holding sector is actually piovided on its lower side with two elements capable of interacting by interference with two respective weight sensors, the lemark could be opposed that, m any case, such embodiments actually depart fiom the present invention, since they are solutions that are solely aimed at distributing the weight of each holding sector on two different weight sensors at the same time, whereas the present invention enables the whole weight of successive holdmg sectors to be weighed on alternatively differing weight sensors

The apparatus illustrated in the accompanying Figures can be further and advantageously improved through a number of improvements as described below

With reference to Figures 2bιs and 3, the afore cited driving means 20 is made to essentially consist of a pair of substantially parallel and coplanar chains 20A and 20B which are synchronously dnven by said moving chain 2 Each one of said actuating means oi rods 8 is linked with said two chains at two corresponding engagement points 23, 24 located in opposite positions with respect to said rod, so that the unbalanced state of the load, brought about by the fact that the mdividual product and the lespective cradle-like element 6 are loaded m a cantilever-like mannei on the chain 2, is prevented from translating into a corresponding unbalance state of the position of the same cradle-like element

A further improvement can be obtained, as illustrated m Figure 3, by coupling said chains 20A and 20B with said lod 8 by means of at least an upper arm 25 and a corresponding lower arm 26 that are pivotally hinged at a respective end portion theieof on said rod, as well as a respective intermediate arm 27 that is pivotally attached with its respective end portions to the remaining free end portions of said upper arm 25 and said lower arm 26, said intermediate arm 27 being applied at a preferably middle point 28 thereof on to an appropriate pomt of the respective cham 20A

Such a solution enables both the succession of cradle-hke elements to be regularly and smoothly dnven by said chains 20A and 20B and the same cradle-hke elements to perform the required ascending movement when the respective rods intercept, with the respective lower castors 90 and 100, the corresponding ascending ramp, thereby setting the horizontal driving movement of the cradle-hke element free from the vertical movement thereof

It can at this point be readily appreciated that the basic teaching of this invention can be apphed in an advantageous manner to any apparatus provided for weighing individual products being carried by respective individual conveyance means. For instance, with reference to Figures 7 through to 11 , the apparatus may be simplified in its concept to the extent that it no longer includes any cradle-hke element, roller or even ramp, since the holding sectors can be formed by individual tray-hke vessels or, as they are generally termed m the art,

"wagons" 30 that aie capable of pei forming seveial functions In other words, they aie both the actual means used to convey the individual product and the means used to hold the same product when the latter is weighed, since m the example given heie said tray-hke vessels are of two different types and are arranged m a mutually alternate succession

A further, very advantageous variant is illustrated with reference to Figure 7, wherein the tray-hke vessels of different type 30 and 31 aie provided, on their lower face, with four feet that may be either of a sliding type or provided with a castor These feet form the resting base of the respective tray-hke vessel are are arranged in the number of two on each side of each vessel, le one m an advanced position and one m a rear position theieof Each tray-hke vessel 30 will in this way be provided with foui respective feet 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D Similarly, the tray-hke vessels 31 will be provided with the feet 31 A, 3 IB, 31 C and 3 ID, respectively

The difference between said alternatively arranged tray-hke vessels 30 and 31 is given substantially by the position of the feet thereof, although each type of vessel is provided with a pair of front feet, 30A and 30B, and a pair of rear feet, 30C and 30D for the vessels of the type 30

Similarly, the vessels of the type 31 are also provided with a pair of front feet 31 A, 3 IB and a pair of rear feet 31C, 3 ID The above mentioned difference depends actually on the following circumstance, smce the load cell measures m a continuous manner the weight of the individual tray-hke vessels that engage it in a sequence, for the load cell to be able to weigh each single vessel correctly the need arises for each vessel to engage the load cell with all of its feet at the same time. Now, since all of said vessels are provided with a pair of front feet and a pair of rear feet, m order to ensure that all of these four feet are able to simultaneously engage the same load cell, following conditions shall be met

