Leaf stripping plant for removing leaves from plant stems, such as cut flowers
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2024001679
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-02-21
- Publication Date
- 2025-08-22
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-02-21
Smart Images
Figure 00000000_0000_ABST
Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Leaf stripping installation for removing leaves from plant stems, such as cut flowers
[0001] The present invention relates to a leaf stripping installation for removing leaves from plant stems, such as cut flowers.
[0002] It relates in particular to a leaf stripping installation for removing leaves from plant stems, such as cut flowers, said installation comprising at least one leaf stripping station with an inlet for the plants to be stripped and an outlet for the stripped plants and a system for holding the stem plants.
[0003] Such a leaf stripping installation is known. Removing the leaves from the stems of cut flowers before making a bouquet is necessary to prevent the plants from rotting. There is a leaf stripping installation on the market that removes the leaves from the plants by brushing. However, this solution is not suitable when the plants have flexible stems. Damage to the stems or imperfect leaf stripping can occur.
[0004] An aim of the invention is to propose a leaf stripping installation whose design makes it possible to solve the problems observed in leaf stripping installations of the state of the art.
[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a leaf stripping installation for removing leaves from plant stems, such as cut flowers, said installation comprising at least one leaf stripping station with an inlet for the plants to be stripped and an outlet for the stripped plants and a system for holding the stem plants, characterized in that the station comprises one or more pairs of indentations, in that the indentations of a pair of indentations are mounted to move between a position close to each other and a position spaced apart from each other, in that said indentations are, in the position close to each other, mounted, over at least part of their travel, to move in a rectilinear direction of movement known as the leaf stripping direction, in that said indentations form, in the position close to each other, a succession of through-orifices each closed around their periphery,in that the succession of orifices is arranged along a line transverse to the leaf stripping direction.
[0006] The presence of through-orifices each closed on their periphery in a position close to the prints of a pair of prints with the succession of orifices arranged along a line transverse to the stripping direction allows, in the state surrounded by a rod by an orifice, stripping by displacement of said orifice along the stripping direction. This results in effective stripping without risk damage to the stem.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, each imprint of a pair of imprints is, for its movement between a position close to and a position separated from the other imprint of the pair, coupled to an endless member, such as an endless chain, for a loop movement of said imprint.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the endless members is a driving member equipped with a motor drive and in that the other of the endless members is a non-motorized driven member, said driven member being configured to be driven in movement by contact of a print of the driving member on a print of the driven member. This results in simplicity of installation and safety in terms of synchronization of the movement of the prints of the pair of prints.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the installation comprising several pairs of prints, the endless member to which one print of a pair of prints is coupled is common with the endless member to which at least one print of another pair of prints is coupled. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the installation without harming its simplicity.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the holding system extends in a plane called the holding plane passing through the succession of orifices and parallel to the leaf stripping direction. The system for holding stem plants is configured to at least temporarily hold the plants in the leaf stripping station in a position in which the stems of the plants extend in a plane called the holding plane passing through the succession of orifices and parallel to the leaf stripping direction to allow, in the state surrounded by a stem by an orifice, leaf stripping by moving said orifice along the leaf stripping direction.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the holding system comprises at least one movable part and the speed of movement of the movable part of the holding system is preferably lower than the speed of movement of the prints. The movable part of the plant holding system configured to ensure holding of the plants and their movement through the leaf stripping station from the entrance towards the exit of said station is mounted to move in a direction orthogonal to the leaf stripping direction and substantially parallel to the line formed by the succession of orifices of the prints of a pair of prints in a position close to said prints. This arrangement makes it possible to improve the handling of the plants.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mobile part of the holding system comprises a train of stations for holding the plants in a suspended state for vertical positioning of the plant stems and a device for driving the train. at least two stations between the entrance and the exit of the leaf stripping station following a so-called horizontal direction of movement to maintain the plant stems in an upright state, at least part of the train extending in the maintenance plane.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the movable part of the holding system comprises a belt conveyor in parallel with an endless belt to form two bearing surfaces spaced from each other and each extending in the holding plane.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, for the or at least one of the pairs of prints, each print is in the form of a plate delimited by edges, one of the edges of the plate constituting one of the prints of the pair being shaped to, in cooperation with one of the edges of the plate constituting the other print of the pair of prints, form the succession of through-orifices closed on their periphery in a position close to said prints of the pair of prints. This design is characterized by its simplicity and its robustness without harming the effectiveness of the stripping.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least one of the prints has the shape of a comb.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the prints of the or a pair of prints are, in the close position in which they form a succession of through orifices, arranged with at least partial overlap.
