Water floating transportation blocking module, fruit and vegetable water floating transportation 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 water floating transportation blocking module, a fruit and vegetable water floating transportation device and fruit and vegetable sorting equipment. The water floating transportation blocking module comprises a material blocking barrier, a driving mechanism and a mounting assembly. The material blocking barrier is arranged in the water floating transportation channel and comprises a first side and a second side which are oppositely arranged in the transportation direction of the water floating transportation channel, and the first side is located in front of the second side in the transportation direction of the water floating transportation channel. The driving mechanism is connected with the first side of the material blocking barrier, and the driving mechanism is used for lifting the first side so that the material blocking barrier can obliquely span in the water floating conveying channel. The installation assembly is fixedly arranged above the water floating transportation channel, and the driving mechanism is installed on the installation assembly. When the first side is lifted through the driving mechanism, the material blocking barrier is obliquely spanned in the water floating transportation channel to form a certain gradient, and fruits and vegetables are driven by water flow to partially roll on the material blocking barrier and are accumulated on the material blocking barrier, so that the material blocking barrier is prevented from being directly impacted.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In the post-harvest processing of fruits and vegetables, such as washing, sorting and packaging, water-floating transport is a commonly used method that can effectively reduce mechanical damage to fruits and vegetables.

[0003] However, in actual fruit and vegetable processing lines, it is usually necessary to control the flow of continuously transported fruits and vegetables. For example, in the sorting, weighing, packing, or specific treatment stages (such as soaking or spraying), it is often necessary to combine the continuously arriving fruits and vegetables into a certain batch before processing them uniformly or releasing them to the next stage. Currently, the water-floating transport obstruction structures are all vertically installed to directly block the fruits and vegetables in the water-floating transport channel. When the water flow is fast, the fruits and vegetables are easily damaged by hitting the obstruction structure. Utility Model Content

[0004] One objective of this application is to provide a water-floating transport blocking module, a fruit and vegetable water-floating transport device, and a fruit and vegetable sorting equipment to solve the technical problem in the related art that fruits and vegetables are easily damaged by directly impacting the blocking structure in the water-floating transport channel.

[0005] This application provides a water-floating transport obstruction module, applied to a water-floating transport device. The water-floating transport device is provided with a water-floating transport channel, and the water-floating transport obstruction module includes:

[0006] A material barrier is provided in the water-floating transport channel. The material barrier includes a first side and a second side that are arranged opposite to each other in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel. The first side is located in front of the second side in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel, and the second side is provided at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel.

[0007] A drive mechanism is connected to the first side of the material barrier. The drive mechanism is used to lift the first side so that the material barrier tilts and lies across the water-floating transport channel, or to lower the first side so that the material barrier is laid at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel.

[0008] The mounting assembly is fixed above the water-floating transport channel, and the drive mechanism is mounted on the mounting assembly.

[0009] The aforementioned structure allows for the tilting and lifting or flattening of the barrier material, which gently blocks floating fruits and vegetables, reduces damage, and controls the release and obstruction of fruits and vegetables to meet batch processing requirements.

[0010] Optionally, it further includes a rotating shaft mounting unit and a cylinder mounting unit, the rotating shaft mounting unit and the cylinder mounting unit being respectively fixed above the water-floating transport channel, and the drive mechanism including:

[0011] The bracket includes a rotating shaft and a first hinge portion. The rotation axis of the rotating shaft and the hinge axis of the first hinge portion are parallel to each other. The first hinge portion is hinged to a first side. The rotating shaft is hinged to the rotating shaft mounting unit and extends horizontally above the water-floating transport channel. The first hinge portion can rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit. The rotating shaft includes a controlled end.

[0012] A rocker arm, one end of which is fixedly connected to the controlled end of the hinge shaft;

[0013] A cylinder includes a cylinder body and a piston rod. The cylinder body is mounted on a cylinder mounting unit, and the piston rod is mounted on the cylinder body. The end of the piston rod is hinged to the other end of a rocker arm. The cylinder is used to extend the piston rod and drive the rocker arm to swing about the axis of rotation in a first rotation direction to raise the first side of the first hinge, or to retract the piston rod and drive the rocker arm to swing about the axis of rotation in a second rotation direction to lower the first side of the first hinge. The first rotation direction is the opposite of the second rotation direction.

[0014] Through the above structure, the linkage of the cylinder, rocker arm and bracket converts the linear motion of the cylinder into the oscillation of the material barrier.

[0015] Optionally, the bracket includes a first fixing part, and the first fixing part and the first hinge part are respectively located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft;

[0016] The water-floating transport blocking module also includes an anti-backflow barrier, which is fixedly installed on the first fixing part. The first fixing part can rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit. The anti-backflow barrier is located in front of the material blocking barrier in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel. The common plane of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft and the hinge axis of the first hinge part intersects or is perpendicular to the anti-backflow barrier. The anti-backflow barrier is used to rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit in the first rotation direction and lie across the water-floating transport channel when the first hinge part raises the first side, or to rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit in the second rotation direction and be located above the water-floating transport channel when the first hinge part lowers the second side.

