METHOD FOR ADJUSTING AT LEAST ONE PARAMETER OF A SORTING LINE FOR OBJECTS LIKE FRUIT OR VEGETABLE AND ACCORDING SORTING SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line for objects such as fruits or vegetables, an associated sorting system and an object packaging system comprising such a sorting system.

[0002] Systems are known for sorting selected items from the fruit and vegetable category, which are transported along a conveyor line. Such a conveyor line comprises a plurality of supports that are driven in a longitudinal forward motion by means of a chain. The items, particularly small items, are carried by each support that moves along the conveyor line, first passing in front of a device—such as a camera—that analyzes at least one sorting criterion. The analysis device is fixed and constitutes a reference point for the position of each item on the conveyor line. The items then pass in front of one or more ejection stations located downstream of the analysis device.Each ejection station is fixed relative to the conveyor line and has one or more ejection nozzles that eject the object from its support when it reaches the designated ejection station. Each object is ejected from the sorting line to an object ejection station, from which all objects conveyed along the line that meet the same sorting criterion are ejected. Thus, objects ejected at the same ejection station form a batch, with all objects in that batch meeting the same sorting criterion.This can be objects having the same weight value (or a weight value within the same range of weight values), the same caliber (or a caliber value within the same range of caliber values), the same defined external appearance, such as for example the color, the same sugar content (or a sugar content value within the same range of sugar content values), the same level of maturity, the same firmness (or a firmness value within the same range of firmness values), the occurrence of the same defect... etc.

[0003] Generally, in order to move an object conveyed by a support out of its holder at the precise moment it passes a predefined expulsion station according to a sorting criterion, it is necessary to know, as accurately as possible, the position of each support on the conveyor line relative to each expulsion station. Since the longitudinal speed of the supports on the conveyor line is known, it is necessary to know precisely the distance separating each expulsion station from the analysis device.

[0004] In particular, to eject the object from its support at the precise moment it passes in front of an ejection nozzle at a predefined ejection station according to the sorting criteria, the position of each support on the conveyor line relative to each ejection nozzle at each ejection station must be known as accurately as possible. Since the longitudinal speed of the supports on the conveyor line is known, it is necessary to know precisely the distance between each ejection nozzle at each ejection station and the analysis device.

[0005] However, depending on the operating conditions of the conveyor line, particularly wear and tear on the conveyor chain, the distance between the analysis device and at least one ejection station may vary, such that the object ejection nozzle(s) of at least one ejection station are activated even though the object is not positioned directly at the ejection nozzle, but rather upstream or downstream of it. This results in unsatisfactory ejection.

[0006] Currently, these various distances are established in increments of the conveyor belt, with the increments defined by an encoder connected to the belt. These distances are measured in increments and manually entered into the object ejection control system. These operations are time-consuming. During this time, the sorting line and the packaging system are unavailable, resulting in decreased productivity. These operations require skilled personnel to perform these measurements, leading to decreased profitability.

[0007] The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

[0008] Furthermore, whenever an event occurs on the sorting line that alters at least one of the distances between an ejection nozzle and the camera, the affected distance(s) must be measured again and these measurements manually entered into the aforementioned system. These operations are also time-consuming for system users.

[0009] In view of the above, it would therefore be useful to be able to measure more quickly than before - in particular automatically - the distances between a reference point and withdrawal stations - in particular ejection points - of objects located on an object sorting line.

[0010] It would also be useful to be able to measure the distances between a reference point and the different ejection stations located on an object sorting line, automatically and in particular at each start of the conveyor line.

[0011] Document EP-A-0 060 013 describes the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

[0012] The invention aims to solve these problems.

[0013] The invention therefore aims to provide an automated method for adjusting at least one parameter of an object sorting line in a packaging system for such objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group.

[0014] To this end, the present invention relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of an object sorting line in a packaging system for such objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, the sorting line conveying a plurality of supports, each support being intended to carry an object; the adjustment method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: driving at least one support moving along a longitudinal direction of advance of the sorting line; detection of the passage of said at least one support in front of a reference point of the sorting line; detection of the passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station Pi of a plurality of ejection stations arranged along the sorting line, each ejection station Pi being intended to be able to eject said at least one support, an object carried by said at least one support, when said at least one support passes in front of said ejection station Pi;determination of each longitudinal distance Di separating each ejection station Pi of the plurality of ejection stations and the reference point, from detection data of the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point and from detection data of the passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station Pi and the drive speed V of said at least one support on the sorting line. ;

[0015] Throughout the text, the expression "sorting line" refers to a conveyor line for objects intended to allow the grouping of similar objects meeting at least one sorting criterion from a heterogeneous set of objects, but it also refers to a conveyor line intended to allow the distribution in space of similar objects - possibly previously sorted - from a homogeneous set of objects meeting at least one sorting criterion.

