Fruit and vegetable conveying device and fruit and vegetable sorting equipment

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model relates to the technical field of fruit and vegetable sorting, in particular to a fruit and vegetable conveying device and fruit and vegetable sorting equipment. The fruit and vegetable conveying device comprises an inclined conveying belt and a hopper. The conveying belt comprises a plurality of material pushing structures arranged on the belt face of the conveying belt, the material pushing structures are arranged in multiple rows, every two adjacent material pushing structures in each row are arranged in a spaced mode, and the arrangement direction of the material pushing structures in each row is configured to form a preset angle with the conveying direction of the conveying belt. The interval between every two adjacent material pushing structures in each row is aligned to one material pushing structure in the next row in the conveying direction of the conveying belt, and the material pushing structures are used for pushing fruits and vegetables to be conveyed upwards. The hopper comprises a flexible blocking part used for blocking fruits and vegetables rolling back on the conveying belt. According to the embodiment of the invention, automatic homogenizing of fruits and vegetables is realized through staggered arrangement of the pushing structures. When the number of fruits and vegetables in a certain area is too large, part of fruits and vegetables can penetrate through the intervals to fall into the next row of material pushing structures under the action of gravity, and extrusion damage caused by single-point accumulation is avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of fruit and vegetable sorting technology, and in particular to a fruit and vegetable transport device and a fruit and vegetable sorting equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Traditional fruit and vegetable sorting equipment uses conveyor belts for feeding and transporting materials, such as blueberries. Because the height of the equipment differs between adjacent processes in the sorting equipment, the conveyor belt needs to be tilted upwards to transport the fruits and vegetables. Therefore, traditional conveyor belts often have continuous spacers on their surface to push the fruits and vegetables upwards.

[0003] However, it is difficult to ensure that fruits and vegetables fall evenly into the conveyor belt through the hopper. As a result, some areas on the divider will be empty of fruits and vegetables, while others will be piled up with them. This not only results in low transportation efficiency but also easily leads to squeezing and affects the quality of the fruits and vegetables. Summary of the Invention

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide a fruit and vegetable transportation device and a fruit and vegetable sorting equipment to solve the technical problem in the related art that the use of partitions in the conveyor belt causes fruits and vegetables to pile up, which not only results in low transportation efficiency but also easily leads to squeezing and affects the quality of fruits and vegetables.

[0005] On one hand, embodiments of this application provide a fruit and vegetable transportation device, including:

[0006] An inclined conveyor belt includes multiple pushing structures disposed on the surface of the conveyor belt. The multiple pushing structures are arranged in multiple rows, with adjacent two pushing structures in each row spaced apart. The arrangement direction of the pushing structures in each row is configured to form a preset angle with the transport direction of the conveyor belt. The interval between two adjacent pushing structures in each row is aligned with one of the pushing structures in the next row in the transport direction of the conveyor belt. The pushing structures are used to push fruits and vegetables upward.

[0007] The hopper includes a flexible blocking part and a bin, and has an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the bin. The outlet is located above the conveyor belt, and the flexible blocking part is located at the outlet. The flexible blocking part extends along the discharge direction of the outlet and the width direction of the conveyor belt, and partially fits the surface of the conveyor belt. The flexible blocking part is used to allow the pushing structure to pass through and to block the fruits and vegetables rolling back on the conveyor belt.

[0008] Through the aforementioned structure, this embodiment of the application achieves automatic even distribution of fruits and vegetables by staggering the arrangement of the pushing structure. When there is an excessive amount of fruits and vegetables in a certain area, gravity will cause some of them to pass through the gaps and fall into the bearing area of ​​the next row of pushing structures, avoiding squeezing damage caused by single-point accumulation. At the same time, the dynamic cooperation between the flexible barrier and the conveyor belt does not affect the operation of the equipment, and solves the problem of traditional rigid baffles easily jamming fruits and obstructing materials, significantly improving the integrity and efficiency of transporting berries such as blueberries and raspberries.

[0009] Optionally, on a projection plane perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor belt, the projection of the interval between two adjacent pusher structures in the same row on the projection plane is completely covered by the projection of the pusher structures in the adjacent row on the projection plane.

[0010] With the above structure, even in the extreme case of uneven material distribution, the staggered relay layout of the feeding structure can still force the scattered or piled fruits and vegetables to be redistributed to the feeding structure of adjacent rows through the synergistic effect of gravity and the movement of the conveyor belt.

[0011] Optionally, the projection of the pushing structure onto the surface of the conveyor belt is arc-shaped, and the pushing structure is recessed in the opposite direction to the conveyor belt's transport direction.

[0012] Through the aforementioned structure, the projection of the pushing structure onto the conveyor belt surface is arc-shaped and concave in the opposite direction of transportation, essentially creating a pocket-shaped bearing surface. The arc-shaped pushing structure actively intervenes through its geometry, transforming the passive obstruction of traditional planar spacers into active guidance.

