WO2004077933A1

WO2004077933A1 - Apparatus for singularizing pot plants

Info

Publication number: WO2004077933A1
Application number: PCT/NL2004/000153
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Frans Taco Visser
Original assignee: Visser 's-Gravendeel Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2003-03-05
Filing date: 2004-03-01
Publication date: 2004-09-16
Also published as: EP1599084A1; NL1022846C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for singularizing individual objects (11), such as pot plants, comprising a first transport member (4) movable in a first direction of movement for supplying the bodies for singularizing (11), a second transport member (9) movable in a second direction of movement extending transversely of the first direction of movement, wherein the carrying surface of the first transport member (4) lies at substantially the same level as the carrying surface of the second transport member (9), wherein the second transport member (9) is adapted to perform a reciprocal secondary movement in the first direction of movement between a rest position, in which the second transport member (9) connects onto the first transport member (4), and an active position, in which the second transport member (9) is separated from the first transport member (4). The danger of the individual objects (11) tipping over is hereby avoided as far as possible.

Description

APPARATUS FOR SINGULARIZING POT PLANTS

The invention relates to an apparatus for singularizing individual objects, such as pot plants, comprising: a first transport member movable in a first direction of movement for supplying the bodies for singularizing; and a second transport member movable in a second direction of movement extending transversely of the first direction of movement, wherein the carrying surface of the first transport member lies at substantially the same height as the carrying surface of the second transport member.

Such singularizing apparatus are generally known. In the use of such a singularizing apparatus for singularizing for instance pot plants or other objects wherein the object extends to a certain height above the base area which is greater than the base area, there is the danger in the singularizing process of the objects becoming entangled with each other and thereby overturning each other. This results in disruption of the process.

The object of the present invention is to avoid the above stated problems .

This object is achieved in that the second transport member is adapted to perform a reciprocal secondary movement in the first direction of movement between a rest position, in which the first transport member connects onto the second transport member, and an active position, in which the second transport member is separated from the first transport member.

These measures have the result that the separation of the objects for singularizing in a first direction, i.e. the singularization in the first transporting direction, can be carried out independently of the separation in the direction extending substantially transversely thereof, i.e. the second transporting direction.

The danger of the individual objects tipping over is hereby avoided as far as possible.

According to a first preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises control means for controlling the drives of the first and second transport members, so that a series of objects present on the first transport member is initially moved by the movement of the first transport member onto the second transport member situated in the rest position, then the second transport member is moved away from the rest position to the active position, and subsequently the second transport member is driven in its direction of movement so that the objects are carried away one by one and, finally, the second transport member is moved from its active position back to its rest position.

These measures result in an attractive construction for performing the above stated measures . According to another preferred embodiment, in the rest position of the second transport member the carrying surface of the second transport member lies lower than the carrying surface of the first transport member.

Transport of the objects from the first transport member to the second transport member is hereby made easier.

According to yet another preferred embodiment , the second transport member connects in its rest position directly onto the first transport member.

This measure also facilitates the transition from the first transport member to the second transport member.

Other attractive preferred embodiments are stated in the remaining sub-claims.

The present invention will be elucidated hereinbelow with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the apparatus according to the invention with the second transport member in the rest position; Figure 2 is a view corresponding with figure 1 with the second transport member in its active position;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view according to arrow III in figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a side view according to arrow IV in figure 2.

Figure 1 shows an apparatus according to the invention designated as a whole with 1. The apparatus comprises a fixedly disposed frame 2 provided with two side walls 3. Mounted in frame 2 are rollers (not shown in figure 1) along which is guided a conveyor belt 4. At least one of the rollers can be driven for moving conveyor belt 4 in the first transporting direction. Each of the side walls 3 extends on one side of conveyor belt 4.

On frame 2 is placed an auxiliary frame 5. Auxiliary frame 5 is movable in the first transporting direction along two bars 6 of frame 2. Two linear drive elements 7, for instance in the form of compressed air cylinders or hydraulic cylinders, are arranged for driving the auxiliary frame 5 in the first direction of movement. On auxiliary frame 5 are arranged four guide rollers 8, around which is trained a conveyor belt 9. At least one of the guide rollers 8 is coupled to a motor (not shown in the drawing) for driving the second conveyor belt in the second transporting direction, which in the present case extends perpendicularly of the first transporting direction. This angular relation of 90 degrees is not however essential; it is possible to apply other angles .

In order to enable displacement of the pot plants from the first conveyor belt to the second, the second conveyor belt is embodied with a smoother surface than the first.

