Conveyors: power-driven – Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed... – By actuating item-holder relative to holder-carrying conveyor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-07-31
Noland, Kenneth W. (Department: 3651)
Conveyors: power-driven
Conveyor for changing attitude of item relative to conveyed...
By actuating item-holder relative to holder-carrying conveyor
C198S404000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06267222
ABSTRACT:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a visual inspection station for articles moving on transport means which does not require transport means provided with see-through support surfaces, in order to permit inspection of the face by which the articles rest on the transport means.
To this end, the invention relates to a visual inspection station for articles such as fruit, of the type comprising transport means designed to support the articles during their transport, and at least one viewing post arranged on the transport path of the articles for inspection of an exposed face of the articles resting on the transport means.The visual inspection station comprises two viewing posts arranged successively on the transport path of the articles, each viewing post being designed for the inspection of an exposed face of the articles resting on the transport means, and turning means for the articles arranged between the two viewing posts, which turning means are designed to place each article on the transport means before it passes in front of the second viewing post, substantially on the exposed face of the article during its passage into the first viewing post, and so expose, opposite the second viewing post, the face of the article in contact with the transport means during its passage into the first viewing post.
According to particular embodiments, the station comprises one or more of the following features:
the transport means comprises two successive conveyors, each circulating in front of a viewing post, between which are arranged the turning means for the articles, which turning means are designed to undertake transfer of the articles from the first conveyor to the second conveyor;
the turning means comprises two supporting rocker arms, defining between them a holding space for an article in which the article is retained substantially motionless relative to the two support arms, the two support arms being displaceable substantially simultaneously between a position for removing the article from the transport means and a position for placing the turned article on the transport means;
the two support arms are each articulated on a conveyor and the station comprises, in an article transfer and turning region, actuating means for the support arms;
the actuating means for the support arms comprises fixed cam surfaces, relative to which the conveyors are displaceable, which cam surfaces are designed to interact with the support arms during the advance of the conveyors to cause the rocking of the arms;
in the transfer and turning region, the two conveyors are adjacent and move parallel to one another at equal speeds; and
the conveyor, positioned upstream of the turning means, comprises means for distributing the articles in positions spaced at a distance determined in accordance with its length, and the conveyor, positioned downstream of the turning means, comprises support zones for the articles which are spaced at an interval determined in accordance with its length, the turning means being designed to transfer each article from a position on the first conveyor to a support zone of the second conveyor.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
REFERENCES:
patent: 5690125 (1997-11-01), Niemann et al.
Noland Kenneth W.
Wenderoth , Lind & Ponack, L.L.P.
Xeda International
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