[0017] By adding an anti-backflow barrier that is linked to and located in front of the material barrier, the backflow of fruits and vegetables is prevented simultaneously when the material barrier blocks them, thus ensuring the independence of each batch of fruits and vegetables and the accuracy of transportation control.

[0018] Optionally, the cylinder mounting unit includes:

[0019] The base is fixed above the water-floating transport channel;

[0020] A hinge is mounted on the base, and the hinge axis of the hinge is parallel to the pivot.

[0021] The cylinder further includes a hinged fitting, which is installed on the side of the cylinder body away from the piston rod, and the hinged fitting and the hinge are hinged together.

[0022] The above structure allows the cylinder body to hinge and swing around an axis parallel to the rotating shaft, compensating for the angle changes during the piston rod's movement, ensuring smoother and more stable operation of the drive mechanism, and reducing jamming and component stress.

[0023] Optionally, the piston rod includes:

[0024] A rod body is installed on the cylinder body, and the end of the rod body is provided with an external thread;

[0025] The connector includes a threaded part and a second hinged part. The threaded part has a connecting hole, which is sleeved on the end of the rod body. The connecting hole has an internal thread that mates with the external thread. The second hinged part is hinged to the other end of the rocker arm. The connector can be screwed relative to the rod body to adjust the length of the piston rod.

[0026] A locking nut is sleeved on the rod body. The locking nut and the second hinge portion are located on opposite sides of the threaded portion. The locking nut is used to abut against the threaded portion to lock the joint.

[0027] The above structure, with its threaded adjustment and locking function, allows for convenient adjustment of the effective length of the piston rod, thereby precisely setting the lifting height and lowering position of the material barrier and ensuring stability after adjustment.

[0028] Optionally, the rotating shaft mounting unit includes two sets of bearing seats and bearings, each bearing is mounted on a corresponding bearing seat, each end of the rotating shaft passes through a corresponding bearing, and the controlled end of the rotating shaft extends out of the corresponding bearing and bearing seat and is connected to one end of the rocker arm.

[0029] With the above structure, the shaft is mounted with bearings and bearing housings, which provides stable and low-friction rotational support for the shaft, ensuring the smoothness and reliability of the drive mechanism in driving the material barrier.

[0030] Optionally, the material barrier further includes rollers mounted on the second side, which are used to roll against the bottom surface of the water-floating transport channel.

[0031] With the above structure, rollers are installed on the second side of the material barrier, which reduces friction and wear between the material barrier and the bottom of the water-floating transport channel when the material barrier is raised, lowered or laid, improves the smoothness of the operation and protects the second side of the material barrier.

[0032] Optionally, either the material blocking barrier or the backflow prevention barrier is a fence-like barrier or a mesh barrier.

[0033] With the above structure, the material barrier or backflow prevention barrier can adopt a fence-like or mesh structure, which can effectively block fruits and vegetables while allowing water to flow through, reducing the obstruction to water flow and helping to maintain the stability of the water floating transport system.

[0034] In another aspect, embodiments of this application provide a fruit and vegetable floating transport device, comprising:

[0035] The water-floating transport module is equipped with a water-floating transport channel for transporting fruits and vegetables;

[0036] As described in any of the above, the water-floating transport blocking module is installed on the water-floating transport module and is used to intermittently block fruits and vegetables in the water-floating transport channel so that the fruits and vegetables can be transported in batches in the water-floating transport channel.

[0037] In another aspect, embodiments of this application provide a fruit and vegetable sorting device, comprising:

[0038] The aforementioned fruit and vegetable floating transport device;

[0039] A fruit and vegetable packing device includes a packing conveyor belt, which is used to receive the fruits and vegetables output by the fruit and vegetable floating transport device.

[0040] The embodiments of this application achieve the following technical effects: When the material barrier is lifted on the first side by the driving mechanism, it tilts and lies horizontally within the floating transport channel, forming a certain slope. Driven by the water flow, fruits and vegetables partially roll onto the material barrier due to inertia and accumulate on it, avoiding direct impact. When the material barrier is lowered on the first side by the driving mechanism, it is laid at the bottom of the floating transport channel, allowing the fruits and vegetables to continue moving forward under the action of the water flow without colliding with the material barrier. Attached Figure Description

[0041] 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.

