IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0361864
(2003-02-11)
|
우선권정보 |
EP-0075510 (2002-02-11) |
발명자
/ 주소 |
- van Wijngaarden, Erik
- Delfos, Tom
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- FPS Food Processing Systems B.V.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
3 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
An apparatus is provided for singulating products, such as apples, which, floating along in water in a channel in the transport direction, are supplied and, after singulation in the water, are thereupon fed out of the water to a transport device, for instance a roller conveyor. The apparatus include
An apparatus is provided for singulating products, such as apples, which, floating along in water in a channel in the transport direction, are supplied and, after singulation in the water, are thereupon fed out of the water to a transport device, for instance a roller conveyor. The apparatus includes a submerging device for submerging products supplied in the channel, a singulating channel, of a width equal to the singulating width, intended for collecting the products released after submersion, in a continuous row, and a releasing device for releasing the products after the submersion and for thereupon feeding the products to the singulating channel. With such an apparatus, a high degree of filling for the following transport device, generally functioning as a first part of a sorting device, can be obtained.
대표청구항
▼
1. An apparatus for singulating products, such as apples, which, floating along in liquid in a channel in a transport direction, are supplied and, after singulation in the liquid, are then fed out of the water to a transport device, the apparatus comprising:a channel, in use to be filled with liquid
1. An apparatus for singulating products, such as apples, which, floating along in liquid in a channel in a transport direction, are supplied and, after singulation in the liquid, are then fed out of the water to a transport device, the apparatus comprising:a channel, in use to be filled with liquid to a liquid level which liquid is streaming in the transport direction to form a liquid stream, the channel having a first side and a second side; a submerging device for submerging products supplied in the channel; a releasing device; and a singulating channel, of a width equal to a singulating width, intended for collecting the products released after submersion, in a continuous row, the releasing device being arranged for releasing the products after submersion and for feeding the products to the singulating channel, the releasing device comprising a baffle which extends from the submerging device to the singulating channel and which extends below the liquid level, the baffle being positioned such that the submerged products are gradually released one after another into the singulating channel, with the products being grouped in the liquid stream, floating, in a continuous row, a transport device extending in the singulating channel for removing the products out of the singulating channel. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the singulating channel is located on the first side of the channel, while a side wall of said first side also forms a side wall of the singulating channel, while another side of the singulating channel is a wall element, with a lower edge at at least a depth adjacent at least the center of the products.3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the submerging device comprises a gas supply element disposed adjacent the bottom of the channel.4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the gas supply element comprises spray nozzles.5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the releasing device, in a transverse direction which is perpendicular to the transport direction, from the first side to the second side of the channel releases the submerged products, while the depth to which the products have been submerged increases gradually in the transverse direction towards the second side of the channel.6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the submerging device comprises:a pinned roller having an axis of rotation which extends transverse to the transport direction and having the width of the channel, which pinned roller rotates, at least for a part of the lower half, in the water, the pins extending radially from the roller and, in a direction parallel to the liquid surface, having an intermediate distance smaller than the smallest diameter of a product, while, for the purpose of carrying along the products, the direction of rotation in the water extends substantially in the transport direction; and a comb with teeth, downstream of the pinned roller, sloping across the width of the channel, away from the first side from just below the water surface to the second side, as far as the underside of the roller, having, between the teeth, recesses for the pins. 7. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first side of the baffle of the releasing device is connected with said lower edge of the singulating channel, an upstream end of the baffle being connected to and having the width of the comb, a second side edge, which is opposite the first side edge, viewing from an upstream end to a downstream end of the baffle, virtually immediately after the comb converges from the second side wall downstream to the wall element, while a plate part is connected to this second side edge, which plate part extends downwards substantially as far as a bottom of the channel.8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the comb and the baffle constitute a flat plane.9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the comb and the baffle constitute a curved plane, with the first side edge extending horizontally in downstream direction.10. A method for singulating floating products, such as apples, supplied with a liquid stream, and thereupon, with the liquid stream, fed to a transport device, said method comprising:submerging the products in the liquid; releasing the submerged products gradually one after another, with the products being grouped in the liquid stream, floating, in a continuous row; and taking over of the row of products by the transport device. 11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a first side of the baffle of the releasing device is connected with said lower edge of the singulating channel, an upstream end of the baffle being connected to and having the width of the comb, a second side edge, which is opposite the first side edge, viewing from an upstream end to a downstream end of the baffle, virtually immediately after the comb converges from the second side wall downstream to the wall element, while a plate part is connected to this second side edge, which plate part extends downwards substantially as far as a bottom of the channel.
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