Apparatus for conveying and sorting produce
US5280838A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 27, 1992 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 27, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/912
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for conveying and sorting produce, in particular fruit, provided with a mechanism to discharge the produce is described. The apparatus includes a pair of conveyor lines located on either side of an endless drive chain. Each conveyor line includes a plurality of rollers. The rollers are spaced apart such that one item of produce can be held between each pair of rollers. The discharge mechanism includes a plurality of ejectors wherein one ejector is located between two rollers, a plurality of pivot axes, and a plurality of linking members designed to connect together the plurality of pivot axes while allowing the axes to mutually move angularly and longitudinally. This apparatus is especially suited to sorting fruits according to their quality.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.