[0042] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a fruit and vegetable floating transport device provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0043] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of details in section A;

[0044] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of details in section B;

[0045] Label Explanation:

[0046] 100. Floating transport blocking module; 10. Material blocking barrier; 11. First side; 12. Second side; 13. Roller; 20. Drive mechanism; 21. Bracket; 211. Rotating shaft; 212. First hinge; 213. First fixing part; 22. Rocker arm; 221. Second fixing part; 2211. Threaded hole; 222. Third hinge; 2221. Hinge shaft; 23. Cylinder; 231. Cylinder body; 232. Piston rod; 2321. Rod 2322, Connector; 23221, Screwed Connection; 23222, Second Hinge Connection; 2323, Lock Nut; 233, Hinge Fitting; 30, Mounting Assembly; 31, Shaft Mounting Unit; 311, Bearing Housing; 312, Bearing; 32, Cylinder Mounting Unit; 321, Base; 322, Hinge; 40, Anti-backflow Barrier; 1000, Fruit and Vegetable Water Floating Transport Device; 200, Water Floating Transport Module; 201, Water Floating Transport Channel. Detailed Implementation

[0047] To facilitate understanding of this utility model, a more detailed description is provided 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 this utility model 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 this utility model. Furthermore, the terms "first," "second," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.

[0048] 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.

[0049] In related technologies, water-floating transport is widely used in the post-harvest processing of fruits and vegetables because it can effectively reduce mechanical damage. However, if fruits and vegetables are subjected to violent impacts from rigid barriers during transport, especially when the water flow is fast, damage may still occur, affecting product quality and economic value. In addition, continuous fruit and vegetable flows often need to be converted into intermittent, batch flows based on the processing capacity or requirements of the next process (such as sorting, weighing, packing, soaking, spraying, etc.).

[0050] This application provides a water-floating transport blocking module, applied to the water-floating transport channel of a water-floating transport device, specifically to the water-floating transport device of a fruit and vegetable sorting equipment. It aims to solve the problem in related technologies where water-floating transport blocking structures may damage fruits and vegetables due to direct vertical obstruction, and to meet the process control requirements of fruit and vegetable processing lines, particularly for batch processing or release. The fruits and vegetables can be apples, coconuts, oranges, pumpkins, and other water-resistant produce.

[0051] Please see Figure 1 In some embodiments, the water-floating transport blocking module 100 includes a material-blocking barrier 10, a drive mechanism 20, and a mounting assembly 30. The material-blocking barrier 10 is disposed within the water-floating transport channel 201 and includes a first side 11 and a second side 12 disposed opposite each other in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel 201. The first side 11 is located in front of the second side 12 in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel 201, and the second side 12 is disposed at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel 201. The drive mechanism 20 is connected to the first side 11 of the material-blocking barrier 10 and is used to lift the first side 11 so that the material-blocking barrier 10 is tilted and lies horizontally within the water-floating transport channel 201, or to lower the first side 11 so that the material-blocking barrier 10 is laid at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel 201. The mounting assembly 30 is fixed above the water-floating transport channel 201, and the drive mechanism 20 is mounted on the mounting assembly 30.

[0052] The working principle of the water-floating transport blocking module 100 in this embodiment is as follows: The material blocking barrier 10 is a functional component that directly contacts the water flow and fruits and vegetables, and it is installed inside the water-floating transport channel 201. The transport direction referred to in this embodiment refers to the direction in which fruits and vegetables normally move forward under the action of water flow. The material blocking barrier 10 includes a first side 11 and a second side 12 arranged opposite to each other in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel 201, wherein the first side 11 is the backwater side and the second side 12 is the water-facing side. The second side 12 is configured to always be located at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel 201 due to its own weight, while the first side 11 is configured to be raised and lowered, so that when the first side 11 is raised, the material blocking barrier 10 tilts and lies horizontally inside the water-floating transport channel 201 to block materials, or when the first side 11 is lowered, it is laid at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel 201 to allow fruits and vegetables to pass without interfering with their movement.

[0053] Understandably, when the first side 11 is raised, the material barrier 10 is tilted and lies horizontally within the floating transport channel 201, forming a certain slope. The area of ​​the material barrier 10 near the first side 11 is raised above the water surface. Driven by the water flow, the fruits and vegetables, due to inertia, all roll and accumulate in the area of ​​the material barrier 10 near the first side 11, or some fruits and vegetables roll and accumulate in the area of ​​the material barrier 10 near the first side 11, while others follow and press against the fruits and vegetables accumulated on the material barrier 10, avoiding direct impact with the material barrier 10. When the first side 11 is lowered, the material barrier 10 is laid at the bottom of the floating transport channel 201, allowing the fruits and vegetables to continue moving forward under the action of the water flow without colliding with the material barrier 10.

[0054] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the mounting assembly 30 includes a rotating shaft mounting unit 31 and a cylinder mounting unit 32, which are respectively fixed above the water-floating transport channel 201. The drive mechanism 20 includes a bracket 21, a rocker arm 22, and a cylinder 23. The bracket 21 includes a rotating shaft 211 and a first hinge portion 212. The rotation axis of the rotating shaft 211 and the hinge axis of the first hinge portion 212 are parallel to each other. The first hinge portion 212 is hinged to a first side 11. The rotating shaft 211 is hinged to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31 and extends horizontally above the water-floating transport channel 201. The first hinge portion 212 can rotate relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31 with the rotating shaft 211. The rotating shaft 211 includes a controlled end.

