FR2575732A1 - DISTRIBUTOR FOR ORDERING OBJECTS, IN PARTICULAR AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, DISTRIBUTION METHOD AND INSTALLATIONS COMPRISING SUCH A DISTRIBUTOR - Google Patents

Abstract

THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION IS THAT OF DISTRIBUTORS (OR SEPARATORS) OF PRODUCTS. THE PROBLEM IS TO REALIZE AN EFFICIENT DISTRIBUTION FOR THE AUTOMATIC SEPARATION OF PRODUCTS HAVING A WIDE RANGE OF SIZES AND WEIGHT. THIS OBJECT IS ACHIEVED USING A DISTRIBUTOR CONSISTING OF A 10 INDEPENDENT SUCCESSIVE LENGTHENED SECTIONS TRANSPORTER, EACH INCLUDING A PAIR OF EXPANSION ROLLS 22, SUBJECTING A GRADUAL ELONGATION IN THE FUR AND AS THEIR ADVANCES, BY THE 'INTERMEDIATE OF A CAMEGALET SYSTEM. THE INVENTION FINDS A PREFERENTIAL APPLICATION FOR THE SEPARATION OF TUBERS, AND IN SORTING PLANTS OR AGAIN IN CERTAIN TYPES OF SEEDS.

Description

"Dispatcher for ordering objects, including agricultural products,

  distribution process and facilities

including such a splitter ".

  The present invention relates to a

  and in particular, but not exclusively, a

  a distributor of agricultural products, for example from

  land or other tubers.

  The term "distribution" which is used

  throughout this application, must be

  is understood to mean "the action of bringing objects, which are initially in a disordered or loose state, into a more regular and orderly arrangement, without, however, necessarily implying an orientation in a particular way". The term "dispatcher" shall be understood to mean an apparatus performing

  a "distribution" as described above.

  Many patents of the prior art

  the subject of a method of apportionment in

  specific industrial applications, such as

  biscuits or cigarettes. When the

  objects to be distributed are of uniform shape and size

  the method is relatively simple to implement. Thus, when dealing with agricultural products that present this homogeneity, there are few problems. For example, homogeneity

  the shape of the eggs makes the distribution and conditions

  easy to implement, although their

  It requires that the handling elements be carefully designed. On the other hand, when it comes to potatoes and other tubers, we are dealing with

  a wide range of dimensions and shapes, and the

  Positive dispatchers satisfactory operation -are rare. Such a device is known which uses a series of groups of circular section belts, driven in motion with a progressively increasing speed, and shaped to facilitate the formation of a single tubular line.

  transfer point in the series, we increase the speed

  displacement to facilitate a separation of the tubers from each other, these tubers may be at the beginning, contiguous or more or less superimposed. However, such a device, because of its design, tends to be very long and occupy a considerable space. In addition, it is able to feed only one calibration head. Thus, to obtain a sufficient flow, it is necessary to propel the tubers at high speed, or to use a

  multiplicity of splitters and calibration heads.

  This can lead to tuber damage.

  Other devices consisting of compartmentalised conveyors are also known, comprising various mechanical devices such as rotary brushes which are intended to minimize the number of

  compartments with two or more objects.

  However, it is difficult to avoid such a phenomenon,

  see the presence of several objects in the same compartment

  when the range of tuber dimensions

is wide.

  In. Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a splitter (o splitter) which overcomes these disadvantages, or at least significantly reduces them. For this purpose, the dispatcher

  according to the invention comprises a conveyor of

  in a first direction of the objects to be ordered

  and allocate, and expansion means of said transpor-

  substantially horizontally in a se-

  conde direction of which at least the main component

  is at right angles to said first direction.

  Advantageously, said conveyor consists of a plurality of elongated elements extending in the direction of the width of the

  carrier, transversely to the direction of

  each element being coupled to the element

  previous and the next carrier item.

  Also advantageously, each of said elongated elements forming the movable portion of the conveyor is coupled to ac-r means. of said elements from a first location of cb1rzement up to a

  second place of unloading of the objects to be distributed,

  said elements being also connected to said means

  expansion to undergo a gradual expansion

  when moving between said first location

and said second location.

  Another advantageous feature of the invention is that each element is

  consisting of a set of axially extendable rollers.

