A system for indicating articles to a manual grader during a manual grading operation comprises an upstream inspection device, and processor and a downstream indication device. The upstream inspection device comprises an image capture device to capture an inspection image of the plurality of articles. The processor is configured to detect one or more characteristics of the articles based on the inspection image. The downstream indication device comprises a projection device configured to project a visual indication onto each article on the conveyor comprising the one or more characteristics to highlight each article comprising the one or more characteristics to a manual grader during manual grading of the plurality of articles.
An inspection apparatus for inspecting articles conveyed past the inspection apparatus by an article conveyor along a conveying path comprises an image capturing device located above a horizontal plane of the conveyor, a mirror located at a level of the horizontal plane of the conveyor and angled to provide a side view of an article on the conveyor to the image capturing device, and a housing for the mirror, and wherein the housing is or forms part of a conveyor lane-divider.
G01N 21/84 - Systems specially adapted for particular applications
G01N 21/88 - Investigating the presence of flaws, defects or contamination
B65G 21/20 - Means incorporated in, or attached to, framework or housings for guiding load-carriers, traction elements or loads supported on moving surfaces
B65G 47/00 - Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyorsMethods employing such devices
The invention relates to a tipping actuator for a conveyor system that comprises a plurality of article carriers moving on an endless conveyor in a conveying direction, each article carrier having a carrier frame for bearing an article, the carrier frame being pivotally mounted on the article carrier and operable to tip to enable discharge of the article borne on the carrier frame. The tipping actuator comprises a trigger member for contacting the article carriers to tip them and is configured such that, when in a non-contact position, the article carriers are able to at least partly tip towards the trigger member such that the contact portion of the trigger member is received by a portion of the article carrier. In another embodiment, a contact portion of the trigger is sloped with two different gradients. An electromagnet may be used to cause actuation of the trigger. The tipping actuator may be able to allow tipping in opposite directions of adjacent carriers, for example in some embodiments the trigger may be formed of upstream and downstream parts.
This invention relates to an article inspection system having one or more endless article conveyors configured to convey articles along one or more conveying paths. One or more light sources and one or more light diffusers are provided, wherein each light diffuser is positioned substantially at or below the level of the articles when conveyed along the conveying paths so as to illuminate, using light from the one or more light sources, at least side portions of the articles with substantially diffuse light when the articles are conveyed along the conveying path(s). At least one camera is positioned to image articles which are conveyed along the conveying paths.
B07C 5/00 - Sorting according to a characteristic or feature of the articles or material being sorted, e.g. by control effected by devices which detect or measure such characteristic or featureSorting by manually actuated devices, e.g. switches
B07C 5/342 - Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
G03B 15/06 - Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
G01N 21/88 - Investigating the presence of flaws, defects or contamination
G01N 21/89 - Investigating the presence of flaws, defects or contamination in moving material, e.g. paper, textiles
An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.
B65G 47/40 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors by dumping, tripping, or releasing load-carriers by tilting conveyor buckets
B65G 47/96 - Devices for tilting links or platforms
B65G 17/16 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising individual load-carriers which are pivotally mounted, e.g. for free-swinging movement
The invention relates to a tipping actuator for a conveyor system that comprises a plurality of article carriers moving on an endless conveyor in a conveying direction, each article carrier having a carrier frame for bearing an article, the carrier frame being pivotally mounted on the article carrier and operable to tip to enable discharge of the article borne on the carrier frame. The tipping actuator comprises a trigger member for contacting the article carriers to tip them and is configured such that, when in a non-contact position, the article carriers are able to at least partly tip towards the trigger member such that the contact portion of the trigger member is received by a portion of the article carrier. In another embodiment, a contact portion of the trigger is sloped with two different gradients. An electromagnet may be used to cause actuation of the trigger. The tipping actuator may be able to allow tipping in opposite directions of adjacent carriers, for example in some embodiments the trigger may be formed of upstream and downstream parts.
In one embodiment, an apparatus for sorting articles includes a carrier arranged to carry articles from an input to one of a plurality of outputs, a sorting controller arranged to control which output an article is delivered to dependent on a determined characteristic of the article and respective sorting criteria associated with each said output, wherein the sorting criteria comprise a value parameter of a completed package of articles associated with the respective outputs.
G01G 13/295 - Weighing mechanism control arrangements for automatic feed or discharge involving variation of an electrical variable which is used to control loading or discharge of the receptacle for controlling automatic loading of the receptacle
8.