[0055] One end of the rocker arm 22 is fixedly connected to the controlled end of the rotating shaft 211. The cylinder 23 includes a cylinder body 231 and a piston rod 232. The cylinder body 231 is mounted on the cylinder mounting unit 32, and the piston rod 232 is mounted on the cylinder body 231. The end of the piston rod 232 is hinged to the other end of the rocker arm 22. The cylinder 23 is used to extend the piston rod 232 and drive the rocker arm 22 to swing around the rotating shaft 211 in a first rotation direction so that the first hinge part 212 lifts the first side 11, or to retract the piston rod 232 and drive the rocker arm 22 to swing around the rotating shaft 211 in a second rotation direction so that the first hinge part 212 lowers the first side 11. The first rotation direction is the opposite of the second rotation direction.

[0056] Understandably, the first hinge portion 212 is used to hinge with the first side 11 of the retaining barrier 10, so that the movement of the bracket 21 can be directly transmitted to the retaining barrier 10. The rotating shaft 211 is hingedly mounted above the water-floating transport channel 201 through the rotating shaft mounting unit 31, and spans across the water-floating transport channel 201. One end of the shaft, i.e. the controlled end, is used to connect to the rocker arm 22 and transmit driving force. The first hinge portion 212 moves synchronously with the rotation of the rotating shaft 211 relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31.

[0057] The rocker arm 22, acting as a lever for torque transmission, has one end fixedly connected to the controlled end of the rotating shaft 211, ensuring that the rotation of the rotating shaft 211 accurately drives the rocker arm 22 to swing. The cylinder 23 is the actuator that generates linear motion power; it includes a cylinder body 231 and a piston rod 232. The cylinder body 231 is fixedly mounted via a cylinder mounting unit 32, while the piston rod 232 is telescopically mounted within the cylinder body 231. The end of the piston rod 232, i.e., the end furthest from the cylinder body 231, is hinged to the other end of the rocker arm 22. By controlling the working state of the cylinder 23, for example, by introducing compressed air into the cylinder 23 to extend the piston rod 232, the piston rod 232 pushes the rocker arm 22 to swing around the rotating shaft 211 in a preset first rotational direction. Since the rocker arm 22 is fixedly connected to the rotating shaft 211, the rotating shaft 211 rotates accordingly, which in turn drives the first hinge part 212, which is hinged to it, to move upward, ultimately lifting the first side 11 of the material barrier 10 so that it tilts horizontally within the water-floating transport channel 201 to perform the blocking function. Conversely, when the cylinder 23 retracts the piston rod 232, for example by venting or introducing air into another chamber, the piston rod 232 pulls the rocker arm 22 to swing around the rotating shaft 211 in a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction. Similarly, this causes the rotating shaft 211 to rotate in the opposite direction, causing the first hinge part 212 to descend, thereby lowering the first side 11 of the material barrier 10 so that it lies flat at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel 201, allowing the fruits and vegetables to pass through.

[0058] To be more easily understood, this embodiment utilizes a cylinder 23 as a power source, and converts the linear motion of the cylinder 23 into the oscillation of the material barrier 10 through a linkage mechanism including a rocker arm 22 and a bracket 21. This pneumatic drive method has advantages such as relatively simple structure, fast response speed, convenient control, and ease of automation. By precisely controlling the extension and retraction stroke and time of the cylinder 23, the lifting height, tilt angle, and time interval of blocking and releasing of the material barrier 10 can be accurately controlled, thereby precisely achieving intermittent control and batch processing of the fruit and vegetable flow within the floating transport channel 201.

[0059] For example, cylinder 23 can be connected to an air source, such as an air pump, and the start and stop of the air source or the opening and closing of the air valve can be controlled by a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) or a microcontroller to realize the intermittent lifting and lowering control of the first side 11 of the material barrier 10. Designers can set it according to actual experience, and there are no restrictions here.

[0060] In some embodiments, the bracket 21 includes a first fixing part 213, and the first fixing part 213 and the first hinge part 212 are located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft 211, respectively.

[0061] The water-floating transport blocking module 100 also includes an anti-backflow barrier 40, which is fixedly installed on the first fixing part 213. The first fixing part 213 can rotate with the rotating shaft 211 relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31. The anti-backflow barrier 40 is located in front of the material blocking barrier 10 in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel 201. The common plane of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft 211 and the hinge axis of the first hinge part 212 intersects or is perpendicular to the anti-backflow barrier 40. When the first hinge part 212 raises the first side 11, the anti-backflow barrier 40 rotates with the rotating shaft 211 relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31 in the first rotation direction and lies horizontally in the water-floating transport channel 201, or when the first hinge part 212 lowers the first side 11, it rotates with the rotating shaft 211 relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31 in the second rotation direction and is located above the water-floating transport channel 201.