[0016] This process allows for the simple determination of the longitudinal distances Di between each ejection station and the reference point on the sorting line, based solely on the passage of an object carrier along the line. It synchronizes the activation of the object ejection mechanisms on the sorting line with the passage of the object carriers. The detection of the object carrier's passage at the reference point and at each ejection station is performed automatically, without human intervention. Similarly, the determination of the various distances is generally carried out by a data processing unit or processor, resulting in significant time savings for line personnel compared to manual intervention. Adjusting one or more conveyor line parameters is therefore much faster than with prior art.As a result, the sorting line operator can make such an adjustment more frequently than before and for example at regular time intervals, particularly when restarting the sorting line and / or the object conditioning system.

[0017] The method according to the invention makes it possible, for example at the start-up of the object sorting installation, to analyze the distances separating a reference point of the sorting line and each ejection station of this sorting line.

[0018] The process according to the invention allows the activation of the ejection station to be perfectly synchronized with the passage of the support carrying each object presenting the sorting criterion corresponding to this expulsion station, whereby all objects presenting a common sorting criterion or a sorting criterion in the same value range, and only these objects, are expelled from the sorting line to the same sorting station upstream of which they are grouped into batches.

[0019] Advantageously and according to the invention, the adjustment process is automated.

[0020] Depending on other possible characteristics: The passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station is detected by electromagnetic interaction between the fixed ejection station Pi and said at least one object support moving along the sorting line when said at least one object support passes in front of the ejection station Pi; there is thus no contact between the object support and the ejection station, and the passage detection is performed automatically as the support advances along the sorting line, when it reaches the relevant ejection station; the passage of said at least one support in front of each ejection station Pi is detected by electromagnetic interaction between a moving element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station Pi; the implementation of the passage detection is carried out very simply using a fixed element (detector) of the ejection station and a moving element of the support that is the element to be detected; the passageThe presence of at least one support in front of each ejection point Pi is detected by magnetic coupling between a moving element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection point Pi. Magnetic coupling is a particularly simple and effective means of electromagnetic interaction between a detector and an element to be detected. The moving element carried by said at least one support is a magnet, and the fixed element associated with the ejection point is a Hall effect sensor. These elements constitute a preferred embodiment because bringing the moving magnet and the fixed Hall effect sensor closer together produces a measurable voltage across the sensor. The at least one support chosen to perform each detection step carries an object. This object support, used for the detection steps of the object passing in front of the reference point and in front of each ejection device, is adapted to carry an object.Thus, the adjustment method according to the invention utilizes existing elements of the sorting line of the system for conditioning such objects and, in this case, uses one of the object holders used for sorting these objects, subject to some structural modifications that do not preclude its use as an object holder. Furthermore, nothing prevents said at least one object holder used for the passage detection steps from carrying an object or from being free of any transported object; the adjustment of at least one parameter is carried out during adjustment operations implemented on the sorting line prior to object sorting operations; advantageously, the determination of distances can be carried out during the adjustment operations, which therefore does not require interrupting the normal operation of the sorting line to perform these measurements. However, nothing prevents the following from being carried out:Adjustment operations of the sorting line during its operation for sorting objects. The adjustment of at least one parameter can be performed in real time during object sorting operations; each support is formed by two bicones arranged one behind the other on the sorting line along the direction of travel, the two bicones being adjacent to each other so as to define between them a recess to receive the object to be carried, each bicone comprising two portions arranged transversely to the object sorting line and each formed by a freely rotating cone, the two cones having their apexes opposite each other; such a support structure is particularly suitable for object supports and can be easily used for the implementation of the invention. Other types of supports are possible. These could be, for example, bucket-shaped supports, each bucket being sized to be able to receive aobject, each object being capable of being ejected from the bucket by tilting / overturning the bucket. This could be, for example, conveyor hand-shaped supports, each object conveyed by a conveyor hand being capable of being released from the conveyor hand by tilting the conveyor hand and / or by tilting the fingers forming said conveyor hand. Nothing prevents the object sorting line from comprising a conveyor belt forming a plurality of supports for said objects and means for ejecting said objects from these supports. For example, it could be a studded belt adapted to hold the objects in place on said belt as it moves along the conveyor; the objects conveyed for packaging belong to the fruit and vegetable group. It could be any type of fruit and / or vegetable suitable for withstanding such sorting operations. In certain embodiments of a process according toIn the invention, the objects can be berries. In these embodiments, the objects are small or of small dimensions, such as blueberries or cherries, that is to say, of a size and mass suitable for ejection into an ejection station by an airflow from a nozzle in the ejection station. However, nothing prevents the process according to the invention from being applied to a sorting line for larger objects, such as apples, oranges, etc. It is simply a matter of adapting the supports and providing means for removing the objects from the sorting line that are suitable for these larger objects.

