WO2006021779A2

WO2006021779A2 - Conveyor system

Info

Publication number: WO2006021779A2
Application number: PCT/GB2005/003287
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tony Botsman
Original assignee: Cornucopia Uk Limited
Priority date: 2004-08-25
Filing date: 2005-08-24
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: GB0517298D0; WO2006021779A3; GB0418924D0; GB2417473A

Abstract

A conveyor comprises an inflatable body (10) and a conveyor (12), the body being adapted to support the conveyor, when inflated.

Description

Conveyor System

This invention relates to a conveyor system. In particular, the invention

relates to a conveyor system which is relatively lightweight and portable, and

therefore suitable for use in the transportation of, for example, fruit during the

harvesting thereof. This is achieved, in accordance with the invention, by providing

a conveyor system which is inflatable. Although suitable for use in such

applications it will be appreciated that the conveyor system of the invention may be

used in a range of other applications.

In many areas of business there is a trade-off between manual labour costs

and automation of otherwise manual tasks, and manual labour is sometimes used

even when a more cost-effective automated technique would be preferred. For

example, in the wine producing regions of Southern France, approximately 30% of

grape harvesting is performed manually despite manual harvesting being far more

expensive than automated or mechanical harvesting. In Australia, although more

harvesting is mechanised, manual harvesting is still undertaken. In both Australia

and France, a complete switch from manual to mechanised harvesting is unlikely to

occur, for example due to the grape pruning styles used not lending themselves to

mechanical harvesting or, in some cases, due to the capital costs involved in making

such changes. Similar comments apply in other grape producing regions, and also apply to other crops, for example olives and soft fruits. One object of the invention

is to allow the at least partial automation/mechanisation of such manual harvesting

techniques by providing a conveyor system to transport the picked or harvested

crops thereby avoiding the use of manual labour to achieve such transportation,

whilst allowing manual picking or harvesting of the crops to continue.

Increasingly, particularly with soft fruits, it is desirable for the picked or

harvested crop to be placed directly into the packaging in which the crops are to be

sold, thereby reducing subsequent handling and packing. Another object of the

invention is to provide a conveyor system suitable for use with such "ready to retail"

packaging.

According to the present invention there is provided a conveyor system

comprising an inflatable body, and a conveyor, the inflatable body being adapted,

when inflated, to support the conveyor.

The use of an inflatable body to tension the conveyor allows the conveyor

system to be easily collapsable and therefore portable, and also to be of relatively

low weight. As a result it can be positioned adjacent, for example, a row of grape

vines from which fruit is being harvested, and used to transport the produce to an

end of the row thereby avoiding the use of manual labour in such transportation.

After harvesting, the conveyor system can be deflated and moved to, for example, an adjacent row of vines, to allow harvesting to continue in a partially automated

manner.

The conveyor conveniently comprises a continuous conveyor belt. The belt

may be entrained around an idler wheel or roller at or near one end of the inflatable

body and may be entrained around a driven wheel or roller at or close to the

opposite end of the inflatable body. The conveyor system may include drive means

for driving the driven wheel. For example a suitable motor may be provided.

Alternatively the driven wheel may be arranged to be driven by auxiliary drive

means, for example from the power take-off of a tractor.

The conveyor belt may be provided with a series of small wheels at its edges,

the small wheels being adapted to run in corresponding channels provided in or on

the inflatable body. The conveyor belt may be provided with a series of ribs

arranged to fit into corresponding grooves or channels provided in the driven wheel

or roller to assist in providing traction. The ribs may comprise axles for the small

wheels.

The inflatable body conveniently includes a pair of side limbs and at least one

cross-member. The side limbs and cross-member conveniently define an upper

channel in which an upper run of the conveyor is located. The cross-member may

be provided with a series of openings to direct jets of air at the underside of the upper run of the conveyor and thereby reduce friction between the conveyor and the

inflatable body, in use. The side limbs may be shaped to define openings or recesses

to allow access to be gained to a lower run of the conveyor located beneath the

cross-member and thereby allow the lower run to be used in transportation of

materials, for example packaging materials, in the reverse direction.