[0062] Understandably, in addition to the aforementioned rotating shaft 211 and the first hinge portion 212 connected to the retaining barrier 10, this embodiment also adds a first fixing portion 213. The first fixing portion 213 and the first hinge portion 212 are located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft 211, and they always maintain their relative position when the rotating shaft 211 rotates. Based on this structure, the water-floating transport blocking module 100 adds an anti-backflow barrier 40. The anti-backflow barrier 40 is fixedly mounted on the first fixing portion 213 of the bracket 21. Since the first fixing portion 213 can also rotate with the rotating shaft 211 relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit 31, the posture of the anti-backflow barrier 40 also changes accordingly.

[0063] The backflow prevention barrier 40 is positioned in front of the material-blocking barrier 10 in the transport direction of the floating transport channel 201. Their spatial relationship is configured such that the plane defined by the rotation axis of the pivot 211 and the hinge axis of the first hinge 212 intersects or is perpendicular to the backflow prevention barrier 40, ensuring that the material-blocking barrier 10 and the backflow prevention barrier 40 can move in coordination and perform specific functions when the drive mechanism 20 is activated.

[0064] Specifically, when the drive mechanism 20 drives the first hinge 212 to lift the first side 11 of the retaining barrier 10 (i.e., the retaining barrier 10 is in a blocking state), since the first fixing part 213 is located on the opposite side of the rotating shaft 211, it will rotate with the rotating shaft 211 in the first rotation direction, causing the anti-backflow barrier 40 fixed thereon to rotate downwards and lie horizontally inside the water-floating transport channel 201. At this time, the function of the anti-backflow barrier 40 is to block fruits and vegetables that may try to float back (in the backflow direction) due to water flow fluctuations or other reasons. Conversely, when the drive mechanism 20 drives the first hinge 212 to lower the first side 11 of the retaining barrier 10 (i.e., the retaining barrier 10 is in a releasing state), the first fixing part 213 will rotate with the rotating shaft 211 in the second rotation direction, causing the anti-backflow barrier 40 to rotate upwards, leaving the main flow area of ​​the water-floating transport channel 201, and usually located above the water-floating transport channel 201, no longer interfering with the normal transport of fruits and vegetables.

[0065] To be more easily understood, the anti-backflow barrier 40 introduced in this application embodiment aims to solve the potential problem of batch mixing of fruits and vegetables. On a continuous floating transport line, especially when multiple spaced-apart floating transport blocking modules 100 are installed to form different batch areas, the opening or closing of the front floating transport blocking module 100 may cause disturbances in the water flow or even temporary backflow, causing fruits and vegetables that should have remained in the front batch area to float backward. Without anti-backflow measures, these backflowing fruits and vegetables may mix with the batches accumulating behind, thereby compromising the accuracy of batch processing. This application embodiment sets up the anti-backflow barrier 40, which, through linkage with the material blocking barrier 10, effectively prevents the backflow of fruits and vegetables, ensuring the independence and integrity of fruits and vegetables within each batch, and improving the accuracy and reliability of the entire transport line process control.

[0066] Please refer to the following: Figure 2 and Figure 3 In some embodiments, the cylinder mounting unit 32 includes a base 321 and a hinge 322. The base 321 is fixed above the water-floating transport channel 201. The hinge 322 is mounted on the base 321, and the hinge axis of the hinge 322 is parallel to the rotating shaft 211. The cylinder 23 also includes a hinge mating member 233, which is mounted on the side of the cylinder body 231 away from the piston rod 232, and the hinge mating member 233 and the hinge 322 are hinged together.

[0067] Understandably, the base 321 is positioned above the water-floating transport channel 201, providing a stable support foundation for the entire cylinder mounting unit 32. The hinge 322 is mounted on the base 321, with its axis configured to be parallel to the rotation axis of the support 21's pivot 211. A hinge fitting 233 is provided at the end of the cylinder body 231 that extends away from the piston rod 232; that is, a hinge fitting 233 is provided at the tail of the cylinder 23 and is hinged to the hinge 322.

[0068] The water-floating transport blocking module 100 of this application embodiment allows the cylinder body 231 to swing slightly around the hinge axis of the hinge member 322. When the cylinder 23 drives the piston rod 232 to extend or retract, the end of the piston rod 232 and the hinge point with the rocker arm 22 will move along an arc trajectory. If the cylinder body 231 is completely fixed, the piston rod 232 may be subjected to lateral forces due to angle changes during extension and retraction, which will generate additional stress on its seals, guides and connecting pins, affecting the smoothness of its movement and service life. In this application embodiment, by setting the hinge member 322 in the cylinder mounting unit 32 and connecting the cylinder body 231 to it through the hinge mating member 233, a rotating joint is formed. The rotating joint allows the cylinder 23 as a whole to make slight angle adjustments as the rocker arm 22 swings.