[0017] The invention also relates to a leaf stripping method for removing leaves from plant stems, such as cut flowers, using a leaf stripping installation comprising at least one leaf stripping station with an inlet for the plants to be stripped and an outlet for the stripped plants and a system for holding the stemmed plants, characterized in that the leaf stripping installation being of the aforementioned type, the method comprises a step of driving the impressions of a pair of impressions into a position close to each other in the rectilinear leaf stripping direction to allow, in the state surrounded by a stem by an orifice, leaf stripping by moving said orifice in the leaf stripping direction. Brief description of the drawings
[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
[0019] [Fig-1] represents a partial perspective view of a leaf stripping installation according to the invention;
[0020] [Fig.2] represents a partial perspective view of a leaf stripping installation in accordance with the invention;
[0021] [Fig.3] represents a partial perspective view of a leaf stripping station of a leaf stripping installation in accordance with the invention;
[0022] [Fig.4] represents a partial perspective view of a leaf stripping installation in accordance with the invention;
[0023] [Fig.5] represents a schematic view of a pair of prints illustrating cases of positioning of plants at the entrance to the leaf stripping station.
[0024] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a leaf stripping installation 1 for removing leaves 21 from the stems 20 of plants 22, in particular cut flowers, such as peonies, for example, to enable bouquets of flowers to be made from these cut flowers whose stems are free of leaves.
[0025] This leaf stripping installation 1 comprises one or more leaf stripping stations 2. In the examples, only one leaf stripping station 2 is shown. When the installation comprises several leaf stripping stations 2, these leaf stripping stations 2 are similar. Consequently, only one leaf stripping station 2 will be described below.
[0026] This leaf stripping station 2 comprises a frame delimiting an inlet 3 for the plants 22 to be stripped in the leaf stripping station 2 and an outlet 4 for the stripped plants 22 from the leaf stripping station 2.
[0027] The installation also comprises a system 5 for holding plants 2 with active stems at least at the level of the leaf stripping station 2 to allow the plants to be held during the leaf stripping phase. Ideally, the or each leaf stripping station 2 and the plant holding system 5 are configured to allow the plants to pass through the leaf stripping station 2 in the state in which the plants are held by the holding system 5.
[0028] The holding system 5 and the leaf stripping station 2 may be configured to ensure continuous passage of the plants through the leaf stripping station 2. Alternatively and / or additionally, the holding system 5 and the leaf stripping station 2 may be configured to ensure discontinuous passage of the plants 22 through the leaf stripping station 2. The leaf stripping station 2 may be mobile and the holding system fixed or vice versa.
[0029] In the example of [Fig.l], a continuous supply of the leaf stripping station 2 is shown. The same is true in [Fig.4].
[0030] The stripping station 2 comprises one or more pairs of prints 61 and 62, as illustrated in [Fig. 3] where six pairs of prints are provided. The prints 61 and 62 of a pair of prints are mounted to be movable between a close position and a position spaced apart from each other. The prints 61 and 62 are in a close position to each other mounted, over at least part of their travel, movable in a rectilinear direction of movement, called the stripping direction, and shown at D in the figures.
[0031] This rectilinear stripping movement direction D can be a vertical direction as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, or a horizontal direction as illustrated in [Fig.4] or other.