- a measurement plate shall first of all be provided which is adapted to be engaged by a single foot, most obviously, if two such plates are arranged for each side of the vessel, this would not prove adequate since it will be appreciated that if a single and same plate shall be engaged by the feet of a same side, such plate would m this case be first engaged by the front foot, while it would take a further forward movement, which is equal to the distance between the centers of the front and leat feet, to enable the same plate to be engaged also by the rear foot on the

The same reasoning apphes of course also as far as the other feet on the opposite side are concerned

This practically means that the two respective plates would dehver a signal corresponding to a pressure that is variable m accordance with the position of the vessel and this is most obviously fully unacceptable since said plates are connected to a same load cell which, under the circumstances, would generate a signal corresponding to an overall weight that varies in accordance with the position of the vessel and not an overall weight that is on the contrary invariably associated for a certain penod of time to the actual weight of a single and same vessel,

- in order to eliminate such a problem, four feet that are out-of-ahgnment even in their forward movement are provided along with four respective measurement plates, each one of them being engageable by a single foot for a determined type of vessel, wheie n said measuiement plates and said feet must meet the condition that each foot engages the respective measurement plate at exactly the same moment and also sets it free at exactly the same moment Furthermore, said four plates must be joined or integral with each other and must act on a single load cell

Only in the case that the above pre-conditions are duly comphed with it will be possible for the weight of vessels provided with a plurality of feet to be measured correctly with a single load cell What has been said hitherto m connection with the need for a vessel to test with all of its feet on a single load cell is a largely known fact which however is recalled here to the purpose of a better and readier undei standing of the invention

A s f ai as the second type of vessel is concerned, this imphes a completely similai construction, with the only substantial difference that the trajectones of the foui lespective feet thereof are distinct from the four previously defined trajectones of the feet associated with the first type of vessel m ordei to prevent a single and same plate from being simultaneously engaged by feet of different vessels

Foui furthei measuiement plates must therefore be provided, each one of them appropi lately arranged and adapted to support the weight of a respective foot of the vessel of the second type, while the respective feet shall of course be so arranged as to be able to simultaneously engage and set free the respective plate

In this way, with reference to Figure 7, the feet 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D travel along the lespective tiajectones 1, m, n, o, while the feet 31A, 31B, 31C and 31D similarly travel along their respective trajectories p, q, r, s All alternate vessels bemg similar to each other, at least as far as the airangement of their feet is concerned, it ensues that said eight trajectories are exhaustive of all possible trajectories of all of the feet of both vessel types 30 and 31

If Figures 8 and 11 are now considered jointly, it can be noticed that a generic vessel 30, which engages the tiajectones 1, m, n, o, has its respective feet acting on the measurement plates 32, 33, 34 and 35 to which a respective load cell 36 is connected Similarly the second type of vessel 31 is provided with feet that occupy the trajectories p, q, r, s with the respective feet acting in the measurement plates 40, 41 , 42 and 43 to which a respective load cell 44 is connected

What has been just explained is on the other hand clearly, albeit symbolically, illustrated in Figures 9 through to 11

With a traditional construction, each measurement plate could obviously not be longer than the length of a single vessel, since the foot of the subsequent vessel would otherwise engage the same plate and, therefore, the same load cell before the last foot of the foregoing vessel actually leaves said plate and cell

However, since the feet of successive vessels cover different trajectories m this particular embodiment, it can be readily appreciated that each measurement plate may actually extend up to a length that is equal to the length of two vessels, le the length that enables a measurement plate to be set free by the foot of the foregomg vessel before being loaded by the homologous foot of the following vessel of the same type, since, as ithis has been explained above, the vessels aie of only two types m an alternate succession

Furthermore, for the condition to be met in which the four feet of a same vessel eg a vessel of the type 30, get on the respective plates 32, 33, 34, 35 at the same time the latter must be spaced along the travelling path by a distance L corresponding to the distance between the front and rear feet of said vessel Similarly, in the case of the vessel of the type 31 the respective measurement plates 40, 41 , 42 and 43 must also be spaced by a distance F corresponding to the distance between the front and rear feet of said vessel 31 , as this is shown schematically m Figure 11

