GB2104228A - Sorting by weighing - Google Patents

Abstract

A weight-grading apparatus includes a plurality of receptacles (1) which can accommodate an article such as fruit which is required to be weight- graded. The receptacles (1) are pivoted on a rod (3) the ends of which are connected to chains so that the receptacles (1) are moved over a number of article receiving stations at which articles within a particular weight range are to be discharged by the pivoting of the receptacles (1). Such pivoting is however prevented if the article is not within the required weight range by the energization of an electro-magnet (9) which attracts a ferro-magnetic wheel (8) which holds the receptacle (1) in its horizontal position as the pin (4) passes over a cut-away portion (6) of the pin-supporting track (5). A central weighing station can be used to determine the weight of the article in each receptacle (1) so that an appropriate signal at the appropriate time is sent or is not sent to a respective electromagnet (9) at a particular station. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A controlled support system The present invention relates to a controlled support system and more particularly to a method of and apparatus for the controlling of the support provided for a produce carrying cup of weight grading equipment.

The present invention will hereinafter be particularly described with regard to such weight grading equipment wherein produce such as fruit is carried by a plurality of cups which are caused to release the fruit contained therein depending on its weight at a particular receiving station.

An example of such equipment is, for example, described in New Zealand Patent Specification No.

124415 of the FMC Corporation.

In such known equipment each station associated with a particular weight of fruit can have an adjustable scale which will either support or be actuated by a fruit bearing cup passing thereover.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus whereby disadvantages inherein in such previous systems may be overcome. In particular such previous systems rely on weight sensors having adjustable moving parts which have been found to malfunction due to dust and other foreign material interferring with the free movement of the sensor parts.

It is however to be understood that the present invention could be utilized in numerous other applications and wherever a controllable support system is required.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a method of supporting an article for a weight grading apparatus having a plurality of said articles having contents of differing weights required to be discharged at appropriate receiving stations, said method comprising: (a) providing said articles with a magneticresponsive part or portion; (b) positioning a magnetizible means at each of said receiving station to be adjacent said article part or portion when said article reaches said station; (c) providing a signal to magnetize said magnetizible means when support for said article by magnetic attraction between said part or portion and said magnetizible means is required.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for carrying out the above method.

According to one embodiment of the present invention there is provided a weight grading apparatus which includes a plurality of receptacles movable between receiving stations at which said receptacles discharge their contents depending on the weight of contents therein, said receptacles being caused to move in a substantially horizontal direction between said stations but adapted to be released to swing vertically about one end thereof when discharge of the contents at a station is required and wherein magnetizible means are provided at each of said stations, each of said receptacles including a magnet-responsive part or portion, a weight sensing means to detect the weight of the contents in each of said receptacles and to provide magnetizing signals to said magnetizible means at the stations along the path of travel of said receptacles to support said receptacles at the stations by magnetic attraction between said part or portion and said magnetizible means until the coincidence of the arrival of one of said receptacles at a station and the absence of a signal to the magnetizible means at said station results in the discharge of said contents at that station.

Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description given by way of example of one possible embodiment thereof which is shown very diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings.

The present invention can broadly be said to reside in a controllable magnetic support for an article including a magnetic-responsive part or portion. When supportforthe article is required a signal to magnetize a magetizible means positioned relative to the article can provide the necessary support by the magnetic attraction between said part or portion and said magnetizible means.

The magnetizible means may suitably comprise an electro magnet which is connected with to receive a magnetizing signal from a control means to provide the supportforthe article as required.

In one particular use of the present invention the article to be supported may comprise a fruit carrying receptacle which carries the fruit between fruit receiving stations until the fruit is discharged when the receptacle reaches a particular station at which that weight of fruit is received. In this way fruit of a particular range of weights can be packaged together at a particular station.

In weight grading apparatus particularly for fruit a plurality of cup-like receptacles are moved along a substantially horizontal bed between the various receiving stations.

In presently known apparatus of this type a pin extending laterally from each of the receptacles engages with a weight sensor and if the weight of the receptacle and the fruit contained therein is sufficient the sensor operates a latch whereby the receptacle is dropped vertically thus releasing the fruit to that particular station.

Major disadvantages have been found with such previous types of apparatus including that the weight sensing is carried out at the respective station each time a receptacle arrives at that station and the sensing equipment which includes various interacting movable parts is prone to malfunction due to dust and other foreign particles.

In the accompanying drawings one embodiment of the present invention is shown very diagramma ticallyto illustrate the manner in which the above mentioned disadvantages can be overcome.

