Abstract:
A decelerator device for apples or the like is disclosed. The apples are delivered to the decelerator device by a tube which can be provided with either a positive pressure upstream of the transported objects or a downstream of the transporter device. In one embodiment of the invention, the decelerator is provided with an area of reduced pressure in communication with the distal end of the transport tube. A receiving device such as a plurality of inter-engaged wheels receives the apples of other objects in the area of reduced pressure. The wheels or conveyors receive objects between opposed sealing surfaces, reduce the traveling speed of the object, and transport the object to an area of ambient pressure. The sealing surfaces are disengaged from the transported objects in the area of ambient pressure, and the objects are delivered to a transport path, dry bin, or other desired structure. In another embodiment of the invention, a counter flow of air reduces the speed of the object traveling along the tube.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This application is nationalized from PCT application PCT/US2010/38533 filed Jul. 16, 2010 entitled “Dry Decelerator For Apples or Like Objects”. 
         [0002]    This invention relates generally to devices for decelerating objects delivered to the decelerator from a pneumatic or partial vacuum tube of the sort described and claimed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/055,209 filed Mar. 25, 2008 entitled “Transport System For Fruit And Like Objects” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,695,220 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/371,446 filed Feb. 13, 2009 entitled “Mobile System For Improving The Picking And Preliminary Processing Of Apples, Citrus, Stone Fruit And Like Objects” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,686. These applications and patents are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0003]    As described in those documents, it has been found advantageous to transport apples, citrus fruit, and stone fruit or like objects through tubes having spaced apart baffles installed therein. These tubes can be provided on a mobile harvester machine or in a packing house or any other desired location. Objects (for example, apples) can be deposited into a distal end of the tube and a partial vacuum created or drawn at the end of the tube proximate to the delivery end of the tube, or within downstream portions of the upstream tube to pull the object through the tube. Alternatively, a positive pressure can be applied to the upstream distal end of the tube or to upstream portions of the tube and, consequently, to the trailing portions of the object being transported to push the object through the tube. In either event, the pressure differential across the object in the tube causes the object to move through the tube with attractive rapidity and reliability. 
         [0004]    At the proximal downstream end of the tube, the apple or other object emanating from the tube must be gently decelerated and delivered from the atmospheric environment associated with the tube interior to an ambient atmospheric environment. The handling of the object must be gentle so as not to bruise or otherwise damage the apple or other object. 
         [0005]    Decelerators capable of handling objects as described above are described and claimed in co-pending PCT application PCT/US10/021412 filed 19 Jan. 2010 and in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 61/145,899 filed Jan. 20, 2009 entitled “Deceleration Tank and Extraction Conveyor” and 61/146,468 filed Jan. 22, 2009 entitled “Multi-Section Decelerator Tank.” These applications are hereby herein incorporated by reference. 
         [0006]    It is an object of this invention to provide decelerator mechanisms capable of receiving the apples or other objects emanating from the tubes, to decelerate their movement, and to deliver the apples or like objects to an extraction conveyor or other mechanism. 
         [0007]    It is a related object of the invention to provide such a decelerator which will receive objects from the transport tubes in either a positive pressure environment or negative pressure environment, which will decelerate the objects, and which will deliver the objects to an ambient pressure environment without bruising or otherwise harming the objects. 
         [0008]    It is a subsidiary object to provide a decelerator which will operate effectively without requiring the objects to be decelerated by immersion in water or other fluids. 