  In a preferred embodiment of the invention,

  tin, each set of rolls consists of two

  identical rollers arranged in parallel, trans-

  versally and at a low interval, and

  each an expandable envelope in said direc-

  expansion, said rolls of u-not even pair

  sliding on two transverse rods, and the ends

  stems being engaged on each side of the trans-

  carrier in one and the same link of a lateral

drive.

  According to another advantageous characteristic

  each of said sets of rolls circulates continuously

  between said first location and said second location.

  and return, and is alternately driven between two extreme configurations: a configuration of

  maximum length and a half-length configuration

nimale.

  It is also advantageous that the

  titter includes a direct and / or indirect cam surface with the ends of each roll

  to adjust the length of each expandable element.

  Two cam surfaces can also be provided.

  posed in opposition, so as to lead to a movement

  both ends of each element in the opposite direction.

  According to another characteristic of the in-

  the carrier includes means of

  cyclic traction located at the discharge

  the carrier, so as to provoke a movement

  removal of the extremity and / or the totality

  each element, thus favoring the discharge of

  is lying. It is also possible to achieve the same goal, to train the carrier by means of

  a pinion with a sufficient number of teeth

  weak to induce a cyclical movement of

  carrier. In this case, we can pre-

  see a flexible stop shutter for holding objects

  as allocated, when unloading the

2Ceur.

  Another solution is to provide a tiltable tray mounted at the output of the carrier,

  for momentary retention of distributed objects.

  In the latter case, the

  ble is advantageously fixed by cross pivoting elements.

  As mentioned earlier, the breakdowns

  according to the invention are particularly suitable

  for the sorting of potatoes or other tubers.

  Thus, according to another characteristic, the invention relates to a tundish for loading potatoes or other tubers from an unloading hopper, ordering said tubers in alignments or they can initially be placed side by side or even overlap, and then perform a spatial separation of the tubers from each other, so as to present them one by one to

  a calibration head (using cali-

  optical or weighing). When it is necessary to have a high yield, it is possible to feed

  several calibration heads from the dispatcher.

  Dispatchers of the present invention may also be the basic element of a drill or the like. The invention also relates to a

such seeder.

  Other features and benefits

  of the invention will become apparent on reading the

  following description of a preferred embodiment

  the invention, given by way of illustration, and the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a partial plan view of a distributor according to the present invention;

  FIG. 2 is an end view of said

  titler (seen from the right to the left of Figure 1); - Figure 3 is a side view of the discharge end of the splitter;

  FIGS. 4 and 5 are side views.

  unloading ends corresponding to

  optional embodiments of the splitter.

  Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, a distributor 10 according to the present invention uses a conveyor which constitutes the basic element for the distribution operation, in the form of a roller table 12, in which the rollers can begin by traversing a sloping area (shown) constituting the basis of a small

  unloading hopper. According to another embodiment of

  table 12 can be fed with potatoes (or other tubers), coming directly from another carrier (not shown), which comes

  feed it across the width, so as to use

  the largest capacity possible.

  The rollers of the table 12 are carried by two roller chains and hollow axes 16,17. The roller guide rods are of square section and have pins which are engaged in the

hollow shafts of the chains.

  The rotation of the rollers is caused by means of pignor 19 mounted at one end of the rollers by means of anchoring collars 20. The pinions 19 are engaged with a rack 21

  along one of the two conveyor chains16,17.

  The rollers of the table 12 have a

  figuration that differs from conventional rolls in

  the extent that they comprise rubber tubes 22

  rubber in convolutions (or any other flexible material) anchored at the same end of the guide rods 18 as the pinions 19. At the other end, the tubes are clamped on slides 24 mounted in support blocks 26. These are molded in pairs connected by connecting rails 28

  which bear lugs and rollers 30,31.

  The cups 24 have openings

  square res to allow each slider to rotate

  inside the associated support block 26, while permitting

  also causing the carrier block to slide along the square shank 18 without causing any rotation relative to the rigidly fixed ends of the rubber tubes 22 (which could cause

a twisting of the tubes).

  In another embodiment, (not

  shown), the rods 18 may have a sec-

  tubular circular connection, and include a groove for preventing angular displacement of rigidly fixed collars 20 and sliders 24

2575-732

one to another.

  In another variant, we do not use

  no crossbeam 28 and each tube 22 com-

  has its own individual ergot-roller assembly.

