Device for conveyor transportation of products with simultaneously sorting them for preset parameters

The invention relates to an apparatus conveying products, in particular fruit serving for sorting these products on predetermined criteria, such as appearance. This invention particularly relates to conveyor devices having a plurality of different types of supports along the conveyor line, between which move fruit.

The first type of conveyor device, thus constructed, is described in U.S. Patent 5,197,585 and US 4,830,195, it includes a loading zone fruit, consisting of a conveyor with a first type of support, and a second zone for sorting and unloading, comprising at least one conveyor with a second type of support; the above conveyors arranged one on the continuation of the other. The big drawback of these devices is conveying the fact that when you move the fruit between the two conveyors they fall, and despite the low height of the fall, it often causes a dent on the latter.

The second type of such device conveyor, described in particular in EP 540 126, consists of a single pipeline, equipped with multifunction support means for the fruits and comprising support bodies, which can be cleaned or maintained fruits depending on the operation (load, colorimetric control , weighing, discharge.). Such devices eliminate the drawbacks mentioned above, since the fruit is not exposed to shock caused by contact with the supporting organs during the movement. On the contrary, they require very complex and therefore relatively expensive support means, and have a relatively high friability. In addition, the maintenance costs of such pipelines are rising due to their complexity and the large number of supports to be cleaned regularly to prevent errors in the measurements (weighing ...).

The present invention addresses the above described drawbacks of known devices and aims primarily to provide a device conveyor, with one side provided with bodies, supports for the fruit of simple construction and, on the other hand, to provide all the load operation, select, discharge of fruit without risking denting on the latter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveying apparatus that is likely to perform operations in addition to selecting, calibrating fruit weight.

For this purpose the invention provides a conveyor transport, comprising the following components: a first conveyor with product loading area and having a plurality of rollers mounted with free rotation about an axis, which is based on an endless chain, and laid perpendicular to the chain; above the rollers are spaced apart so that two successive rollers define between them groove-seat for housing the product, they are composed of parallel, supported at a distance discs mounted perpendicularly to the axis of rotation, the second conveyor comprising a plurality of articulated suspensions a support supported by an endless chain, and held in position conveyor locking system: the second conveyor decomposed into their greatest length in continuation of the first conveyor, forming a primary transfer zone, wherein said conveyors are arranged in parallel alongside each other, said suspension conveyors forming the common upper surface of a concave shape, able to ensure the support of a fruit having a central rod disposed transversely to the endless chain, and provided with a plurality of pins disposed perpendicular on either side of the central rod; These pins are allocated so that the wheels of rollers could be inserted between these latter, the second conveyor is set at a distance from the first, and the suspension conveyor are distributed along the length of the second conveyor as follows: in the transfer zone, each hanger is inserted between the two rollers, pins of the suspension and drives said rollers include one another, each suspension conveyor provides support product originally laid between two rollers, after retracting the rollers when they return to the loading area, means the inclusion of lock suspension adapted to perform selectively tilting said hanger for unloading products supplied these last in the unloading area.

In the invention, movement of the fruit between the first and second conveyor runs without any risk of dents on these fruits. In fact, the suspension conveyor stand between the rollers in the area of ​​movement and replace the rollers to maintain the fruit after retracting the rollers during their return to the loading zone.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the first conveyor is located in a loading zone on the inclined rail surface and includes rolling rolls which can cause rotation of said rollers about their axis.

The rollers thus are involved into rotation in the unloading area, either by a simple friction surface rolling or mechanically using a rolling surface, such as a drive belt. As known, this kind of rotation ensures a good distribution of the fruit between the rollers.

Furthermore, according to another feature of the invention provides a portion of the first conveyor to the horizontal displacement of the transfer zone equipped with means of analyzing the appearance of products; said conveyor has in this analysis zone surface rolling rollers capable to cause rotation of said rollers about their axis.