[0069] To be more easily understood, the cylinder body 231 of this application embodiment can swing slightly, which can actively adapt to the position change of the connection point at the end of the piston rod 232 during the swing of the rocker arm 22, thereby effectively compensating for the geometric angle deviation during the movement, making the pushing and pulling action of the cylinder 23 smoother and reducing the situation of running jam.

[0070] In some embodiments, the piston rod 232 includes a rod body 2321, a connector 2322, and a locking nut 2323. The rod body 2321 is mounted on the cylinder body 231, and its end has an external thread. The connector 2322 includes a threaded portion 23221 and a second hinged portion 23222. The threaded portion 23221 has a connecting hole, which is fitted onto the end of the rod body 2321. The connecting hole has an internal thread that mates with the external thread. The second hinged portion 23222 is hinged to the other end of the rocker arm 22. The connector 2322 can be screwed relative to the rod body 2321 to adjust the length of the piston rod 232. The locking nut 2323 is fitted onto the rod body 2321. The locking nut 2323 and the second hinged portion 23222 are located on opposite sides of the threaded portion 23221, and the locking nut 2323 abuts against the threaded portion 23221 to lock the connector 2322.

[0071] Understandably, the rod 2321 is the part connected to the piston inside the cylinder 23, and its end extending from the cylinder body 231 has external threads. The connector 2322 includes a threaded portion 23221 and a second hinged portion 23222. The threaded portion 23221 has a connecting hole with internal threads, which can be fitted onto the threaded end of the rod 2321. By rotating the connector 2322 or the rod 2321, the screw depth of the connector 2322 on the rod 2321 can be changed by utilizing the engagement of the internal and external threads. The second hinged portion 23222 is used to achieve a hinged connection with the other end of the rocker arm 22 to transmit driving force. To fix the adjusted length, this embodiment also provides a locking nut 2323, which is fitted onto the rod 2321 and located on the outside of the threaded portion 23221 (i.e., the side closer to the cylinder body 231). After adjustment, the locking nut 2323 can be tightened along the thread of the rod 2321 so that it abuts tightly against the end face of the threaded part 23221 of the connector 2322.

[0072] To make it easier to understand, during installation or commissioning, the effective working length of the piston rod 232 can be adjusted by rotating the joint 2322 relative to the rod body 2321. For example, rotating the joint 2322 clockwise or counterclockwise will cause it to screw in or out of the rod body 2321, thereby shortening or lengthening the total length of the piston rod 232. Once the desired length is achieved, tighten the locking nut 2323. The clamping force between the locking nut 2323 and the end face of the joint 2322, as well as the engagement force of the threaded pair itself, securely locks the joint 2322 in its current position on the rod body 2321, preventing relative rotation due to vibration or force during subsequent operation, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the length adjustment.

[0073] In some embodiments, the connector 2322 is a fisheye connector with a hinge hole. The rocker arm 22 includes a second fixing part 221, a locking screw, and a third hinge part 222. The second fixing part 221 has a mounting hole, and the mounting hole has a threaded hole 2211 extending through the inside and outside of the mounting hole. The mounting hole is fitted onto the controlled end of the rotating shaft 211. The locking screw engages with the threaded hole 2211 and abuts against the controlled end of the rotating shaft 211. The third hinge part 222 and the second fixing part 221 are located at opposite ends of the rocker arm 22. The third hinge part 222 includes a hinge shaft 2221, which is parallel to the rotating shaft 211 and hinged to the hinge hole.

[0074] Understandably, one end of the rocker arm 22 is fitted onto the rotating shaft 211 through a mounting hole. When the screw is screwed into the threaded hole 2211 and abuts against the rotating shaft 211, it restricts the relative movement between the second fixing part 221 and the controlled end of the rotating shaft 211. The other end of the rocker arm 22 is provided with a hinge shaft 2221 through the third hinge part 222 and is hinged to the hinge hole of the fisheye connector. When the piston rod 232 is pushed or pulled, the hinge shaft 2221 causes the rocker arm 22 to swing around the axis of the rotating shaft 211.

[0075] Please review Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, the rotating shaft mounting unit 31 includes two sets of bearing seats 311 and bearings 312. Each bearing 312 is mounted on a corresponding bearing seat 311. Each end of the rotating shaft 211 passes through a corresponding bearing 312. The controlled end of the rotating shaft 211 extends out of the corresponding bearing 312 and bearing seat 311 and is connected to one end of the rocker arm 22.

