초록 ▼

A sorting apparatus classifies and discharges articles, such as items of agricultural produce, in accordance with their individual weights. A multichannel conveyor cooperates with a front end singulator which receives the produce from a source of supply and which provides the items in single file to

A sorting apparatus classifies and discharges articles, such as items of agricultural produce, in accordance with their individual weights. A multichannel conveyor cooperates with a front end singulator which receives the produce from a source of supply and which provides the items in single file to a continuous line of spaced carrying cups moved by the conveyor along each channel. The cups are disposed for movement between an upright article carrying position and a depending discharge position, and they are supported by a rail in each channel. The rail has openings therein at each of a plurality of discharge stations spaced therealong. The cups each pass over a weighing scale aligned with the supporting rail near the front end of each conveyor channel which scale comprises a pivotally mounted bar upon which the cups ride. The bar provides a weight signal when it pivots with the signal determining the position of the cup on the bar when pivoting occurs and thereby being proportional to the weight of the cup and article supported thereby. A fast acting gate is located in each channel at each discharge station. The gate is configured to be either actuated to a discharge position away from the opening, thereby allowing a cup to assume the depending discharge position, or unactuated to thereby bridge the opening and allow the cup to pass and remain in its upright article carrying position.

대표청구항 ▼

In combination with apparatus for sorting articles of differing weight delivered thereto and for discharging each of the articles at a predetermined discharge station in accordance with article weight, and wherein said articles are arranged in single file on a conveyor having a continuous line of sp

In combination with apparatus for sorting articles of differing weight delivered thereto and for discharging each of the articles at a predetermined discharge station in accordance with article weight, and wherein said articles are arranged in single file on a conveyor having a continuous line of spaced article receiving cups, a plurality of spaced discharge stations therealong, scale means at the upstream end of the conveyor for weighing each of said cups with the article therein, and means at the discharge stations for selectively causing the cups to discharge the articles carried thereby in accordance with the weights of the articles supported in the cups, wherein said scale means comprises an elongate pivot arm aligned with the line of spaced article receiving cups and positioned so that each of the article receiving cups is yieldably supported thereby in sequence along the length thereof so that an article in a receiving cup having a predetermined weight causes said elongate arm to pivot when the receiving cup reaches a predetermined position along the arm length, means associated with said scale means for providing a pivot signal when said elongate arm pivots, and control means for receiving said pivot signals and for actuating said means for causing the cups to discharge the articles in accordance with said pivot signals for selectively discharging said articles in accordance with article weight.