Process and installation for processing fruit harvested in bunches, in particular grapes
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2022004984
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2022-05-24
- Publication Date
- 2025-02-21
- Estimated Expiration
- 2042-05-24
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Method and installation for processing fruit harvested in bunches, in particular grapes
[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an installation for processing fruit harvested in bunches, in particular grapes.
[0002] It relates in particular to a method for treating fruit harvested in bunches by means of at least two destemmers, each destemmer comprising: - at least one inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, - at least one movable destemmer element extending between the inlet and the first outlet of said destemmer and - a device for driving the movement of said at least one mobile destemming element, said at least one mobile destemming element of each destemmer being a rotating, or respectively oscillating, element, configured to generate, under the effect of its rotational movement around an axis of rotation, or respectively pivoting around a pivoting axis between two extreme positions, a destemming force which is a function at least of the speed of movement of said element,
[0003] Installations for processing fruit harvested in bunches, in particular grape harvests, comprising at least grains or berries and a material other than the grains with a view to separating the grains from at least part of said material are well known to those skilled in the art. These installations, called destemmers or destemmers, are for example described in patents FR 2 963 209, EP 3 794 961. It should be recalled that destemming is the operation which consists of separating the grape berries from the stalk, the green and woody peduncular support which supports and structures the bunch. The destemming force is therefore the force applied by the movable destemming element of the destemmer to the stalk / berry connection when they are in contact to separate the berry from the stalk. Installations for processing fruit harvested in bunches in which destemmers are arranged in parallel are known.Furthermore, it is increasingly required for quality constraints to sort berries according to their maturity. Until now, this sorting has been a densimetric sorting based on the sugar content of the berries or an optical sorting. This sorting operation according to maturity is generally complex to implement.
[0004] An aim of the invention is to propose a processing installation of the aforementioned type whose design can make it possible, if necessary, to simply sort the berries according to their maturity.
[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a method for treating fruit harvested in bunches using at least two destemmers, each destemmer comprising: - an entrance, a first exit and a second exit, - at least one movable destemmer extending between the inlet and the first outlet of said destemmer and - a device for driving the movement of said at least one mobile destemmer element, said at least one mobile destemmer element of each destemmer being a rotating element, or respectively oscillating, configured to generate, under the effect of its rotational movement around an axis of rotation, or respectively pivoting around a pivot axis between two extreme positions, a destemmer force depending at least on the speed of movement of said mobile destemmer element, characterized in that said method comprises a step of positioning said destemmers in series following one another to form from the first destemmer of the series, said upstream, towards the last destemmer of the series, said downstream, a line of destemmers with the first outlet of each destemmer communicating with the inlet of the destemmer arranged downstream and in that for at least two of the destemmers of the series, said method comprises, by means of the drive devices,a step of driving in movement the at least one destemmer element of the destemmer arranged upstream taken in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers at a speed of movement lower than the speed of movement of the at least one destemmer element of the destemmer arranged downstream, this speed of movement being taken at the level of the first outlet of each destemmer, at a point of the or each mobile destemmer element furthest from the axis of rotation or closest to the axis of oscillation of said destemmer element, this speed of movement of each mobile destemmer element (6) expressed in meters per second being defined by V= D / T with D expressed in meters corresponding to the so-called angular distance traveled by said point in one rotation or in one movement between the two extreme positions of the mobile destemmer element and T expressed in seconds corresponding to the time necessary for said point to travel said distance.
[0006] The step of driving the at least one destemming element of the destemmer arranged upstream in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers at a movement speed lower than the movement speed of the at least one destemming element of the destemmer arranged downstream makes it possible to generate at the first outlet of said destemmers a destemming force which, in the upstream / downstream direction, increases from one destemmer to the next along the line of destemmers. Thus, the least ripe fruits can be detached at the downstream destemmer without the most ripe fruits already detached at the upstream destemmer suffering excessive trauma. Each destemmer therefore comprises an inlet for admitting the products to be treated, a first outlet and a second outlet. The second outlet is arranged between the inlet and the first outlet to allow products to be evacuated. destemmed, that is to say, in particular, fruits separated from the fruit supports. The fruits are berries in the case of grapes. The second outlet is arranged on the path followed by the products from the inlet towards the first outlet. The first outlet is used to evacuate the stalk and the products not yet destemmed. The idea of arranging the destemmers in series and generating, at least at the first outlet of at least two of the destemmers in the series, a different destemming force resulting from a differentiated speed of movement of the movable destemming elements from one destemmer to another, makes it possible in a simple way through the destemming process to sort the berries at least according to their maturity.The possibility of having destemmers whose speeds of movement of the mobile destemmer elements are differentiated from one destemmer to another at least at the first outlet of each destemmer makes it possible to increase the active separation force on the grain / pedicel connection of the bunches during the passage of the products from one destemmer to another. Thus, driving the at least one destemmer element of an upstream destemmer at a reduced speed allows at the upstream destemmer the detachment of only the ripest berries from the stalks and the collection of these ripest berries at the second outlet of said upstream destemmer while driving the at least one destemmer element of a downstream destemmer at a high speed allows at the downstream destemmer the detachment of less ripe berries from the stalks and the collection of less ripe berries at the second outlet of said downstream destemmer.This detachment of less ripe berries from the bunches is made possible by a higher speed taken at the first exit of the downstream destemmer, of the mobile destemmer element(s) of the downstream destemmer, this higher speed resulting in an increase in the active separation force on the berry / pedicel connection. It thus becomes possible at the time of destemmering to use the destemmers to, if necessary, automatically sort the fruits according to their maturity.