In view of the considerable width of the first conveyor belt 4 and the corresponding length of second conveyor belt 9, a flat plate 10 is arranged under the upper part of the second conveyor belt 9 in order to support the conveyor belt . The flat plate makes it possible for objects with a considerable weight to be singularized using the apparatus according to the present invention. Figure 2 shows the same apparatus wherein auxiliary frame 5 with the second conveyor belt 9 arranged thereon is moved to its active position. This shows that, compared to the situation shown in figure 1, conveyor belt 9 has been displaced over a distance x. The objects for singularizing present on the second conveyor belt 9 are hereby displaced through a distance x relative to the final row of objects present on the first conveyor belt 4. It is pointed out here that the dimensioning of the diverse components is such that the carrying level of the second conveyor belt lies slightly below the carrying level of the first conveyor belt. The objects for transporting are hereby transferred more easily from the first conveyor belt to the second conveyor belt.

As figure 2 shows, the first conveyor belt 4 is trained around the guide roller not shown in the drawings. The end of the conveyor belt is therefore rounded. In other words, the outer face of the conveyor belt extends further over the radius of the roller plus the thickness of the conveyor belt in the horizontal plane than the transition between the horizontal part and the round part of the conveyor belt. Because the connection between the two conveyor belts must take place a relatively short distance from the transition between the horizontal part and the round part of the first conveyor belt in order to obtain the best possible connection, the round part of the first conveyor belt will extend to a position between the upper part and the lower part of the second conveyor belt. It is therefore important that plate 10 is thin. Figures 3 and 4 show several stages of how the objects for singularizing, in the present case pot plants 11, are transferred. Pot plants 11 are supplied in rows on the first conveyor belt 4, whereafter the front row is transferred onto the second conveyor belt 9. It is noted here that in this situation the second conveyor belt 9 is stationary and the underside of the pot plants must therefore go some way along the path sliding over the second conveyor belt. In order to facilitate this sliding process, the second conveyor belt is given a considerably smoother form than the first conveyor belt.

When the first row of pot plants 11 is placed on the second conveyor belt, the second conveyor belt is moved to its active position by means of linear drive elements 7 and then driven in its direction of movement, whereby pot plants 11 are fed one by one to an apparatus following on from the singularizing apparatus, for instance an inspection device for assessing the pot plants, a trimming device for trimming thereof or to a packaging device for packing the pot plants in sleeves or crates. The second transport device then moves back to its original rest position, wherein it is placed close to the first conveyor belt, and whereafter the first conveyor belt once again performs a short movement to transport the following row of pot plants onto the second conveyor belt. It will be apparent that the apparatus is provided with a control member for controlling the drive devices of the first and second conveyor belt and for the linear drive members. This control device can of course be coupled to control devices of the processing machines preceding the singularizing apparatus or following the singularizing apparatus .

Claims

1. Apparatus for singularizing individual objects, such as pot plants, comprising: - a first transport member movable in a first direction of movement for supplying the bodies for singularizing;

- a second transport member movable in a second direction of movement extending transversely of the first direction of movement, wherein the carrying surface of the first transport member lies at substantially the same level as the carrying surface of the second transport member, characterized in that the second transport member is adapted to perform a reciprocal secondary movement in the first direction of movement between a rest position, in which the second transport member connects onto the first transport member, and an active position, in which the second transport member is separated from the first transport member.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the apparatus comprises control means for controlling the drives of the first and second transport members, so that a series of objects present on the first transport member is initially moved by the movement of the first transport member onto the second transport member situated in the rest position, then the second transport member is moved away from the rest position to the active position, and subsequently the second transport member is driven in its direction of movement so that the objects are carried away one by one and, finally, the second transport member is moved from its active position back to its rest position.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claims 1-2, characterized in that in the rest position of the second transport member the carrying surface of the second transport member lies lower than the carrying surface of the first transport member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, characterized in that in its rest position the second transport member connects directly onto the first transport member.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, characterized in that the second conveyor belt has a smoother surface than the first conveyor belt.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , characterized in that the second transport member is provided under its carrying surface with a space, and that the first transport member extends into this space.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the second transport member comprises a conveyor belt and that the space under the carrying surface of the second transport member is formed by the space between the upper and lower part of the conveyor belt .

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that a support plate is arranged under the upper part of the conveyor belt.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 , characterized in that the conveyor belt is trained over four parallel rollers placed in pairs one above another, which rollers are mounted in a frame which is displaceable as a whole in the transporting direction of the first transport member.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the first transport member is formed by a conveyor belt.