It clearly emerges that such a constructive simplification may be most easily adapted to favour an overall simplification of the whole plant, further reduce its costs and/or further enhance its productivity It is for instance fully possible for the number of different vessel types to be increased to three or even more, this of course requiring a proportional adaptation of the number of plates and corresponding load cells (in the given example, there would be needed 12 distinct plates and three respective load cells), thereby obtaining a corresponding increase the processing speed by taking advantage of the greater length available for the plates, or the possibility would otherwise arise for a target of greater simplicity to be aimed at by for instance reducmg to three the number of feet provided for each single vessel, under parallel reduction in the number of plates

It will be clearly appreciated that the teaching given with reference to the Figuies 1 through to 6 is fully equivalent to the teaching given with reference to the Figuies 7 through to 11 As a matter of fact, m both cases the use is provided of holding sectors having lower resting elements of alternate type, each one of them being adapted to rest on a weighing plate that may quite obviously be extended up to a length that is equal to the distance existing between the lower resting elements of alternate holdmg sectors

It can be readily appreciated that, if the holding sector is provided with only one lower resting element, two distinct plates weighing on two respective weight sensors are fully sufficient On the contrary, if the nodding sector is provided with any gi eater number of lowei resting elements, eg the four resting feet considered above, the need therefoie arises for a coi responding number, le four m the case considered, of respective resting plates to be provided, which, while adequately spaced from each other for the afore illustrated reasons, shall however be firmly joined to each other so as to weigh jointly on the same weight sensors which even m this case are provided m the number of two

This invention can obviously be most easily used by those skilled m the art to derive and formulate a great number of embodying combmations in accordance with the particular aims that have to be reached and the existing constraints The appaiatus can furthermoie be piovided with a variety of other devices that being irrelevant to the purposes of this mvention, aie not dealt with here

Although this mvention has been described with reference to an example of preferred embodiment and using a generaUy known termmology, it shall not be considered as being hmited by this, since anyone skilled in the art is able to develop a number of variations and modifications in both the shape and the construction thereof without departing from the scope of the present mvention

Claims

1 Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products (3) comprising

- conveying means foi supporting and cairymg said individual products along a conveyance path from a loading station, where said individual products enter the plant, through to an unloading station at which said products eventuahy leave said plant , said conveying means comprising

- a load-bearing fiame or structure (1),

- a plurality of holdmg sectors, which are aligned and moved along said conveyance path by first driving means to which they are connected in an orderly mannei so as to be able to be moved along synchronously said holding sectors being capable of being given any appiopnate shape and configuration so as to enable each one of them to accomodate and carry an individual product, m particular being capable of taking the form of tray-hke or similar vessels, - weighing means adapted to interact with said holdmg sectors so as to weigh each one of said pioducts,

- ejection actuating means adapted to selectively interact with each one of said holdmg sectors, or portions thereof, so as to cause said individual products to be ejected from their respective holding sectors, - collecting means ai ranged at the unloading station, where said individual products leave the apparatus, to selectively collect the products as they are ejected by said actuating means, characterized in that - said weighing means comprise a plurality of weight sensors (13, 14, 36, 44) arranged under the path along which said holdmg sectors are moving,

- said holding sectors are provided with lowei elements that are arranged so that the respective lower portions (9, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 10, 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D) thereof are ahgned m an alternate pattern along corresponding distinct substantially horizontal and parallel trajectories (X, 1, m, n, o, Y, p, q, r, s) that are m equal number as said weight sensors,

- said trajectories being are defined spatially so that each one of said lower portions is capable in its movement of intercepting and interacting with only one of said weight sensois, and that the subsequent ones of said lower portions (9, 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 10, 31 A, 3 IB, 31 C, 3 ID) are capable of alternately mtercept and mtei act with all of said weight sensors, one at a time

2 Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to claim 1 , characterized m that it further comprises raising means to successively raise said holdmg sectors so as to enable them to act on said weighing means which therefore weigh, one at a time, said holdmg sectors inclusive of the weight of the lespective products,

3 Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to claim 2 characterized in that each one of said holdmg sectors comprises