[0007] It should be noted that in all of the above as in all of the following the terms upstream and downstream are taken with reference to the direction of movement of the products to be treated, that is to say the fruits harvested in bunches, from the inlet of the first destemmer in the line of destemmers towards the first outlet of the last destemmer in the line of destemmers. In this line of destemmers, the first outlet of each destemmer communicates with the inlet of the nearest destemmer arranged downstream when this downstream destemmer is present. Thus, quite obviously, the first outlet of the last destemmer in the series does not communicate with the inlet of another destemmer in the series.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the method, the so-called angular distance traveled by the point of the or each mobile destemming element furthest from the axis of rotation or closest to the axis of oscillation of said destemming element, in one rotational revolution or in one movement between the two extreme positions of the mobile destemming element is equal to axd with a expressed in radians and corresponding to the angle traveled by said point in one rotation or in one movement between the two extreme positions of the movable destemming element and d expressed in meters and corresponding to the distance between said point and the axis of oscillation or rotation of said movable destemming element. It should be noted that in the case of a rotating destemming element, the angle a is equal to 2 ir and the distance d between the point and the rotating axis at the largest radius of the rotating destemming element at the first outlet of the destemmer.
[0009] The invention also relates to an installation for processing fruit harvested in bunches, said installation comprising at least two destemmers, each destemmer comprising an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet, at least one mobile destemmer element extending between the inlet and the first outlet of said destemmer and a device for driving the movement of said at least one mobile destemmer element, said at least one mobile destemmer element of each destemmer being a rotating element, or respectively oscillating element, configured to generate, under the effect of its rotational movement around an axis of rotation, or respectively pivoting around a pivoting axis between two extreme positions, a destemmer force which is a function at least of the speed of movement of said mobile destemmer element,characterized in that the destemmers are arranged in series one after the other to form from the first destemmer of the series, said upstream, towards the last destemmer of the series, said downstream, a line of destemmers with the first outlet of each destemmer communicating with the inlet of the destemmer arranged downstream and, in that for at least two of the destemmers of the series, the devices for driving the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers are configured to allow movement of the at least one movable destemmer element of the destemmer arranged upstream at a movement speed lower than the movement speed of the at least one destemmer element of the destemmer arranged downstream, this movement speed being taken at the first outlet of each destemmer, at a point of the or each movable destemmer element furthest from the axis of rotation or closest to the axis of oscillation of said element of destemming,this speed of movement of each mobile destemming element expressed in meters per second being defined by V= D / T with D expressed in meters corresponding to the so-called angular distance traveled by said point in one rotation or in one movement between the two extreme positions of the mobile destemming element and T expressed in seconds corresponding to the time necessary for said point to travel said distance.
[0010] Thus, for at least two of the destemmers in the series, the devices for driving the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers are configured to allow the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers to be driven in movement at a movement speed, taken at the first output of said destemmers, which is different from one destemmer to another in order to allow generation, at the first exit from said destemmers, a destemming force which, following the upstream / downstream direction, increases from one destemmer to the next along the line of destemmers and thus ensures, in parallel with destemming, a sorting of the fruits harvested in bunches according to their maturity.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the devices for driving the or at least two of the destemmers, which are configured to allow a driving in movement of the at least one movable destemmer element of the destemmer arranged upstream at a movement speed lower than the movement speed of the at least one destemmer element of the destemmer arranged downstream, with the upstream and downstream taken in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers, each comprise at least one motor, a mechanism for transmitting the rotational movement of the at least one motor to said at least one destemmer element of said destemmer and a control of said motor.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the controls of the drive devices of the or at least two of the destemmers, which are configured to allow control of a movement drive of the at least one movable destemmer element of the destemmer arranged upstream at a movement speed lower than the movement speed of the at least one destemmer element of the destemmer arranged downstream, with the upstream and downstream taken in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers, are distinct.
[0013] Thus, in the simplest version, when the transmission mechanisms and the movable destemmer elements are identical for the two destemmers, the speed of movement of the at least one movable destemmer element of each destemmer, taken at the level of the first output of said destemmer, is considered to be directly dependent on the speed of rotation of the motor of the drive device of said destemmer.It is therefore sufficient, for at least two of the destemmers in the series whose drive devices for the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers are configured to allow the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers to be driven in movement at a movement speed, taken at the first outlet of said destemmers, which is different from one destemmer to the other in order to generate, at the first outlet of said destemmers, a destemmer force which, in the upstream / downstream direction, increases from one destemmer to the other along the line of destemmers, to drive in rotation the motor(s) of the drive device of the upstream destemmer at a rotation speed lower than the rotation speed of the motor(s) of the drive device of the downstream destemmer.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control of the drive device of at least one of the destemmers is a speed variator configured to control the or each motor associated with the movement transmission mechanism at a variable speed.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the transmission mechanisms of the drive devices of said destemmers are configured, i.e. shaped and dimensioned, to have a transmission ratio of the rotation speed of the motor to said at least one destemmer element of the destemmer that is different from one destemmer to another. Thus, when the rotation speeds of the motors and the movable destemmer elements are identical for both destemmers, the speed of movement of the at least one movable destemmer element of each destemmer, taken at the first output of said destemmer, is considered to be directly dependent on the transmission ratio of the rotation speed of the motor to said at least one destemmer element of the destemmer.It is therefore sufficient for at least two of the destemmers of the series whose drive devices for the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers are configured to allow a displacement drive of the movable destemmer elements of said destemmers at a displacement speed, taken at the first output of said destemmers, different from one destemmer to the other to allow generation, at the first output of said destemmers, of a destemmer force which in the upstream / downstream direction increases from one destemmer to the other along the line of destemmers, to provide the movement transmission mechanism of the drive device of the upstream destemmer with a transmission ratio of the speed of the motor to said at least one movable destemmer element of said destemmer lower than that of the movement transmission mechanism of the drive device of the downstream destemmer.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one movable destemmer of at least one of the destemmers, which is an oscillating destemmer, has the shape of an oscillating box having two open opposite ends and a peripheral side wall connecting said ends provided with through openings, one of the ends of the box forms the inlet of the destemmer, the opposite end of the box forms the first outlet of the destemmer and the through openings of the peripheral side wall form the second outlet of the destemmer.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one movable destemmer of at least one of the destemmers, which is a rotary destemmer, is in the form of a rotary shaft equipped with radial fingers, said rotary shaft being arranged inside a tubular body open at each of its ends, said rotary shaft extending from one of the open ends of said body to the other end of said body, this tubular body being delimited by a peripheral wall provided with through openings, one of the open ends of the body forming the inlet of the destemmer, the other of the open ends of the body forming the first outlet of the destemmer and the through openings of the peripheral delimiting wall of the body forming the second outlet of the destemmer.