[0021] In a method according to the invention, the passage of said at least one support in front of a reference point located along the sorting line is detected. The reference point is a fixed point on the sorting line whose position on the sorting line is fixed and determined. In a method according to the invention, the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point is detected by acquiring and analyzing images of said at least one support, said at least one support being equipped with a pattern identifiable by means of image acquisition and analysis of the sorting line. The reference point of the sorting line is equipped with a device for detecting the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point of the sorting line. The passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point is detected by any means, said at least one object support being equipped with an identifier capable of being identified by the detection device.The passage of at least one object carrier past the reference point can be detected by electromagnetic interaction between the fixed detection device and the object carrier moving along the sorting line as it passes the reference point. There is no contact between the object carrier and the detection device, and the passage is detected automatically as the carrier moves along the line and reaches the reference point. The fixed detection device may be equipped with a Hall effect sensor, and the moving object carrier may be equipped with a magnet.

[0022] In certain embodiments of a method according to the invention, the device for detecting the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point of the sorting line being an image acquisition and analysis device, the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point located along the sorting line is detected by means of the image acquisition and analysis device, in particular by means of an image acquisition and analysis device comprising a camera, this device being fixed relative to the sorting line. In these embodiments, said object support may have an identifiable pattern—in particular a colored pattern. In these embodiments, the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point is detected by image acquisition and analysis of said at least one support, said at least one support being provided with a pattern identifiable by image acquisition and analysis means of the sorting line.However, nothing prevents the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point from being detected by any other means suitable for this purpose.

[0023] Advantageously, for implementing a method of adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line according to the invention, the sorting line device designed to analyze the objects conveyed by the line is used to detect the passage of said at least one support in front of the reference point. This device is used to determine the sorting criterion for the objects conveyed by the line and to carry out their sorting. The distance Di traveled by said object support between the reference point equipped with the image acquisition and analysis device and each ejection station is thus precisely determined.

[0024] The present invention also relates to a sorting system for objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, comprising at least one sorting line equipped with a plurality of object supports, each support being intended to carry one object, the object supports being driven in movement along a longitudinal direction of advancement of the sorting line, the sorting line comprising: a reference point in front of which each of said object supports is intended to pass, and; a plurality of ejection stations Pi arranged successively along the sorting line and downstream of the reference point in the direction of advancement of the supports; each ejection station Pi being intended to eject objects each carried by their support and being located at a distance Di from the reference point; the system being characterized in that it comprises: a device for detecting the passage of at least one object support in front of the reference point; a device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station; a computer device configured to determine the different longitudinal distances Di between the ejection stations of the plurality of ejection stations Pi and the reference point from the detections of the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point and in front of each ejection station and the drive speed V of said at least one object support.

[0025] The same advantages described above in relation to the briefly outlined process also apply to the aforementioned system. Furthermore, the sorting system conventionally used for batching fruits and / or vegetables requires only minor modifications to be suitable for implementing the invention. It is sufficient to provide and integrate devices for detecting movement past the reference point and each ejection station, and a computer system comprising a data processing unit adapted to receive movement detection data and calculate each distance Di. Thus, the computer system is capable of transmitting ejection instructions for an object from its holder at the precise moment it passes the ejection station for objects exhibiting the same sorting criterion, and of grouping these objects into batches.In a preferred embodiment, only certain structural modifications are required to an object support and the various ejection stations, along with some software modifications to the data processing unit (which determines the distances Di) to implement the invention. Preferably, the device for detecting the passage of at least one object support in front of the reference point can be simply implemented using a camera that itself forms the reference point of the sorting line.

