EP3837947A1

EP3837947A1 - An apparatus for laying out root vegetables and potatoes and other solanaceae tubers

Info

Publication number: EP3837947A1
Application number: EP19218060.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marko Sallinen
Original assignee: Fin Kalapartti Oy
Current assignee: Fin Kalapartti Oy
Priority date: 2019-12-19
Filing date: 2019-12-19
Publication date: 2021-06-23

Abstract

An apparatus for laying out root vegetables and potatoes and other Solanaceae tubers comprises the frame element (10) and lift mechanism, which comprises the lift cage (12), at least one power generation device (16), at least one power transmission device (18) and at least one guide track (14). The lift cage (12) is arranged to carry the load placed onto it inside the frame element (10). The power generation device (16) is arranged to generate the power needed to hoist the lift cage (12). The power transmission device (18) is arranged to transmit the power generated by the power generation device (16) to hoist the lift cage (12). The guide track (14) is arranged to guide the travel of the lift cage (12) between planes, which planes are substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the frame element (10). In the front section of the frame element (10) there is provided an aperture to enable the loading of a load onto the lift cage (12). The power transmission device (18) is placed to the rear section of the frame element (10).

Description

Technical field of the invention

The object of the invention is an apparatus for laying out root vegetables and other Solanaceae tubers in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

Background of the invention

Apparatuses are used to facilitate the laying out and choosing of root vegetables and potatoes and other Solanaceae tubers. Generally, these apparatuses are called, among others, root vegetable automatons and/or potato automatons. These are most commonly used to ease both the work of the shop personnel and to help persons who shop to choose unpackaged root vegetables and potatoes.
The apparatus usually comprises a frame element and a lift unit/mechanism. A storage box intended for products to be laid out is arrangeable on top of a lift cage lowered inside the frame element. The apparatus is generally dimensioned so that the storage box can be hoisted approximately to a meter's height from the floor level.
In some solutions the apparatus further comprises a front car which can be placed to the front part of the frame element. In its upper part there usually is a product bin, into which the products to be laid out run from a raised storage box for laying out and choosing. In some solutions there further is a grate on the bottom of the product bin and a crumb box placed below it, into which refuse and soil can drop.
In one solution the power transmission of the apparatus has been executed so that the power generated by an electric motor and angle transmission is transmitted by chain tractions on both sides of the main shaft and frame element to hoist the lift cage. Upon hoisting, the lift cage is transferred to the desired hoisting height on guide tracks and bearing rollers located diagonally on the side parts of the frame element. The hoisting height can be adjusted with limit switches/proximity switches. Power transmission executed this way requires considerably more room in the lateral direction of the apparatus. In other words, the power transmission of the state-of-the art solution weakens the effective width of the apparatus, i.e. the relation between the apparatus width and the product quantity that can fitted into it.
Other problems are also associated with known apparatuses. For example, lubrication of the power transmission chains and angle transmission must be seen to. In addition, the tension of the power transmission chains must be taken care of. A further problem is also caused by the difficult adjustment of the hoisting height, because transferring the limit switches to a new hoisting height requires partial disassembling of the apparatus structures.

Technical problem

The objective of the invention is to present an apparatus for laying out root vegetables and potatoes and other Solanaceae tubers with which problems associated with known solutions can be alleviated.