[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the installation comprises a screening sorting device arranged under the movable destemming element(s) of the destemmers. Such a screening sorting device makes it possible to sort the fruits according to their shapes and / or their dimensions.
[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the sorting device comprises at least two sorting zones arranged in series along a circulation path defined by the succession of entry / first exit / entry / first exit of the destemmers arranged in series so that one of the sorting zones called upstream extends upstream of the other sorting zone(s) called downstream, the upstream sorting zone, which extends below and vertically from the first destemmer of the series called upstream, is in direct communication with said first destemmer for direct gravity feed of the upstream sorting zone from the first destemmer and the or at least one of the downstream sorting zones is an indirect feed sorting zone, this downstream sorting zone being separated from the destemmers by at least one separating element and being arranged in the extension of the sorting zone which precedes it to be fed exclusively from the sorting zone which precedes it.This arrangement allows for fruits coming from the same destemmer and corresponding for example to ripe fruits to further sort these fruits according to their dimensions. The sorting zone with indirect feeding and the sorting zone which precedes it each form a screen, the screen formed by the sorting zone with indirect feeding being configured to sort products of a dimension larger than the products suitable for being sorted by the screen formed by the sorting zone preceding the sorting zone with indirect feeding.
[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element surmounting the indirect feed sorting zone has the shape of a dihedron open towards the indirect feed sorting zone, this dihedron delimiting from its summit two inclined planes with a downward slope, one in the direction of a sorting zone arranged upstream of the indirect feed sorting zone, the other in the direction of a sorting zone arranged downstream of the indirect feed sorting zone.
[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the separating element surmounting the sorting zone with indirect feeding is an element adjustable in position in the direction of an axial offset along a line parallel to the line formed by the succession of sorting zones arranged in series.
[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, each sorting zone delimits a sorting surface formed, between an upstream edge and a downstream edge, of a plurality of parallel adjacent rollers, in that the sorting device comprises at each sorting zone a mechanism for driving the rollers in rotation in the same direction of rotation to allow movement of the fruits harvested in bunches to be sorted above said sorting surface in a direction of advance perpendicular to the axis of said rollers from the upstream edge towards the downstream edge, said rollers at each sorting zone of the grading rollers being shaped or arranged to provide at least one opening or a plurality of calibrated openings between two neighboring rollers to allow the passage and fall of fruit harvested in bunches to be sorted, the fruit harvested in bunches to be sorted of a dimension greater than the openings remaining above the sorting surface and being evacuated at the downstream edge thereof and in that the sorting device comprises at least two collection containers each arranged under one or more sorting zones and associated, one, with one or more sorting zones and, the other, or another, with one or more other sorting zones. For the sorting zone with indirect feeding and the sorting zone which precedes it, the openings between two rollers of a sorting zone are of different dimensions from one sorting zone to another to form screens with differentiated screening characteristics.Thus, the screen formed by the indirect feed sorting zone is configured to sort products of a size larger than the products suitable for being sorted by the screen formed by the sorting zone preceding the indirect feed sorting zone. Brief description of the drawings
[0023] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0024] [Fig.l] represents a schematic side view of an installation according to the invention in which the mobile destemming elements of the destemmers are oscillating destemming elements;
[0025] [Fig.2] represents a partial perspective view of a compliant installation to the invention in which the movable destemmer elements of the destemmers are oscillating destemmer elements following an up and down movement;
[0026] [Fig.3] represents a partial perspective view of an installation according to the invention in which the mobile destemming elements of the destemmers are oscillating destemming elements following a lateral movement;
[0027] [Fig.4] represents a partial perspective view of the sorting device;
[0028] [Fig.5] represents a partial perspective view of a separating element;
[0029] [Fig.6] represents a partial schematic view of an installation to illustrate the moving the destemmers;
[0030] [Fig.7] represents a partial perspective view of an installation in accordance with the invention;
[0031] [Fig.8] represents a partial perspective view of an installation according to the invention;
[0032] [Fig.9] represents a partial perspective view of a compliant installation to the invention in which the movable destemming elements of the destemmers are rotary destemming elements;
[0033] [Fig. 10] represents a schematic view of a movable destemming element oscillating during its pivoting movement;
[0034] [Fig. 11] shows a schematic view of a rotating movable destemming element during its rotational movement.
[0035] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a method for processing fruit harvested in bunches, in particular grapes from the harvest, and an installation for processing fruit harvested in bunches, in particular for implementing the method.
[0036] Generally speaking, the method, which is the subject of the invention, implements at least two destemmers, with each destemmer 2 comprising an inlet 3, a first outlet 4 and a second outlet 5, as well as at least one mobile destemmer element 6 extending between the inlet 3 and the first outlet 4 of the destemmer 2, and a device 7 for driving the movement of the mobile destemmer element(s) 6.