[0032] The prints 61 and 62 form, in a position close to each other, a succession of through orifices 7 each closed on their periphery. The succession of orifices is arranged along a line L1 transverse to the leaf stripping direction to allow, in the state surrounded by a stem of a plant by an orifice, leaf stripping by moving said orifice along the leaf stripping direction D.
[0033] Each imprint 61 or 62 of a pair of imprints is, for its movement between a position close to and a position separated from the other imprint of the pair, coupled to an endless member for a loop movement of said imprint. In the examples shown, the endless member is an endless chain.
[0034] One of the prints, namely print 61 of the pair of prints, is therefore coupled to the endless member 81, while print 62 of the pair of prints is coupled to the endless member 82, said endless members 81 and 82 being distinct.
[0035] Each indentation 61 or 62 moves along a loop path. The endless members 81 and 82 define two parallel loops with each endless member carrying one of the indentations of the pair of indentations.
[0036] In [Fig.l], each loop has a forward strand with upward vertical movement towards the head of the plant and a return strand with downward vertical movement towards the root end of the stem of the plant in the state of the plant being held by the holding system 5. The close position of the prints takes place at the level of the return strands. In [Fig.4], each loop has a forward strand in the direction of the head of the plant and a return strand in the direction of the root end of the stem of the plant in the state of the plant being held by the holding system 5. The close position of the prints takes place at the level of the return strands.
[0037] In the examples shown, one of the endless members, namely that shown at 81, is a driving member equipped with a motor drive 9. The other of the endless members, shown at 82 in the figures, is a non-motorized driven member. The driven member is configured to be driven in movement by contact of a footprint 61 of the driving member on a footprint 62 of the driven member.
[0038] This arrangement avoids having to provide a system for synchronizing the movement of the prints of a pair of prints.
[0039] When the installation comprises several pairs of impressions, as is the case in the figures, the endless member to which an impression of a pair of impressions is coupled is common with the endless member to which an impression of another pair of impressions is coupled. Thus, the six pairs of impressions of [Fig. 3] are carried by two endless members 81 and 82 at a rate of six impressions per endless member. Each imprint is arranged at a distance from the other imprints on the endless member to allow the formation of a succession of pairs of imprints as the driving and driven endless members move.
[0040] In the examples shown, each imprint 61 or 62 of a pair of imprints is in the form of a plate 611 or 621 delimited by edges. This plate is here rectangular. The plate is coupled by one of its edges to the endless member and comes by its opposite edge, represented at 6111 for imprint 61 and at 6211 for imprint 62, to delimit, with the other imprint of the pair, the succession of through-orifices 7 closed on their periphery in a position close to the imprints 61 and 62 of the pair of imprints.
[0041] The indentations 61 and 62 of the or a pair of indentations are, in the close position in which they form a succession of through orifices 7, arranged with at least partial overlap as can be seen in [Fig.3].
[0042] In the examples shown, the imprint, represented at 61 of the pair of imprints, has the shape of a comb, that is to say that the edge 6111 of the plate 611 constituting the imprint 61, serving to delimit the through orifices 7, is formed by teeth.
[0043] The imprint, represented at 62, of the pair of imprints, has the shape of a plate with a straight edge, that is to say that the edge 6211 of the plate 612 constituting the imprint 62 serving to delimit the through orifices 7, is rectilinear.
[0044] When the indentations 61 and 62 are in a position close to each other, the teeth of the indentation 61 partially overlap the right edge of the indentation 62 to form, between this right edge and the bottom of the hollow space separating two teeth, each time a through orifice 7 closed around its periphery inside which a plant stem is able to take place.
[0045] To enable the plants to be held during their passage through the leaf stripping station 2, the leaf stripping installation 1 comprises a holding system 5. This holding system 5 can take different forms depending on whether the plants are held vertically, as illustrated in [Fig. 1], or horizontally, as illustrated in [Fig. 4].