[0076] Understandably, the shaft mounting unit 31 consists of two sets of bearing seats 311 and bearings 312. Each set includes a bearing seat 311 and a bearing 312 mounted therein. These bearing seats 311 are securely fixed at appropriate positions above the water-floating transport channel 201, typically symmetrically distributed on both sides of the channel. The shaft 211 of the bracket 21 passes through these two sets of bearings 312. Specifically, both ends of the shaft 211 pass through and are supported inside the corresponding bearings 312. The bearings 312 provide low-friction rotational support, while the bearing seats 311 fix the bearings 312 to the structural frame and bear the loads from the shaft 211 and transmitted through the bracket 21. The controlled end of the shaft 211, i.e., the end that needs to connect to the rocker arm 22 to transmit driving force, can be designed to be longer than the other end, so that after passing through the bearing 312 and bearing seat 311 on one side, it still has enough protrusion for a secure connection with the rocker arm 22.

[0077] In some embodiments, the material barrier 10 further includes a roller 13, which is mounted on the second side 12 and is used to roll against the bottom surface of the water-floating transport channel 201.

[0078] Understandably, the rollers 13 on the second side 12 of the retaining barrier 10 can roll against the bottom surface of the floating transport channel 201. That is, when the first side 11 of the retaining barrier 10 is lifted or lowered by the drive mechanism 20, the second side 12 will move along with the retaining barrier 10 as a whole and remain at the bottom of the floating transport channel 201 due to its own weight. The rollers 13 will roll along the bottom surface of the floating transport channel 201 to provide support and protection for the second side 12. The provision of rollers 13 on the second side 12 of the retaining barrier 10 in this embodiment of the application is beneficial to improving the smoothness of the retaining barrier 10 during movement and reducing wear.

[0079] In some embodiments, either the material blocking barrier 10 or the backflow prevention barrier 40 is a fence-like barrier or a mesh barrier.

[0080] For example, either the material retaining barrier 10 or the backflow prevention barrier 40 can be designed as a fence-like barrier or a mesh barrier. A fence-like barrier is typically composed of a series of parallel rods or slats with gaps between them. A mesh barrier is a grid structure woven or welded from metal wire, plastic thread, or other materials.

[0081] It is understood that the material blocking barrier 10 and the backflow prevention barrier 40 in this application embodiment adopt a fence-like or mesh structure with a small water blocking area, so that the material blocking barrier 10 and the backflow prevention barrier 40 can effectively intercept the target size fruits and vegetables while allowing water to flow continuously, avoiding problems such as drastic water level fluctuations that may be caused by an excessively large water blocking area, and ensuring the stable operation of the water floating transport system.

[0082] Please review Figure 1 On the other hand, this application provides a fruit and vegetable floating transport device 1000, including a floating transport module 200 and a floating transport blocking module 100 as described in the above embodiment. The floating transport module 200 is provided with a floating transport channel 201 for transporting fruits and vegetables. The floating transport blocking module 100 is installed on the floating transport module 200 and is used to intermittently block the fruits and vegetables in the floating transport channel 201, so that the fruits and vegetables are transported in batches within the floating transport channel 201.

[0083] Understandably, fruits and vegetables move forward along the floating transport channel 201, propelled by the water flow. When a certain quantity of fruits and vegetables needs to be accumulated, or when control is required according to the rhythm of the preceding processes, the drive mechanism 20 of the floating transport blocking module 100 installed on the channel will activate, lifting the first side 11 of the blocking barrier 10, causing it to tilt horizontally within the channel. Floating fruits and vegetables will roll onto the blocking barrier 10 upon encountering this tilted barrier, and gradually accumulate in front of it as subsequent fruits and vegetables continue to arrive, forming a batch. Because the blocking barrier 10 is tilted, the fruits and vegetables gradually roll or float onto the barrier surface, rather than directly impacting a vertical, hard surface, thus achieving gentle blocking and reducing damage.

[0084] The water-floating transport module 200 includes a water supply unit and a water tank for loading water. The water supply unit can use a water pump to pump external water into the water tank to form a water-floating transport channel 201 in the water tank.

[0085] In some embodiments, one or more floating transport blocking modules 100 can be provided in the floating transport device 1000 as needed, arranged at intervals along the transport path to achieve more complex process control, such as segmented accumulation, multiple batch temporary storage, etc.

[0086] In another aspect, embodiments of this application also provide a fruit and vegetable sorting device, including the fruit and vegetable water-floating transport device 1000 and the fruit and vegetable boxing device described in the above embodiments. The fruit and vegetable boxing device includes a boxing conveyor belt for receiving the fruits and vegetables output from the fruit and vegetable water-floating transport device 1000.

[0087] Understandably, this application embodiment applies a water-floating transport device 1000 with the functions of blocking and batch control without damaging fruits and vegetables to the front end of the packing process. First, it protects the fruits and vegetables to the maximum extent during transportation and reduces losses caused by mechanical collisions. Second, it realizes a smooth transition from continuous water flow transportation to batch processing, enabling the water-floating transport system to work efficiently with equipment (such as automatic packing robots, weighing units, etc.) that require batch operation in the packing process.

[0088] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this utility model, and not to limit it; under the concept of this utility model, 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 this utility model as described above. For the sake of brevity, they are not provided in detail; although the present utility model has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that they can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or make equivalent substitutions for 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 this utility model.

