WO2012138219A1

WO2012138219A1 - Sorting apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2012138219A1
Application number: PCT/NL2012/050225
Authority: WO
Inventors: Albertus Johannes Ruigrok
Original assignee: Fps Food Processing Systems B.V.
Priority date: 2011-04-06
Filing date: 2012-04-04
Publication date: 2012-10-11

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for sorting products labeled according to a grading regulation, wherein the products are conveyed in a substantially horizontal conveying direction (T), further comprising, - for conveying the products, at least a single row of carriers (1) tiltable to at least one side, with fixed intermediate distances or pitch distances, wherein each carrier is connected to a carrier connecting piece through a hinge device, - wherein a such carrier connecting piece is connected to an endless conveyor (2), - wherein each carrier tiltable at least to one side is provided with a corresponding single fixedly connected ejection arm. The ejection arm (12) can be activated when following tracks that more upwards. A bracket, positionable in two positions, makes the ejecting arm (12) follow an upward track or not. The bracket is driven by electromagnet. When the bracket is in ejection position, the ejection arm (12) follows an inclined track and makes the carrier tilt. The product on the carrier is then ejected at predetermined position.

Description

Sorting apparatus

The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting products labeled according to a grading regulation, as defined in the preamble of claim 1. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus comprising:

- for conveying the products, at least a single row of carriers tiltable to at least one side, with fixed intermediate distances or pitch distances, wherein each carrier is connected to a carrier connecting piece through a hinge device,

- wherein a such carrier connecting piece is connected to an endless conveyor,

- wherein each carrier tiltable at least to one side is provided with a corresponding single fixedly connected ejection arm,

- a drive unit for driving the endless conveyor,

- receiving units arranged substantially under the conveyor for receiving the labeled products after discharge from the carriers, and

- an ejection operating device for lifting the ejection arm during movement in the conveying direction.

Such an apparatus is known from, for example, WO2005037453. In a conventional manner, the ejection arm used is lifted by raising it over a sloped profile fixedly connected to the frame. For discharge, a sloped profile member is turned up to thereby form a guide path sloping up obliquely. In the case of passage to a next eject station, or also when no product is being carried along on the carrier, the sloped profile member is turned away, back down, whereby a substantially horizontal passage is formed, so that the tip of the ejection arm is passed under the upper part of the profile. Such a pivotable sloped profile member is often called a switch. Such profiles axe very common and are formed from material pieces of suitable plastics. More particularly, such a relatively heavy switch is suitable for ejection arms which themselves are also of heavy design so as to suitably lift the carrier with products of relatively large weight. On the other hand, with many of such multifunctional carriers, which should permit of weighing through lifting and imaging through rotation, maneuvering space will be limited, and consequently an ejection arm may be made of less heavy design. For such arms, any unevenness in the above- mentioned slope can lead to failure due to breaking off.

To remedy this disadvantage the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the ejection operating device comprises at least a bracket, wherein the bracket is movable substantially in the lifting plane between a pass position with the carrier in a conveying position and an ejection position with the carrier in a discharge position, wherein in the ejection position the ejection arm is guided upwards by the bracket to substantially the discharge track.

According to an aspect of the invention, the apparatus is characterized in that the ejection operating device comprises a bracket, which bracket is movable between a pass position and an ejection position. In the pass position the bracket does not extend into a path of the ejection arms of the carriers, such that the carriers during movement in the conveying direction can pass the ejection operating device without being operated thereby (i.e., without the occurrence of any mechanical contact between the ejection arm of a passing carrier on the one hand and the bracket on the other). In the ejection position of the bracket the bracket extends into a path of the ejection arms, to operate those arms for the purpose of tilting the carriers (during passage of the carriers along the ejection operating device). In the ejection position the bracket forms, in particular, a guide element, to guide a passing ejection arm upwards, towards a discharge track.

With great advantage, it is achieved with such an apparatus that upon lifting a guide path is followed that is substantially not interrupted anymore, thereby obviating failure due to breaking off of parts of the carrier, for instance, a partial or whole ejection arm. It is thus achieved in a suitable manner that stopping of a sorting apparatus or sorting plant is not necessary anymore and the processing of the customary large amounts of products proceeds unhindered.

In further exemplary embodiments the apparatus of the present invention has one or more of the following features:

that the bracket by one end, as a magnetic core shaft, is received in an electromagnet and is rotatable therein, and by the other end, as a guide slope, is movable between the positions mentioned;

that the two ends comprise material pieces running substantially straight on, with a bend as a transition between them, the bend being positioned substantially at the discharge track;

that, viewed in the plane in which the ends mentioned are located, the bend makes an angle in the range of between 120° and 175°;

that the one end mentioned runs substantially horizontally;

that the bend functions as rotation point for the other end of the bracket, being the guide slope mentioned, this other end being movable between the pass position and the ejection position mentioned; and/or

that the angle taken up by the guide slope between the pass position and the ejection position is in the range of between 2° and 20°.

