Research Details

Claims:
1.A device for conveying produce, in particular fruit or vegetables, the device being adapted to sort items of produce at least as a function of weight, said device comprising a conveyor (10) fitted with cups (12) for supporting individual items of produce for sorting and for traveling along a stationary plate (13), said cups being coupled to a movable member (11) and being capable of tilting sideways relative to said member for selectively ejecting the produce being conveyed, and a weighing tray (21) being interposed in the length of the stationary plate (13) so that each cup (12) passes over said individually weighing tray, the device being characterized in that the conveyor (10) is essentially circular, with a plate arranged in the form of a stationary circular ring (13) about a vertical axis (X) and with a movable member arranged in the form of a rotary circular ring (11) surrounding the above mentioned stationary ring (13) and driven in rotation axis by about said associated drive means ( 34 ', 37), the cups (12) being hinged to the inner periphery of the moving ring (11) and being capable of tilting by pivoting about respective circumferential axis (Y) in order to eject items of produce selectively in a radically  outward direction.

2. A conveyor device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stationary circular ring (13) includes a weighing tray (21) that is V-shaped with two side edges (21.4, 21.5) that are angled, and with its tip (21.3) pointing in the direction of the travel cups (12) traveling on said stationary tray.
3. A conveyor device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cups (12) are fitted with wheels (14) enabling them to travel on the stationary circular ring (13), and the V-shaped weighing tray (21) is arranged in such a manner that all of the wheels of a single cup (12) are simultaneously in contact with said tray while weighing is taking place.

4. A conveyor device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rotary circular ring (11) is supported by wheels (34, 34 ') having horizontal axes that are relative to the radial axis (X) of said ring.

5. A conveyor device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the rotary circular ring (11) is centered on its axis (X) by vertical-axis wheels (38) coming into contact with the outer periphery (40) of said ring.

6. A conveyor device according to claim 4 or claim 5, characterized in that at least one of the horizontal-axis or vertical-axis wheels (34 ') is coupled to a motor (37) to constitute means for driving the circular ring (11) in rotation.

7. A conveyor device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it includes an essentially circular central stationary shelf (17) having humpbacked cams (33) secured to its periphery and associated with peripheral stations (4 to 9) for receiving selectively -ejected items of produce, each cup (12) presenting a finger (19, 20), opposite from its hinge axis (Y), and suitable for co-operating with one of said cams in the event of an associated movable pin (28 ) Being actuated.

8. A conveyor device according to claim 7, characterized in that each movable pin (28) is arranged in a circumferential direction and is connected to an associated actuator electromagnet (32) secured to the central shelf (17).
9. A conveyor device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the rotary circular ring (11) presents position-identifying notches (43) arranged in a circumferential direction, enabling the cups (12) to be counted by means of a stationary counter (44) identifying the passage of said notches during rotation of said rotary circular ring.

10. A conveyor device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that it includes cover horizontal elements (50) surrounding the rotary circular ring (11) and located directly adjacent thereto and coplanar therewith, said elements forming shelves between said rotary ring and peripheral bins (4 to 9) for receiving the ejected selectively-produce.


Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to a conveyor products, including fruits or vegetables, and more particularly a device adapted to perform a sort products at least according to their weight.
 

BACKGROUND TECHNOLOGY
We know already many devices that use a food chain, with a system of single products, so that each individual product based on a support and advance at a weighing station to carry out a selective products according to their weight.