Claims

1. A water-floating transport blocking module, applied to a water-floating transport device, wherein the water-floating transport device is provided with a water-floating transport channel, characterized in that, The water-floating transport obstruction module includes: A material barrier is provided in the water-floating transport channel. The material barrier includes a first side and a second side that are arranged opposite to each other in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel. The first side is located in front of the second side in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel, and the second side is provided at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel. A drive mechanism is connected to the first side of the material barrier. The drive mechanism is used to lift the first side so that the material barrier tilts and lies across the water-floating transport channel, or to lower the first side so that the material barrier is laid at the bottom of the water-floating transport channel. The mounting assembly is fixed above the water-floating transport channel, and the drive mechanism is mounted on the mounting assembly.

2. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a rotating shaft mounting unit and a cylinder mounting unit, which are respectively fixed above the water-floating transport channel. The drive mechanism includes: The bracket includes a rotating shaft and a first hinge portion. The rotation axis of the rotating shaft and the hinge axis of the first hinge portion are parallel to each other. The first hinge portion is hinged to a first side. The rotating shaft is hinged to the rotating shaft mounting unit and extends horizontally above the water-floating transport channel. The first hinge portion can rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit. The rotating shaft includes a controlled end. A rocker arm, one end of which is fixedly connected to the controlled end of the hinge shaft; A cylinder includes a cylinder body and a piston rod. The cylinder body is mounted on a cylinder mounting unit, and the piston rod is mounted on the cylinder body. The end of the piston rod is hinged to the other end of a rocker arm. The cylinder is used to extend the piston rod and drive the rocker arm to swing about the axis of rotation in a first rotation direction to raise the first side of the first hinge, or to retract the piston rod and drive the rocker arm to swing about the axis of rotation in a second rotation direction to lower the first side of the first hinge. The first rotation direction is the opposite of the second rotation direction.

3. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The bracket includes a first fixing part, and the first fixing part and the first hinge part are respectively located on opposite sides of the rotating shaft; The water-floating transport blocking module also includes an anti-backflow barrier, which is fixedly installed on the first fixing part. The first fixing part can rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit. The anti-backflow barrier is located in front of the material blocking barrier in the transport direction of the water-floating transport channel. The common plane of the rotation axis of the rotating shaft and the hinge axis of the first hinge part intersects or is perpendicular to the anti-backflow barrier. The anti-backflow barrier is used to rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit in the first rotation direction and lie across the water-floating transport channel when the first hinge part raises the first side, or to rotate with the rotating shaft relative to the rotating shaft mounting unit in the second rotation direction and be located above the water-floating transport channel when the first hinge part lowers the second side.

4. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The cylinder mounting unit includes: The base is fixed above the water-floating transport channel; A hinge is mounted on the base, and the hinge axis of the hinge is parallel to the pivot. The cylinder further includes a hinged fitting, which is installed on the side of the cylinder body away from the piston rod, and the hinged fitting and the hinge are hinged together.

5. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The piston rod includes: A rod body is installed on the cylinder body, and the end of the rod body is provided with an external thread; The connector includes a threaded part and a second hinged part. The threaded part has a connecting hole, which is sleeved on the end of the rod body. The connecting hole has an internal thread that mates with the external thread. The second hinged part is hinged to the other end of the rocker arm. The connector can be screwed relative to the rod body to adjust the length of the piston rod. A locking nut is sleeved on the rod body. The locking nut and the second hinge portion are located on opposite sides of the threaded portion. The locking nut is used to abut against the threaded portion to lock the joint.

6. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 2, characterized in that, The rotating shaft mounting unit includes two sets of bearing seats and bearings. Each bearing is mounted on a corresponding bearing seat. Each end of the rotating shaft passes through a corresponding bearing. The controlled end of the rotating shaft extends out of the corresponding bearing and bearing seat and is connected to one end of the rocker arm.

7. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 1, characterized in that, The material barrier also includes rollers, which are installed on the second side and are used to roll against the bottom surface of the water-floating transport channel.

8. The water-floating transport obstruction module according to claim 3, characterized in that, Either the material blocking barrier or the backflow prevention barrier is a fence-like barrier or a mesh barrier.

9. A fruit and vegetable floating transport device, characterized in that, include: The water-floating transport module is equipped with a water-floating transport channel for transporting fruits and vegetables; The water-floating transport blocking module as described in any one of claims 1-8 is installed on the water-floating transport module and is used to intermittently block fruits and vegetables in the water-floating transport channel so that the fruits and vegetables can be transported in batches in the water-floating transport channel.

10. A fruit and vegetable sorting device, characterized in that, include: The fruit and vegetable floating transport device as described in claim 9; A fruit and vegetable packing device includes a packing conveyor belt, which is used to receive the fruits and vegetables output by the fruit and vegetable floating transport device.

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