A receptacle 1 is shown of a substantially cup-like shape having a hollow interior 2 which can accommodate a desired type of fruit. The receptacle 1 would generally be one of many of such receptacles linked by a common rod 3 the free ends of which would generally be connected to a respective chain which moves the receptacles 1 along a substantially horizontal bed of the apparatus in a direction indicated generally by arrow A. The apparatus bed will generally have a plurality of fruit receiving stations one of which is illustrated in part in the drawings.

Each receptacle 1 may be free to pivot in a substantially vertical direction indicated by arrow B about its front end and the rod 3 extending therethrough. This downward pivoting may between the stations be prevented by a pin or the like 4 extending outwardly from one side of the receptacle 1 and supported by a track 5. The track 5 at each station may be provided with a cut-away portion 6 such that the support for the receptacle 1 is then absent.

However the receptacle 1 is shown including a magnet-responsive part or portion 7 indicated in the drawing as suitably comprising a ferro-magnetic wheel 8. When the receptacle 1 reaches a station and the pin 4 reaches the cut-away portion 6 the magnet-responsive means 7 will be positioned adjacent the magnetizible means 9 illustrated diagrammatically as comprising a ferro-magnetic core 10 having a conductor 11 of a desired number of turns wound therearound and about an insulating core support 12 in known manner.

The use of a wheel 8 may, it is believed, reduce the wear of the core bottom 10 and means 7 upon relative movement therebetween. The wheel 8 may be free to rotate about a mounting pin 11 if desired.

The core 10 when magnetized will provide a magnetic force sufficient to hold the wheel 8 and the receptacle 1 and its contents in a substantially horizontal position as the pin 4 passes over the track portion 6 and until the pin 4 regains the track 5.

If however discharge of the contents of the receptacle 1 at a particular station is required then the core 10 will be left unmagnetized and the receptacle 1 will pivot vertically into the position shown in outline at lathus discharging its contents at that station.

It may be appropriate for the receptacle 1 and its contents to be weighed by a central weighing station which can determine the receiving station at which the contents are to be discharged to ensure that a signal magnetizing the core 10 at that station is absent when that particular receptacle reaches that station.

This could be achieved by a continuous signal being provided to all the electro-magnets 9 along the receptacle path and the signal to the electro-magnet at one of the stations removed coincident with the arrival of the receptacle at that station. Alternatively of course the electro-magnets may be generally in an inoperative condition and may be turned on as required to support the receptacles 1 passing thereunder unless content discharge is required.

It is to be appreciated that the use of a wheel 8 is given only by way of example and that instead for example a suitable electro-magnet may be positioned on the opposite side of the receptacle 1 so as, when operated, to attract a ferro-magnetic pin 4 and thus support the receptacle 1 against pivoting.

The electro-magnet 9 in the example shown is further shown having a support means 13 enabling the electro-magnet 9 to be supported in suitable manner in its desired position above the path of travel of the receptacles 1.

It will be appreciated that the present invention will have various applications wherever a controllable magnetic support for an article is required.

Where in the aforegoing description reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by example and with reference to one possible embodiment thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (5)

1. A method of supporting an article for a weight grading apparatus having a plurality of said articles having contents of differing weights required to be discharged at appropriate receiving stations, said method comprising: (a) providing said articles with a magneticresponsive part or portion; (b) positioning a magnetizible means at each of said receiving station to be adjacent said article part or portion when said article reaches said station; (c) providing a signal to magnetize said magnetizible means when support for said article by magnetic attraction between said part or portion and said magnetizible means is required.

2. A weight grading apparatus which includes a plurality of receptacles movable between receiving stations at which said receptacles discharge their contents depending on the weight of contents contained therein, said receptacles being caused to move in a substantially horizontal direction between said stations but adapted to be released to swing vertically about one end thereof when discharged of the contents at a station is required and wherein magnetizible means are provided at each of said stations, each of said receptacles including a magnet-responsive part or portion, a weight sensing means to detect the weight of the contents in each of said receptacles and to provide magnetizing signals to said magnetizible means at the stations along the path of travel of said receptacles to support said receptacles at the stations by magnetic attraction between said part or portion and said magnetizible means until the coincidence of the arrival of one of said receptacles at a station and the absence of a signal to the magnetizible means at said station results in the discharge of said contents that station.

3. A weight grading apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein said magnetizible means each comprises an electro-magnet and said magnetresponsive part or portion comprises a ferromagnetic wheel freely rotatable about a mounting pin provided on the side of said receptacle.

4. A weight grading apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein each of said receptacle includes a pin extending outwardly on one side thereof, said pin engageable on a track supporting said receptacle in a substantially horizontal position between said stations, a cut-away portion provided in said track at each of said stations and wherein said magneticresponsive part or portion comprises said pin of a ferro-magnetic material and said magnetizible means comprises an electro-magnet which when energized will support said pin as it passes over said cut-away portion.

5. Aweightgrading apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.