  In this case, however, it is necessary to equip

  the tubes of other anti-rotation devices, on the

  This may include, for example, end elements of square section, moving in a suitable U-profile

  on one side of the roller table.

  Referring again to the illustrated embodiment, it will be appreciated that a guide rail 33, having a suitable double cam surface, is positioned at a precise location under

  the roller table 12, and diagonally. In the

  In Figure 1, only one face of the rail is shown. In another embodiment (not shown), the single rail 33 is replaced by a pair of diverging guide rails, which ensures a spacing of the two

  ends of the rollers simultaneously.

  Since the rollers of the table 12 are carried and driven to the unloading zone by the two lateral conveyor chains 16, 17,

  the zalets 31 mounted on the pins 30 are in con-

  tact with the inner surface of the double-sided guide rail 33, which causes the displacement of the sliders 24 carrying the spiral tubes 22 (or convolution) laterally with respect to the collars

rigidly fixed20.

  The conveyor chains 16, 17 are preferably embedded to prevent lateral movement by the extension and contraction forces of the table support rollers. One way to achieve this is to use rollers of vertical axis guide or the like, for example a guide rail having a suitable support surface (not shown), fixed in free rotation to the frame of the apparatus and in contact

  with the side plates of the chains 16,17.

  Advantageously, these guide rollers or the like are located near the outermost side plates of the upper end of the chain 17, and in the vicinity

  the outermost side plates

  the lower strand (return strand) of the chain 16.

  In one place, the rotation of

  transport is interrupted by the interruption of the guide rack (not shown) located on

  an edge of one of the conveyor chains 16,17.

  The tubers 35 which can be side by side, or even overlap prior to expansion of the spiral tubes 22, undergo spatial separation by the expansion of the tubes. When they reach the end of the table

  with rollers 12, they are practically completely

  left and separated. The distance between the adjacent tubers is essentially dependent on how they relate to each other on spiral tubes prior to expansion, and more particularly to the smallest distance separating them in pairs. So, if this distance is 20 millimeters initially, it can then

  to 60 mm after expansion, depending on

  slip that may have occurred. The ratio between the size of the tubes between the contracted configuration and the extended configuration is approximately 3: 1 in the embodiment shown, although it is of course possible to make devices having a

  different report. In the case shown, there is

  approximately 5 turns every 25 mm, when the

  turns are in retracted configuration.

  By reaching the end of the conveyor, the potatoes are fed either onto a transverse pallet transporter 40 (shown only in FIG. 3) or in another embodiment on a transporter operating in the same direction.

  than the roller table12 (version not shown).

  To cause a sudden ejection of the complete row of tubers, it is arranged to change the rate of rotation of the rollers around the wheel

  toothed drive 42 (Figure 3). Instead of traveling

  around this toothed wheel, the transport chains

  which have a tooth gap of about 75 mm,

  (in this example) continue their journey on a

  sliding rail stage, comprising a fixed portion 44 and a movable portion 45, the drive being provided by means of a rail 46 designed to prevent the chain

to go up in this area.

  The sliding rail 45 is driven in linear motion at the same speed as the chains under the thrust of a roller 48 driven by an Archimedean spiral cam. The drive shaft of

  the cam 50 is driven by means of an intermediate shaft

  transmission gear 52, by the driving gear wheel

  42. When the chain moved a notch

  complete, the vertical recess of the cam 50 pro-

  it involves a sudden withdrawal of the sliding element under the action of a pair of compression springs mounted on the portion 44 on both side edges of the sliding rail 45. Only one of these springs 54 is visible in FIG. The end roller 55 then falls under the effect of gravity, and a tensioner cat

  (not shown) ensures fast and simulated ejection

  The pallets 56 of this conveyor are arranged to form a relatively small pitch (25 mm), and are arranged at 45 although other values can be used. more open angles. They also present a depression

  towards their central part, to favor the posi-

  potatoes in this central region of the belt. The angle of the pallets, as well as the conformation of the rubber (or other material) of the conveyor 40, are intended to ensure that when a potato arrives on the pallets, it will cause the collapse of those which

  findinmediately below. The first puck-

  those who are behind and who do not have this depression then play the role of a backstop that helps the acceleration of the potatoes

  in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

  The right part of Figure 1 represents

  a pair of spiral tubes in the iron configuration

  (compressed), carrying potatoes which come

  they are placed side by side in a very wide range of sizes. The

  left part of the same figure represents the confi-

guration after expansion.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown a detail of another embodiment, according to which the drive pinion

  is now placed near the trans-

  versal 40, and is devoid of the ejection mechanism

44-50.

