Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or... – By loading or unloading section at selected one of a...
Patent
1997-04-01
1999-03-09
Bidwell, James R.
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor arrangement for selecting among plural sources or...
By loading or unloading section at selected one of a...
209539, 209912, B65G 4746
Patent
active
058788638
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a conveying system and in particular to components of a conveyor for use to sort, size or weigh a variety of fruit or vegetables. This invention also relates to the method and apparatus disclosed in earlier patent applications of the applicant. See PCT/AU90/00464 and PCT/AU92/00551.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In the applicant's earlier applications PCT/AU90/00464 and PCT/AU92/00551, there is disclosed a conveying system that in essence sorts fruit or vegetables by using a camera that views the fruit or vegetables as they rotate slowly past the camera zone. The camera feeds a signal to a computer that notes the size, shape, colour and weight of each fruit and its location on the conveyor line. The computer then activates solenoids that effect a discharge mechanism that causes the fruit or vegetables to be tipped off the conveying system for collection into suitable bins. In this manner, the system can automatically sort fruit and vegetables at high speed into discrete groups based on size, colour, weight and defects.
The componentary that makes up a conveying systems of the kind described above is inherently complex. Designers strive to produce simply moulded plastics components that effectively do the job but do not require hugh expenditure in tooling costs. It is also important with conveying systems of the kind described above that they are reliable and that if there is a jam or break down there is no mass destruction of the componentary.
It has been discovered that an important criterion for efficient use of a camera to view fruit or vegetables is the quality of surrounding light. It is difficult to illuminate fruit or vegetables from the underside of the conveyor due to the complexity of the conveyor componentary. The more complicated the conveyor componentary the more difficult and expensive are the tooling costs. A further problem with conveying systems of the kind described above is the design of a mechanism that allows the fruit to be weighted. It is known to place a load sensor under a carriage carrying a single piece of fruit or vegetable. It is however difficult to ensure that the load sensor actually reads the whole mass of the fruit and its carriage. A further problem with load sensors of this kind is that, due to the speed of the conveying system and the vibrations that are inherent in any such systems there is a danger that there will be wild fluctuations in the load that is actually sensed by the load sensor plate.
It is these problems that have brought about the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a conveying system for foodstuffs comprising a first conveyor and a second conveyor placed side by side with the end of the first conveyor overlapping the start of the second conveyor, the overlapping portions of the conveyors being in close proximity to define a transfer zone, each conveyor having a plurality of foodstuff support means adapted each to support a single piece of foodstuff, and means to tilt the foodstuff support means of the first conveyor to cause the foodstuff to roll from the support means of the first conveyor to the support means of the second conveyor.
Preferably, the foodstuff support means is designed to facilitate simple ejection of foodstuff whilst at the same time adaptable to ensure accurate and positive readings by a load cell sensor plate.
Preferably, each foodstuff support means of the second conveyor comprises a support member attached to the chain, the support member pivotally supporting a pair of parallel spaced apart radius arms which in turn pivotally support a cup adapted to support a foodstuff, the radius arms being joined by a latch assembly that engages the support member to control the pivotal relationship between the radius arms and the support member.
According to the present invention there is further provided a weighing cup for use in a foodstuff conveying and sorting system, the weighing cup comprising a cup adapted to support f
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patent: 4961489 (1990-10-01), Warkentin
patent: 5044504 (1991-09-01), Powell, Jr.
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patent: 5294004 (1994-03-01), Leverett
patent: 5474167 (1995-12-01), Waskentin
patent: 5477955 (1995-12-01), Madden et al.
patent: 5626238 (1997-05-01), Blanc
patent: 5677516 (1997-10-01), Leverett et al.
Brown Peter Gary
Esson Charles Edward
Madden Ian Robert
Bidwell James R.
Colour Vision Systems Pty Ltd.
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