[0013] Optionally, the fruit and vegetable transport device further includes a support frame, on which the hopper is mounted. The support frame includes two support beams and two stop beams, both extending along the transport direction of the transport belt. Each side of the transport belt along the transport direction is provided with one support beam and one stop beam. The transport belt includes multiple support rollers spaced apart along the transport direction. One end of each support roller is connected to one of the support beams, and the other end of each support roller is connected to another support beam. Each support beam is spaced apart from the corresponding edge of the transport belt. Each stop beam is connected to a corresponding support beam. Each stop beam is at least partially located above the surface of the transport belt and forms an operating gap with the surface of the transport belt. The operating gap is smaller than the minimum diameter of the fruit and vegetable.

[0014] With the above structure, the embodiment of this application solves the problem of fruits and vegetables falling off the sides of the inclined conveyor belt by covering the gaps on both sides of the conveyor belt with the retaining beam and limiting the fruits and vegetables on the conveyor belt.

[0015] Optionally, the conveyor belt includes a U-shaped turning section at the end, and the retaining beam includes a hook-shaped portion at the end. The hook-shaped portion is provided with an inwardly curved surface adapted to the U-shaped turning section. The hook-shaped portion is adapted to be installed on the U-shaped turning section, and the curved surface and the belt surface of the U-shaped turning section form the running gap.

[0016] Through the above structure, the U-shaped turning section at the end of the conveyor belt and the hook-shaped part at the end of the retaining beam form a mutually compatible structure. Its arc-shaped design ensures that the conveyor belt maintains stable transport of fruits and vegetables even when turning. This embodiment solves the problems of fruit jamming and leakage in the turning section of traditional conveyor belts through geometric structural adaptation.

[0017] Optionally, the conveyor belt includes:

[0018] An annular belt, the annular belt comprising at least two belt units arranged sequentially along the transport direction;

[0019] A connecting assembly is disposed at the docking end of two adjacent belt units. The connecting assembly includes a first chain belt, a second chain belt, and a detachable connector. The first chain belt is fixed to the docking end of one of the two adjacent belt units and extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt. The second chain belt is fixed to the docking end of the other of the two adjacent belt units. The first chain belt and the second chain belt are connected in cooperation. The detachable connector can be installed on the first chain belt and the second chain belt respectively and restricts the separation of the first chain belt and the second chain belt.

[0020] With the above structure, the conveyor belt adopts a ring-shaped belt body spliced ​​together by multiple belt units through connecting components, and its modular design significantly improves equipment maintenance efficiency. At the same time, the design of the first and second chain belts extending along the width direction of the conveyor belt makes the stress distribution at the connection point more uniform.

[0021] Optionally, the detachable connector is a pin, the first chain extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt and is provided with a plurality of first chain teeth arranged at intervals, and the second chain extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt and is provided with a plurality of second chain teeth that interlock with the first chain teeth.

[0022] Each of the first chain teeth is provided with a first pin hole perpendicular to the transport direction, and each of the second chain teeth is provided with a second pin hole coaxial with the first pin hole. The pin is detachably inserted into the first pin hole and the second pin hole that are aligned with each other.

[0023] With the above structure, the detachable connector uses a pin, which connects with two chain belts. The interlocking of the first and second chain teeth enables the rapid docking of adjacent belt units.

[0024] Optionally, the flexible blocking part is a leather piece or a brush.

[0025] With the above structure, when the flexible blocking part is made of leather, its natural flexibility and abrasion resistance allow it to deform as the conveyor belt moves. When the pushing structure passes by, the leather edge bends momentarily due to the pushing force of the pushing structure, and then relies on the elasticity of the material to recover and tightly adhere to the belt surface, forming a dynamic sealing barrier. When a brush structure is used, its densely arranged soft bristles lie down in a directional state when the pushing structure passes by, and when fruits and vegetables come into contact with the bristles, they form resistance due to the reverse force. When the pushing structure passes by, the bristles lie down to make way, and when the fruits and vegetables roll back, the bristles recover and block the flow.

[0026] Optionally, the sidewall of the bin is provided with a Teflon film.

[0027] With the above structure, when berries (such as blueberries) enter the hopper from the feed inlet, the surface of the Teflon film has low friction with the fruits and vegetables, which significantly reduces the viscous resistance of the contact surface when the berries slide along the inclined surface of the hopper under gravity. When transporting berries with fruit powder, the fruit powder is difficult to adhere to the Teflon film, making it less likely for the powder to fall off when the berries hit the inner wall of the hopper during feeding.

[0028] In another aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a fruit and vegetable sorting device, including the fruit and vegetable transport device as described in any of the above claims.