  Preferably, the pinion 58 comprises only a few teeth, for example about 6, so as to induce a movement in some 1 1,

  cyclic way to the drive chain of the rollers.

  If desired, a mechanism for

  appropriate training (not shown) to enable

  cent this effect, for example a drive gear

  elliptical, or a Maltese cross. Reference 60 in FIG.

  flexible shutter designed to preserve the

  potato during transfer to the transverse conveyor 40. The position of the flap is adjustable in the vertical and / or horizontal planes. This flap is, preferably, made of a flexible rubbery material for

  belt, or equivalent material.

  FIG. 5 represents another embodiment in which the shutter of the previous version is replaced by a tiltable plate

  62, adjustably positioned for the purpose of

  see retain the potatoes that escape in

  rolling rollers in extension of the rolling table

12.

  As depicted in the desires, the

  tilting bucket 62 is pivotally mounted on the ends

  lower pairs of two pairs of 64.65 crossed pivot link rods, of which only one pair is

visible in Figure 5.

  The unloading mechanism ccm also

  An appropriate cam having six lobes (not shown) attached to the drive shaft of pigrnc 58 or any other shaft (not shown) which is driven at the same speed as the pinion shaft. A lever (not shown) connects the basc-lable tray (or one of its connecting elements) with the ca = e, so as to cause the tilting of the tilting tray, during operation of the system, to its unloading position 67 and back, for each rank of

  potatoes unloaded from the roller table 10.

  In operation, the shape of the section of the

  62 and the geometry of the connecting elements 64,65 are such that the potatoes will park a short time on the tray before it quickly tilts backwards to unload

  the potatoes on the belt 40.

  In other embodiments of these transfer devices shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the vane belt 40 is replaced by a U-shaped longitudinal belt moving in the same direction.

  direction than the roller table 12. -

  In the case of exceptionally heavy products, such as large potatoes, or other heavy materials, it may be necessary to assist in the regular and uniform opening of the tubes despite the friction of the products. . This can be achieved by inserting inside each spiral tube a low pitch extension spring, a

  peripheral diameter larger than the tree of

  trailing, and an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the spiral tube. Another solution is to simultaneously remove the two ends of the sets of rollers, as mentioned above, insofar as this makes it possible to halve the distance during which the spirals of the tube would have otherwise been subjected to a resistance of

  friction during the expansion of the tubes.

  It should be noted that the return line of the roller table (not shown) is held under tension by spring, so as to maintain the tension in the chains of the conveyor-and to ensure that

  the guide rail causes the return of the spiral tubes

  to their compressed configuration, in which they are held until they meet again the guide rail in its divergent section on

  the upper strand of the roller table.

  Most of the structural features and essential advantages of the invention can be summarized as follows:

  First, the invention provides a disclosure

  positive that bulk potatoes from a feed hopper or conveyor belt can be ordered in regular rows

  then distributed and placed on a conveyor belt

  fert or any other carrier in such a way

  that they preserve their distributed and ordered state.

  The device may include rollers

  comprising flexible tubular jackets, spira-

  which may extend from a configura-

  closed (compressed) in which the spirals are in contact with each other, or very close together,

  up to an open (extended) configuration in the-

  which spirals are separated from each other,

  their separation distance being for example multi-

  folded by three (this figure does not constitute a

limiting characteristic).

  The device may include rails

  sliding, driven by a cam producing a

* linear, to reinforce the ejection rows distributed products, or, according to another mode

  of embodiment, a flexible stopping belt or

  a tiltable tray arranged so as to

  the distribution of products when they are

  at the exit of the roller table.

  The transfer conveyor may include a vane belt, which is designed to provide acceleration to products with

  minimal degradation of their distribution position

  in such a way that all the potatoes clear the ejection zone before the arrival of

  next to potatoes spread.

  Another embodiment consists of pre-

  see a carrier, pallet or single piece

  this, consecutive to the dispatching carrier, and moving in the same direction, to bring the

  to sorting or weighing

posed in appropriate ways.