The invention will further be described, by way of example, with reference

to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in section, illustrating part of a conveyor system in

accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional view illustration part of the system of

Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view illustrating a driven wheel or roller of the system of

Figure 1;

Figure 4 illustrates a possible mounting for the driven wheel;

Figure 5 is a view illustrating the conveyor system when not in use;

Figure 6 is a view illustrating part of a modified form of the system; and

Figures 7 and 8 are views illustrating a further modified embodiment.

The conveyor system illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises a

conveyor structure in the form of an inflatable body 10 around which is entrained a continuous belt 12 in the form of a loop. The inflatable body 10, in cross-section,

includes a pair of elongate side limbs 14 which are interconnected by a cross-

member 16. It will be appreciated, therefore, that the body 10 is of generally "H"

shaped cross-section. As shown diagrammatically, within the inflatable body 10 are

located webbings or interconnecting members 18 connecting various parts of the

inflatable body 10 to one another to assist in controlling the overall shape of the

inflated body. These may extend continuously along the length of the inflatable

body 10, or alternatively may be located, discretely, at intervals along the length of

the inflatable body 10.

As shown most clearly in Figure 2, the side limbs 14 of the inflatable body

10 each carry a guide channel member 20. The guide channel members 20 are

flexible in the longitudinal direction of the inflatable body 10 such that, upon

deflation of the body 10, the body can be, for example, rolled up and the presence

of the channel members 20 does not impair the ability of the body 10 to be rolled up.

The belt 12 is provided, at intervals, with axle members 22. The axle

members 22 are of generally square cross-section and extend across the full width

or substantially the full width of the belt 12. The axle members 22 carry, at each

end thereof, small wheels 24 angled to the axis of the axle members 22, the wheels

24 being received within the guide channel members 20 and serving to guide an upper run of the belt 12 for movement relative to the inflatable body 10.

The upper surface of the cross-member 16 of the inflatable body 10 is

provided with a series of small openings 26 shown diagrammatically in Figure 1.

The small openings 26 allow air from the interior of the inflatable member 10 to

escape therefrom and be directed towards the lower surface of the upper run of the

belt 12 thus providing an air cushion between the belt 12 and the cross-member 16

reducing friction between the belt 12 and the cross-member 16 and thereby assisting

in free movement of the belt 12, in use.

At one end of the inflatable member 10 is provided a driven wheel 28 for

example of the type shown generally in Figure 3. The driven wheel 28 may be

mounted upon the inflatable member 10 or arranged to be anchored adjacent thereto.

The driven wheel 28 shown in Figure 3 comprises a number of spokes 30 serving

to support an outer shell 32. The shell 32 is provided with channels 34 extending

across the full width of the driven wheel 28, dimensioned and positioned so as to be

able to receive the axles 22 of the belt 12, in use, to assist in providing traction

between the driven wheel 28 and the belt 12. As illustrated, a gear arrangement 36

is mounted at one end of the driven wheel 28 to allow the transmission of power to

the driven wheel 28 to cause the driven wheel 28 to rotate about its axis and thereby

impart movement to the belt 12. An idler wheel (not shown) is mounted or adjacent at the other end of the

inflatable body 10 to the driven wheel 28. The idler wheel is similar to the driven

wheel 28. However, as the idler wheel is not used to transmit movement to the belt

12, the gear arrangement 36 may be omitted. Further, if desired, the channels 34

may also be omitted as good traction between the idler wheel and the belt 12 is of

lower importance.