[0029] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: The staggered arrangement of the feeding structure enables automatic even distribution of fruits and vegetables. When there is an excessive amount of fruits and vegetables in a certain area, gravity will cause some to pass through the gaps and fall into the bearing area of ​​the next feeding structure, avoiding squeezing damage caused by single-point accumulation. Simultaneously, the dynamic coordination between the flexible blocking part and the conveyor belt does not affect equipment operation and solves the problem of traditional rigid baffles easily jamming fruits and obstructing material, significantly improving the integrity and efficiency of transporting berries such as blueberries and raspberries. Attached Figure Description

[0030] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings do not constitute a limitation on scale.

[0031] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fruit and vegetable transportation device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0032] Figure 2 This is a partial structural diagram of the conveyor belt of a fruit and vegetable transport device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0033] Figure 3This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the hopper of a fruit and vegetable transport device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of details in section A;

[0035] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a connecting component for a transport belt provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0036] Label Explanation:

[0037] 100. Fruit and vegetable transport device; 10. Conveyor belt; 11. Pushing structure; 12. U-shaped turning section; 13. Circular belt body; 131. Belt unit; 14. Connecting assembly; 1411. First chain belt; 14111. First chain tooth; 1412. Second chain belt; 14121. Second chain tooth; 142. Detachable connector; 20. Hopper; 21. Flexible blocking part; 22. Hopper frame; 221. Inclined plate; 222. Side plate; 223. Waist-shaped hole; 23. Baffle; 231. Through hole; 24. Hopper bin; 25. Feed inlet; 26. Discharge outlet; 30. Support frame; 31. Support beam; 32. Baffle beam; 321. Hook-shaped part; 33. Support assembly; 331. Vertical support rod; 332. Transverse support rod; 333. Auxiliary support rod; 34. Longitudinal support rod. Detailed Implementation

[0038] To facilitate understanding of the present invention, the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that when an element is described as "connected" to another element, it can be directly on the other element, or one or more intermediate elements can exist between them. The terms "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "upper end," "lower end," "top," and "bottom," etc., used in this specification indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0039] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in this specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention pertains. The terminology used in this specification is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0040] In related technical content, when transporting berries such as blueberries and raspberries, the conveyor belt of the fruit and vegetable transport device often uses continuous partitions to push the fruits and vegetables and transport them to a high place. However, when the fruits and vegetables fall into the conveyor belt through the hopper, it is difficult to ensure that the material falls evenly. Therefore, there will be some areas on the partitions without fruits and vegetables, while other areas will have fruits and vegetables piled up. This not only results in low transport efficiency, but also easily leads to squeezing and affects the quality of the fruits and vegetables.

[0041] In a first aspect, in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the embodiments of this application provide a fruit and vegetable transportation device, which can be applied to equipment for processing and sorting fruits and vegetables.

[0042] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 includes an inclined transport belt 10 and a hopper 20. The transport belt 10 includes a plurality of pushing structures 11 disposed on the surface of the transport belt 10. The plurality of pushing structures 11 are arranged in multiple rows, with adjacent two pushing structures 11 in each row spaced apart. The arrangement direction of the pushing structures 11 in each row is configured to form a preset angle with the transport direction of the transport belt 10. The interval between two adjacent pushing structures 11 in each row is aligned with one of the pushing structures 11 in the next row in the transport direction of the transport belt 10. The pushing structures 11 are used to push the fruits and vegetables upward.

[0043] The hopper 20 includes a flexible blocking part 21. The hopper 20 also has a bin 24 and an inlet 25 and an outlet 26 that are respectively connected to the bin 24. The outlet 26 is located above the conveyor belt 10. The flexible blocking part 21 is located at the outlet 26. The flexible blocking part 21 extends along the discharge direction of the outlet 26 and the width direction of the conveyor belt 10, and partially fits the surface of the conveyor belt 10. The flexible blocking part 21 is used to allow the pushing structure 11 to pass through and to block the fruits and vegetables rolling back on the conveyor belt 10.

[0044] The structural principle of the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 in this embodiment is as follows: the transport belt 10 adopts multiple rows of staggered pushing structures 11, with adjacent rows of pushing structures 11 forming a relay layout in the transport direction. When fruits and vegetables fall from the hopper 20 onto the transport belt 10, if there is accumulation in the gap area between a row of pushing structures 11, the excess fruits and vegetables will naturally fall from the gap onto the corresponding pushing structure 11 in the next row, and thus be distributed to other areas of the transport belt 10. At the same time, the flexible blocking part 21 provided at the outlet of the hopper 20 can both allow the pushing structures 11 to pass smoothly and form a barrier by conforming to the surface of the transport belt 10, effectively preventing fruits and vegetables that have been transported to a high position from rolling back due to gravity, thereby maintaining the smooth flow of the transport channel.

[0045] Understandably, this design achieves automatic even distribution of fruits and vegetables through the staggered arrangement of the feeding structure 11. When there is too much fruit and vegetables in a certain area, gravity will cause some of them to pass through the gaps and fall into the bearing area of ​​the next feeding structure 11, avoiding squeezing damage caused by single-point accumulation. At the same time, the dynamic cooperation between the flexible blocking part 21 and the conveyor belt 10 does not affect the operation of the equipment, and solves the problem of fruit jamming and material obstruction caused by traditional rigid plates, significantly improving the integrity and efficiency of transporting berries such as blueberries and raspberries.