[0026] Depending on other possible characteristics: Each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station Pi comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station, both of which are capable of cooperating with each other with or without contact. The movable element carried by said at least one support can cooperate mechanically by contact with the fixed element associated with the ejection station;Each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station Pi comprises a moving element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection station, both of which are capable of cooperating with each other by electromagnetic interaction—by detecting a magnetic field produced by the moving element—when the moving element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object support in front of the ejection station. In some embodiments, the moving element carried by said at least one support comprises at least one magnet, and the fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one Hall effect sensor.Each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object carrier in front of each ejection station Pi comprises a moving element carried by said at least one carrier and a fixed element associated with the ejection station, both of which are capable of communicating with each other by radio frequency when the moving element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object carrier in front of the ejection station. In some embodiments, the moving element carried by said at least one carrier comprises at least one electronic component capable of transmitting data by radio frequency – in particular an RFID microcircuit, chip, or tag – and the fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one electronic component capable of receiving data by radio frequency – in particular an RFID reader.Each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection station comprises: ∘ a fixed element associated with the ejection station, said fixed element being a photoelectric cell comprising an emitter of a beam of at least one electromagnetic wave and a sensor of said at least one electromagnetic wave placed opposite said emitter, and; ∘ a movable element carried by said at least one support, the movable element being arranged to interrupt the transmission of the beam between the emitter and the sensor;the beam of said at least one electromagnetic wave being interrupted when the moving element is interposed between the emitter and the sensor of the photoelectric cell. The fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one photoelectric cell including an emitter of a beam of at least one electromagnetic wave and a photosensitive sensor arranged such that the moving element carried by said at least one support interrupts said beam due to the passage of said at least one support in front of the ejection station; the fixed element associated with the ejection station comprises at least one device for acquiring at least one image of said at least one support passing in front of the ejection station and in that the object sorting system comprises a unit for analyzing and processing said images adapted to detect the passage of said at least one support in front of the ejection station;Each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection point comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection point, the movable element having a particular color and the fixed element comprising a colorimeter; nothing prevents providing that each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of each ejection point comprises a movable element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the ejection point, the movable element comprising a heat source and the fixed element comprising an infrared (IR) wave detector; the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point may be of any nature. Ilmay include a moving element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the reference point, the moving element and the fixed element being capable of cooperating with each other by electromagnetic interaction when the moving element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object support in front of the fixed reference point. The moving element may have a magnet and the fixed element may include a Hall effect sensor. The device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point may include a moving element carried by said at least one support and a fixed element associated with the reference point.The moving element and the fixed element are capable of cooperating by radio frequency when the moving element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object carrier in front of the fixed reference point. The moving element may have an identifier—in particular an RFID identifier—and the fixed element may include an RFID identifier reader. In certain advantageous embodiments, the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object carrier in front of the reference point includes a fixed device—in particular a camera—for acquiring at least one image of said at least one carrier passing in front of the reference point, arranged along the sorting line and forming the reference point. The image acquisition device—in particular the camera—is adapted to determine the passage of said at least one object carrier in front of the reference point. Advantageously,said at least one object support has a colored pattern and the fixed camera is adapted to be able to perform a colorimetric analysis of said at least one object support; nothing prevents the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object support in front of the reference point from comprising an infrared (IR) wave detector disposed along the sorting line, forming the reference point and adapted to detect the passage of said at least one object support carrying a heat source in front of the reference point; in certain advantageous embodiments, each support is formed by two bicones arranged one behind the other on the sorting line along the direction of travel, the two bicones being arranged adjacently to define between them a housing for receiving the object to be carried, each bicone comprising two portions arranged transversely and each formed by a cone which is mounted freely to rotate,the two cones having their apexes opposite each other; the system includes a computer device comprising a data processing unit and a distance determination unit Di. ,

[0027] The invention also relates to a packaging installation for objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, of the type comprising an object sorting system according to the invention.

[0028] The invention also relates to a method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line for objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, an object sorting system and an installation for packaging such objects characterized, in combination or not, by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.Regardless of the formal presentation given, unless explicitly stated otherwise, the various characteristics mentioned above or below should not be considered as closely or inextricably linked to each other, the invention may relate to only one of these structural or functional characteristics, or only a part of these structural or functional characteristics, or only a part of one of these structural or functional characteristics, or any grouping, combination or juxtaposition of all or part of these structural or functional characteristics. Brève description des dessins

[0029] Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, given by way of non-limiting example, of some of its possible embodiments and which refers to the accompanying drawings, in which [ Fig. 1 ] there Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a sorting line for selected objects from the group formed by fruits and vegetables in an initial stage of the sorting line for said objects; [ Fig. 2 ] there Figure 2 is a simplified perspective view of the sorting line shown Figure 1 , in a second stage of development of the sorting line; [ Fig. 3 ] there Figure 3 is a simplified perspective view of the sorting line shown Figure 1 et Figure 2 , in a third stage of development of the sorting line; [ Fig. 4 ] there Figure 4 is a simplified perspective view of an object support on an object sorting line in an upstream position of an object ejection station on a sorting line according to an embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 5 ] there Figure 5 is a simplified perspective view of an object support on an object sorting line in the position for detecting the passage of said support through the object ejection station of the sorting line shown Figure 4 ; Fig. 6 ] there Figure 6 is a simplified perspective view of an object support on an object sorting line in the object ejection position at the object ejection station of the sorting line shown Figure 4 And Figure 5 , And ; [ Fig. 7 ] there Figure 7 is a schematic representation of an object sorting line according to the invention. Description de mode(s) de réalisation

[0030] A sorting line 1 of an object packaging system for such objects belonging to the group formed by fruits and vegetables, in a first stage of development of the sorting line for said objects, is represented in a simplified manner in Figure 1 The sorting line 1 comprises a conveyor 2 including a chain 3 driven in motion along a longitudinal direction 5 of the conveyor 2's movement, and a plurality of adjacent double cones 4, mounted integrally with the chain 3 and driven in motion by the chain 3. Two successive double cones 4 arranged one behind the other on the conveyor 2 of the sorting line 1 define between them a recess 9 for receiving an object 7 to be carried, chosen from the group of fruits and vegetables, and form a support 6 for said object. Each double cone 4 comprises two portions 10 arranged transversely with respect to the object sorting line and each formed by a cone mounted to rotate freely, the two cones having their apexes opposite each other. On the sorting line shown Figure 1 A single object 7 has been represented solely for the sake of simplifying the drawing. Indeed, during an object sorting phase, each support 6—or at least a majority of supports 6—is occupied by an object 7, the rate of movement of the chain 3 and each support 6 reaching a value of 3000 steps (replacement of a given support by the immediately adjacent upstream support) per minute. The sorting line 1 includes a fixed reference point 11 relative to the sorting line 1. It also includes at least one measuring device 8 for at least one quantity representative of each object passing in front of the reference point 11 for the purpose of sorting them. At least one detection device 8 may be a camera adapted to form a digital image of each object 7 passing the reference point 11.There is nothing to prevent at least one measuring device 8 from being, for example, a weighing device for each object, allowing the object's mass to be determined and its sorting to be performed. The object conditioning system includes a computer system adapted to receive each data point provided by the measuring device 8, to analyze each data point according to at least one object sorting criterion, and to determine the ejection station at which the object 7 analyzed by the computer system must be ejected. The computer system determines the time required for the analyzed object 7 to travel the distance Di separating the reference point 11 and the ejection station at which the object 7 must be ejected.In some embodiments in which the measuring device 8 is a camera, the computer device is adapted to receive each digital image formed by the measuring device 8, to analyze each digital image according to at least one object sorting criterion and to determine the ejection station at which the object 7 analyzed by the computer device must be ejected, to form a batch of objects ejected from the sorting line at the same ejection station and grouped into a batch of objects having the same sorting criterion.