ARTICLE CONVEYING SYSTEM WITH DIFFUSE ILLUMINATION
An article inspection system (40) comprises one or more endless article conveyors (11) configured to convey articles (12) along one or more conveying paths (42). One or more light sources and one or more light diffusers (15) are provided, wherein each light diffuser (15) is positioned substantially at or below the level of the articles (12) when conveyed along the conveying paths so as to illuminate, using light from the one or more light sources, at least side portions of the articles (12) with substantially diffuse light when the articles are conveyed along the conveying path(s) (42). At least one camera (46) is positioned to image articles (12) which are conveyed along the conveying paths (42).
G03B 29/00 - Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weaponsCameras having the shape of other objects
B07C 5/342 - Sorting according to other particular properties according to optical properties, e.g. colour
B65G 15/00 - Conveyors having endless load-conveying surfaces, i.e. belts and like continuous members, to which tractive effort is transmitted by means other than endless driving elements of similar configuration
B65G 17/00 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface
B65G 19/00 - Conveyors comprising an impeller or a series of impellers carried by an endless traction element and arranged to move articles or materials over a supporting surface or underlying material, e.g. endless scraper conveyors
G01N 21/84 - Systems specially adapted for particular applications
G03B 15/06 - Special arrangements of screening, diffusing, or reflecting devices, e.g. in studio
The present subject matter relates to article carriers for use in grading apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, for use in grading fruit. The present subject matter provides an article carrying apparatus comprising a plurality of carrier lanes each for receiving and conveying a number of articles; one or more diverters arranged to control the distribution of received articles into the lanes; a sensor arranged to determine a capacity use parameter for each lane; and a controller arranged to control the position of each diverter dependent on a difference between combined determined capacity use parameters and combined target capacity use parameters for lanes to one side of said diverter.
B65G 47/50 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to destination signals stored in separate systems
B65G 47/46 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points
B65G 47/82 - Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels
B65G 47/76 - Fixed or adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
The present subject matter relates to article carriers for use in grading apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, for use in grading fruit. The present subject matter provides an article carrying apparatus (100) comprising a plurality of carrier lanes (120) each for receiving and conveying a number of articles 160; one or more diverters (130) arranged to control the distribution of received articles into the lanes (120); a sensor (140) arranged to determine a capacity use parameter for each lane (120); and a controller (150) arranged to control the position of each diverter (130) dependent on a difference between combined determined capacity use parameters and combined target capacity use parameters for lanes (120) to one side of said diverter.
The present disclosure relates to apparatus for carrying articles such as fruit for sorting, and in particular though not exclusively to apparatus for singulating the articles. There is provided a singulation apparatus for an article carrying system, the apparatus comprising a flume adapted to receive a plurality of articles at a first end; a fluid inlet associated with the first end and arranged in use to direct a fluid flow to carry the received articles along the flume to a second end; wherein a parameter of the fluid flow is controlled in order to singulate the received articles along the flume. A method for singulation is also disclosed.
B65G 47/14 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from disorderly-arranged article piles or from loose assemblages of articles arranging or orientating the articles by mechanical or pneumatic means during feeding
B65G 47/70 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor with precedence controls among incoming article flows
A23N 15/06 - Devices for other treatment of fruit, e.g. marking, maturing, polishing
B07C 5/02 - Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream, orientating
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
A23N 15/00 - Machines or apparatus for other treatment of fruits or vegetables for human purposesMachines or apparatus for topping or skinning flower bulbs
The present disclosure relates to apparatus for carrying articles such as fruit for sorting, and in particular though not exclusively to apparatus for singulating the articles. There is provided a singulation apparatus for an article carrying system, the apparatus comprising a flume adapted to receive a plurality of articles at a first end; a fluid inlet associated with the first end and arranged in use to direct a fluid flow to carry the received articles along the flume to a second end; wherein a parameter of the fluid flow is controlled in order to singulate the received articles along the flume.
The invention provides an article sorting system, apparatus and method of control comprising lights and cameras positioned to illuminate and image articles conveyed along one or more endless article conveyors. The lights are controlled to independently illuminate each conveying path in a sequential or non-sequential manner and the cameras are controlled to image the articles when illuminated by the lights. The system helps avoid cross-lane lighting interference and helps ensure accurate detection and measurement of articles on the conveyors.
The present subject matter relates to article carriers for use in grading and sorting apparatus for use in grading or sorting fruit, vegetables or other articles. An apparatus for carrying articles and comprising; a first carrier (105) for carrying the articles (265); a second carrier (115) having a plurality of partitions (125) and arranged to receive the articles into respective partitions; a sensor (150) arranged to determine a size parameter (275, 285) of the articles; wherein the first carrier is operated at a speed dependent on the determined size parameters.
