Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G51/00—Conveying articles through pipes or tubes by fluid flow or pressure; Conveying articles over a flat surface, e.g. the base of a trough, by jets located in the surface
  • B65G51/01—Hydraulic transport of articles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23N—MACHINES OR APPARATUS FOR TREATING HARVESTED FRUIT, VEGETABLES OR FLOWER BULBS IN BULK, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PEELING VEGETABLES OR FRUIT IN BULK; APPARATUS FOR PREPARING ANIMAL FEEDING- STUFFS
  • A23N15/00—Machines or apparatus for other treatment of fruits or vegetables for human purposes; Machines or apparatus for topping or skinning flower bulbs
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65G—TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
  • B65G2201/00—Indexing codes relating to handling devices, e.g. conveyors, characterised by the type of product or load being conveyed or handled
  • B65G2201/02—Articles
  • B65G2201/0202—Agricultural and processed food products
  • B65G2201/0211—Fruits and vegetables

Definitions

• the invention relates to a system for delivering a quantity of fruits in a sorting line.
• Applied systems for supplying fruits to a sorting line comprise for instance liquid channels in which the fruits are transported to a discharge device for discharging the fruits from this liquid channel to a processing device such as a sorting apparatus.
• the present invention has for its object to improve the known installation.
• the present invention provides a system for delivering a quantity of fruits in a sorting line,- comprising:
• a discharge device for discharging the fruits from the liquid channel to a processing device such as a sorting apparatus
• control means for controlling the delivery roller on the basis of the detection signal .
• detection means fruits are detected in the second liquid channel part (after the delivery roller) placed between the delivery roller and the discharge device, whereby a detection signal is generated.
• This detection signal is used to control the delivery roller. This achieves that the speed at which the delivery roller feeds fruits from the first liquid channel part (before the delivery roller) through to a second liquid channel part for the purpose of transporting a desired number of fruits per unit of time is adapted to the number of detected fruits. In the case fewer fruits are detected per unit of time the delivery roller is controlled such that it will begin to send through more fruits .
• the flow of fruits in the direction of the sorting apparatus is hereby increased, whereby the capacity of such an apparatus is better utilized.
• the delivery roller is provided with a plurality of sections which can be individually controlled on the basis of the detection signal.
• each transport path or group of transport paths in the second liquid channel part can be individually sampled by the detection means, whereafter the generated detection signal is used to control the corresponding section of the delivery roller.
• a rough averaging of the values measured over the whole width of the second liquid channel part is hereby avoided and a more refined control of the capacity in a sorting line is realized. This results in a higher average utilization. of the capacity.
• control of the individual sections of the delivery roller takes place by means of an automated system in which the detection signal is converted into a control signal for the delivery roller.
• a fruit guide which extends in lengthwise direction in the transport direction of the fruits, wherein the fruit guide comprises a rack. Fruits are better aligned by means of this rack and can be transferred in a more controlled manner from the first liquid channel part.
• the discharge device and the liquid channel parts comprise height-adjusting means for height adjustment thereof relative to each other on the basis of the liquid level in the liquid channel . This enables a good transport of fruits.
• At least two brushes are provided which are placed above V-belts and used to transfer the fruits from the liquid channel parts to the discharge device or above the discharge device. Use can of course also be made of one brush for transfer purposes. In the case of at least two brushes which are preferably- provided with a separate drive, so that they can be driven at different speeds, a desired distance between successive fruits can be realized. In addition, by linking the detection signal to the adjustable speed of the brushes, the supply of fruits to a sorting apparatus can be improved still further and the capacity of the whole installation better utilized.
• the invention also relates to a delivery roller for supplying a desired number of fruits per unit of time placed in the liquid channel and comprising a plurality of sections which can be separately controlled on the basis of the number of fruits being displaced.
• a delivery roller consisting of a plurality of sections, wherein each section can be separately controlled, can be better adapted to the number of fruits being displaced so that the capacity of the whole installation can be better utilized.
• the invention also relates to a method for supplying fruits, comprising the steps of:
• the transport of fruits to a sorting apparatus can be better regulated by means of this method so that the capacity of this sorting apparatus is better utilized.
• the detection signal generated with the detection means can be used not just to control the delivery roller.
• Conveyor belts, preferably V-belts, placed for transferring the fruits from a liquid channel to a discharge device, and brushes placed above these conveyor belts or the discharge device can also be controlled on the basis of this detection signal.
• figure 1 shows a side view of an installation for transport of fruits with a system for delivering a quantity of fruits
• figure 2 shows a front view according to II in figure 1
• figure 3 shows a view according to III in figure 1.
• a liquid channel 2 for supplying fruits in the direction of for instance a sorting apparatus, such as shown in figure 1, causes the fruits to flow to a delivery roller 4 under which a guide means 6 is placed.
• Delivery roller 4 is provided with a number of blades 8 placed on the periphery of delivery roller 4.
• Delivery roller 4 is driven by means of a drive 10 which is connected by means of a transmission 12 to delivery roller 4.
• Rotation of delivery roller 4 brings about a regulated transport of fruits from the first channel part 2, before delivery roller 4, to the second channel part 14 after delivery roller 4, where fruits are transported in the embodiment shown in figure 1 on so- called V-belts 16.
• Conveyor belts 16 begin just after the nozzle 17 with which a liquid flow is supplied.
• Conveyor belts 16 provide the transport of the fruits from the second liquid channel part 14 to a sorting apparatus.
• a first brush 18 and a second brush 20 Placed above conveyor belts 16 are a first brush 18 and a second brush 20 which are driven by respective drives 22 and 24, each provided with their own transmission 26, 28 respectively.
• the height of brushes 18 and 20 relative to conveyor belts 16 can be adjusted and thereby adapted to the type of fruit being processed.
• the whole installation rests on a support 30, optionally provided with height-adjustable feet 32.
• detection means 40 with which fruits can be detected and a detection signal 42 is generated which is fed to control and/or signal devices 44, 46 and 48 for control of respectively the delivery roller 4, the speed of the V-belts 16, brushes 18 and 20.
• Detection means 41 are also provided for determining the liquid level in the channel relative to the height of conveyor belts 16.
• the detection signal 43 generated herewith is processed by at least control and/or signal device 46, whereafter the V-belts are if necessary raised or lowered in height relative to the channel.
• Devices 44, 46 and 48 can consist of signal lamps, alarm means, but also a PLC control optionally combined in one control for the separate parts of the installation.
• Figure 2 shows the delivery roller in which two sections 60 and 62 are shown, each provided with blades 8 and their own drive 10 with transmission 12.
• V-belts 16 which can be used in the second liquid channel part 14 for transporting fruits from this part to the discharge device are shown in figure 3 with a fruit V for transporting thereon.
• the present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments; the rights sought, within the scope of which many modifications can be envisaged, are defined by the following claims.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=37790495

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (5)

• 2006
  • 2006-01-06 NL NL1030869A patent/NL1030869C2/nl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2006-12-04 WO PCT/NL2006/000612 patent/WO2007064205A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (5)

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