[0031] Line 1 of the sorting of objects in a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group formed by fruits and vegetables, in a second stage of progress of line 1 of sorting said objects, is represented in a simplified manner in Figure 2 In figure 2 , object 7 reached a first ejection station 12 located at a distance from the reference point 11 and in a time not corresponding to the distance from the reference point 11 and the time calculated by the computer device for this object, whereby object 7 is not ejected from the sorting line 1 at the ejection station 12.

[0032] Line 1 of the sorting of objects in a packaging system for such objects belonging to the group formed by fruits and vegetables, in a third stage of progress of line 1 of sorting said objects, is represented in a simplified way in Figure 3 In figure 3 Object 7 reached a second ejection station 12' located at a distance from the reference point 11, within a timeframe corresponding to the distance from the reference point 11 and the timeframe calculated by the computer system for this object to be ejected from sorting line 1. Within this timeframe, the computer system activated the ejection device, thereby ejecting object 7 from sorting line 1 to the ejection station 12'. This results in the grouping of all objects meeting the same sorting criterion into a batch by ejecting these objects from the same ejection station.

[0033] However, it is possible that, due to maintenance operations on the object conditioning system and / or sorting line 1, for example, the position of the reference point 11 of the sorting line and / or at least one ejection station (12, 12') may be modified such that the distances Di separating the reference point 11 and each ejection station Pi (12) are also modified. Therefore, the parameters of object sorting line 1 must be adjusted to take these modifications into account.

[0034] In a method according to the invention for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line for objects in a packaging system for such objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, each object carrier on the sorting line is driven in motion along the longitudinal direction of the sorting line and at a predetermined speed V by means of a chain on the object conveyor. The adjustment method according to the invention is implemented prior to any sorting step, with the object carriers on the sorting line being empty of conveyed objects. However, there is nothing preventing the adjustment method according to the invention from being implemented while at least part of an object carrier is conveying objects.

[0035] In a method according to the invention, each object carrier moving at a predetermined speed V passes in front of a reference point equipped with a device for detecting the passage of at least one object carrier. The device for detecting the passage of an object carrier may be a detector of electromagnetic interaction between the fixed detection device located at the fixed reference point and said at least one carrier moving along the sorting line when said at least one object carrier passes in front of the reference point. Said at least one object carrier may be equipped with a magnet, and the detection device may be a Hall effect sensor.

[0036] In certain advantageous embodiments, the device for detecting the passage of an object carrier past a fixed reference point on an object sorting line may be a fixed image acquisition device located at the fixed reference point, and said at least one carrier moving along the sorting line may be an object carrier equipped with an identifier capable of being identified from images formed by the fixed image acquisition device. For example, the object carrier may be a colored carrier, of a color distinct from the other carriers on the sorting line, the fixed image acquisition device being adapted to acquire a plurality of digital images enabling the determination, by analysis of these digital images, of the time of the passage of the colored carrier past the reference point.The fixed image acquisition device being a camera, it transmits the images of the plurality of images to a computer 20 system control unit, comprising at least one digital image analysis processor enabling the determination of a time t 0 of passage of said object support in front of the reference point of the object sorting line.

[0037] A support 6 for an object moving along a longitudinal direction 5 of the sorting line and approaching an upstream ejection station 12 is represented in figure 4 In this figure 4 and in the figures 5 et 6 In the following diagrams, the conveyor chain and the plurality of object supports are not fully shown for the sake of simplicity and clarity. The object support 6, which is movable relative to the sorting line, consists of a central body 17 equipped with two pairs of bicones 4 arranged laterally relative to the longitudinal direction of movement of the object support. Each pair of bicones 4 forms a lateral recess 9 for receiving an object. The ejection station 12, which is fixed relative to the sorting line, comprises a fixed element integrally attached to the ejection station 12. This fixed element is equipped with a sensor 14 chosen to detect the passage of the object support 6 in front of the ejection station 12 by detecting the electromagnetic interaction between the magnet 13 of the support and the Hall effect sensor 14 of the detection station 12.In the approach position of the object support 6 upstream of an ejection station 12 as represented in . figure 4 , the magnet 13 of the support is at a distance from the Hall effect sensor 14 and the advance of the object support 6 along the sorting line 1 is not detected by the Hall effect sensor 14.