[0037] Each movable destemmer element 6 of each destemmer 2 is an element configured to generate, under the effect of its movement, a destemmer force or action, depending at least on the speed of movement of said destemmer element 6.
[0038] The method comprises a step of positioning said destemmers 2 in series to obtain a line of destemmers 2 in which the first outlet 4 of each destemmer 2 feeds the inlet of the destemmer 2 arranged closest downstream, that is to say immediately downstream, and for the or at least two of the destemmers 2 of said series, and a step of driving the destemmer elements 6 in movement at a speed of movement taken at the level of the first outlet 4 of each destemmer 2 is different from one destemmer to another, the value of the speed of movement of the at least one destemmer element 6 of the destemmer arranged upstream taken in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers 2 being lower than the value of the speed of movement of the at least one destemmer element 6 of the destemmer 2 arranged downstream, to enable generation, at the level of the first outlet 4 of said destemmers 2, a destemmer action which, following the upstream / downstream direction,grows from one destemmer 2 to the next, along the destemmer line 2 as will be described in more detail below.
[0039] The installation 1 allowing the implementation of such a method therefore comprises at least two destemmers 2 arranged in series to form, from the first destemmer 2 of the series called upstream, in the direction of the last destemmer 2 of the series called downstream, a line of destemmers 2 with the first outlet of each destemmer 2 communicating with the inlet 3 of the nearest destemmer 2 arranged downstream, the upstream and downstream being taken by reference to the direction of movement of the products along the line of destemmers 2.
[0040] Although in the examples shown, the line of destemmers 2 only comprises two destemmers 2, the invention also applies to installations 1 comprising a number of destemmers greater than two.
[0041] The inlet 3 of the first destemmer 2 of the series, that is to say the most upstream destemmer taken in relation to the direction of circulation of the products along the line of destemmers, forms the admission inlet of the products to be treated inside the line of destemmers 2.
[0042] The products travel inside the destemmer 2, along the at least one movable destemmer element 6 extending between the inlet 3 and the first outlet 4 of said destemmer 2. A portion of the products is, during this travel, evacuated through the second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2. The second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2 is arranged between the inlet 3 and the first outlet 4 of the destemmer 2. The products not evacuated through the second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2 are evacuated from the destemmer 2 through the first outlet 4 of the destemmer 2, and feed the inlet 3 of the nearest destemmer 2 arranged downstream.
[0043] The same process occurs for this downstream destemmer 2. Thus, the products travel inside the destemmer 2, along the at least one movable destemmer element 6 extending between the inlet 3 and the first outlet 4 of said destemmer 2. A portion of the products is, during this travel, evacuated through the second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2. The second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2 is arranged between the inlet 3 and the first outlet 4 of the destemmer 2. The products not evacuated through the second outlet of the destemmer 2 are evacuated from the destemmer 2 through the first outlet 4 of the destemmer 2. Obviously, the first outlet 4 of this second downstream destemmer 2 does not feed the inlet 3 of a destemmer 2 arranged further downstream, when the line of destemmers only comprises two destemmers. To ensure good communication between the first outlet 4 of a destemmer 2 and the inlet 3 of the nearest downstream destemmer 2, a skirt surrounding the inlet 3 of the downstream destemmer may be provided.
[0044] At each second outlet 5 of the destemmer, the fruits can be collected. The first outlet 4 of a destemmer 2 is used for the evacuation of stalks and other waste, but also for that of the fruits not detached from the stalks, hence the interest of placing the destemmers 2 in series and the variable destemmer force to allow the progressive detachment of all the fruits from the stalks, by increasing the destemmer force measured at the first outlet of the destemmers along the line of destemmers to allow the detachment of the less ripe fruits which are more firmly attached to the stalks at the level of the downstream destemmer(s).
[0045] The destemmers 2 of the installation belong to the family of oscillating destemmers 2, as illustrated for example in [Fig.l], or to that of rotary destemmers 2 as illustrated for example in [Fig.9] or to both families with one of the destemmers of the installation being an oscillating destemmer and the other of the destemmers of the installation being a rotary destemmer.
[0046] In the case of oscillating destemmers 2, the or at least one movable destemmer element 6 of the destemmer 2 is an oscillating element driven by a periodic oscillating movement which may be an oscillating movement in a vertical direction up and down. drop as in [Fig.l], or in a right / left lateral direction as in [Fig.3], without departing from the scope of the invention. This oscillating movement is carried out by pivoting around a pivot axis shown at XX' in [Fig. 10]. This pivoting movement is carried out between two extreme positions.
[0047] In the examples shown in Figures 1 to 3, the oscillating destemming element 6 has the shape of a box 61, that is to say a tubular body having two opposite open ends 62 and 63.
[0048] In Figures 1 and 2, the box 61 is of quadrangular section. In the example of [Fig.3], the box 61 is of circular cross-section. This oscillating box 61 has a peripheral lateral wall 64 connecting the open ends 62 and 63 of the box 61 provided with through openings 65. Thus, one of the ends, namely the end shown at 62 of the box 61 forms the inlet 3 of the destemmer, the opposite end shown at 63 in the figures of the box forms the first outlet 4 of the destemmer and the through openings 65 of the peripheral lateral wall 64 of the box 61 form the second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2.
[0049] The through openings 65 are sized to allow a maximum size of fruit to pass through, the fruit larger than the openings or remaining attached to the stalks are evacuated through the first outlet 4 of the destemmer, to be subjected to a new destemmer when the destemmer 2 is not the last destemmer in the line of destemmers 2.
[0050] The oscillating box 61 is coupled to a chassis 22 of the installation, so as to be able to be driven in pivoting movement around the pivot or oscillation axis XX' extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the box, this longitudinal axis of the box corresponding to the axis connecting the open ends 62 and 63 of the box 61.