[0046] In some embodiments, the preset angle formed by the arrangement direction of each row of pusher structures 11 and the transport direction of the conveyor belt 10 can be 90°. In other embodiments, the designer can set the preset angle to 45° or 60°, etc., based on actual experience, and there is no limitation here.

[0047] In some embodiments, on a projection plane perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor belt 10, the projection of the interval between two adjacent pusher structures 11 in the same row on the projection plane is completely covered by the projection of the pusher structures 11 in the adjacent row on the projection plane.

[0048] On the projection plane perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor belt 10, the projection of the interval between adjacent pushing structures 11 in the same row is completely covered by the projection of the pushing structures 11 in the adjacent row. This ensures that, during transport, no matter where the fruits and vegetables fall from in the hopper 20, they will be effectively caught by at least one row of pushing structures 11. When the fruits and vegetables fall from the interval, they fall precisely into the positive pushing range of the next row of pushing structures 11, forming a continuous relay-style transport path.

[0049] Understandably, even in extreme cases of uneven material distribution, the staggered relay layout of the pushing structure 11 can still force the dispersed or piled fruits and vegetables to redistribute to the adjacent rows of pushing structures 11 through the synergistic effect of gravity and the movement of the conveyor belt 10. This not only avoids the problem of local empty or overloaded areas caused by the continuous and uninterrupted operation of the traditional strip conveyor belt 10, but also significantly reduces skin damage caused by squeezing and collision during transportation by dynamically adjusting the distribution density of fruits and vegetables. It is especially suitable for efficient transportation of fragile berries such as blueberries on steep slopes.

[0050] In some embodiments, the projection of the pusher structure 11 onto the surface of the conveyor belt 10 is arc-shaped, and the pusher structure 11 is recessed in the opposite direction to the transport direction of the conveyor belt 10.

[0051] The projection of the pushing structure 11 onto the surface of the conveyor belt 10 is arc-shaped and concave in the opposite direction of transport, essentially creating a pocket-shaped support surface. When fruits and vegetables (such as blueberries and raspberries) fall into the concave area, the arc-shaped edge restricts their lateral rolling, while the arc of the concave area and the inclination angle of the conveyor belt 10 form a mechanical fit. For example, when the conveyor belt 10 rises at a 20° inclination angle, the radius of curvature of the arc structure can be designed to match 2-3 times the average diameter of the berries, allowing the fruits and vegetables to naturally gather towards the bottom of the arc under the influence of gravity. The force generated by the movement of the conveyor belt 10 further pushes them to slide along the arc surface to the bottom of the arc. In this way, the fruits and vegetables are always in the central area of ​​the pushing structure 11, avoiding tipping or slipping due to the shift of the center of gravity.

[0052] Understandably, the arc-shaped feeding structure 11 actively intervenes through its geometry, transforming the passive obstruction of traditional planar partitions into active guidance. For example, when the conveyor belt 10 accelerates or encounters vibration, the arc-shaped indentation can guide fruits and vegetables to move along the arc surface, significantly reducing collisions and falls caused by inertia.

[0053] In some embodiments, the projection of the pusher structure 11 on the surface of the conveyor belt 10 is arc-shaped, and the projections of any two pusher structures 11 belonging to adjacent rows in the width direction of the conveyor belt 10 partially overlap, that is, the two ends of the arc-shaped pusher structure 11 in the next row will be higher than the bottom of the arc-shaped pusher structure 11 in the current row.

[0054] It is understood that, through the above-described configuration, the pusher structures 11 in different rows are arranged more compactly, and more pusher structures 11 can be arranged on the same area of ​​the conveyor belt 10, thereby carrying more fruits and vegetables and improving transportation efficiency.

[0055] In other embodiments, the projection of the pushing structure 11 onto the surface of the conveyor belt 10 can also be rectangular or other shapes. As long as the pushing requirements of the fruit and vegetable transportation process are met, the designer can set the specific shape of the pushing structure 11 based on experience, and there are no restrictions here.

[0056] In the relevant technical content, the size of the discharge port 26 of the hopper 20 of the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 cannot be flexibly adjusted, making it difficult to adapt to fruits and vegetables of different sizes and to adjust the discharge volume of the hopper 20.

[0057] Secondly, in order to solve the above problems, please refer to the following: Figures 1 to 3 This application provides another fruit and vegetable transport device 100, which includes an inclined transport belt 10 and a hopper 20.