In a very suitable manner, a magnetic core shaft mentioned will be rotated about a substantially horizontal axis through only a very small angle, for which, accordingly, only minimal power will be needed and whereby very fast switching times are obtained. More particularly, with great advantage, this will enable switching per carrier, without risk of failure. Such an electromagnet with magnetic core shaft is known per se from

US5280838. In the set-up shown, a steering blade is mounted at the end of such a magnetic core shaft running horizontally in its entirety. Upon switching, the shaft is rotated such that with the steering blade a separate ejection arm is rotated both sidewards and upwards and is guided on a rising slope to a substantially horizontal discharge track. While passing the slope and the discharge track, the ejection arm is rotated upwards to thereby, from below, push up a product from between the depicted carrier rollers and discharge it sideways from the rollers. The success of the discharge with that apparatus depends both on the energization of the electromagnet and on the correct position of slope and discharge track.

In contrast with the switch according to US5280838, the bracket according to the present invention does not energize a machine part. With the bracket according to the present invention, in a suitable manner, with minimal energization power a reliable track for discharge is formed.

Furthermore, it is noted that in a very suitable manner, with this position of the bend, on the one hand, at the top of the guide slope a fixed transfer location is obtained, whereby no opening, and hence no failure, can occur anymore, and, on the other hand, at the downward end of the guide slope an opening that functions as pass location is obtained.

Hereinbelow, the invention will be shown and elucidated in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings,

wherein FIGURE 1 is an isometric elevational view of an example of a carrier, wherein FIGURE 2 is an isometric elevational view of an ejection operating device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and wherein FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the ejection operating device according to FIGURE 2.

In de different Figures like parts, components or references are numbered and denoted in a like manner.

FIGS. 1-2 show an apparatus for sorting products (not shown) labeled according to a grading regulation, whereby the products are conveyed in a substantially horizontal conveying direction T. The apparatus comprises at least a single row of carriers 1 tiltable to at least one side, with fixed intermediate distances or pitch distances, each carrier 1 being connected through a hinge device to a carrier connecting piece 11, this carrier connecting piece 11 in turn being connected to an endless conveyor 2. Each carrier 1 tiltable at least to the one side mentioned is provided with a corresponding single fixedly connected ejection arm 12. The apparatus is provided with a drive unit (in itself not shown) for driving the endless conveyor. Receiving units (not represented) are arranged substantially under the conveyor for receiving the labeled products after discharge from the carriers. The apparatus furthermore comprises an ejection operating device 3 for lifting the ejection arm during movement in the conveying direction. In particular, a direction of movement is thereby followed in a lifting plane substantially through the direction of movement and through the perpendicular direction to a vertical plane through the conveying direction (T). Upon lifting, the carrier 1 is tilted and a product carried along is discharged during guidance along a discharge track 36b.

In particular, in FIG. 1 an isometric elevational view is represented of a carrier 1 for conveying and sorting products such as fruit. More particularly, a cup 10 is shown, sometimes named carrier or cradle, in which or on which each product to be sorted takes up a conveying position. Such a cup 10 is connected by a carrier connection piece 11 to an endless conveyor 2 (of which only a part is represented). Such a connection piece 11 includes parts that can rotate or hinge so that a connection piece may also be designated as a hinge device. The configuration of the carrier 1 may, for example, be equal to that of the conveying unit known from WO2005037453, for which purpose WO2005037453 is understood to be wholly incorporated in the present application by reference. In the exemplary embodiment shown this conveyor is an endless chain. Conveyance proceeds in a conveying direction T, generally substantially horizontal, that is, in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity. As is generally known, such carriers 1 form an endless row, with fixed intermediate distances or pitch distances between these carriers 1. In the processing of such products, these are characterized, for example, by weight and by appearance, through weighing and imaging, respectively, whereby the characteristics are processed according to a sorting regulation in a central processing unit or computer, resulting in a sorting label. Depending on the label assigned, the thus-labeled products are discharged sidewards from a carrier 1 to collecting units, for example, receiving containers, collecting conveyors, or packaging tracks, extending under this endless conveyor and destined according to the label. Such a carrier 1 is discussed extensively in WO2005037453, in which further details of this carrier 1 are elucidated, it being noted that many more examples of such carriers having comparable properties are known in this field of technology.

In a conventional manner, such endless conveyors, such as these chains, are driven with end wheels connected to shafts of motors, the assembly being arranged in a housing, also called frame, typically consisting of a system of beams, struts and shores.

More in detail, in FIG. 1 an ejection arm 12 is shown which is connected to the cup 10. In general, the cup 10 and the ejection arm 12 form one entity for which a suitable plastic is chosen. By pushing at the underside against this arm 12 and thereby lifting this arm 12, the cup 10 tilts or hinges, whereby a product being conveyed is discharged sidewards. In FIGS. 2 and 3 details are shown of an exemplary embodiment of an ejection operating device 3 according to the present invention. Such a device 3 is arranged in a holder 35 which is connected to the earlier-mentioned frame. More particularly, a bracket 30 is indicated which is provided with a guide slope 31 as one of the ends of the bracket 30. The bracket 30 is movable or switchable between a pass position P and an ejection or release position R. Such an ejection operating device 3 is also referred to as switch. The pass position P and ejection position R are both represented in FIG. 3.