[0051] This pivot axis XX' can be arranged at the entrance of the destemmer or upstream of the entrance 3 of the destemmer taken in relation to the direction of movement of the products in the destemmer.
[0052] The axis XX' of pivoting or oscillation can be a real or virtual axis.
[0053] It is understood that thus, the movement of the box is minimal, close to the axis XX' of pivoting or oscillation, and increases as the fruit approaches the end of the box, forming the first exit of the destemmer.
[0054] In the example shown in Figures 1 and 2, this axis is said to be horizontal. Thus, the first outlet 4 of the destemmer moves upwards and downwards in the state driven in pivoting movement of the box by the device 7 for driving in movement the movable destemmer element 6 of said destemmer.
[0055] In the solution shown in [Fig.3], the axis XX' of pivoting or oscillation is vertical. Thus, the first outlet of the destemmer moves to the right or to the left, in the driven state in pivoting movement of the box by the drive device 7.
[0056] Similar to what has been described above, the destemming action carried out by the movements of the box is minimal, close to the pivot or oscillation axis of the box, and increases as the fruit approaches the other end of the box corresponding to the first outlet 4 of the destemmer.
[0057] Alternatively, and as illustrated in [Fig.9], the movable destemming element 6 of the destemmer may be a rotary destemming element mounted to rotate about an axis YY' of rotation. This destemming element 6 is thus in the form of a rotary shaft 66 equipped with radial fingers 67. The rotary shaft 66 is arranged inside a tubular body 68 open at each of its ends, shown at 681 and 682 in the figures. The rotary shaft 66 extends from one of the open ends 681 of the body 68 to the other end 682 of the body 68.
[0058] This tubular body 68 is delimited by a peripheral wall provided with through openings 69.
[0059] The open end of the body 68 shown at 681 in the figures forms the inlet 3 of the destemmer 2. The other open end of the body 68 shown at 682 in the figures forms the first outlet 4 of the destemmer 2. The through openings 69 of the peripheral delimiting wall of the body 68 form the second outlet 5 of the destemmer 2.
[0060] Regardless of the design of the movable destemming element 6, the destemmer 2 comprises a device 7 for driving the movable destemming elements 6 of the destemmer.
[0061] For at least two, in this case for the two destemmers 2 of the destemmer line 2, the installation 1 each comprises a device 7 for driving the destemmer element 6 in movement. This device 7 for driving the destemmer element 6 in movement comprises at least one motor 10, preferably electric, a mechanism 9 for transmitting the rotational movement of the motor(s) 10 to the destemmer element 6 of said destemmer and a control 8 for said motor 10.
[0062] In the case of an oscillating destemmer element 6 as illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the movement transmission mechanism 9 is an eccentric drive 91. This eccentric drive 91 comprises an eccentric disc driven in rotation by the motor 10 and a connection 92, such as a connecting rod connecting the disc to the oscillating destemmer element, i.e. here to the oscillating box 61.
[0063] This connecting rod has one end which is connected in rotation in an eccentric manner, that is to say at a location away from the center of rotation of the disc to the disc and an opposite end which is connected in rotation to the box at a connection point adapted to provide the box 61 with an oscillating movement at its first exit, either down and up as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or right and left as shown in [Fig.3].
[0064] The detail of a destemmer with an up and down oscillating movement will not be provided, because such a destemmer is well known, as illustrated by patent EP 3 132 694. Similarly, the detail of a destemmer with a right / left oscillating movement will not be provided, because such a destemmer is well known, as illustrated by patent FR 2 963 909.
[0065] The devices 7 for driving the oscillating destemming elements 6 of the upstream and downstream destemmers 2 are configured to allow a movement drive of the oscillating destemming element 6 of the destemmer 2 arranged upstream at a movement speed lower than the movement speed of the destemming element 6 of the destemmer 2 arranged downstream. This movement speed is taken at the first outlet 4 of each destemmer 2, at a point P of each oscillating destemming element 6 closest to the oscillation axis of said destemming element 6. This speed of movement of each oscillating destemming element 6 is expressed in meters per second and is defined by V= D / T with D expressed in meters corresponding to the so-called angular distance traveled by said point P in a movement between the two extreme positions of the oscillating destemming element 6 and T expressed in seconds corresponding to the time required for said point to travel said distance.[Fig. 10] illustrates the same oscillating destemming element 6, on the one hand in solid lines, on the other hand in dotted lines to show its movement between two extreme pivoting positions. The distance D traveled during this movement between the two extreme positions is represented as well as the point P with reference to the pivoting axis XX'. This distance D, called angular distance traveled, at the level of the first outlet 4 of each destemmer, by the point P of the oscillating destemming element 6 closest to the oscillation axis of said destemming element 6, in a movement between the two extreme positions of the oscillating destemming element 6 is equal to axd with a expressed in radians and corresponding to the angle traveled by said point in a movement between the two extreme positions of the mobile destemming element 6 and d expressed in meters and corresponding to the distance between said point and the oscillation axis of said mobile destemming element 6. .
[0066] To enable the moving destemmer elements 6 of the destemmers to be driven at a movement speed taken, each time, at the level of the first outlet 4 of the destemmers 2, which is different from one destemmer to another, several solutions can be envisaged.
[0067] In the simplest version, the control 8 of the motor(s) 10 of the device 7 for driving one of the destemmers 2 is separate from the control 8 of the motor(s) 10 of the device 7 for driving the other of the destemmers 2, to enable the control of the motor(s) 10 of the device 7 for driving one of the destemmers 2. at a speed different from that of the motor(s) 10 of the device 7 for driving the other of the destemmers 2.