[0058] The conveyor belt 10 includes multiple pushing structures 11 disposed on the surface of the conveyor belt 10. The hopper 20 includes a hopper frame 22, a baffle 23, and a flexible blocking part 21. The hopper 20 also has a hopper bin 24 and an inlet 25 and an outlet 26 respectively connected to the hopper bin 24. The outlet 26 is disposed above the conveyor belt 10. The end of the hopper frame 22 is connected to the flexible blocking part 21. The baffle 23 is detachably installed on the hopper frame 22 and surrounds the hopper bin 24, the inlet 25, and the outlet 26 of the hopper 20. The baffle 23 can be adjusted in installation position relative to the hopper frame 22 to adjust the size of the outlet 26. The flexible blocking part 21 extends along the discharge direction of the outlet 26 and the width direction of the conveyor belt 10 respectively, and partially fits the surface of the conveyor belt 10. The flexible blocking part 21 is used to allow the pushing structures 11 to pass through and to block the fruits and vegetables rolling back on the conveyor belt 10.

[0059] The structural principle of the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 in this embodiment is as follows: the size of the discharge port 26 is adjusted and controlled by the cooperation of the adjustable baffle 23 and the hopper frame 22. When different sizes of fruits and vegetables (such as small blueberries or larger strawberries) need to be processed, the operator can slide the baffle 23 along the height direction of the hopper frame 22 to increase or decrease the vertical distance between the bottom end of the baffle 23 and the conveyor belt 10, thereby changing the effective flow cross section of the discharge port 26.

[0060] Understandably, the adjustable baffle 23 allows the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 to quickly adjust the discharge port 26 according to different fruits and vegetables to meet the corresponding fruit and vegetable transport needs. For example, when handling soft berries with high ripeness, reducing the discharge port 26 can reduce the amount of material falling per unit time and avoid accumulation and compression on the conveyor belt 10; when handling hard fruits and vegetables, increasing the discharge port 26 can improve transport efficiency.

[0061] In some embodiments, the baffle 23 is slidable relative to the bucket frame 22 in the height direction. The bucket frame 22 has an oblong hole 223 extending in the height direction. The baffle 23 has a through hole 231 aligned with the oblong hole 223. The hopper 20 also includes a bolt and a nut. The bolt passes through the oblong hole 223 and the through hole 231. The nut engages with the bolt to restrict the sliding of the baffle 23 relative to the bucket frame 22 when tightened, and to release the restriction of the sliding of the baffle 23 relative to the bucket frame 22 when loosened.

[0062] Understandably, the waist-shaped hole 223 extends along the height direction of the bucket frame 22 to form a vertical guide. When the bolt passes through the through hole 231 and the waist-shaped hole 223, the baffle 23 can only slide infinitely along the extension direction of the waist-shaped hole 223 and rotate around the axis of the bolt. When the nut is tightened, it is fixed by friction.

[0063] In some embodiments, the hopper frame 22 is shaped like a bucket, including an inclined plate 221 and side plates 222 located on both sides of the inclined plate 221. The inclined plate 221 and the baffle 23 are arranged opposite to each other and extend inclinedly towards the surface of the conveyor belt 10. The baffle 23 is slidably installed between the two side plates 222. The inclined plate 221, the side plates 222, and the baffle 23 enclose the hopper 20 to form the hopper compartment 24, the inlet 25, and the outlet 26. A flexible blocking part 21 is installed at the end of the inclined plate 221, which forms a steep slope. When fruits and vegetables fall on the inclined plate 221, they can slide down gently. The flexible blocking part 21 can absorb the impact force of the fruits and vegetables. When the fruits and vegetables fall out of the outlet 26, they are buffered by the flexible blocking part 21 and transition to the surface of the conveyor belt 10.

[0064] It is understandable that the inclined plate 221 design of the hopper frame 22 in this embodiment of the application avoids excessive impact force from falling material, thus preventing damage to fruits and vegetables and ensuring the quality of fruits and vegetables.

[0065] Please review Figure 1 In some embodiments, the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 further includes a support 30, with the hopper 20 mounted on the support 30. The support 30 includes two support beams 31 and two baffle beams 32. The support beams 31 and baffle beams 32 extend along the transport direction of the transport belt 10. Each side of the transport direction of the transport belt 10 is provided with a support beam 31 and a baffle beam 32. The transport belt 10 includes a plurality of support rollers arranged at intervals along the transport direction. One end of each support roller is connected to one of the support beams 31, and the other end of each support roller is connected to another support beam 31. Each support beam 31 is spaced apart from the corresponding edge of the transport belt 10. Each baffle beam 32 is connected to a corresponding support beam 31. Each baffle beam 32 is at least partially located above the surface of the transport belt 10 and forms an operating gap with the surface of the transport belt 10. The operating gap is smaller than the minimum diameter of the fruit and vegetables.

