Patent ID: 12214963

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIGS.1and2depict the first preferred embodiment of the invention, whereasFIGS.3,4, and9depict the second preferred embodiment of the conveyor machine object of the present invention.

In view ofFIGS.1and3, it can be seen that in any of the preferred embodiments, the machine is made up of a structure that rests on a support (15).

FIGS.2and4depict a top view of the machine of the invention in its first and second preferred embodiments, respectively, where the inlet area for the fruit and/or vegetable to be conveyed (product (10)), the alignment area (8), and the area for inspection (9) are identified.

A plurality of rotating elements (1) and a plurality of connection elements (4) are involved in any of the preferred embodiments of the fruit and vegetable conveyor machine of the invention.

As observed in the first preferred embodiment of the invention (FIGS.1and2), the machine has a traction cable (2) and two crown wheels (3) with slots. In that sense, the crown wheels (3) are associated such that there is arranged thereon a traction cable (2) defining a circuit along which the mentioned traction cable (2) travels.

On the other hand, in the second preferred embodiment of the invention (FIGS.3and4), the machine has two traction cables (2) and four crown wheels (3) with slots. The crown wheels (3) with slots are thereby associated in pairs, such that on each pair of crown wheels (3) there is arranged one of the traction cables (2) defining a circuit. That is, the second preferred embodiment of the machine of the invention has two circuits associated with two traction cables (2), respectively, travelling in the opposite direction and synchronously, as indicated inFIG.3.

Advantageously, the second embodiment of the invention enables the modification of the distance between the two facing circuits, so the range of conveyable products is greatly expanded.

FIG.5depicts a connection element (4) involved in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention and preferably being T-shaped. Each connection element (4) has a perforation (4′), a notch (4″), and a channel (4′″) perpendicular to the mentioned perforation (4′).

As observed inFIG.6, in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the preferred shape of the rotating element (1) is a cone. In that sense, each rotating element (1), regardless of the external shape it has, is associated with a stud bolt (5) going through same to enable the rotation of the rotating element (1) on the stud bolt (5). Likewise, it can be seen inFIG.5that a traction cable (2) is inserted through the perforation (4′) of the connection element (4).

It can be seen inFIGS.6and7that in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the connection elements (4) are suspended on the traction cables (2) through the perforations (4′). In that sense, each connection element (4) is associated with the channel (4″) of a rotating element (1) by means of the stud bolt (5). Therefore, the machine of the invention has the same number of connection elements (4) as it does rotating elements (1).

On the other hand, the notch (4″) of the connection element (4) enables the latter to be associated with a mechanised rail. Specifically, the first preferred embodiment of the machine of the invention has one mechanised rail (6) as it has only one circuit. This mechanised rail (6) is arranged along one side of the circuit, as observed inFIGS.1and2.

On the other hand, the second preferred embodiment of the invention has mechanised rails (6) arranged on the two opposite-facing circuits.

FIG.8shows that in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention each mechanised rail (6) is in the form of a clamp internally having projections (6′) and a friction belt (7), such that the notches (4″) of the connection elements (4) travel over the projections (6′) of each mechanised rail (6) and the rotating elements (1) rest on the friction belt (7) to generate the rotation on themselves.

In both preferred embodiments of the invention, inFIGS.2and4, the alignment area (8) of the machine has at least two belts (11) in movement, with each one being opposite-facing, forming a V, and with the presence thereof being limited to the alignment area (8). In both preferred embodiments, the angle of inclination formed by the belts forming a V could be adjusted based on the needs of the product to be conveyed.

To understand the movement conveyed to the product (10) to be processed through any of the preferred embodiments of the machine of the invention, it should be noted that each pair of crown wheels (3) moves defining a conveying speed of the rotating elements (1) suspended on the traction cables (2) of the circuit. In this way, the movement speed of the belts (11) is less than the conveying speed of the rotating elements (1) in order to offer a surface where product (10) accumulates.

Advantageously, in the second preferred embodiment of the invention, the presence of V-shaped belts (11) offers a larger surface where the product (10) can accumulate for the purpose of favouring its proper alignment and arrangement to immediately move on to the area for inspection (9).

Optionally, in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the mechanised rail (6) in the area for inspection (9) has LEDs (14) which project illumination onto the rotating elements (1) which are optionally made of a translucent material. A contrast is thereby generated between the products (10) and the illuminated translucent rotating element (1), with this contrast being even more intense as the rotating elements (1) are made of a translucent material. Advantageously, the presence of complementary vision means (not depicted in the figures attached hereto) in the area for inspection (9) facilitates the capture and analysis of images for the verification of the state of the product (10) conveyed through the machine of the invention.

On the other hand, it should be noted that in any of the preferred embodiments of the invention, the friction belt (7) defines a path along the inner surface of the mechanised rail (6). As observed inFIG.8, the friction belt (7) is optionally located on said inner surface of the mechanised rail (6) in different positions. Specifically, the friction belt (7) is located farther away from the edge (6″) in the alignment area (8) and is located closer to the edge (6″) of the mechanised rail (6) in the area for inspection (9). The change in position of the friction belt (7) along the inner surface of the mechanised rail (6) thereby modifies the rotating speed of the rotating element (1), by changing the support point of the friction belt (7) with respect to the surface of the rotating element (1). Thus, the rotating speed of the rotating element (1) will be lower in the area for inspection (9) since the friction belt (7) comes into contact with the rotating element in an area of larger diameter, so that optionally in the second preferred embodiment, different paths of the friction belt (7) located inside each mechanised rail (6) will have, corresponding thereto, different angular speeds for each rotating element (1) with respect to its facing counterpart (1), making it possible for the rotating elements (1) to turn at different angular speeds at the same point of advance of the product (10), causing the product (10) to rotate additionally on itself.

Lastly,FIG.9depicts in detail the outlet of the product (10), whether it is a fruit or a vegetable, in the second preferred embodiment of the invention after processing. This figure shows the two circuits formed by two traction cables (2) associated with two pairs of crown wheels (3) with slots and that the processed product (10) travels between the two circuits defined by the set of crown wheels (3) with slots and the traction cables associated with a plurality of rotating elements (1).

In that sense, the product (10) comes into contact with the outer surface of the rotating element (1), which is in a continuous rotation and favours the advance and rotation of the product (10) through the alignment area (8) and the area for inspection (9) until exiting the machine, as depicted inFIG.9.

Lastly, it should be indicated that in any preferred embodiment of the invention, the traction cables (2) are preferably made of steel.