         [0009]    Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a side elevation overview in schematic form of a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side elevation overview in schematic form of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a partial sectional view of portions of the invention embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the section being taken substantially in the plane of line  2 A- 2 A in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 2B  is a partial sectional view of portions of the invention shown in  FIG. 2 , the section being taken substantially in the plane of line  2 A- 2 A in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation overview in schematic form of a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3A  is a partial sectional view of portions of the invention embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the section being taken substantially in the plane of line  3 A- 3 A in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3B  is a partial sectional view of portions of the invention embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , the section being taken substantially in the plane of line  3 B- 3 B in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 3C  is a fragmentary view of a portion of the device shown in  FIG. 3  but showing in further detail a portion of the wheel and the seal adjacent the area C in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a side elevation overview in schematic form of a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4A  is a partial sectional view of portions of the invention embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the section being taken substantially in the plane of line  4 A- 4 A in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 5A  is a fragmentary view of the invention embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , showing in further detail portions of a decelerator conveyer in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5B  is a partial sectional view of portions of the invention embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the section being taken substantially in the plane of  5 B- 5 B in  FIG. 5A . 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a cut-away isometric view of fifth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a cut-away isometric view of the invention shown in  FIG. 7  and showing the contemplated paths of travel of objects which have been decelerated by the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a cut-away isometric view of a sixth embodiment of the invention illustrating, in schematic form, the path of travel of the decelerated object. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a cut-away isometric view of a seventh embodiment of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a schematic view of an eighth embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0028]    While the invention will be described in connection with several embodiments, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0029]    A first embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Apples A or other objects are transported to the novel decelerator  10  through the pneumatic tubes  12  of the sort described, illustrated and claimed in the above-cited patent and co-pending patent applications. As the apples or other objects emanate from the proximal end  14  of the tube  12 , the objects are propelled or fall upon two counter rotating wheels  20 ,  22 . These counter rotating wheels are sized, designed and so positioned as to engage one another with a substantially pressure-tight inter-engagement at a contact area  24 . To this end, the wheel rims are provided with deformable materials such as film-covered sponge rubber or other suitable arrangements so as to form the pressure tight seal area  24 , yet permit the apple or other emanated object to be engaged and held between the wheels  20 ,  22  at the area of inter engagement  24  in a generally pressure tight and completely sealed fit. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  1 A,  2 ,  2 A and  2 B, the wheels  20  and  22  are also engaged by sealing rollers  26  and  28 . The sealing rollers  26  and  28  are engaged, in turn, by wiper blades  32  and  34 . The associated walls and sides  36  act to provide a three-dimensional space R in which a reduced pressure can be generated by a vacuum exhaust  40 . It is this vacuum exhaust and reduced pressure space R which provides the reduced pressure within the tubes  12  to draw or pull the apples or other objects down the tubes  12  and into the space R and, thence, into the engaging and sealing wheel contact area  24 . Suitable pressure seals  44  are provided, and a driveshaft  46  rotates the wheels  20 ,  22  to operate the device. It will be understood that the sealing walls and sides  36  are open at the point of inter-wheel seal contact to permit the apples or other objects to pass out of the area of reduced pressure R and into the sealing wheel contact area  24 . 
         [0031]    An alternate mechanism for driving the wheels  20 ,  22  is shown in  FIG. 1B . Here a motor  50  having a suitable gear drive system  52  is provided to drive the wheels  20 ,  22 . 
         [0032]    Apples or other objects emanating from the area of pressure sealing inter-engagement  24  enter in an area P of ambient pressure, and the objects A can fall or tumble gently into a receiving and extraction conveyor  72 . 
         [0033]    A second embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIG. 3 . Here the tube  12  delivers the apples A or other objects to a rotating wheel  60 . This wheel  60  is provided with a rim  62  comprising normally open or V-configured sponge rubber or other deformable material  64  as shown in  FIG. 3A . The delivered apples are engaged and transported along a curved wheel path by the wheel  60 . As the wheel rotates, this open or V-shaped rim is axially compressed so that the deformable material  64  completely closes around the apple or other object as shown in  FIG. 3B  with a pressure-tight seal. This closing action is caused by closing cams  66 . These cams can be stationary guides, or they can be arranged as endless belts which push in an axial direction against the wheel rim sides. Stationary seals  68  here define in the area of reduced pressure R; air pressure within this area R is reduced to a partial vacuum by a suitable vacuum draw system  40 . 
         [0034]    As the wheel  60  rotates and the apples turn out of the rim compression zone C, the wheel rim  62  reopens from the configuration shown in  FIG. 3B  to the configuration shown in  FIG. 3A . The apples then drop or otherwise gently tumble into a receiving bin which can be dry, or the apples can be gently dropped onto a transfer conveyor  69  for transportation to and extraction conveyor  72  of the type described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/145,899 filed Jan. 20, 2009 and entitled “Deceleration Tank And Extraction Conveyor” and follow-on PCT International Application No. PCT/US10/021412 filed Jan. 19, 2010 entitled “Decelerator Comprising Deceleration Tank and Extraction Conveyor” claiming priority therefrom. 
         [0035]    Yet another embodiment of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 4 ,  4 A,  5 A and  5 B. Here, the apples A emanating from the delivery tube  12  are directed to an inter-engagement pressure-sealing area  104  formed between two elongated, endless conveyors  106  and  108 . Again, suitable walls  110 , wiper rollers  112  and wiper blades  114 , together with sealing surfaces  116 ,  118  provide an area R of reduced pressure; the pressure within the area R can be reduced by any suitable vacuum generator  40 . 
         [0036]    An apple A engaged by, and pressure-sealed between, the conveyors  104  and  106  is shown in  FIG. 4A . Deformable material  110  can form the peripheries of the two conveyors, and the surfaces of these materials can be provided with pliable airtight films or other seals  112 , if desired. 