[0066] The support beam 31, as the main load-bearing structure of the conveyor belt 10, extends along the transport direction and is rigidly connected to the spaced support rollers, ensuring that the conveyor belt 10 maintains stable planar support under high load conditions. For example, when the conveyor belt 10 is fully loaded with blueberries and runs at a 20° inclination angle, the equidistant arrangement of the support rollers can distribute the local pressure on the belt surface to the support beams 31 on both sides, avoiding belt surface collapse. The baffle beam 32 is laterally fixed to the support beam 31, and the running gap formed between its bottom end and the belt surface of the conveyor belt 10 is smaller than the minimum diameter of fruits and vegetables (such as blueberries). This ensures that even if the berries shift outward due to inertia, they will be blocked by the bottom of the baffle beam 32 and kept on the conveyor belt 10 until they are transported back to a higher position by the pushing structure 11.

[0067] Understandably, this embodiment of the application solves the problem of fruits and vegetables easily falling off the sides of the inclined conveyor belt 10 by covering the gaps on both sides of the conveyor belt 10 with the baffle beam 32 and limiting the fruits and vegetables on the conveyor belt 10. For example, when the fruits and vegetables are temporarily unstable due to acceleration or vibration of the conveyor belt 10, the operating gap of the baffle beam 32 can both allow the conveyor belt 10 to run and block the large gap between the support beam 31 and the edge of the conveyor belt 10, preventing small-diameter berries from rolling off the edge of the belt surface. Exemplarily, the baffle beam 32 can be a smooth plastic structural component, such as a Teflon baffle beam 32, using the smooth surface of the Teflon baffle beam 32 to avoid the fruits and vegetables rubbing against the baffle beam 32 and damaging their skin.

[0068] Please see Figure 4 In some embodiments, the conveyor belt 10 includes a U-shaped turning section 12 at the end, and the retaining beam 32 includes a hook-shaped portion 321 at the end. The hook-shaped portion 321 is provided with an arc surface adapted to the U-shaped turning section 12. The hook-shaped portion 321 is adapted to be installed on the U-shaped turning section 12, and the arc surface and the belt surface of the U-shaped turning section 12 form a running gap.

[0069] The U-shaped turning section 12 at the end of the conveyor belt 10 and the hook-shaped part 321 at the end of the retaining beam 32 form a mutually compatible structure. Their curved surface design ensures stable transport of fruits and vegetables during turning. For example, when the conveyor belt 10 enters a horizontal section after completing uphill transport, the radius of curvature of the U-shaped turning section 12 matches the curved surface of the hook-shaped part 321, and the two are matched and aligned to form a continuous and smooth transition path. At this time, the running gap formed between the curved surface of the hook-shaped part 321 and the surface of the U-shaped turning section 12 allows the conveyor belt 10 to turn freely while preventing small-diameter berries such as blueberries from falling through the gap at the turning point.

[0070] Understandably, the embodiments of this application solve the problems of easy jamming and leakage of fruit in the turning section of the traditional conveyor belt 10 through geometric structural adaptation. At the same time, the hook-shaped part 321's wrapping fastening design for the U-shaped turning section 12 can effectively disperse stress concentration during turning and extend the service life of the conveyor belt 10. When the retaining beam 32 is made of Teflon, its self-lubricating properties can further reduce frictional noise during turning.

[0071] Please see Figure 5In some embodiments, the conveyor belt 10 includes an annular belt body 13 and a connecting assembly 14. The annular belt body 13 includes at least two belt units 131 arranged sequentially along the transport direction. The connecting assembly 14 is disposed at the mating ends of two adjacent belt units 131. The connecting assembly 14 includes a first chain belt 1411, a second chain belt 1412, and a detachable connector 142. The first chain belt 1411 is fixed to the mating end of one of the two adjacent belt units 131 and extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt. The second chain belt 1412 is fixed to the mating end of the other of the two adjacent belt units 131. The first chain belt 1411 and the second chain belt 1412 are connected together. The detachable connector 142 can be installed on the first chain belt 1411 and the second chain belt 1412 respectively and restricts the separation of the first chain belt 1411 and the second chain belt 1412.

[0072] Understandably, the conveyor belt 10 adopts an annular belt body 13 composed of multiple belt units 131 spliced ​​together by connecting components 14. Its modular design significantly improves equipment maintenance efficiency. For example, when a belt unit 131 wears or breaks due to long-term use, the damaged belt unit 131 can be replaced individually by separating the corresponding two chain belts through the detachable connector 142, without disassembling the entire conveyor belt 10. This not only reduces downtime but also significantly lowers maintenance costs. At the same time, the design of the first chain belt 1411 and the second chain belt 1412 extending along the width direction of the conveyor belt 10 makes the stress distribution at the connection point more uniform.

[0073] In some embodiments, the detachable connector 142 is a pin, the first chain belt 1411 extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt and is provided with a plurality of first chain teeth 14111 spaced apart, and the second chain belt 1412 extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt and is provided with a plurality of second chain teeth 14121 that interlock with the first chain teeth 14111.

[0074] Each first chain tooth 14111 is provided with a first pin hole perpendicular to the transport direction, and each second chain tooth 14121 is provided with a second pin hole coaxial with the first pin hole. The pin is detachably inserted into the first pin hole and the second pin hole that are aligned with each other.