[0038] In the position of the support 6 of the object moving along a longitudinal direction 5 of the sorting line 1 as represented in figure 5 The magnet 13 of the object support 6 extends a short distance from the Hall effect sensor 14 of the ejection station 12. The voltage across the Hall effect sensor 14 is at its maximum, corresponding to the object support 6 passing closest to the Hall effect sensor 14. The Hall effect sensor 14 transmits the electrical voltage data measured across the terminals of the Hall effect sensor 14 to an electronic board 16 ("Air Machine Output Board, CSMA") of the ejection station. The maximum voltage value determined by the electronic board 16 corresponds to the moment the magnet 13 passes in front of, closest to, and directly opposite the sensor 14. Information concerning the maximum voltage value is transmitted to an electronic board 18 ("Air Machine Output Management Board, CGSMA") by each CSMA electronic board 16 associated with an ejection station 12.The processor of the electronic card 18 “CGSMA” calculates, from the data received from the fixed image acquisition device of the reference point and the data received from each electronic card 16 “CSMA”, the value of the delay tn - t0 elapsed between the moment (t0) of the object carrier passing in front of the reference point and the moment (tn) of the object carrier passing in front of the ejection station “n”. The electronic card 18 CGSMA centralizes the information transmitted by the electronic cards 16 CSMA and transmits this data to a control unit 20 of the object conditioning system via an interface 19 comprising a feedback electronic control card. Given the predetermined value of the speed V of movement of the object supports 6 on the sorting line 1, the control unit 20 calculates the distances Di separating the reference point 11 of the sorting line 1 and each ejection station 12 Pi of the object sorting line 1.From the values ​​Di determined during the process according to the invention of adjusting at least one parameter of a line 1 of sorting objects 7 of a conditioning system for such objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, the control unit 20 orders, during the object sorting operations, the activation of the object ejection means of the ejection station 12 corresponding to the sorting criterion of the object carried by the object support, when the object carried by the object support passes in front of the ejection nozzles 15.

[0039] In the position of the support 6 of the object being moved along the longitudinal direction 5 of the sorting line as shown in figure 6 The object support 6 is shown in a position downstream of the ejection station 12, with the object support 6 moving towards a separate downstream ejection station on the sorting line. In the position of the object support 6 shown figure 6 The distance separating the magnet 13 from the object support 6 (mobile) and the Hall effect sensor 14 from the ejection station 12 (fixed) is such that the magnet 13 is no longer detected by the sensor 14. On the other hand, the ejection nozzles 15 of the ejection station 12 are positioned so that an airflow likely to be produced by the ejection station 12 is directed onto the housing 19 of the object support 6 and is adapted to be able to eject an object carried by the object support 6.

[0040] A method for adjusting at least one parameter of a sorting line 1 for objects in a packaging system for such objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group is shown in Figure 7 in which sorting line 1 is schematically represented by a straight dashed line. An object support 6, devoid of any transported object, is shown in various successive positions along sorting line 1, moving at a speed V along the longitudinal direction 5 of sorting line 1. The object support 6 has a magnet 13 arranged to cooperate with the Hall effect sensor 14' coupled to the ejection station 12. During the implementation of the method according to the invention for adjusting at least one parameter of the object sorting line 1 of a packaging system for such objects belonging to the fruit and vegetable group, no object sorting is performed. However, nothing prevents the implementation of the adjustment method according to the invention during object sorting operations, with the object supports holding objects. An adjustment of at least one parameter is then performed in real time.

[0041] During a first phase (Ph 1) of the process for adjusting at least one parameter of an object sorting line according to the invention, an object support, referred to as the adjustment support 6, approaches the reference point 11 of the object sorting line 1. The device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 past the reference point 11 generates digital data representing the position of said adjustment support 6 relative to the reference point 11. This digital data is transmitted to an electronic board 18 equipped with a processor and software 19 for analyzing this digital data, which determines the time t 0 of the passage of said adjustment support past the reference point 11. The time t 0 of the passage of said adjustment support past the reference point 11 is communicated to a computer control unit 20 of the object conditioning system, indicating that said support is at the reference point 11, denoted "O". figure 7 The detection device 8 may be a camera adapted to form a plurality of digital images of the adjustment support 6 moving along the sorting line 1. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the device 8 for detecting the passage of the adjustment support 6 is also a device that allows for the analysis of each object carried by the object supports of the object sorting line, with a view to sorting them according to a predetermined sorting criterion. Thus, the device, in particular the camera, for analyzing the objects carried by the object supports for sorting purposes is used as the device 8 for detecting the passage of the adjustment support 6 at the reference point 11 of the sorting line 1. The adjustment support 6 is provided with at least one identifier that can be identified without contact by the detection device 8.