In use, where the conveyor system is to be used to allow the automation of

the transportation of grapes from a row of vines to a position at an end of the row

of vines, the inflatable body 10 carrying the belt 12 is laid alongside the row of vines

and is inflated using a suitable blower. Once so inflated, the inflatable body 10

serves to support and tension the belt 12. The driven wheel 28 is rotated using a

suitable power source, for example a battery operated motor or using a suitable

output from, for example, a tractor. The rotation of the driven wheel 28 causes the

belt 12 to move relative to the inflatable body 10. Manual labour is conveniently

used to pick the grapes from the vines, the harvested grapes being placed upon the

moving belt 12, the belt 12 conveying the produce to an end of the row of vines. If

desired, the end of the conveyor system may be positioned immediately above a

suitable collection hopper or vehicle so as to allow the picked grapes to be collected

directly in a suitable container. As mentioned hereinbefore, the belt 12 is supported on the inflatable body by means of the wheels 24 associated therewith and by the

driven and idler wheels. Additionally, the supply of air to the underside of the belt

12 serves to support the belt 12.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the belts 12 include a lower, return run which

extends beneath the cross-member 16. Conveniently, the inflatable body 10

includes a connecting web 28 extending between the side members 14 thereby

avoiding direct contact between the return run of the belt 12 and the ground surface

upon which the conveyor system is located.

Once harvesting of the grapes from the row of vines has been completed, the

inflatable body 10 is deflated and can then be rolled up, complete with the belt 12

ready for deployment adjacent, for example, another row of grape vines.

By using a conveyor structure of inflatable form, rather than a solid structure,

the system can be relatively lightweight and collapsible, and is thereby relatively

easy to move and store.

Although the description hereinbefore is of the use of the conveyor system

in the transportation of grapes from a row of vines, it will be appreciated that the

invention may be used in a number of other applications. For example the conveyor

system may be used in the transportation of soft fruit, for example, strawberries or

raspberries. It is becoming increasingly common for such produce to be packed into the containers in which the produce is to be sold for example by a supermarket, by

the pickers as the produce is harvested. The conveyor system of the present

invention is suitable for use in the transportation of such picked produce in the

'ready for retail' packaging. The produce so packed and transported by the

conveyor system can then be packed into larger transportation containers once the

produce has reached the end of the conveyor system. Clearly, where 'ready for

retail' packaging is used, the pickers must be supplied with suitable packaging

materials at intervals. As shown in Figure 1 , the side limbs 14 of the inflatable body

10 may be provided, at intervals, with openings 38 allowing access to be gained to

the lower run of the belt 12 thereby allowing the lower run of the belt 12 to be used

in the transportation of, for example, such packaging materials in the reverse

direction to that in which the picked produce is transported.

Other applications in which the conveyor system may be used include the

harvesting of olives from a row of olive trees. Current harvesting techniques for

olives typically involve spreading a suitable netting or other collection device

beneath an olive tree and then using sticks or poles to knock the olives from the tree,

the olives falling on to the collection netting or the like ready for collection and

transportation. Instead of using such a technique, two or more of the conveyor

systems according to the invention could be located adjacent a row of olive trees to collect the olives falling from the trees as the harvesters use sticks or poles to knock

the olives from the trees, the conveyor systems being used to transport the harvested

olives to a suitable collection point.

Further possible uses include maritime and emergency relief applications.

The conveyor system may be of a range of dimensions. For example, it is

envisaged that the conveyor belt be of a width sufficient to allow the transportation

of field trays of 400 x 600 mm dimensions. It is envisaged that the conveyor system

be of a length of at least 20 metres, and could be as much as 100 metres, or indeed

more than this. Typically, the inflatable body will be of a durable, lightweight

plastics material having welded or chemically bonded seams to render the body

substantially airtight. The wheels used to support the belt 12 are preferably of

neoprene, sealed for life form. It is envisaged that the wheels 24 be located at

approximately 8 metre intervals. However, the actual spacing may vary depending

upon the required overall length of the conveyor system. The wheels 24 may be

semi-steerable to allow slight deviation of the path followed by the belt 12 to one

side or another of the conveyor system, where desired, to suit the locations occupied

by the pickers.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification to the driven wheel shown in Figure 3. In

the arrangement of Figure 4, the driven wheel 28 is supported in an A-frame 40, the frame 40 being designed so as to house an electric motor geared to drive the driven

wheel at a desired speed. Suitable bearings are provided to allow the driven wheel

28 to rotate relative to the A-frame 40. In order to allow the insertion or removal of

the belt 12 to or from the drive wheel 28, the A-frame 40 includes a hinged part 42.