         [0037]    As shown in  FIGS. 5A and 5B , the conveyer  106  can take the form of a series of pads  120  which can be provided with soft material to receive the apples or other objects. A sealing membrane belt  122  surrounding the pads  120  can provide the requisite pressure seal. Crescent seals  124  of known construction can provide additional sealing as required. 
         [0038]    In general terms, each of the foregoing embodiments of the invention operates in a somewhat similar manner. The objects such as apples A are provided to the decelerator at the end of a pneumatic or other fluid tube. The objects emanate from that tube at a velocity which can vary from time to time and from object to object. The emanating objects are engaged by one or more moving, endless, padded decelerator bodies such as a wheel or inter-engaged counter-rotating wheels. The object can be engaged by a conveyor or by a series of inter-engaged conveyors 
         [0039]    If desired, one or more of these padded wheels, padded conveyors or other handling mechanisms can have a slower peripheral speed than the initial velocity of the arriving object. In other terms, the traveling speed of the pneumatically delivered object can be reduced, if desired, to the peripheral speed of the decelerator wheel or other body. 
         [0040]    The fruit or other object is enclosed and is compressively engaged in a substantially air-tight fit by one or more decelerator wheels, conveyors or similarly arrayed decelerator devices. When so engaged, the decelerating object passes from an area of either reduced or elevated air pressure to a region of ambient air pressure. Finally, the decelerated object, now in a region of ambient pressure, is released from its air-tight fit within or upon the decelerator device and is delivered to a downstream site such as a transfer conveyor, receiving bin, or other object handler. 
         [0041]      FIG. 6  illustrates a fourth embodiment of the invention. Here, no wheels, conveyors or other endless moving elements are involved. Rather, the transport tube  12  is provided with a series of spaced apart baffles  132 - 136  as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,695,220. As disclosed in that &#39;220 patent, each of these baffles is provided with an aperture which can be circular, polygonal, or of any other effective shape. As the object A travels along the tube, it is momentarily engaged by and then passes through each baffle. This momentary engagement by the baffle permits a pressure differential to be developed across the object; the pressure on the forward side of the object becomes less than the air pressure on the rear side of the object and the object is forced through the baffle with momentum sufficient to cause the object to engage the next succeeding baffle in the tube  12 . 
         [0042]    In accordance with the invention herein, the series of baffles  133 - 136  at the delivery end  140  of the tube  12  are provided with apertures  142 - 146  of progressively larger sizes. As the object A travels through these baffles, the pressure differential across the object A becomes progressively less, and so the object is urged along the tube with progressively less momentum and speed. If desired, the object A is simply and gently released from the distal end  140  of the tube  12 . If desired, a suitable airlock mechanism of known design (not shown) can be provided to transfer the object to an extraction conveyor of any convenience sort. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 7 , the portions of the transport tube  12  adjacent to the distal end  140  can be positioned so that the object A is traveling in a substantially upward direction. Baffles can be eliminated from that portion of the adjacent the delivery end  140  so that gravity slows the traveling speed of the object A to a desired and manageable velocity. Again, a suitable airlock mechanism of known design (not shown) and/or an extraction conveyor of any convenient sort can be provided adjacent that distal or delivery tube end  140 . 
         [0044]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , that portion of the tube  12  which is adjacent the object delivery end  140  can be positioned in a diagonally upwardly and outwardly extending direction so that the emanating objects are simply tossed out, or pop out, of the tube into any known receiving device. The device could be, for example, a trough conveyor, catchment containers such as bags, bins, brushes, wheels provided with cup catchers, or any other suitable device of known design. 
         [0045]      FIG. 9  shows a sixth embodiment of the invention. Here the tube  12  is provided with a vacuum source  150  at a position located intermediate the ends of the tube and at some distance from the distal end or delivery open end  160  of the tube. 
         [0046]    Accordingly, air flows into the tube from the end  160  toward the tube evacuation point  150 , in the opposite direction of travel of the object A. This counter-flow of air slows the momentum of the traveling object A. If desired, a number of baffles  162 ,  163  can be positioned to further engage and further slow the travel of the object A. As indicated by the spiral line S, the object A can tumble or spin as it moves through and out of the tube  12 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 10  shows a seventh embodiment of the invention. Here, the vacuum is drawn through the base  151  of a T-shaped tube array, and so the travel of the object A is diverted down this base  151 . Again, air flowing into the tube through the end  160  confronts the object and slows its momentum. 
         [0048]      FIG. 11  shows an eighth embodiment of the invention. Here the object A travels along the tube  12  to its delivery end  140 , and the vacuum generator  150  is located at a position beyond the tube end  140 . If desired, an abutment screen  170  can be provided to affirmatively halt object travel. The object A then falls into a convenient device such as a rotating vane wheel  175  for delivery to a transfer conveyor  180 .