Furthermore, according to another characteristic of the invention, the apparatus comprises a third conveyor the intermediate conveyor is designed for weighing and in the path of the second conveyor; This weighing conveyor comprising: a plurality of transversely mounted carriages on an endless chain with freedom of vertical oscillations and fitted with vertical support plates spaced from each other and form a common upper support concave surface with a center slot; each of said carriages is made for placing the suspension conveyor to a position in which the central rod of the suspension is put in the notch plate and wherein the pins are inserted between the plates, ensuring a short time the support for the products, weighing means comprising a sliding surface carriages equipped zones weighing mentioned carriages.

This third conveyor allows to perform weight calibration products through the carriages, replacing briefly suspension conveyor for supporting the products and are drawn as soon as the weighing is finished, transporting products without bumps against each other.

Furthermore, according to the selected method execution carriages vertical plates have grooves parallel to its front and rear edges and form two transverse trough; each of the above carriages connected to the transverse axis, called the axis of tension with a diameter smaller than the height of the slots, it is fixed to the endless chain, one of its ends, and is inserted inside the front trough; said axis associated with the trailing edge of the carriages by means of two lateral connecting rods, arranged in such a way that the rear chute slide could accommodate a transverse axis of the tension following the carriage.

Furthermore, according to another characteristic of the invention, the apparatus conveyor comprises an endless conveyor belt positioned laterally on the second conveyor in the discharge zone so that, on the one hand, to make acceptance discharged products and make them move to areas of warehousing and on the other hand, Suspension cushion the fall edge of the conveyor; a driven conveyor belt, able to cause it to move with almost the same speed as the speed of the second conveyor.

This conveyor belt is, moreover, that it softens drop suspension conveyor, is to not receive fruit dents during their unloading.

In addition, to further reduce the risk of dents on fruits device to improve the working conditions includes brush rollers, driven in rotation about parallel horizontal axes in the direction of advance of the conveyors; These rollers with brushes inserted between the conveyor belt and storage areas. These rollers, brushes give a significant result of the braking movement of fruit coming into the storage area.

Furthermore, the second conveyor has the advantage of placing two conveyor lines composed suspension conveyor disposed on either side of a single endless chain; the first conveyor also has two conveyor lines, each equipped with a plurality of rollers that are based on the endless chain and is designed in such a way that each of the lines working in conjunction with one of the lines of the second transport conveyor.

In addition to its advantage in a first conveyor is provided with a loading area central dividing part which is located between the rollers of each conveyor line in such a way as to ensure the distribution of products to one or the other line.

According to another characteristic of the invention the first conveyor is provided with a pinion at its lower end, and a second conveyor has a gearwheel at its upper end, both toothed wheels are mounted on the same transverse rotation shaft.

In addition, to avoid the fall of the fruit during the movement because of the possible failure of locking means suspension conveyor has the following advantages: the device comprising an intermediate disk mounted on a shaft transverse rotation between the gear wheel of the first and second conveyors in order to serve as a possible support hangers conveyor, the second conveyor includes a guide to the possible suspension of the conveyor bearing edge that arise with respect to the second side of the conveyor, between the area of ​​displacement and the first unloading zone.

In the absence of blocking one suspension conveyor it is supported to the first discharge area, thereby preventing the fall of the fruit.

Furthermore, according to another characteristic of the invention, the system includes a locking latch hook with articulation and mounted on a support for collaboration with the axis lock installed on the suspension conveyor; the system also comprises a flexible attachment means of the hook in its locking position, the hook and the axis are arranged so as to work together to provide after tilting suspension conveyor under the influence of a reverse tilting by the force of gravity during the return of said suspension conveyor to the transfer zone.

Consequently, the suspension lock are automatically blocked under the influence of their weight on the return run to the transfer zone. However, to ensure that the lock is preferred that the device includes a support body located on the way back suspension conveyor to the transfer zone; This lock must be provided in contact with said upper part suspension conveyor located in an inverted position.

Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of the positions in the accompanying drawings, which are an infinite number of embodiments exemplify the preferred embodiment.