The legs of the A-frame 40 are telescopic thereby allowing the height of the

driven wheel 28 and the end of the belt 12 to be adjusted. Further, the telescopic

legs may be used as spikes to allow anchorage of the A-frame to the ground.

Where the arrangement shown in Figure 4 is used, then the conveyor system

need not be used in combination with a tractor of other form of external power

supply for the drive wheel.

Figure 5 illustrates one form of the conveyor system when not in use. As

illustrated in Figure 5, a trailer 44 is provided on which is located a reel 46 adapted

to carry the inflatable member 10 and belt 12 when the inflatable member 10 is

deflated. The hub of the reel 46 is conveniently rotatable so as to allow it to serve

as the idler wheel or roller, in use, the periphery of the reel being anchored, in use,

to the ground using suitable spikes or the like. The trailer 44 further carries a motor

adapted to driven the drive wheel and a fan, blower or compressor arrangement for

supplying air under pressure to the inflatable member to allow the inflation thereof.

The motor could be an electric motor driven from a suitable power source, for example a battery. A gas, oil, petrol, LPG or diesel powered engine may be

provided to driven an alternator for charging the battery. Alternatively, such an

engine may be employed directly to drive the driven wheel and/or blower. Although

Figure 5 illustrates one form of trailer suitable for use in the storage and

transportation of the conveyor system, it will be appreciated that the number of other

designs are possible.

Figure 6 illustrates an alternative design for the inflatable body of the

conveyor structure. Again, as the conveyor structure is inflatable, it can easily be

collapsed for transportation and storage, and is of low weight. When inflated, it

provides rigidity to the system which would otherwise require the provision of a

solid, rigid conveyor structure.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a further embodiment incorporating many of the

features described hereinbefore which will not be described in further detail. In the

arrangement of Figures 7 and 8, rather than using axles mounted on the conveyor

belt, a series of rollers 22a mounted on the body 10 are used to support both the

upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt.

Although the description hereinbefore is of the use of the conveyor system

in the transportation of produce, it will be appreciated that the conveyor system may

be used in the transportation of a wide range of other products. The invention should not, therefore, be restricted to the transportation of food products. Further,

although a specific form of conveyor arrangement is shown, a number of

modifications or alterations may be made thereto without departing from the scope

of the invention.

Claims

1. A conveyor system comprising an inflatable body, and a conveyor, the

inflatable body being adapted, when inflated, to support the conveyor.

2. A system according to Claim 1 , wherein the conveyor comprises a continuous

conveyor belt.

3. A system according to Claim 2, wherein the belt is entrained around an idler

wheel or roller at or near one end of the inflatable body and around a driven wheel

or roller at or close to the opposite end of the inflatable body.

4. A system according to Claim 3, further comprising drive means for driving

the driven wheel.

5. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the conveyor belt is

provided with a series of small wheels at its edges, the small wheels being adapted

to run in corresponding channels provided in or on the inflatable body.

6. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the conveyor belt is

provided with a series of ribs arranged to fit into corresponding grooves or channels

provided in the driven wheel or roller to assist in providing traction.

7. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 4, wherein the inflatable body

supports a series of rollers supporting the conveyor belt.

8. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the inflatable body includes a pair of side limbs and at least one cross-member.

9. A system according to Claim 8, wherein the side limbs and cross-member

define an upper channel in which an upper run of the conveyor is located.

10. A system according to Claim 9, wherein the cross-member is provided with

a series of openings to direct jets of air at the underside of the upper run of the

conveyor and thereby reduce friction between the conveyor and the inflatable body,

in use.

11. A system according to any of Claims 8 to 10, wherein the side limbs are

shaped to define openings or recesses to allow access to be gained to a lower run of

the conveyor or located beneath the cross-member and thereby allow the lower run

to be used in transportation of materials in the reverse direction.