Summary of the invention

The objectives of the invention are achieved with an apparatus which is characterised in what is described in the independent claim. Some preferred embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims.
The object of the invention is an apparatus for laying out root vegetables and potatoes and other Solanaceau tubers. The said apparatus comprises a frame element and a lift mechanism. The said lift mechanism comprises a lift cage which is arranged to carry a load placed onto it inside the said frame element and at least one power generation device which is arranged to generate the power needed to hoist the said lift cage. The said lift mechanism further comprises at least one power transmission device arranged to transmit the power generated by the power generation device to hoist the said lift cage. The said lift mechanism further comprises at least one guide track, which is arranged to guide the travel of the said lift cage between planes, which are substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the said frame element. In the front part of the said frame element there is an aperture to enable the loading onto the said lift cage. The said power transmission device is located in the rear part of the said frame element.
In an preferred embodiment of the invention the said power transmission device is arranged to transmit substantially linear power.
In a second preferred embodiment of the invention the said power generation device is arranged to generate substantially linear power.
In yet a third preferred embodiment of the invention the said power generation device is a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder or electric cylinder.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention a pressure accumulator has been coupled to the hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder and it is arranged to store energy released when the said lift cage descends, which energy can be utilised to hoist the said lift cage.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said power generation device is an electric linear motor.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said power generation device is an electric spindle motor.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said guide track is located in the side part of the said frame element.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said guide track is located in the rear part of the said frame element.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said guide track is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the said frame element.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said power generation device is attached to the lower part of the said frame element and the push arm of the said power transmission device is attached from its first end to the said power generation device and from its second end to the said lift cage.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the push arm of the said power transmission device is attached from its second end to the lower part of the said frame element and from the first end to the said power generation device, and the said power generation device is attached to the said lift cage.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the second end of the said push arm and/or the power generation device is attached with one of the following joints: link joint, transverse screw/mortise joint, a combination of a mortise joint and bullseye bearing, a combination of a link joint and screw/mortise joint or some other respective joint.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said guide track is substantially parallel to the direction of power transmitted by the said power transmission device.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the invention the said guide track is substantially parallel to the direction of power generated by the said power generation device.
It is an advantage of the invention that the durability of the power transmission of the apparatus improves and its working life increases, and its service needs and objects are minimised.
It is a further advantage of the invention that the power transmission device does not take up effective width of the apparatus.
It is further an advantage of the invention that manufacturing an apparatus according to it requires considerably fewer specially installable components than the manufacture of an apparatus according to known solutions. Thus, assembling the apparatus of the invention is much quicker, more efficient and also more inexpensive than the assembly of an apparatus of known state-of-the-art solutions.
It is further an advantage of the invention that the apparatus according to it has fewer danger inducing movable parts and that the location of these movable parts can be arranged to a safer place than in the apparatuses of previous solutions.
Some preferred embodiments of an apparatus of the present invention have been explained above. The invention is not restricted to the solutions explained above, but the inventional idea can be applied in different ways within limits set by the claims.

Description of the drawings

The invention is next described in detail in the form of exemplary embodiments. In the drawings reference is made to the attached figures, in which
figures 1 and 2 illustrate a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