[0075] Understandably, the detachable connector 142 uses a pin, which connects with two chain belts. The quick docking of adjacent belt units 131 is achieved through the interlocking of the first chain tooth 14111 and the second chain tooth 14121. For example, when installing belt unit 131, the operator only needs to align and insert the teeth of the first chain tooth 14111 and the second chain tooth 14121, and then insert the pin laterally into the aligned first and second pin holes to form a multi-point rigid connection in the width direction of the conveyor belt 10.

[0076] In other embodiments, the detachable connector 142 may also be a zipper, with the end of either the first chain tooth 14111 or the second chain tooth 14121 having a laterally extending protruding structure (e.g., a laterally protruding portion of a T-shaped structure), and the tooth grooves formed by the two teeth being spaced apart are adapted to the protruding structure, thereby effectively preventing the first chain tooth 14111 and the second chain tooth 14121 from disengaging after engagement. The zipper connects the first chain 1411 and the second chain 1412 respectively, and is capable of sliding relative to the first chain 1411 and the second chain 1412. Exemplarily, during the sliding of the zipper along the length of the two chains in a first direction, the first chain tooth 14111 can be engaged in the tooth groove formed by the spaced-apart second chain tooth 14121, and the second chain tooth 14121 can be engaged in the tooth groove formed by the spaced-apart first chain tooth 14111. During the sliding of the zipper along the length of the chains in a second direction (opposite to the first direction), the first chain tooth 14111 and the second chain tooth 14121 can be pushed in the height direction of the two chains respectively, causing the protruding structure to disengage from the tooth groove, thereby disengaging the first chain tooth 14111 and the second chain tooth 14121. In other embodiments, the designer can set the specific shape of the chains and the detachable connector 142 according to experience, which is not limited here.

[0077] Please review Figure 1 In some embodiments, the bracket 30 further includes at least two sets of bottom support components 33, each bottom support component 33 being connected to two support beams 31 respectively, and the at least two sets of bottom support components 33 being spaced apart in the length direction of the support beams 31.

[0078] It is understood that the embodiments of this application provide multiple sets of support components 33 to better support the hopper 20 and the support beam 31, thereby ensuring the stability of the overall structure.

[0079] In some embodiments, the support assembly 33 includes vertical support rods 331 and horizontal support rods 332. The vertical support rods 331 are arranged in pairs, and the end of each vertical support rod 331 away from the ground is connected to a corresponding support beam 31. Each end of each horizontal support rod 332 is vertically connected to a corresponding vertical support rod 331. The bracket 30 also includes longitudinal support rods 34, which are arranged in pairs, and each end of each horizontal support rod 332 is vertically connected to a corresponding longitudinal support rod 34.

[0080] Understandably, in this embodiment, each support component 33 supports the support beam 31 via a vertical support rod 331, and the transverse support rod 332 is rigidly connected to a pair of vertical support rods 331 to keep the pair of vertical support rods 331 fixed to each other. Furthermore, a longitudinal support rod 34 rigidly connects the transverse support rods 332 in each support component 33, thus keeping each support component 33 fixed to each other.

[0081] In some embodiments, the partial support component 33 further includes an auxiliary support rod 333, one end of which is connected to one of the vertical support rods 331, and the other end of which is connected to a horizontal support rod 332. The vertical support rod 331, the horizontal support rod 332, and the auxiliary support rod 333 together form a stable triangular structure.

[0082] It is understood that the support component 33 in this embodiment of the application is configured with auxiliary support rods 333, which are rigidly connected to the vertical support rod 331 and the horizontal support rod 332 respectively, so as to further ensure the stability of the overall structure.

[0083] In some embodiments, the flexible blocking part 21 is a leather piece or a brush.

[0084] Understandably, when the flexible barrier 21 is made of leather, its natural flexibility and abrasion resistance allow it to deform as the conveyor belt 10 runs. When the pushing structure 11 passes by, the leather edge momentarily bends due to the pushing force of the pushing structure 11, and then relies on the elastic recovery of the material to tightly adhere to the belt surface, forming a dynamic sealing barrier. For example, during the transportation of blueberries, the deformation of the leather can prevent rigid collision with the pushing structure 11, preventing rollback without causing damage to the fruit and vegetable skin due to excessive friction. When a brush structure is used, its densely arranged soft bristles lie flat in a directional state when the pushing structure 11 passes by, and the fruit and vegetables form resistance due to the reverse force when they come into contact with the bristles. When the pushing structure 11 passes by, the bristles lie flat to make way, and when the fruit and vegetables roll back, the bristles recover and block the flow.

[0085] In some embodiments, the sidewalls of the bin 24 are provided with a Teflon film.