Claims (12)

  1. Dispatcher for ordering objects, in particular tubers, characterized in that it comprises a conveyor (10) for conveying in a first direction objects to be distributed (35), and means for expanding said conveyor   (10) substantially horizontally in a se-   direction, of which at least the principal component   blade is at right angles to said first direction.   2. Dispatcher according to claim 1, characterized in that said conveyor (10) is   consisting of a plurality of elongated elements,   extending in the direction of the width of the conveyor (10) transversely to the direction of conveyance, each element being coupled to the preceding element and   to the next element of the conveyor (10).   30. Dispatcher according to any one   Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that each   said elongated elements forming the movable portion of   carrier (10) is coupled to means for   elements since a first replacement   loading to a second unloading location   the objects to be distributed, said elements being also connected to said expansion means to undergo progressive expansion in the directic. the width of the conveyor (10) during their displacement   between said first loading location and the   said second unloading location.   4. Dispatcher according to the claim   3, characterized in that each element is   with a set of axially extendable rollers.    . Dispatcher according to claim 4, characterized in that each of said sets of rollers is coupled to drive means of said rollers continuously between said loading location and said second discharge location, and back, while being simultaneously connected to means for expanding and compressing said sets of rollers in the direction of the width of the conveyor (10) alternately between two extreme configurations:   a configuration of maximum length and a configuration ration of minimum length.   6. Dispatcher according to the claim   4, characterized in that it comprises a cam surface (33) in direct and / or indirect engagement with the ends of each set of rollers, for adjusting the length of each element. -   7. Dispatcher according to the claim   6, characterized in that it comprises two cam surfaces, arranged in opposition, so as to cause a movement of the two ends of each element by opposite direction.   8. Dispatcher according to any one   claims from 1 to 7, characterized in that   includes cyclic retraction means (45, 48, 50) located at the unloading location of the conveyor   (10) so as to cause a sudden withdrawal   of the end and / or the totality of each   by favoring unloading.   9. Dispatcher according to any one   than claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   the conveyor (10) is driven in displacement by means of a toothed wheel (58) having a sufficiently small number of teeth to induce movement   cyclic drive carrier (10). e. Dispatcher according to the claim   9, characterized in that it co-takes a flap   stopping device (60) for holding objects in position   Distributed distribution, output of the carrier (10).   11. Dispatcher according to any one   Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that   takes a tiltable tray (62) of momentary reception   born objects in distributed position at the output of the conveyor (10).   12. Dispatcher according to the claim   11, characterized in that said rocker plate   ble (62) is pivotally mounted on the ends of   two pairs of cross-linked stems (64,65).   13 13. Dispatcher according to the   cation 4, characterized in that said set of rolls consists of two identical rolls arranged   parallel, transversely and at a low   each other, each with an envelope of   pe (22) expandable in said direction of expansion, said rollers of the same pair sliding on two   transverse rods (18), the ends of said halves   ges (18) being engaged, on each side of the conveyor (10), in   the same link (16,17) of a side chain of dragging.   14. Dispatcher according to any one   claims 6 or 7, characterized in that   each of said cam surfaces is constituted by   at least one guide rail (33) extending diagonally   relative to said conveying direction of said conveyor (10) and cooperating with rollers   (31) carried by each of said sets of rollers.  . Dispatcher according to the   3 & cation 8, characterized in that said cyclic retraction means consist of an Archimedes spiral cam (50), and a sliding rail (45) cooperating with retraction springs (54), said cam ( 50) thus causing the retraction   cyclic said sliding ra l (45).   16th. Dispatcher according to claim   4, characterized what an extension spring of   not be inserted inside each of those rolls WPL.   170. Method of distributing tuber-   using a splitter according to any one of   Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that   feeds said tundish with potatoes and / or other tubers from a seed hopper   unloading, these tubers are ordered to   on elongated elements of the distributor, where they may have been placed   side by side, or even overlap, and then   a spatial separation of said tubers from each other by expanding said sets of rollers   in order to present them one by one to a head of   bration. 18 '. Sorting plant, in particular for tubers, characterized in that it comprises a distribution device according to any one of the   claims 1 to 16, feeding at least one head calibration. 19. Plantation plant   graines, characterized in that it comprises a   titler according to any one of claims 1 to 16.