The embodiments presented in the specification are only exemplary, and one skilled in the art can execute the basic idea of the invention also in some other way than the one described in the specification. Even though reference may be made to some embodiment or embodiments in several places in the specification, this does not mean that the reference would only be targeted at one described embodiment, or that the described feature would only be applicable in one described embodiment. Individual features of two or several embodiments can be combined and thus new embodiments of the invention can be achieved.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate in an exemplary manner a side view of an embodiment of an apparatus of the invention for laying out root vegetables and potatoes and other Solanaceae tubers. The apparatus has a frame element 10 with lift mechanism inside. In Figures 1 and 2, the power generation device 16 is attached to the lower part of the frame element 10. The power transmission device 18 is attached from its first end to the power generation device 16 and from its second end to the lift cage 12. In other words, the fastening of the power generation device 16 is anchored to the stationary frame element 10 and the fastening of the power transmission device 18 to the lift cage 12 moves as the lift cage 12 moves. In the figure, the side part of the frame element 10 parallel to the power generation device 18 and the power transmission device 16 there is the guide track 14. The guide track 14 has a groove, which is arranged to guide the travel of the bearing roller 24 and the lift cage 12 attached to it between planes. These planes are substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the frame element 10 and/or the plane, onto which the frame element 10 can be placed.
In Figure 1 there is illustrated the lift cage 12 belonging to the lift mechanism in its upper position, in which the push arm of the power transmission device 18 protrudes considerably from the inside of the power generation device 16. In Figure 2, the lift cage 12 is in its lower position, so that the power transmission device 18 and its push arm are considerably inside the power production device 16. In other words, when hoisting/lowering the lift cage 12, the joint length of the power transmission device and power generation device extends/shortens.
In the apparatus according to the invention, the power generation device 16 can be any device generating power, which can be arranged to generate the power needed to hoist the lift cage 12. It is obvious for one skilled in the art that the power generation device 16 used is required to have the elevating force and holding power required for the lift cage 12 and the load to be put in it.
In the example in Figures 1 and 2, the apparatus comprises one power generation device 16, which is an electric spindle motor according to known technology.
The apparatus also comprises control equipment for the power generation device 16 (not shown in the Figures 1-2). The said control equipment is arranged to control the moving of the lift cage 12. In some embodiments the control equipment switches can be located outside the frame element 10. In some embodiments, the switch boxes of the said control equipment containing the actual control system can be located inside or outside the frame element 10.
When the power generation device 16 is a spindle motor, the push arm of the power transmission device 18 comprises a screw, i.e. a threaded arm part and a nut rotating in it. The spindle motor is arranged to rotate the said nut, in which case, depending on the direction of rotation of the motor, the joint length of the spindle motor and screw either extends or shortens.
In the example in Figures 1 and 2, the spindle motor frame and its fastening to the lower part of the frame element 10 are shown of the power generation device 16 (Figures 1 and 2 do not show the motor or screw of the spindle motor). Further, the threaded arm part with its fasteners attached to the spindle motor form the said push arm and thus the said power transmission device 18. In Figures 1 and 2 there are shown the said screw/threaded arm part of the power transmission device 18 attached to the spindle motor and the fastening of its second end to the lift cage 12.
In some embodiments the spindle motor can be a motor in which the screw is rotated, and the nut remains unrotated. In this case, either the part to be hoisted, i.e. the said lift cage 12, must be attached to the said nut or, alternatively, the joint of the push arm end with the lift cage 12 must be pivoted so that the rotary movement of the screw is not transmitted to the said lift cage 12.
In accordance with the invention, the lift mechanism can also comprise more than one power generation device 16 and power transmission device 18. In this case the elevating and holding force required of an individual power generation device decrease.
In some embodiments, the power generation device 16, such as a spindle motor, comprises a clutch mechanism protecting from mechanical overloading. The clutch mechanism is arranged to slide when the elevating and/or holding force of the spindle motor is exceeded. In other words, the switch mechanism prevents the hoisting of a load too large in relation to the strength of the apparatus.
When using the apparatus, there may rise a need to adjust the hoisting height of the apparatus according to the type of storage box used and/or the type of the front car to be connected to it. For this purpose, in some embodiments, the apparatus comprises an inductive position sensor (i.e. reed switch). The inductive position sensor is arranged to define one or several automatic stopping points for the hoisting height of the lift cage 12. The inductive position sensor is placed to the desired joint length of the power generation device 16 and power transmission device 18. In other words, the inductive position sensor is set to the desired hoisting height. In some embodiments, this means that the said position sensor is locked to the power generation device 16 or power transmission device 18 with appropriate fastening elements.
In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a component identifying the position data. The component identifying the position data is arranged to identify the combined length of the power generation device 16 and power transmission device 18 (i.e. the hoisting height of the lift cage 12) and to inform this identified joint length electronically to the control equipment for the said power generation device 16.
In some embodiments, the power generation device 16 is an electronic linear motor with planar stator and rotor windings and/or magnets. Further, the slide spindle with its fasteners moving on the stator of the linear motor substantially form the said power transmission device 18 and its said push arm.
In some embodiments, the power generation device 16 can be, for example, a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder or electric cylinder. When the power generation device 16 is one of these three cylinders, the power generation device 16 comprises substantially a frame with fasteners, a cylinder element and piston element. The power transmission device 18 further comprises a push arm with fasteners substantially attaching to the piston element.
In some embodiments, the hydraulic cylinder is arranged to be used by the power of a hydraulic pump or hydraulic circuit. In some embodiments, the said pneumatic cylinder is arranged to be used by the power of a compressor or pneumatic circuit.
In some embodiments, a pressure accumulator is connected to the hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder and arranged to store energy releasing upon the descending of the said lift cage 12, which energy can be used to hoist the said lift cage 12.
In some embodiments, the power generation device 16 can be attached to the lift cage 12 and the power transmission device 18 is attached to the frame element 10. In such embodiments, the fastening of the power transmission device 18 is anchored to the stationary frame element 10 and the fastening of the power generation device 16 to the lift cage 12 moves as the lift cage 12 moves.
It is possible to fasten the second end of the power transmission device 18 (i.e. push arm) and/or the frame of the power generation device 16 to the frame element 10 or lift cage 12, for example, with one of the following joints: a link joint, transverse screw/mortise joints, a combination of a screw/mortise joint and bullseye bearing, a combination of a link joint and screw/mortise joint or some other respective joint.
In the examples in Figures 1 and 2, the lift mechanism comprises advantageously guide tracks 14 on both side parts of the frame element. The guide track 14 is attached to the frame element 10. The guide track 14 is advantageously a C profile or some other respective profile, inside which the bearing roller 24 can travel.
In some embodiments, the guide track 14 is a slide track and the said bearing roller 24 has been replaced by a slide element travelling in the slide track.
In some embodiments, the guide track 14 is placed to the rear section of the frame element 10 behind the lift cage 12.
In some embodiments of the invention, the guide track 14 is in an oblique position in relation to the horizontal plane of the frame element 10. In this case, the direction of the power generated by the power generation device 16 and the direction of the power transmitted by the power transmission device 18 is advantageously parallel to the guide track 14 in oblique position.
In some embodiments of the invention, the power transmission device 18 comprises chain or wire transmission and idler wheels needed for the transmission of power to place the power transmission device 16 in a horizontal or oblique position.
Some preferred embodiments of the apparatus of the invention have been explained above. The invention is not restricted to the above described solutions, but the inventional idea can be applied in different ways within the limits set by the claims.