[0068] The motor(s) 10 of the device 7 for driving one of the destemmers are variable speed motors, and the control 8 of the motor(s) 10 is a speed variator.
[0069] Alternatively, one or more motors with a single rotation speed may be provided for each drive device 7, but the rotation speed of which is different between the motor equipping one of the destemmers and the motor(s) equipping the other destemmer.
[0070] As a further variant, the transmission mechanisms 9 of the devices 7 for driving the destemmers 2 may be configured, that is to say shaped and dimensioned, to present a transmission ratio of the rotation speed of the motor 10 to said at least one destemmer element 6 of the destemmer 2 that is different from one destemmer 2 to another. To do this, it is sufficient, for example, to vary the position of the connecting rod relative to the disc.
[0071] All these solutions allow a speed of movement of the mobile destemming element 6 taken at the level of the first outlet 4 of said destemmer 2 different from one destemmer 2 to another, to allow for a lesser destemming action at the level of the first outlet of the first destemmer of the line and on the contrary, an increased destemming action at the level of the first outlet of the destemmer arranged downstream of the first destemmer, to allow detachment of less ripe products from the bunches at the level of the second destemmer, which the first destemmer did not allow.
[0072] Similarly, in the case of rotary destemmer elements 6, the devices 7 for driving the rotary destemmer elements 6 of the upstream and downstream destemmers 2 are configured to allow a drive in displacement of the rotary destemmer element 6 of the destemmer 2 arranged upstream at a displacement speed lower than the displacement speed of the rotary destemmer element 6 of the destemmer 2 arranged downstream. This displacement speed is taken at the first outlet 4 of each destemmer 2, at a point of each rotary destemmer element 6 furthest from the axis YY' of rotation of said destemmer element 6.This speed of movement of each oscillating destemming element 6 is expressed in meters per second and is defined by V= D / T with D expressed in meters corresponding to the so-called angular distance traveled by said point P in one rotation and T expressed in seconds corresponding to the time required for said point to travel said distance. [Fig.l 1] illustrates a rotary destemming element 6 whose distance D traveled by point P over one rotation is represented in dotted lines. This so-called angular distance D traveled, in one rotation, by the point P of the rotary destemming element 6 furthest from the axis of rotation and corresponding here to the end of the longest finger at the level of the first exit of the destemmer 2 is equal to axd with a expressed in radians and . corresponding to the angle traveled by said point in one rotation of the movable destemming element and d expressed in meters and corresponding to the distance between said point and the axis of rotation of said rotary destemming element 6, that is to say to the largest radius of the rotary destemming element 6 at the first outlet of the destemmer 2.
[0073] In the case of a rotary destemming element 6 as illustrated in [Fig. 3], the mechanism 9 for transmitting the rotational movement of the motor 10 to the destemming element 6 may be a belt or gear transmission mechanism 9 or the like. The motor may be a variable speed motor and the control may be formed by a speed variator.
[0074] Alternatively, the transmission mechanism 9 may have a distinct movement transmission ratio from one destemmer to another.
[0075] All these solutions again make it possible to drive the shaft 66 of a destemmer at a different rotation speed from the shaft 66 of the other or another of the destemmers in the line, to obtain at the first outlet of said destemmers, different destemmer actions and in particular a stronger destemmer action at the first outlet of a destemmer arranged downstream of the first destemmer in the series of destemmers, compared to the destemmer action at the first outlet of this first destemmer in said series of destemmers.
[0076] To illustrate these remarks, it is assumed, in the installation as illustrated in [Fig. 3], that the motor 10 of the device 7 for driving the oscillating destemming element 6 of the first destemmer in the line of destemmers rotates at a speed of 540 revolutions per minute, while the motor 10 of the device 7 for driving the oscillating destemming element of the destemmer arranged downstream of the first destemmer in the series rotates at a speed of 1620 revolutions per minute, that the amplitude of the oscillation, that is to say the distance D traveled by the point P of the destemming element 6 of each destemmer is equal to 189 mm for each destemmer and that the duration T to travel this distance D via the point P is 55 ms for the destemming element 6 of the upstream destemmer and 18 ms for element 6 of the downstream destemmer. We assume a grape berry with a mass equal to 2 grams.The speed V of the upstream destemmer box taken at the level of the first outlet of the box at point P, is therefore equal to 341 m / s while the speed V of the box of the second destemmer or downstream destemmer taken at the level of the first outlet of the box at point P at the level of the first outlet of the second destemmer is equal to 1024 m / s.
[0077] It can thus be seen that the value of the speed V of movement of the destemming element 6 taken at the level of the first outlet of the destemmers increases from one destemmer to the other, in the upstream / downstream direction, due to a different rotation speed of the motors. Similarly, the destemming force increases.
[0078] Thus, the ripest berries can be collected at the first destemmer in the series of destemmers, while the less ripe berries are collected at the second destemmer in the series of destemmers.
[0079] To complete the treatment installation 1, said treatment installation 1 comprises a sorting device 11 by screening, arranged under the mobile destemming element(s) 6 of the destemmers 2.
[0080] The sorting device 11 comprises at least two sorting zones arranged in series along the line of destemmers, below the line of destemmers 2.
[0081] In the example shown in [Fig.l], the sorting device 11 comprises four sorting zones shown at 121, 122, 123 and 124 in the figures. These sorting zones are arranged in series along a circulation path defined by the succession of inlet 3 / first outlet 4 of the destemmers 2 arranged in series, so that the so-called upstream sorting zone, shown at 121 in the figures, extends upstream of the other sorting zone(s) shown at 122, 123, 124 in the figures and called downstream.