In these devices, products are supported by bucket or by hand conveyor mounted hopper, or by pairs of circular diabolos breasted, or by worm parallel between which the cups are arranged in vertical sliding.The weighing of products made with an uprising of concerned support for the position of weighing, or with an uprising of the product for the release of the pair of diabolos or the pair of worm concerned.
It is also conveying devices whose trucks are rolling or friction mounted to rotate downwards or upwards around an axis
Such an arrangement however induced congestion in height very important, so it is now virtually abandoned in favor of switching systems side, i.e. to pivot around an axis parallel to the direction of conveyor.
Prior art is also illustrated by the document Prior art is also illustrated by the document
which describes a conveyor equipped with a conveyor trolley mounted to switch sides and each carrying a pair of diabolos forming support of an individual product to be sorted according to its weight. However, the carriage bearing a pair of diabolo has a relatively large weight, so that each truck carries de facto significant friction on the sliding support, which rubs induce vibrations having to disrupt more or less the measures Weight made.
The document
FR-A-2 749 196 FR-A-2 749 196 describes a device for conveying products, comprising two nested conveyor, one of which is equipped with cups and the other rollers. describes a device for conveying products, comprising two nested conveyor, one of which is equipped with cups and the other rollers. Each cup and falls between two rollers, which facilitates individual products. Each cup and falls between two rollers, which facilitates individual products.
The prior art closest to the invention is illustrated by the document The prior art closest to the invention is illustrated by the document
FR-A-2 777 809 FR-A-2 777 809. This document shows a device equipped with a conveyor of coupelles to support individual products to sort and scrolling on a turntable fixed, these cups are coupled to a mobile may switch sides from these bodies for the ejection of selective products conveyed, and a tray weighing being installed in the length of the platinum fixed so that each cup individually pass on the tray weighing, according to claim 1. The cups are used to double cup wheel articulation, which, thanks to the flexibility of the articulation used to have very satisfactory performance, particularly an accuracy of 1 to 2 grams for weighing products.
All the above devices conveyor of prior art are arranged for a straight direction conveyor. Such an arrangement is conducive to performance, as the technology in this area is now well under control. However, the devices for conveying this kind are very cumbersome, and their price is relatively high. However, the devices for conveying this kind are very cumbersome, and their price is relatively high.
It also proposed a sizing of fruit with a circular layout, as shown in document It also proposed a sizing of fruit with a circular layout, as shown in document
EP-A-0 060 013 EP-A-0 060 013. In this sizing, the cups are articulated on supports individual floating mounted on a turntable, near the periphery of it.The media normally based on the turntable, and are raised at the post weighing in on rails from associates. Such a structure is quite complex and is not intended for high speed scrolling. Such a structure is quite complex and is not intended for high speed scrolling.
We can finally refer to a complete knowledge of the background technology to document We can finally refer to a complete knowledge of the background technology to document
US-A-6 484 866 US-A-6 484 866, which illustrates a conveyor-type objects coupled pallets one behind the other and each equipped with a tray swivel. , Which illustrates a conveyor-type objects coupled pallets one behind the other and each equipped with a swivel tray. It should be noted that this is not a calibration weight.
 

OBJECT OF INVENTION OBJECT OF INVENTION
This invention aims to design a conveyor of products for both to have a small footprint and low prices compared with previous above.
 

DEFINITIONS GENERAL OF INVENTION
This problem is solved by the invention through a conveyor of products equipped with a conveyor of coupelles to support individual products to sort and scrolling on a turntable fixed, these cups are coupled to a mobile may switch sides from these bodies for ejection selective products conveyed, and a tray weighing being installed in the length of the platinum fixed so that each cup individually pass on the tray weighing, the conveyor is essentially circular, with a platinum arranged in the form of a ring fixed vertical axis, and a mobile arranged in a circle rotating around the fixed above and trained in rotation around that axis by a training partner, the cups being articulated on the inner edge of the crown can switch mobile by swinging around respective circumferential routes for ejection selective products in a radial direction outside.
Like the device conveyor type in the rectilinearly document describes
FR-A-2 777 809 FR-A-2 777 809, there is a tray weighing chevron-shaped, but is arranged with a geometry taking into account the roundness of components. , There is a tray weighing chevron-shaped, but is arranged with a geometry taking into account the roundness of components. Thus the ring fixed in this case includes a tray weighing shaped chevron whose side edges are bent, and whose peak is headed in the direction of travel of scrolling on cupels the crown fixed.  In particular, the bowls are equipped with casters for their displacement on the ring fixed and the tray weighing shaped Chevron is arranged so that all the wheels of the same cup being simultaneously in contact that plateau when weighing .Benefits, the ring is rotating on rollers radial horizontal axis from the center of the crown.
It is also interesting that the ring is centered rotating on its axis by vertical rollers coming in contact with the outer periphery of the crown.
Preferably then, at least one of the rollers horizontal or vertical is coupled to an engine to form the means by which the rotating ring.