In these figures, components inseparable part of the description: FIG. 1 - a schematic longitudinal view of the device according to the invention; FIG. 2 - cross half of AA; FIG. 3 - cross half of BB; FIG. 4 - cross half of CC; FIG. 5 - cross half of DD; FIG. 6 - cross half of EE; FIG. 7 - a partial top view of half of the device, perpendicular to the transfer zone; FIG. 8 - a partial top view of half of the device, perpendicular to the weighing zone, FIG. 9 - a partial top view of half of a device on a reduced scale, perpendicular to the discharge zone; FIG. 10a - weighing a side view of the carriage according to the invention, FIG. 10b - side view of the coupling rod connected to this carriage; FIG. 11 - a cross-section version with shutdown means represented by the solid line when idle locking system and suspension conveyor illustrated by the dotted line in their position by overturning the suspension conveyor.

Conveying apparatus represented in the drawings, provides for sorting products such as fruits or vegetables, by picking of predetermined criteria, such as the weight and appearance.

This device is divided mainly on the loading area of ​​fruits, such as entering the scattering in the water stream at an optical analysis zone, transfer zone, a zone for weighing and unloading zone.

In zones loading and optical analysis of the first conveyor moves the fruit, are then supplied to a second conveyor in the transfer zone, the second conveyor provides their transport to the unloading zone. In addition, the path of the second conveyor is set third intermediate conveyor which receives the fruit for a short time to their weighting. Each conveyor has two conveyor lines.

The first conveyor comprises two separate and identical conveyor lines arranged symmetrically on either side of a longitudinal plane of symmetry.

Each of these lines conveying a loading area, which occupies the position corresponding to the inclined ramp 1 and the optical analysis zone 2 extending in the horizontal moving portion.

Each line comprises an endless conveyor chain 3, the resting means 4 and having a profile engaging around the two gear wheels 5 and 6.

These lines are equipped with a plurality of conveying rollers 7 provided for the notching jack fruit, two by two; rollers fitted with free turning around the axis of rotation 8, rigidly connected to the endless chain and laterally positioned relative to it.

Each of the clips 7 is provided with a central sleeve 9 mounted on the axis of rotation 8, and vertical drives 10 and 11, spaced apart and radially disposed about the central sleeve 9. These wheels 10 and 11 have furthermore different diameters to each roller 7 would have an external double-cone concave shape.

In this example there are four disk: two side 10, with the same diameter, and two central disc 11 of the same diameter smaller than the diameter of the lateral disks. In addition, the sections of these disks 10 and 11 are machined to limit the bearing surface of concave shape.

Furthermore, each conveyor line has a first conveyor in the loading zone 1, stationary rolling surface 12, as represented in the figures, or movable as a drive belt, which serves for driving the rollers 7 to rotate around their axis of rotation.

The first conveyor has, moreover, the central dividing part 13 overall triangular shape, disposed longitudinally between the rollers 7, both lines of the corresponding conveyor and adapted to spread the fruit towards one or the other conveyor line.

Finally, the first conveyor is provided in its area of ​​optical analysis two most common way the driving means of rollers 7 (not shown) into a rotary motion, such as rolling surface, the drive belt, serving for rotatably driving said rollers in a vertical position on the means of optical analysis 14 of any known type, such as a camera.

The second conveyor has two conveyor lines, each of which has a suspension conveyor 15 mounted laterally on either side of a single endless chain 16, which is based on the profile 17 and disposed in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the conveying device.

An endless chain 16 is engaged around the two gears 18 and 19: gear 18 mounted at the lower end of the conveying device, and the gear 19 is located on shaft 20 drives rotation of lower toothed wheels 5 of the first conveyor. Each suspension conveyor 15 is articulated on a support 21 rigidly connected to the endless chain 16; suspension and the suspension conveyor provided with locking means capable of retaining each position in a suspension conveyor, in which it can support the fruit and allow rocking of the suspension on the axle to a position of discharge of the fruit.