[0046] In the examples shown, the holding system 5 comprises at least one movable part 10. The speed of movement of the movable part 10 of the holding system 5 is preferably lower than the speed of movement of the impressions 61 and 62 for their passage from a spaced apart position to a position close to each other and vice versa.
[0047] In other words, the speed of movement of the endless members 81 and 82 is preferably greater than the speed of movement of the mobile part 10 of the holding system 5.
[0048] Generally, at least a portion of the holding system 5 extends in a plane called the holding plane P passing through the succession of orifices 7 and parallel to the leaf stripping direction D. This holding system is configured to at least temporarily hold the stems of the plants in a position in which they extend in a plane called the holding plane P passing through the succession of orifices 7 and parallel to the leaf stripping direction D to allow, in the state surrounded by a stem by an orifice, leaf stripping by moving said orifice along the leaf stripping direction.
[0049] In the example of [Fig.l], the mobile part 10 of the holding system 5 comprises a train of stations 11 for holding the plants in the suspended state for vertical positioning of the stems 20 of plants 22 and a device 12 for driving the train of stations 11 at least between the inlet 3 and the outlet of the leaf stripping station 2 in a so-called horizontal direction of movement for holding the stems of plants 22 in the upright state. At least part of the train extends in the holding plane P.
[0050] In this embodiment, each holding station 11 is formed by a V-shaped or U-shaped clamp positioned horizontally. A stem of a plant is introduced between the branches of the U or V with the head of the plant above the V or U. Each clamp is coupled to a loop conveyor which forms the drive device for the train of stations. At least part of the loop path of this conveyor extends above the leaf stripping station 2 to allow each plant stem held by a holding station to travel through the leaf stripping station 2 from the entrance 3 of said station towards the exit 4 of said station 2 in a position in which it extends over at least part of the path in the holding plane P.
[0051] In the embodiment of [Fig.4], the movable part 10 of the holding system 5 comprises a belt conveyor 13 in parallel with an endless belt 14 to form two bearing surfaces 15 spaced apart from each other and each extending in the holding plane P.
[0052] Each time, and independently of the embodiment, the direction of movement of the mobile part 10 of the holding system 5 is, at the level of the leaf stripping station 2, parallel to the line L1 transverse to the leaf stripping direction, along which is arranged a succession of through orifices 7 formed by the impressions 61 and 62 of a pair of impressions in a close position.
[0053] In view of the above, generally, a leaf stripping cycle comprises the following steps:
[0054] The plant, held and driven in movement by the holding system 5, enters the leaf stripping station 2 and is positioned in support on the edge 6211 of the imprint 62 coupled to the driven endless member 82, this edge 6211 of the imprint 62 being opposite the edge coupling the imprint 62 to the driven endless member 82.
[0055] An imprint 61 of the endless driving member 81 comes into contact with and partially overlaps the imprint 62 to form with said imprint 62 a succession of through-orifices 7 each closed on their periphery with one of the through-orifices 7 housing the stem of the plant resting on the edge of one of the imprints of the pair of imprints. This through-orifice 7 surrounds the stem of the plant. The imprints of the pair of imprints, thus arranged in a position close to each other, are driven in displacement in the rectilinear direction of leaf stripping to allow, in the state surrounded by the stem of the plant by an orifice 7, leaf stripping by displacement of said orifice 7 in the direction D of leaf stripping. The direction D of leaf stripping is transverse to the line L1 formed by the succession of through-orifices 7.
[0056] The movement of the prints 61 and 62 is continued until the endless driving member drives the associated print in the direction of a separation from the other print of the pair of prints. The stripping is finished.
[0057] The separation of the prints releases the stem of the plant which is still held by the holding system 5 which has continued its movement between the entry and the exit of the leaf stripping station 2. The plant is then driven out of the leaf stripping station 2. It should be noted that the free end of the stem of each plant can be cut by means of a cutting station 16 arranged at the entry or exit of the leaf stripping station 2.