- a pair of contiguous coveymg assemblies that are removably attached to a pieferably single diivrng means (2), wherein each such assembly includes

* a l oiler (4) that ensures a preferably rotating support to the products that are can led by said conveying means,

* a shaft (5) for supporting and rotating a respective roller about an axis that is substantially normal to the motion of said first driving means, and lespective locking means for fastening said rotating shaft to said first driving means, said pair of assemblies being sized and arranged in such a manner as to enable each single pioduct (3) to be carried individually between contiguous pairs, wherein said raising means comprise lespective lower portions (9, 10) provided on the lower end side of respective lower actuation means (8), each one of which is linked on its upper side with a cradle-hke element (6) adapted to support a lespective individual pioduct, is accomodated between adjacent pairs of said l oilers in a vertically sliding manner, and is capable of selectively raising said cradle-hke element so that each product is supported solely by the respective cradle-hke element, when the successive lower portions (9, 10) alternately intercept and interact with the respective weight sensors (13, 14)

4 Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to claim 3, characterized m that said first driving means (2) are constituted by a chain that comprises a plurality of rings connected to each other to form a closed-loop configuration, and shdes at least partially below said rollers and prefeiably at the same height as said lower actuation means (8)

5 Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual pioducts according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said ejection actuating means for unloading the individual products comprise an unloading plate arranged between each pair of rollers and connected to either a respective shaft oi said fiist driving means (2)

6. Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to claim 2 or 3 or 4, characterized that said ci adle-hke elements (6) , said lower actuation means (8) and said lowei portions (9, 10) aie caused to move synchronously and paraheUy with respect to the movement of said housing sectors by appropriate second driving means (20) to which they are connected at different, legular positions thiough respective linking means

7. Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to any of the piecedmg claims 2 to 6, characterized in that said weight sensors (13, 14) are provided on top of respective ramps (11 , 12), the upper sides of which form an ascending path, and that said tiajectones (X, Y) are arranged so that said lower portions (9, 10) are capable of interacting in their forward movement with said lamps in such a manner as to cause said cradle-hke elements (6) to be successively raised, thereby separating the respective individual product from said lespective pair of I oilers

8. Handling and conveyance appaiatus for individual products according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said driving means comprise two flexible, closed-loop chains (20A, 20B) which are substantially arranged below said rollers

5

9. Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to any of the preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the couphng between said driving means (20A, 20B) and said lower actuation means (8) comprises at least an upper arm (25) and a lower arm (26) that are pivotally hinged, at a respective end

10 portion thereof, on said flexible driving means, as weh as an intermediate arm (27) that is pivotally attached with its end portions to the remaining free end portions of said upper and lower arm, said intermediate arm being apphed at a preferably middle point (28) thereof on to a lespective point of said driving means (20A, 20B)

15

10. Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to any of the preceding claims 3 to 9, characterized m that the contact between said lowei portions (9, 10) and the corresponding weight sensors is established by respective freewheel-hke means (90, 100) hinged on to the lower end portion of

20 said lower portions (9, 10)

11. Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to claim 1 , characterized in that said holdmg sectors aie essentially formed by tray-hke or similar vessels (30, 25 31) of diffeient type arranged in an alternate pattern, each said vessel bemg provided with respective feet (30A, 30B, 30C, 30D, 31A, 31B, 31C, 31D) adapted to move along respective distinct trajectories (1, m, n, o; p, q, r, s),

- there aie provided measurement plates (32, 33, 34, 35, 40, 41 , 42, 43), each one of which is arranged m coirespondence of a respective trajectory, 30 - the measurement plates ananged on the trajectories covered by the feet of a first type of vessel (30) are firmly joined with each other and are connected to a respective weight sensor (36), and this hkewise apphes to the measurement plates relating to the other type of vessel (31) and the respective weight sensor (44), - said measurement plates relating to a single type of vessel (30) have such a length and are so arranged as to enable all of the feet of said type of vessel to engage, and subsequently to set free, the respective plate at the same time, the same hkewise applying to the measurement plates relating to a different type of vessel (31).

12. Handling and conveyance apparatus for individual products according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said weight sensors are load cells.