First of all, each suspension conveyor 15 includes a central cross rod 22 concave in shape, with one and the other side of which perpendicularly mounted a plurality of pins 23 extending parallel to each other and bent upward so as to inject said suspension form elongated cuvette laterally relative an endless chain that is likely to contain fruit.

Each suspension conveyor 15 is set so as to stand between the two rollers 7 perpendicular to the transfer zone; in this example five pins 23 suitable for framing disks 10 and 11 above the rollers.

Moreover, the central rod 22 has a section in the shape of an inverted "U", both of which continue to the wing at the ends of the rod mounting support 21 so as to form a plug, which fits the horizontal axis 24. The two locking wing "U" has two openings located opposite each other at a distance from the aforementioned end to contain the swivel axis 25 Suspension conveyor 15 on the support 21.

This support 21 is in terms of the letter "T", wherein each wing is rigidly connected to the endless chain 16. The trunk of the "T" on the end 26 has a longitudinal section in the form of an inverted "V", the end of the central support rod 22, respectively its two positions: a conveyor transportation and unloading. This end 26 of the support 21 is arranged so as to bear the transverse rod 22, it is provided with a clutch 27 that can accommodate articulation axis 25.

Moreover, the central rod 22 is provided with two holes drilled in the core of the bar, each hole may fit the support slide 28, 29 on the end 26 of the support 21, respectively, at positions: conveying and unloading of the suspension conveyor.

Tools include locking system with rotary latch piece 30, articulated on the support 21 and provided with a hook 31 mounted to collaborate with the axis lock 24 Suspension conveyor. In addition, this system is provided with a latch 32 caliber slug of an elastomer and is connected to advance the rotary member 30 to its locked position.

Finally, the locking means include for each transport line the second conveyor support body 33 (shown in FIG. 6), consisting of a vertical disk, put on the way back to the above-mentioned conveyor and mounted so as to come into contact tangentially with each suspension conveyor transport 15 installed in its inverted position for blocking the latter.

The second conveyor includes further safety authorities can prevent overturning of each suspension conveyor travel between the zone and unloading zone in the event of insufficient locking means.

These organs include safety, primarily for each line conveyor drive 34, based on the rotational shaft 20 between the gears 5, 19 of the first and second conveyors; These wheels are mounted for tangential contact at each suspension conveyor 15 and form a portion provided with slots for the passage of the rollers 7.

These safety bodies are composed, inter alia, of the side guide 35 supports the end of a possible suspension conveyor longitudinally disposed between the area of ​​displacement and unloading zone.

A third conveyor located between the area of ​​displacement and unloading zone, has two conveyor lines, each of which is located on the path line of the second conveyor belt.

Each of these lines includes an endless chain 36 mounted on the profile 37 and the engaged two toothed wheels 38, 39.

Each of these lines is equipped with sliders 40 is provided with vertically spaced at a distance of the support plates 41, 42 are connected at their lower ends of the crossarms 43 and having different heights so that the said carriage in the transverse direction to form the upper bearing surface of concave shape.

In addition, each of these plates 41 and 42 is provided with a central slot 41a and 42a and forms the upper portion propagating upward on either side of the aforementioned groove in order to form the upper surface of the fruit in the form of the ditch.

In the example of four plates, two side plates 41 of the same height and two central plate 42 of the same height; height below the height of the side plates of the center panel 42; side plates 41 and central plate 42 are displaced longitudinally and are each provided with a groove 44 and 45 that are placed perpendicular to their respective rear ends (central plate) and the front ends (side plates), and form the two lateral gutters.

The support means of the carriages 40 include, primarily, the transverse axis 46 of tension with a diameter smaller than the height of the slots 44 and 45, rigidly associated with an endless chain 36 with one of its ends and disposed inside the front of the gutter.

These support means comprise, moreover, two side rod 47, located on either side of the carriage 40 and are pivotally connected respectively to the transverse axis 46 and a spike 48 projecting on outer surface of the side plate 41 to the rear end of the latter.