As mentioned, in the pass position the bracket 30 more specifically does not extend into a path of the ejection arms 12 of the carriers 1, such that the carriers 1 during movement in the conveying direction T can pass the ejection operating device 3 without being operated thereby. In the ejection position of the bracket 30 a part of the bracket specifically extends into a path of the ejection arms, to operate those arms for the purpose of tilting the carriers. In the ejection position mentioned a part of the bracket 30 more specifically constitutes a guide element, to guide a passing ejection arm upwards, towards a horizontal discharge track 36b.

In the pass position P, upon passage (of the carrier 1) in the conveying direction T, the ejection arm 12 (i.e., of the passing carrier 1) will move straight on next to the bracket 30 and under a profile 36, so that a product carried along on the cup 10, which is then substantially horizontal, is carried along. The profile 36 comprises a guide profile, provided with the horizontal discharge track 36b. As follows from the drawing, a path of a lower end of the ejection arm 12 of the carrier is straight under the discharge track 36b during passage, in the situation where that lower end of the ejection arm 12 has not been brought onto the guide profile 36 by the bracket 30.

In the ejection position R the bracket 30 with guide slope 31 has been moved slightly sidewards, with an angle L, seen in the top plan view of FIG. 3, between the projections of these positions P and R. More particularly, such moving is effected by rotating the bracket 30 through a small angle by its other end 32, arranged as a magnetic core shaft in an electromagnet 33, this electromagnet being connected via a cord 34 to an electrical voltage source. As follows from the drawing, the two ends 31, 32 of the bracket in this example comprise two elongate bracket parts. For obtaining an angle as mentioned, the ends 31, 32 are connected with each other so as to include a bend A. Thus, it follows that the two ends 31, 32 comprise, in particular, material pieces running substantially straight on, with the bend A as a transition between them. In the example, the bend is positioned

substantially adjacent the discharge track 36b.

In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the angle of the bend A (i.e., the angle between the bracket ends 31, 32) is in a range of between 120° and

175°, and the angle L (between the projections of the positions P and R) is in a range of between 2° and 20°. The magnetic core shaft 32 in this example is oriented substantially horizontally. To one skilled in the art it will be clear that choices of parts, connections between them, and dimensioning and orientations may vary to some extent without the apparatus as described being thereby altered.

Furthermore, the guide profile 36 is represented in FIGS. 2 and 3. More particularly, the guide profile comprises a slope section 36a for a small part of the lifting path, a horizontal discharge track 36b for the track part where a product being conveyed is discharged and the carrier 1, more particularly the cup 10, is in the discharge position, and a return section 36c for returning the carrier 1, more particularly, for returning the cup 10, back to the substantially horizontal conveying position.

As mentioned earlier, the bend A is located close to the beginning of the discharge track 36b and the bend A at the same time serves as rotation point. With this, a fixed guide location is obtained, virtually without transition, whereby the failure mentioned is obviated. To further streamline the transition, around this part of the bracket 30, i.e., the guide slope 31, a sleeve 37 is arranged. For such a sleeve 37 a suitable material is chosen.

With great advantage, in this way, a guide slope of continuous configuration can be obtained which moreover can take up the respective positions fast and reliably.

To one skilled in the art it will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described. Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Especially understood to be included are the chosen positions and directions whereby a similar effect is obtained.

Claims

1. An apparatus for sorting products labeled according to a grading regulation, wherein the products are conveyed in a substantially horizontal conveying direction T, further comprising,

- wherein a such carrier connecting piece is connected to an endless conveyor,

- wherein each carrier tiltable at least to said one side is provided with a corresponding single fixedly connected ejection arm,

- a drive unit for driving said endless conveyor,

- receiving units arranged substantially under said conveyor for receiving said labeled products after discharge from the carriers, and

- an ejection operating device for lifting the ejection arm during movement in the conveying direction, whereby a direction of movement is followed in a lifting plane substantially through the direction of movement and through the perpendicular direction to a vertical plane through the conveying direction T,

wherein upon lifting the carrier is tilted and a product carried along is discharged during guidance along a discharge track,

characterized in that

the ejection operating device comprises at least a bracket,

wherein the bracket is movable substantially in the lifting plane between a pass position with the carrier in a conveying position and an ejection position with the carrier in a discharge position, wherein in the ejection position the ejection arm is guided upwards by the bracket to substantially the discharge track.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that

the bracket by one end, as a magnetic core shaft, is received in an electromagnet and is rotatable therein, and by the other end, as a guide slope, is movable between said positions.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that

the two ends comprise material pieces running substantially straight on, with a bend as a transition between them, the bend being positioned substantially adjacent the discharge track.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that

viewed in the plane in which said ends are located, the bend makes an angle in the range of between 120° and 175°

5. An apparatus according to claim 2, 3, or 4, characterized in that said one end of the bracket runs substantially horizontally.

6. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the bend functions as rotation point for the other end of the bracket, being said guide slope, said other end being movable between said pass position and said ejection position.

7. An apparatus according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the angle taken up by the guide slope between the pass position and the ejection position is in the range of between 2° and 20°.