Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for sorting products such as fruits, the apparatus comprising : an endless conveyor, for instance a chain; conveying units for conveying the products, all one behind the other in a conveying direction and situated in a substantially horizontal plane, each connected with the conveyor, and each for conveying a single product, wherein each conveying unit is formed by : at least two rolling elements with the axes perpendicular to the conveying direction, for instance diabolo-like rolling elements; a connecting element by which each rolling element is rotatably and vertically movably connected with the conveyor; and a carrier element arranged between the rolling elements, while at least in an inspection position each product is situated on two successive rolling elements, and in a weighing position each product is situated on the carrier element, and each carrier element is connected with moving means for moving the carrier element to and from the weighing position for laterally discharging the product onto an output apparatus, wherein the discharge guide means assume the discharge position when they are energized by energizing means, while discharge positions for lateral discharge on both sides of the conveyor can be assumed. More particularly, the discharge guide means comprise a leaf spring, which leaf spring assumes a rest position in the case of conveyance and weighing, and has a deflection only upon movement to and from the discharge position. Compact and widely deployable sorting machines are thus enabled in an advantageous manner.
Abstract:
Apparatus for conveying objects (1), for instance fruits, comprising - a first endless conveyor, with conveying elements (2) such as diabolos connected thereto, while a conveying position is defined between at least two conveying elements, one of which downstream and the other upstream, viewed in the direction of travel of the conveyor, and - a second endless conveyor, with product carriers connected thereto, comprising gripper hands (7), for transferring objects from between the conveying elements, the second conveyor being provided in the direct proximity of the first conveyor, wherein at least in the surfaces supporting the objects at the moment of transfer, the conveying elements comprise grooves (4) in a direction perpendicular to the conveyor, and said gripper hand has fingers (8), while the distance between the fingers corresponds to the distance between the grooves of the conveying elements such that upon transfer of the objects by said gripper hand the fingers are positioned at least partly under the objects in the groove ends (6) of the grooves.
Abstract:
A system for washing a stream of eggs which are uniformly distributed on m feed rows of a transport device and assume well-defined positions thereon, comprising - a feeding section, having, at least at the location of the washing of the eggs, m feed rows with the eggs on diabolos which are attached to cross axes whose ends are connected to endless chains, a washing device through which the eggs on the feed rows are passed and washed, - a dirt detection device for testing the washed eggs for residues of dirt, whereby, according to a well-determined procedure carried out by, for instance, a computer, each egg is assigned a dirt grade, while the washed eggs are passed on the feed rows along the detection device, a discharge device to which are allocated, in accordance with and following said procedure, those eggs whose dirt grade has exceeded a predetermined limit, and which discharges them as dirty eggs from the feed rows, while the other eggs proceed as clean eggs on a follow-on conveyor virtually from the discharge device, the follow-on conveyor being composed of n rows, and - a replacing device for replacing these discharged eggs into the feed section, wherein the discharge device discharges the dirty eggs immediately after the detection device and returns them along at least a single return row, parallel to and in upstream direction relative to the feed rows, and the replacing device replaces these discharged dirty eggs virtually immediately before the washing device. Such a system enables far-reaching optimization of the associated washing process.
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.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an apparatus for, with at least one brush (10) arranging fruit or vegetables such as pears, mangos or avocados, located on carriers of an endless conveyor (1) wherein the carriers form at least one row with a fixed center distance or pitch between successive carriers, wherein the conveyor is located in a substantially horizontal plane and is moved with a settable conveying speed in a conveying direction (T), wherein the at least one brush (10) comprises substantially a cylinder- shaped circumferential surface, with its rotation axis substantially parallel to the conveying direction. The products, when passing under the brush rotating, are at least oriented with their longitudinal axis substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction (T). Optionally, the brush has a brush surface having a helical configuration.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a conveying apparatus (1) for eggs comprising two or more juxtaposed tracks (2A-2F) with carriers (3) which in use are carried along by endless chains with a common drive shaft (4) which engages links of the chains, and a common return shaft (5) which engages links of the chains and is driven by at least one chain pulled forward by the drive shaft, wherein the links of each chain between the drive shaft (4) and the return shaft (5) can move relative to each other in the direction of movement (T) of the chain and wherein the chains between the drive shaft (4) and the return shaft (5) are received in a guide element. The invention further relates to a method for conveying eggs.
Abstract:
Apparatus for singulating in particular unround products (P), such as fruits, eggs or tubers, comprising: an endless conveyor, which conveyor (1) is provided with at least one row, extending in the transport direction (T), of carriers configured such that between each two successive carriers in the row a transport position for a product (P) is formed, with each carrier comprising two rollers (4a, 4b), of which a first (4) is arranged on a first pivot (5a) and a second (4b) on a second pivot (5b)^, wherein the first and the second pivot (5a, 5b) each include a substantially equal acute angle (alpha, beta) with a vertical plane (Vl) extending through the middle of the row of carriers in the transport direction (T) and wherein the two pivots (5a, 5b) each extend slightly obliquely upwards from that plane, with the sum of the acute angles being less than 180°; and provided with a drive unit (8) for rotating the rollers (4a, 4b) of the carriers.
Abstract:
A system for loading substantially block-shaped products in a display package, comprising a feed conveyor (1) for feeding a stream of such products, a transfer device (2) for sorting and transferring the products in patterns to the display packaging, a display conveyor (3), and a computer for controlling the stream of products through the system wherein the said feed conveyor, transfer device and display conveyor form a continuous conveying path having a width that is substantially equal to the width of the feed conveyor.
Abstract:
A system for sorting and packaging products, chosen from the group consisting of eggs and fruit (10), the system comprising: - a sorting machine with at least one single sorting track (1) with carriers; - at least one sensor for determining at least one characteristic of each product (10); - the control being adapted to classify a said product in accordance with the at least one characteristic; - a plurality of packaging conveyors (2) for supplying and discharging packaging units, such as boxes, crates or trays, crossing the sorting track and extending above the sorting track; - wherein adjacent each packaging conveyor a transferring device (3) is provided at the level of or higher than the packaging conveyor, arranged for taking over a said product from a carrier and for placing the product from above into a packaging unit (20) on the corresponding packaging conveyor.
Abstract:
Therein, with substantially round products, more particularly fruit, the apparatus being provided with: first holders which are connected to a first conveyor (1); second holders (2) which are connected to the first conveyor (1) or to a second conveyor; a buffer rack (6) with at least one product take-up position (61);a number of transfer guides (4) while each second holder is connected to the conveyor via such a transfer guide; wherein the transfer guide is designed for moving the respective second holder from a take-up position to a releasing position such that the second holder in the take-up position has a speed and direction of movement that corresponds to the speed and direction of movement of the first holder at that location, and wherein the second holder in the releasing position has a horizontal speed component which is substantially zero, while the buffer rack transfers products located thereon to a packaging unit arranged underneath.