[0082] The upstream sorting zone 121, which extends below and vertically from the first destemmer 2 of the series, is in direct communication with said first destemmer 2, for direct gravity feeding of the upstream sorting zone 121, from the first destemmer 2.
[0083] One of the downstream sorting zones shown at 122 in the figures is an indirect feed sorting zone. This downstream sorting zone 122 is separated from the destemmers 2 by a separating element 13. This downstream sorting zone 122 is arranged in the extension of the sorting zone 121 which precedes it, to be fed exclusively from the sorting zone which precedes it. This results in the possibility, at its first two sorting zones 121 and 122, of eliminating the ripest and smallest fruits in the first sorting zone, then at the second sorting zone, the ripest and largest fruits.
[0084] In the examples shown, the separating element 13 surmounting the indirect feed sorting zone 121 has the shape of a dihedron open towards the indirect feed sorting zone 122. This dihedron forms a two-sloped roof above the indirect feed sorting zone 122. Thus, this dihedron delimits from its summit two inclined planes 141 and 142 with a downward slope, one shown at 141 in the figures in the direction of the sorting zone 121 arranged upstream of the indirect feed sorting zone 122, the other shown at 142 in the figures in the direction of the sorting zone 123 arranged downstream of the indirect feed sorting zone 122. This separating element 13, which surmounts the indirect feed sorting zone 122, is an element adjustable in position in the direction of an axial offset along a line parallel to the line formed by the succession of sorting zones 121, 122, 123, 124 arranged in series.
[0085] The detail of this separator is shown in [Fig.5], where the dihedral is equipped with pins inserted into two parallel sliding rails for sliding movement of the separator in the direction of moving one end of the line formed by the succession of sorting zones towards or away from it.
[0086] In the examples shown, and as visible in [Fig.l], each sorting zone 121, 122, 123, 124 delimits a sorting surface 15 formed between an upstream edge 16 and a downstream edge 17, of a plurality of parallel adjacent rollers 18.
[0087] The sorting device 11 comprises, at each sorting zone, a mechanism 19 for driving the rollers 18 in rotation in the same direction of rotation to allow movement of the fruit harvested in bunches to be sorted above said sorting surface 15 in a direction of advance perpendicular to the axis of the rollers 18 from the upstream edge 16 towards the downstream edge 17.
[0088] The rollers are, at each sorting zone, sizing rollers 18 shaped or arranged to provide at least one opening or a plurality of calibrated openings between two neighboring rollers 18 to allow the passage and fall of the fruits harvested in bunches to be sorted, the fruits harvested in bunches to be sorted of a dimension greater than the openings remaining above the sorting surface 15 and being evacuated at the downstream edge 17 thereof.
[0089] In the example shown, the mechanism 19 for driving the rollers 18 of a sorting zone in rotation comprises an endless transmission motor driving member, common to all the rollers 18 of the sorting zone, and at the level of each roller 18, a driven member mounted integral in rotation and in meshing with the motor driving member.
[0090] The driving member is for example an endless transmission chain and each driven member is a pinion or a toothed wheel mounted at one end of a roller 18, in a manner integral in rotation with said roller.
[0091] The chain is wound around each of the pinions or toothed wheels of said roller, so as to cause, parallel to its rotational drive on a loop trajectory, the rotational drive of said driven members.
[0092] The openings between two neighboring rollers of a sorting zone are of different dimensions from one sorting zone to another, to form screens with differentiated screening characteristics depending on the desired size.
[0093] Generally, when the two sorting zones are arranged under the same destemmer as in the example shown in [Fig.l], the first sorting zone delimits openings of a smaller dimension than that of the openings of the second sorting zone taken in the upstream-downstream direction.
[0094] Thanks to the installation as described above, it is possible, in a simple manner, to sort the fruits according to both size and maturity.
[0095] To enable the collection of said fruits, the sorting device 11 comprises at least two collection containers 23 each arranged under one or more sorting zones and one associated with one or more sorting zones and the other with one or more other sorting zones.
[0096] In the example shown in [Fig.l], four collection bins are provided, each collection bin 23 being associated with a separate sorting area. The first collection bin thus makes it possible to collect small ripe fruit, the second bin larger ripe fruit, the third bin smaller less ripe fruit and the fourth bin larger less ripe fruit.
Claims
1. Claims Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches, said installation (1) comprising at least two destemmers (2), each destemmer (2) comprising an inlet (3), a first outlet (4) and a second outlet (5), at least one movable destemmer element (6) extending between the inlet (3) and the first outlet (4) of said destemmer (2) and a device (7) for driving the movement of said at least one movable destemmer element (6), said at least one movable destemmer element (6) of each destemmer (2) being a rotating element, or respectively oscillating element, configured to generate, under the effect of its rotational movement about an axis of rotation, or respectively pivoting about an axis of pivoting between two extreme positions, a destemmer force depending at least on the speed of movement of said movable destemmer element (6),characterized in that the destemmers (2) are arranged in series one after the other to form from the first destemmer (2) of the series said upstream in the direction of the last destemmer (2) of the series said downstream a line of destemmers (2) with the first outlet (4) of each destemmer (2) communicating with the inlet (3) of the destemmer (2) arranged downstream, in that for at least two of the destemmers (2) of the series, the devices (7) for driving the movable destemmer elements (6) of said destemmers (2) are configured to allow a drive in movement of the at least one movable destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) arranged upstream at a speed of movement lower than the speed of movement of the at least one destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) arranged downstream, this speed of movement being taken at the level from the first outlet (4) of each destemmer (2),at a point (P) of the or each movable destemming element (6) furthest from the axis of rotation or closest to the axis of oscillation of said destemming element (6), this speed of movement of each movable destemming element (6) expressed in meters per second being defined by V= D / T with D expressed in meters corresponding to the so-called angular distance traveled by said point (P) in one rotation or in one movement between the two extreme positions of the movable destemming element (6) and T expressed in seconds corresponding to the time required for said point to travel said distance and in that the installation (1) comprises a, sorting device (11) by screening arranged under the mobile destemming element(s) (6) of the destemmers.
2. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to claim 1, characterized in that the devices (7) for driving the or at least two of the destemmers (2), which are configured to allow a driving in movement of the at least one movable destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) arranged upstream at a speed of movement lower than the speed of movement of the at least one destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) arranged downstream, with the upstream and downstream taken in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers (2), each comprise at least one motor (10), a mechanism (9) for transmitting the rotational movement of the at least one motor (10) to said at least one destemmer element (6) of said destemmer (2) and a control (8) of said motor (10).
3. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to claim 2, characterized in that the controls (8) of the devices (7) for driving the or at least two of the destemmers (2), which are configured to allow controlling a movement drive of the at least one movable destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) arranged upstream at a movement speed lower than the movement speed of the at least one destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) arranged downstream, with the upstream and downstream taken in the upstream / downstream direction along the line of destemmers (2), are distinct.
4. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the control (8) of the device (7) for driving at least one of the destemmers (2) is a speed variator configured to control the or each motor (10) associated with the movement transmission mechanism (9) at a variable speed.
5. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the transmission mechanisms (9) of the devices (7) for driving said destemmers (2) are configured, that is to say shaped and dimensioned, to present a transmission ratio of the rotation speed of the motor (10) to said at least one destemmer element (6) of the destemmer (2) which is different from one destemmer (2) to another.
6.
7.
8. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one movable destemming element (6) of at least one of the destemmers (2), which is an oscillating destemming element (6), has the shape of an oscillating box (61) having two opposite open ends (62, 63) and a peripheral lateral wall (64) connecting said ends (62, 63) provided with through openings (65), in that one (62) of the ends (62, 63) of the box (61) forms the inlet (3) of the destemmer (2), in that the opposite end (63) of the box (61) forms the first outlet (4) of the destemmer (2) and in that the through openings (65) of the peripheral lateral wall (64) form the second outlet (5) of the destemmer (2). Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one movable destemming element (6) of at least one of the destemmers, (2) which is a rotary destemming element (6), is in the form of a rotary shaft (66) equipped with radial fingers (67), said rotary shaft (66) being arranged inside a tubular body (68) open at each of its ends (681, 682), said rotary shaft (66) extending from one (681) of the open ends (681, 682) of said body (68) to the other end (682) of said body (68), this tubular body (68) being delimited by a peripheral wall provided with through openings (69), one (681) of the open ends (681, 682) of the body (68) forming the inlet (3) of the destemmer (2), the other (682) of the ends (681,682) open from the body (68) forming the first outlet (4) of the destemmer (2) and the through openings (69) of the peripheral delimiting wall of the body (68) forming the second outlet (5) of the destemmer (2)., Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the sorting device (11) comprises at least two sorting zones (121, 122, 123, 124) arranged in series along a circulation path defined by the succession inlet (3) / first outlet (4) / inlet (3) / first outlet (4) of the destemmers (2) arranged in series so that one (121) of the so-called upstream sorting zones (121, 122, 123, 124) extends upstream of the other so-called downstream sorting zone(s) (121, 122, 123, 124), in that the upstream sorting zone (121), which extends below and vertically above the first destemmer (2) of the so-called upstream series, is in communication direct with said first destemmer (2) for direct gravity feeding of the upstream sorting zone (121) from the first destemmer (2) and in that the or at least one (122) of the downstream sorting zones (122, 123, 124) is an indirect feeding sorting zone, this downstream sorting zone (122) being separated from the destemmers (2) by at least one separating element (13) and being arranged in the extension of the sorting zone (121) which precedes it to be fed exclusively from the sorting zone which precedes it.
9. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to claim 8, characterized in that the separating element (13) surmounting the indirect feed sorting zone (122) has the shape of a dihedron open in the direction of the indirect feed sorting zone (122), this dihedron delimiting from its summit two inclined planes (141, 142) with a downward slope, one (141), in the direction of a sorting zone (121) arranged upstream of the indirect feed sorting zone (122), the other (142), in the direction of a sorting zone (123) arranged downstream of the indirect feed sorting zone (122).
10. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the separating element (13) surmounting the indirect feed sorting zone (122) is an element adjustable in position in the direction of an axial offset along a line parallel to the line formed by the succession of sorting zones (121, 122, 123, 124) arranged in series.
11. Installation (1) for processing fruit harvested in bunches according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that each sorting zone (121, 122, 123, 124) delimits a sorting surface (15) formed, between an upstream edge (16) and a downstream edge (17), of a plurality of parallel adjacent rollers (18), in that the sorting device (11) comprises at each sorting zone (121, 122, 123, 124) a mechanism (19) for driving the rollers (18) in rotation in the same direction of rotation to allow movement of the fruit harvested in bunches to be sorted above said sorting surface (15) in a direction of advance perpendicular to the axis of said rollers (18) from the upstream edge (16) towards the downstream edge (17),said rollers (18) at each sorting zone of the calibrator rollers (18) being shaped or arranged to provide at least one opening or a plurality of calibrated openings between two neighboring rollers (18) to allow passage and fall of fruits harvested in bunches to, sorting, the fruits harvested in bunches to be sorted of a dimension greater than the openings remaining above the sorting surface (15) and being evacuated at the downstream edge (17) thereof and in that the sorting device (11) comprises at least two collection containers (23) each arranged under one or more sorting zones and associated, one, with one or more sorting zones and, the other, or another, with one or more other sorting zones.