B07C 5/02 - Measures preceding sorting, e.g. arranging articles in a stream, orientating
B07B 13/04 - Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided forSorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices according to size
An elongate flume (100) is provided for receiving items of produce. The flume (100) comprises a first side (5) and an opposite second side (6). A plurality of baffles (7) are provided, each baffle (7) having a first end (8) at or adjacent the first side (5) of the flume and a second end (9) which is spaced apart from the first side (5) of the flume and spaced apart from the second side (6) of the flume.
B65G 11/08 - Chutes with discontinuous guiding surfaces, e.g. arranged in zig-zag or cascade formation
B65G 11/20 - Auxiliary devices, e.g. for deflecting, controlling speed of, or agitating, articles or solids
A23N 15/00 - Machines or apparatus for other treatment of fruits or vegetables for human purposesMachines or apparatus for topping or skinning flower bulbs
The invention relates to an article conveying apparatus comprising one or more endless article conveyors configured to convey articles in a longitudinal direction along a plurality of adjacent conveying paths, each conveyor comprising a plurality of discrete article receiving means, wherein the discrete article receiving means along each conveying path is offset in the longitudinal direction from the discrete article receiving means of the neighbouring conveying path(s). The offset nature of the article receivers improves article imaging from the side. Embodiments also disclose article dischargers in the form of ejector arms attached to the article receivers and able to be actuated to eject articles from the conveyors.
B65G 17/06 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface having a load-carrying surface formed by a series of interconnected, e.g. longitudinal, links, plates, or platforms
B65G 17/38 - Chains or like traction elementsConnections between traction elements and load-carriers
B65G 17/12 - Conveyors having an endless traction element, e.g. a chain, transmitting movement to a continuous or substantially-continuous load-carrying surface or to a series of individual load-carriersEndless-chain conveyors in which the chains form the load-carrying surface comprising a series of individual load-carriers fixed, or normally fixed, relative to traction element
B07C 3/08 - Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution using arrangements of conveyors
B65G 47/26 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors arranging the articles, e.g. varying spacing between individual articles
B65G 47/34 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors
B07C 5/36 - Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
An article carrier (100) has a mounting portion (1) adapted for connection to a conveyor. A connecting member (4) is rotatably connected to the mounting portion (1) and is rotatable relative to the mounting portion (1) about a first axis of rotation (R1). A carrier portion (3) is rotatably connected to the connecting member (4) and is rotatable relative to the connecting member (4) about a second axis of rotation (R2), wherein the first axis of rotation (R1) is spaced apart from the second axis of rotation (R2). A releasably lockable carrier support means (5) is provided to support the carrier portion (3) in a carriage position when in a locked state, and to allow rotation of the carrier portion (3) to a discharge position when in an unlocked state.
B07B 13/08 - Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided forSorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices according to weight
B07C 5/36 - Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
The invention relates to a tipping actuator for a conveyor system that comprises a plurality of article carriers moving on an endless conveyor in a conveying direction, each article carrier having a carrier frame for bearing an article, the carrier frame being pivotally mounted on the article carrier and operable to tip to enable discharge of the article borne on the carrier frame. The tipping actuator comprises a trigger member for contacting the article carriers to tip them and is configured such that, when in a non-contact position, the article carriers are able to at least partly tip towards the trigger member such that the contact portion of the trigger member is received by a portion of the article carrier. In another embodiment, a contact portion of the trigger is sloped with two different gradients. An electromagnet may be used to cause actuation of the trigger. The tipping actuator may be able to allow tipping in opposite directions of adjacent carriers, for example in some embodiments the trigger may be formed of upstream and downstream parts.
The present subject matter relates to article carriers and related methods for use in grading apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, for use in grading fruit. The present subject matter provides an article carrying apparatus comprising a plurality of carrier lanes each for receiving and conveying a number of articles; one or more diverters arranged to control the distribution of received articles into the lanes; a sensor arranged to determine a capacity use parameter for each lane; and a controller arranged to control the position of each diverter dependent on the determined capacity use parameters.