[0058] The leaves removed from the stem of the plant can, for their part, fall by gravity onto a mobile belt 17 positioned under the leaf stripping station 2 before being removed by moving said belt 17.
[0059] A new leaf stripping cycle can be carried out. During this leaf stripping cycle, it may happen that the plant arrives too early in the leaf stripping station 2 and comes to position itself on an edge of the imprint 62 coupled to the driven endless member adjoining the edge of the imprint opposite that coupled to the driven endless member. This case is illustrated in [Fig.5]. In this situation, the plant waits for the next leaf stripping cycle to be stripped.
Claims
Claims
1. Installation (1) for stripping leaves (21) from stems (20) of plants (22), such as cut flowers, said installation (1) comprising at least one stripping station (2) with an inlet (3) for the plants to be stripped and an outlet (4) for the stripped plants and a system (5) for holding the plants (22) with stems, characterized in that the station (2) comprises one or more pairs of impressions (61, 62), in that the impressions (61, 62) of a pair of impressions are mounted to be movable between a position close to each other and a position spaced apart from each other, in that said impressions (61, 62) are, in the position close to each other, mounted, over at least part of their travel, movable in a rectilinear direction of movement called stripping (D), in that said imprints (61, 62) form, in a position close to each other, a succession of through orifices (7) each closed around their periphery,in that the succession of orifices (7) is arranged along a line (Ll) transverse to the leaf stripping direction (D).,
2. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each imprint (61; 62) of a pair of imprints is, for its movement between a position close to and a position separated from the other imprint of the pair, coupled to an endless member (81; 82), such as an endless chain, for a loop movement of said imprint.
3. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least one (81) of the endless members (81, 82) is a driving member equipped with a motor drive (9) and in that the other (82) of the endless members is a non-motorized driven member, said driven member being configured to be driven in movement by contact of a print (61) of the driving member on a print (62) of the driven member.
4. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the installation (1) comprising several pairs of prints (61, 62), the endless member (81; 82) to which one print (61; 62) of a pair of prints (61, 62) is coupled is common with the endless member (81; 82) to which at least one print (61, 62) of another pair of prints (61, 62) is coupled.
5. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, ca- characterized in that at least part of the holding system (5) extends in a plane (P) called the holding plane passing through the succession of orifices (7) and parallel to the leaf stripping direction (D).
6. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the holding system (5) comprises at least one movable part (10) and in that the speed of movement of the movable part (10) of the holding system (5) is preferably lower than the speed of movement of the prints (61, 62).
7. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to claim 6 taken in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the movable part (10) of the holding system (5) comprises a train of stations (11) for holding the plants in a suspended state for vertical positioning of the stems (20) of plants (22) and a device (12) for driving the train of stations (11) at least between the inlet (3) and the outlet (4) of the leaf stripping station (2) in a so-called horizontal direction of movement for holding the stems of the plants (22) in an upright state, at least part of the train extending in the holding plane (P).
8. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to claim 6 taken in combination with claim 5, characterized in that the movable part (10) of the holding system (5) comprises a belt conveyor (13) in parallel with an endless belt (14) to form two support surfaces (15) spaced from each other and each extending in the holding plane (P).
9. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, for the or at least one of the pairs of impressions (61, 62), each impression (61, 62) is in the form of a plate (611, 621) delimited by edges, one (6111, 6211) of the edges of the plate (611, 621) constituting one of the impressions (61, 62) of the pair being shaped to, in cooperation with one of the edges (6211, 6111) of the plate (621, 611) constituting the other impression (62, 61) of the pair of impressions, form the succession of through-orifices (7) closed on their periphery in a position close to said impressions (61, 62) of the pair of prints.
10. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one (61) of the impressions (61, 62) has the shape of a comb.
11. Leaf stripping installation (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, ca- characterized in that the impressions (61, 62) of the or a pair of impressions are, in the close position in which they form a succession of through orifices (7), arranged with at least partial overlap.