Abstract:
Off-loading conveyors having endless roller chains to which are mounted bow tie rollers on rods extending laterally from the chain. The bow tie rollers define concavities for receipt of product units to be conveyed and off-loaded at an appropriate station. Off-loading elements are mounted to the chains which include paddles extending to between the bow tie rollers. The off-loading elements include levers which cooperate with an actuation system to pivot the paddles through the concavities to remove product at appropriate stations.
Abstract translation:具有环形滚子链的卸载输送机在从链条横向延伸的杆上安装有弓形拉杆。 bow tie tie rollers。define ities ities。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 卸载元件安装到链条上,其中链条包括延伸到弓形拉链之间的桨叶。 卸载元件包括与致动系统配合的杠杆,以使桨叶枢转通过凹部以在适当的位置移除产品。
Abstract:
An object sorting apparatus has a singulation section, a sorting section, and a transfer section for transitioning objects, such as fruit, to be sorted to a conveyor which drops the objects into appropriate collection bins. Objects for sorting are transported on an endless conveyor or wheels through the singulation and sorting section. A first independently adjustable speed belt in the singulation section rotates in a direction opposite that of the flow of items from the singulation section to the sorter section, to assist in singulation. A second adjustable speed belt rotates in the same direction as the wheels and operates to provide a view of each of four sides of the object to an imaging device. The imaging device supplies signals representing a desired sorting parameter to a processor which evaluate the measured parameters and generates signals so that the objects are ultimately deposited in appropriate sorting bins. An object holder receives an object as it is about to be dropped onto a second conveyor for transport to the collection bins. The object holder, which is pivotally attached to the wheels, acts to extend the lateral distance of the object beyond the return location of the endless conveyor. This reduces the vertical distance the object must fall before it is captured by a transport cup on the second conveyor, thus reducing damage to the objects, such as bruising of fruit. A rotatable transfer roll is positioned between the conveyors to restrict vertical travel and impart lateral motion to the objects as they leave the object holder. The transfer is preferably padded to further reduce the risk of bruising the fruit.
Abstract:
An off-loading conveyor having an endless roller chain to which is mounted bow tie rollers on mounting pins extending laterally from the chain. The bow tie rollers define concavities for receipt of product units to be conveyed and off-loaded at an appropriate station. Off-loading elements are mounted about axes perpendicular to and on the chains and include downwardly inclined portions extending to between the bow tie rollers and arms which cooperate with an actuation system to pivot the downwardly inclined portions through the concavities to remove product at appropriate stations.
Abstract translation:具有环形滚子链的卸载输送机,在从链条横向延伸的安装销上安装有弓形拉链。 bow tie tie rollers。define ities ities。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。 卸载元件围绕垂直于链条和链上的轴线安装,并且包括向下倾斜的部分,其延伸到弓形连接辊和臂之间,所述臂与致动系统配合,以使向下倾斜的部分枢转通过凹部以在适当的位置移除产品。
Abstract:
A conveyor discharge apparatus, and a related method of operation, that can lift and thereby eject any article carried by a conveyor of the apparatus through substantially relying on the motor that advances the conveyor of the apparatus. The apparatus includes an ejection mechanism having a plurality of ejection fingers that are each associated with a separate one of the pockets of the conveyor and are selectively movable between rest and ejection positions so as to lift and eject articles carried by the pocket in which the particular finger is located. The ejection mechanism is further configured such that the power required to lift and eject any article from the pockets is provided substantially by the motor that advances the conveyor. In operation, the conveyor is advanced via the motor and the fingers are selectively moved substantially via the power of the motor from their respective rest positions to their respective ejection positions.
Abstract:
A live storage facility provides for the storage of large containers of product in a gas-tight enclosure containing an atmosphere precisely controlled to a preselected gas composition. Containers are introduced into the enclosure through a tunnel and removed through another tunnel, without significantly altering the gas atmosphere or temperature within the enclosure. An externally controlled crane moves and stacks the containers within the enclosure. The storage facility is preferably formed as a hemispherical dome with continuous walls that are impermeable to the gas. In one form, the product is agricultural produce, and there is additionally provided a cooling capability so that the product is stored at reduced temperature.
Abstract:
Bruisable articles, such as pieces of fruit like apples, are singulated, sorted according to property (e.g., weight), and discharged with a minimum of bruising, even if the fruit is not treated with ALAR (diminozide). The cups for holding the fruit are continuously conveyed by conveying chains, and have larger, more steeply angled front and rear surfaces (in the direction of conveyance) than side surfaces so that the fruit will be held in place during conveyance but can be relatively easily discharged when the cup is tilted at a discharge station. Self-singulating is accomplished utilizing conveyors on either side of the row of cups, an overhead rotating brush, and elongated brush strips. The brushes of the brush strips gently engage the fruit and urge it into position within a cup. At the discharge section, a brush having polyethylene bristles of about 4-6 inches in length is rotated with a tangential velocity approximately equal to the velocity in the direction of conveyance of the fruit by the cups at the discharge area. The fruit falls into the brush bristles and is cushioned as it enters them, and it is discharged at a different level on another conveyor moving in a different direction.
Abstract:
A product stabilizer for fruits and vegetables on a moving belt includes a very flexible rubber bladder, forming an airtight chamber between two hubs which are mounted for rotation astride the conveyor belt. The bladder is inflated to relatively low pressure less than 1 psi. When the product passes under the pliable surface of the inflated bladder, the bladder conforms to the product and serves to stabilize the product.
Abstract:
A system for the processing and handling of products including the method and apparatus therefor. A conveyor includes rocker elements fixed thereto which may be selectively tipped by means of an actuator and camming surface to off-load products conveyed in a single file arrangement. The rocker elements are positioned on a chain to form an elongate support for the conveyed products. Two conveyors positioned side by side for receiving product in series may be used to provide a full view of the surface of the product for sensing by multiple sensors.
Abstract:
A simple and inexpensive method and apparatus are provided for weighing product, such as fruits and vegetables, with a separate, simple yet effective method and apparatus for sorting fruits and vegetables having the same characteristics. The weighing apparatus includes a pair of chains having inwardly extending pins engaging vertically elongated slots in lubricating plastic hour glass shaped roller segments. A flat bottom portion of each roller segment engages three rails of a stationary track while the pins engage the elongated slots and move the roller segments over the weighing mechanism. Two or more roller segments engage a fruit or vegetable at the same time, and the stationary track is notched at a load cell so that all of the roller segments supporting a fruit or vegetable operatively engage the load cell at the same time. The product sorter includes a contoured supporting base with a flexible belt on the base and in sliding engagement with it. The flexible belt includes a number of fingers spaced from each other in the dimension of conveyance. The belt may be formed in two sections, one having a roughened surface or shallow flights for engaging the fruits or vegetables. A number of ejectors, each comprising a rotary solenoid with a flipper, are spaced along the length of the supporting base to flex fingers of the belt and move a fruit or vegetable off of the belt and base when actuated.
Abstract:
Several conveyor rollers of singulators are made to rotate by a fruit orientation belt causing fruit carried thereon to rotate in accordance with movement of the belt such that the rotational axes of the fruit, typically lemons, orient themselves along their stem axes, or substantially perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the singulators. Downstream, the rollers contact a rotating spin-accelerating belt to substantially increase speed of rotation of the rollers and oriented fruit thereon in order to permit optical scanning devices to scan a much larger percentage of the fruit surface areas. Fruit rotate in the same direction of rotation during orientation and spin-acceleration, the latter occurring for only a very short duration.