B65G 43/00 - Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
B65G 47/71 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices adapted to receive articles arriving in one layer from one conveyor and to transfer them in individual layers to more than one conveyor, or vice versa, e.g. combining the flows of articles conveyed by more than one conveyor the articles being discharged to several conveyors
B65G 47/76 - Fixed or adjustable ploughs or transverse scrapers
B07C 5/36 - Sorting apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
B65G 47/51 - Devices for discharging articles or materials from conveyors with distribution, e.g. automatically, to desired points according to unprogrammed signals, e.g. influenced by supply situation at destination
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting the surface of articles and in particular, but not exclusively to a method and apparatus for the surface inspection and subsequent grading of fruit. There is provided an article inspection apparatus (100) including conveying means (110) for conveying an elongate article (120) through an inspection site (130) and rotating the elongate article about a lateral axis of the conveying means as it passes through the inspection site. The conveying means is arranged to convey the elongate article with its longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the conveying means, the total angle of rotation about the lateral axis being limited to substantially 180 degrees. An imaging system has at least one image capture means (140) and image directing means (145a, 145b, 145c) arranged to provide to the image capture means a plurality of different views of the inspection site about the lateral axis of the conveying means. The image capture means is arranged to capture a plurality of images of the elongate article at different rotational angles as it passes through the inspection site.
The present subject matter relates to article carriers for use in grading apparatus and in particular, but not exclusively, for use in grading fruit. The present subject matter provides an article carrying apparatus (100) comprising a plurality of carrier lanes (120i=1-x) each for receiving and conveying a number of articles (160); one or more diverters (130k=1-z) arranged to control the distribution of received articles into the lanes; a sensor (140, 240) arranged to determine a capacity use parameter (Ci) for each lane; and a controller (150) arranged to control the position of each diverter dependent on the determined capacity use parameters.
B07B 13/00 - Grading or sorting solid materials by dry methods, not otherwise provided forSorting articles otherwise than by indirectly controlled devices
B65G 47/00 - Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyorsMethods employing such devices
An article carrier (100) has a mounting portion (1) adapted for connection to a conveyor. A connecting member (4) is rotatably connected to the mounting portion (1) and is rotatable relative to the mounting portion (1) about a first axis of rotation (R1). A carrier portion (3) is rotatably connected to the connecting member (4) and is rotatable relative to the connecting member (4) about a second axis of rotation (R2), wherein the first axis of rotation (R1) is spaced apart from the second axis of rotation (R2). A releasably lockable carrier support means (5) is provided to support the carrier portion (3) in a carriage position when in a locked state, and to allow rotation of the carrier portion (3) to a discharge position when in an unlocked state.
The invention relates to a method, an apparatus and a system for controlling the motion of an article. More particularly, the invention relates to diverting an article moving in a first trajectory by impinging or substantially impinging the article with one or more fluid streams so as to control or adjust the motion of the article.
B07B 4/08 - Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents while the mixtures are supported by sieves, screens, or like mechanical elements
B07B 9/00 - Combinations of apparatus for screening or sifting or for separating solids from solids using gas currentsGeneral arrangement of plant, e.g. flow sheets
B65G 47/22 - Devices influencing the relative position or the attitude of articles during transit by conveyors
B07B 4/00 - Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents
B65G 47/00 - Article or material-handling devices associated with conveyorsMethods employing such devices
B65G 47/52 - Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors, i.e. discharging or feeding devices
An apparatus for the processing of articles (5) is disclosed. The apparatus includes guide means (1) having a body, a first end (2) for receiving articles, and a second end (3) for dispatching articles. The apparatus may be used to transfer articles (5) from a first conveyor means to a second conveyor means with a reduced likelihood of the articles colliding with other articles.
B65G 47/06 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines
A01D 91/00 - Methods for harvesting agricultural products
A23N 15/00 - Machines or apparatus for other treatment of fruits or vegetables for human purposesMachines or apparatus for topping or skinning flower bulbs
A01D 46/24 - Devices for picking apples or like fruit
25.
FRUIT PACKING APPARATUS AND METHOD OF PACKING FRUIT
A fruit packing apparatus (100) comprises a fruit collection zone (1) and row forming means (102) adapted to arrange fruit in the collection zone (1) into a row. The apparatus (100) also has transfer means (103) for transferring the row of fruit to a suitable container (104). A method of arranging a plurality of elongate fruit into at least one aligned row is also described.
B65G 47/08 - Devices for feeding articles or materials to conveyors for feeding articles from a single group of articles arranged in orderly pattern, e.g. workpieces in magazines spacing or grouping the articles during feeding
09 - Scientific and electric apparatus and instruments
Goods & Services
horticultural equipment, namely a sorting and packing system, namely an automatic weigher and color grader for use by commercial packers, principally comprised of dedicated computer software, video cameras and electronic video processors, weighing cells and ejection systems, and continuous conveyors, all sold as a unit