[0042] At least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be a magnetic identifier, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising a magnetic reader. In particular, at least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be a magnet, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising a Hall effect sensor.

[0043] At least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be an electronic component capable of transmitting data by radio frequency - in particular microcircuits or RFID tags - the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising at least one electronic reader capable of receiving data by radio frequency - in particular comprising at least one RFID reader

[0044] At least one identifier of said adjustment support 6 may be an optically readable code component - in particular a barcode component, a two-dimensional code component such as a QR code or a three-dimensional code, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising at least one optical reader - in particular a barcode reader, a QR code reader, a three-dimensional code reader - of the type of an optical reader comprising a high-definition matrix sensor.

[0045] At least one identifier may also be a coloured pattern arranged on said adjustment support, the device 8 for detecting the passage of said adjustment support 6 comprising a colourimeter and / or a camera adapted to detect the presence of the coloured pattern of said adjustment support 6 at the reference point 11 of the sorting line 1.

[0046] During a second phase (Ph 2) of the process for adjusting at least one parameter of an object sorting line according to the invention, the adjustment support 6, approaching a first object ejection station P 1 of the object sorting line 1, generates digital data representing the position of the magnet of the adjustment support 6 relative to the first ejection station P 1. This digital data is collected on an electronic card 16 of the first ejection station P 1 and transmitted to an electronic card 18 equipped with a processor and software 19 for analyzing this digital data, which determines the time t 1 of the adjustment support's passage past the first ejection station P 1.The time t 1 of passage of said adjustment support in relation to the first ejection station P 1 is communicated to a computer control unit 20 of the object conditioning system which calculates the time (t 1 - t 0 ) of travel of said adjustment support between the reference point 11 and the first ejection station P 1 and the distance D 1 separating the reference point 11 and the first ejection station P 1, taking into account the speed V of movement of said adjustment support on the sorting line 1.

[0047] During a third phase (Ph 3) of the process for adjusting at least one parameter of an object sorting line according to the invention, the adjustment support 6, approaching a second object ejection station P 2 of the object sorting line 1, generates digital data representing the position of the magnet of the adjustment support 6 relative to the second ejection station P 2. This digital data is collected on an electronic card 16' of the second ejection station P 2 and transmitted to the electronic card 18 of the object conditioning system, which determines the time t 2 of the adjustment support's passage past the second ejection station P 2.The time t 2 of passage of said adjustment support in relation to the second ejection station P 2 is communicated to the computer control unit 20 of the object conditioning system which calculates the time (t 2 - t 0 ) of travel of said adjustment support between the reference point 11 and the second ejection station P 2 and the distance D 2 separating the reference point 11 and the second ejection station P 2, taking into account the speed V of movement of said adjustment support on the sorting line 1.

[0048] During an nth phase (Ph n) of the adjustment process for at least one parameter of an object sorting line according to the invention, the adjustment support 6, approaching an nth object ejection station P n of the object sorting line 1, the Hall effect sensor 14 of the nth object ejection station P n produces digital data representing the position of the magnet of the adjustment support 6 relative to the nth ejection station P n. This digital data is collected on an electronic card 16 of the nth ejection station P n and transmitted to the electronic card 18 of the object conditioning system, which determines the time tn of the adjustment support's passage over the nth ejection station P n.The time tn of passage of said adjustment support in relation to the nth< ejection station P n is communicated to the computer control unit 20 of the object conditioning system which calculates the time (tn - t 0 ) of travel of said adjustment support between the reference point 11 and the nth< ejection station P n and the distance D n separating the reference point 11 and the nth< ejection station P n, taking into account the speed V of movement of said adjustment support on the sorting line 1.

[0049] The invention can be implemented in numerous variations and applications other than those described above. In particular, it is understood that, unless otherwise indicated, the various structural and functional features of each of the embodiments described above should not be considered as combined and / or closely and / or inextricably linked to one another, but rather as mere juxtapositions. For example, the number of ejection stations in an object packaging system according to the invention may vary depending on the number of separate batches of objects to be grouped.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting at least one parameter of a line (1) for sorting objects (7) of a system for packaging such objects belonging to the group of fruit and vegetables, the sorting line (1) conveying a plurality of holders (6), each holder (6) being intended to carry an object (7); the adjustment method being characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - driving at least one holder (6) such that it moves in a longitudinal direction (5) of forward travel of the sorting line (1); - detecting the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of a reference point (11) of the sorting line (1); - detecting the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') of a plurality of discharge stations spread along the sorting line (1), each discharge Pi station (12,12') being intended to be able to eject, from said at least one holder (6), an object (7) carried by said at least one holder (6), as said at least one holder (6) passes in front of said discharge Pi station (12,12'); - determining each longitudinal distance Di between each discharge Pi station (12,12') of the plurality of discharge stations and the reference point (11), on the basis of data concerning detection of the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of the reference point (11) and data concerning detection of the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') and the speed V at which said at least one holder (6) is driven on the sorting line (1).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') is detected by electromagnetic interaction between the fixed discharge Pi station (12,12') and said at least one holder (6) moving on the sorting line (1) when said at least one holder (6) passes in front of the discharge Pi station (12,12').