[0086] Understandably, when berries (such as blueberries) enter the hopper 24 through the feed inlet 25, the surface of the Teflon film has minimal friction with the fruit and vegetables, significantly reducing the viscous resistance at the contact surface as the berries slide along the inclined surface of the hopper 24 under gravity. Furthermore, when transporting berries with bloom, the bloom is less likely to adhere to the Teflon film, making it less likely for the berries to shed bloom when they impact the inner wall of the hopper 24 during feeding.

[0087] Please review Figure 1 In a third aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a fruit and vegetable sorting device, including a fruit and vegetable transport device 100 as described in any of the above embodiments.

[0088] The fruit and vegetable transport device 100 described above can be applied to the feeding end of the fruit and vegetable sorting equipment in this application, or to a process that requires fruit and vegetable transport.

[0089] It is understood that the fruit and vegetable sorting equipment in this application, by adopting the fruit and vegetable transport device 100 of the above embodiment, avoids the problem of fruit and vegetable quality being affected by accumulation and compression during the transport of fruits and vegetables.

[0090] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention, and not to limit them; under the concept of the present invention, the technical features of the above embodiments or different embodiments can also be combined, the steps can be implemented in any order, and there are many other variations of different aspects of the present invention as described above, which are not provided in detail for the sake of brevity; although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features; and these modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fruit and vegetable transport device, characterized in that, include: An inclined conveyor belt includes multiple pushing structures disposed on the surface of the conveyor belt. The multiple pushing structures are arranged in multiple rows, with adjacent two pushing structures in each row spaced apart. The arrangement direction of the pushing structures in each row is configured to form a preset angle with the transport direction of the conveyor belt. The interval between two adjacent pushing structures in each row is aligned with one of the pushing structures in the next row in the transport direction of the conveyor belt. The pushing structures are used to push fruits and vegetables upward. The hopper includes a flexible blocking part and a bin, and has an inlet and an outlet respectively connected to the bin. The outlet is located above the conveyor belt, and the flexible blocking part is located at the outlet. The flexible blocking part extends along the discharge direction of the outlet and the width direction of the conveyor belt, and partially fits the surface of the conveyor belt. The flexible blocking part is used to allow the pushing structure to pass through and to block the fruits and vegetables rolling back on the conveyor belt.

2. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that, On a projection plane perpendicular to the transport direction of the conveyor belt, the projection of the interval between two adjacent pusher structures in the same row on the projection plane is completely covered by the projection of the pusher structures in the adjacent row on the projection plane.

3. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The projection of the pushing structure on the surface of the conveyor belt is arc-shaped, and the pushing structure is recessed in the opposite direction to the conveyor belt's transport direction.

4. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a support frame, on which the hopper is mounted. The support frame includes two support beams and two stop beams. The support beams and stop beams extend along the transport direction of the conveyor belt. Each side of the transport direction of the conveyor belt is provided with one support beam and one stop beam. The conveyor belt includes a plurality of support rollers arranged at intervals along the transport direction. One end of each support roller is connected to one of the support beams, and the other end of each support roller is connected to another support beam. Each support beam is spaced apart from the corresponding edge of the conveyor belt. Each stop beam is connected to a corresponding support beam. Each stop beam is at least partially located above the conveyor belt surface and forms an operating gap with the conveyor belt surface. The operating gap is smaller than the minimum diameter of the fruits and vegetables.

5. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The conveyor belt includes a U-shaped turning section at the end, and the retaining beam includes a hook-shaped portion at the end. The hook-shaped portion has an inwardly provided arc surface adapted to the U-shaped turning section. The hook-shaped portion is adapted to be installed on the U-shaped turning section, and the arc surface and the belt surface of the U-shaped turning section form the running gap.

6. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conveyor belt includes: An annular belt, the annular belt comprising at least two belt units arranged sequentially along the transport direction; A connecting assembly is disposed at the docking end of two adjacent belt units. The connecting assembly includes a first chain belt, a second chain belt, and a detachable connector. The first chain belt is fixed to the docking end of one of the two adjacent belt units and extends along the width direction of the conveyor belt. The second chain belt is fixed to the docking end of the other of the two adjacent belt units. The first chain belt and the second chain belt are connected in cooperation. The detachable connector can be installed on the first chain belt and the second chain belt respectively and restricts the separation of the first chain belt and the second chain belt.

7. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The detachable connector is a pin. The first chain extends along the width of the conveyor belt and is provided with a plurality of first chain teeth arranged at intervals. The second chain extends along the width of the conveyor belt and is provided with a plurality of second chain teeth that interlock with the first chain teeth. Each of the first chain teeth is provided with a first pin hole perpendicular to the transport direction, and each of the second chain teeth is provided with a second pin hole coaxial with the first pin hole. The pin is detachably inserted into the first pin hole and the second pin hole that are aligned with each other.

8. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flexible blocking part is a leather piece or a brush.

9. The fruit and vegetable transport device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The side wall of the bin is covered with a Teflon film.

10. A fruit and vegetable sorting device, characterized in that, Includes the fruit and vegetable transport device as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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