Patent ID: 12186778

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

In the FIGURE, a representative lateral view of the subject matter laser line (1) is given. Accordingly, said laser line (1) is used in hazelnut processing facilities. The hazelnut processing facility mentioned in the invention includes the process steps of transforming decorticated hazelnut from the unshelled hazelnut. The laser line (1) is used in detecting and eliminating external factors at least partially among the process steps of hazelnut.

The laser line (1) comprises at least one first detection module (10) and at least one second detection module (20) for providing detecting and separating foreign substances and non-standard hazelnuts which exist in hazelnut. Said first detection module (10) enables the carried hazelnut to be sensed in a biometric manner and to be separated. Said second detection module (20) enables the hazelnut to be sensed in a laser-sourced manner and to be picked. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the first detection module (10) has two separate picking units which are similar to each other. By means of this, the hazelnut is picked twice, and the cleaning efficiency is improved.

The first detection module (10) is configured to essentially realize a nimbus-based detection. Said nimbus detection brings the solution of new generation free-fall picking. By means of nimbus sensing, products are separated according to visual characteristics like color and shape deviations in free fall. The first detection module (10) is nimbus-based, and thereby visual and formal picking is realized, and bruised hazelnuts, faulty (damaged) hazelnuts, mechanically damaged hazelnuts or galled grains are detected and separated. As mentioned, the first detection module (10) has two detection units which are adjacent to each other. Hereafter, these shall be referred to as the first detection unit (10a) and the second detection unit (10b).

There is at least one first cyclone (11) on the first detection module (10). Said first cyclone (11) is a chamber provided in a manner keeping hazelnut, taken from at least one transport pipe (18), at least for a while depending on the capacity of the first detection module (10). Said transport pipe (18) is a carrying element which can provide displacement of hazelnut between processing parts in hazelnut processing facility. The hazelnut, kept in the first cyclone (11), is transferred to at least one first laser bunker (12) as needed. Said first laser bunker (12) provides hazelnut to be applied in the same alignment to the vibrator channels (not shown in the FIGURES) provided on the first detection module (10). Hazelnut is applied to said vibrator channels after the first laser bunker (12) and to at least one first sensor (13) from there. In a possible embodiment of the invention, said first sensor (13) can be provided on the first detection module (10) so as to have pluralities of different characteristics. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the first sensor (13) can be a camera. Said camera has visual selectivity. Thanks to this, the hazelnut, taken from the first laser bunker (12), is scanned visually and the bruised, mechanically damaged and galled grains are picked. Afterwards, the refused, non-suitable products are selected and are transferred to at least one first discharge way (14). The selected and suitable products, except these, are transferred to at least one first transport way (15). Said first transport way (15) is essentially associated with the second detection unit (10b).

The first detection unit (10a) and the second detection unit (10b) realize essentially the same work with the same elements. The second detection unit (10b) provides selection of the non-suitable products which could not have been selected in the first detection unit (10a). As in the first detection unit (10a), there is the first laser bunker (12) and the first sensor (13) in the in the second detection unit (10b). By using these elements, the hazelnuts, taken from the first transport way (15), are controlled again. Afterwards, the refused products are removed from the laser line (1) by means of at least one second discharge way (16). The selected and suitable products, except these, are transferred to at least one second transport way (17). The hazelnut, taken from the second transport way (17), is transferred to the second detection module (20).

The second detection module (20) is essentially configured to realize detection by means of helius technology. Said helius detection essentially enables realization of optical picking by means of laser scanning. Helius technology is applied to the hazelnut processing line and the product quality is increased and as a result, picking is realized where undesired color deteriorations and foreign substances are eliminated. By means of this, best customer satisfaction is obtained. In order to increase operation efficiency by means of helius picking technology, modular adding and removing processes can be applied to the system as needed.

There is at least one second cyclone (21) on the second detection module (20). Said second cyclone (21) essentially has a similar operation principle as the first cyclone (11). The hazelnut is waited in the second cyclone (21) as in the first cyclone (11). Afterwards, the hazelnut is transferred from the second cyclone (21) to at least one second laser bunker (22). Said second laser bunker (22) is used in feeding hazelnut to the second detection module (20) in a regular manner. Afterwards, hazelnut is guided to at least one second sensor (23) provided on the second detection module (20). Pluralities of said second sensors (23) can be provided at the second detection module (20) in a manner having different picking characteristics. The second sensor (23) is used in detecting foreign substances which exist in hazelnut. In a possible embodiment of the present invention, the second sensor (23) is configured to realize laser sourced detection. By means of this, the second sensor (23) is used in detection of foreign substances which may exist in hazelnut. Said foreign substance can be an item like glass, bruised hazelnut, metal, etc. By means of this, the foreign substances which exist in hazelnut can be easily detected. The refused items, picked from hazelnut, are removed from the laser line (1) by means of at least one third discharge way (24). The hazelnut selected in a suitable manner from the second detection module (20) is transferred to at least one sieve (30) by means of at least one third transport way (25).

Said sieve (30) has a predetermined hole width. By means of this, hazelnut is passed through the sieve (30) and the small-dimensioned foreign substances, if any, are picked again. There is at least one discharge conveyor (31) at the output section of the sieve (30). Said discharge conveyor (31) removes the refused product, taken from the sieve (30), from the laser line (1). There is moreover at least one clean product way (32) at the output section of the sieve (30). Said clean product way (32) is the part where the suitable hazelnut, obtained finally, can be provided from the laser line (1). The hazelnut, taken from this clean product way (32), can be transferred to the next operation step.

In the invention, said first discharge way (14), said second discharge way (16) and said third discharge way (24) are connected to at least one each air locks (40). Said air lock (40) enables easily diverging of the hazelnut from the laser line (1) by means of the air lock (40).

By means of all these embodiments, foreign substances of the unshelled or decorticated hazelnut taken to the laser line (1) are separated. While doing this, since there are similar types of first detection unit (10a) and second detection unit (10b) in the first detection module (10), repetitive visual picking is applied to hazelnut. Afterwards, the second detection module (20) provides removal of foreign substances like glass, metal, etc. which can exist in hazelnut. The sieve (30) which exists afterwards provides contribution to picking of small particles like dust, soil, etc. which exists in the hazelnut. By using this laser line (1), hazelnut can be picked in a manner suitable to the desired conditions for the end consumer.

The protection scope of the present invention is set forth in the annexed claims and cannot be restricted to the illustrative disclosures given above, under the detailed description. It is because a person skilled in the relevant art can obviously produce similar embodiments under the light of the foregoing disclosures, without departing from the main principles of the present invention.