In addition, the carriage 40 are stacked one after another so that the rear trough (45 slots) of the carriage would have been in line with the front the groove (slots 44) of the carriage; rear zone of the first carriage supported by shaft 46 following tensioning carriage.

Finally, each plate 41 and 42 is provided with a lower support 49 and the cam 50 is turned to the front end of the side plates 41 and the rear end of the central plate 42.

Each of these carriages 40 is arranged so as to accommodate the suspension conveyor 15; central rod 22 located in the recesses 41a and 42a and the pins 23 are located on either side of the plates 41 and 42. Moreover, the height of plates 41 and 42 is designed so that the fruits have been supported by the carriage 40, rather than the suspension conveyor 15, when the slider and suspension are superimposed on one another.

Third conveyor means includes conventional weighing guide 51 having an upper sliding surface 49 and the nozzle support carriages 50 equipped with four scales 52 of weighing zones 53, designed so that each would be on the same line with the reference nozzles.

The discharge zone to which the via hangers are fed fruit conveyor comprises compartments 54 and 55, arranged one after another on both sides of the conveying line.

Lock means connected to each of these compartments. These tools enable the cam 57 are provided with a supply rail, flat active surface and ramp removal; a cam mounted movably about a transverse axis on a stationary vertical plate 58 located above the line conveyor to transverse at the beginning of each compartment 54 and 55. This cam is articulated to the rod of the jack 59, able to rotate it between an upper position in which it enables free passage of the rotatable part 30 is locked retention suspension conveyor, and a lower position in which it is on the way of the rotating parts and in which it causes the item in the rotational movement about the axis and thus causes a drop of the suspension conveyor 15.

Furthermore, each cam 57 is perpendicular to the supporting slider 62 is attached on a support 21 suspension conveyor to the edge of the suspension, the slider is designed to prevent possible deformation of the support. This slider 62 is located longitudinally on either side of each switching zone so as to stabilize the conveying lines of the second conveyor when one of these lines will carry much more fruit than the other.

FIG. 11 - embodiment of the switching means, by which the latter comprises a cam 64 provided with a feed ramp, an active plane surface and the retraction ramp mounted rotatably around the longitudinal axis on a fixed support 59.

This cam is connected to a rotating electromagnet 66 is able to rotate the cam between a position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 11) where it is pushed to the side in relation to the movement of the hook 31, allowing free passage of the rotatable part 30 and a position (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 11), where the cam is in the path of the hook 31, driving its rotator.

Furthermore, a discharge zone of each conveying line is equipped with a conveyor belt 60, able to move with the same speed as the conveyor line 35, transporting and inserted between this line and the compartments 54 and 55.

This conveyor belt 60 is designed to mitigate the fall of the suspension conveyor 15 and fruits.

Furthermore, each compartment is equipped with a brush roller 61 designed to brake the fruit, it is mounted around a horizontal longitudinal axis and is parallel to the conveyor belt 60.

Finally, the valve on the horizontal axis and schematically represented numeral 63, it is located above the conveyor belt 60, on the extension of each separating partition between compartments 54 and 55. This flap 63 is mounted so that it rises every time there is a fruit on the conveyor belt 60 perpendicular to the dividing walls: the appearance of the fruit means that the previous compartment is filled; valve body is designed to create discovery that is likely to set the emergency stop switch.

Means transported on the first conveyor are analyzed by means of optical analysis of any known type. After transfer to the second conveyor the fruits are weighed. Weighting is carried out through the interposition of a third conveyor, which takes them on for weighing the results of the optical analysis and weighing processed electronically to a computing device programmed control in accordance with predetermined sorting criteria for activation control of the jack 59 (or the electromagnet 66) connected to the compartment 54, 55 for fruit which meet the criteria for sorting. Switching jack 59 (or the electromagnet 66) causes lowering of the suspension of the conveyor belt and, consequently, the removal of fruit.

This in itself is carried out electronically sorted to a computing device.