Claims

Apparatus for laying out root vegetables, potatoes and other Solanaceae tubers comprises:
- a frame element (10) and

- a lift mechanism, comprising
∘ a lift cage (12), which is arranged to carry a load placed onto it inside the said frame element (10);

∘ at least one power generation device (16), which is arranged to generate the power needed to hoist the said lift cage (12);

∘ at least one power transmission device (18), which is arranged to transmit the power generated by the said power generation device (16) to hoist the said lift cage (12); and

∘ at least one guide track (14), which is arranged to guide the travel of the said lift cage (12) between planes, the planes being substantially parallel to the horizontal plane of the said frame element (10);

an aperture is provided in the front section of the said frame element (10) to enable the loading of a load onto the said lift cage (12), characterised in that the said power transmission device (18) is placed to the rear section of the said frame element (10).
Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the said power transmission device (18) is arranged to transmit substantially linear power.
Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the said power generation device (18) is arranged to generate substantially linear power.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said power generation device (16) is a hydraulic cylinder, pneumatic cylinder or electric cylinder.
Apparatus according to any of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the said power generation device (16) is an electric linear motor.
Apparatus according to any of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the said power generation device (16) is an electric spindle motor.
Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that a pressure accumulator is coupled to the said hydraulic cylinder or pneumatic cylinder, which accumulator is arranged to store energy releasing upon descending of the said lift cage (12), which energy can be utilised to hoist the said lift cage (12).
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said guide track (14) is located in the side section of the said frame element (10).
Apparatus according to any of the claims 1-7, characterised in that the said guide track (14) is located in the rear section of the said frame element (10).
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said guide track (14) is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal plane of the said frame element (10).
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said power generation device (16) is attached to the lower part of the said frame element (10) and the push arm of the said power transmission device (18) is attached from its first end to the said power generation device (18) and from its second end to the said lift cage (12).
Apparatus according to any of the claims 1-10, characterised in that the push arm of the said power transmission device (18) is attached from its second end to the lower part of the said frame element (10) and from its first end to the said power generation device (16) and the said power generation device (16) is attached to the said lift cage.
Apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that the second end of the push arm of the said power transmission device (18) and/or the power generation device (16) is attached with one of the following joints: a link joint, a transverse screw/mortise joint, a combination of a screw/mortise joint and bullseye bearing, a combination of a link joint and screw/mortise joint or some other respective joint.
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said guide track (14) is substantially parallel to the direction of power transmitted by the said power transmission device (18).
Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said guide track (14) is substantially parallel to the direction of power generated by the said power generation device (16).