Abstract:
The machine has a regular structure symmetrical with respect to a central axis and provided with limiting end faces, said structure being disposed with its horizontal axis rotatably supported on its axis of symmetry on the frame of the machine, and bearing a plurality of longitudinal frames in the direction of the generatrices, on which are incorporated the nullcupsnull or buckets carrying the pieces of fruit or the like, each of said nullcupsnull or buckets being freely rotatable on a horizontal axis, and the machine having means for the rotatable support on its horizontal axis of said structure carrying the nullcupsnull for the pieces of fruit, and also means for effecting the rotation of said structure on its horizontal axis.
Abstract:
A device for orienting a number of objects. The device has a holder conveyor with holders for the objects, lifts synchronously co-displaceable with the holders and rotatable relative thereto for lifting the objects out of the holders and rotating the objects into and oriented standing rotational position relative to a standing rotation axis on the holders, a detector for detecting the standing rotational position of each object and a control device for the lifts which is connected to the detector and which activates the lifts for a relevant object as long as is required to rotate the oriented standing rotational position.
Abstract:
The sleeve (50) for forced immersion of an article comprises a tubular body (52) defining an article travel passage, and at least one inlet (58) for a fluid for establishing an article drive stream. The passage defined by the body is generally tubular. The sleeve has means (58, 60) for establishing a helical stream of liquid inside said passage flowing at the periphery of said passage. The invention is applicable to filling a container with fruit.
Abstract:
A handling device includes a gripping member (2) and a support structure (16) that supports the gripping member. The gripping member (2) includes a flexible, substantially toroidal wall member (10) having an outer wall portion (10b) and an inner wall portion (10a) that defines an axial passageway (12) through the grip-ping member. A fluid fills the volume enclosed by the wall member The support structure (16) includes a drive mechanism (18, 20) that engages the wall member (10) and is constructed and arranged to provide relative axial movement between the inner and outer wall portions (10a, 10b).
Abstract:
A produce sizing transport mechanism includes an endless conveyor carrying a plurality of downwardly depending produce retaining members which define an elongated produce retaining zone below at least one portion of the endless conveyor. At least part of the produce retaining members may be movable between a first closed position in which produce is retained within the elongated produce retaining zone and a plurality of further open positions enabling produce of predetermined sizes or size ranges to be released from the produce retaining zone. The retaining members may include a produce support region located generally beneath the produce retaining zone when the produce retaining members are located in the first closed position.
Abstract:
A multi-row type internal quality inspection device is arranged to adjust spacing intervals between the columns of receiving trays arranged in rows on a conveyer to the column spacing intervals of a supply conveyor at the start part on the entrance side of a transport path; to have the spacing intervals between the receiving trays become wider at an inspection area provided at an intermediate part of the transport path to allow light projecting means and light receiving means to be arranged there in the lateral direction with respect to inspection objects on the receiving trays for adequate inspection of internal quality of the objects through transmission light obtained through them; and, at the end point on the exit side of the transport path, to have the spacing intervals narrowed and adjusted to the column spacing internals of a conveyor of a next process of sorting on the exit side of the transport path. The receiving trays are arranged to be laterally movable on mounting bars which are mounted on conveyor chains in parallel and spaced at a predetermined distance. Guide pins protruding downward from the receiving trays and guide rails disposed below the path of the receiving trays are arranged to gradually widen and narrow the column spacing intervals between the objects. At the inspection area, therefore, the internal quality of the objects can be adequately inspected by light projecting means and light receiving means.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a device conveying products, in particular fruits, for feeding a unit sorting said products, comprising a conveyor including a plurality of rollers (5) consisting or two parallel disks (9, 10) having the same diameter, borne by a transverse shaft (8) mounted freely rotating about an axis of rotation (7). Said conveyor further comprises two fixed lateral rails (11, 12) symmetrically arranged on either side of the disks (9, 10), and sloping towards said disks at an angle (&agr;) relative to a plane (P) passing through the axis of rotation (7) of the rollers (5), said sliding rails being each arranged so as to present a lower edge (11a, 12a) extending in the proximity of the neighbouring disk (9, 10) and of each roller (5) transverse shaft (8).
Abstract:
A device for tiltable ejectors of fruit in conveyor carts integrated into electronic classifiers has a lifting-ejector formed by a bent and supported vertical shaft which turns freely by its upper end section and is operationally connected to the tiltable ejector. Its lower end section is parallel to the supported upper part and serves to pass along an axis of advance, first in relation to a fixed rectilinear deflector, followed within an angularly displaceable deflector under electronic control and finally above an actuating ramp. The angularly displaceable deflector has a position of rest in which, together with the fixed deflector, it determines the trajectory of non-actuation of the lifting-ejector. Another position directs it toward a ramp and determines its trajectory of actuation to secure tilting of the ejector and the fruit carried thereby.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for conveying products, in particular fruit, which is designed to provide transport of the said products, and comprises a plurality of conveyor carrier arms (9, 10), which are articulated on supports (7) which are supported by a longitudinal endless chain (1). According to the invention, each conveyor carrier arm (9, 10) comprises a hollow body (24) which is delimited by a peripheral edge (25), inside which there extends a sleeve (31) which accommodates a longitudinal articulation shaft (33), which is integral with the support (7), the said sleeve being connected to the peripheral edge (25) by a flexible unit (32) which can be deformed during a force of raising of the conveyor carrier arm (9, 10). In addition, each conveyor carrier arm (9, 10) comprises a recess (27), which is disposed such as to accommodate a longitudinal pin (28) which is integral with the support (7), in the position for transport of the conveyor carrier arm (9, 10), and to release the said pin during deformation of the flexible unit (32), derived from a force of raising of the said conveyor carrier arm.
Abstract:
An object sorting system includes a product presentation device with a floating portion and a subframe pivotally connected to a frame link driven by a chain. The product presentation device and frame link operate with a latch so that the product presentation device can move objects through the system to be sorted and deposit the objects at an appropriate job station. The floating portion of the product presentation device allows accurate determination of object weights. The product presentation device can also be married to or divorced from wheels which are used to turn the object before a viewer for sorting based on visual characteristics. Because the wheels can be divorced from the product presentation device, objects can be deposited more gently in collection bins at the drop stations. The system may use belt driven or roller driven pre-singulation to assure that only one object is placed in a product presentation device. The system has independently driven chain drives for the wheels and the product presentation devices. Chain phasing is employed on either the chain drive for the wheels or the product presentation device to maintain appropriate spacing between the wheels and the product presentation device, thereby reducing wear and tear on the system and its components.