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') is detected by electromagnetic interaction between a movable element carried by said at least one holder (6) and a fixed element associated with the discharge Pi station (12,12').

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') is detected by magnetic coupling between a movable element carried by said at least one holder (6) and a fixed element associated with the discharge Pi station (12,12').

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the movable element carried by said at least one holder (6) is a magnet (13) and the fixed element associated with the discharge station (12,12') is a Hall effect sensor (14).

6. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said at least one holder (6) selected to carry out each detection step carries an object (7).

7. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the adjustment of at least one parameter is carried out during adjustment operations implemented on the sorting line (1) prior to object (7) sorting operations.

8. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each holder (6) is formed by two diabolos (4) arranged one behind the other on the sorting line (1) in the direction (5) of forward travel, the two diabolos (4) being adjacent to one another in such a way as to define between them a housing (9) for receiving the object (7) to be carried, each diabolo (4) comprising two portions (10) arranged transversely with respect to the object sorting line (1) and each formed by a cone mounted freely rotatably, the apexes of the two cones facing one another.

9. The method as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the passage of said at least one holder (6) in front of the reference point (11) is detected by acquisition and analysis of images of said at least one holder (6), said at least one holder (6) being provided with a pattern that can be identified by image acquisition and analysis means of the sorting line (1).

10. A system for sorting objects (7) belonging to the group of fruit and vegetables, comprising at least one sorting line (1) equipped with a plurality of holders (6) for said objects, each holder (6) being intended to carry an object (7) and to be driven such that it moves in a longitudinal direction (5) of forward travel of the sorting line (1), the sorting line (1) comprising: - a reference point (11) in front of which each of said object (7) holders (6) is intended to pass; and - a plurality of discharge Pi stations (12,12') arranged successively along the sorting line (1) and downstream of the reference point (11) in the direction of forward travel of the holders (6); each discharge Pi station (12,12') being intended to discharge one or more objects (7) each carried by their holder (6) and being located at a distance Di with respect to the reference point (11); the system being characterized in that it comprises: - a device (8) for detecting the passage of at least one object (7) holder (6) in front of the reference point (11); - a device for detecting the passage of said at least one object holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12'), - a computer device configured to determine the various longitudinal distances Di between the discharge stations (12,12') of the plurality of discharge Pi stations (12,12') and the reference point (11) on the basis of detections of passages of said at least one object holder (6) in front of the reference point (11) and in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') and the speed V at which said at least one object holder (6) is driven.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that each device (14) for detecting the passage of said at least one object holder (6) in front of each discharge Pi station (12,12') comprises a movable element carried by said at least one holder (6) and a fixed element associated with the discharge Pi station (12,12'), which are both capable of interacting with one another by electromagnetic interaction when the movable element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object holder (6) in front of the discharge Pi station (12,12').

12. The system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the movable element carried by said at least one holder (6) comprises at least one magnet (13) and the fixed element associated with the discharge station comprises at least one Hall effect sensor (14).

13. The system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that each device for detecting the passage of said at least one object holder in front of each discharge station comprises a movable element carried by said at least one holder and a fixed element associated with the discharge station, which are both capable of communicating with one another by radio frequency when the movable element passes in front of the fixed element in order to detect the passage of said at least one object holder in front of the discharge station, the movable element carried by said at least one holder comprises at least one electronic component capable of transmitting data by radio frequency and the fixed element associated with the discharge station comprises at least one electronic component capable of receiving data by radio frequency.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the fixed element associated with the discharge station comprises at least one photoelectric cell comprising an emitter that emits a beam of at least one electromagnetic wave and a photosensitive sensor, both arranged such that the movable element carried by said at least one holder intercepts the beam of said at least one electromagnetic wave owing to the passage of said at least one holder in front of the discharge station.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the fixed element associated with the discharge station comprises at least one device for acquiring at least one image of said at least one holder passing in front of the discharge station and in that the object sorting system comprises a unit for analyzing and processing said images adapted to detect the passage of said at least one holder in front of the discharge station.

16. The system as claimed in one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the device for detecting the passage of said at least one object holder in front of the reference point comprises a fixed device for acquiring at least one image of said at least one holder passing in front of the reference point, arranged along the calibration line and forming the reference point.

17. The system as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that it comprises a computer device comprising a unit for processing data and for determining the distances Di.

18. The system as claimed in one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that each holder is formed by two diabolos arranged one behind the other on the calibration line in the direction of forward travel, the two diabolos being positioned adjacent to one another so as to define between them a housing for receiving the object to be carried, each diabolo comprising two portions arranged transversely and each formed by a cone mounted freely rotatably, the apexes of the two cones facing one another.

19. A facility for packaging objects (7) belonging to the group of fruit and vegetables, of the type comprising a system for sorting objects (7) as claimed in one of claims 10 to 18.